I probably come closer to libertarian than anything - that is - leave me alone!  and most who know me, know that the easiest way to get me "over the top" is to flaunt the academic world in my face - you know, the sanctimonious world that does not have to live by the rules that you and I live our lives and jobs under.  Once a faculty member has tenure - they are as gods.  There really is no accountability within the ivy tower fortress.  It is more sacred than holy ground.  And all the while they preach lunacy... and break any rule that they consider beneath their status.  

My contention is that these institutions need to be dismantled - brick by brick - and rebuilt - to serve those who pay their salaries... and that tuition should be FREE through at least the BS level.  except at 50 or so elite universities.  I mean - lets face it - Government (state and federal) grants pay BILLIONS into universities throughout this country and each year - tuition goes up! with NO JUSTIFICATION - and to top that off, have you hired their products?  they cannot read, cannot write, cannot do simple arithmetic, cannot think - and do not know how to act.  Sadly many get degrees in "stuff" that not only does not prepare them for the workplace - but on the whole - except being hired by the bloody university that gave them the degree - there is NO JOB at the end of the educational journey!

Want proof - what if I told you that there was an ivy league institution that on the whole had SEVERAL sexual predators that were sheltered in their hallowed halls?  would you send your kid there?  read below and be shocked.  By the by, for the record, Penn has done NOTHING to change policy with respect to criminal activity by faculty.

Recently one of my "students" (a stripper who works as a stripper - and is quite attractive) told me that she had flirted with a prof... I warned her that profs are NOT harmless... and she should not do that unless she would be willing to pay the price... needless to say she did not believe me until I provided her with the below- and by the way - this is the reason I question EVERYTHING that comes from a university - there is no truth there.... only a mystical - "well, you could not possibly understand this, so run along little dumb boy!"

Read and weep - Universities do not keep watch on their own shop - oh, and least you think that this is limited to sexual misconduct - I could also provide the appropriate information wrt research fraud !  

Alleged sex offender won't teach For a third time, he faces child sex-crime charges. Wharton School of Business!
By Patrick Kerkstra and Joseph A. Slobodzian
Inquirer Staff Writers
After the third allegation of a sex crime involving minors, Wharton School professor emeritus Lawrence Scott Ward has been taken out of the classroom.  In a terse statement released yesterday afternoon, the University of Pennsylvania said it had "made arrangements to ensure that he will not be teaching at the Wharton School or elsewhere at the university this semester or in the future."  The marketing professor was arrested Sunday morning at Washington's Dulles International Airport after customs agents searching his luggage found three mini-DVD discs depicting him having sex with boys estimated to be 14 to 16 years old, according to an affidavit filed in federal court.

Neurology Professor Sentenced to House Arrest for Sexual Assault
The Pennsylvania Gazette

THE LAW | Dr. Tracy McIntosh, former professor of neurosurgery and former director of the Head Injury Research Center at Penn, was sentenced in March to house arrest for 111/2 to 23 months by a Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge for sexually assaulting a 23-year-old woman and possessing an illegal substance. He was also given 12 additional years of probation; fined $20,000; ordered to pay $20,000 for the victim’s psychological treatment and to perform 1,000 hours of community service; and prohibited from supervising women in the future.  In addition, the woman has filed a civil suit against McIntosh and against the University, alleging that Penn “took part in a conspiracy to cover up both what they knew about McIntosh’s history and to keep information from the district attorney.” A Penn spokeswoman called those allegations “absolutely baseless and outrageous.”  The 52-year-old McIntosh, who came to Penn in 1992 but was on administrative leave since April 2003—when he turned himself in to Philadelphia police—pleaded no contest this past December to the assault and substance-possession charges. He was asked to resign from the University by Dr. Arthur Rubenstein, dean of the School of Medicine, and did so.

Univ of Penn Library director Paul Mosher pleaded guilty in October of 2003 to possession of child pornography

Oh, and least ye think that this is the worst?  Care for a murder suspect teaching your kid?

Penn Prof Named Suspect in Wife's Murder
by KYW's David Madden
Montgomery County investigators have obtained a DNA sample and fingerprints from the estranged husband of an Upper Merion woman who was murdered last month in the couple's home.

Prosecutors have even gone so far as to label the husband, a University of Pennsylvania economics professor, as a suspect in the case.

Rafael Robb complied with a warrant to provide the samples, although his attorney has steadfastly maintained Robb’s innocence in the bludgeoning death of his wife Ellen.

There are lots of holes in the story Dr. Robb told authorities, according to Montgomery County DA Bruce Castor. And then there’s the defense lawyer  insisting arresting his client would be "a mistake."  Castor wonders about that:

"He must be privy to evidence that we don’t have, because everything that I have seen points in the direction of Dr. Robb."

-- Modified on 1/4/2007 8:48:39 PM

-- Modified on 1/4/2007 8:54:49 PM

every institution that employs someone who goes on to commit a crime should be disbanded? Because by your logic we should disband the military, police forces, hospitals, all government, schools (even private ones) and every company and corporation because crimes have been committed at some point in time.  That's not libertarian, that's insane. You can go back to your hunter/gatherer society if you want to but I'll stay out here in the 21st Century.

But I'm of the opinion that 90% of the Ivy Leaguers are a bunch of spoilt, snot nosed, back stabbing, cowardly weasels.   Just look at John Kerry and Ted Kennedy.

Maybe Vanderbilt is not quite so bad.

I am saying that we DO need to examine educational institutions... were one caught in the corporate workplace committing these types of crimes, you loose your job... in these instances the perps are not only retained by the institution until it is clear that they MUST let them go, but the legal system (which is closly tied to the academic system) not only gives these guys a pass - but there is a "wink" mentality...  And yea, I have been in corps where for far less, people not only lost their jobs, but also did jail time.

Member - I did not say disband - but RESTRUCTURE - and the corporate world does that EVERY SINGLE day.  Academia has not resturctured in over 1400  years.   So it is you who wish to remain in the 15th century.

The best argument against Ivy League schools currently resides in the White House.

Not just Ivy League schools per se, but legacy admissions to them as well.

George H W Bush went to Yale.
George H W Bush is a member of Skull & Bones.

Bill Clinton went to Yale.
Bill Clinton is a member of Skull & Bones.

George W Bush went to Yale.
George W Bush is a member of Skull & Bones.

John Kerry went to Yale.
John Kerry is a member of Skull & Bones.

notice a pattern?

Ban all Ivy Leaguers from being president.

The faculty helped crucify those lacrose players.

Clinton is not a member, in fact he couldn't be. Skull and Bones members are chosen and initiated during their junior year at Yale.  Clinton only attended Yale Law School. He got his undergrad degree from Georgetown.

talk about people removed from their jobs and convicted of crimes and sentenced so I don't understand what you are getting at. Are you saying that we should do away with due process? That will push you more more towards being a facsist rather than a liberterian.

That DA belongs in the bug-house.

About 12 years ago, I was in executive class while flying to Hawaii.  In order to do that at cheapo seat price, I had to buy my ticket 8 months in advance.  Next to me and around me were about 5 Duke yuppie beautiful people.  Duke had just won their game to the final 4 in my town and they had come into town to watch the game and were makeing a connecting flight to Maui.  The 2 or 3 ckickypoos were HOT.   They didn't give me the time of day and the one sitting next to me wouldn't even make cordial small talk. Difficult to put into words but you could just tell in so many ways that momma and dada had lots and lots of  bucks. They were well behaved though and I never saw them again after leaving the airport baggage c laim.

“They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful, in a way that, unless you were born rich, it is very difficult to understand. They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are because we had to discover the compensations and refuges of life for ourselves. Even when they enter deep into our world or sink below us, they still think that they are better than we are. They are different”.

BizzaroSuperDud, I am sure you well know Hemingway’s reply to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s quote when he said: “the rich are different. They have more money”.  In support of GOP Geezer assertions, those who attended the school of hard knocks for example, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan knew what it is like to fight in the trenches, work for a living and play by the rules. Those in possession of wealth and privilege tend to hide behind their connections and lawyers.

Their wealth and privilege often results in a characteristic trait I noticed in Sen. Kerry is this: “I’m better than you”.  President Bush demonstrates the same character flaw, but George W. does a better job of hiding his nature behind his fake west Texas cowboy act.

I have noticed the most dishonest and biggest thieves are those with one or more of these character traits:

1. I’m better than you are.
2. I’m smarter than you are.
3. I deserve it, it’s my birthright.

Look at Kenneth Lay and his partners Fastow and Schilling and the whole Enron scandal. They were successful in stealing millions of dollars from hard working Americans, because those of us who work for a living tend to be trustful.  When people in a society feel there are two sets of rules, one for the privileged, and one for the rest and the covenant of trust is broken, the flame of revolution is often ignited.  This “Storm the Bastille” battle cry resulted in the Republicans losing the congressional majority.  

I'd rather we select our rulers from the first 100 names in the Boston phone book, rather than 100 Harvard fuculty members. (not exact quote)

No matter the hurt that has be visited to that family (JFK Shot, RFK Shot, JFK Jr. dies in plane accident, RFK jr. bone cancer, Arnold marries into the clan and so on...) for the most part they still ack like spoiled brats who if they don't get their way, well, it is whoever stands in their way who needs to move.  Thanks - I appreciate the take... well thought out.  And I think that the republican AND the Demos would both do well to read your post - - - - and just think about it.

You are getting the sanitized version.  Lots go on behind  the scenes.... and to top it off, the university still has yet to make appropriate changes in tenure rules and guidelines to reflect repeated misconduct.... member, for some of these, this was NOT the "FIRST" time there were questions.  The very serious problem that I have with all of this is that indeed faculty "get away" with a lot of inappropriate conduct - why??  if you are a student and a faculty has behaved inappropriately towards you - are you gonna report him/her?  I think not.

Dude, been there, done that - big time... for the most part private industry execs... are 100000000000000000 times more honest and respectful than the faculty at ANY University! ANY ! got it?  sorry if this offends you if you are a faculty member - but dude - I was one... and I know what goes on.

conduct that you got away with to the general population of university faculty is totally unfair. Once again you are using anecdotal evidence to create sweeping judgements. Obviously your degree was not in any of the science or research fields.

would you prefer to be ruled from 100 randomly picked subscribers from

1. The National Review ;
2. The New Republic ;
3. The Weekly Standard ?

I'd be hard put to want to generalize based on that story.  Something like that's happened to just about everyone, at the hands of reprresentatives of pretty much every demographic group out there.

Maybe thay were just callow youth?  The hot chickypoos were with their buddies and so that's probably the reason why they "ignored" you.  Truth be told, they were probably oblivious to your existence.

The one sitting next to you, maybe she was just tired, afraid of flying, not feeling well, not naturaly socialable, shy and introverted, or any other number of OK-sounding alternative explanations.

The main point, they were "well behaved."  That's all I ever ask of anyone these days when I'm forced to "share" public space with them.

If she's a snob, leave her to her snobbery, she's not worth a second of your time and your thoughts.

Things that I have witnessed in SEVERAL UNIVERSITIES!  not a few - would be grounds for dismissal at ANY corporate office.  Tell me, why do you think that tuition is so high?  BILLIONS are pumped into universities by SEVERAL federal agencies - the NIH is only one... the budget is below - so why are tuitions what they are?

We - the taxfrigginpayers - pay several times for the same stuff.  It is because universities are so corrupt - that it will take a dismantling to straighten the mess.... for them all.

If you are "in the system" and have never been elsewhere, then you would not know... I have been in both... and can only say, that what I observe - in ALL the ones that I have dealt with - are identical wrt corruption - that is so basic.

In ALL institutions - kids are sold degrees, some have value - and some a worthless and do not perform the function that is the basis of the market presentation (to strengthen your mind and prepare it to be a productive member of society).  

And dude - there are plenty of studies to back this assertion up -

Another point, why do you think that NIH deemed it necessary to form a group devoted to looking into data falsification?  the only problem?  it is understaffed.

sitting around watching people rape women and molest children says a lot about you. I, for one, have missed all the faculty orgies to this point but will certainly keep my eyes open. As for all those worthless degrees out there I will be awaiting your list of Yale and Harvard graduate homeless people and McDonald fry cooks.

What makes ya so sure that I didn't attend? lol!  But to answer you Q.  I worked for a Harvard MBA - who was hired... and subsequently fired from TWO international companies.  just too many damned mistakes!  lol!  And that is a difference... you are accountable in the business world for your mistakes... but not in academia.

In one of my summers I spent as a choker setter on a logging crew in the backwoods of Oregon, I met up with this pot smoking Jack Daniel’s drinking man. He happened to be a graduate from Dartmouth.  He was from a well-connected family in Oregon and as you probably surmised the black sheep from the family. Though he was one not to be trusted, when he was not in an alcoholic stupor, he was insightful on numerous subjects especially in regards to what soil makes the best cannabis.

Take it for what it is worth this is what he said about the Kennedy’s.  When the rich provide you access to their inner sanctum and power, remember your allegiance is to the class and their clan.  His theory on the JFK and RFK assassinations is that they were given wealth and privilege and what did they do with that power, they worked to level the playing field.  This was not appreciated and to my friend they were considered traitorous, and thus were whacked.

Consider this, when President Theodore Roosevelt had finished working in breaking up the corporate trusts, he lost the Republican nomination.  Result, he was whacked by character assassinations. Actually an attempt was made on his life when he ran on the Bull Moose party ticket.  

There are more examples of tragic figures, but my friends and I have tee time at the local municipal course.  


-- Modified on 1/6/2007 1:55:19 PM