"We are market driven," Coleman said. "If we are offering a degree that nobody wants, we drop it."

Right.  I thought so. But the chuckles don't stop there. WSU president Allan Gilmour says there's not much "clamor" for consolidation.

"The alternative (to autonomous universities) is a czar, a commission in Lansing," he said, adding he didn't think any of the business leaders in the audience would want politicians running their companies.

But Mr Gilmour? They pay to play. WE pay to play.  So maybe you ought to swear off public assistance entirely and for the benefit of M.S. Coleman and yourself become TRULY autonomous, so that you can attain TRUE market status.

Ask your economics departments how that will work for you.