UNC Faculty Decry Western Cultures Program

AP ^ | 03.03.05 | AP

[Rastus]

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - More than 70 faculty members at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are demanding that administrators stop negotiations with a foundation that wants to create a Western cultures program at the school.

Chancellor James Moeser said he believes many faculty members are wary of the proposal simply because of the John William Pope Foundation's conservative values.

"It will be a major enhancement of our offerings in Western civilizations," he said Wednesday. "And it won't be done at the expense of any other program."

The proposed program would include an academic minor in Western cultures, new honors courses, freshman seminars, undergraduate research awards and study abroad scholarships. The foundation gave the university $25,000 to study the proposal and has said it could donate up to $700,000 a year to fund it initially.

Faculty members complained in a letter to administrators that they have not been adequately involved in the discussions.

Sue Estroff, professor of social medicine and former faculty chairwoman, said a recent curriculum revision revealed no need for more emphasis in Western studies. "Are we for sale, and if so, what for, and if not, what are the guidelines?" she asked.

Foundation President Art Pope has said the proposal is not an attempt to influence the university's curriculum.

"We're not going to let a handful of left-wing faculty stop the students from benefiting from the program," he said.

[satchmodog9]

It will undo years of indoctrination about the evils of western civilization. They are afraid.

[thegreatbeast]

Tell 'em to go _____ themselves.

[JasonC]

Fire them all, start over. This is not complicated. They are ideologues, not scholars. No real scholar would be anything but thrilled with this generous gift.

[Rastus]

Tell 'em to go _____ themselves.

May I suggest "Estroff" as the word to fill in your blank?

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

The communists have taken over public universities and public funding of universities should be cut off until free speech on campus AND BALANCE OF IDEOLOGY is restored.

Stop funding the anti-American communists running America's universities.

[Guillermo]

Academic Freedom applies only to those who toe a radical left wing line.

[Phantom Lord]

"Are we for sale, and if so, what for, and if not, what are the guidelines?" she asked.

Are you for sale? No doubt that you are. From doing what is needed to get massive alumni donations to requiring the reading of Approaching the Koran for a massive infusion of cash from Quatar I would say you are.