From a reader:
1. INTRODUCTION: In the old days, oil & gas and other polluting operators bought-off politicians through political donations. As the politicians became more and more greedy, they have decided that there are more effective ways to accomplish their goals.
2. CURRENT ACTIVITY: Now colleges and universities are major players in the polluting game. Polluters make donations to these educational institutions and the employees and professors march in lock step to meet the end objective by beating the drums to show that “nothing is going on”. Further, considerable “credibility” is given to the polluter’s position and it certainly is cheaper than buying off the politicians. Now, the politicians listen in awe and wonderment and pass the chosen laws to aid the polluters. It’s a nice system–for them.
3. WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE: As time goes along, our younger students should somehow be made aware of this evolving situation where teachers and professors are becoming more like politicians—simply preaching the “company line”. I am concerned that students might eventually become less trustful of their educators.
Lionel Milberger
Thank you to Lionel for this important reminder that Big Oil has infiltrated every corner of our universe in an attempt to continue their agenda of profiting at the expense of VITAL natural resources.
Additional information:
Chesapeake Energy accused of giving CEO ‘personal’ bailout
Chesapeake directors who are up for election at the firm’s annual meeting in June – Richard K. Davidson, former chairman of Union Pacific, V. Burns Hargis, the president of Oklahoma State University which receives donations from Chesapeake, and Charles T. Maxwell, a senior energy analyst with Weeden & Co. a Ct-based brokerage firm
Chesapeake Energy announced a $500,000 gift to Oklahoma State University to assist with scholarships in the Boone Pickens School of Geology and the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology.
Marathon, Devon Energy Donate to University of Houston
Houston-based Marathon Oil Corp. pledged a donation of $600,000 to spread over three years, a move that brings its total donations to the university since 1989 to $1 million.
Montana Agricultural Experiment Station receives $26,000 gift from Devon Energy Corporation
Devon Energy Corporation presented the first of two checks for $13,000 to the College of Agriculture at Montana State University on Friday.
Devon Energy, Oklahoma City University christen boathouse site as
Devon and OCU christened the future site of the boathouse with champagne Tuesday, marking a $5 million donation by Devon to complete the funding for the $10 million boathouse.
I could do this all day long but I think you get the point.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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I have read that Penn State and Cornell University are also heavily involved in the gas industry. And these institutions represent themselves to the public as sort of watch dogs. People trust what they say. It is so disheartening.
In Tx. the major universities like A&M and TU are heavily involved in O&G because they own much mineral interests. They are getting royalties! What does that tell you about them?
I think that a law ought to be passed that requires each professor at a state institution to disclose to each student on the first day of each semester what money (and where it came from) he is using and/or has access to! Like who's funding his chair!
The new entity for sustainability at University of Texas at Arlington is reporting on their carbon footprint and is exempting their gas drilling activity pollution because UTA does not own the drilling equipment. Technically they do not have to report the carbon footprint that the equipment produces because they would not be able to calculate the numbers. Even if Carrizo were to provide the carbon numbers, UTA will not report it. Because UTA is leasing their land, they see it as Carrizos' carbon footprint to report. Theoretically, because of UTA's decision to lease their mineral rights and allow this pollution, UTA should report what they have caused. How dare them enjoy the royality money without acknowledging the shameful carbon footprint the money brings them.
The new entity for sustainability at University of Texas at Arlington is reporting on their carbon footprint and is exempting their gas drilling activity pollution because UTA does not own the drilling equipment. Technically they do not have to report the carbon footprint that the equipment produces because they would not be able to calculate the numbers. Even if Carrizo were to provide the carbon numbers, UTA will not report it. Because UTA is leasing their land, they see it as Carrizos' carbon footprint to report. Theoretically, because of UTA's decision to lease their mineral rights and allow this pollution, UTA should report what they have caused. How dare them enjoy the royality money without acknowledging the shameful carbon footprint the money brings them.
That is shockingly dishonest! Do you have any links to more information or suggestions for substantiating this. I would like to expose this hypocrisy.
Hi Sharon. As a scientist in academia, I would like to give my input on this topic. From my experience, corporations heavily fund institutions of higher learning so that they can have a presence on campus. Not in the sense that you are thinking though — basically they want to be known to students so that student’s apply to them first for a job. The amount of money that they spend seems large but in the end, if they are chosen by more of the top students who make productive careers with them, then the profits made from the student’s contributions makes it worth it. This definitely happens in more than just geology — all of the sciences and business as well.
OH PAH-LEEZE! This white paper was written by a scientist who taught at A&M. He has over 60 patents and has hundreds to technical papers published.
Noah, I worked for a university. I work with and correspond with scientists everyday. I know how the system works. Apparently you missed this: http://www.texassharon.com/2011/11/08/big-gas-mafia-influences-academics/
I just sat through 2 days at an industry conference. Maybe you haven’t heard. http://www.texassharon.com/2011/11/08/yeah-i-recorded-the-big-gas-mafia-talking-about-psyops/ I have hours of tapes. I know what their strategy is and I’ve been at this for quite a while. I appreciate your input, truly. People like you just help make me better and keep me sharp.
Oh and you might want to read this while you are at it. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/11/lies-damned-lies-and-medical-science/8269/2/
Haha. There’s no doubt that some level of academic dishonesty does go on. Unfortunately the rare company will have an objective to blatantly produce false information and unfortunately the rare researcher will be compliant in this, but this is not a common occurrence. My point is that the objective of most companies who make these donations is to attract talent. Why would an accounting company have any interest in buying out a university by donating scholarships? How would it be politically beneficial for a chemical company to donate funds for a new laboratory? The reason is to attract talent.
We aren’t talking about accounting companies, are we? We are talking about one of the most powerful industries on this planet.
Keep watching. More will unfold.