In Gerbiner et al’s article Information Delivery in an Information Rich Society, they discuss the commodification of information in the current era. This is part of our globalist era, in which neo-liberal economic policies have robbed the nation-state of much of its power and sovereignty.
One aspect of neo-liberalism is the privatization of government functions. It is believed that corporations can perform the tasks of government more cheaply and efficiently than the state can. Corporations advance this idea because, although we must be weary of the state taking on too much power, the state is also the greatest protector of the public welfare. Through social protections such as laws regarding communication and transport, social security, bank and financial regulations, and labor rights, the government provides security to the average citizen. (Gerbiner, 186) Gerbiner argues that corporations drive to have “the machinery of socially responsible supervision removed . . . under the name of deregulation,” so that these financial bodies can have a greater degree of freedom of action in society. (Gerbiner, 187)
An example of privatization of government functions and commodification of information that directly affects my life and that of every other student at McMaster is the present funding situation at our university. Gerbiner notes that, “wherever profitable information is produced, the drive for commercialization now rapidly follows.” (Gerbiner, 187) This commodification of information in the university affects the focus of funding allocations by our administration and the type of research that takes place. For example, Bell Canada recently donated one million dollars to McMaster in what a Bell spokesman called “an example of [Bell’s] commitment to bringing the best and brightest minds together to come up with cutting edge technological innovation.” (Silhouette, A1) This research will, of course, benefit Bell, but will it benefit the school? It is highly unlikely that one million dollars will cover the full cost of this program, meaning that an undisclosed amount of public funding will go to subsidizing research aimed at benefiting this corporation. Therefore, Bell is essentially able to hire our school to do its research, turning our school into what the University of Miami’s vice president for research called a “fee-for-service corporation.” (Gerbiner, 187)
The implications of this new funding formula regarding the type of education one can receive in Canada are frightening. It means that the school focuses financial support on academic areas that are likely to turn a profit. Thus, biomedical research or computer engineering receive priority over the less monetarily profitable subjects such as the Arts. While one might argue that the Arts do not create the same financial and technological gains as sciences or engineering and therefore deserve less funding, this is a very shortsighted viewpoint. Arts fill out our society, they help develop a vibrant and dynamic culture in which individuals think, create, and explore the greater questions of life. These sorts of ventures do not necessarily have direct economic returns, but they lead to the betterment of our society of as a whole. Wealth and power come and go, but ideas can last forever. Athens fell more than two thousand years ago, yet the ideas of Socrates continue to shape our perceptions of the world. This is why universities should be a public institution; they create a rich and vibrant intellectual world, which transcends the short-term value of markets and dividends.

Gerbiner et al. “Information Deprivation in an Information Rich Society.” Introduction to Communication. USA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2005. 185-192.

O’Meara, Megan. “Bell Donates $1 Million to Mac: Prestigious MMEI Program Recipient of Donation.” The Silhouette [Hamilton] Thursday, October 26. 2006. A1.