The University of Utah is renowned for its strong emphasis on STEM education, making it one of the premier institutions for research and innovation in these fields.
With STEM majoring as the most popular choice among students, the university benefits from over $700 million in annual research funding, particularly bolstered by its tier-1 research status.
However, this intense focus on STEM has become entangled with serious ethical questions regarding the industries that the university promotes.
With the tech industry’s shift from Silicon Valley to Utah’s Silicon Slopes, the University of Utah has recognized the growing significance of STEM fields in local industry, leading to rapid expansion in programs specifically in mining and engineering.
Yet, amid this growth lies a troubling trend, as many industries that are heavily promoted by the University raise concerns regarding ethics and morality.
STEM students often find themselves competing for internships within companies that are deeply involved in morally questionable practices, particularly in the realm of war profiteering.
In 2023, the University joined 47G, a consortium of companies that aims to make Utah a leading hub for aerospace and defense businesses.
Membership in 47G includes several companies known for their involvement in war profiteering, many of which have been associated with serious human rights violations.
One prominent member, Northrop Grumman, is a Virginia-based weapons manufacturer that established a headquarters in Utah in 2019.
This company has faced scrutiny for technologies that have contributed to the conflict in Gaza through the supply of weaponry identified as complicit in war crimes.
Notably, Northrop Grumman’s technologies are implicated in the militarization of the U.S. southern border and have raised alarms regarding the surveillance of communities, particularly affecting people of color.
Despite these grave issues, the university maintains close ties with Northrop Grumman, as evidenced by a $90,000 grant awarded to the U in 2022 and numerous students being placed in internships there.
Sadly, this same year, Northrop Grumman’s products contributed to the deaths of civilians in conflict zones, reflecting the dark intersection of education and war profiteering.
The financial relationship between the University of Utah and 47G raises ethical concerns about the institution’s role in perpetuating harm.
The university has disclosed payments totaling at least $300,000 to 47G, including a $50,000 annual membership fee and support for sponsorship of events that further promote the defense sector.
Student testimony sheds light on the intense competition and pressures they face when pursuing internship opportunities.
For many pursuing degrees in fields like mechanical engineering, securing internships is seen as vital, with some students stressing that many employers demand prior experience to even consider hiring them post-graduation.
Nevertheless, the disparity in pay between internships at defense companies and those offered by the university highlights a significant challenge; internships at Northrop Grumman can pay around $25.77 an hour, compared to the meager $12.50 hourly stipends for academic laboratory placements.
In conjunction with business partnerships promoting these companies, the U offers a starkly inadequate ethics curriculum for students.
A course on Applied Ethics and Professionalism was introduced in Fall 2024 as a requirement for mechanical engineering students, but many students do not believe it sufficiently prepares them for the ethical dilemmas they will encounter in their careers.
Students like Renner Jones express doubts about the course’s efficacy, arguing that one class is insufficient to reshape perspectives on morality in engineering professions.
Electrical engineering major Madeline Cook illustrates further complications, as many engineering roles involve working on narrowly defined tasks that obscure the broader implications of their work.
Despite being in a program that encourages a more holistic education, Cook has acknowledged the troubling loss of soft skills as one ascends the corporate ladder.
The University of Utah’s approach to STEM education raises profound questions about its ethical responsibilities.
By pushing students toward lucrative careers with companies known for grave human rights violations, the university sends a troubling message about the value of human life compared to financial gain.
Students are increasingly faced with a moral obligation to consider the impact of their career paths on society.
The imperative to cultivate a workforce capable of tackling complex global issues such as war and environmental destruction cannot be overstated.
Universities must prioritize ethics in STEM disciplines, cultivating awareness that could inspire engineers and scientists to pursue careers aimed at bettering the world rather than contributing to its destruction.
The current reality of pursuing internships with companies embroiled in violence and exploitation demands attention and critical reflection from both students and the university.
In this transitional phase for many students, it becomes essential to confront and understand the weight of their future careers and their contributions to society.
As this ethical conversation unfolds, the University of Utah must take meaningful steps toward guiding its students in making responsible choices that emphasize the greater good.
image source from：https://dailyutahchronicle.com/2025/04/19/opinion-stop-internships-war-profiteers/
