From my time at university (1960s), probably before as well, college student populations have included a large portion of either purposeful or feckless protestors. It seems the age and pretense of sophistication give rise to that. (Even the Greek origin of the word “sophomore” literally means sophisticated moron). Where students are “trying out” new ideas which are most likely old repackaged ideas this is to be expected and in an effective university needs to happen within constructive limits.
I have fellow alumni who were changed by the university and those who weren’t. Some remained stuck in the idiocy of youth, most moved on. That is not my problem.
What I observe today is too many universities have become indoctrination centers where an echo chamber of monolithic thought is perpetuated. There is less fault on the part of students as there is on the administration that diverts free thought down one acceptable channel and excludes even the expression of anything but one foregone orthodoxy. That’s all been labeled “wokeism” now. That’s the tunnel vision intellectualism that leads the president of a revered institution to accept advocacy of genocide as having some context of acceptability.
Call it foolishness, call it true antisemitism (which is relatively rare), call it experimentation with ideas but whatever it is there have to be side rails. Free speech is a bedrock value but if society, the university, does not draw lines then violent behavior will ensue. It may be burning churches in Mississippi, using lawfare to close a bakery, blow up a federal building, besiege a crazy cult, bombing military offices, swatting a politician, any number of events where free thought and free speech have led to destruction, danger and harm.
I will not advocate universities should teach everyone to think one way but when they fail to teach how to think they have become as worthless to civilization as the European church which triumphed in the inquisition. The heart of mankind will always run to evil; the university if it does not point to a better way, simply and stupidly follows the heart of man.
Having a 30 year career in government policy and Human Resources I have observed the divide between those who have come outvof college with their head in tact - some conservative, some liberal - as compared to those whose abilities by their obedience to the orthodox no longer able to think. Where the latter exists, those universities are a pox on civilization.
Good points, Ken. Overgeneralizing drives us further apart, whether it's "these darn college kids are antisemitic terrorist sympathizers" or "Trump supporters are racist."
From my time at university (1960s), probably before as well, college student populations have included a large portion of either purposeful or feckless protestors. It seems the age and pretense of sophistication give rise to that. (Even the Greek origin of the word “sophomore” literally means sophisticated moron). Where students are “trying out” new ideas which are most likely old repackaged ideas this is to be expected and in an effective university needs to happen within constructive limits.
I have fellow alumni who were changed by the university and those who weren’t. Some remained stuck in the idiocy of youth, most moved on. That is not my problem.
What I observe today is too many universities have become indoctrination centers where an echo chamber of monolithic thought is perpetuated. There is less fault on the part of students as there is on the administration that diverts free thought down one acceptable channel and excludes even the expression of anything but one foregone orthodoxy. That’s all been labeled “wokeism” now. That’s the tunnel vision intellectualism that leads the president of a revered institution to accept advocacy of genocide as having some context of acceptability.
Call it foolishness, call it true antisemitism (which is relatively rare), call it experimentation with ideas but whatever it is there have to be side rails. Free speech is a bedrock value but if society, the university, does not draw lines then violent behavior will ensue. It may be burning churches in Mississippi, using lawfare to close a bakery, blow up a federal building, besiege a crazy cult, bombing military offices, swatting a politician, any number of events where free thought and free speech have led to destruction, danger and harm.
I will not advocate universities should teach everyone to think one way but when they fail to teach how to think they have become as worthless to civilization as the European church which triumphed in the inquisition. The heart of mankind will always run to evil; the university if it does not point to a better way, simply and stupidly follows the heart of man.
Having a 30 year career in government policy and Human Resources I have observed the divide between those who have come outvof college with their head in tact - some conservative, some liberal - as compared to those whose abilities by their obedience to the orthodox no longer able to think. Where the latter exists, those universities are a pox on civilization.
Good points, Ken. Overgeneralizing drives us further apart, whether it's "these darn college kids are antisemitic terrorist sympathizers" or "Trump supporters are racist."
I see colleges as hot beds for Indoc
IE protests since Vietnam to date
Deny free speech
Block speakers, groups & now add
Being anitsematic
ALL Ivy League colleges for .
Colleges=Indoc