WEBVTT - Harvard Rejects Trump’s Demands (Part 2)

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<v Speaker 1>Keep on riding with us as we continue to broadcast

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<v Speaker 1>the balance and defend the discourse from the Hip Hop

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<v Speaker 1>Weekly Studios. Welcome back to Civic Cipher. I am your host, Rams'.

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<v Speaker 2>Ja he is Ramsey's Jaw.

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<v Speaker 3>I am q ward.

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<v Speaker 2>You are tuned into Civic Cipher.

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<v Speaker 1>Yes you are, and we appreciate it. We are joined

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<v Speaker 1>by our teacher, doctor Camilla Westenberg. If you don't know,

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<v Speaker 1>she has been a decade long advocate for equality, both

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<v Speaker 1>for women and marginalized communities. She is a charter member

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<v Speaker 1>of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Additionally,

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<v Speaker 1>she currently serves as the VP for Political Action of

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<v Speaker 1>the Maricopa County Branch of the NAACP. She is a

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<v Speaker 1>distinguished leader in the Alpha Cappa alph Sorority Phoenix Chapter.

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<v Speaker 1>She is a member of the Phoenix Chapter of the Lynx.

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<v Speaker 1>She is also a member of the Top Ladies of

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<v Speaker 1>Distinction Phoenix Chapter, currently holding the position of Historian. Additionally,

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<v Speaker 1>she is a life member of the National Council of

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<v Speaker 1>Negro Women. She is here as herself, not any of

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<v Speaker 1>the nonpartisan institutions that she is a part of, but

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<v Speaker 1>she is indeed our teacher and she is going to

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<v Speaker 1>help us make heads or tails of this next part

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<v Speaker 1>of the show. But before we get there is time

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<v Speaker 1>to be aba become a better ally. And what we

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<v Speaker 1>want you to do this week in terms of becoming

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<v Speaker 1>a better ally.

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<v Speaker 3>Is to donate.

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<v Speaker 1>Donate to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm going to share something from their website for those

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<v Speaker 1>that don't know in m AAHC, that's National Museum of

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<v Speaker 1>African American History and Culture in AHC dot SI or

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<v Speaker 1>Smithsonian Institution dot edu. I know that's a lot, but

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<v Speaker 1>of course you can google them as well. All right.

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<v Speaker 1>This is from their website. In their words, help us

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<v Speaker 1>tell the full African American story. Join as a member

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<v Speaker 1>of the National Museum of African American History and Culture

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<v Speaker 1>to help elevate the African American experience to its rightful

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<v Speaker 1>place at the center of our nation's history and culture.

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<v Speaker 1>Please be generous and welcome to the museum family. Visit

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<v Speaker 1>the gift membership page to give the gift of membership

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<v Speaker 1>to someone special again that is in m.

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<v Speaker 3>A HC dot SI dot ed.

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<v Speaker 1>U, and then they have a thank you VENNMA share.

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<v Speaker 1>It says thanks to these steadfast.

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<v Speaker 4>Supporters of UH Sorry the stead Thanks to the steadfast

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<v Speaker 4>support of our loyal members and donors, we are expanding

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<v Speaker 4>and sharing digital resources with the world, impacting millions with

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<v Speaker 4>unique stories from the collection, online exhibitions, and diverse experiences

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<v Speaker 4>in American history all through the African American lens.

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<v Speaker 3>Again, I want to restate that a huge part of.

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<v Speaker 1>What funds these museums is people donating, and it is

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<v Speaker 1>possible for us to sustain our institutions and run out

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<v Speaker 1>the clock on the opposition there. And so if you

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<v Speaker 1>are in a position, there is a way to do it.

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<v Speaker 1>There is a path forward. And you know, everyone has

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<v Speaker 1>to pick their battle. This might be the one that

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<v Speaker 1>might resonate with you.

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<v Speaker 5>It doesn't have to be large, not at all.

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<v Speaker 2>All Right.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, I want to shift gears just a bit, but

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<v Speaker 1>I want to shift to a gear that you kind

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<v Speaker 1>of touched on already, Doctor Westernberg. I'm going to share

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<v Speaker 1>something here. It's from CNN. The Trump administration announced Monday

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<v Speaker 1>that it would freeze two point two billion dollars in

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<v Speaker 1>multi year grants and sixty million dollars in multi year

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<v Speaker 1>contract value at Harvard University after the school said it

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<v Speaker 1>would not follow policy demands from the administration. Earlier Monday,

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<v Speaker 1>Harvard University said it would reject the Trump administration's demands

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<v Speaker 1>for policy changes at the school in response to the

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<v Speaker 1>funding freeze. The university referred CNN to its earlier statement

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<v Speaker 1>that it would not comply with the administration's demands, specifically

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<v Speaker 1>focusing on the following quote. For the government to retreat

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<v Speaker 1>from these partnerships now risks not only the health and

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<v Speaker 1>well being of millions of individuals, but also the economic

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<v Speaker 1>security and vitality of our nation. The university received a

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<v Speaker 1>letter from a federal task force last week outlining additional

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<v Speaker 1>policy demands that will quote maintain Harvard's financial relationship with

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<v Speaker 1>the federal government.

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<v Speaker 3>Quote.

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<v Speaker 1>We have informed the administration through our legal council, that

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<v Speaker 1>we will not accept their proposed agreement, Harvard President Alan M.

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<v Speaker 1>Garber said in a statement. Goes on to say, the

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<v Speaker 1>university will not surrender its independence or its constitutional rights. Okay, So,

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<v Speaker 1>at a time when authoritarianism looms, democracy is in jeopardy.

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<v Speaker 1>The president is moving in a manner consistent with a dictator.

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<v Speaker 1>Resistance is to be commended, it is to be applauded.

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<v Speaker 1>Q and I had a conversation earlier in the week

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<v Speaker 1>on the Black Information.

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<v Speaker 3>Network where we discussed.

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<v Speaker 1>President Barack Obama's response to Harvard, basically saying, bring it

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<v Speaker 1>to Donald Trump. And I don't want to talk too

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<v Speaker 1>much here because I would definitely like to get your

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<v Speaker 1>thoughts here. But you mentioned something in the first part

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<v Speaker 1>of the show where you said that oftentimes the only

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<v Speaker 1>time people will hear about certain histories is in an

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<v Speaker 1>academic institution because some people don't make it to museums even.

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<v Speaker 3>And Harvard.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm not sure where we landed, Q, but we did

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<v Speaker 1>determine that Harvard was a among the top names that

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<v Speaker 1>a person would think of when you think of higher education.

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<v Speaker 1>And so for them to take this stance to reject,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, the plight of this administration to erase history

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<v Speaker 1>again is something to be commended. And I know you

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<v Speaker 1>understand the importance of this move. Your thoughts.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I think a lot.

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<v Speaker 5>Of it has to do with the financial equation and

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<v Speaker 5>all of the instances.

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<v Speaker 2>Sure, it's just like the African.

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<v Speaker 5>American Museum, if the bulk of it is being funded,

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<v Speaker 5>if it's a private entity being funded by people of

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<v Speaker 5>the public, and a small segment of the funding comes

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<v Speaker 5>from the government, your better position to survive and say no,

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<v Speaker 5>we're going to go along with the omission. And and

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<v Speaker 5>that is the way Harvard is positioned. To my understanding,

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<v Speaker 5>that it is wealthy as a result of donors who

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<v Speaker 5>believe in the enterprise of intellectual thought and research. And consequently,

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<v Speaker 5>what funding may be taken away from the institution may

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<v Speaker 5>hurt it in some way, but will not destroy it.

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<v Speaker 5>For in some instances that's what has been occurring. Just

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<v Speaker 5>if that industry is going to survive and those federal

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<v Speaker 5>funds are taken away, then it literally destroys that enterprise,

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<v Speaker 5>if you will. And so to think that Harvard has

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<v Speaker 5>some principled individuals on its board and its president, it's

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<v Speaker 5>alumni and it's students that will allow him it to

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<v Speaker 5>take that stance and say, no, we are supposed to

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<v Speaker 5>be the premier institution of this country and the world,

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<v Speaker 5>and we are going to stand on that and not

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<v Speaker 5>allow you to dilute who we are. And I applaud

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<v Speaker 5>them for the position that they are taking. It's interesting,

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<v Speaker 5>and again I have to say from a nonpartisan perspective, though,

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<v Speaker 5>but if you look at the people who are in

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<v Speaker 5>charge right now a number of them went to Ivy

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<v Speaker 5>League institutions. But there is something.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't want.

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<v Speaker 5>What is that there's not jealousy or an insecurity, or

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<v Speaker 5>there isn't the capacity to stand up in your own

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<v Speaker 5>right being who you are next to someone else in

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<v Speaker 5>their own right, being who they are, Okay, and stand

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<v Speaker 5>tall each in your own right. What has to happen

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<v Speaker 5>is they have to come and knock you down or

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<v Speaker 5>take away. And in my mind, that's a weakness, although

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<v Speaker 5>it's viewed as a strength other than money, and money

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<v Speaker 5>isn't everything you said a minute ago earlier in the show.

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<v Speaker 5>You know, none of us are going to be on

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<v Speaker 5>this earth indefinitely. We're all going to be turned to dust. Dust,

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<v Speaker 5>Thou art to dust, return it. That's going to happen

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<v Speaker 5>to everyone. And what you have achieved is not.

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<v Speaker 2>You're not gonna be able to take it with you.

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<v Speaker 5>And my hope is that who you are, who you

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<v Speaker 5>are is brought to the forefront and you know what

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<v Speaker 5>your legacy was. My sensibility tells me if you stand

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<v Speaker 5>and say I'm going to represent a country that believes

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<v Speaker 5>in freedom of speech, and you take the oath, but

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<v Speaker 5>you don't put your hand on the Bible.

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<v Speaker 2>There's something to be said for that.

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<v Speaker 5>Sure, there is really something you are not. There are

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<v Speaker 5>so many things taking place right now that are hurtful,

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<v Speaker 5>but one person not to understand the hurt and the

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<v Speaker 5>damage that you are doing because of who you are.

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<v Speaker 5>To take a student off of a campus.

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<v Speaker 3>And take them.

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<v Speaker 5>Out of this country and not have that person go

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<v Speaker 5>through any kind of process to determine whether you are

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<v Speaker 5>deserving to stay here to go? How can that be right?

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<v Speaker 5>And how can you say you are the epitome of

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<v Speaker 5>what you should be when you are exhibiting that kind

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<v Speaker 5>of behavior. That's the reality of it. There is a

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<v Speaker 5>lot of falsehood taking place, and then on top of that,

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<v Speaker 5>when it's brought to your attention, there is retribution. Are

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<v Speaker 5>your retalian? I have to be careful. I'm seventy seven,

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<v Speaker 5>but I want to live longer. Why come at me

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<v Speaker 5>because of what I say? Why take me out? There

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<v Speaker 5>are people that are being harmed. Part of the reason

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<v Speaker 5>that people are aligning themselves with some of the executive

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<v Speaker 5>orders is because of finances, because of fear. And then

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<v Speaker 5>there are others who want to move into this world

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<v Speaker 5>of finances. I want to have I want to be rich.

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<v Speaker 5>I want to think I'm more than and it's it is,

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<v Speaker 5>in my estimation, the lowest of law of processes in humanity,

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<v Speaker 5>and it is very sad for the United States of America.

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<v Speaker 3>Absolutely.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, now, que I remember that, I don't remember the

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<v Speaker 1>exact number, but we were talking about this, and you

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<v Speaker 1>said that Harvard was indeed sitting on like I forget

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<v Speaker 1>the name of the fund, whatever it was.

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<v Speaker 2>You have about a fifty billion dollar endowment.

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<v Speaker 1>Okay, okay, So so Harvard has enough to weather a storm, right,

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<v Speaker 1>But there was another point that I want to I

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<v Speaker 1>don't know if we had this in private conversation or

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<v Speaker 1>we were talking on an episode or something like that,

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<v Speaker 1>but you made another point.

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<v Speaker 2>Q.

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<v Speaker 3>About a lot of the.

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<v Speaker 1>Capitalistic like businesses that pledged to start listening to black people,

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<v Speaker 1>start hiring black people in numbers that reflect the population

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<v Speaker 1>and reflect the skill set of human beings available to them,

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<v Speaker 1>that committed to promoting black people and listening to black women,

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<v Speaker 1>and you know, bringing diverse perspectives into you know, conversations

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<v Speaker 1>that helped shape the future of these companies, et cetera.

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<v Speaker 1>Those companies were perhaps well positioned to weather a storm

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<v Speaker 1>in the same way that we're seeing Harvard doing it.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know, your reaction to the stark difference there

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<v Speaker 1>is I think worth repeating here, So give me your

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<v Speaker 1>thoughts on those companies now that we see what's possible

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<v Speaker 1>with Harvard.

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<v Speaker 2>The more interesting thing, more than even Harvard having this

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<v Speaker 2>endowment that gives them some financial and fiscal protection, is

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<v Speaker 2>that they had to steal be okay with losing federal funding.

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<v Speaker 2>As doctor Westernberg pointed out, a lot of these private

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<v Speaker 2>corporations do not require federal funding to thrive. M that's good.

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<v Speaker 2>So them kissing the ring or bending the knee.

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<v Speaker 3>ORSU company makes pressure out of the.

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<v Speaker 2>Administration, are more in line with them doing what they

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<v Speaker 2>want to do and feeling some type of external pressure fiscally.

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<v Speaker 2>Because a lot of these companies have lost billions of

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<v Speaker 2>dollars in revenue, I think they forgot the two trillion

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<v Speaker 2>dollars worth of buying power from our community alone and

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<v Speaker 2>other marginalized communities who have stood in solidarity with us,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, through this bit of a storm that we're

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<v Speaker 2>going through, and it was really discouraging and kind of

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<v Speaker 2>embarrassing that so many very very successful corporations and very,

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<v Speaker 2>very wealthy people who had the autonomy to not have

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<v Speaker 2>to just give in to these ideas. Not only did

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<v Speaker 2>they give in, but again it was with no pressure.

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<v Speaker 2>They voluntarily align themselves with this administration and with its mission.

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<v Speaker 2>And that was scary, that was discouraging, it was infuriating.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, we have conversations with people who have decidedly

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<v Speaker 2>different political opinions and views than we do, but I

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<v Speaker 2>try to always bring our conversations to a level of

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<v Speaker 2>just basic humanity. I told a story on the show

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<v Speaker 2>Once upon a Time, and I'm paraphrasing because I don't

0:16:31.920 --> 0:16:36.120
<v Speaker 2>remember it in specific detail, but it was about a

0:16:36.120 --> 0:16:39.960
<v Speaker 2>college professor who had a class and most of the

0:16:40.000 --> 0:16:42.480
<v Speaker 2>students didn't pass an exam. It was a final, and

0:16:42.560 --> 0:16:46.240
<v Speaker 2>it had a very heavy weight on their grades. This

0:16:46.360 --> 0:16:49.000
<v Speaker 2>professor realized that some of the students would not pass,

0:16:49.600 --> 0:16:52.760
<v Speaker 2>therefore would not graduate if they didn't pass this final,

0:16:53.560 --> 0:16:56.680
<v Speaker 2>so he made a deal with the class. If everybody

0:16:56.800 --> 0:17:04.160
<v Speaker 2>votes in unison, everyone pass is the final. And this

0:17:04.400 --> 0:17:09.040
<v Speaker 2>story about humanity has a very partisan lens on it.

0:17:09.800 --> 0:17:12.320
<v Speaker 3>At the end, Okay, I think I know where you're going.

0:17:12.720 --> 0:17:18.400
<v Speaker 2>If every student in the class says yes, everyone passes

0:17:18.440 --> 0:17:24.879
<v Speaker 2>the exam, and today's America that would be the Democratic Party.

0:17:26.000 --> 0:17:29.639
<v Speaker 2>We don't want anyone to fail, So let's create a

0:17:29.680 --> 0:17:33.960
<v Speaker 2>system where everyone can be successful. Let's call it DEI

0:17:34.040 --> 0:17:40.720
<v Speaker 2>in this conversation, where everyone has access to success. Unfortunately,

0:17:42.280 --> 0:17:44.399
<v Speaker 2>every student in that class did not pass the final

0:17:45.320 --> 0:17:50.560
<v Speaker 2>because they did not vote in unison. Because like the GOP,

0:17:52.040 --> 0:17:56.679
<v Speaker 2>the Republican Party, the right wing, there were students in

0:17:56.720 --> 0:18:01.520
<v Speaker 2>that class who also didn't not pass on their own,

0:18:02.560 --> 0:18:08.239
<v Speaker 2>but did not want anyone that they deemed unworthy or

0:18:08.359 --> 0:18:12.600
<v Speaker 2>undeserving of passing to pass either. So there are students

0:18:12.600 --> 0:18:16.040
<v Speaker 2>who didn't pass on their own, who didn't even vote

0:18:16.080 --> 0:18:20.320
<v Speaker 2>for themselves to pass because they didn't want a classmate

0:18:20.840 --> 0:18:24.160
<v Speaker 2>who they thought might not deserve it to pass either.

0:18:25.359 --> 0:18:29.000
<v Speaker 2>And that is just a lesson on humanity. There are

0:18:29.080 --> 0:18:34.000
<v Speaker 2>those of us who will harm ourselves just to ensure

0:18:34.040 --> 0:18:37.800
<v Speaker 2>that other people don't get a leg up, and there

0:18:37.840 --> 0:18:40.800
<v Speaker 2>are those of us that would sacrifice the work that

0:18:40.840 --> 0:18:45.560
<v Speaker 2>we did to assure that everyone has a chance. These

0:18:45.560 --> 0:18:48.720
<v Speaker 2>are not political differences in views and values. These are

0:18:48.840 --> 0:18:53.160
<v Speaker 2>humanitarian differences in views and values. So this is why

0:18:53.520 --> 0:18:58.960
<v Speaker 2>those who marched, who stormed, and who adorned their heads

0:18:58.960 --> 0:19:02.879
<v Speaker 2>with that red cap. I have a very very hard

0:19:03.000 --> 0:19:07.720
<v Speaker 2>time having anything in common with you, because you've made

0:19:07.720 --> 0:19:12.639
<v Speaker 2>a humanitarian decision that goes against the safety, the well being,

0:19:13.320 --> 0:19:20.520
<v Speaker 2>the potential for a healthy, abundant life. You've gone out

0:19:20.520 --> 0:19:22.480
<v Speaker 2>of your way to make sure that there are people

0:19:22.520 --> 0:19:27.440
<v Speaker 2>who don't have access to that for no other reason

0:19:28.720 --> 0:19:32.360
<v Speaker 2>than in most cases hate, and that is a very

0:19:32.440 --> 0:19:34.199
<v Speaker 2>very difficult thing to reconcile.

0:19:35.800 --> 0:19:45.399
<v Speaker 1>Well, I think that the gravity of that story is worth,

0:19:45.960 --> 0:19:50.960
<v Speaker 1>you know, some some reflection, because, yeah, you knows, there's

0:19:51.000 --> 0:19:54.520
<v Speaker 1>always this conversation about people voting against their own interests,

0:19:54.520 --> 0:20:01.120
<v Speaker 1>but often enough I find that it's true, a especially

0:20:01.119 --> 0:20:05.040
<v Speaker 1>true among poorer white folks in this country, in the South,

0:20:05.200 --> 0:20:07.240
<v Speaker 1>especially where they.

0:20:08.640 --> 0:20:09.920
<v Speaker 3>The aperture that they.

0:20:09.880 --> 0:20:16.560
<v Speaker 1>Choose to lean into the Republican Party is through religion,

0:20:18.960 --> 0:20:23.280
<v Speaker 1>and that's how they align and then they excuse everything else.

0:20:26.480 --> 0:20:32.119
<v Speaker 1>But ultimately, yeah, a lot of the policies they are

0:20:33.520 --> 0:20:34.760
<v Speaker 1>inherent in the party that.

0:20:34.720 --> 0:20:35.520
<v Speaker 3>They vote for.

0:20:36.920 --> 0:20:42.640
<v Speaker 1>Don't really create opportunities for them to advance their standing.

0:20:43.400 --> 0:20:45.919
<v Speaker 1>But what they do is they make it harder for

0:20:45.960 --> 0:20:50.120
<v Speaker 1>people that don't look like them, and that's enough, and

0:20:50.160 --> 0:20:55.680
<v Speaker 1>that feels crazy but in order to have these type

0:20:55.680 --> 0:20:58.479
<v Speaker 1>of conversations that we're having, and they have conversations across

0:20:58.520 --> 0:21:01.919
<v Speaker 1>the aisle, you need a space to have discourse, to

0:21:01.960 --> 0:21:05.680
<v Speaker 1>have a debate, to find out which ideas are going

0:21:05.800 --> 0:21:09.520
<v Speaker 1>to survive, which ideas are worthwhile. And you know, as

0:21:09.560 --> 0:21:13.000
<v Speaker 1>doctor Westernberg pointed out, the one place where that is.

0:21:15.080 --> 0:21:18.360
<v Speaker 3>Celebrated discourse and the exchange of ideas.

0:21:18.080 --> 0:21:24.160
<v Speaker 1>Is in the institutions of higher learning exactly.

0:21:24.800 --> 0:21:29.919
<v Speaker 3>And so you know, I guess we'll leave it there.

0:21:29.920 --> 0:21:31.680
<v Speaker 3>Any final thoughts, Doctor Westburn.

0:21:33.359 --> 0:21:37.879
<v Speaker 5>I have to remain hopeful, Okay, I have to remain

0:21:38.560 --> 0:21:43.200
<v Speaker 5>hopeful for you all, for my daughter, for my granddaughter,

0:21:43.359 --> 0:21:46.439
<v Speaker 5>for myself, but senior citizens, for all of us, because

0:21:46.440 --> 0:21:53.040
<v Speaker 5>we are all really in a state of uncertainty right now. Yeah,

0:21:53.880 --> 0:21:59.280
<v Speaker 5>we are navigating as we go through our day, unsure

0:22:00.920 --> 0:22:03.719
<v Speaker 5>of what's going to happen. We don't know if we

0:22:03.760 --> 0:22:09.720
<v Speaker 5>are going to be labeled a citizen food serious. You know,

0:22:09.920 --> 0:22:13.000
<v Speaker 5>at any point you walk out and there they are

0:22:13.240 --> 0:22:19.119
<v Speaker 5>so apprehending you and taking you off and not giving

0:22:19.160 --> 0:22:24.520
<v Speaker 5>you the opportunity to expound on who you are and

0:22:24.560 --> 0:22:28.400
<v Speaker 5>to provide the necessary documents to prove that.

0:22:28.800 --> 0:22:32.960
<v Speaker 3>We've seen it we've seen, so that's frightening. Yeah.

0:22:33.000 --> 0:22:36.360
<v Speaker 1>Well, like you said, we have to remain hopeful and

0:22:36.520 --> 0:22:39.399
<v Speaker 1>we will remain hopeful right here on Civic Cipher. So

0:22:39.440 --> 0:22:41.879
<v Speaker 1>we'll leave it right there. Thank you as always, Doctor Westernberg,

0:22:42.040 --> 0:22:42.480
<v Speaker 1>thank you.

0:22:42.520 --> 0:22:43.600
<v Speaker 3>Coming on to the show.

0:22:43.680 --> 0:22:44.040
<v Speaker 5>Thank you.

0:22:44.600 --> 0:22:46.680
<v Speaker 1>Please lock in with us on all social media. You

0:22:46.720 --> 0:22:48.480
<v Speaker 1>can find us at Civic Cipher. You can find me

0:22:48.520 --> 0:22:50.320
<v Speaker 1>on all platforms at Rams's.

0:22:50.040 --> 0:22:53.600
<v Speaker 2>Jah I am q Warred on all social media as well.

0:22:53.800 --> 0:22:57.359
<v Speaker 3>And until next week, y'all be good to each other. Peace,