This post over at Pandagon really kind of irritated me. I'm no big fan of student Republican campus organizations, mostly because of things like this. But I don't dismiss them either, as the Pandagon post seems to do. A somewhat deeper look is required, and lucky you, I'm here to do it.
The charge being leveled is that conservative CU students are being discriminated against, and that professors are attempting to "indoctrinate" (their words, not mine) them into a liberal viewpoint. I would hope that anyone reading this would realize the collosal stupidity of the indoctrination charge right from the outset. A) if someone presents a different view from your own, they are challenging you to consider beliefs, both yours and alternatives, not coercing your aquiesence. B) that's what college professors are SUPPOSED to do. C) indoctrination is:
Indoctrination
(n.) The act of indoctrinating, or the condition of being indoctrinated; instruction in the rudiments and principles of any science or system of belief; information. Where is the harm or evil here? Presentation of information is not subject to censorship on a college campus, and anyone who believes that their minds are being twisted by these new-fangled professorial ideas needs to have their head examined. If you want to say that you're being "brainwashed" than say it and sound like the goofy fucker you really are; but hiding behind the term "indoctrination" is silly, cowardly, and just what I would expect from those who don't want their beliefs (read: happy little reality) challenged. So lets just forget that, shall we?
That persons of conservative beliefs and/or Republicans (they're not the same ... you know that, right?) are being discriminated against is a much more serious charge, and subject to logic and evidence. So, from the CNN link we can follow here, to the website of Colorado U's College Republicans, which has a link for concerned students to report bias, as well as a really annoying pop-up begging you to vote as they wish.
Interlude: I'm disgusted by the button for Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who campaigned on the Democratic platform, and then switched Republican as soon as he thought it politically expedient. I realize this is a personal bitch, so I won't waste more of your time with it.
So lets keep going, and follow that link. We arrive at a page that heralds CU's professors as some of the best. But no, there are some dasterdly bastards who don't realize that their job is to serve. A quote:
Most of them understand that their political beliefs don't belong in the classroom. There are some, however, that believe it is acceptable to walk out of class (encouraging their students to do the same!) and use their position as a civil-servant to espouse their politics.
This is just wrong. Feel free to disagree with me in comments, but professors are not typical civil servants. They're educators. That's not a subtle distinction. A civil servant is required to perform tasks for the public, with those tasks being defined by civil administration all the way up to the chief administrator (Governor or President). As a professor/servant of the public, thier task is to educate, present knowledge NOT PREVIOUSLY KNOWN to their students. That's what we pay them for ... to educate, not to be a functionary of what those they serve agree with, because those they serve supposedly don't know what the professor is paid to teach them. This is obvious, right? If that means teaching that people have the CHOICE not to accept the shit they don't like, this is a problem ... WHY? Oh, I forget, the CU Repub students want to learn that forced agreement and supression of choice is a good thing. After all, they're paying professors to bow to their will, aren't they? (It's called learning things your mommy and daddy didn't teach you, little Republican kiddies, and that's what your parents are really paying for, isn't it?) That's not a conservative stance at all, but I must admit, it is quite Republican (read: servitude oriented).
At the college level, this is far more pertinant in that what professors are required to teach is real adult life. Since political beliefs are a part of that life, exactly why are professors supposed to leave their own out of the classroom? If you wish to learn to fix a radio, go to trade school. If you wish to learn to do a spreadsheet, become an MBA (heh). If you want to learn how to function in a real work environment, with skills and adult perceptions, than you'd best wake up to the idea that people have beliefs. I really want to scream at the CU student Repubs that its high time they learn to think, 'cause obviously they haven't so far.
The best thing of all is this charming read. It is a PDF, but I urge anyone who reads my rant to peruse this entire document. There are a multitude of accusations here ... and no evidence. Nate Strauch accuses a professor of biased exam questions. That's a serious charge. Examples offered? 0, none notta, zip, squat. I was disappointed. Erin Bergstrom does offer examples, except that they are all examples of logically valid assertions from a professor, or exposure to ideas she felt innapropriate for the course (and she decides this why?). The rest go on like this.
This regales my logic like accusations of child-abuse. "I've said it and my feels were boobooed so it must be true". If anyone who bothered to read this screed of mine can peruse this document and find one example of verifyable discrimination, (that was left unchecked by CU's administration that is) I beg you to point it out to me. I haven't found it.
That these people felt picked on, or disagreed with, I don't doubt in the slightest. That they encountered things not to their liking, I would honestly expect. I spent over 2 years grading student papers, in logic and philosophy, and I really wish I had a dollar for every student who claimed that I marked them down for disagreement, rather than for poor execution of classwork. I was a student not too long ago myself. Should I have gotten better grades in politically charged classes where I didn't hold to the professors view? Yes. Was I discriminated against ... only in the shallowest of senses. I was never marked harshly down for not being "liberal" enough. So I really want to know, from all the ballsy CU Repub kiddies that can't have criticism of their superior status ... Where's your proof, folks?
If I've offended anybody with this little diatribe, I do apologize. That certainly wasn't my intention. But I work in a higher-ed environment. I hear the accusations and bitterness of the children that can't quite grasp the concept of adult decisions and reasoning. I've seen logic take a deep plunge here of late, and I cannot, will not, abide the foolish passing off the blame to another for making them so.
Update: In a remarkable moment of serendipity, I visited Craig's website, and found this as his revolving tagline:
Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you. --Pericles.
Craig is a true conservative, and believes in the academic liberal bias, but he does not attempt to punish or silence it. I invite the Student Republicans of Colorado University, Boulder, to read this quote and get a damn grip.
