As someone involved in academia, it's worse than that: the libraries are closed, which means that you can't do proper research; since this is essential for higher degrees, it ought to be seen as a major problem. Back when this all started I spoke with administration to find out when the libraries would reopen, and got a blank stare. It took a while to get it through to them I meant open in the sense I could actually physically handle books; they thought I was talking computer access and that was their top priority, but they could not understand why I was so anxious to get books: I'm going to pass anyway, no matter how lousy my thesis is! The fact I'm here because I actually enjoy the research, that I like the field I study, and that I care about more than just getting my degree was something they could not grasp.

This, mixed with the fact I'm growing more conservative as time passes and appalled by the level of group think some in academia have, convinced me to bail: the system only works as long as there is an illusion that these degrees mean something. When they make it crystal clear they are handing them out to anyone who is willing to pay the tuition, it's game over.

The fact plenty of the professors are making arrangements to bail tells me that they also think this is the end too....