Posted on 12/07/2001 4:21:50 AM PST by NittanyLion
Horowitz: Leftists dominate universities
By Josh Moser
and Kelly Madden
For The Collegian
A self-proclaimed "scary guy," leading conservative David Horowitz criticized Penn State and universities nationwide last night for what he considers left-wing domination.
In his presentation, "The Hate-America Left on College Campuses," given at the Kern Building, Horowitz, president of the Center for the Study of Popular Culture, expressed his concerns over what he sees as liberal control of America's universities.
"What has happened to our universities is a tragedy," Horowitz said. "I think what has happened is that you're all getting a liberal education."
Horowitz is best known at Penn State for his advertisement titled "Ten Reasons Why Reparations for Slavery is a Bad Idea" that caused a stir on college campuses in March 2001. Last night, he warned a crowd of about 120 at the Kern Building about what he considers leftists' dangerous views, especially in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Instead of thinking, looking at the issues as they are, the real world, it carries on a campaign of hate," Horowitz said of the left.
Horowitz, who was invited to speak by the Penn State College Republicans, also condemned protests to America's war on terrorism by students at 150 universities across the country.
A self-described former radical who took part in the first anti-Vietnam War demonstration at the University of California, Berkeley in 1968, Horowitz asked students to think before they act.
"I've learned some hard lessons," Horowitz said. "I know people do this for the best intentions, but you always have to look at the real-world effects of what you believe and what you do."
Horowitz cited arguments that student protests against the Vietnam War actually prolonged the conflict. He warned that a peace movement now would hurt America.
"Pride in your country is important in war, morale is important," Horowitz said. "The most dire effect of the peace movement is that it saps the morale of America."
Audience reaction to Horowitz' ideas was varied. Several times throughout the question-and-answer period following Horowitz' remarks, members of the crowd openly voiced displeasure at his responses.
Ramy Nasr, Muslim Student Association director of public relations, described Horowitz's speech as "prejudice, misinformed, misleading, very deceptive and contradicting."
"My thinking is that his ideas, although well thought out, are more dangerous than good because they can be used to justify racial and ethnic discrimination, prejudice and imperialism," said Jameka Green (junior-journalism). "He wasn't able or willing to take on issues people felt strongly about."
Mike Gallo, vice chairman of the College Republicans, said he expected dissent from the crowd.
"You can't change everybody's mind, but you can help plant a seed," Gallo said. "The main point of tonight was to get the information out there."
Leftists Dominate UniversitiesIn other news, the sky is found to be blue and water quite wet.
No surprise there. Yet I'll bet Cornell, like most of our "elite" universities, prides itself on the "diversity" of its teaching faculty. Hogwash!
You can have 22 professors, each of a different nationality and with a different skin color, but if they all think exactly alike--where is the diversity?
I don't believe faculties will become more diverse until parents of college applicants start looking beyond the relative prestigiousness of various colleges and start looking at the actual quality of the education and balance of views offered.
I for one routinely DISCOURAGE young people and their parents from applying to Cornell, my alma mater, and similar places, in favor of colleges with a more balanced faculty. If this became a trend, colleges would have to adapt, just like Cornell has been forced to build more attractive dorms to compete.
Unlike liberal "ideas" which only spread peace, love, prosperity and freedom. Yeah right.
Duh....
No way! Why, you could knock me over right now, I'm stunned!!!
Next you'll tell me that all the major networks, and most of the major newspapers, are leftist! Say it ain't so!
Impossible! Why, when Dan Rather makes the news up he's careful to be unbiased. Right?
Yeah, Macalester College (my college) is super happy fun PC world. We recently got voted number 1 at "ignoring God" according to the Princeston Review.
Thank God I graduate in May :D
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