University of Florida President goes to NYC

I read this article in today's Gainesville Sun, and several sentences jumped out at me.

• (The first sentence in the article) A conservative political climate, a war on terrorism and a push for more accountability and greater access are putting pressure on higher education institutions nationwide to reshape themselves into something their faculties may not like.

University faculties don't like conservative politics? Or accountability standards?

• "There are profoundly disturbing signs in the tea leaves," said Northeastern University President Richard Freeland
• "What is this election telling us about where we stand in our culture and how will we get our hands around it?" he asked.
• They worry about threats on academic freedom, a dwindling number of international students and a Republican administration that seems to concern itself more with accountability than research.

Uhh, is one of the disturbing signs that the taxpayers who subsidize these universities want to see some concrete results for their investments? Is Richard Freeland admitting that today's university culture is out of step with America according to the recent election? Does "academic freedom" actually mean the ability to indoctrinate instead of teach? Are most jobs available to students who are skilled researchers or those who have specific skills?

• As demand for slots increases, colleges and universities like UF have become more selective, admitting only top students, further challenging campus diversity.

The left has been running public high schools for most of the past 50 years, why haven't their big government programs succeeded in creating "diversity" among the "top students"? How many more years should our high schools be permitted to travel down the same road until the Democrat party admits they aren't achieving the desired results?

• At the same time, Republican leaders are pressuring educators to prove that their students are learning to read and write by adding extra accountability measures, possibly even tests.
• In New York next year, 3 percent of the state university budgets will be tied to accountability. In Florida, as much as 10 percent of the budget could ride on successful accountability measures.

Gasp!! Students are actually expected to learn something while attending college?

• "If we are going to be smart, we need a collective voice," said Nancy Cantor, president of Syracuse University.

Who's "we", Mrs. Cantor? Is it the bureaucrats who run the schools, or the students who are graduating with no demonstrable skills?