Working toward a better understanding of the Humanities

There have been a lot of posts about the demise of the humanities, and relatedly the massive disconnection between those who practice humanistic inquiry and their administrators.   Here's a different take on the situation, covered by the Boston Globe:

"Colleges Aim to Revive the Humanities"

I like the change of tone, but there are a lot of aspects to what this article covers that make me wonder... For example, I don't think we need "reviving;" just better understanding.  Am I naïve?  And more crucially, check out our spokespeople:

the leaders of many prestigious universities -- including Cornell, Dartmouth, and Harvard -- are increasingly espousing the virtues of the humanities...

Why is this happening first and foremost at the privates, or so-called "luxury" institutions.  Are the humanities a luxury that public institutions really do without?