Exposed: A College in Crisis Puts Science to the Test

A laser-sharp examination of how elite universities, in their neglect of sociological reasoning, failed our society's biggest that of an airborne pandemic.

Hobbled by conservative cuts to education beginning in the Reagan era, universities became increasingly consumer-focused, giving rise to the now-pervasive "party school." Fraternities dominated campus life as administrators looked away from their destructive cultures. When Covid hit, universities enforced strict public health measures, encouraged by their focus on high-profit STEM fields, but ignored sociology―and essential interpersonal needs like sex, friendship, and love. In a New Orleans case study emblematic of campuses nationwide, students split into Covid-cautious and Covid-incautious factions, deepening racial, class, and geographic fraternities thrived while surrounding Black residents bore the costs.

In Exposed, renowned sociologist Lisa Wade argues that a more democratic, flexible response was possible. In prioritizing "hard" science over social science, institutions hindered their response to the crisis and eroded a generation's faith in organizations, fueling right-wing backlash. Exposed offers ideas and insights for building social solidarity, redefining freedom, and strengthening our democracy for a healthier, more humane society.