A CLASS STRUGGLE: Tenure of Avowed Marxist Controversy jolts College

Houston Chronicle ^ | March 24, 2002 | KEVIN MORAN

[Cincinatus' Wife]

**********But the other side of me knows that they are like rabbits---they breed within departments because their only goal is power, not teaching. They tend to dominate the faculty committees and boards because the rest of us are doing real work.

Also, would anyone ever think to have a prof. whose "bag" is "flat earth theory?" Or "Lysenkoism?" No. These are proven completely wrong, so we do not teach them anymore. Well, nothing has been proven "wronger" than Marxism. From that perspective, it should not be taught, because to teach it is to deliberately expose students to false "knowledge" masquerading as fact. **********

Bump!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The problem is the Marxist seem to dominate on many campuses.

They certainly do.

[Free the USA]

That was a quick response

[VOA]

Can't dump an avowed communist...and we wonder how we got here.

American Universities and Colleges...now just about as warped as the Islamic madrassas
in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

[VOA]

The problem is the Marxist seem to dominate on many campuses.

Another problem is that Marxists in the USA seem to think they have an entitlement
to enrich themselves off the fruits of capitalism.
In this case, the tax dollars or philanthropic donations that fund universities...
and are usually the direct product of...capitalism.

[Free the USA]

Another problem is that Marxists in the USA seem to think they have an entitlement to enrich themselves off the fruits of capitalism.

Isn't that typical Marxist philosophy, resources belong where they are needed not where they are produced?

[AmishDude]

> Also, being in academia has little to do with teaching.

Some might see that as a problem.

You won't get much argument from me. Actually, at this college, it might be the only criterion. I don't think they care much if he publishes or not.

[AmishDude]

If they had to pay more money perhaps one would not see such rediculous cirricula as we have now.

There is a huge problem in academia that goes far beyond our discussion here. I call it "crap research". I pretty much put any course or paper that has the words 'sex', 'gender roles' or 'racial' in it. Not that these are always bad research, but there is a strong correlation. There are other key indicators, as well.

What happens is that you are judged by pages published and not by quality. Allegedly, your colleagues in the field should be able to discern it, but if they are in the same scam . . .

Unfortunately, math and science still hasn't figured it out yet and still demand quality research. A perfectly good new proof can be rejected for publication because it isn't a quality result.

I am not talking about you, Amish.

Please, I prefer "Dr. Dude". :)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Campus Marxists are a funny bunch--until they end up running your country ******Both of my grandfathers were exterminated by Stalinist terror. My father and mother both barely escaped the Gulag. But here I am, with PhD students, being treated to a one-hour discussion about "homophobia" on campus. My colleagues are agonizing about how "Homophobia-Free Zone" pink stickers must be put on every door in the university. "But what if a professor or a teaching assistant refuses to have one put on his door?" one of them asks indignantly. After a few seconds of silence, another answers, "Well, then a committee might just have to be set up where these people will be taken to account." Serious head-nods follow. *****

[CasearianDaoist]

Ok, Dude it is...
I worked at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Science at NYU. That was (is?) the big time - I saw it start to creep in there. The only place that's safe is an industrial think tank, if you ask me. Again, I am not talking about you.

[AmishDude]

My postdoc is almost up and I'm considering think tanks, actually. BTW, I know a few people at Courant. I've met Joel Spencer and Janos Pach was on my committee.

[BellStar]

Here is your action plan from your email

We must take immediate action! Please refer to Sunday's front page Houston Chronicle Article "A Class Struggle" (I have pasted it Above)

While, I have followed this issue, I did not realize its depth and seriousness until I read the article. We must not allow David Michael Smith to continue to use his position of authority to influence impressionable youth under the disguise of required curriculum. Smith is pushing his Marxist views in his required core classes at College of the Mainland in Texas City.

Put an "S" on my forehead, but I thought that Government and Political Science classes were intended to teach students the AMERICAN Government and Political Science process. Perhaps teachers such as this, are the reason that most do not know the branches of government, the delegate process, or even how to cast a ballot! These classes should instill pride in our system and a desire to participate in our "PARTICIPATORY FORM OF GOVERNMENT"

While I certainly do not wish to infringe on Smith's right to "free speech," I do wish to infringe on his right to "free teach." If College of the Mainland is so intent on providing academic freedom they should offer elective classes in "The Rise and Fall of Marxism" or "Smith's Views of Marxism" Students should know what they are taking and parents should know what they are paying for.

Please consider attending the College of the Mainland's Board Meeting on Monday. The Chronicle stated "...Smith has attracted a small but vocal group of critics..." I think we need to change that to a "Large and vocal group of critics."

I will forward the time and place to you later today! AND please read the article below -- It will make your blood boil!

OKAY Friends,

As I mentioned in this mornings ALERT -- The College of the Mainland Board will meet at 12:30 PM tomorrow at College of the Mainland in Texas City to discuss the tenure of the avowed Marxist instructor Smith!

We need to be there! Don't let this opportunity to unite and show what we are made of and what we stand for pass us by!

[general_re]

"Creep"? Doesn't Alan Sokal work at Courant? Much as I love that whole "Social Text" thing, he is a hard-core lefty ;)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

That is great!! Small and vocal can become Large and vocal. Let the parents and taxpayers have their noses rubbed in the education system of the U.S.

[CasearianDaoist]

please elaborate...it's been orver 10 years...do not know the name?

[general_re]

Ah, that would probably explain it, if you left ten years ago. "Social Text" was around '96 or so. And it's just priceless.

But rather than try to explain Sokal's assault on the state of modern humanities, I'll let the man speak for himself. Sokal may be a hard-core lefty, but he'll always have a place of honor to me;)

[general_re]

Lemme point you off in the right direction first - start with his explanation of what he did first, and then go back to the link in my last post and examine the controversy that sprang from it, as well as the original paper itself...

[CasearianDaoist]

Ah...the Physics Dept. is (or at least was not) connected to Courant, much to their chagrin. Will check it out though...these things amuse.

[dennisw]

How does a guy get tenure after teaching there only 3 years?

[FITZ]

On part of me says that you have to have dissent, even idiots like this, in order to prepare students for the "real world" and to show them the other side in a way that I, as an advocate of capitalism, can never teach them.

Many students unlearn this crap they learn in college once they find the real world and a real paycheck. Kids that work their way through college in real jobs already are learning about the real world anyhow. I had a Marxist professor and it didn't affect me much at all----I was already concerned then about how much of my money the government was trying to grab.