>>COMING UP NEXT ON "IVORY TOWER" WHAT'S THE BEST EXIT STRATEGY FOR AMERICA'S WAR WITH IRAN?

ALSO, WHAT SORTS OF REGULATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR PREDICTION MARKETS?

AND, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GET AN ‘A' IN THE CLASS IF EVERYBODY IN THE CLASS GETS ONE?

STAY TUNED FOR ANSWERS, WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE; LISA DOLAK OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY; BEN BAUGHMAN OF GANNON UNIVERSITY AND ANIRBAN ACHRYA OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE.

WE KICK OFF TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION WITH A LOOK AT THE BEST WAY TO END THE WAR IN IRAN AND TO END IT ON TERMS THAT ARE FAVORABLE TO AMERICA'S INTEREST IRAN HAS PUT FORTH A 10-POINT PEACE PLAN OF ITS OWN.

BUT THAT PLAN INCLUDES TERMS ALREADY REJECTED BY THE U.S.

MEANWHILE, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID THAT HIS ULTIMATE AIM IS TO ENSURE THAT IRAN DOES NOT ACQUIRE A NUCLEAR BOMB.

BUT THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS?

IS OPENING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

BUT EVEN THESE PLANS APPEAR TO BE JEOPARDIZED BY RECENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE UNFOLDED ONLY 24 HOURS AGO.

WHAT IS THE BEST EXIT STRATEGY FOR THE UNITED STATES?

>> YEAH, THIS IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

FROM THE FOG OF WAR, WE ARE IN A SMOG OF PEACE, IF YOU WILL.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED, IF YOU FOLLOW THE REPORTING OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY TALKING TO IRANIAN OFFICIALS, WHAT I AM HEARING IS THAT ONE OF THE REASONS IRAN WAS AGREED TO THIS PARTICULAR CEASE FIRE IS WHEN TRUMP OPENLY COMMITTED THAT I WILL MENTION YOUR 10-POINT PLAN AND I WOULD SAY THAT WE RECEIVED A 10-POINT PROPOSAL FROM IRAN AND BELIEVE IT IS A WORKABLE BASIS FROM WHICH TO NEGOTIATE.

THAT GAVE IRAN A PAUSE, SAYING THAT, OKAY, WE WILL SEE HOW THIS CEASE FIRE GOES, BUT OUR HANDS ARE ALWAYS ON THE TRIGGER.

WE DON'T BELIEVE THIS BECAUSE TWICE WHILE WE WERE NEGOTIATING WE WERE BEING BOMBED.

BUT BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING THIS, WE WILL GO ALONG WITH IT.

AND THEN AGAIN, BOMBING STARTED IN LEBANON AND THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PEACE DEAL.

THEN ADMINISTRATION AND ISRAEL TRIED TO WALK IT AWAY A LITTLE BIT BUT THE MEDIATOR FROM PAKISTAN CAME OUT AND SAID NO, NO, LOOK, THAT LEBANON DEAL WAS IN IT.

IT WAS ABOUT ALL FRONTS AND THAT, YES, STRAIT OF HORMUZ WOULD BE OPENED BUT IT WOULD BE CONTROLLED BY THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD IN CERTAIN WAY AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU COORDINATES AND SO ON AND SO FORDS.

SO SO FORDS FORTH.

BOTH SIDES ARE DECLARING VICTORY.

TRUMP SHOULD THINK WE HAVE WON THIS WAR BUT ALSO FOLLOW ON WITH THE DISCUSSION THAT IS HAPPENING, SHOULD HAPPEN TODAY, RIGHT?

FRIDAY IN ISLAMABAD AND WE WILL SEE WHERE THE NEGOTIATION GOES BUT I DON'T THINK THE U.S.

WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP ALL ITS DEALS OR DEMANDS.

AND IRAN IS ALSO NOT GOING TO KEEP ALL ITS DEMANDS.

ONE OF THE MAJOR ONES DROPPED IS U.S.

BASES SHOULD LEAVE THE MIDDLE EAST.

A GOOD NEGOTIATION IS WHERE NO ONE KIND OF GETS WHAT THEY WANT AND THAT COMPROMISE-- I AM HOPEFUL.

THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY.

I'M CAUTIOUSLY HOPEFUL THAT MAYBE TRUMP WOULD SEE THAT I DON'T WANT THIS WAR, THIS THING TO BE SCUTTLED AGAIN.

I WANT A LASTING PEACE, A NON-AGGRESSION PACT, IF YOU WILL WHERE IRAN IS GIVEN SOME GUARANTEES.

>> IT SEEMS IRAN IS GOING TO HAVE TO BACK AWAY FROM THE WHOLE IDEA OF REMOVING AUTOPSY AMERICAN TROOPS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST.

BUT YOU MENTIONED WHETHER OR NOT LEBANON WAS INCLUDED.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, TO WHAT EXTENT CAN EITHER THE U.S.

OR IRAN CONTROL HEZBOLLAH.

I MEAN IT'S A MILITIA AND IT'S HELL BENT ON DESTROYING ISRAEL.

SO WHAT IS GOING TO STOP HEZBOLLAH?

>> IF THERE IS A NON-AGGRESSION PACT, RIGHT, THEN IN THAT SENSE, THEN EVERY PARTY IN THE FRONT HAS TO ABIDE BY THAT NON-AGGRESSION PACT.

THAT HAS TO BE SOMEHOW BLESSED BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL.

IF THAT GETS VIOLATED, THEN IT IS IRAN'S FAULT OR HEZBOLLAH'S FAULT.

HEZBOLLAH INITIALLY DID NOT OPEN THE WAR FRONT BUT LATER ON, YOU KNOW, OUT OF IDEOLOGICAL SOLIDARITY, RIGHT, SO I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE PEOPLE ARE PRAGMATIC.

THEY'RE NOT LIKE KIND OF MAD CRAZY PEOPLE.

THAT WE LIKE TO PORTRAY.

THEY'RE EDUCATED AND PRAGMATIC AND THEY WANT TO SEE A CERTAIN KIND OF RESOLUTION BUT THE PALESTINE WOULD COME UP AS A QUESTION HERE OR THERE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, LISA?

>> I THINK THAT THE BEST AND MAYBE A REALISTIC LANDING ZONE FOR A PEACE DEAL WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A VERIFIED-- WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE URANIUM, I DON'T BELIEVE, BUT A VERIFIED HALT TO ENRICHMENT; LETTING THE I.A.E.A.

BACK IN THERE TO DO INSPECTIONS.

AND THEN MAYBE SOME SANCTIONS TIED TO VERIFIABLE COMPLIANCE BECAUSE IRAN WANTS MONEY TO RECOUP THE COST OF WAR.

SO SANCTIONS RELIEF IS A WAY TO DO THAT.

TIED TO COMPLIANCE.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT STRAIT OF HORMUZ OPEN, PERMANENT FREE PASSAGE.

THIS NOTION OF A DOLLAR A BARREL AS A TOLL, AND I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IRAN'S GREATEST LEVERAGE HERE.

AND THEN MAYBE, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY A WINE DINE OF PROXY LIKE HEZBOLLAH, HAMAS WHO IS STILTS, HOPEFULLY.

-- WHO IS HOSTILITIES.

THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE LAID OUT THAT I HEARD DAVID WHO IS TALKING ABOUT IS THAT OUR LEVERAGE IS TO SAY FINE, WE'LL BLOCKADE THE STRAIT, NOBODY WILL GET IN OR OUT.

YOUR OIL WON'T GET OUT AND OUR OIL WON'T GET OUT AND THAT'S A SORT OF QUIVER IN THE ARROW THAT WE STILL HAVE, NOT GREAT, CERTAINLY.

AS I PAY $4.40 A GALLON OF GAS IN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA THIS WEEK.

>> SORT OF THE WEIRD THING IS THAT THE CEASE FIRE, THE QUOTE UNQUOTE CEASE FIRE THAT IS IN PLACE NOW, ALMOST CONCEDES THAT IRAN HAS LEGITIMATE CONTROL OVER THE STRAIT, RIGHT?

OPPOSED TO DOING WHAT LISA MENTIONED OF THE U.S.

SIMPLY TAKING CONTROL.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS, TAR TARA?

>> I THINK YOU MAKE AN OUTSTANDING POINT AND IT'S A POINT THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE SURPRISE OF THE UNITED STATES THAT IRAN HAS MANAGED THIS AS EFFECTIVELY AS THEY HAVE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THAT OUR NATO ALLIES HAVE SORT OF, OKAY, YES, THIS IS I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT ACCURATELY BUT BASICALLY THEY HAVE EXCEEDED TO YES, WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE U.S.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY HAVE ALSO SORT OF SILENTLY ACCEDED TO THE FACT THAT IRAN HAS CONTROL OF THIS AND WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH EITHER SIDE BUT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT SAYING SO, THEY TEND TO BE SHOWING A LITTLE MORE SUPPORT TO IRAN AND ITS CONTROL OF THE STRAIT BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THEY NEED THE OIL.

AND THAT HAS REALLY GIVEN IRAN MUCH MORE LEVERAGE THAN CERTAINLY I THINK THE UNITED STATES EXPECTED.

SO IN MANAGING THIS, IF IRAN CONTINUES TO MANAGE IT WELL, IT DOES MAKE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE UNITED STATES TO GET EVERYTHING THAT IT WANTS AND THE U.S.

HAS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

>> BEN, SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S.

AND IRAN, BUT ISRAEL HAS A SAY IN THIS ALSO BECAUSE IT'S ISRAEL THAT IS MOST THREATENED BY HEZBOLLAH.

AND WE HAVE SEEN THESE BOMBARDMENTS OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL CONVINCE ISRAEL?

WHAT IS ISRAEL'S ROLL HERE, DO YOU THINK?

>> TO CONVINCE THEM WHAT?

>> TO BE PART OF WHAT EVER PEACE PLAN THAT IS NOARKDED AND TO TRUST THAT HEZBOLLAH WILL DO WHATEVER HEZBOLLAH PLEDGES TO DO.

>> THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TRUST HEZBOLLAH.

THEY'RE A PROXY OF IRAN SO THERE IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THAT.

THEY'RE FUNDED NOT JUST-- THEY'RE NOT JUST IN LINE WITH THE THOUGHT OF IRAN.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY FUNDED AND ARMED BY IRAN.

SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE ONGOING ISSUES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU ARE GOING TO THE TABLE FROM OUR SIDE WITH DEATH TO AMERICA AS A POLICY, NOT JUST A SLOGAN BUT AN ACTUAL POLICY SINCE 1979 OF IRAN.

SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, YEAH, LET'S COMPROMISE BUT COME OVER HERE TO MY SIDE.

>> YEAH, SO ANIRBAN, THINKING ABOUT THE OTHER PARTIES FURTHER, CHINA AND IRAN ALSO PLAY A ROLE HERE.

THEY'VE BACKED IRAN.

SO HOW DO YOU GET CHINA AND-- I'M SORRY, RUSSIA, ON BOARD WHEN WE KNOW THOSE ARE BOTH, YOU KNOW, ENEMIES TO THE U.S.

AND THEY DON'T WANT THE U.S.

TO SUCCEED.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

>> I THINK RUSSIA AND CHINA CLEARLY SHOW, THEY VETOED THE U.N.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO OPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ RAISED BY THE UAE AND BAHRAIN.

I THINK CHINA COMES OUT AS A WINNING POWER IN THIS BECAUSE CHINA FIRST OF ALL HAS BROKERED A WONDERFUL THING, RIGHT?

AND I THINK IN 2021, THEY BROKERED A PEACE BETWEEN SAUDI ARABIA AND IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA AFTER A LONG, LONG TIME OPENED AN EMBASSY IN IRAN, SO AS A RESULT, I MEAN I WOULD SEE CHINA NOT, YOU KNOW, INTERVENING DIRECTLY BECAUSE THEY HOLD A LOT OF POWER, INCLUDING HUGE TUNGSTEN RESERVES REQUIRED FOR THE MILITARY INDUSTRY.

CHINA WOULD COME OUT AND BECAUSE AGAIN WE ARE HEARING THAT A LOT OF THESE OILS ARE BEING PAID IN CRYPTOCURRENCY WHICH GIVES CHINA LEVERAGE.

RUSSIA CONTROLS 11% OF THE WORLD OIL THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

30% OF THE OIL IS UNDER CONSIDERATION AND CHINA IS LIKE THAT PERSON, IF MY ADVERSARY IS MAKING A MISTAKE, I'LL JUST STAND BACK AND WATCH.

>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME TARA BUT I WANT TO ASK ENTHUSIASM LAST QUESTION.

LISA LAID OUT SOME OF THE GOALS.

IF THE U.S.

DOESN'T PRESS FOR MORE CONTROL OVER THE ENRICHED URANIUM, WAS THIS WAR REALLY WORTH IT?

NOT TO MY WAY OF THINKING.

THE UNITED STATES REALLY BACKED ITSELF INTO A CORNER PRETTY QUICKLY IN THIS WAR.

DIDN'T REALLY LEAVE ITSELF A LOT OF NEGOTIATING POWER BECAUSE IT UNDERESTIMATED IRAN, IT UNDERESTIMATED OUR ALLIES AND IT UNDERESTIMATED, AS ANIRBAN HAS MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE ROLE THAT CHINA WOULD PLAY OR NOT PLAY.

>> WE HAVE TO STOP THERE.

I'M SORRY.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO GO TO OUR NEXT TOPIC PLACING BETS THAT ARE BASED ON REAL-WORLD EVENTS IS NOT JUST A THING, IT'S A $20 BILLION DOLLAR THING PREDICTION MARKETS ALLOW US TO WAGER ON EVERYTHING FROM OSCAR NOMINATIONS TO POLITICAL ELECTION RESULTS TO WEATHER PATTERNS AND MORE.

TOO WHAT ANIRBAN IS GOING TO WEAR AND MORE.

BOTH THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS SEE A NEED TO REGULATE THIS RAPIDLY EXPANDING INDUSTRY BECAUSE AS WITH ANY GROWING INDUSTRY, THERE ARE CONCERNS SOME BELIEVE LIMITS SHOULD BE PLACED ON AGE ON INSIDER TRADING AND ON THE KINDS OF THINGS WE CAN PLACE BETS ON.

BEN, WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE REGARDING PREDICTION MARKETS?

>> BUYER BEWARE, OUT OF THE GATE.

UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A FUTURIST DIPPED OF COMMODITY-- KIND OF COMMODITY THAT YOU ARE BETTING ON.

SO IF THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, INFLATION IS GOING TO COME DOWN NEXT QUARTER, WELL, YOU CAN BET FOR THAT AND PERCENTAGE WISE IS WHAT HAVE YOU TO BEAT IN ORDER TO GET THE FULL DOLLAR.

SO IT MIGHT BE 79% THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO COME DOWN.

IF YOU PAY 79 CENTS A DOLLAR, AND IT DOES GO DOWN, THEN YOU GET A DOLLAR FOR EVERY 7 CENTS YOU PUT IN.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD REFLECTION OF WHAT PEOPLE THINK ARE GOING TO OCCUR, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE IS THE CONCERNS OF INSIDER TRADING, WHICH WASN'T A THING EVEN FOR THE STOCK MARKET UNTIL 2010 FOR FUTURES.

>> SO GR GO AHEAD LISA.

>> YOU IDENTIFIED THE THREE MAIN PROBLEMS AS I SEE THEM: INSIDER TRADING, THE KINDS OF THINGS YOU CAN BET ON AND AGE OF ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE REGULARRABLE.

THEY NEED TO BE REGULATED.

WITH REGARD TO INSIDER TRADING WE HAVE LONG BANNED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TRADING STOCKS BASE ON NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION.

PREDICTION MARKETS THE SAME THING.

THAT'S THE MODEL.

THE KINDS OF THINGS HAS TO DO WITH MAINLY SPORTS BETTING AND CASINO GAMBLING.

TWO THINGS THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN IN THE CONTROL OF THE STATES AND THERE IS A BILL PENDING-- IT WAS JUST INTRODUCED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO-- PREDICTION MARKETS OR GAMBLING ACT SPONSORED BY BIPARTISAN LEAGUE.

WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT THESE ENTITIES WHICH DID A VERY SMART THING BY THE WAY, THEY REGISTERED WITH THE CFTC CLAIMING THAT WHAT THEY DO IS DERIVATIVES AND THAT THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION PREEMPTS THE STATE'S ABILITY TO REGULATE THEM.

THEY'RE LOSING IN COURT.

CFTC IS BRINGING LAWSUITS AGAINST THE STATES.

THEY'VE SO FAR BEEN LOSING IN COURT BECAUSE THE COURTS ARE SAYING THIS IS NOT TRUE.

THIS IS NOT WHAT THE COMMODITIES EXCHANGE ACT WAS MEANT TO REGULATE.

WE NEED TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE STATES.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE STATES.

THE STATES GET ENORMOUS TAX REVENUE FROM SPORTS BETTING AND OTHER KINDS OF GAMBLING.

THE CURRENT SITUATION INTRUDES UPON TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY BECAUSE THEY OPERATE CASINOS LEGALLY.

>> A HUGE SOURCE OF REVENUE.

>> HUGE SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THEM.

CONCERNS ABOUT AGE LIMITS, CONSUMER PROTECTIONS.

FOR ALL THESE REASONS WE NEED TO CARVE OUT SPORTS BETTING, CASINO STYLE GAMBLING BUT I AGREE THE REST OF WHAT IS BET ON IS QUITE VALUABLE.

WE GET A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM THESE PREDICTION MARKETS THAT POLLING, ESPECIALLY NOWADAYS, JUST CAN'T GIVE TO US.

>> YEAH, I WONDER IF ONE OF THE CONCERNS, LISA, COULD BE THAT, YEAH, YOU BAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, BUT WHAT ABOUT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS?

>> ALL GOVERNMENT AND CONNECTED PEOPLE.

I MEAN I SAID THAT'S THE MODEL BUT IT HAS TO BE ALL GOVERNMENT CONNECTED PEOPLE, INCLUDING OUR SPAWS SPOUSES AND RELATIVES.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS GOING TO SAY THOUGH, WHERE DOES THAT STOP BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, JUST PEOPLE BEING PEOPLE, IF YOU INCLUDE SPOUSES, IF YOU INCLUDE BROTHERS AND SISTERS,.

>> NEIGHBORS.

>> WHERE DO YOU STOP?

>> YOU GOT TO DRAW A LINE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT.

>> FIRST ORDER.

SO A BUNCH OF THIS STUFF HAS TO DO, OF COURSE, WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN THE U.S.

BUT THE MARKETth, ANIRBAN IS A GLOBAL MARK, RIGHT?

SAY MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

SO I AGREE, I CANNOT AGREE MORE WITH WHAT COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID HERE.

HOWEVER, POLYMARKET FIRST OF ALL IT WAS BANNED IN 2022 THEN REGISTERED WITH THE CFTC GOT A LICENSE TO WORK ON THE STATE SIDE.

IT OPTH MAINLY IN SPORTS.

SO, YOU KNOW, YES, SO WE SAW SEVERAL TIMES DURING THIS WAR PERIOD, LIKE WHENEVER THERE WOULD BE A CEASE FIRE ANNOUNCEMENT, 15 MINUTES AGO THERE WILL BE ACCOUNTS THAT WOULD BE FIRST COMING IN FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY WILL DO ONLY ONE BET, WHICH IS ON THAT PARTICULAR WAR OR, YOU KNOW, THE PARTICULAR NEWS ABOUT CEASE FIRE AND CREATE MILLIONS, 440,000 AND ALL DONE IN CRYPTOS.

SO YOU ARE RIGHT I. IS VERY DIFFICULT.

I MIGHT JUST HAVE A FRIEND SOMEWHERE AND SAY HEY, DUDE, PLACE THIS BET, YOU KNOW, LET'S KEEP IT UNDER THE WRAPS AND WE WILL JUST PLAY IN CRYPTO.

YOU ARE NOT MY FAMILY.

SO IF I WANT TO HIDE IT, I CAN HIDE IT.

THE BEST THING IS TO SAY THAT THESE PLATFORMS CANNOT BET ON ANYTHING THAT IS GEOPOLITICAL OR ANY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, HAVE A COMPLETE BREAK ON THAT.

>> THAT'S A TOUGH THING TO DO.

>> OF WARS, BYES.

>> ASSASSINATIONS.

AND THAT'S THE BIG ISSUE, RIGHT?

WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE AS TO WHAT CAN BE BET ON?

>> BECAUSE OF THE INFLATION, THAT'S FINE.

YOU CANNOT MAN INPLATE-- YOU CANNOT MAN-- YOU CANNOT MANIPULATE INFLATION.

>> BUT CERTAIN TYPES OF THINGS, WHO IS GOING TO GET ASSASSINATED.

HOW MANY FOLKS ARE GOING TO GET KILLED.

>> THAT SHOULD BE OUTLAWED.

>> YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A LONG LIST, NO.

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN OR CANNOT DO.

START SOMEWHERE.

>> THAT'S ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LINE BUT I GENERALLY, I THINK THESE THINGS ARE VERY INTERESTING AND VALUE IN THEM IN TERMS OF SOURCE OF INFORMATION, ABOUT HOW PEOPLE FEEL THAT WE DON'T OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO.

AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK THERE ARE WAYS TO DO IT.

NO REGULATION IS GOING TO BE PERFECT.

>> OKAY.

TURNING THE PAGE.

WHEN A STUDENT GETS AN ‘A' IT SHOULD MEAN THAT STUDENT'S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IS “SUPERIOR” FAR ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE'S PERFORMANCE.

BUT, WHAT DOES AN ‘A' REALLY TELL YOU IF EVERYONE ELSE GETS AN ‘A' TOO?

HARVARD UNIVERSITY DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE FACT THAT 85 PERCENT OF THE GRADES ASSIGNED TO ITS STUDENTS ARE A'S THE FACULTY WILL VOTE ON A PROPOSAL TO LIMIT THE NUMBER DOLED OUT IN EACH CLASS TO JUST 20 PERCENT.

TARA, ACCORDING TO FORBES MAGAZINE, GRADE INFLACTION ISN'T JUST A HARVARD PROBLEM, IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM.

DO YOU AGREE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS INCREASING EXPECTATION THAT IF I AM PAYING FOR THIS EDUCATION, THE MORE THE EDUCATION COSTS, THE MORE I EXPECT THAT MY CHILD IS GOING TO GET AN A OR AT THE VERY LEAST, A B + AND WHAT HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE EQUATION IS FIRST OF ALL, THE INDIVIDUALALITY AND THE HUMAN RESPONSE TO BEING IN SCHOOL.

I CAN BE THE BEST TEACHER IN THE WORLD BUT IF YOU AREN'T SHOWING UP AND DOING THE WORK, NO, YOU REALLY DON'T DESERVE AN A BUT THERE IS, ON THE OTHER SIDE, A PARENT WHO IS PAYING ALL THESE BIG BUCKS WHO THINKS, MY CHILD SHOULD BE GETTING AN A BECAUSE I'VE PAID FOR THIS A AND UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THE COMMODITY INDICATION OF EDUCATION.

THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT BY EVERYONE TAKE GETTING AN A, IT TAKES AWAY THE NOTION THAT IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE WORK ACTUALLY PUT IN.

>> AND IT'S SUPERIOR TO OTHER FOLKS WORK LIKE IT'S CLEARLY NOT AN F. BEN, HARVARD DID A REPORT WHICH SHOWED THAT FACULTY ARE CONCERNED THAT IF THEY BEGIN TO GIVE OUT HARD GRADES, THEN STUDENTS AREN'T GOING TO ENROLL IN THEIR CLASSES AND ENROLLMENTS DO AFFECT THINGS, RIGHT?

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PRESSURES ON ENROLLMENT?

>> I THINK THOSE ARE ALL LEGITIMATE CONCERNS.

WHAT I ALSO THINK IS LEGITIMATE CONCERN IS THAT IF YOU FORCE THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS TO NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL GRADE, WHEN THEY DO EXCEPTIONAL WORK AND THEY ARE LEARNING AND THEY'RE PUTTING THE TIME IN, I THINK THAT THAT IS WRONG.

THAT IT'S FORCING THEM TO COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER.

IT'S NOT PUTTING THE PRIORITY OF ACTUALLY LEARNING THE MATERIAL AND TAKING AWAY AN EDUCATION WHICH IS THE PRIORITY.

AND THERE ARE OTHER ANSWERS TO COMING UP WITH A WAY TO SEE WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE.

HARVARD STUDENTS, JUST LIKE THE STUDENTS WE HAVE, THEY'RE NOT PEOPLE THAT WE SCOOP UP OFF THE STREET AND SAY HEY, WHY DON'T YOU BE IN MY CLASS?

THEY HAVE EXCELLED.

THEY HAVE MADE IT INTO COLLEGE AND THEY'RE EXCELLING IN COLLEGE.

SO FOR THEM TO GREET GOOD GRADES IS NOT A BAD THING.

IT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONSIDER.

IS IT REFLECTIVE TO WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING.

>> SO, ANIRBAN, SOME OF THE PRESSURES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GRADE INFLATION ARE COMING FROM PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS AND ALSO PROFESSIONAL SKEWED ADMISSION OFFICERS WHO ARE SAYING WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME DISTINGUISHING AND BEING ABLE TO RELY ON TRANSCRIPTS.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> WHAT I HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE AGREED WITH ME.

A COUPLE OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.

15 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS TEACHING, MYCELIUM BUS HAD WAY MORE STUFF THAT STUDENTS HAD TO READ MULTIPLE ARTICLES, BOOKS AND SO ON.

WE HAVE STARTED CUTTING THAT DOWN, RIGHT?

WE HAVE DILUTED THESE SYLLABI OVER TIME AND NOW THE SYLLABI IS WAY LESS THAN WHAT YOU USED TO TEACH PLUS WE ARE GETTING MORE LENIENT WITH GRADING.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PATTERN, THE PATTERN I'M SEEING MOSTLY IS THE BIMODAL DISTRIBUTION, NOT THAT EVERYBODY IS GETTING AN A BUT THERE IS A CLUSTER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING AS AND THEY MAY NOT DESERVE IT BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, PEOPLE ARE GETTING B MINUS OR C AND THE OTHER PARTS OF MISSING.

ARBITRARY IS NOTED A GOOD THING.

>> IT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

I SAY THAT AS A PROFESSOR WHO TEACHES IN LAW SCHOOL UNDER A MANDATORY GRADING CURVE.

WE HAVE IT BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZED LONG AGO WITHOUT THESE LIMITS WE GET THE PRISONER DILEMMA EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT.

WHERE EVERYBODY FEELS THEY HAVE TO INFLATE THE GRADE, THE REPUTATION OF THE INSTITUTION SUFFERS AND THE STUDENTS SUFFER BECAUSE WHEN THE REPUTATION OF THE INSTITUTION SUFFERS, THEY SUFFER.

THERE IS A STUDY WENT DO DON'T HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMISTS HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS GRADE INFLATION IS ACTUALLY DIRECTLY HARMING STUDENTS BAY REDUCING ULTIMATELY THEIR LIFETIME EARNINGS BY OVER $200,000.

WE ARE NOT SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE.

MY LAST POINT IS HARVARD'S SOLUTION DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T CAP ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN A. YOU CAN STILL GIVE ALL THE A MINUSES IN THE WORLD YOU WANT TO GIVE.

>> AND A PLUS.

>> WHICH WOULD BE WORSE.

WELL PUT, LISA.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR GRADE BOOKS.

WE DON'T GIVE ALL AS.

WE ARE GOING TO START WITH FS.

STARTING WITH TARA.

>> MY F GOES TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD AND AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS.

RECOGNIZING THAT WOMEN ARE 73% MORE LIKELY THAN MEN TO BE INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, THE NTSB APPROVE USE OF FEMALE CRASH DUMMIES.

THEY'VE MADE IT MANDATORY THAT YOU USE FEMALE CAR CRASH DUMMIES ALONG WITH THE MALE CRASH DUMMIES NOR HAVE THE ANAL MANUFACTURERS ACTUALLY STARTED USING THE FEMALE CAR CRASH DUMMIES.

>> LISA.

>> MY A GOES TO BANGLADESH, MORE THAN 100 CHILDREN, MANY OF THEM INFANTS DIED IN A MEASLES OUTBREAK DUE TO GAP IN VACCINATION.

THIS HAS LEFT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN UNPROTECTED AGAINST A DISEASE THAT WE KNOW HOW TO PREVENT.

UNCOMFORTABLE PART FOR US, OF COURSE, IS THAT MEASLES COMES BACK WHEN VACCINATION SYSTEMS FALTER.

BANGLADESH IS THE WARNING.

THE UNITED STATES IS NOT IMMUNE.

AND AS OUR OWN VACCINATION RATES SLIP AND OUTBREAKS GROW, BANGLADESH SHOWS US WHAT PREVENTIBLE FAILURE LOOKS LIKE.

>> MY F IS GOING TO THE NEW YORK 2027 MANDATE FORCING SCHOOLS TO GET ELECTRONIC BUSES.

MANY OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS AS PEOPLE ARE AWARE HERE IN NEW YORK, ARE ALREADY FACING FISCAL CHALLENGES, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE GOT LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL THAT HAS HAD TO CUT TEACHERS, ASSISTANTS AND AIDES.

AND THEY'RE BEING FORCED TO BUY A $300,000 BUS OVER A $100,000 BUS.

ON TOP OF THAT, AT FOR EXAMPLE AND-- ALEXANDRIA NEW YORK IS ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES TO GET ONE OF THOSE ELECTRONIC BUSES IN 2024, THEY FOUND A 51% INCREASE IN THEIR OPERATING COSTS.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO THE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES LOBBYING SO HARD TO SCUTTLE ANY STATE EFFORT TO PASS RIGHT TO REPAIR LAWS.

A BILL IN COLORADO IS A GLIMPSE INTO HOW CORPORATIONS ARE WORKING HARD TO LI.

THE FREEDOM OF PEOPLE TO FIX UPGRADES AND THAT CAN SAVE THEM TONS OF MONEY OVER THEIR LIFETIME.

>> NOW FOR OUR AS, STARTING WITH TARA.

>> MY A GOES TO HAWAII PUBLIC RADIO.

DESPITE THEIR COMPLETE RELIANCE ON PUBLIC SUPPORT, HAWAIIAN PUBLIC RADIO HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL VITAL REPORTS ON LOCAL ISSUES, ESPECIALLY THE WORST FLOODING THAT HAWAII HAS HAD IN 20 YEARS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT REPORTING, THE STATION HAS CONSISTENTLY UPDATED ITS LISTS OF POST FLOOD SERVICES FOR ITS COMMUNITIES.

LISA.

>> I'M HAPPY TO GIVE A PLUSES WHEN THEY'RE WARRANTED AND I THINK THIS ONE IS WARRANTED MY A + GOES TO POPE LEO XIV IN HIS EASTER ADDRESS HE DIRECTLY CONDEMNED THREATS TO DESTROY AN ENTIRE POPULATION AS MORALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE RETURN TO DIPLOMA.

I SEE THIS AS REAL LEADERSHIP, NOT VAGUE CALLS FOR PEACE; WHICH WE SEE A LOT OF, BUT A WILLINGNESS TO SPEAK CLEARLY EVEN WHEN IT MEANS CRITICIZING POWERFUL COUNTRIES WHEN THE STAKES ARE LIFE AND DEATH.

>> BEN.

>> MY A IS GOING TO THE NATIONAL SPACE INTELLIGENCE CENTER.

SEVERAL OF THEIR CURRENT ANALYSTS JOINED US YESTERDAY AT GANNON TO CLASSES AND SHARED THEIR JOURNEY TO SPACE FORCE INTELLIGENCE TEAM AND SHARED WHAT A DAY IN THEIR WORLD WOULD LOOK LIKE.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE IMPORTANT AND COLLABORATIVE WORK THEY DO WITH AGENCIES LIKE THE FBI AND CIA TO KEEP US SAFE IS AN A PLUS.

>> AND WITH 22 SECONDS LEFT, ANIRBAN.

>> I WILL FOLLIESA AND GIVE AN A PLUS TO MORE THAN 100 INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS LAW EXPERTS WHO HAVE SIGNED AN OPEN LETTER STATING THE CONDUCT OF U.S.

FORCES AND STATEMENT OF U.S.

OFFICIALS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW.

>> THAT'S A WRAP FOR US.

WELL, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT IN THE STUDIO.

BEFORE WE GO, I'D LIKE TO SAY ‘THANK YOU' TO A LONGTIME VIEWER, JUDY, WHO WROTE LAST WEEK TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THE NO KINGS PROTEST HERE IN DEWITT.

ALSO JANET WROTE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ‘MASS RALLIES ARE JUST ONE ASPECT OF A BROADER ENGAGEMENT.

THANK YOU, JUDY AND JANET.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THE REST OF YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOPICS WE'VE DISCUSSED TONIGHT.

PLEASE WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE GO TO WCNY.ORG I'M NINA MOORE.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER," HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.