UA isn't a business, no matter how much they try to be. What was your degree in & dissertation on? It sounds like you had a singularly unique experience in the UA system, & seem to have confused our university for a trade school. Does it have problems, inefficiencies, & personalities? Of course, but no more than any other organization. Political agenda? Ha! My "spidey sense" is tingling here. 

In my experience, most of the biology, chemistry, & marine science faculty will bend over backwards to help students get experience in a lab or the field. As a Ph.D. student, I brought a lot of students into my lab, & spent a lot of time helping them with everything from mathematics, to chemistry, & lending an ear to their hopes, fears, etc. A lot of professors & admin staff did the same. Can't remember any faculty pushing a political agenda. Seems like the only ones every having a hissy-fit about this, were the ultra-conservative students when faced with ideas or facts they didn't like.