Ladies and gentlemen, behold what passes for cutting edge academic priorities these days:
The U. of Akron announced on Wednesday that it would phase out 80 degree programs. The next day, it announced it would open “the largest amount of dedicated esports space of any university in the world to date.”
I don’t have enough snark in me to do that justice.
Get The Picture 
Esports competition is televised and money is won. This could be construed as winnings, maybe even income. That would place it far ahead of certain degrees that have no marketable skills upon gradulation. Such studies will go nameless here because to name said studies would only send some commenters into a tizzy.
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All disciplines have marketable skills.
Some people just lack imagination.
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Because we all know a grad’s career path is set in stone the day they receive that sheepskin.
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You can sell cars with, or without, a degree in basket weaving. At best, it’s a waste of time.
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Since when has “tizzy-fying” the commentariat ever stopped anyone before?
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Dat you Corrine?
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I’s don care for dose sat hundle my arnarary laws egree.
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This is really gonna piss off the guys at Stingtalk.
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So 80 useless pieces of paper will become unavailable at Akron. Cutting edge.
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Akron?
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Hey, giv’em credit for realizing they will never amount to shit in real sports and and trying to get out in front of something they can have some success at, no matter how pathetic.
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Well, I studied engineering because I wanted a job. But I certainly enjoyed the broader learning offered by UGA more than just job training. That’s what a trade school is for.
This is a shitty, short-sighted move by Akron.
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Agree. Nothing more than a vocational school. I’d suggest they add building trades too. I don’t have a problem with the decision, as it does serve a segment of the population and those skills are in need. Albeit scary, advanced computers drones, lasers, AI, etc. are having a huge and fascinating effect on everyday life. One should be prepared.
But Akron should abandon the term university to avoid being confused with schools that offer a broad multi-disciplined education. Not just a current skill.
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Here comes the might Zips Fortnite team.
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More institutions should be courageous enough to co-ordinate with their peers to focus on their strengths, avoid replication of programs, and end their contributions to the glut of PhDs in particular fields.
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Maybe just add 80 more sports teams.
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I concur with Akron’s action in eliminating 80 degree programs. Nobody wants to go sit in a classroom that is 80 degrees. Too hot to learn anything.
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OK clever. But they can make it up in the winter by going outside.
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esports??!! I mean…c’mon. They’re playing video games. But “sport”? And people are paying money to watch kids play video games? Any parent since the ’90’s has been subjected to that. What’s a foul in an esport…having your controller taken away for a week? Do the players have any exposure to the sunlight? Are Mountain Dew and Cheetos the primary sponsors?
Get off my damn lawn. I’m getting some real exercise and going golfing.
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guessing most of you didnt read the article. Dropped majors no one was taking and were outside of their core tracks. Upgraded facilities for several of their club teams.
about as nothing to see here as it gets.
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