The OP implied that the yeshiva screaming “Lashon Horoh” was ignorance. I challenge that. The yeshiva knew, and probably lots more about specifics and the subject in general. The accurate word here is “DENIAL”. There was a conscious choice to disbelieve the claims and to dismiss them because that produced the desired outcome or prevented other projected negatives. Well, it backfired, as denial usually does when it ultimately fails.
I think the post should redirect itself to the concept of Denial, not Ignorance.