Domestic Spying: Academic Edition
[Whoops... bad typo in the title...]
In several states, some version David Horowitz' misnamed "acedemic bill of rights" legislation is getting a considerable hearing. This legislation's stated goal is to end any rights infringement by "activist professors" against their students for political reasons. But in states like Colorado, where Gov. Owens tried in 2003 to push through a literal quota to force more conservative professors into the system, under the banner of Horowitz' concept [Horowitz himself quickly distanced himself from this effort].
This concept is simple: to Conservatives, the Acedemic elite represent a population of Liberals, oppressive and cruel to their students because of political views. Conservatives, you see, must always be the victim- they always have it harder, must fight longer, must endure more stress, woe, and pain. They are constant participants in Nietzsche's "slave morality." They, with apparently no fear of irony, disparage of the Acedemic Liberal Elite and their oppressive theory, while crafting theory which leads to war with seemingly no end.
The system they use in this issue is similar to many systems they use. They want to expose "far left" professors and have them removed, then they want to replace them with conservative figureheads. Expose, undermine, and supplant. It's the same idea they're using in the court system against "activist judges." That's the way they want this to work- it's like a slow-motion coup.
And it all starts with Exposure. The first step: Make your conservative students into tiny mercenaries- spying on their teachers at all times, and pay them for it. Make them invested in the movement- activist and combatative.
Don't believe me?
Atrios notes, as well, that none of this would be a national issue if the media weren't so willing to take and run with any conservative-minded story. But of course they just can't resist.
In several states, some version David Horowitz' misnamed "acedemic bill of rights" legislation is getting a considerable hearing. This legislation's stated goal is to end any rights infringement by "activist professors" against their students for political reasons. But in states like Colorado, where Gov. Owens tried in 2003 to push through a literal quota to force more conservative professors into the system, under the banner of Horowitz' concept [Horowitz himself quickly distanced himself from this effort].
This concept is simple: to Conservatives, the Acedemic elite represent a population of Liberals, oppressive and cruel to their students because of political views. Conservatives, you see, must always be the victim- they always have it harder, must fight longer, must endure more stress, woe, and pain. They are constant participants in Nietzsche's "slave morality." They, with apparently no fear of irony, disparage of the Acedemic Liberal Elite and their oppressive theory, while crafting theory which leads to war with seemingly no end.
The system they use in this issue is similar to many systems they use. They want to expose "far left" professors and have them removed, then they want to replace them with conservative figureheads. Expose, undermine, and supplant. It's the same idea they're using in the court system against "activist judges." That's the way they want this to work- it's like a slow-motion coup.
And it all starts with Exposure. The first step: Make your conservative students into tiny mercenaries- spying on their teachers at all times, and pay them for it. Make them invested in the movement- activist and combatative.
Don't believe me?
An alumni group dedicated to "exposing the most radical professors" at the University of California at Los Angeles is offering to pay students $100 to record classroom lectures of suspect faculty.Wow. What a great idea to "restore an atmosphere of respectful political discourse." This is Orwellian doublespeak. The goal isn't to restore that atmosphere- the goal is to inflame into conservative homogony.
The Web site of the Bruin Alumni Association also includes a "Dirty Thirty" list of professors considered by the group to be the most extreme left-wing members of the UCLA faculty, as well as profiles on their political activities and writings.
UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale on Thursday denounced the campaign as "reprehensible," and school officials warned that selling or distributing recordings of classroom lectures without an instructor's consent violates university policy.
News of the campaign prompted former Republican congressman James Rogan, who helped lead impeachment proceedings against former President Bill Clinton in the U.S. House of Representatives, to resign from the group's advisory board.
"I am uncomfortable to say the least with this tactic," Rogan, now a lawyer in private practice in California, said in an e-mail resignation made public by the Los Angeles Times. "It places students in jeopardy of violating myriad regulations and laws."
...
Jones told Reuters that he is out to "restore an atmosphere of respectful political discourse on campus" and says his efforts are aimed at academics who proselytize students from either side of the ideological spectrum, conservative or liberal.
Atrios notes, as well, that none of this would be a national issue if the media weren't so willing to take and run with any conservative-minded story. But of course they just can't resist.
posted by General Stan at 7:22 AM
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