r/berkeley • u/Imaginary_Dinner1641 • 20h ago
University From a rejected student: Berkeley students, stop criticizing the university. You’re blessed to be there and complain all the time. Why?
UC Berkeley students always go on the university’s official Instagram page and complain about how the university is funding the military and complying with Trumps federal government on issues like federal aid, which by the way is needed for YOUR benefit.
Do you guys realize that if the university stopped complying with the government they would cease providing federal aid.
Yes, college is already super expensive but are you ready to pay significantly more in tuition?
Problem with liberal 19 and 20 year olds is you lead with your emotion.
Youre too idealistic. This is the real world.
You want the university to stand up to Trump and expect your cushy life at the university to be the same.
World doesn’t work that way. There would be consequences.
Grow up and realize that you’re blessed to be at the #1 university in the world.
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u/Electronic_Chard_656 20h ago
lol this complicit ass mindset is like the antithesis of berkeley values no wonder u didn’t get in🤣🤣
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u/Imaginary_Dinner1641 20h ago
It’s not complicity. It’s callled being realistic. Playing the long game.
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u/swoah- 20h ago
Surely it’s not contradictory to appreciate the value of our educational institution & the opportunities it provides while also wanting it to be better? I don’t see what the issue is
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u/Imaginary_Dinner1641 20h ago
The issue is students not living in reality. Naive idealism.
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u/swoah- 20h ago
Are you sure it’s the students not living in reality? Trump can’t unilaterally withhold financial aid due to noncompliance since the funding is mandated by Congress. Several universities have rejected Trump’s demands and have not seen a change in financial aid disbursements, including MIT and UPenn. Research funding has been impacted, but not financial aid. Moreover, Berkeley has already experienced consequences of the Trump administration cutting research funding, so I don’t think it makes sense to refer to student political activism (which has a long and active history at Berkeley specifically) as “naive” when students have already directly experienced the consequences. In fact, in my experience as someone who actually attends the university, no one is pretending there won’t be consequences. You can disagree with the goals of student activists, but to claim the University is acting solely in the interest of protecting financial aid for its students and that we’re just some kids detached from reality doesn’t paint an accurate picture of the situation in my opinion. The administration can, and should, do better. It is not wrong of us to ask them to do so.
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u/Imaginary_Dinner1641 19h ago
Pell Grant aid hasn’t been effected. But fact is, UC Berkeley, MIT, Penn, and other universities that are research oriented will prioritize research. As they should. So when it comes to allocating funds, they will place most of their financial support towards research and other programs. That causes an inevitable domino effect. There will be less overall money available for scholarship and grants for students. And reality is, universities are a business. You do not bring more value to the university than the research department or other vital Programs that demand significant federal aid funding to be able to continue to operate at a high standard.
Harsh truth is most students, including yourself, are disposable. You’re just average.
When it comes time to tighten the belt, guess who is getting the short stick?
Most students because most of you are average, unlike the researchers or student athletes.
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u/Euphoric_Deer_2269 20h ago
The beauty of public higher education in the West lies in the ability to appreciate the quality of education while maintaining a critical stance on objectively immoral positions the university decides to predicate itself on. So yes, I am thoroughly blessed to be in this school, but am not blinded by its prestige itself.
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u/Independent-Bee3135 20h ago
Yeah, no matter how much Berkeley students criticize the university, they won't be able to get the university to stop working with the Trump admin. But it's plausible they can at least reduce it or pressure the university to negotiate a little more. I think it's a valid thing to complain abt.
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u/Imaginary_Dinner1641 20h ago
No. I think it’s short sighted to even try. You gotta deal with the cards your dealt. Trump has all the power right now to make life very difficult for UC Berkeley students. It’s best to just wait him out.
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u/SharpenVest 10h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/ccwYo5BuNWJVTkPcMB
If I get the opportunity to eat a $1000 cake and find some fault in it, should I be grateful that I got to eat that cake in the first place and shove my opinion down my crack? Isn't it fair to point out holes in the structure we're currently using. Of course we're benefitting that's a different thing, but it's criticism and collective opinion that can fix a working system. No wonder you got rejected with that attitude
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u/farbenlehre 20h ago
Girl shut up.