I don’t intend to hire graduates of elite American universities.Ten years ago, I might have been happy to have the chance to have the best graduates from Hayeps and other universities, but not now.
As a graduate of Haverford College, I became interested in the riots that took place on campus last fall.
A student strike culminated in a university-wide undergraduate Zoom meeting, during which many students displayed shocking narcissism and outright attacks that could not withstand criticism, while administrators responded only with self-deprecating apologies.
Haverford is a progressive hothouse. If students are still hurting on that greenhouses campus, they are unlikely to function effectively as team members in an organization that has to deal with many real-world problems. Under no circumstances would I want to hire someone who would make inflammatory accusations without saying a word.
Student Activists are not representative of the majority of students, but I am also surprised by the silence of many. They allow themselves to be cowed by accusations of racism and other crimes. I sympathize. In elite higher education, the atmosphere of intimidation is strong. But I don’t want to hire someone who is in the habit of keeping quiet. Speaking up comes at a price.
The traditional Islamic world shows moderate tolerance for races of other faiths, in which Christians and Jews are “dhimmi” and are allowed to exist, but only if they accept their subordination in society. In studying this phenomenon, sociologists coined the term “dhimmitude” to describe a psychology that internalizes the status of a “second-class citizen.”
Haverford, like other top American universities, has undoubtedly produced many excellent young people with good personalities and an informed view of the world. But in the past decade, the phenomenon of “dhimmitude” has become widespread in higher education.Normal kids at elite colleges keep their heads down.Over the course of four years, this can evolve into an elusive but real habitual obedience, a state of moral and spiritual submission.
Some will resist. These people seemed ideal for me when I was hiring, because my organization speaks for religious and social conservatives. But even such graduates tend to be a burden in the workplace. The Ivy League grads I’ve met recently have conservative beliefs that exhibit a form of PTSD. Others develop an aggressive counterattack habit, which is no better than wantonly blaming others.
There’s no doubt that Ivy League colleges attract a lot of bright, talented and ambitious kids.But can these colleges “add value” to children? My answer is no.Abnormal children are protected in the ivory tower, are more and more hostile, sane children are attacked and abused in education. If you’ve listened to the Haverford College Zoom Conference, you’ll understand that today’s elite universities are not led by brave adults. Without good role models, students cannot become mature and good leaders themselves.
Based on my experience, I recruit from schools I know well, such as Hillsdale College, Thomas Aquinas College, Catholic College of Wyoming, and the University of Dallas.Graduates of these places are well educated, supported and encouraged by their schools, and not distorted by toxic political correctness.
Large state universities and satellite schools are also good. The top performers at Rutgers are just as talented as the Ivy League students, and less self-conscious. They are more likely to accept authority and receive good guidance from older people who are more experienced than they are, which makes their progress more noticeable over time.
The biggest baggage of elite college graduates is that their talk of systemic racism and obstinacy in pronouns fills them with an apocalyptic sense of urgency.This mindset tends to disrupt work in the workplace, with self-centered thinking about diversity, inclusion, and other concepts that aren’t clearly defined, and that’s a far cry from what I need them to do – good writing, editing, and argumentation.
A few years ago, a Vine student told me,
“The first thing I learned in freshman year was never to say what you’re thinking.”
Judging by the young man’s reaction, the school is doing the opposite: it is training future self-censors – followers, not leaders.
What do you think about this?
