My job is at risk!
Last week was a devastating one for my profession — Professors. Thanks to the abysmal testimony before the Congress of three of the top academics in world history, the prestige, finances, and desirability of academia suffered potentially irreparable harm.
Three university presidents in the United States — Claudine Gay (Harvard), Liz Magill (formerly of the University of Pennsylvania), and Sally Kornbluth (MIT) woefully response to serious issues of antisemitism, sparked controversy and calls for resignations, notably after they failed to denounce calls for the genocide of Jews.
This situation highlights the significant responsibilities of university presidents and the pivotal role of trustees — forming what some would say is a ‘Kitchen Cabinet’, advising leaders in governance and accountability, especially during crises like handling sensitive topics such as antisemitism. Trustees are responsible for selecting presidents and managing institutional assets, overseeing finances, buildings, land, securities, budget approvals, and financial transactions while minimizing conflicts of interest. They oversee and hold university presidents accountable through regular performance assessments based on academic values, inclusivity, and risk management.
But by far, the most egregious of all was Harvard president Claudine Gay’s admission (only after it was exposed by the NY Post!) of academic impropriety, potentially involving the plagiarism of multiple sources in nearly half of her scholarly output. It might surprise you that over 1500 years ago, another class of scholars weighed in on why plagiarism seriously violates the ‘craft’ of scholarship.
I want to share with you a teaching from the Talmud that underscores the moral and ethical importance of attributing ideas to their original sources. The Sages teach that one who says something in the name of the person who initially said it brings redemption to the world.
This is illustrated in the book of Esther, where Esther told the king ‘recommendations in the name of Mordechai.’ She didn’t pass it off as her own insights. And guess what? It rebounded to her benefit and the Jewish people’s, as well!
The principle of giving credit where credit is due has significant positive impacts, symbolically likened to bringing redemption to the world. In contrast, failing to acknowledge the true originator of an idea is not just an act of dishonesty, but it also undermines the foundational integrity and trust upon which academic and intellectual communities are built.
So, who can you thank or cite to save the world? Until next time, have a M.A.G.I.C. week!
Appearance
My interview with Julian Dorey is out now!
We talk about everything from the limits of String Theory to “proof” of ALIEN civilization.
Genius
“The biggest revenge against all of the enemies of human dignity is to live a dignified life.”
- Gad Saad
Image
What if you lost your lunch in space… for a year?
Turns out, it might not look too different when you find it a year later.
Astronaut Frank Rubio lost these two tomatoes on the ISS only to stumble across them a year later.
Thanks to the ISS’s 17% humidity, these space tomatoes skipped the whole ‘moldy’ phase.
Guess space is the new way to keep your veggies fresh!
Conversation
The last two months have been nothing short of terrifying for the Jewish community. How can we stay happy and resilient in times like these? Is it even possible or reasonable?
Here to answer this question is none other than the happiness expert himself, Dr. Gad Saad! Dr. Saad is a marketing genius renowned for applying evolutionary psychology to consumer behavior. He is a professor at Concordia University, a behavioral scientist, and a bestselling author.
In our hopeful interview, we discuss his latest book, The Saad Truth about Happiness, and how to apply his theory of happiness in times of war.
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