More than a thousand Harvard students walked out of their commencement ceremony yesterday to support 13 undergraduates who were barred from graduating after they participated in the Gaza solidarity encampment in Harvard Yard.

Asmer Safi, one of the 13 pro-Palestinian student protesters barred from graduating, says that while his future has been thrown into uncertainty while he is on probation, he has no regrets about standing up for Palestinian rights.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    9
    ·
    5 months ago

    Sure, but let’s say that, for example, La Sorbonne says they have credits earned for a degree instead.

    There are many prestigious institutions in other countries that might offer them a degree.

    • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      5 months ago

      I’ve never heard of La Sorbonne. Which is likely because I’m an ignorant American, but so are many of the people usefully swayed by the “Harvard graduate” title in professional life.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        5 months ago

        Why do you think that many of the people usefully swayed by Harvard wouldn’t be usefully swayed by La Sorbonne just because you’ve never heard of it?

        • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          5 months ago

          Simple, because I could be in a position to hire someone and wouldn’t notice “La Sorbonne” as anything noteworthy when flipping through resumes. And it’s not just hiring where prestige can be useful, it’s business pitches, op-eds, political speaking. These aren’t things universally judged by HR managers who, making the assumption they’re even good at their job, might recognize elite foreign institutions, they’re judged by everyday people who might not even be able to name the full top 10 US-based universities, but know the name “Harvard”.

          I’ve met plenty of Harvard undergrads so they don’t hold a mystique, but the paper they get from the institution is nevertheless a valuable asset.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            5 months ago

            Yes, again, just because you haven’t heard of one of the world’s most prestigious universities doesn’t mean no one else has.

            • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              5 months ago

              Why are you being so dense? No one ever claimed that La Sorbonne wasn’t known by anyone.

              …I’m an ignorant American, but so are many of the people usefully swayed by the “Harvard graduate” title in professional life.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                5 months ago

                Yes, an assumption you have no evidence to back up.

                You think that because you personally haven’t heard of something, HR people in major companies have never heard of it when the fact is, they’re probably hiring people from all over the world and, because of that, have heard of one of the worlds most well-known and prestigious universities.

                It’s been around since the 13th century. It was the alma mater of Marie Curie and Simone de Beauvoir (perhaps you’ve also never heard of them). According to Wikipedia, its scientists have won 33 Nobel prizes and 6 Fields medals.

                So basically you’re saying that HR people in major companies don’t understand how to do their jobs because of something you personally have never heard of.

                • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  5 months ago

                  I’m just going to continue this conversation quoting myself from here on out, because you’re literally making arguments I’ve already directly addressed.

                  These aren’t things universally judged by HR managers who, making the assumption they’re even good at their job, might recognize elite foreign institutions, they’re judged by everyday people who might not even be able to name the full top 10 US-based universities, but know the name “Harvard”.

                  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    arrow-down
                    1
                    ·
                    5 months ago

                    Yes, and I’m going to keep repeating this: Just because you haven’t heard of it doesn’t mean other people haven’t heard of it.