Some Unethical Advice I Just Gave
I never do this, but I wanted you to look over my shoulder for this client conversation about the anti-Israel protests. Actually, this is a mash up of three-four similar conversations I've had in the past few days with Class of 2024 families.
The gist of the conversations: I'm reluctant to put down a housing deposit at [college] because of the out-of-control, anti-Israel, antisemitic protests. What do you think?
Obviously this is guesswork, but I'll share my thoughts.
First, I hope and suspect that, as the academic year winds down and ends and college kids return home, the protests at most colleges will organically peter out. I would guess that the summer reprieve will give college administrations time to discuss and implement actions to ensure order on campus in the fall, unlike what's happening at Columbia.
This may be a bit of a leap, but I don't think we'll see as much strife on campus next year. But of course a lot could happen to make things go the other way, such as increased hostilities in Israel and the Middle East, something violent and horrible happening on US soil, whatever. But my current guess is that things won't be as hot.
(Side note: one of my four kids attends Cornell, another goes to Michigan. Two ground zeros of protest. I'm not happy about it, but things seem contained and relatively safe at each school. At least for now. So this isn't an abstract, academic discussion for me.)
To the issue of housing deposits. College admissions officers and high school guidance counselors tell us that you can make only one housing deposit at one college, otherwise it's tantamount to a war crime and a violation of natural law.
Here's what I would do, if I had someone headed to a college currently experiencing protests and hate speech. Bear in mind that this is a personal decision, and that I in no way hold myself out an authority on ethics. I'm a college advisor for God's sake, you know how sleazy we are.
Personally, I would double deposit at colleges that my kid was admitted to, in direct contravention of their rules. I'd make one at the controversial college, the other at a safe, backup college. This way you at least have more time to sort things out over the summer, instead of making a hasty decision by May 1 or June 1, depending on the school's deadline.
In the next few weeks, expect a bunch of emails from college administrations and admissions offices to address the issues of safety, antisemitism, hate speech, freedom of speech, right of assembly et al. If you don't like what you hear from College A, take the spot at College B or vice versa. Again, that's what I would do personally, you have to make your own choice that you are comfortable with.
I'm an amateur ethicist, but I'll share this. I believe that your highest ethical duty is to your own family, especially in keeping them safe. To me, that's first and way higher up on the depth chart than a college admissions office, your high school guidance counselor, other kids who are supposedly going to suffer grave harm if they don't get off a waitlist, whatever.
That's how I would justify my decision to double deposit.
What do you think? Let me know by replying to this email, if you'd like to.
- Andy Lockwood
