UCLA students urged to expose 'radical' professors
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Joy Honey
Not just another dumass
Join date: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 3,751
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01-20-2006 22:40
From: someone By Steve Gorman Fri Jan 20, 1:54 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A conservative 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.
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 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."
At least two other members of the group's advisory board, which consists of more than 20 individuals, also have quit over the group's efforts to have students record their professors.
The group, which is not affiliated with UCLA or its official alumni association, is the creation of Andrew Jones, a 2003 UCLA graduate who said he runs the organization mostly on his own with $22,000 in private donations.
Jones told Reuters 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.
"We are concerned solely with indoctrination, one-sided presentation of ideological controversies and unprofessional classroom behavior," Jones said on his Web site.
Jones' site describes his campaign as "dedicated to exposing UCLA's most radical professors" and his list of the university's "worst of the worst" singles out only professors he says hold left-wing views.
Jones said he would only accept recordings from students whose professors consented in writing to have their lectures taped. And students would only be paid $100 if they furnished complete recordings of every class session, as well as detailed lecture notes and all other teaching materials from the class.
Jones, who also is offering to pay $50 for notes and materials only, said one student has signed up to participate and two others have expressed interest so far.
UCLA spokesman Phil Hampton said the university planned to send Jones a letter warning him that faculty hold copyrights to all their course materials and that his campaign encouraged students to violate school policy.  (talk about some TOC/CS violations  )
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Reality continues to ruin my life. - Calvin
You have delighted us long enough. - Jane Austen
Sometimes I need what only you can provide: your absence. - Ashleigh Brilliant
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Euterpe Roo
The millionth monkey
Join date: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 1,395
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01-20-2006 22:57
See also: Kurt Vonnegut's Hocus Pocus
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"Of course, you'd also have to mention . . . furries, Sith Lords, cyberpunks, glowing balls of gaseous neon fumes, and walking foodstuffs" --Cory Edo “One man developed a romantic attachment to a tractor, even giving it a name and writing poetry in its honor." MSN "  next week: the .5m torus of "I ate a yummy sandwich and I'm sleepy now"  " Desmond Shang
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Chip Midnight
ate my baby!
Join date: 1 May 2003
Posts: 10,231
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01-21-2006 00:37
At this rate we should be back to having witch trials in no time.
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Enoch Lameth
Where're my pants?
Join date: 1 Nov 2005
Posts: 131
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01-21-2006 01:19
Sooo.... we moved back 50 years?
For the record, I am not, nor have I ever been, a Communist.
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Ordinal Malaprop
really very ordinary
Join date: 9 Sep 2005
Posts: 4,607
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01-21-2006 01:27
Me neither.
*cough*
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Teeny Leviathan
Never started World War 3
Join date: 20 May 2003
Posts: 2,716
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01-21-2006 03:50
"LITTLE BOXES"
Little boxes on the hill side, little boxes made of ticky tacky.
Little boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one and a blue one and a yellow
one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky, and they all look just
the same.
And the people in the houses all went to the university
Where they were put in boxes, little boxes, all the same.
And there's doctors and there's lawyers, and there's business
executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just
the same.
And they all play on the golf course and drink their martini dry
And they all have pretty children and the children go to school
And the children go to summer camp and then to the university
Where they all get put in boxes and they all come out the same.
And the boys go into business and marry and raise a family
In boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one and a blue one and a yellow
one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just
the same.
Words and music by Malvina Reynolds
Copyright 1963 by Schroder Music Co.
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Siro Mfume
XD
Join date: 5 Aug 2004
Posts: 747
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01-21-2006 04:03
From: Chip Midnight At this rate we should be back to having witch trials in no time. |
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Ordinal Malaprop
really very ordinary
Join date: 9 Sep 2005
Posts: 4,607
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01-21-2006 04:21
From: Teeny Leviathan little boxes made of ticky tacky Plywood, surely. |
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Introvert Petunia
over 2 billion posts
Join date: 11 Sep 2004
Posts: 2,065
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01-21-2006 05:02
In Birth and Fortune Easterlin makes a compelling case for cyclic patterns in contemporary society that lead one to expect that it should be almost exactly 1950 all over again. I'd go on but I've a tendency to get a little carried away. The good news is that for the same reasons, this too shall pass. Oh and Easterlin was last seen at UChicago, so he may escape the Bruin Alumni Association. Ick. Thanks for posting Joy... I think. |
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Euterpe Roo
The millionth monkey
Join date: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 1,395
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01-21-2006 05:32
From: Introvert Petunia so he may escape the Bruin Alumni Association. There is *no* escaping an alumni association. If they want you, they find you. Death by mailer.
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"Of course, you'd also have to mention . . . furries, Sith Lords, cyberpunks, glowing balls of gaseous neon fumes, and walking foodstuffs" --Cory Edo “One man developed a romantic attachment to a tractor, even giving it a name and writing poetry in its honor." MSN " next week: the .5m torus of "I ate a yummy sandwich and I'm sleepy now" " Desmond Shang
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Gabe Lippmann
"Phone's ringing, Dude."
Join date: 14 Jun 2004
Posts: 4,219
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01-21-2006 05:54
From: Euterpe Roo There is *no* escaping an alumni association. If they want you, they find you. Death by mailer. Mailer? I get almost one phone call a day. They seem to leave me alone on the weekend.
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go to Nocturnal Threads 
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Reitsuki Kojima
Witchhunter
Join date: 27 Jan 2004
Posts: 5,328
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01-21-2006 05:57
To be the dissenting voice here, as a current college student...
There *is* a place for this type of activity.
This group, I suspect (without bothering to read more) is carrying it waaaaay too far, but there *is* a place for this type of activity, in theory.
Almost every campus has one or two professors where "the word" around campus is "If you disagree with this guy, shut up about it. He will make your life a living hell, and say goodbye to your GPA". (Ok, maybe I'm being overly generalizing when I say every campus... But of the two colleges I've attended so far, and from reports from my friends at at least a half a dozen other colleges, this seems to hold true)
I don't think professors should preach a political message (on either side of the isle), but hey... I guess free speach rights even apply to a class I'm paying for (I'm *NOT* paying to be indoctrinated into *ANY* school of thought, so a part of me gets really, really pissed when I see professors recruiting for their pet ideals on my dollar), but neither should professors be allowed to beat students who disagree over the head (proverbially) for holding a discenting a opinion.
*edit* And just so nobody thinks I'm being partisan in this, a friend of mine went to a faith-based college, and said they had a professor there who was the like that, to liberal students. The knife cuts both ways for me here, believe me. I think it's terrible when either side does it.
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I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me: I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offenses at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves, all; believe none of us.
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Kevn Klein
God is Love!
Join date: 5 Nov 2004
Posts: 3,422
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01-21-2006 07:08
I'm thrilled someone is attacking the obvious bias found in the universities around the country. What is really funny is the professors fear their bias will be exposed. If they are doing nothing wrong, why are they so upset? Are they trying to hide what they teach students?
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Reitsuki Kojima
Witchhunter
Join date: 27 Jan 2004
Posts: 5,328
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01-21-2006 07:34
Acting in a way you don't like is not, in our legal system, proof of guilt. Thankfully.
_____________________
I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me: I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offenses at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves, all; believe none of us.
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Chip Midnight
ate my baby!
Join date: 1 May 2003
Posts: 10,231
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01-21-2006 07:39
From: Kevn Klein I'm thrilled someone is attacking the obvious bias found in the universities around the country. What is really funny is the professors fear their bias will be exposed. If they are doing nothing wrong, why are they so upset? Are they trying to hide what they teach students? Kevn, you're one of the most biased people I've ever seen. If you were a teacher would you believe your agenda should be exposed? I wouldn't want you teaching my kids.
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Introvert Petunia
over 2 billion posts
Join date: 11 Sep 2004
Posts: 2,065
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01-21-2006 07:53
From: Kevn Klein I'm thrilled someone is attacking the obvious bias found in the universities around the country. What is really funny is the professors fear their bias will be exposed. If they are doing nothing wrong, why are they so upset? Are they trying to hide what they teach students? Yes, that is why most university courses are held in secret basements, in the dark of night and you have to know the password and handshake to get in. Professors also publish completely false synopses of their courses in the University Course Catalogs to better be able to dupe the unwary students. |
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Reitsuki Kojima
Witchhunter
Join date: 27 Jan 2004
Posts: 5,328
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01-21-2006 07:54
From: Introvert Petunia Professors also publish completely false synopses of their courses in the University Course Catalogs to better be able to dupe the unwary students. Well, THIS part is true. Grumble.
_____________________
I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me: I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offenses at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves, all; believe none of us.
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Euterpe Roo
The millionth monkey
Join date: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 1,395
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01-21-2006 07:57
From: Kevn Klein I'm thrilled someone is attacking the obvious bias found in the universities around the country. What is really funny is the professors fear their bias will be exposed. If they are doing nothing wrong, why are they so upset? Are they trying to hide what they teach students? Oddly enough, I agree with Kven--but not for any reason he has stated. "Bias" is inescapable. Every human being, with every word he or she utters, expresses his or her bias--I prefer 'ideology' used as Terry Eagleton uses that word. Most of my colleagues openly admit the presence of bias (political and economic, primarily) and offer it to their students as a place to start thinking about the world. Most college professors, myself included, are trying not to indoctrinate but to encourage critical thinking. Critical thinking begins, I believe, with putting one's own beliefs to the test of intellectual scrutiny. I offer this to my students, and I offer it to you: "Change my mind." Kven, stand behind the podium in a college classroom. When you open your mouth to address the 35 young people assembled there, what do you say?
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"Of course, you'd also have to mention . . . furries, Sith Lords, cyberpunks, glowing balls of gaseous neon fumes, and walking foodstuffs" --Cory Edo “One man developed a romantic attachment to a tractor, even giving it a name and writing poetry in its honor." MSN " next week: the .5m torus of "I ate a yummy sandwich and I'm sleepy now" " Desmond Shang
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Desmond Shang
Guvnah of Caledon
Join date: 14 Mar 2005
Posts: 5,250
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01-21-2006 08:24
I find the witch hunting particularly ridiculous.
Often the favourite sport of bored students becomes 'egging on the lunatic fringe prof' or, 'getting the prof high at the class get-together' - or worse.
Have we all forgotten so soon?
Besides, I would suspect that more radical views could be found at your local gun store, or in a field of fruit pickers, or at the local newspaper.
Regardless of view, who listened to any of the crazy profs anyway...
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 Steampunk Victorian, Well-Mannered Caledon!
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Lianne Marten
Cheese Baron
Join date: 6 May 2004
Posts: 2,192
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01-21-2006 09:28
Some of my teachers don't try hard to hide their political views, and most of the time they are dirty, dirty liberals. But... it's an environmental college! Holy crap stop the presses, teachers of environmental sciences and policy are left-leaning!
When I was in high school, it was the opposite. I had several teachers that were right-leaning. In one case, the majority of the class also agreed with him, and during one discussion on current events (this was around the 2000 election) one of my fellow classmates left the room crying because her views were more to the left.
Granted, this was definitely due to the other students, not the teacher. He was the best teacher I ever had... but where is the freaking call to out the extreme right-leaning teachers hmm?
Durrrr... hippies.
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Joy Honey
Not just another dumass
Join date: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 3,751
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01-21-2006 09:32
It's amazing that anyone escapes college as a conservative these days - all those radical hippie professors out there... 
_____________________
Reality continues to ruin my life. - Calvin
You have delighted us long enough. - Jane Austen
Sometimes I need what only you can provide: your absence. - Ashleigh Brilliant
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Kevn Klein
God is Love!
Join date: 5 Nov 2004
Posts: 3,422
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01-21-2006 09:34
From: Chip Midnight Kevn, you're one of the most biased people I've ever seen. If you were a teacher would you believe your agenda should be exposed? I wouldn't want you teaching my kids. Do you have an example of my bias? Is it because I believe students should not be told what to believe? |
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Chip Midnight
ate my baby!
Join date: 1 May 2003
Posts: 10,231
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01-21-2006 09:54
From: Kevn Klein Do you have an example of my bias? Is it because I believe students should not be told what to believe? hah! How about everything you've ever posted.
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Kevn Klein
God is Love!
Join date: 5 Nov 2004
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01-21-2006 09:55
From: Chip Midnight hah! How about everything you've ever posted. My opinion is opinionated? Now you are cracking me up  |
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Paolo Portocarrero
Puritanical Hedonist
Join date: 28 Apr 2004
Posts: 2,393
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01-21-2006 10:14
From: Kevn Klein I'm thrilled someone is attacking the obvious bias found in the universities around the country. What is really funny is the professors fear their bias will be exposed. If they are doing nothing wrong, why are they so upset? Are they trying to hide what they teach students? While I tend to agree that many universities lean to the left, that's not really the issue, here. What is Jones' ultimate motive? What does he hope to accomplish by "exposing" professors who lecture based on their particular convictions (which may be counter to his own convictions)? In answer to your question, it's 21st century McCarthy-ism, and that's why people are upset. Besides, if these liberal profs are so effective at brainwashing the college masses, why then have the conservative ranks been swelling, these past 15 years or so? |
