31–40 of 47 posts
Imagine valuing JSTOR's copyright more than human life and dignity.
Whatever Epstein did, it's good that his money be put to good use like helping education and research rather than being burned because he touched it. Harvard has nothing to 'admit', they did nothing wrong, and there is no point in them getting rid of the money they have left.
Epstein cited his relationships with these schools (built through fundraising) repeatedly both to intimidate his victims into silence and convince authorities to let him go. This wasn't a case of him sending a check and walking away, he was extracting a lot of value for his predatory operation from these institutions. They should face the music for their role in what happened.
It's like a new Inquisition these days.
The Hill does a decent job of reporting this without sensationalizing it. Of note: They accepted money from him, but it was all prior to his 2008 conviction in Florida. I don't fault Harvard for this, and I think this is just one of those tangential stories that pop up whenever the media sensationalizes something. Also note that this is Harvard, which is separate from the MIT Medial Lab story (which I kind of think i…
The primary difference is that the MIT institution took money from him despite being internally barred from doing so. As you mention, at least Harvard did this before the original trial. As far as your last comment, there's been a lot of historic and present discussion around exactly that blend of science/ethics (WW2, milgram, etc.)
See http://news.mit.edu/2019/letter-preliminary-facts-0912
"when members of [the MIT president's] senior team learned that the Media Lab had received the first of the Epstein gifts, they reached out to speak with Joi Ito. He asked for permission to retain this initial gift, and members of my senior team allowed it."
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Devil's advocate: why should they be selective about who they receive donations from? Obviously they shouldn't name a building or something after the guy, but, to give an extreme example, would it be a problem to take money with no strings attached from a serial killer or war criminal? Edit: Okay, this is a pretty good answer: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20963945 . I mean maybe it could be an acceptable solu…
I mention in another comment: Epstein cited his relationships with these schools (built through fundraising) repeatedly both to intimidate his victims into silence and convince authorities to let him go. This wasn't a case of him sending a check and walking away, he was extracting a lot of value for his predatory operation from these institutions. They should face the music for their role in what happened.
The Hill does a decent job of reporting this without sensationalizing it. Of note: They accepted money from him, but it was all prior to his 2008 conviction in Florida. I don't fault Harvard for this, and I think this is just one of those tangential stories that pop up whenever the media sensationalizes something. Also note that this is Harvard, which is separate from the MIT Medial Lab story (which I kind of think i…
Donald Trump of all people went on the record in 2002, saying that Epstein prefers women "on the younger side". His strange proclivities were known even then. So Harvard was complicit in accepting Epstein money until they really really couldn't accept it any longer. That's plausible deniability.
Whilst institutions will do due diligence on major donors they are not geared to be investigative units. So unknowingly accepting donations from a tainted donor is not something I would hold against them nor would I expect them to return the money or donate it elsewhere.
The key takeaway is that they refused donations from Epstein once his activities were known. Absolutely the right course of action.
The justice system means that -- after you committed a crime and done your time -- you are supposed to rehabilitate and rejoin society. I feel the horrific crimes cloud our judgment in this regard: Epstein paid the fine, did the time, and came out on the other end. Again, I am not saying it is wrong to forever brand someone as a persona-non-grata, but it is the easy and predictable way out, distancing yourself to save face. Epstein was sick, paid his debt to society, but we deem his crimes unforgivable, and in shutting down society to rehabilitated criminals, we make sure they also do not get a chance to turn their life around for good.
Whatever Epstein did, it's good that his money be put to good use like helping education and research rather than being burned because he touched it. Harvard has nothing to 'admit', they did nothing wrong, and there is no point in them getting rid of the money they have left.
Epstein cited his relationships with these schools (built through fundraising) repeatedly both to intimidate his victims into silence and convince authorities to let him go. This wasn't a case of him sending a check and walking away, he was extracting a lot of value for his predatory operation from these institutions. They should face the music for their role in what happened.
Harvard and MIT didn't play a role in Epstein's non-donation related activities. They have nothing to answer for.
Next you're going to tell me anyone that takes any Bill and Melinda Gates foundation money has to answer for Microsoft's monopolistic practices in the 90's.
This witch-hunt stuff needs to stop.
I would have commended Harvard and MIT for not taking Epstein's money, with the reasoning that he was a scientific lightweight trying to buy academic clout. As of now, it just sounds like damage control. It takes zero courage to join the herd in saying that sex crimes are horrific. The justice system means that -- after you committed a crime and done your time -- you are supposed to rehabilitate and rejoin society. I…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
You seem up to date, has anyone figured out where Epstien got all the money from yet?
No, it's still a mystery. Right before he died, he moved it all into a trust and named Bill Gate's advisor as his executor: https://nypost.com/2019/08/20/ex-bill-gates-adviser-shocked-... Gates himself has a lot to answer for. The MIT emails show Epstein funneling $2M from Gates to Media Lab. He also flew on Epstein's jet to Florida and hasn't answered why.