From the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (to which I am a proud contributor):
Marshall University has taken the advice of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and removed racial restrictions from an orientation course for first-year students. Last year’s listing for University Studies 101 (UNI 101) stated that certain sections were limited to “African American Students Only.†Thanks to FIRE’s intervention, several sections of UNI 101 this coming fall will focus on “African American Student Issues,†but will not exclude any student based upon race or ancestry.
“FIRE is pleased that Marshall has changed the enrollment requirements for UNI 101,†stated FIRE President Greg Lukianoff. “Students’ rights to take certain coursesâ€â€especially at a public institutionâ€â€must not be determined by the color of their skin.â€Â
After learning last November that Marshall University limited enrollment in several UNI 101 sections to “African American Students Only,†FIRE quickly sent a letter to Marshall President Stephen J. Kopp explaining that racially segregated courses are both unlawful and misguided. FIRE reminded Kopp that Brown v. Board of Education and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 both prohibit racial discrimination in higher education.
[…]
Last October, FIRE won a similar victory at Arizona State University (ASU), where a professor had limited his English class to “Native Americans only.†After FIRE publicly criticized the segregated class sections, ASU disavowed the practice.
“‘Separate but equal’ was discredited decades ago,†stated Lukianoff. “Marshall University’s student body deserves equal treatment under the law, and we are glad that the university came to understand that.â€Â
Of course, that they hadn’t yet come “to understand that” is what is truly troubling—and is, as I’ve argued over and over again, directly traceable to an ideology that privileges groups over individuals, sometimes to the point where any outside influence is seen (perversely) as a threat to the purity of the discourse—the underlying proposition being that “groups” have a unified point of view that proceeds from the authenticity of their membership. It is identity politics echochamberism anthropomorphized—and it is the legacy of Edward Said’s wholly illiberal thinking, embraced by so many in the academy.
Of course, cultural theorists problematized this idea even further when, as a way to protect a baldly collectivist philosophy from charges of crass racial or ethnic essentialism, they began suggesting that “race” and “ethnicity” are nothing more than social constructs—a claim that disintegrates when pressure is applied, but one that many cultural theorists still cling to as a way to justify the existence of specialty disciplines.
Which of course leaves them in the strange position of wanting “authentic” group deliminations but having no real way of justifying them—the only criterion necessary for claiming group membership being (should the group wish to avoid the charge of embracing essentialism) a willingness to internalize a particular group narrative. Something that anyone who chooses to can do.
It would be laughable were it no so potentially dangerous.
Sorry to go off topic immediately, but when Dr. Vic comes by, he might want to check this out:
http://hotair.com/archives/the-blog/2006/08/09/the-g-ddamned-french-surrender-again/
So, they were just toying with us. Those rascals!
So, if there were a class open only to white people would that be okay with the university?
Just asking.
Another word gets verbed.
As for the post as a whole, it reminds me of my time at the U of Michigan. I was hearing about the student resident computer expert for a particular dorm (each dorm had one student help with its computer cluster in exchange for free room and board). I was told, excitedly, that “we got a native American for next year!” Nothing about how great he was at keeping the network going, nothing about how nice a dude he was; all she cared about was the great “get” of the “ethnic” in the technical position. It was really quite dehumanizing to the fellow.
No. Group identity is olny valid for oppressed groups. Oppressor groups are not allowed an identity, otherwise they may use their disproportionate power to the detriment of powerless groups, thus perpetuating the oppression.
P.S.: HATER!
SB: black
the absence of color
It will be ok until some Jew sneaks in and starts trouble. Which they always do!
I know Marshall University pretty well. I could throw a rock and hit it from where I’m sitting.
I strongly suspect that the class in question has been around so long that no one gave it a second look. You have to consider that the Black population of Marshall is very small (perhaps less than 5%). Even if someone did recognize it, they probable said “whatever.” Rocking the boat is not a high priority around here. Once brought to Dr. Kopp’s attention, he was likely receptive to the change.
In other news, We Are Marshall the movie is scheduled for release in December. It stars Matthew McConaughey, David Strathairn, and Matthew Fox. It’s about the 1970 plane crash that killed the football team. Red Dawson (played by Matthew Fox) was the post-crash assistant coach and is family friend. I actually got a walk-on part in the movie.
I went to Marshall for a bit, during the Huckabee era, so my immediate reaction was it was probably a way to get basketball players some credit hours. Just sayin’.
I hope the movie is better than the Mothman one, that was ridiculous.
problematized
I think I’m gonna make me a Tire Iron of Verbal Justice, and use it start whackin’ (er, metaphorically speaking) the heads of those who convuluscate the vernacularium in a thoroughly verbosticatious and prolixarian manner, in the erroneousismal belief that sesquipedalianationism and obfuscatoriness equate with erudition.
Resist, Jeff! Resist!
Or start wearing a helmet.
Turd indeed.
There is talk that Warner Brothers is going to make a major push for Oscar Awards. It could turn out to be the next Rudy.
Will you be giving autographs to your adoring public?
I’m sorry. I have no time for the little people anymore.
The part I have is less than 2-3 seconds in the movie. No speaking. Just a closeup of me and my glorious sideburns starring at the sky. I won’t be going to Hollywood quite yet.
I’m don’t want to count my chicklets, but I think I’m maybe got a camero role in a the latest new zombie musical. (I also along time ago traded in a walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage.)
TW: No word yet on my % of the tie-in marketing lisense products.
“Please drop the vernacular!”
“Vernacular? Dis is a doiby!”
— Three Stooges
“Disorder in the Court”
SB: now
an den
Jeff,
I think what you’re talking about here relates closely to what’s going on with the nutroots. They have an obvious passion for ideological purity and group identity.
natesnake I hope you don’t end up on the cutting room floor like my movie career
TW: I was in a movie once too
If you somehow find yourself watching this movie, I’m the goof from whom Parley Baer snatches the bow and runs off.
It went straight to cable, and I think I’ve used up about 3 of my 15 minutes of fame, 3 seconds at a time.
TW: It’s no way to make a namefor oneself.
HIST 210 Race in World History: It’s All Our Fault.
I am a WHAM (White Heterosexual Anglophone Male). I have a brain of my own. I may disagree with other WHAMs on various subjects, what with them having their own brains as well. By contrast, people who lack absolute WHAM purity do not have independent brains. They are incapable of thinking for themselves, which is why they need Leaders to do their thinking for them.
I see news articles that talk about Black Leaders, Gay Leaders, Latino Leaders, Feminist Leaders, but never White Leaders, Heterosexual Leaders, Anglophone Leaders, or Masculinist Leaders. Obviously, the reason is that we WHAMs are a superior breed that don’t need any damn Leaders.
Right?
TW: What are we doing with ‘the dream’?
Plus they wake you before they go-go!
Careful, PMain, careless whispers sink ships.
Dr Martin Luther King jr died so that colleges could segregate the student unions, dorms, and studies. Or something.
The University of Victoria in BC, Canada has courses which are closed to non-Native students. Do you know of any FIRE-type organizations up here where I could lob a complaint?
Gramscii