545. Reaction to Harvard: Scam? | Dr. Jordan B. Peterson

Jordan Peterson and Steven Pinker offer a critical perspective on the ideological landscape of elite universities like Harvard, accusing them of promoting a far-left progressive faculty and DEI policies at the expense of merit and ideological diversity.

Elite Universities Like Harvard Are Dominated by Far-left Progressive Faculty

Peterson notes that Harvard and other Ivy League schools are dominated by faculty and researchers who are either progressive or at least comply with progressive norms. He criticizes the political leanings of Harvard’s faculty, which he sees as heavily skewed toward liberal positions, a trend he remarks is relatively recent compared to the 1990s. Surveys by the Harvard Crimson show that a mere 2.9% of faculty identify as conservative, while over 77% identify as liberal, with the rest moderate. Peterson suggests that during the 1990s, Harvard housed a more ideologically diverse faculty, whereas today the administration and faculty are overwhelmingly progressive-leaning.

Few Conservative and Liberal Voices Among Ivy League Faculty

Peterson states that up to 75% of the faculty are progressive, with conservative faculty making up at most 3% and less than 1% identifying as very conservative. Steven Pinker, a liberal Harvard psychology professor, warned that the university and other elite institutions have decreased their regard for intellectual diversity. A 2015 analysis found that 96% of campaign contributions went to Democratic campaigns, indicating a strong progressive tilt among faculty and staff.

University Leadership Leanings More Progressive Than Faculty

Although there is no direct survey data on Harvard's administration, Peterson implies that the university leadership may be even more progressive than the faculty itself, emphasizing that their policies and alignment lean towards a far-left direction.

Universities Prioritize DEI Policies Over Merit-Based Criteria

According to Peterson, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies are prioritized over merit-based criteria in admissions and hiring decisions. He argues that this shift affects all aspects of academia, from journal publications to research agendas, grant applications, and hiring processes. Peterson laments the difficulties faced by non-progressive candidates, especially white males, in finding academic jobs due to their non-alignment with DEI requirements.

Dei Requirements Exclude Qualified Candidates Not Aligning With Progressive Orthodoxy

Peterson critiques the ubiquity ...

Jordan Peterson articulates challenges and repercussions that result from the implementation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies within academic institutions, asserting that these initiatives undermine academic standards and compromise individual merit.

DEI Policies Have Lowered Academic Standards and the Universities' Truth-Seeking Mission

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Universities Prioritize Parity Over Individual Merit

Peterson suggests that DEI policies have led universities to favor demographic parity over individual merit and academic standards. He points out that institutions like McGill's medical school have been put on probation by accrediting bodies not for academic reasons, but for failing to satisfy DEI criteria, such as recruiting indigenous students and bolstering diversity in leadership. Similarly, Harvard’s decision to discontinue race-based affinity group celebrations signals a potential move away from meritocracy.

The host criticizes DEI statements as significant gatekeepers in faculty hiring and promotion processes, claiming they defer metrics like publication impact in favor of political allegiance and conformity to DEI expectations. He notes that a Nature study in 2023 found that 40% of STEM faculty felt DEI requirements are overshadowing research quality.

Demographic Focus Compromises Candidate Quality in Education and Research

Peterson conveys doubt about the qualification of candidates due to a heightened emphasis on DEI policies, suggesting that intense competition for qualified minorities means that standards must be compromised to fulfill quotas. He takes note of the closure of McGill's DEI-focused office, speculating it may indicate a shift away from strict demographic representation. The host argues that various candidates, despite their impressive academic achievements, are being overlooked based on their DEI statements, suggesting that a focus on diversity is excluding those who do not align with progressive ideology.

Faculty's Cowardice and Complicity in Dei Policies Betrays Public Trust in Higher Education

Researchers Prioritize Careers and Funding Over Integrity to Meet Dei Requirements

Peterson sharply criticizes faculty and researchers for prioritizing their careers and funding over academic integrity to meet DEI mandates. He labels the Dean of Medicine at McGill as "another coward," for promising to enhance faculty diversity and implies that this represents an act of spineless leadership that betrays public trus ...

Jordan Peterson outlines a significant clash between elite universities and the Trump administration, fueled by accusations of corruption, ideological bias, and the presence of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which could have profound implications for the future of higher education in the United States.

Trump Administration Targeted Elite University Corruption, Risking Billions in Federal Funding and Tax Status

Peterson signals a "well-publicized war" where Harvard, amid accusations, faces severe threats from the Trump administration, jeopardizing its long-standing financial benefits.

Harvard Sues Government, Claiming First Amendment Violation by Trump Reform Demands

In response to sweeping reform demands that clash with its academic autonomy, Harvard University, led by President Ellen Garber, has entered a legal battle against the Trump administration. The lawsuit, supported by faculty, argues that these demands infringe on Harvard's First Amendment rights. The university contends that the administration's actions to freeze research grants, contracts, and potentially affect its tax-exempt status and foreign student enrollments, are an overreach. Trump's measures, including the executive order and Agenda 47, aim to compel Harvard to eliminate DEI policies, audit viewpoint diversity, and overhaul hiring and admissions processes.

Columbia and Other Universities Comply With Federal Demands to Protect Funding and Tax-exempt Status

In stark contrast to Harvard's approach, institutions like Columbia, Cornell, and Northwestern have chosen to comply with federal mandates. Columbia's administration conveys a tone of defiance but ultimately signals accommodation to safeguard funding and status. Peterson, critical of Harvard's position, draws a comparison to Hillsdale College, an instituti ...

The public's faith in the higher education system is under siege as institutions face scrutiny over their adherence to merit and objectivity. Jordan Peterson weighs in on this crisis of confidence, highlighting a notable fall in the prestige of universities.

Growing Distrust in Universities as Americans Recognize Decline in Education's Value and Integrity

Peterson asserts that the corruption within universities, particularly those in the Ivy League, is spilling over into the broader culture. This trend has arisen as these institutions prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies over the principles of meritocracy, Peterson argues.

Confidence in Higher Education Falls To 33%

Jordan Peterson points to Harvard's plummeting admissions, which he perceives as a result of the university's ideological stances, marking a sharp decline in public trust. He mentions instances where the promotion process, research agenda, grant application process, and publication reflect an erosion of academic freedom, objectivity, and meritocracy. Peterson further critiques this violation of trust, noting how acts of dishonesty within the academic community contribute to public disillusionment with higher education.

However, the specific statistic of confidence in higher education falling to 33% is not directly mentioned in the podcast transcript provided. Nevertheless, the conversation with Peterson implies a dramatic dip in public trust in these institutions.

Declining Perceived Value of Degrees Amid Public Disillusionment

According to Peterson, the perceived value of degrees is waning amid public disillusionment, as universities are increasingly viewed as centers for ideological indoctrination rather than education. Peterson explores th ...