Revisionist History The Pushkin Prize for Egregiously Deceptive Self-Promotion
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Jun 8, 2023 
Michael Thaddeus, a Columbia University math professor, joins for a deep dive into academic dishonesty, focusing on how universities manipulate U.S. News rankings. The discussion unpacks the absurdities of Columbia’s data reporting, raising questions about the integrity of prestigious institutions. They humorously establish the Pushkin Prizes to honor such deceit, while exploring the broader implications of self-promotion and the influence of social media in academia. It’s a candid look at the intersection of ethics, deception, and public perception.
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Santos' Fabrications
- George Santos fabricated his resume, including claims of being Jewish, a 9/11 survivor, and a Goldman Sachs employee.
- He even lied about a volleyball scholarship, knee replacements, and athletic prowess, demonstrating gratuitous deception.
Columbia's Deception
- Columbia University misrepresented data to boost its U.S. News ranking, including class size, faculty credentials, and student-faculty ratio.
- Math professor Michael Thaddeus exposed these discrepancies, leading to Columbia's ranking drop.
Manipulating Rankings
- Manipulating U.S. News rankings is relatively easy, especially by exploiting less obvious criteria.
- Combining several small changes in unexpected areas can yield significant ranking boosts.