UCLA’s Discrimination Office Targeting Professor Threatens Academic Freedom

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | July 31, 2020 | Walt Gardner

[karpov]

When a political science lecturer at UCLA read to his class Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and showed clips from a documentary on racism, he found himself in hot water.

The reason: Both the letter and the documentary included the N-word.

Many students complained, which in turn pitted UCLA against the Department of Education. The latter said that targeting the instructor was a direct violation of UCLA’s own policies protecting academic freedom. But, instead of backing the instructor, UCLA’s Discrimination Prevention Office has launched a review, according to The Wall Street Journal.

This is a rare moment when the Department of Education is right.

Regardless of the final outcome, one would be naïve to believe that academic freedom exists in higher education in this country today. That is particularly the case in California, where the state’s constitution spells out unequivocally that the University of California “shall be entirely independent of all political or sectarian influence and kept free therefrom.”

If diversity of thought is indeed a goal, then why is William Peris, the political science lecturer (who is white), not being supported? His own department responded that he was wrong because he did not “simply pause and reassess” his teaching pedagogy to meet his students’ needs during this “sensitive time,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

But how can students be expected to develop critical thinking if the material they are exposed to has been bowdlerized? Recognizing this, several states have passed laws requiring public universities to guarantee free speech and intellectual diversity, which they define as a “learning environment that exposes students to and encourages exploration of a variety of ideological and political perspectives,” according to a South Dakota bill signed into law in March.

[C19fan]

Oh well...I guess nobody will use the movie “Glory” about the colored Mass 54th Regiment in the classroom.

[Impala64ssa]

Would they allow the rap "artists" NWA (N***AS With Attitude) on campus to do a concert? Their biggest hit was a ditty called F**K THA POLICE, they'd likely be welcomed with open arms and be given honorary degrees.

[freedumb2003]

Spell the damn word out.

MLK said and wrote “nigger” and he is being QUOTED FROM A PRINTED PASSAGE then by God, both the poly sci professor AND FREE REPUBLIC should do the same.

[Flash Bazbeaux]

Last month the ferals defaced the plaque in the Boston Common, along Beacon Street, close to the exit leading to the State House, which commemorates the 54th.

[Sir Napsalot]

Any inspiring Big Brother wannabe:

You have the freedom to think and act like we tell you to.

That is the current state of the academic freedom.

[Impala64ssa]

Heck, some anQUEEFas in Seattle defaced the Jimi Hnedrix statue. Probably offended by his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner

[CheshireTheCat]

FTA

“Rather than administrators caving to student demands after offense is taken, they should defend professors who want to educate students and prepare them for life. Considering the debt students amass, they deserve an education that encourages them to think and prepare them for life after campus.”

Excellent point that I have never seen made before.

[Night Hides Not]

Good thing I'm in my 60s...I had a drama class in 8th grade, the first assignment was a 10 minute oral presentation.

My topic was "Chemistry Fun at Home", my intro consisted of lighting a firecracker in the classroom.

Teacher loved it, I got an A. Couldn't do that today without being sent to alternative school.