The Good Fight David Bromwich on Why Americans Have Lost Faith in Universities
10 snips
Apr 28, 2026 
David Bromwich, Sterling Professor of English at Yale and noted literary critic, reflects on higher education. He talks about grade inflation and proposals to recalibrate grading. He examines political conformity on campus and its impact on debate. He critiques opaque admissions and suggests clearer, merit-based standards.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Shared Purpose Underlies Public Trust
- Trust in universities depends on a shared public understanding of their purpose as preparing students for jobs and citizenship.
- David Bromwich argues loss of that shared understanding explains the sharp drop in public trust over the past decade.
Grade Inflation Erodes Academic Signals
- Grade inflation undermines credibility because high median grades make distinctions meaningless for employers and citizens.
- The report recommends cohort-based calibration so an A in a class with many A's counts less than an A in a stringent class.
Ban Devices To Protect Classroom Speech
- Remove devices and limit recording in classrooms to reduce fear of being misrepresented on social media.
- The committee suggests a no-gizmo rule and considered Chatham House–style limits to protect speakers' reputations.