this post was submitted on 10 Oct 2025
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MIT is 1st school to reject Trump administration's agenda in exchange for funding benefits (www.nbcnews.com)
submitted 3 days ago by tonytins@pawb.social to c/news@lemmy.world
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[–] IamSparticles@lemmy.zip 1 points 14 minutes ago

Signers would be required to freeze tuition rates charged to American students for the next five years, among other conditions, according to the memo. In return, the schools would be given a “competitive advantage,” including priority for grants and invitations to White House events and discussions with officials, a White House official said in a statement.

Going to the white house to talk to officials there does not sound like an "advantage" under the current leadership. It sounds more like punishment.

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 110 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Well done MIT. Hopefully this will encourage others to stand their ground too, even if they're not so well equipped with other sources of funding as MIT.

[–] TempermentalAnomaly@lemmy.world 50 points 2 days ago (1 children)

This is particularly impressive considering 48% of MIT's funding is from the federal government. This is the largest percentage of any university.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 26 points 2 days ago (3 children)

MIT is in a unique position to negotiate here though as that funding is a bargain for the US. And honestly MIT's reputation and capacity to attract the global top talent in stem will remain long after a funding battle unless they trash it.

[–] UnrepententProcrastinator@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'm afraid the current administration doesn't care about the reputation of US institutions.

[–] Dozzi92@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

MIT will outlast the administration, is the idea. And if (and when) the pendulum swings, they don't want to have tarnished their otherwise impeccable reputation by capitulating.

[–] BanMe@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

Unlike a number of other schools, some of which (Berkeley) are downright pathetic.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yeah being ranked as one of the best schools in the world will hopefully help them gain leverage. On the world stage there are only a few U.S. schools that say "the U.S. is still good at things" and letting MIT fall from those positions will make the U.S. look like their re-imagining of education is the complete failure we all know it is going to be. Would someone else take their place, yes. Will they be from the U.S., no. I was hoping UCF would reach that point somewhere along the line, but I'm biased and I think they got a boot on their neck for the last number of years that stopped them from research growth and diverted it to stupid Desantis shit.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It's not even that, MIT has this reputation because they produce results. They're well known to be the upstream source of massive amounts of technological innovation with all the financial benefits that comes with

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

I agree, that is what makes them rank high. It's what makes Harvard rank high while turning out 50% shit students in my opinion

[–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, I mean Gordon Freeman went there...

[–] MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 2 points 2 days ago

He learned how to throw switches. That education really pays for itself. :p

[–] tal@olio.cafe 88 points 3 days ago (4 children)

"With respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education,” the Massachusetts Institute of Technology president wrote in a letter.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WithDueRespect

With Due Respect

"Why is it that whenever someone says 'with all due respect', they really mean 'kiss my ass'?"

— Ashley Williams, Mass Effect 1

[–] badgermurphy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I like it even better than "kiss my ass"! It often strongly insinuates that the writer thinks that all the respect that is due is none.

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 32 points 3 days ago

Highly appropriate though, if we’re being honest

[–] tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip 7 points 2 days ago

All due respect, if getting spit on's how respect is now defined
-Run the Jewels

with a video that's only gotten more grim with time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-M15L4BTqI

[–] expatriado@lemmy.world 49 points 2 days ago

pretty sure MIT did the math

[–] foggy@lemmy.world 66 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

Universities have legacies to maintain. Some have already irreparably fucked that up.

Looking at you, Columbia.

Straight to the trash, any resume from Columbia. Sorry not sorry. Your institution is beyond tainted. Just tell me you got a GED instead.

[–] scintilla@crust.piefed.social 22 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I mean arguably Columbia is perfectly mantaining its legacy.

[–] cdf12345@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 days ago

King's College

[–] bo5on@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I'm sorry how is that fair to current students or alumni who predate current events?

[–] foggy@lemmy.world 38 points 2 days ago

It isn't.

That's the nature of of ruining a legacy.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Fair isn't how things normally play out. If hiring was fair, the name of your University wouldn't have half the impact it does on law firms and such. Any good company will know they are still a good student if they graduated, but stains come from before/during/after no matter what.

Were the Harry Potter books a great series for kids at the time, I say definitely. Do the stains from the authors views after they come out stain the actors/actresses who don't denounce them.. unfortunately yes. You see it in so many threads shitting on anyone willing to work on their upcoming series.

Is it reasonable... Many people think yes, so they will lose audience. Many people think no, so they will keep that audience. If Rowling died, would that stain on the product still hold in 10 years.... It will stay for some forever.

[–] Tinidril@midwest.social 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

How can there be funding benefits of there is no funding? They kinda gave up their leverage

[–] tonytins@pawb.social 1 points 1 day ago

I know California threatened to cut support for colleges who caved to Trump but I'm not quite sure with Massachusetts.

[–] dan@upvote.au 23 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Good; hopefully other universities follow.

[–] Deceptichum@quokk.au 21 points 3 days ago

Welp props to MIT. I would love to see foreign countries refuse to recognise any sort of certifications from any place that does.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

and to provide instruction in American civics to all foreign students,” the memo about the compact said.

Of course, they will have to use the civics curriculum provided by the illegitimate MAGA Nazi government, which will be prepared by the Conservative Propaganda Machine.

[–] 3abas@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

American history currently taught in schools is already colonial propaganda, they wouldn't need to change much. Most of the world learns a very different history of America, and it would be sufficient to expose them to the propaganda Americans grew up on.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today -2 points 2 days ago

i was going to say, but MIT is a pipeline for Israeli weapons research industry, scientist, engineer that dont feel conscience when supporting israeli efforts.