I’ve studied the Mafia for decades because my grandparents were Sicilian. Also, I was a college professor for 25 years, so I’ve had plenty of opportunity to observe the commonalities between mafias and universities.
Let’s start with some familiar mafia clichés and then dig deeper.
They Make You an Offer You Can’t Refuse
This line from the Godfather explains why people go along with mafias despite the moral compromise. Universities also make an offer you can’t refuse because you’re told that you’ll be digging ditches for life if you don’t go to college. Once you accept the offer, moral compromises start to appear….