UC-Boulder wants to hire a "conservative professor" - New England Patriots Forums

otis p. driftwood · 05-13-2008, 07:09 PM

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008...ght-wing-prof/

Quote:

BOULDER — How liberal is the University of Colorado at Boulder?

The campus hot-dog stand sells tofu wieners. A recent pro-marijuana rally drew a crowd of 10,000, roughly a third the size of the student body. And according to one professor’s analysis of voter registration, the 800-strong faculty includes just 32 Republicans.

Chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson surveys this landscape with unease. A college that champions diversity, he believes, must think beyond courses in gay literature, Chicano studies and feminist theory. “We should also talk about intellectual diversity,” he says. So over the next year, Mr. Peterson plans to raise $9 million to create an endowed chair for what is thought to be the nation’s first Professor of Conservative Thought and Policy.

Mr. Peterson’s quest has been greeted with protests from some faculty and students, who say the move is too — well, radical. “Why set aside money specifically for a conservative?” asks Curtis Bell, a teaching assistant in political science. “I’d rather see a quality academic than someone paid to have a particular perspective.”

STFarmy · 05-13-2008, 07:39 PM

I'm sure that they use that argument when trying to prove that affirmative action is wrong and - oh that's right.

Wildo7 · 05-13-2008, 07:47 PM

This is nothing new, conservative professors are highly valuable because they're rare. College administrations aren't that liberal, in fact they're pretty conservative businessmen most of the time. My college tried to get a conservative professor for three straight years while I was there but they couldn't find one even though it was run by fairly strict Catholics. Why? because conservatives don't generally want to be academics. Mostly left wing people are attracted to academic positions in Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology while economics and business professors tend to be more conservative. It's just the way it is, it's not a left wing conspiracy, no matter how much the right wants to believe it is.

***DarrylS*** · 05-13-2008, 09:16 PM

My initial response is so?? There does not seem consensus amongst the faculty.

from the Denver Post:

Quote:

Why set aside money specifically for a conservative?" asks Curtis Bell, a teaching assistant in political science. "I'd rather see a quality academic than someone paid to have a particular perspective." Even some conservatives who have long pushed for balance in academia voice qualms. Among them is David Horowitz, a conservative agitator whose book "The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America" includes two Boulder faculty members: an associate professor of ethnic studies who writes about the intersection of Chicano and lesbian issues, and a philosophy professor focused on feminist politics and "global gender justice." While he approves of efforts to bolster a conservative presence on campus, Mr. Horowitz fears that setting up a token right-winger as The Conservative at Boulder will brand the person as a curiosity, like "an animal in the zoo." We "fully expect this person to be integrated into the fabric of life on campus," replies Todd Gleeson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

otis p. driftwood · 05-13-2008, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJAJ15

My initial response is so?? There does not seem consensus amongst the faculty.

from the Denver Post:

What? Sorry, your post made no sense. You talk about consensus among the faculty, then quote someone who's not on the faculty--and requote half of what I posted.

***DarrylS*** · 05-13-2008, 09:53 PM

WTF is your problem, you posted from something you saw on Drudge.. I took a look and did not recognize the "daily camera".. so I googled the story and found the same story from the Denver Post.. no big deal, just an interesting perspective..

IMO it is an idiotic way to spend money, to advertise for a conservative professor sounds like you are limiting your choices.. the whole thing sound stupid, can you imagine Jerry Falwell advertising for a Chair of Liberal Studies at Liberty U..

otis p. driftwood · 05-14-2008, 08:53 AM

My problem is that your article was exactly the same as mine. It was originally written by the Wall Street Journal.

***Patters*** · 05-14-2008, 09:12 AM

Your link points to something different. For instance, this does not appear at the link:

"Mr. Peterson’s quest has been greeted with protests from some faculty and students, who say the move is too — well, radical."

and in fact dailycamera uses as a source this article:

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/new...cast-of-profs/

which says in part:

The most vocal criticism so far is coming from the right.

"Like Margaret Mead among the Samoans, they're planning to study conservatives. That's hilarious," Will told The Wall Street Journal in a story pubished Tuesday.

...

Still, Rozek said he found the idea of an endowed chair in conservative views "humorous" and said it smacks of tokenism.

"What is needed is pluralism of ideas, meaning no political party has a monopoly on any campus," Rozek said. "All views - socialism, communism, democracy - should be discussed."

...

"The way you widen the debate is by casting the description in much broader terms. It should not come down to a debate of conservative vs. liberal."

otis p. driftwood · 05-14-2008, 09:44 AM

Patters, who/what are you talking to/about?

Because that quote you mentioned, about it being too radical? That's in my link. It's part of my quote from that link.

So...??????

***Patters*** · 05-14-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a.paul

Patters, who/what are you talking to/about?

Because that quote you mentioned, about it being too radical? That's in my link. It's part of my quote from that link.

So...??????

Maybe they changed it. Try emptying your cache. This is what I get:

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008...ght-wing-prof/

CU seeks right-wing prof

The University of Colorado is considering a $9 million program to bring high-profile political conservatives to teach on the left-leaning campus. Critics say it's an idea whose time should never come. CU officials want to create an endowment for a Visiting Chair in Conservative Thought and Policy.

The program would bring a rotating cast of scholars, historians, politicians and media personalities to a town often ridiculed by the political right as "the People's Republic of Boulder."

The first scholar could be on campus next year for a one- or two-year stint, CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard said. University officials said they hope the fund would yield the $200,000-plus per year necessary to provide a stipend and a staff person.

"A good campus is always trying to find ways to add diversity of thought and scholarship," Hilliard said.