Ivy League Grads No Longer The Apple Of Recruiters' Eyes Amid Anti-Israel Protests: '…They Are Going To Open Up The Bottleneck'

Tom Gimbel, Founder and CEO of LaSalle Network, shared his concerns on CNBC’s Last Call about the increasing discomfort among recruiters due to the anti-Israel protests at Columbia University. This comes at a time when Columbia University has initiated the suspension of pro-Palestinian activists who did not comply with the university’s request to dismantle a protest camp on campus.

What Happened: Brian Sullivan, host of CNBC’s “Last Call,” discussed with Gimbel a study that revealed that recruiters are not willing to offer jobs to new graduates from Ivy League colleges amid their increasing political participation.

Gimbel explained that while earlier recruiters were determined to recruit and interview only Ivy League graduates, historically considered the “smartest,” the trend might be changing.

“They didn’t entertain anybody else for a lot of roles. Now what’s going to happen is they are going to open up the bottleneck,” he said, adding that this will open recruiters to a bigger talent pool from non-Ivy League colleges.

“It doesn’t matter where they went to undergrad. If you went for honors program at the University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin–Madison.you're really smart!"

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Gimbel’s comments appear at a time when Columbia University issued a warning of suspension to students who remained in the encampment past 2 p.m. ET on Monday and did not sign a form committing to abide by university policies, Reuters reported on Tuesday. This action comes in the wake of unsuccessful discussions between the student organizers and the university’s academic leaders.

The university’s President, Nemat Minouche Shafik, indicated that the negotiations aimed at resolving the contentious demonstration had reached a deadlock. The protest camp, consisting of numerous tents, was established to voice opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Why It Matters: The suspension follows a series of events that started with a nationwide protest demanding universities to divest from Israel-related stocks. Columbia University had shifted to online classes after arresting over 100 pro-Palestinian protesters.

Moreover, the White House declined the request of Republican Speaker Mike Johnson (R-N.Y.) to deploy the National Guard on college campuses witnessing large-scale protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict. The White House spokesperson clarified that the power to deploy the National Guard lies with state governors, not the president.

The protests at Columbia University have been a source of controversy for some time. In October 2023, billionaire investors like Leon Cooperman threatened to halt donations to the university over these protests, labeling them as antisemitic.

The anti-Israel protests have had wider implications on U.S. academia, with Johns Hopkins University under a Federal probe for anti-Semitism in February following similar protests.

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