"And therein lies the paradox. Yes, students are paying, often handsomely, for their degree. But they're not exactly customers, either. They're participants in

"And therein lies the paradox. Yes, students are paying, often handsomely, for their degree. But they're not exactly customers, either. They're participants in an experience — one that is meant to be challenging, even grueling." If that's "not exactly" the definition of a customer, I'm not sure what is. The students are customers. The real paradox is if they vote for easier teachers, the product they are buying loses its value.