I'm not quite as demoralized as the OP author; but I can say that now that I have seen how the sausage is made, I have a lot less respect for the institution and the process. These places are stuffed with lazy, unmotivated (or perhaps demoralized) risk-averse people[1]. Crab mentality? Check. There is also every kind of greedy shameful opportunist charlatan on the campus; they can smell money from a mile away, and they will soak it up like a sponge while they produce nothing (I'm talking mostly about gratuitous mid-level administration). Industry is just as bad, companies will engage in so-called "partnerships" which are mainly a way for the legislature to give tax money to profitable businesses, using colleges to launder it. I'm embarrassed to admit that I have seen it first hand, and could do nothing (nothing reasonable) to stop it. I can also say that it will not help your career if you refuse to participate. I can't wait for some of these people to retire or succumb to entropy, of even better if some of them are jailed. I suppose it is naive to hope that their replacements will be better.

I have a couple of words of advice for the guy though. Don't worry about the jerk who watched breaking bad in class as long as he isn't bothering anyone else. Also don't worry about the ones who sit behind and watch along. It's their prerogative if they want to pay $50 bucks to have a place to check their social media and watch reruns. They're doing a public service, subsidizing the other students' education.

Re: Online Ed. Even though it currently sucks, it's here to stay. It's in beta right now, and it may change a lot before some college actually gets it right, but it isn't going away and that's a good thing. Colleges that are followers, (ie: Blackboard customers) are going to lose big. The winners will be the ones who continue to innovate until they nail it, the rest will be decimated and or become testing centers.

As in every profession, there is a cohort who associate one's ability to find dark trousers and a collared shirt with "professionalism". Whoever thought that there was no conservatism at the Uni was wrong. Ignore them if you can, placate them if you must. Spend your energy where it does the most good.

[1] - And also some very fine people.