Hmm....I wonder how often it is that a student’s “Statement of Purpose” on the application doesn’t even resemble the student’s thesis topic. So this could all be lip service.
On the other hand, if the faculty is telling this to prospective students, they ought to go somewhere else.
They are all doing it. The Univ of Penn English Dept removed the portrait of Shaespeare from its outer office. You can’t have an English Dept. without Shakespeare.
Admissions is another but related topic: legacies, affirmative action, foreign exchange students, and throwing out ACT/SAT scores makes it impossible for the best and the brightest American students to accepted.