Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 12:17:58 -0600 Subject: Re: Bills in several states aim to counter perceived liberalism of college professors From: Marty Wood <mwood@uwec.edu> Message-ID: <BE364776.255C%mwood@uwec.edu>
I agree that this is all pretty alarming. On the other hand, the various
state legislatures' obsession with our collective potential for radicalizing
the youth of America becomes comical when you consider how profoundly
unsuccessful we've been. I've heard of this leftist bias to the academy
since way back when higher education was called a "pinko" institution --
and the result, thirty years later, is that most state governorships, most
state legislatures, the entire U.S. House and Senate, and the White House,
rest securely in the hands of Republicans. With enemies like us, the
extremist conservatives hardly need friends.
Some day, if only to increase their ratings, some news service or network is
actually going to rediscover critical analysis as a thing journalists can
do. On that day, the conservatives' shared fantasy of group marginalization
and persecution will be exposed for the preposterous paranoia it really is.
I only hope it happens before they've rounded us all up.
Marty
On 2/14/05 11:44 AM, "Pope, Karen O." <POPEKJ@uwec.edu> wrote:
> All:
> This has come up in quite a few discussion we've had lately, and is now
> in the "press" so often, I wonder if we shouldn't have a panel or a
> discussion during the teach-in on academic discourse relative to the 1st
> amendment, but also relative to creating a campus climate for dialog and
> scholarly inquiry? It seems Marty Wood and Rick Richmond have both
> sent previous posts on this, too.
> Just a thought,
> Karen
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu
> [mailto:sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Hale, C. Kate
> Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2005 11:20 AM
> To: SFPJ; Christian, Donald P.
> Subject: FW: Bills in several states aim to counter perceived liberalism
> of college professors
>
>
> Heads up!
>
> Kate
>
>
> C. Kate Hale, Ph.D.
> UWEC Dept. of English
> Office: 617 Hibbard Hall
> 715-836-2761
> halecl@uwec.edu
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Will Fantle [mailto:wfantle@sbcglobal.net]
> Sent: Sat 12-Feb-05 10:49 AM
> To: Hale, C. Kate; btg@mydnet.com; jdrsks@sbcglobal.net;
> jdernbach@state.pa.us; langw@uwstout.edu; mthree@charter.net;
> guitar8@sbcglobal.net; zoltan@igc.org
> Subject: Bills in several states aim to counter perceived liberalism of
> college professors
>
> Last update: February 12, 2005 at 6:37 AM Bills in several states aim to
> counter perceived liberalism of college professors Associated Press
> Published February 12, 2005
>
> WESTERVILLE, Ohio - College sophomore Charis Bridgman tends to keep
> quiet in class if she thinks her professor might disagree with her
> Christian-influenced ideas.
>
> The 19-year-old says schools such as her Otterbein College in suburban
> Columbus should be a place for open discussion, but she feels some
> professors make students afraid to speak up.
>
> ``They might chastise me, or not even listen to my opinion or give me a
> chance to explain,'' she said.
>
> Professors would have to include diverse opinions in classrooms under
> legislation being pushed in Ohio and several other states by
> conservatives who fear too many professors indoctrinate young minds with
> liberal propaganda. Such measures have had little success getting
> approval in the other states.
>
> ``I see students coming out having gone in without any ideological
> leanings one way or another, coming out with an indoctrination of a lot
> of left-wing issues,'' said bill sponsor Sen. Larry Mumper, a former
> high school teacher whose Republican party controls the Legislature.
>
> The proposal in Ohio to create an academic ``bill of rights'' would
> prohibit public and private college professors from presenting opinions
> as fact or penalizing students for expressing their views. Professors
> would
>
> not be allowed to introduce controversial material unrelated to the
> course.
>
> Professors dismissed the bill as unnecessary and questioned whether its
> supporters had ulterior motives, such as wanting more conservative
> professors.
>
> Similar legislation failed in California and Colorado last year, while
> the Georgia Senate passed a resolution, which is less binding than a
> bill, that suggests adoption. The California bill, which would affect
> only public schools, has been reintroduced and faces opposition from
> professors and student groups. An Indiana bill is nearly identical to
> Ohio's.
>
> The Ohio legislation is based on principles advocated by Students for
> Academic Freedom, a Washington, D.C.-based student network founded by
> conservative activist David Horowitz.
>
> ``It doesn't matter a professor's viewpoint,'' Horowitz said in an
> interview. ``They can be a good professor, liberal or conservative,
> provided they pursue an educational mission and not a political
> agenda.''
>
> Mumper said he is concerned universities are not teaching the values
> held by taxpaying parents and students.
>
> He questioned why lawmakers should approve funding for universities with
>
> ``professors who would send some students out in the world to vote
> against the very public policy that their parents have elected us for.''
>
> A faculty group or school committee could oversee complaints from
> students who believe their grades were affected by a professor's bias,
> Mumper said.
>
> Joe White, a political science professor at Case Western Reserve
> University in Cleveland, said students could use perceived
> discrimination as an excuse to refuse to learn.
>
> ``We're not supposed to teach for their comfort,'' he said.
>
> Other opponents, including the American Association of University
> Professors, say such bills could stifle debate.
>
> ``We see nothing but mischief if we invite people from outside of the
> university to somehow start monitoring what goes on inside the
> classroom,''
> said David Patton, an AAUP member and professor emeritus of Ohio State
> University.
>
> Sen. Teresa Fedor, a Democrat from Toledo, agrees: ``Can we say 21st
> century witch hunt and book burning?''
>
> ---
>
> On The Net:
>
> http://www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org
>
> http://www.aaup.org
>
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> (c) Copyright 2005 Star Tribune. All
> rights reserved.
> 5355be7.jpg
>
>
>
> Will Fantle
> wfantle@sbcglobal.net
>
>
>
>
>