esponsive to popular culture.
The enforcement of the high and low divisions through the system of tenure is vital in order to protect the academic freedom of professors from the manipulation and control of political, social and business interests. As Dwight MacDonald points out, popular culture, in contrast to high culture, promotes the mass production of standardized products that lacks creativity and uniqueness, thus benefiting only business interests (in Gans 30). On the other hand, tenured professors can be totally committed to their research even if it generates controversy in the public without fearing the repercussions of dismissal. Because they are protected by the tenure system, these professors do not have to compromise their work in response to the ideological transitions in the political system and the funding of their institutions by specific corporations. Professors will not have to give up research into certain areas because they risk offending their corporate sponsors. At the same time, they will not be subjected to the pressure of university administrators to give out more 'A's in order to increase enrollment. Open communication between colleagues can also occur because tenured professors are not worried about losing their jobs. Essentially, tenured professors are not subject to the whims and manipul
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