Benjamin Ginsberg's new book, The Fall of the Faculty, is reviewed by Carl Elliot in the Wall Street Journal, 3 September, 2011, p. A11, "Meddle Management"). The book condemns the rampant corporatization of American academia, and Elliott describes it as "bracing and darkly pleasurable."
Elliot remarks, > Forty years ago professors themselves managed university affairs, > often spending limited stints in administration as a professional > obligation before returning to teaching and research. But as > professional administrators have proliferated, professors, having > little stomach for endless committee meetings and inane business > ajrgon, have been happy to give up their managerial responsibilities. > … As a result, however, professors have sacrificed much of their > influence over their own institutions. >
I don't know if there was ever a time when professors did not complain about their institutions or the state of academia generally, but the topic is now quite a popular one.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903461304576526353648342500.html