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A university president makes a case against cowardice

newyorker.com

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Re: A university president makes a case against cowardice

#11

Post by alephnerd »

carbocation wrote: post #7

So far the fight/not fight decisions can be predicted in advanced based on whether an institution has a medical center with NIH grants.

And if they hire the right alumni lobbyists - major reason why you don't hear about Dartmouth in the news [0] despite a similarly active student activism scene.

Most other private universities could have easily managed the relationship, but a mix of inertia and vindictiveness from certain alumni (eg. Ackman) messed it up.

Mind you, Dartmouth is also kind of unique in that their alumni relations team actually TRY to maintain a relationship. The other high prestige colleges (excluding USC) ignore you until they need to hit fundraising KPIs.

A Tuck or Dartmouth College grad will always fight for an alum if they make it to the shortlist - most other Ivy grads don't (Wharton kinda, but that's only for Wharton). This really helps build loyalty.

[0] - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/19/trump-is-bombarding...

Re: A university president makes a case against cowardice

#12

Post by doctorpangloss »

> And in the last two months, it’s become painfully apparent that wanting to have nice conversations is not going to stop people who are bent on authoritarianism. Right now, I’m not sure what will stop them, except successful court challenges, and even that seems precarious.

Winning elections could work.

> Watching the video of this poor woman at Tufts who was abducted by federal agents —I wrote my blog today about that. I think the government is spreading terror, and that’s what they mean to do.

Brother, a blog post is, quoting you, a “nice conversation.” A New Yorker interview is a nice conversation.

Getting rid of legacy admissions… guess who wins elections? The sons and daughters of politicians! Whereas grandstanding on X or Y achieves nothing.

Re: A university president makes a case against cowardice

#15

Post by CaptWillard »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #3

Wild that he is some kind of exception. Rolling over, folding is not the university culture I remember.

Not sure when you graduated, but I've seen a complete inversion.

Much like 90s rockers, they now rage exclusively on behalf of the machine.

Re: A university president makes a case against cowardice

#18

Post by Spooky23 »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #3

Wild that he is some kind of exception. Rolling over, folding is not the university culture I remember.

Many universities are more like family offices that operate schools. Columbia is historically one of the biggest slumlords in NYC through their various entities.

Re: A university president makes a case against cowardice

#20

Post by tomohawk »

This is rich. The Universities that caved to student activists engaged in antisemitism and other egregious activities should now fight for their rights to be cowards? Or the Universities that engaged in racist DEI programs are now going to stand on principal?

Give me a break.

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