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 test: 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 divides: 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.