The Unfortunate Consequences of a Pay-to-Play Culture

The story on the front page of this issue details how Boston College has spent thousands of dollars lobbying corrupt state legislature officials in its bid to secure approval for the Master Plan. The Brennan Group, which handles much of BC’s lobbying efforts, cannot be blamed for placing BC money where it will make the most difference. After all, Boston College has had to overcome popular opposition from residents and public officials who depend on these residents to stay in office. It would be vastly unwise to spend these resources on Republicans, who are currently a vast minority in the state legislature, and will be so for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately, the result is that Boston College is spending valuable resources lobbying corrupt officials. The last three elected officials to hold the title Speaker of the House in the State of Massachusetts were indicted on federal charges. This leaves students, administrators, and alumni wondering just how corrupt these officials are. Are they so corrupt that they will not consider bona fide lobbying attempts, or do they sometimes just line their pockets to sweeten a deal they already consider good for the Commonwealth? If the former is true, then Boston College is wasting its resources.

The sad reality is that Boston College does not have much of a choice in this matter. Either the University can refuse to lobby for its causes, and therefore fail to accomplish the Ten Year Plan, or it has to sometimes pay corrupt officials in order to achieve its goals. Until the voters in Massachusetts take matters into their own hands, by voting out a corrupt state party in favor of an alternative one, Boston College will continue to spend hard-earned tuition and endowment dollars wooing corrupt politicians.

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