From my pal Professor Chaos. Speaking of books he assigns his class:

Another is Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge, which on a basic level is a novel about a young man's quest for enlightenment in the face of a materialistic and consumerist world.....

Having read this, one of my students approached me today and she said that the book literally changed her life. How so? I asked. "Well," she said, "I finished the book and the next day broke up with my boyfriend. I realized that I was dating Gray [a character in the book]."

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Here is the letter: more...

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I will be liveblogging the test I am giving my Introduction to American Politics class. It's not like I have anything better to do then. Plus, some of you might find it interesting to learn what it's like to be on the other side of the test taking table.

Until then, no posts. I haven't even really had time to answer e-mail in the last couple of days. Sorry. I'll try to get to it soon.

Liveblogging is now over. But you can see what I wrote in the extended entry below. Since I'm sure so many people find this, er, fascinating.... more...

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By Demosophist

Virginia State University is an historically black institution located in central Virginia, just south of Richmond. It was originally established as part of the extensive land grant system of higher education that was set up across the country in the late 19th Century under the Morrill Act. To get right to the point, the university is currently administered in a manner that would probably make the Tweed administration look principled by comparison. Cronyism and nepotism are the rule rather than the exception. Many of the administrators have little academic or even managerial credibility, and the current President, a fellow named Eddie Moore, Jr., has been in charge since 1993. As an example of how the institution is run the VP/Provost, W. Eric Thomas, managed to wrangle an appointment for his live-in girlfriend as head of the nursing program, a person with no advanced degree in nursing.

Dr. Jean R. Cobbs is a renowned sociologist and venerable member of the faculty at Virginia State University, with over 30 years of experience. Her area of expertise is in Social Services, where she has taught and served as chair of a department that she created and for which she won accreditation. She has an Ed.D. from William & Mary, is on the State Board of Social Services, is a member of the advisory board of the Virginia Center on Aging, and is also chair the Human Subjects Committee. She has an exemplary record of teaching and scholarship. Her primary liability is that she's a conservative black woman. more...

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Six of one, or half a dozen of the other.

UPDATE: It looks like the original story isn't true. But, hey, it should be......

GOP & The City has the man on the street interviews. Trust me, those are true......

PS-I linked the story earlier, only no one seems to have noticed....

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Goldstein is just dead on right about how faculty are hired and retained. But it's worse than that.

The peer review process, for instance, is just that--it is review by peers, e.g., by other academics. And academics are human. As humans they have biases, and it is much easier to see the flaws in research that do not coincide with your own preconceived notions than it is to see the flaws in research of those that give further evidence that what you already believe is correct.

And the culture of academia is one in which conservatives are openly mocked and leftists (not even liberals, I'm talking true leftists of the most anti-American ilk) are embraced.

For instance, I had a lunch today with three colleagues to discuss a project we are collaborating on. As one of the professors and I joked about the need to reinstitute literacy tests for voters (inspired by some stupid comments by our students and the poor quality of their writing) the Social Work professor quipped without missing a beat or batting an eye, "Yeah, we don't want those illiterate Republicans to vote."

She then went on to pontificate how she hates to register any one to vote who even looks like a Republican. White, male, driving an SUV--you know, illiterate hate-mongers.

The key to surviving academia for some one other than a liberal or leftists is this: Berkenstocks. Oh, and hemp shirts. And and Amnesty International poster on the wall. It also helps to quote Chomsky. Lots and lots of Chomsky.

That way they just assume you're on their side.

And BTW, I've met Susan Estrich on several occasions. Not only is she not a good scholar, she's also not a scholar. Period. She's a law professor. With a big mouth. And an ego to match. You know, jsut in case you were wondering my opinion of her.

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1 Definitely the birkenstocks. Mine even have a Jerry Garcia design.

Posted by: caltechgirl at April 08, 2005 05:10 PM (iCaDI)

2 Academia is a zone where all opinions are heard. Tenure is required to permit scholars to remain free of government pressure to conform to the party line. As a great example, Dr. John Makombe of the University of Zimbabwe is able to speak out against the Mugabe regime when others are jailed.

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 08, 2005 05:52 PM (fufbw)

3 "Academia is a zone where all opinions are heard." Collin, come back to earth. We miss you.

Posted by: See-Dubya at April 08, 2005 06:20 PM (Ak3sk)

4 UGH...Susan Estrich. Tell me how such an annoying, fatuous person get to be teaching law after driving Mike Dukakis' presidential campaign onto the rocks. Oh wait...Never mind.

Posted by: wavemaker at April 08, 2005 07:28 PM (2GyMB)

5 That's exactly why I prefer to call it "academentia".

Posted by: NOTR at April 08, 2005 09:19 PM (Djm/j)

6 "Academia is a zone where all opinions are heard." Ahh......another Baber-ism. Every time I read one of your scintillating posts I feel like I've walked through the cow pasture bare foot. Oh the simple joys of life!

Posted by: Dan at April 08, 2005 11:03 PM (ra7KA)

7 "She then went on to pontificate how she hates to register any one to vote who even looks like a Republican. White, male, driving an SUV--you know, illiterate hate-mongers." Maybe you didn't get the joke about how stupid you sounded for promoting a literacy test to vote, and were getting your just desserts.

Posted by: actus at April 09, 2005 09:16 AM (EQbuu)

8 Isn't it a hoot the way one's fellow academics always assume that everyone agrees with them? Actually, I've heard so many (unwitting) jokes about what an idiot I am that it has long ago ceased to be funny.

Posted by: gail at April 09, 2005 10:25 AM (47cun)

9 http://roomforrant.blogspot.com/2005/04/liberal-professor-nabbed-stealing.html

Posted by: Mr. K at April 09, 2005 10:48 AM (Kucaj)

10 >>>"Academia is a zone where all opinions are heard." That was a joke right? He's just trying to get our goat.

Posted by: Carlos at April 09, 2005 11:47 AM (UWO6N)

11 Get our goat, Carlos? But he has so many already ...

Posted by: Robin Roberts at April 09, 2005 03:48 PM (xauGB)

12 I feel bad for the goats...

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at April 09, 2005 05:07 PM (YTaaE)

13 My favorite leftists aren't the hippies (so predictable) but the ones dress in black with steel-toed boots, like the ones who kicked the ass of some Protest Weiners during the inauguration. http://hq.protestwarrior.com/?page=/featured/HTTC/HTTC.php PS- I think blogging anonymously is pretty courageous. Long live the armchair know-nothing pundit.

Posted by: Mike at April 09, 2005 08:10 PM (WPQyo)

14 I know of another law professor that isn't much of a scholar. I think he has a blog or something. "Ready-pundit" or "Instant-Pundit" or something along those lines.

Posted by: Jack "Redcorn" M. at April 09, 2005 09:38 PM (1W1ap)

15 Why yes, Mike, it's perfectly acceptable to assault (verbally and physically) those whose opinions you hold in contempt...as long as that illegitimate opinion is pro-American. Otherwise, even criticism of anti-American, pro-terrorism opinion is verbotten. :::sigh::: It's going to be an interesting freshman year for my #4 daughter at San Francisco SU. We were up there this weekend for their "sneak preview days" and we all got a good giggle from some of the bumper stickers in the parking structure... still a handful of Kedwards ones and the usual "friends don't let friends vote Republican." Yeah...there's diversity for ya! Good little acolyte, good little acolyte..now give the bad apostate a bloody nose ...

Posted by: Darleen at April 10, 2005 10:29 AM (FgfaV)

16 Good job Mike, celebrate the thugs - its all you got left.

Posted by: Robin Roberts at April 10, 2005 04:11 PM (xauGB)

17 “We can’t expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Social-ism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism.” --Nikita Khrushchev ++ “The American people will never knowingly adopt Social-ism. But under the name of ‘liberalism’ they will adopt every fragment of the Social-ist program, until one day America will be a Social-ist nation, without knowing how it happened.” --Norman Thomas Here on Long Island the President of Stony Brook University, Shirley Strum Kenny has this to say. “ I can speak up for evolution, but that’s because I’m the grateful resident of a blue state.” Newsday, Wed. April 6, 2005. I guess we are destroying ourselves to make room for a new species. Note: Had to hyphenate a couple of the ists and isms. The content blocker kept finding the name of a pharmaceutical.

Posted by: Dennis at April 10, 2005 05:12 PM (QDNVv)

18 '"White, male, driving an SUV--you know, illiterate hate-mongers."' Of course... people like William F. Buckley or John Leo. Personally, I see nothing wrong with literacy tests as a condition for the sufferage. Democracy only works when the the electorate is literate and politically engaged; else it is nothing but mob rule. Making the feat of avoiding death for 18 years the sole qualification for full citizenship is ludicrous on its face. Otherwise, one may as well extend the sufferage to geriatric cats and dogs, as well as the goats mentioned above. However, it is not difficult to see the Social Democrats, would not prefer to have things remain as they are; it is manifest that a truly literate and objectively informed electorate would do little to help advance their agenda.

Posted by: LUCIUS SEVERUS PERTINAX at April 10, 2005 05:16 PM (u3Qln)

19 A Communist is a Social-ist with a machine gun.

Posted by: LUCIUS SEVERUS PERTINAX at April 10, 2005 05:19 PM (u3Qln)

20 " Democracy only works when the the electorate is literate and politically engaged; else it is nothing but mob rule." the literate are perfectly capable of acting like a mob.

Posted by: actus at April 10, 2005 05:58 PM (EQbuu)

21 actus, agreed. Education has NOTHING to do with a people's decency and humanity. Pre-war Germany was the most educated and sophisticated nation in the world, and look what it got us. I'll take a god-fearing redneck over an art-loving Liberal any day of the week.

Posted by: Carlos at April 10, 2005 06:53 PM (8e/V4)

22 Carlos, Sharp intelligentsia, members of the "Rational Technician Class", amorally subordinated to a paranoid Hubris-Nemesis leader is a very dangerous mix, indeed.

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 10, 2005 07:29 PM (FV4oJ)

23 That was silliness, Collin.r

Posted by: Robin Roberts at April 10, 2005 10:23 PM (xauGB)

24 Dear Robin, Actually, there are precedents for rational technicians acting as efficient producers under a Hubris-Nemesis leader. Have a read of MR461 and you'll see.

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 10, 2005 11:07 PM (FV4oJ)

25 Rusty: I've decided that joining academia on my own terms is the only way I want to get there, but I don't fault others for doing something different. Once you get tenure, screw 'em. But on the up side, I think academia has to level out because parents are now going to take greater care in choosing a school, which will hit universities in the wallet. They'll also start to lose endowments, etc. So there's going to be a big market correction. And the sooner schools can convert to acquire a reputation for excellent conservative scholarship the more market share they'll be able to command. That's where all the opportunities lie.

Posted by: Demosophist at April 11, 2005 12:33 AM (Dfdj0)

26 Hmmm, let's start our own university. Untapped market-share....

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at April 11, 2005 11:17 AM (JQjhA)

27 Great idea. You could call it, "The George W. Bush University Of Reeducation". Surround it with concertina wire and fill it with dissidents and have "professors" like David Horowitz and Daniel Pipes. You could start the day by pledging allegiance to Israel and then spend the rest of the day teaching Creationism.

Posted by: greg at April 11, 2005 11:50 AM (/+dAV)

28 greg, your "conservative university" is a caricature that can only exist in your mind. But today's Liberal universities are real life cartoons. They really exist.

Posted by: Carlos at April 11, 2005 12:44 PM (8e/V4)

29 Maybe the problem is that there aren't enough intelligent conservatives in the world to staff an entire University.

Posted by: greg at April 11, 2005 01:25 PM (/+dAV)

30 greg, do you really think "intelligence" is what separates Liberals from conservatives? I've been to DU and Daily Kos, so I know for a fact otherwise.

Posted by: Carlos at April 11, 2005 02:03 PM (8e/V4)

31 Conservatives just aren't geared to academia. They say stupid things like, "those who can do and those who can't teach". So I think the problem is that conservatives don't enter the arena becuase their parents don't encourage them to. Having been in academia myself I know for a fact that one's politics never even enters the discussion in University hiring committees.

Posted by: greg at April 11, 2005 02:11 PM (/+dAV)

32 "Hmmm, let's start our own university. Untapped market-share...." Its called Bob Jones. Turns out some great minds.

Posted by: actus at April 11, 2005 02:26 PM (CqheE)

33 I believe inter-racial dating is against the policy at Bob Jones U. What a fine institution that is!

Posted by: greg at April 11, 2005 02:32 PM (/+dAV)

34 greg, you may be right that most conservatives would rather DO than teach, thus it's possible fewer conservatives will choose academia. But I'm afraid you've reached the wrong conclusion based on that. A conservative's choice to DO is separate and distinct from his ability teach. Don't get "choice" and "ability" mixed up. They're different. Nor does their choice to DO rather than teach reflect on the validity of their ideas. For example, just because a fool and a con artist chooses to teach doesn't mean his ideas are better than a wiser man who's instead chosen to build furniture for a living. Now, given that fewer conservatives end up in academia (for whatever reason), like fewer ethnic minorities do, where is the affirmative action for conservative thinkers? Is "diversity" merely a function of skin color? What about diversity of thought, and why do universities go out of their way to avoid diversity of thought.

Posted by: Carlos at April 11, 2005 02:57 PM (8e/V4)

35 "Now, given that fewer conservatives end up in academia (for whatever reason), like fewer ethnic minorities do, where is the affirmative action for conservative thinkers?" My Ph.D. is in Molecular Biology. As a scientist I could care less whether one is a “conservative” thinker or a “liberal” thinker so no “affirmative action” is required. All I care about is the quality of ones science. Now you might address your question to a Political Scientist or a Sociologist and get a different answer. It may be that in the humanities the conservative/liberal paradigm has some meaning. But not in science and engineering.

Posted by: greg at April 11, 2005 03:16 PM (/+dAV)

36 hey greg, the Federal Reserve pays back to the Treasury all the interest it earns from it's loans to the government. So it makes no money from those loans. That puts a big hole in your paranoid conspiracy theory and I thought you should know. Cheers

Posted by: Carlos at April 11, 2005 04:27 PM (8e/V4)

37 "hey greg, the Federal Reserve pays back to the Treasury all the interest it earns from it's loans to the government. So it makes no money from those loans." We the American people are paying interest on our national debt. There's no need for this since we could just as easily print money to service the debt and pay no interest at all.

Posted by: greg at April 11, 2005 04:48 PM (/+dAV)

38 True, but then we'd have hyperinflation.

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at April 11, 2005 05:16 PM (JQjhA)

39 Rusty's right, and that's the whole purpose of the Fed, to keep politicians from ruining the economy by doing exactly what greg suggested.

Posted by: Carlos at April 11, 2005 06:25 PM (8e/V4)

40 Shit: I'm white, male and have two SUV's.

Posted by: greyrooster at April 12, 2005 12:02 AM (CBNGy)

41 "True, but then we'd have hyperinflation." WRONG! Instead of paying interest, we could be making payments on principal so there would actually be less inflation. Kennedy tried to do this with the Silver Certificate dollars. He was assassinated 6 months later.

Posted by: greg at April 12, 2005 08:11 AM (/+dAV)

42 May I suggest a couple of books on the subject: 1) "The Creature from Jekyll Island : A Second Look at the Federal Reserve" by G. Edward Griffin – right winger or 2) "Secrets of the Temple: How the Federal Reserve Runs the Country" -- by William Greider If I had to pick one I'd pick Griffin's book.

Posted by: greg at April 12, 2005 08:45 AM (/+dAV)

43 The problem is the US Government, which has built up so much debt that it taxes people and businesses to the point of being unable to compete in a global marketplace. As a result, American products are too costly, and are value-engineered (built as cheap as possible) to the point of being inferior to foreign-made products. The so-called "service economy" (the laughable notion that you can prosper a nation by doing each others' laundry for a fee) is starting to collapse as modern technology allows even service jobs, such as call centers and data processing, to be outsourced to other countries. Look around. What does America make that anyone wants in enough quantity to support a country on? Is this why we have adopted "home invasion" as a way of propping up our economy?

Posted by: greg at April 12, 2005 10:06 AM (/+dAV)

44 greg, I own Secrets of the Temple, written by an insider, and have read most of it. There's nothing conspiratorial about it, so no offense but I think you're blowing hot air.

Posted by: Carlos at April 12, 2005 02:07 PM (8e/V4)

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Knowing that David Horowitz had a pie thrown at him by the tolerant Left is one thing. But ask the important questions! What kind of pie was it? Mmmmm, boysenberry pie.............

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It's registration at Tatooine University. With all of my incredible Sith powers you'd think I'd be able to figure out a way to avoid students.

Me: You will register online.

Student: I will register online.

However it would seem that our students are not as weak-minded as their tests and term papers would indicate.

An alternative explanation for why so many students are lined up at my door is that the online registration system seems to be down. Stupid Bill Gates........

Blogging may be light.

UPDATE: Oh, so that's what that lock on the door is for!!

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Since so many of the terrorist supporters in the U.S. seem to have immigrated from Jordan, I want to know if the vetting process for immigrants from that country has changed since 9/11?

CNN (via Robert Spencer):

A former top official for the District of Columbia's public schools is being held on charges of conspiring to raise money and recruit fighters for Muslim extremists.

Kifah Wael Jayyousi, arrested Sunday at an airport in Detroit, Michigan, was chief facilities director for public schools in Washington from 1999 to 2001. But in the years running up to that high-profile position, he supported "violent jihad" in Bosnia, Kosovo, Chechnya and Somalia, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Monday.

Jayyousi's arrest is connected to the investigation of The Global Relief Foundation and what federal authorities allege was a network providing material support to terrorists, mostly through supposed charities.

Jayyousi, a U.S. citizen originally from Jordan, is accused of conspiring with Adham Amin Hassoun, who has been in U.S. custody since 2002. Also charged in the criminal complaint is Kassem Daher, described in an FBI affidavit as living in Lebanon....

The criminal complaint against Jayyousi, 43, was filed in Miami, Florida, in December, and cites an investigation that began in 1993. It alleges that Jayyousi and his two co-conspirators set up nonprofit charities through which they raised money and recruited fighters for jihadi groups affiliated with al Qaeda.

Posted by: Rusty at 11:56 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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William Shirer noted that pre-war German universities were rife with Nazi supporters on the faculty. The very institution set up to be a refuge for protecting the great works of Western Civiilization were centers of activity for those that would actively destroy it. Today, I am afraid, the Academy is no better.

Charles Johnsom uncovers another anti-American professor. This one, though, makes Ward Churchill look mainstream. She actually has a whole page dedicated to linking the CIA & (*shock*) Mossad to 9-11!!

Decision '08 also uncovers some interesting things on Professor Christensen.

Posted by: Rusty at 08:55 AM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
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1 /me not suprised

Posted by: Red Wolf at April 01, 2005 09:07 AM (tkj+t)

2 What is this person's thesis--in a nutshell?

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at April 01, 2005 09:19 AM (x+5JB)

3 I am surprised..... That is just disgusting. Seditious. WHo the hell is running our institutions. Where are the watchdogs on this one??? That is a college my children will not be attending!!! How could a course like that even be offered??? Isn't that like a hate class??

Posted by: Chris at April 01, 2005 10:28 AM (5ZMI7)

4 I'm very sad that this isn't an April Fools Joke. I wonder what her opinion is of the many fine young Americans who have given their lives so that she has the right to spew such filth to their peers.

Posted by: Jeremy at April 01, 2005 11:10 AM (ssh6o)

5 Rusty, I linked to this post, but I can't access the trackbacks for some reason. I'll check back later.

Posted by: Hammertime at April 01, 2005 12:14 PM (cFg3z)

6 Liberals Yuk! This bitch has an agenda and it has nothing to do with education.

Posted by: greyrooster at April 01, 2005 02:05 PM (CBNGy)

7 I thought the Mossad was one of the many foreign intelligence agencies that tried in vain to warn George W. Bush about the impending 9/11 attacks and was rebuffed.

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 01, 2005 06:37 PM (fufbw)

8 How does one define an "Anti-American Professor" anyway?

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 01, 2005 07:00 PM (fufbw)

9 Answer: Refer to the professor as a collin baber.

Posted by: greyrooster at April 01, 2005 09:28 PM (CBNGy)

10 Dear Greyrooster, I would be honored to be your professor.

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 01, 2005 11:33 PM (fufbw)

11 "I would be honored to be your professor." This sounds a little creepy.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at April 02, 2005 10:48 AM (h4G3i)

12 How else would a creep sound?

Posted by: greyrooster at April 02, 2005 02:27 PM (CBNGy)

13 Good point.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at April 04, 2005 07:20 AM (x+5JB)

14 Dr. Jane Christensen teaches a great course. We need more courageous heroes like her to reveal the betrayal that the American people were subjected to when we were attacked by our own government on 9-11 to further their disgusting fascist agenda.

Posted by: greg at April 04, 2005 11:28 AM (/+dAV)

15 Attacked by our own government. That's really sick. You've lost it prick. Say goodnight and call your shrink. You have lost it. Good luck. Watch out for the guys in the white suits. They are looking for you. Sorry Greg. I used to think you could be saved. I was wrong. You when over the bounderies of sanity on this one. You need to slow down and get control of yourself. Any more and you will have passed what is considered sane information. Try a bottle of Wild Turkey. It may cause you to piss on yourself and pass out. Better to piss on yourself than have shit coming out of your mouth.

Posted by: greyrooster at April 04, 2005 11:46 PM (CBNGy)

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by Demosophist

Wretchard claims that the intellect behind I Could Scream (a muse by the name of Dymphna) is not he. But whoever she is she helps put the "Club" in "Belmont." Describing the new blog's mission as "a different vision" he observes, with typical eloquence:

The concerns of NOW in relation to those of Muslim women occupy the same relative position as the worries of the characters in Seinfeld to those in rural Bangladesh.

(Cross-posted by Demosophist to Demosophia and Anticipatory Retaliation)

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by Demosophist

From Todd Zywicki

As I have said before, this bill is at bottom about rewarding personal responsibility.

Spoken like someone who has always expected a steady wind at his back, and spent both stormy and windless days deeply sheltered.

Apparently the entities making the loans while practicing deceptive strategies to snare the "imprudent" deserve to have the rules waived for their imprudent extension of credit because they've achieved the special status of lovable con men. Meet the archetype of the species: Ward Churchill.

Gary Becker, on the other hand, suggests a self-referencial alternative to tweaking the bankruptcy system, answering most of my objections to Zywicki's rather aloof and one-eyed arguments: more...

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