I&#x27;m an adjunct, and I&#x27;ve written about various aspects of being an adjunct (e.g. here: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;jakeseliger.com&#x2F;2014&#x2F;12&#x2F;22&#x2F;how-do-you-know-when-youre-being-insensitive-how-do-you-know-when-youre-funny&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;jakeseliger.com&#x2F;2014&#x2F;12&#x2F;22&#x2F;how-do-you-know-when-youre...</a>). But I&#x27;ll add that there is a very good &quot;excuse&quot; why universities treat adjuncts how they do: because they can. When people stop signing up for grad school and&#x2F;or to be adjuncts, universities will have to offer better pay and&#x2F;or conditions.<p>Until that happens, universities won&#x27;t. Markets are clearing.