Universities Demanding Place in Election’s ‘Biggest Loser’ Contest – WP Original

 

By: Mark Glennon*

 

Nobody should have been surprised. You’d think they’d realize they’re admitting their own incompetence. But the supposed scholars in all things pertinent to society, democracy and social justice are falling over themselves to signal their shock at the election results. Petitions and statements from faculty and administrators are flying on pretty much every campus in America. The common denominators in their messages jump out: surprise at the election results and, of course, assurance to their students that they’ll be kept safe and secure from the horror of those results that shocked them, too.

 

Their titles display that supposed expertise and, often, the tribalism that has consumed them. Look at some of the petitions, easily found on the web, to see those titles: Professors Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies; Transsexual Learning; Native American Whatever; African American Interpretation; and Latina/o Studies (that’s the new PC-approved abbreviation, I’ve learned).

 

And what have they done to their students? They had already created a new label — “Snowflake” — that now brands their age group. Now, they’ve taken those efforts to the level of comical entertainment. Consolation for election grieving offered to students has included free cuddling, feminist coloring sheets, Play Doh, positive card-making, Legos, blowing bubbles, hug-fests, puppies and more.

 

Have no doubt that faculty and student shock at the election results is sincere and real, which only strengthens proof of their detachment and bad education. Nobody engaged with reality should have been surprised by the election. Those who were engaged knew why we saw so few Trump bumper stickers — fear of having your car keyed, and so few Trump yard signs — fear of having a rock thrown though your window, or much worse. Nobody should have been surprised that people weren’t leveling with pollsters.

 

And have no doubt that hostility and violence is working both ways. A good list of attacks by Trump supporters is linked here.  Identity politics is self-reinforcing and inevitably ends in violence.

 

The Democratic Party and the media, which are the others vying for Biggest Loser in the election, are showing some signs of introspection. Not universities, which are doubling down. Now, their attention has turned to making whole campuses “sanctuaries” from immigration enforcement. There’s actually little they can do on that subject as a legal matter, but they once again won’t let reality detract from a virtue signalling bonanza.

 

Here in Illinois, we had at least one sensible voice — Illinois State’s President sent a pretty balanced message to his students.

 

But then there’s Morton Schapiro, Northwestern’s President, who earlier called those of us who question the safe space/microagression fixation “idiots” and “lunatics.” His less-than-balanced message about the election didn’t sit well with some of the parents shelling out $70K/year. It was in his response to those criticisms that he reverted to snotty arrogance: “(Parents were) angry at me and at Northwestern for not giving a safe space — all of a sudden, safe spaces are OK I suppose — a safe space for their children to publicly celebrate his election,” Schapiro said.

 

He added that “he is not sure whether he would be willing to play a role in advising a Trump administration if the opportunity arose.” Memo to President Schapiro: Don’t lose any sleep over that one.

 

I have a son who is a junior in high school starting the college selection process. I still believe in a liberal arts education, in concept. My son, to his credit, said, “I just want to go to a place where I’ll hear all sides.” But I have real doubt we can find such a place. If you know one, please post your suggestion. I know the University of Chicago stands out, but I doubt my son can get in.

 

Further, I increasingly hear the folks who do the hiring — and I talk to many of them — showing ever more aversion to hiring liberal arts majors. Just a bunch of indoctrinated dopes who’ve learned little more that the art of (sorry, but there’s no other way to say this) bullshit, they’re saying. Liberal arts departments are invalidating themselves.

 

The only solution lies with grownups — those who write the tuition and contribution checks and who’ve grown out of the intellectual immaturity they, too, probably acquired in college. Bad higher education is funded mostly by rich contributors blinded by the glamor of having their names engraved on the newest, unneeded auditorium or whatever. That must end.

 

We’ll know there’s progress from pressure by contributors when we start seeing new titles among those mentioned earlier. How about “Endowed Professor of Classical Liberalism, Reality-Based Education and Disgust with Political Correctness”?

 

*Mark Glennon is founder of WirePoints. Opinions expressed are his own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Red Raspberry
7 years ago

A massive failure of our education system. Abolish the Dept of Education.

7 years ago

New Trier High School doesn’t get it

7 years ago

I like St. John’s College, which has been a super-traditional liberal arts college: https://www.sjc.edu/ I’ve participated in their executive seminars, which I found really interesting. I heard some dismaying trends there, tho. Speaking as one with a technical college education (North Carolina State University, known for its ag and engineering programs), might I recommend checking out land grant institutions. At really large universities, esp. with a vocational focus, you often can get solid liberal arts classes because the liberal arts departments are part of a general education requirement, and there may be less focus on research and more on teaching.… Read more »

nixit71
7 years ago

Purdue University. No speech codes (http://bit.ly/2gexKHQ). Tuition frozen for 5 years running now (http://bit.ly/2gexKHQ). Mitch Daniels isn’t a whiny little brat like many of his counterparts.

Northwestern already has a $10B endowment. NW alums should who disagree with their alma mater should ban together and instead fund a local college that would appreciate large donations. Let the Pritzkers have Northwestern. Maybe they already do.

SIGN UP HERE FOR FREE WIREPOINTS DAILY NEWSLETTER

Home Page Signup
First
Last
Check all you would like to receive:

FOLLOW US

 

WIREPOINTS ORIGINAL STORIES

A statewide concern: Illinois’ population decline outpaces neighboring states – Wirepoints on ABC20 Champaign

“We are not in good shape” Wirepoints’ Ted Dabrowski told ABC 20 Champaign during a segment on Illinois’ latest population losses. Illinois was one of just three states to shrink in the 2010-2020 period and has lost another 300,000 people since then. Ted says things need to change. “It’s too expensive to live here, there aren’t enough good jobs and nobody trusts the government anymore. There’s just other places to go where you can be more satisfied.”

Read More »

WE’RE A NONPROFIT AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE DEDUCTIBLE.

SEARCH ALL HISTORY

CONTACT / TERMS OF USE