Well, we always knew it was true. But in academia? Really? I think the answer is "YES!" Having been surrounded by academics my entire life, i can tell you that they, too, have their price. But they rationalize it with their sense of intellectual superiority and their perceived (or real) commitment to education and research. However, the politics, egos and agendas are just as present in the University as they are in corporate America. The big difference, in my mind, is that you can resist, fight and reject the system once you have tenure. In other words, whoring can have a timeline once you have those golden university handcuffs that promise lifetime employment, pension, benefits etc. -- things that are virtually non-existent with mainstream employers. This, alone, could be an argument for a career in education since it gets harder and harder to turn "tricks" as you get older. Imagine this, Corporate Whores: what would happen if you had "tenure?"
If you want a fun read that pokes fun at academic whoring (literally and figuratively), you should check out "The Student Body." It's a novel that describes the underground culture at Harvard University, including a prostitution ring! Enjoy!
