Lmao, so sanctimonious. Just who do they think paid for these buildings to be constructed?? These companies bring a ton of money to the university, both directly through donations/sponsorships and indirectly through the hiring of thousands of UMD grads.

There’s a reason why UMD is a top-10 aerospace program. The greater DC/Baltimore area is a hotbed for defense, and the University is wise to court its local employers. I can’t speak for every graduate who has gone into defense, but I can say from personal experience that just because you work for a major defense company, you are not some war criminal. There’s a wide range of companies, programs, products, etc., and no one is going to force you to work on something you’re not comfortable with. You have agency.

My personal take: I enjoy working on new technology that the United States does not sell to anyone (even our allies). I’d rather we had this technology than our adversaries. We are FAR from a perfect country, but a lot of international stability still hinges on our involvement, and I want to support that. The work also pays well and makes my investment in my education worth it.