Oh Lord. If you saw that in syllabus from a little-known non-tenure track guy, you'd avoid it like the plague. I question the wisdom and the sanity of any U of C doofus willingly taking that class while shoveling out 35K a year back then...
I wonder if his textbook included this essay:
By W.E.B. DuBois
Joseph Stalin was a great man; few other men of the 20th century approach his stature. He was simple, calm and courageous. He seldom lost his poise; pondered his problems slowly, made his decisions clearly and firmly; never yielded to ostentation nor coyly refrained from holding his rightful place with dignity. He was the son of a serf but stood calmly before the great without hesitation or nerves. But also - and this was the highest proof of his greatness - he knew the common man, felt his problems, followed his fate...
http://www.mltranslations.org/Miscellaneous/DuBoisJVS.htm