not attached to these donations there would be less cause for concern. Yet in many cases

strings are attached.

The uneasy relationship be- tween big business and universities is nothing new. In 1951, the Massey Royal Commission on the Arts, Letters and Sciences warned that com- mercial influences endangered the university’s moral and intellectual purposes.

The Commis- sion advised that public money be used to strengthen

federal government responded by granting $7 million to universities. This figure increased to $99 million in 1966 and up to $628 million in 1970.

By the mid- ‘70s, though, universities were forced into a posi- tion of restraint. A nationwide eco- nomic slowdown combined with a renewal of public sector conservatism slimmed universi- ties’ budgets.

But despite the reduced funding, the number of students continued to grow. From 1970

than 15 times faster than public spend- ing on post-second- ary education.

At the same time, profit margins were slipping and the early stages of globalization saw competition stream in from abroad. Companies recog- nized the potential benefits of partnering with the academic world.

In what has been described by some scholars as a “marriage of con- venience,” technol- ogy poor busi- nesses associated themselves with financially strapped

a professor of social work at the University of Manitoba and author of the re- cently published book Universities For Sale, coined the term “trafficking in intellectual prop- erty” to describe this trend.

Traditional universities pro- duced knowledge through research and distributed it freely through publication and teaching.

The new corporate university views “knowledge as intellectual property, a com-

according to Tudiver.

The knowl- edge and research of academics does have profit poten- tial, particularly in areas like engineer- ing and health sciences.

Professors are encouraged, some- times even pres- sured, to get patents on their work before anything is made public. When the work is sold, both the professor and the university benefit financially.

Universities also try to help academics make links with indus-

of projects.

Many profes- sors, like Dr. Hojatollah Vali from McGill’s Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, believe these links are important.

“To some extent we need to go to corporations and industry. We are using taxpay- ers’ money to conduct research and industries may eventually use our data without con- tributing anything,” said Vali. “Getting industry support is positive.”

Ironically, the

university inde- to 1983, enrolment __ universities. modity to be tries for the funding pendence. The rose at a rate more Neil Tudiver, bought and sold,” Continued on page 8 Montreal Mu m ia * Founding mem- time overa week mtl.tao.ca citizens Ab al ber of the Black _—_ago. may not u-Jam Panther Party in International under- Philadelphia * Since his'incar- “Concerned Family stand the Born: April 23, ceration, Jamal and Friends of owe of 1954 in Philadel- * Convicted of has written two Mumia Abu-Jamal OF ee phia, PA first degree mur- _ books, Live From PQ. Box 19709, Mumiass j der and given the Death Row, and Philadelphia, PA name ligeacane Father of three death penalty for Death Blossoms. 19413 in alley children, the alleged shoot- A third book, (215) 476-8812, ways and grandfather of ing and killing of | Race For Justice, e-mail on Batis three children a white police was written about mumia@aol.com ings. . officer on Decem- his case by his Occupation: ber 9; 1981 s attorneys. For Maureen : (Addi- Journalist. Recipi- Ee ennee ves tional ent of awards for * Has been on * For further sponse, try: reporting reporting on death row in information con- by Adam police miscon- Pennsylvania for tact: Justice For Police Graham) duct, abuse of 17 years, awaiting Officer Daniel authority and execution. His The Montreal Faulkner racial discrimina- death warrant was Free Mumia tion. signed twice, and Coalition Cre: was stayed both (514) 844-3207, danielfaulkner. Political activities: times - the last e-mail abc- com

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