Posted on 09/10/2026 2:14:40 PM PDT by karpov
Following the Hamas assault on Israel in October 2023, many American campuses erupted in turmoil—not due to the brutality of the attack, but in support of the Palestinian cause. In the minds of many American students, professors, and administrators, the Israelis are the aggressors and “had it coming.”
Anyone who expressed support for Israel was apt to be harassed or even assaulted by pro-Hamas zealots. Jewish students were singled out for vituperation and taunts like “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free!” indicating a desire to see Israel wiped off the map. Encampments sprang up as activists sought to spread their message by disrupting campus life.
How did the leaders of prominent universities respond? Most did nothing to stop the unrest on campus while crafting public statements intended to show that they believe that there’s moral equivalence between the factions in the Middle East. What they hadn’t considered was the possibility that they would be called before Congress to explain themselves.
On December 5, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing at which the presidents of Harvard, Penn, and MIT were asked about their responses to the turmoil. Most prominent among the committee members in probing the thoughts of the three leaders was Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, herself a Harvard graduate.
She has now written a book about that hearing and the general decline of American higher education, Poisoned Ivies. It strongly reinforces the view that the nation’s colleges, especially those once regarded as “elite,” have been taken over by people whose concern for education extends only to the ideas they favor—people who are hostile to the nation’s traditions, to academic standards, to the civil exchange of views, and who insist on using higher education to indoctrinate
(Excerpt) Read more at jamesgmartin.center ...
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A few leaders have opposed the “woke” trends, such as Dartmouth’s President Sian Leah Beilock, who has argued that America needs depoliticized colleges and universities and has made Dartmouth a shining example.
I am glad to read that as some of my ancestors and kin were involved in the formation of Dartmouth. Too bad there aren't legacy admissions any more.
“Poisoned Ivies”
Great title!
Just like the traitors who save VC flags in the 60s. Pigs and cowards.
Wave not save, you idiot.
Circa 1960 I went to The Theran American School in Theran. It was a most superior school. It used the New York State Educational standards as their guidelines as in 1960 they were the best.
Today New York has failed!
Oddly I saw the beginning of insanity of definition. The school was divided by ability and test scores. 7A was the lowest score, 7C was actually the middle and 7B was the top. Political correctness in 1960 was real. I was 7C but destroyed them on tests and soon to be 7B but we returned home to the States. 7A sounded much nicer than, “You are stupid.”
When I went to university, I learned Geology and rocks and how to find oil. Later much chemistry and almost a degree in such but the chemistry department did not accept my pharmacy chemistry courses as legitimate chemistry. Their grads made less money than me. LOL.
Oddly I taught the kids in the Aviation program at that university. As I was a commercial pilot instructor. That was fun and just a way to make a few bucks and fly for free. A couple made it to big time in the Air Force and the Airlines. Most did not.
Yeah . let’s look at the disaster that’s American education sa Congress for the last 50+ years.
Pointing out problems solves nothing. Fixing problems does which is apparently outside of both sides of Congress.
Not fixing a problem gives them something to run on. Congress is what needs fixing and to be held accountable but that’s left to the American voter and it appears there’s no hope for the majority of voters. They’re f’cking idiots.
Forgot to add this about one student that became an Air Force Pilot. Ground school with him was to say most difficult. In the air he was natural magic. Demonstrate something and he could repeat it with ease. Put him in unusual attitudes and he had no problem. I would not have hesitated to put my son in the plane with him. That was my standard to send someone solo. Years later reading the alumni news for Northeast Louisiana University (Now University of Louisiana Monroe) I read how he is now flying for the Air Force. He is an excellent pilot. I have often wondered about his Air Force Instructors conversations about him, and did they match mine with other instructors which went like this mostly. "That dumb bastard knows how to fly." He really was an excellent pilot. Horah for him!
When I went to university, I learned Geology and rocks and how to find oil. Later much chemistry and almost a degree in such but the chemistry department did not accept my pharmacy chemistry courses as legitimate chemistry. Their grads made less money than me. LOL.
Oddly I taught the kids in the Aviation program at that university. As I was a commercial pilot instructor. That was fun and just a way to make a few bucks and fly for free. A couple made it to big time in the Air Force and the Airlines. Most did not.
When I went to university, I learned Geology and rocks and how to find oil. Later much chemistry and almost a degree in such but the chemistry department did not accept my pharmacy chemistry courses as legitimate chemistry. Their grads made less money than me. LOL.
Oddly I taught the kids in the Aviation program at that university. As I was a commercial pilot instructor. That was fun and just a way to make a few bucks and fly for free. A couple made it to big time in the Air Force and the Airlines. Most did not.
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