Profs get warned of freedoms

Philadelphia Daily News ^ | Nov. 12, 2005 | MENSAH M. DEAN

[Exigence]

Profs get warned of freedoms

By MENSAH M. DEAN

deanm@phillynews.com

Words such as "McCarthyism" and "chill" buzzed through a group of Temple University professors and students who gathered on campus yesterday to discuss a state legislative committee's investigation of political diversity at state-run colleges.

The "teach-in," sponsored by the Temple Association of University Professionals, drew an audience overwhelmingly convinced that the committee's very existence is a threat to academic freedom.

"I think that there is a concern that people are going to start coming in and say, 'You can do this, but you can't do this.' If we are teaching about the Holocaust, do we also have to give the same amount of time to Holocaust denier?" art history Professor Jane Evans asked during an interview.

"That's the logical conclusion," she added.

The Republican-backed state House of Representatives committee is probing, among other things, complaints by conservative students that they are routinely mistreated and unfairly graded by liberal college professors.

The resolution that created the investigative committee reads, in part: "Students and faculty should be protected from the imposition of ideological orthodoxy, and faculty members have the responsibility to not take advantage of their authority position to introduce inappropriate or irrelevant subject matter outside their field of study." The committee held its first hearing Wednesday at the University of Pittsburgh.

According to Rep. Lawrence H. Curry, a committee member who addressed last night's group, the committee discussed whether to allow lawmakers to monitor courses that advocate rather than educate.

Curry, a Democrat whose District includes parts of Montgomery County and Philadelphia, said the committee also discussed the creation of a means for bringing political balance to faculties.

"You better take that seriously. Administrations had better take that seriously," Curry told the Temple group. He and every Democrat voted against the creation of the committee.

"Certainly, the growing campaign against the academic community is... a cause for concern," Ellen Schrecker, Yeshiva University history professor, told the Temple group.

Just as in the 1950s, right-wing forces are threatening to impose political tests for the nation's faculties, she said.

"The threat is more serious this time because unlike the McCarthy era, when professors came under fire for their extracurricular political activists, today it's the core academic functions, their teaching and research that is at issue," she said.

[Exigence]

"Academic freedom" to some means "no conservatives need apply."

[hosepipe]

What a blessing McCarthyism is..
A Warning about anything Marxist.. or Maoist.. or even Leninist.. basicaly a warning that Socialism is slavery by government.. And that when socialists rule somebody or something gets KILLED.. usually its competition that gets the ax.. along with any competitor to socialism..

AH! the blessings of McCarthyism, its a joy to be alive..
Fighting the serial killers and mass murderers of competition..
Kind of makes me get all warm and fuzzy inside..

[2banana]

"I think that there is a concern that people are going to start coming in and say, 'You can do this, but you can't do this.' If we are teaching about the Holocaust, do we also have to give the same amount of time to Holocaust denier?" art history Professor Jane Evans asked during an interview.

Seems to me there are alot of Holocaust deniers on the left. Not the German one, Just the Soviet, Chinese, N. Korean, Cuban, Cambodian, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, etc. ones...

[LS]

Actually, I DO teach about the Holocaust deniers and explain their positions. Students need to be prepared for such people

[FreedomPoster]

I slap a lot of Leftie holocaust deniers in the face with Rummell.

20TH CENTURY DEMOCIDE
http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/20TH.HTM

[Old Professer]

As far as I can tell there is little left to conserve in the academic political arena; what we need now are resurrectionists.

[Lloyd227]

Ping: This last meeting was at Temple. Check with Jeremy and get us a first hand update.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

At least McCarthy had a good deal of fact and was usually correct in whom he accused of being associated with the Communist party.

These 'professors' possess the epitome of what the Left has condemned in McCarthy: they are bigots, they spread propagandist lies that back what has routinely been proved to be oppressive regimes, and they allow no other ideas to be discussed in the classroom.

What this initiative is doing is simply saying that those institutions that receive tax dollars must allow a diversity of thought and must not punish students for disagreeing with their professors. It's a shame that the wording of the resolution has to point out how the professors must express contrary ideas. Both sides of the issue used to be the standard method of teaching. That was before Leftists took over academe, however, and began teaching the one-side-is-gospel.

Frankly, I'd like to see such an equal-time requirement forced upon public television if it is to continue to receive tax dollars. And this is all a far cry from what the pejorative association of the term "McCarthyism." It actually is a defense of the diversity they purport to defend and demand of the rest of us.

[hosepipe]

[ At least McCarthy had a good deal of fact and was usually correct in whom he accused of being associated with the Communist party. ]

Joe McCarthy to his last day had no idea of the extent Stalin had penetrated the United States government.. even before WWII.. and that Stalin completely funded the American Communist Party.. AND directed it..

Joe McCarthy was the first full fledged "Borking" in the United States... "Borking" non-socialists happens regularly now in Academe and Hollywood.. and the Main Stream Media and Press too.. And it seems to appear, Congress too..

Its hard to find on the streets anyone that even knows what socialism even "IS", let alone, that communism "IS" socialism..

[Ignatz]

"The threat is more serious this time because unlike the McCarthy era, when professors came under fire for their extracurricular political activists, today those same activities are it's the core academic functions, their teaching and research. that is at issue," she said

How entirely appropriate that when we want to bring more balance of viewpoint to academe, the Leftists start shouting "McCarthyism".

[Exigence]

Actually, I DO teach about the Holocaust deniers and explain their positions. Students need to be prepared for such people.

Precisely.

[Exigence]

As far as I can tell there is little left to conserve in the academic political arena; what we need now are resurrectionists.

Point well taken.

[Lloyd227]

"Tyranny of Liberal Academia" ping