Posted on 03/03/2005 3:05:28 PM PST by Tamar1973
Santa Rosa Junior College's oak-studded campus is aflame with controversy triggered by the anonymous posting of red stars and a reference to communist indoctrination on 10 faculty office doors.
Instructors quickly saw the action as a threat to academic freedom, but the student who claimed credit for the protest said it was about left-leaning bias in the lecture hall.
The stars, which unnerved some instructors, were accompanied by a copy of a state Education Code section prohibiting the teaching of communism with the "intent to indoctrinate" students.
"It makes me a little anxious," philosophy instructor Michael Aparicio said.
Ed Buckley, the college's vice president of academic affairs, weighed in with a defense of academic freedom, saying in an e-mail to SRJC faculty that it includes teaching "difficult and controversial material."
But political science major Molly McPherson of Rohnert Park said she had only intended to start a discussion about the personal politics of SRJC humanities instructors by posting the stars.
"It's a big issue," said McPherson, president of the SRJC Republicans, a campus club. "The opinion of the far left is presented as fact, with no alternative."
Some students fear their grades will suffer if they express a contrary view, she said.
The red stars were not intended as a personal attack on individual instructors, she said. "I regret that it was taken that way."
German instructor Sylvia Wasson, said her colleagues were "overreacting" in a flurry of e-mails exchanged on campus since the stars and code citation were discovered on the doors in Emeritus Hall on Friday morning.
Wasson, who had McPherson in four German classes, described her as an A student, a "very bright woman" and a "critical thinker who happens to belong to the wrong party on campus."
Aparicio and others said they found McPherson's tactics "sensationalist," intended to get media attention.
When faculty members called a news conference to discuss the stars, McPherson came forward to acknowledge her action on behalf of the SRJC Republicans, a 75-member chapter of the California College Republicans, a statewide group.
SRJC's Academic Senate is scheduled to discuss the matter at 3:15 p.m. today in the Dyle Student Center and may start a move to repeal the Education Code section cited by the student Republicans, said George Freund, a philosophy instructor.
Faculty members were outraged by the stealthy posting and surprised to find the code prohibition on the advocacy of communism, he said.
The code's first sentence says: "No teacher giving instruction in any school ... shall advocate or teach communism with the intent to indoctrinate or to inculcate in the mind of any pupil a preference for communism."
"You can't teach social theory without teaching Marxism," Freund said. In all his lectures, Freund said he covers "the best argument for and against" any philosophy.
Marco Giordano, an English instructor, called the code section "antithetical to academic freedom."
"The accusation of teaching communism in the classroom is laughable," Giordano said, noting communism is not illegal and the U.S. Constitution is "indifferent" to both communism and capitalism.
Still, he said, the student Republican's actions were "a little creepy" and a "revival of McCarthyist tactics."
Buckley called the protest "an unhelpful way to express their dissatisfaction" with instructors.
McPherson said the Republicans hope to hold a public forum on the issue. "One-sided education is indoctrination," she said.
Students,Profs face off over 'Red Stars'
I have two questions:
1. Where did the College Republicans get the idea from?
2. Have any of you heard of similar protests in other places?
I'd say this quote proves McPherson's point exactly.
Boy the left can dish it out but they sure can't take it.
Sounds like a good idea to me!
I will see their "McCarthyism" and raise it a "Stalinist!"
Funny how those guys can not take their own medicine.
Its OK to attack Christians and conservatives, but lets not suggest that an instructor is indoctrinating their students.. THAT is unacceptable.
Hmmmmm? Sounds like the professors didn't like being challenged - too bad - it's way past time.
They apparently do their research.
I don't know where they got the idea, but it's about time some students stood up to the Profs in CA. A student I know had this to impart:
First day of a required class the Prof said, "if anyone in here voted fro Bush, get out now." Academic freedom don't you know!
"It makes me a little anxious," philosophy instructor Michael Aparicio said."
It damn well ought to!
"fro=for"
I was a student at SRJC for about a year and a half, and I have to tell you: you can save yourself a fair amount of tuition and book money by just "studying" the DUmmy message board. Its that bad.
Matter of fact, they should just pass out communist party sign-up sheets at the door to some of these classes. Y'all wouldn't believe it.
I'm heartened to hear that a) there is a Republican club / presence on campus, and b) they're actually fighting back against these morons!
I'd say this quote proves McPherson's point exactly.
Ditto!
No wonder he feels "creepy".McCarthy was right.
I am pleased to hear that they are upset and unnerved by the fact that individuals have posted red stars on their doors. Now perhaps they just might think twice about putting up Swastikas on our property.
The difference, of course, is that the communist red stars are in fact signifying what is believed by these people. The Nazi Swastika represents National Socialism, which is itself an offshoot of Marxist thought. At least out "protestors" get their facts straight. Personally, I would have preferred that they used the hammer and sickle for ID of these people.
And so now these sawdust "intellectual" wussies can't handle a little blow back from the unconvinced? Well, as they used say in the old USSR...Tuffshitsky! Or better yet, as they say in the People's Paradise of China...Fungu!
Wait a minute...the student's actions were 'sensationalist' and done to attract media attention.
Umm...who called a press conference????
And so now these sawdust "intellectual" wussies can't handle a little blow back from the unconvinced? Well, as they used say in the old USSR...Tuffshitsky! Or better yet, as they say in the People's Paradise of China...Fungu!
And so now these sawdust "intellectual" wussies can't handle a little blow back from the unconvinced? Well, as they used say in the old USSR...Tuffshitsky! Or better yet, as they say in the People's Paradise of China...Fungu!
Ever.
Buh-bye Dan! Go away! Aasta lavista, baby...
Scram! Beat it! Vamoose yer caboose! Scat! scat...
Forget to write...
"It makes me a little anxious," philosophy instructor Michael Aparicio said.
Why? Unless he thinks he will lose his job, over a student protest, what is he worried about? That the other students will wake up and realize how biased he is? That students will start insisting on being allowed to speak out in his class? That he won't be able to get away with downgrading students who do speak out?
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