Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Can’t We All Just “Belong”? In the UNC System and elsewhere, a politicized concept needs careful redefining.
James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | May 20, 2024 | Martha McCaughey

Posted on 05/21/2024 3:25:37 AM PDT by karpov

A university library I visited recently was giving away stickers that said, “You Belong Here.” Surely this affirming declaration does not mean that students can’t flunk out or get expelled, or that employees can’t ever get fired. I began to wonder what it means to belong at one’s college or university.

The sticker’s message soon became newbiquitous: I’ve since noticed “belonging” referenced by corporate consultants, as well as high-school and university administrators who have added a “B” to DEI. Some education scholars have argued that student success depends on a sense of belonging. Educational leaders are trying to build belonging into their disciplinary societies, and it was also invoked, to explain Claudine Gay’s resignation from her post as Harvard’s president, by a professor who wrote, “Black people will never belong there because we weren’t meant to—not then, not now, not ever.”

In a statement on its website, the UNC School of Education ties belonging to advocacy “for equity in every aspect of the lives of all members of our communities, especially those directly and indirectly affected by violence and racially motivated acts.” Appalachian State’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion says it seeks to foster a sense of belonging, and belonging is a goal of UNC Asheville’s Quality Enhancement Plan’s IGNITE first-year experience program.

(Excerpt) Read more at jamesgmartin.center ...


TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: college

1 posted on 05/21/2024 3:25:37 AM PDT by karpov
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: karpov

Joke stolen elect belongst the white hut residency too theys postulate according to this thin braining of our non thought proceduralistic accords.


2 posted on 05/21/2024 3:52:37 AM PDT by Recompennation (Don’t blame me my vote didn’t coun)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

Take reality and spin it to be the opposite. “You belong here” means “Some people don’t belong here”. IOW people who “make us feel we don’t belong here” should be expelled. Trump supporters for example. People who don’t support the current narratives should also be expelled.

Fascism is in vogue on college campuses.


3 posted on 05/21/2024 3:59:23 AM PDT by AppyPappy (Biden told Al Roker "America is back". Unfortunately, he meant back to the 1970's)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

“Can’t we all just get along?” - Rodney King


4 posted on 05/21/2024 3:59:31 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov
I think the concept of "belonging" derives from that phenomenon that when black people walk in affluent white neighborhoods, they get the feeling that the local whites -- and cops -- stare suspiciously at them, as if they don't belong in that neighborhood.

This is especially upsetting to blacks who moved in and live there. They're thinking and want to shout "Stop staring at me, I belong here."

5 posted on 05/21/2024 3:59:50 AM PDT by Angelino97
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

“Belonging “ is part of indoctrination of impressionable students to their peer group values.


6 posted on 05/21/2024 4:06:21 AM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Recompennation

I was going to say the same thing. You beat me to it.


7 posted on 05/21/2024 4:10:03 AM PDT by Russ (I )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: tired&retired

It gives off a join our cult vibe.


8 posted on 05/21/2024 4:13:23 AM PDT by Betty Jane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy

“Belong” can also mean “ are property of” which is what the elite see as the global feudal order.


9 posted on 05/21/2024 4:24:18 AM PDT by Sirius Lee (They intend to kill us. Plan to avoid this.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: karpov
Some education scholars have argued that student success depends on a sense of belonging.

Some scholars aren’t very scholarly.

They have not done any studying of what successful people have written about their success.

From what I have read about the secret of success it boils down to hard work and never giving up after failure.

Basically “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Many of the most successful people to ever live didn’t belong.

10 posted on 05/21/2024 4:31:06 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

without ivory tower postulations admonishing me, i “already belong”! I am:
1. a Viet/Cold War veteran, killing Commies for mommie.
2. a half-breed Mojave.
3. a politically rabid-for-America, to the right of conservatism, (not quite a ‘tree’ member).
4. a still-living-senior-citizen.
5. one-of-legion who believe that Microsoft haas gone Commie with the latest Windoze rendition.
6. Hillary should be in GITMO.


11 posted on 05/21/2024 4:36:23 AM PDT by Terry L Smith
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sirius Lee

Colleges: “How can we allow some people to plagiarize but not everyone?”


12 posted on 05/21/2024 5:07:09 AM PDT by AppyPappy (Biden told Al Roker "America is back". Unfortunately, he meant back to the 1970's)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Angelino97

Be a white dude and walk through a black neighborhood. You’ll get the same reactions.


13 posted on 05/21/2024 5:52:25 AM PDT by ealgeone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Betty Jane

That’s why so many groups like Scientology go after college students.


14 posted on 05/21/2024 6:43:13 AM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: karpov

The “belonging” buzzword at universities reminds me of the favorite buzzword of millenial advertising copywriters: “deserve.”

You DESERVE handcrafted organic household wares.
You DESERVE expensive new electronics.
Get the (fill in the blank_______) that you DESERVE!

No working or earning necessary. You deserve things just for existing; just for watching TV.


15 posted on 05/21/2024 9:39:54 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (Either ‘the Deep State destroys America, or we destroy the Deep State.’ --Donald Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson