Reputation and Prestige

The Hamas Israel warfare has revealed a rather ugly side to the American university system.  The Ivy League, long considered the jewel of the collegiate education, can no longer be considered as such.  These institutions, along with many other supposed institutions of higher learning, have lost their moral and constitutional foundation to globalism and the socialist collective.  The results are costly in many ways:

Historically, the Ivy League universities have had their pick of the best students and most prestigious professors.  Any student who can meet the academic and financial criteria has generally wanted to go to a university with a top reputation.  This may no longer be the case.  

Billionaire alum are now withholding multi-million dollar donations from prestigious universities because of their neutrality in the face of Hamas’ savagery and worldwide Antisemitism.  These same billionaires have also threatened to bar employment for students who have marched or advocated for Hamas and against Israel.  It is likely that professors used to getting part time lucrative employment will also suffer.  

The estimated withheld amounts so far approach $500 million.  However, most of the institutions being criticized are well endowed monetarily.  Thus, while the loss of millions of dollars is an immediate issue, the longer term problem is loss of reputation and prestige.  (Today, for example, the word “Harvard” is more likely to invoke caution rather than a compliment when it comes to employment.)  

University administrations seem frozen, unable to outright condemn the obvious Hamas brutality.  Delays in condemnation are insulting as it appears that university executives are trying to split the baby in half to appease “both sides” – while Hamas is actually splitting real babies in half.  (It is all too obvious that moral relativity and greed has taken the place of morality and decency.) 

This lack of moral clarity and moral leadership has created an additional set of public horrors.  Students and individuals from various anarchistic communities in America are marching in support of Hamas’ savagery.  They are committing acts of violence on those who support Israel, particularly those who are Jewish.  (Not surprisingly, American jews, long supporters of the supposedly liberal multicultural democrat party, are now frightened by the silence of Democrat leaders or by the actual insults and threats from Islamic supporting Democrat Congressmen and Congresswomen.

I do not know how all of this angst will end.  What I do know is that a degree from an Ivy League university and other “prestigious” universities has been diminished.  Many American businessmen and women look at the students and ask a simple question “Do I want this kind of trouble in my organization”.   (Realistically, a hard working Liberty University graduate comes with a moral foundation and an America first orientation – and is more likely to be a team player.)

Note:  Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania have both been directly affected by the billionaire donation backlash.  The University of Virginia has also been criticized as have many, mostly large, universities.  When students and their leftist professors march in favor of genocide, something is very wrong.