Boston University recently made a new announcement that has rekindled concerns over the rising orthodoxy in our institutions of higher education. The University issued new guidelines and courses for its mandatory writing program that will require all students to write papers with a “social justice emphasis” as a condition for graduation. The key faculty organizers celebrated the new policy and the hiring of non-white instructors as guaranteeing social justice results by making students a “captive audience” with no choice in the matter. The school’s announcement emphasizes that the effort is designed to use the mandatory writing requirement so that these courses will “never worry about enrollment.” The poor choice of wording can be addressed with a public commitment to maintain an array of other choices for students in fulfilling their writing requirements.Gwen Kordonowy, the Writing Program’s associate director, said that the problem in the past was that students had a choice and some did not want to be forced into writing for social justice issues. Instructors and classes could be avoided. Now, they have solved the problem by removing all choice.
She heralded the hiring of non-white faculty to teach the social justice courses, using the first-year requirement to “reach every student at BU.” With that, she explained, “we have a captive audience. We never worry about enrollment.”
Writing Program Director Sarah Hardy said that the “cluster hiring” of minority faculty and the mandatory course requirements are meant to finally end the “predominance of white faculty in academia” by limiting the choices of students.
The BU announcement includes a statement from instructor Swati Rani that she will be teaching students to apply the “language around anti-racism” and emphasized that “all of my students are required to develop a voice of advocacy in their final papers and projects that are directly connected to their intersectional lives at BU.”
There is every reason to celebrate classes that add different perspectives and subjects to the curriculum. It is the mandatory element that is troubling if students will be required to write in favor of approved social justice causes.
What happens to students in this “captive audience” who do not support social justice causes? These are subjects that touch on deep religious, social, and political values in our society.
While many of us have objected to the orthodoxy and viewpoint intolerance on our campuses, there remains some element of choice at most schools that allows students to avoid such classes. The BU program raises the question of whether political orthodoxy among faculty becomes political indoctrination through mandatory graduation requirements.
It is certainly true that students are a captive audience in the sense of having to meet basic requirements for graduation. However, most universities have guaranteed a degree of intellectual and curricular diversity among their course offerings. Indeed, some like University of Chicago focused on the “core curriculum” to lay a uniform foundation in classic subject matters while allowing students to tailor their courses to their interests after the first-year. The thrust was to teach analytical and writing skills separate from political or cultural viewpoints. BU seems to be erasing the distinction between skills and viewpoint development.
Rani explains that in her course “we call out performative wokeness culture by asking ourselves what solutions we have to problems of injustice.” What if a student does not believe that there is “linguistic injustice” or rejects the cited “problems of injustice” in these courses? What if they reject not just “performative” but any form of wokeness?
Once again, some of these courses seem very interesting and I expect would be a draw for many students. However, by making these courses mandatory, BU could be making viewpoint compliance a condition for graduation.
For some of us, it was the reference to students as captives to these courses that was the most jarring.
The university has an obligation, in my view, to assure students and faculty that students are not reduced to mere captives to a type of viewpoint indoctrination. That can be achieved by guaranteeing the students are not being graded on their ability to mouth the social justice priorities of instructors. While the announcement stressed that the mandatory requirement will guarantee enrollment in the courses, it should assure students that they will have other writing course options and will not be treated as a “captive audience.”
Boston University is a PRIVATE university. If they include a new requirement they have the right to do that. That’s not a “captive audience”. Every school has mandatory classes that everyone must take in order to meet their graduation requirements. This shouldn’t be controversial. Students are required to take certain liberal arts classes as prerequisites for their degrees. Public speaking is one. Or comprehensive English composition is another.
“Once again, some of these courses seem very interesting and I expect would be a draw for many students. However, by making these courses mandatory, BU could be making viewpoint compliance a condition for graduation.”
This is not “viewpoint compliance”. This is just letting students express their views on the subjects given. Meaning they can express THEIR ideas on how to fix problems or discuss alternatives. I immerses students into discussions that they wouldn’t otherwise have outside academia. It’s the whole point of being at a University. Turley acknowledges this,
“It is certainly true that students are a captive audience in the sense of having to meet basic requirements for graduation. However, most universities have guaranteed a degree of intellectual and curricular diversity among their course offerings. Indeed, some like University of Chicago focused on the “core curriculum” to lay a uniform foundation in classic subject matters while allowing students to tailor their courses to their interests after the first-year. The thrust was to teach analytical and writing skills separate from political or cultural viewpoints. BU seems to be erasing the distinction between skills and viewpoint development.”
BU is not erasing anything, they are ADDING to it. Exposing students to new viewpoints by immersing them into the social Justice issues based on reality and not conspiracy theories and kooky BS from the internet. Maybe, just maybe those students would earn a new appreciation in the complexities associated with what really is social Justice from people who actually know what it is.
Svelaz, I can’t believe I’m going to print this, but I somewhat agree with you. A private business or entity should have the freedom to set there own rules. I’ve always felt this way. Now I’m going to get some mouthwash.
Wow that’s…refreshing.
@Svelaz: Maybe refreshing like a douche. Time will tell what the faculty’s agenda, true purpose and goals truly are.
If it were truly a private institution and not a research arm of the federal government (not t0 mention how much funding they get from their students’ tuition via fed funds).
“Boston University is a top global research institution, attracting $326.5 million in sponsored program awards in FY2015. SEVENTY-FOUR percent of the $326.5 million BU received in FY2015 came from the federal government. ANOTHER TWELVE percent originated in government grants and flowed to BU through other sponsors”
But in principle, i agree that a private institution should be free to do, say, and associate with whatever and whomever it chooses. Don’t you agree?
Neil, I said I somewhat agree with him.
I was replying to him, not you. I agree with you
If DeSantis becomes President we might see compulsory wokism of this kind banished from any institution receiving federal funds, along with DEI staff. Conservatives need to move beyond knee jerk support for private companies that pursue compulsory radical agendas and receive federal funds. A market economy depends on the competency of a citizenry seeking their own interests in pursuit of profit to function efficiently. Wokism undermines both competence and the pursuit of profit. The government should not support it.
Svelaz – the students are a “captive audience” in the sense that they have already made a choice to enroll in that law school. Attempting to obtain admission to another law school would waste time and money, and might not even be successful.
Edward, they are not a captive audience. They can choose to drop out if they think this is unacceptable to them. They are free to leave. They may lose money, but that’s part of the choice they have to make. All choices involve some form of risk. It’s a private school. If they want to add this requirement they have every right to.
Students can transfer to another school. It happens all the time. For all we know this may only be a one semester class which is nothing compared to the other classes they are required to take for their chosen degrees.
BU could also make a choice, not to indoctrinate their kids, but I’m sure OSF funding would get cut…
You keep supporting the whores and their pimps, it’s the democrat way.
If they had good ideas, no one would need to be forced to listen to them…
Svelaz – students do not simply “transfer” from one law school to another. They need to be admitted. That is always a dicey proposition, and it is time consuming. And there is still the problem of finding adequate and affordable living arrangments. It furthers ignores the prejudice that may affect someone who leaves BU in order to avoid left-wing propaganda. So, from a practical point of view, the BU students are captives.
“Edward, they are not a captive audience. They can choose to drop out if they think this is unacceptable to them. They are free to leave. They may lose money, but that’s part of the choice they have to make. All choices involve some form of risk.”
Federal funds enter Boston Universities coffers ever year. BU is not captive. It can choose not to take such money. BU is free to leave and not accept any funding from the government. “They may lose money, but that’s part of the choice they have to make. All choices involve some form of risk.”
As long as BU takes money from government BU is not completely private.
“If they include a new requirement they have the right to do that.”
Nice strawman (yet again).
*The* issue is a wolf in grandma’s clothing.
Sam, they are a private school. They CAN do that. You don’t understand what a strawman argument is. You keep saying it like you know what it is when you really don’t.
“They CAN do that.”
Let’s try for the nth time.
That a person or institution “can” do something does not mean that it’s the right or professionally responsible thing to do.
You keep evading that point — and erecting a strawman to replace it.
Svelaz, BU isn’t even requiring its students to take writing courses with a social justice emphasis. It is only 1 of 8 topics.
https://www.bu.edu/writingprogram/
Propaganda is not just a waste of time that can be used for a more useful supplementary course (e.g., international law), and it is not just a form of intimidation (by encouraging white to students to denounce and renounce themselves), it is also a degradation of the thinking itself(imagine trying to analyze a problem of conflicting property interests in a land by using social justice cliche’s).
It is certainly true that students are a captive audience in the sense of having to meet basic requirements for graduation.
Caveat Emptor. According to FIRE’s most recent survey, there are 150 better ranked schools for free speech. It’s quite a stretch to imagine anyone attending this private (expensive) university as being held captive.
https://rankings.thefire.org/rank
Can’t wait till they make licensed trades people have write one of these stupid manifestos for their state license.
I’m wondering how long it will be before they just come out and say ” Kill white hetero males” and be done with the facade.
In the 1960s, “brainwashing” was a commonly used term used in connection with Russian Communists and their efforts to not only control much of Europe, but the rest of the worldl. Now, indoctrination is what these institutions of so-called “higher learning” are all about.
Uh . . . that is quite literally indoctrination. No one can say otherwise at this point. These people are pure, ignorant evil. Stop sending your kids and your dollars, for ***** sake. Unbelievable.
James, huh, no. It’s not. These are college level students who decide for themselves where they go to school. You’re literally telling others it should be dictated that these students attend schools YOU approve of. Never mind that they are free to choose whatever they want.
Private religious affiliated Universities ARE all about indoctrination. Crazy huh? Why wouldn’t other schools not be allowed the same thing. Nobody is being forced to go to the private religious schools and neither are those who choose to got to “woke” schools either. So you’re just whining about the fact that other people are making choices YOU don’t approve of and you have no control over it. Bummer.
I took a course in the 70’s dealing with minority group politics. I figured out that all I had to do for an A was to mention George McGovern in a positive light. Didn’t mean I had to believe any of it. .And neither will they. Just more waste in higher education
Compelled speech and total censorship go hand-in-hand at most colleges and universities now. The perfect communist model. Welcome to Amerika……
LOL!!! Compelled speech. That’s a good one. So in English class when you are required to write an essay is it compelled speech? How about doing math homework? How will you ever learn?
Will the Boston “professors” offer their students the opportunity to express opinions on why the black population accounts for more than three times the number of gun violence crimes in the US than its percentage of the population? Could this be why a much higher percentage of blacks than whites are arrested for violent crimes? It seems that such a paper could be useful in “deconstructing” the racism narrative that the police target and abuse blacks. And will the students will be asked to opine on why 38% of all abortions in the US are from black girls? Is this evidence of racism or does it suggest a connection between the high abortion rate and the apparent breakdown of the black family structure in many parts of the country? One analyst has estimated that since Roe v. Wade, approximately 20 million black babies have been aborted, a number which is more than the entire population of metropolitan New York City. That seems worthy of discussion. But, I just checked and Hell has not yet frozen over so I do not think we should expect to see any such student writings.
express opinions on why the black population accounts for more than three times the number of gun violence crimes in the US than its percentage of the population?
Yes, The left works to strip law abiding citizens of the their civil rights by eliminating the right to keep and bear arms, the ignore those committing crimes.
Simply search the homes cars and business of Blacks, and take any fire arms they find. This would cause an immediate reduction of violent death, of young black males.
It is clear by the actions, saving lives is not the goal.
“Simply search the homes cars and business of Blacks, and take any fire arms they find. This would cause an immediate reduction of violent death, of young black males.
It is clear by the actions, saving lives is not the goal.”
Huh? Is that your suggestion to eliminating violence? Violate their 2nd and 4th amendment rights? I hope that was sarcasm.
Violate their 2nd and 4th amendment rights?
The left is intent on stripping law abiding citzens of there Rights. So violating rights is already in play. At least my plan will reduce black on black death, instantly…..But the left seems intent on facilitating black genocide.
American colleges are in a period of transition defined by admission standards that have been lowered in order to bring more minority students to campus. The day is not far off, however, when admission standards will be lowered further due to plummeting enrollment and financial desperation in order to bring students of any demographic background to campus.
Cause I’m in love with the U.S.A. now
I’m in love with the modern world now
Put down your cigarette
And drop out of B.U
We have to force these students to take these classes! We have to force them to see how enlighten we are!
But we also have to silence any and all alternative points of view! It might lead to independent thinking!
Hitler, Stalin, Mao would all be proud.
@Upstate
That’s a great point. At least on the part of the ‘professors’, it’s about their own narcissism and proving something (often something no one else gives a toss about, but mom told them they were special, so…). That generation is a bloody mess for such myriad reasons it’s tough to quantify at times.
Upstatefarmer,
“But we also have to silence any and all alternative points of view! It might lead to independent thinking!”
Like CRT, right? We ARE silencing that alternative point of view because it might lead to independent thinking. How ironic. In Florida’s universities are banned from discussing CRT. It is after all…an alternative point of view. Because exposing students to that alternative point of view is….wrong?
Upstate, sarcasm is the only answer to such a demand from BU. If I were at BU, I would gladly write such a paper. It would include everything about social justice showing how wonderful it is while it destroys those involved. I would probably use different colored sheets of paper because if all the pages were white, I could rightfully be accused of white supremacy.
90% of Universities are no longer institutions of Higher Learning. They have devolved into Indoctrination Camps of Higher Money!
“Holy “ today the university, tomorrow, the nation“, Batman!“
seems to be erasing the distinction between skills and viewpoint development.
saying the right things is more important than learning the mechanics of language.
Universities have failed in changing the hearts and minds of students.
Iowan2, learning the mechanics of language requires that you involve comprehension as well.
They are not “erasing” anything. They are adding to the skills.
As is always the case with leftist. “Social Justice” , as a term with no meaning, so you will believe as you are told. Or ‘indoctrinated.
Iowan2, yes, what would happen to a student who accepted Hayek’s position in The Mirage of Social Justice and argued that the term is meaningless? I wonder if many of the instructors have read Hayek, or even know who he is.
“The idea of social justice is that the state should treat different people unequally in order to make them equal.” __Hayek
S. Meyer, no
The idea of social justice is about those who are not being treated equally under the law to be treated equally by holding those who are seeking to treat them unequally accountable to the law. It’s quite simple.
Thank you for sharing your immense intellect with the group so others can share your vision.
“equally under the law”
That is good. Treat all persons equally under the law without racial or religious prejudice.
Accountability:
Those breaking the law should be held “accountable.”
“It’s quite simple.”
Yes, you are.
“The idea of social justice is about . . .”
That is false.
SJ is a massive, culture-wide redistribution scheme — from those who create values, to those “oppressed.”
The term “social justice” is not meaningless. Slavery was a social justice issue. Suffrage was a social justice issue. Gay marriage was a social justice issue. Jim Crow laws were a social justice issue. Just because it’s never been applied to you doesn’t mean it’s meaningless.
When we have laws that guarantee equal rights to everyone and those who are not being treated equally according to the law they are facing social injustices. It’s not a hard concept to grasp, unless you’ve never been exposed to said injustices because you’ve never had to face them or be subject to them.
“When we have laws that guarantee equal rights to everyone” — apparently Svelaz is out of touch with his own mob. Equal rights is so….1960s. Today’s fascist social justice workers want “special” rights for BIPOCs and other “victim” communities. And show us one law that legalizes discrimination in America — just one. Because the only place there is legal discrimination in this country is in the mushy heads of people like Svelaz who have forgotten a century of civil war, constitutional amendments, civil rights acts, anti-discrimination acts, elimination of Jim Crow, and affirmative action. You can’t sweep it all under the rug just because you haven’t “made it” in America. Try harder.
GioCon, no. They don’t want “special” rights. They want the same rights you have. That’s it. When gay marriage was at the forefront of the culture wars. It was always depicted as they wanting more rights than others. Which was not true. All they wanted was the SAME right you have to marry and that their marriage be recognized by the law like everyone else. Religious zealots an kooks didn’t want them to have the same right as you do. It’s a simple as that.
iowan2: “Social justice” actually has meaning, but it’s in code. It means “tear down the establishment so the “victims” of “white supremacism” can rise to power and take over the country.” Of course, they can’t run around saying that, so they hide behind the virtue-signaling mantra that fools their gullible tribe every time.
Free thought at BU…
Indoctrinating, propaganda, through compelled speech.
@iowan
Yup. And nearly always woke millennials behind it all. They are not fit for any profession that doesn’t involve a side of fries or slinging alcohol (e.g. AOC). Disgraceful, annoying, and stupid.
One of the topics “suggested” was called “Asians are people of color” so what I might do is wrote a paper on how these “people of color should be admitted to BU and other schools with the same extra points that blacks and other people of color receive. Let us see how the wokesters deal with this bit of reality. Lets watch Harvard scream.
You would fail, and no one would at bu or in the media would listen to your sad story.
“Anonymous”, yes, I would fail and that helps make the argument for us conservatives. I would fail because if you don’t recite the approved narrative in your answers or thesis the fascist leftist teachers will fail you. So this is just another way the left bullies everyone to accept their approved narrative.
The thing that is killing the libs is that people are starting to vote with their wallet as shown by Bud Light and Target. The left hates that people will actually turn away from this sickening attack on our norms and our culture. have baby swim suits with gay messages and watch us repel. Have a man playing a girl for a well known “man’s” beer and watch us drop you.
HullBobby,
Well said.
My daughter saw it in her last year of college. If you did not write what the woke professor liked, you did not pass.
My daughter being something of a word smith wrote the woke “crap” her word, not mine. Then out of spite, took the other non-woke students, wrote their papers for them, which was, just a different version of hers. Her being something of a word smith, made the papers look totally different, but appeased the woke professor.
And they all got A’s.
So, she enabled cheating. Nice values.
One of the lessons my daughter learned from dealing with woke professors in college is they are not worthy of respect as they do not respect anyone who is not woke.
Then it is perfectly okay to cheat them.
I would prefer not to deal with woke leftists, as you may note I scroll past Sleezveze comments as it is not worth my time to read, but if and when I would have to, I would not see anything wrong with cheating them.
She didn’t enable cheating. She liberated other students from an intellectual jail cell created by her woke professor. I say Bravo!.
We can always count on your lack of values.
S. Meyer,
Just look at their “values” about grooming 6 year olds.
“So, she enabled cheating. Nice values.”
Your focus is *not* on the professor penalizing students who express opposing opinions?!
Those propagandistic pieces of garbage set the terms. And you’re blaming the innocent student for abiding by those terms?!
Nice evasion. And nice blaming the victims.