Opinion: Cal Poly and the Saudis

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Cal Poly San Luis Obispo appears to have jumped through all the necessary hoops to make sure its pending deal with a Saudi university doesn’t break any U.S. employment laws.

Cal Poly would design an engineering department for Jubail University College, which will ban women both from teaching and taking classes in the program. But Cal Poly professors, who apply to be part of the $5.9-million contract, can participate in the design task regardless of gender (or religion, etc.) In addition, Cal Poly spokespeople say it’s their ‘understanding’ that the California school will not be restricted in any way from sending whatever professors it chooses to be the co-directors who help launch the department ‘on the ground.’

If it appears to be so legal, why does it flunk the smell test so badly? If Cal Poly has to be so careful to set up the circumstances under which women can and can’t be discriminated against, that would seem to be enough of an indication that this is a bad venture, especially for a state college. Yes, the Saudis would be paying for their services (Cal Poly isn’t doing this out of charity) and are expected to fund some nifty research projects in addition. But Cal Poly is a public institution of higher learning, a place with the highest sort of obligation to uphold noble standards of anti-discrimination. Jubail might be funding this particular contract, but Cal Poly wouldn’t exist to sign a contract if it weren’t for California taxpayers.