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SRJC uproar over Republican protest (BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA - red stars put on leftist prof doors)
the press DemocRAT ^ | 3-2-05 | Kovner

Posted on 03/03/2005 4:08:11 PM PST by doug from upland

SRJC uproar over Republican protest Several instructors targeted by student's posting of red stars, state code on teaching of communism Wednesday, March 2, 2005

By GUY KOVNER THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: collegerepublicans; education; leftistprofessors; redstars; srjc
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1 posted on 03/03/2005 4:08:14 PM PST by doug from upland
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To: doug from upland

Miss McPherson belongs to my church. She is an amazing young lady.


2 posted on 03/03/2005 4:10:41 PM PST by demnomo
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To: Syncro

Hey, from our neck of the woods! :)


3 posted on 03/03/2005 4:11:44 PM PST by demnomo
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To: doug from upland

this is a funny story, I like it :-)


4 posted on 03/03/2005 4:13:03 PM PST by William of Orange (Liberalism: killing babies good, killing criminals bad...)
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To: doug from upland
"You can't teach social theory without teaching Marxism,"


Good one less useless class and one less useless professor.
5 posted on 03/03/2005 4:16:03 PM PST by cripplecreek (The crippled stool is the cadillac of poopin stools.)
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To: doug from upland
Giordano said, noting communism is not illegal and the U.S. Constitution is "indifferent" to both communism and capitalism.

This teacher either hasn't actually read the Constitution, or is deliberately lying. In either case, he's unfit to teach ayone anywhere in the country.

L

6 posted on 03/03/2005 4:16:43 PM PST by Lurker ("We're all sinners, but jerks revel in their sins. " P.J. O'Rourke)
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To: doug from upland; demnomo

Great! Hoo-ray for Miss McPherson!


7 posted on 03/03/2005 4:17:13 PM PST by Theresawithanh (2005! My resolution: FReep even MORE this year!!!)
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To: doug from upland

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."

No Bias at this college!!


8 posted on 03/03/2005 4:17:31 PM PST by Fire137 (If this is not a war I don't know what one is)
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To: doug from upland

This IS such an encouraging story.


9 posted on 03/03/2005 4:18:10 PM PST by riri
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To: doug from upland
"Faculty members were outraged by the stealthy posting and surprised to find the code prohibition on the advocacy of communism, he said.

and this, "Still, he said, the student Republican's actions were "a little creepy" and a "revival of McCarthyist tactics.""

Can't criticize the omnipotent liberals lest ye be branded a McCarthyite.
10 posted on 03/03/2005 4:18:36 PM PST by Texas_Jarhead
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To: doug from upland
It seems that the academe's can't stand it if the freedom of speech goes both ways. What a surprise. They have had it their way, (let's show the students the communist way) for so long that they cannot tolerate the obvious swing the other way. " Those that can, do, Those that CAN'T, teach."
11 posted on 03/03/2005 4:19:10 PM PST by LowInMo ("The tree of liberty must occasionally be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots."---Thomas)
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To: doug from upland
It seems that the academe's can't stand it if the freedom of speech goes both ways. What a surprise. They have had it their way, (let's show the students the communist way) for so long that they cannot tolerate the obvious swing the other way. " Those that can, do, Those that CAN'T, teach."
12 posted on 03/03/2005 4:19:13 PM PST by LowInMo ("The tree of liberty must occasionally be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots."---Thomas)
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To: Fire137

Molly was homeschooled till she got to college. :)


13 posted on 03/03/2005 4:19:20 PM PST by demnomo
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To: doug from upland
Instructors quickly saw the action as a threat to academic freedom....."It makes me a little anxious," philosophy instructor Michael Aparicio said.

O.....M.......F.......G

I want whatever drug these folks are taking.

14 posted on 03/03/2005 4:20:12 PM PST by Psycho_Bunny (“I know a great deal about the Middle East because I’ve been raising Arabian horses" Patrick Swazey)
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To: doug from upland
Where too start with this. There are so many quotes indicating the response to this legitimate expression of concern over the teaching methods, competence and political indoctrination that appear to be practiced by a large segment of the faculty.

The preponderant response seems to call for the repeal of any strictures on indoctrination that may exist and they also trot out the tired old red herrings of 'Free Speech' and 'Academic Freedom' to attack their critics.

I'm just glad I don't have to attend any university today. It was bad enough in 66-72 but it appears to be much worse today and I'm certain I could not accept it and would be in serious trouble.

15 posted on 03/03/2005 4:20:41 PM PST by drt1
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To: Lurker

ah, you caught that too?
seems I recall certain bits and snippets from eht Founders indicating their belief that sacrosanct and inviolable private property rights are the foundation of the law in a free republic...


16 posted on 03/03/2005 4:24:30 PM PST by King Prout (Remember John Adam!)
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To: demnomo

Tell her to keep up the good work.


17 posted on 03/03/2005 4:24:38 PM PST by Michael121 (An old soldier knows truth. Only a Dead Soldier knows peace.)
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To: doug from upland
The left cant give up on calling critical expression "McCarthyist tactics ".

Thats when I stopped reading. Just adult bedwetters.

18 posted on 03/03/2005 4:27:28 PM PST by smoothsailing (Eagles Up !!)
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To: doug from upland
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.

Hey all you Profs! If it makes you nervous then it's warranted because you're GUILTY AND YOU KNOW IT!

19 posted on 03/03/2005 4:28:32 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: doug from upland

I don't know why a red star would bother them, after all, a red star is on the California State Flag.

And why are they all in a dither about a law prohibiting the inculcation of Communism unless that is precisely what they are doing?

Merely teaching ABOUT Communism would not violate the law - so why do these Commie-scum fear being prosecuted?

Hmmm?


20 posted on 03/03/2005 4:31:19 PM PST by PeterFinn (Why is it that people who know the least know it the loudest?)
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