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That’s part of why it got so much attention. But Guskiewicz also represents an emerging trend. Politicians, donors, and other personalities are attempting to throw their weight around in higher education, and that’s eroding the power of college leaders. It’s causing them to lose autonomy. And when presidents lose their autonomy, that’s when you start to see career trajectories get wacky. It all exudes a sense of desperation. We might be entering the era of the desperate president.