AdmissionSight’s Post

Democracy Works! Democracy in action the way it was intended. Like a caucus or town hall meeting. Discussion with negotiation over confrontation. Well done Northwestern, Brown and Evergreen!! Thanks for working will process and leading the way. Lessons in LEADERSHIP!! Chronicle of Higher Education Erin Gretzinger MAY 1, 2024 https://lnkd.in/gHAQzEnF Northwestern University reached an agreement with student protesters to end their encampment. Brown University and Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA followed. “It’s absolutely a win for students to live to fight another day. It keeps the issue in the spotlight. But I think when you sort of study and know how institutions move and operate, I would be breathing a sigh of relief if I was an administrator, because now the terms are back on their terms. Demetri L. Morgan Associate Professor of higher education Loyola University Chicago. Northwestern will permit “peaceful protest” on Deering Meadow, two acres of green space on campus, until June 1. Student leaders agreed to take down all but one tent used for aid purposes and otherwise follow university protest policies. In return, the university will form an advisory committee made up of student, faculty, and staff members to “provide a conduit to engagement” with its investment committee; answer questions “to the best of its knowledge and to the extent legally possible” about its investments; build a community space for Middle Eastern, North American, and Muslim students; fund two full-time Palestinian faculty members for two years and the full cost of attendance for five Palestinian undergraduate students. “This agreement was forged by the hard work of students and faculty working closely with members of the administration to help ensure that the violence and escalation we have seen elsewhere does not happen here at Northwestern,” university leaders wrote, calling the agreement a “sustainable and de-escalated path forward.” Agreements at Brown and Evergreen followed. Students at Evergreen removed their encampment in exchange for four task forces to examine questions about socially responsible investments, grant requirements, police presence on campus, and alternative crisis-response models. Brown agreed to assign a committee the task of developing a recommendation on divestment; regardless of that recommendation, vote on whether or not to divest from holdings in Israel at a governing-board meeting. Observers called the agreements the best route forward, while others called them a “betrayal.” #highereducation #highered #antisemitism #Israel #Palestinians #Gaza #Zionism #protests #academicfreedom #censorship #genocide #democracy

'...we stand today at a crossroad that requires much deeper introspection than that which can come from neoliberal logics so tightly embedded within institutions of higher education. We cannot at this time accept easy resolve meant to sanitise the situation and absolve institutions from their historical and on-going ties to empire’s violence. It is too late for that. To decolonise beyond metaphor and to do so from the United Kingdom and Europe, we must begin with the concrete – examining precisely how our own heritage and inheritances are tied to obscene realms of violence from which there can be no easy return from. But, as the student-led movement for divestment is teaching us in live time, there is another way...' Wise words from outgoing Director, Dr Shaira Vadasaria RACE.ED University of Edinburgh - a network concerned with race, racialization and decolonial studies from a multidisciplinary perspective.

"The #province's #colleges and #universities are learning a costly #lesson about #false #economies courtesy of the #premier, Martin Regg Cohn writes." #Ontario #postsecondaryeducation #publicpolicy #ROIpublicfunding #DougFord #Conservatives #ideology #politicalagenda #constituentsrights #studentsrights #studentssuccess #civilsociety #democracy #studentsvote #familiesvote #educatorsvote #researchersvote #bodypolitic #societalvalues #ethicsmatter #TOpoli #GTHApoli #onpoli #cdnpoli #globalimpact

Now that I am clearer in my thinking. Here is another example of muddled thinking on EDI and/or DEI. TLA choice does not matter. The backlash against EDI/DEI is triggered by the loss of "unearned" privilege among the privileged. This is a measure of the success if EDI/DEI. It is founded on accusations of the prevalence of "unearned" privilege among the under-privileged. EDI/DEI needs to overcome this challenge in its onward journey. I am yet to encounter even a single argument against "earned" privilege among the under-privileged. And if there is one, due to the zero-sum nature of the question (due to number of seats being fixed), the only right solution is to increase the number of seats. The principle that "earned" privilege should get priority over "unearned" privilege is not being challenged yet. There is a need to weed out "unearned" privilege among the under-privileged and ensure that we support "earned" privilege in the right manner to enable it to actualize its potential for itself and for us all. After all honed talent is the key driver of prosperity of nations in 2024.

An Open Letter to My Esteemed University President: Dear Dr. Rogers, I write on behalf of your position as a president of Fielding. I am writing to you also as a concerned member of the FGU community that is deeply committed to the principles of social and ecological justice. Fielding espouses decolonization goals and supports Indigenous sovereignty. It outspokenly supports marginalized communities and advocates for causes such as racism, gender identity bias, and ecological sustainability. I ask that, in light of over 100 universities taken a stand to support Israel's continuing assault on Gaza, we take a stand against such violence and you articulate it as the first or perhaps one of the first to do so. The self-censoring of faculty and worries about our inability to respectfully research and discuss controversial matters at doctoral levels does not reflect our core values. I believe you have a responsibility to speak out against injustice wherever it occurs, but if this takes up too much time, then certainly the situation in Gaza stands out for such an action. Martin Luther King Jr., a champion of justice and equality, once said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." This quote serves as a powerful reminder that silence in the face of injustice is tantamount to complicity. Moreover, the notion that "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," often attributed to Edmund Burke, underscores the importance of taking a stand against injustice. FGU's history reflects its commitment to justice, yet the absence of a public position on the current crisis in Gaza is conspicuous. Just as our university did not openly support the Lakota/Dakota in the Dakota pipeline protest, it appears that there is a disconnection between our policy and our vision for social and ecological justice. Our university's voice holds significant weight in the world, as small as we are. I believe that a public statement from FGU denouncing the violence and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza would not only align with our core values but also demonstrate our commitment to justice on a global scale. Taking a principled stance on this matter is consistent with the legacy of our institution and the values we hold dear. I understand the complexities and fears* you consider with the status-quo silence and "neutrality" policy, but as Howard Zinn says, you cannot be neutral on a moving train. I'm happy to help you write the short speech. In any case, I respectfully urge you, as our university's esteemed president, to consider using your influential position to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and to reiterate our commitment to justice, echoing the spirit of our mission. Thank you for your time and consideration. I am hopeful that FGU will continue to be a beacon of justice and equity in all endeavors. Sincerely, Wahinkpe Topa

Exciting news! Last month, the Democratic Education Network published their latest book, titled "Education, Equality and Sustainability: Actions Speak Louder than Words." This book is a collection of works from academics across the globe and represents months of hard work from everyone at DEN. I'm thrilled to share that my own research paper, "NATO Decision Making and State Sovereignty," is featured in this book. My paper explores the intricate decision-making mechanisms within NATO and examines how the alliance addresses the diverse demands of all its member states. It’s an in-depth analysis of the balance between collective action and national sovereignty, shedding light on the complex yet fascinating processes that guide the world's most influential military alliance. Being part of this publication once again is an honour, and I hope our collective work inspires actionable insights and fosters meaningful conversations around education, equality, and sustainability. You can find this year's publication, along with all of DEN's previous works at the link below: https://lnkd.in/ev8kJk2B #Research #Publication #NATO #Education #Sustainability #Equality #DemocraticEducationNetwork

In his first book 'Global Justice and Development', Professor Julian Culp aimed to re-frame the global justice debate by examining the question ‘Who decides what counts as a just global distribution of resources?’ In the years since, he has continued to pursue the topic across his academic and teaching life. A firm believer that global justice requires us to deliberate fairly across national borders on issues like migration, race, colonialism, global poverty, and climate change, Culp says that democratic justice is a moral end of education, and that "citizenship education should cultivate democratic consciousness not only within but also beyond states." When he saw the chance to join our faculty here in Paris, he knew it would be an excellent match. "AUP’s global citizenship education already seemed to put into practice what I was defending in theory," he said. For Culp, it is a fascinating time to work on the MA in International Affairs. The field "is currently experiencing tectonic shifts of a magnitude that we have not seen since the end of the Cold War." Learn more about Culp's research and journey at https://loom.ly/7_XKbHs. #AUPFaculty #InternationalAffairs #AUPResearch

Understand now how far-left progressives come to support group rape, kidnapping, gender apartheid, and corruption of international aid for causes they know nothing about. Students are ideologically manipulated in these institutions by not deeply diving (or skipping) into critical parts of history—jumping from colonialism directly to Middle Eastern conflicts—ignoring the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. Yes, the Soviet regime, with the oppressor-oppressed narrative, that used compassion above all as the only way to fill the void of nihilism and attain moral value. The system that justifies class-based violence, segregation based on competence that led to millions being imprisoned and killed in Gulag camps. How do I know all that? I didn't go to Yale, But I went to the library and read almost everything I could find by brilliant Russian authors like Solzhenitsyn and Dostoevsky. I learned from them (not only) what happens when the government turns totalitarian, under the guise of compassion, and takes control of your tongue, decides the class you should hate, because that is the class RESPONSIBLE for all your misery. This narrative is perpetuated by far-left ideologues who advocate "soft" socialism but act like the worse tyrants (they say they are mild now, “soft soviet ideologies”). They get to justify a segregated graduation ceremony to prevent "highly moral individuals" from sitting next to Jews. But they are fine to sit by individuals that use rape and gender segregation as a tool. These Qatar funding fundamentalists use the "intellectual" empathy of the confused nihilist professors to spread the lies that an opressor system is the origin of all misery while they KNOW (especially the guys from math/statistics/biology) the countless reasons for global and local inequality, which have rigorously NOTHING to do with an oppressor agent. Social development through competence is demonstrated to be the best model. Should we work against injustices, to help those who didn’t make to the minimum? yes, but evoking oppression is not the answer to that, because that is not the cause of everything. All the above happened in Iran when the evil Islamic fundamentalists paired with Soviet “socialist” ideology in the 70s, promising that the imperialists/capitalists are out– “Social justice is now back to Iran” – what they said to the population, but the Iranians met the worse kind of oppression in the modern world. The far-left compassionate puppets forget that the values and rights they enjoy in Western countries exist because brave and virtuous individuals fought for them, not by spreading lies that the source of misery is because someone “stole” something from them, and they (the compassionate) promise they will bring back. That promise was NEVER fulfilled in history, never.

It seems that Scott intends to reprise Chamberlain by returning from the squatter settlement with a declaration of peace for our time. The price for this appeasement is that Sydney University will have a centre of excellence for Palestinian activism. On the upside, now that student collectives run Sydney University, there is a cost savings to the Australian taxpayers by eliminating a vice-chancellor’s chair. Who needs leaders when thugs can run the place down for the price of antisemitic chants? Mark Scott .:. The University of Sydney has invited anti-Israel campers to join a working group to review the elite sandstone institution's defence and security research ties, in a stunning capitulation to the campus protesters. After months of class disruptions and accusations of anti-Semitism levelled at the activists camped on the University of Sydney grounds, vice-chancellor Mark Scott late on Tuesday declared he had offered the campers the most "comprehensive" offer any anti-Israel activists have been given throughout the nation's campuses. The university has offered to "expand our current truth-telling process" in relation to Indigenous Australians and "increase opportunities" for Palestinian scholars and students. "In addition to acknowledging the history and legacy of racism and injustices experienced by the First Nations peoples of Australia, we will expand our current truth-telling process with reference to current events and their historic relevance at the university," Professor Scott wrote. But its most radical proposal is to allow anti-Israel campers a say in a massive review of the University of Sydney's defence research ties. "This is the same process that led to our institutional decision to divest from modern slavery, cluster munitions, fossil fuels and tobacco," Professor Scott wrote. "The university would therefore establish a working group to undertake a comprehensive independent review of our research partnerships and produce a report with recommendations," Professor Scott said. "Student representatives of the encampment group would be invited to put forward names of individuals for membership in the working group to the chancellor and me," Professor Scott said. The review would be empowered to consider a range of topics including: "existing University of Sydney institutional defence research ties", "mechanisms to increase opportunities for Palestinian scholars and students, and other scholars and students impacted by conflict", and the university's investment policy in line with the university's "deep commitment to human rights". Despite the university's offer of access into its defence projects, at least one faction of the campers refused anyway because the university would not commit to cutting off Israel immediately. They pledged to "continue to heap pressure" and proclaimed, "long live the student intifada". https://lnkd.in/g4EefxV3

The Enduring Influence of the Old Etonian Network in British Society The Old Etonian network remains a significant force in British society, reflecting the deep-rooted connections and influence of alumni from Eton College. This network, often referred to as "Etonocracy," permeates various sectors, from politics to media, maintaining its presence and power. Key Aspects of the Old Etonian Influence 1. **Extensive Alumni Network**: The Old Etonian Association (OEA), founded in 1897, boasts a global community of around 18,000 members. The association's primary goal is to keep alumni connected across generations, fostering lifelong relationships through a variety of events and initiatives. 2. **Political Dominance**: Eton College has produced 20 British prime ministers, including recent figures like Boris Johnson and David Cameron. The school's influence extends to other high-ranking positions such as the Leader of the House of Commons, currently held by Jacob Rees-Mogg, and numerous members of the House of Lords. 3. **Influence in Media and Law**: Prominent Old Etonians occupy key roles in the media and legal sectors. Geordie Greig, editor of the Daily Mail, and Lord Leggatt, a Justice of the Supreme Court, exemplify the school's reach into these critical areas of public life. 4. **Business and Social Connections**: The "old boy network" is a well-known phenomenon where Eton-educated men support each other in business and personal endeavors. This informal system of mutual aid extends the school's influence beyond traditional professional boundaries. 5. **Increased Representation**: Research indicates that the dominance of Eton-educated individuals in public life is greater now than it was a century ago. This is particularly evident in the House of Lords, where nearly 10 percent of members are Old Etonians. 6. **Global Reach and Events**: The OEA organizes various events both locally and internationally, including formal reunion dinners and informal gatherings. These events help maintain and strengthen the bonds among alumni, ensuring that the network remains vibrant and active. ### Conclusion The Old Etonian network continues to wield considerable influence in contemporary British society. Its members occupy pivotal roles across politics, media, law, and other sectors, underscoring the enduring legacy of Eton College. While this concentration of power is seen by some as problematic, it undeniably reflects the lasting impact of the connections forged at this prestigious institution. Hashtags: #EtonCollege #OldEtonians #BritishSociety #EliteNetworks #PublicLife