Taliban stages daring attack on Yale’s credibility
posted at 12:05 pm on February 9, 2007 by Allahpundit
I want to believe, but I don’t. How many ambitious high-school students fighting for a ticket to New Haven are likely to know about this and to pull their applications because of it? Answer: not 9.7%.
Our pal, Clint Taylor, is optimistic, though.
Critics of Yale’s decision to admit former Taliban diplomat Rahmatullah Hashemi have suggested that the ensuing controversy was partially to blame for the decrease in applications to Yale this year, but the University and some college counselors claim the effect on prospective applicants was likely minimal.
Applications to Yale for the class of 2011 decreased 9.7 percent from last year’s record high of 21,101, Dean of Admissions Jeff Brenzel said last week. While Yale administrators blamed the decline on last year’s record-low acceptance rate and natural year-to-year fluctuations, critics of the University have argued that high school students may have been disillusioned by Hashemi’s enrollment…
Last spring, Clint Taylor ’96 launched a campaign and Weblog called NailYale — a name that makes reference to the rumored Taliban practice of removing the nails of women who wear noticeable nail polish — encouraging alumni to forgo donations to Yale until the University’s decision to admit Hashemi was more fully explained.
“Once [the administration] realized they had made this mistake [in admitting a Taliban representative], they didn’t come out and say we made a mistake,” Taylor said. “I think in the long run that could affect Yale, that they don’t seem to realize what they did wrong and didn’t make amends for it.”
Exit question: Are UK universities really offering doctorate degrees now in “political Islam”?
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I’ll bet the 9.7% decrease in admissions has more to do with Princeton freezing tuition than with controversy over Hashemi. Yale and Princeton compete for the same pool of students, so with Princeton holding steady on costs and Yale expected to raise tuition and fees above the rate of inflation, this was likely due to economics, not politics.
Slublog on February 9, 2007 at 12:23 PM
Doctorate in Political Islam: Course Requirements
Terrorism 101
Bin Laden: Friend or Foe?
Sharia Law
Women’s Rights in Islam (cancelled due to lack of interest)
Bomb Making
pullingmyhairout on February 9, 2007 at 12:26 PM
I don’t know. People who go to either school are either wealthy or eligible for a mass amount of scholarships. We’re not talking about people who chose to stay in state because it’s cheaper.
Or hey, maybe it’s all of the above, including stricter guidelines on admissions.
It would be nice if it was about the Taliban though.
Maybe they wouldn’t pull their applications, but I’d find it nearly impossible to believe that students who apply at Yale don’t know about this. These kids are smart, and this has gotten its fair share of attention.
Esthier on February 9, 2007 at 12:28 PM
The student body at Yale is quite liberal, which suggests that the students applying there are as well. I doubt this had any noticeable effect.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on February 9, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Are UK universities really offering doctorate degrees now in “political Islam”?
Wow, a home-grown Madrassa. You don’t need to go to Cairo for a doctorate in Islamic Studies now!
Lehuster on February 9, 2007 at 12:38 PM
Has Rahmatullah Hashemi been initiated into Skull and Bones yet?
I understand it’s all the rage at Yale.
Kini on February 9, 2007 at 12:39 PM
Boasting about the accomplishments of their alumni is a common practice and useful tool in recruiting new students to any university.
John Kerry attended Yale.
nuf said.
fogw on February 9, 2007 at 12:44 PM
I hear that class is the bomb.
armylawyer on February 9, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Could it have had anything to do with their gazillion% increase in tuition! Nawwwwwwwwwww!
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on February 9, 2007 at 1:01 PM
Dgree in political Islam?
It’s not listed in the school’s as a specific degree, but they do have an operating agreement with Al-Azhar U in Cairo.
“…The Centre has formal cooperation agreements with Al-Azhar University, Cairo, the University of Jordan, Amman and Kuwait University…”
forest on February 9, 2007 at 1:29 PM
As a former post-graduate student in the UK, I would have to say that it wouldn’t surprise me in the least.
However, I find that in the world of doctoral studies, the program offered at the particular University may have a broader name than the specific subject that the student is studying. At Edinburgh, for instance, my program was “Christian Ethics and Practical Theology.” However, whenever I was asked what I was studying, I would say something like “Theology and Popular Media.” Which was true. But, my degree states “Christian Ethics and Practical Theology.”
nailinmyeye on February 9, 2007 at 1:35 PM
Women’s Rights in Islam (cancelled due to lack of
interestcourse material)There, that’s better.
Laura on February 9, 2007 at 1:39 PM
I wonder if Hekmatyar Gulbuddin will want to add a diploma to his credentials? Yale taking HIG as well as Talib?
Bah.
major john on February 9, 2007 at 1:42 PM
clever.
shooter on February 9, 2007 at 1:43 PM
Here: it says Abu Bakr is a PhD Candidate at “the City’s University.” I imagine it means Birmingham.
At the University of Birmingham website, a list of offered Postgraduate courses includes a few areas that “Political Islam” might fall under. I found Islamic Studies PhD, with Integrated Study most applicable.
However, the University offers, it seems, a broad range of programs from Quaker Studies to Religion and Culture Studies. I would think that if a person’s Doctoral project/dissertation were on “Political Islam”, it could definitely fit into, at the least, the Islamic Studies Program. There is another program that the University offers on Politics and Religion, though, it is not a doctoral program. MA or diploma.
In fact, a google search for “Political Islam PhD,” will yield results of Dissertations that have been written on different aspects of the subject.
nailinmyeye on February 9, 2007 at 2:10 PM
I see some classes out there in Political Islam, but no degree programs — much like nailinmyeye says. However, I was curious about the term itself. From Alliance for Security.org:
How nice of a university to teach students the way to “restore the Muslim world’s former glory.” New exit question: Did a believer or a kaffir write the wiki entry for Political Islam?” Aw hell, I’ll save you a click. Here’s a quote to help you determine:
lan astaslem on February 9, 2007 at 4:18 PM
pullingmyhairout on February 9, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Great list. Here’s the prerequisite class “We hate the Jews”.
Entelechy on February 9, 2007 at 4:20 PM
I’m not a fan of Ivy League schools, period. Way, Way over rated.
Zorro on February 9, 2007 at 8:13 PM
I find it interesting that it’s the “high school kids” who are disillusioned, and there’s not a word about … their parents who are likely paying their way who might be… passing the school over.
eh just a thought.
parents? What are those?
One Angry Christian on February 10, 2007 at 5:56 PM
“Political” Islam 101 syllabus.
A: convert
B: die
C: be a slave
That’s all you need to know class. The finals in June.
Mojave Mark on February 12, 2007 at 10:11 AM