As many criticize higher education for pursuing indoctrination over education, Oregon State University (OSU) appears to be doubling down on a mandatory woke curriculum. The university is under fire for its mandatory undergraduate courses on “Difference, Power & Oppression” (DPO). Much of the rhetoric on the university’s website reads more like the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) than an institution of higher education.
OSU requires all undergraduate students who enrolled after the summer of 2025 to complete two “Difference, Power & Oppression” (DPO) courses as part of its Core Education curriculum, including “Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations” and “Difference, Power & Oppression Advanced.”
This is all part of what OSU calls a “core curriculum” that teaches students to be “adaptive, proactive members” of society to “build a better world.”
The University of Chicago (my alma mater) developed a very different “core curriculum” that required students to take classes across different disciplines to gain proficiency in subjects from science to math to philosophy.
Schools like OSU have converted the mission into instilling a core ideological agenda, a mandatory agenda for shaping anti-racist social warriors.
The university explains that all students must take these courses to learn how to “disrupt” oppressive systems in the United States and around the world: “The inequitable distribution of social, economic, and political power in the United States and globally is sustained through systems of oppression, which represent a variety of discriminatory institutional beliefs and practices.”
Students are to be trained on how “beliefs and practices obscure the origins and operations of systemic oppression in daily life, such that this inequitable power distribution is assumed to be the natural order.”
The purpose is clearly to train activists to fight against the oppressive institutions and traditions in this country and abroad: “Such examinations will enhance and promote responsible, ethical, and anti-racist engagement by preparing students to understand and disrupt these systems as they manifest in their field.”
It is telling that the faculty and administration are not willing to let students choose whether to take such courses. It is not uncommon for such courses to be offered as electives, but OSU is requiring any graduate to sit through this indoctrination as a requirement for graduation. As Campus Reform noted, DPO courses have appeared at the Yale University School of Drama, the University of Virginia, and Northern Arizona University.
The school is using a public university to instill ideological values in students as a condition of their getting a degree. They are expected to “demonstrate, by using social justice theories, how historic constructions of racism and other forms of systemic oppression result in intersecting inequities – crossroads of oppression – experienced in current times (last 10 years).”
For many students, a college degree is an opportunity to demonstrate academic competence and pursue their own careers and values in society. State schools are critical in realizing a dream of a better life for many of these students.
State tuition of $38,568 a year remains the only accessible path to higher education (nonresidents are charged $65,013). However, faculty are using these students as a captive audience to their own ideological agenda.
The ultimate responsibility for this mandatory curriculum falls on President Jayathi Y. Murthy and her administration.
This controversy is also notable at a time when many faculty are objecting to state legislators seeking to limit funding or regulate the curriculum of their state schools. Faculty maintain that they should have full funding and full control over their institutions even as they create ideological echo chambers that exclude or marginalize a large percentage of students. Many citizens do not understand why they are compelled to fund universities that use these institutions for ideological indoctrination.
Oregon is obviously a heavily Democratic and liberal state. Other schools such as the University of Oregon have shown the same bias, including giving an award to an academic who criminally attacked pro-life advocates on campus. Likewise, states such as California are unlikely to push back on far-left agendas at universities. UCLA even has “activists-in-residence” to shape the political views of students.
However, many states still view public higher education as an opportunity to learn in an ideologically neutral and tolerant environment. Yet they face institutions that are openly hostile to the views of a majority of residents or create hostile environments for students who need to take advantage of the state education system.
Just as donors should decline to support private institutions without real reform and strong intellectual diversity, state legislators should use state funding to combat that ideological agenda of faculty.
If President Murthy and the OSU faculty want to use their institution to instill ideological values and disrupt the oppressive institutions of this country, they can clearly do so. However, they do not have to do it with state money. They can seek to support their institutions with private funds from liberal donors and allow the state to spend money on institutions with greater neutrality and balance.
As shown at OSU, the faculty are unlikely to change this environment. Conservatives and libertarians have been largely purged from departments. Many do not have a single such faculty member, according to surveys. At the same time, many, including the head of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), oppose institutional neutrality.
There must be a point where the most fervent liberals in states such as Oregon will recognize the harm that is being done to higher education by yielding to such ideological impulses. It is often hard to speak up for those with opposing values, but that is the test of principle.
What is most telling is the lack of self-awareness by these academics in their creating their own oppressive environment. In higher education, their mandatory courses are the very evidence of “systemic inequities” and “inequitable power distribution” that is “assumed to be the natural order.” It is a lesson that will not be lost on many students who find themselves isolated and marginalized in their own state school systems.
Jonathan Turley is a law professor and the best-selling author of “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.”
If government gives money to colleges that teach students to revolt against government, isn’t that the definition of masochism? If parents send their children to colleges that teach everyone should have equal influence and wealth (regardless of talent or effort), isn’t that the definition of parental abuse?
“isn’t that the definition of masochism?” No. Its free speech.
But this one is … “parental abuse?” Please tell me you’re really not a lawyer.
Parents don’t scrutinize curricula that closely or carefully. The enrollee is there for a purpose and its doubtful that they would withdraw on the grounds of that course requirement. . The mantra becomes….’Get through it and get out!”
Bingo, give that man a kewpie doll!
“Do you seriously believe those students are actually Manchurian Candidates . . .”
Yes.
Unwitting ones — aka “useful idiots” — like Schumer and Jeffries, Code Pink activists, the college-“educated” young person who votes socialist — because free stuff, the blog commenters who keep screeching “oligarchs” (without any idea of what that concept means), the K-12 teachers who issue “equitable” grades because “from each according to his ability . . .”, the Hollywood director who portrays capitalists as villains and the “downtrodden” as oppressed, . . .
It is via those transmission belts that Marxist propaganda infiltrates American culture and politics.
Yes? Whew, you just might need some serious counseling, your paranoia is deep seated.
And so what if “Marxist propaganda infiltrates American culture and politics.”. Anyone in the US can decide for themselves what they want to know and do what they want to do. Just like you can decide your ideology/paranoia about Marxist propaganda and no forced you.
Sure, DSA commies aren’t coming out of the woodwork now, They don’t want to do the things they say they do on their website, and it isn’t just because the left has run out of ideas and are tagging in the commies out of sheer desperation. None of that is happening, right?
True Americans don’t want to PAY for this crap so keep it in your underground meetings. We will allow you to talk about it but do not act against the human rights we enshrined in our everlasting Constitution or we will put you in jail, ok Marxy?
Come On Man! It’s Oregon BABY! What else should you expect from this S-HOLE State that brought you that chaotic DUMP known as Portland with every freak on the planet walking its streets. Now these whack jobs want to add more to their DUMBING DOWN curriculum. Go Mucky Ducks Go!
time to unaccredit all colleges… WHO HATE America!
unaccredit? Obviou;lsy you never went to college, let alone grammar school.
You dope. Don’t you have the internet in the chinese bot dungeon?
unaccredited
/ŭn″ə-krĕd′ĭ-tĭd/
adjective
Not having the proper credentials; unauthorized.
an unaccredited school.
Not being ascribed or attributed to a source.
an unaccredited quotation.
Time for a purge as ruthless as any planned and carried out by Stalin, just without the murder and the gulag.
Purging the schools will be easy. All we have to do is defund and prosecute. Worked for DEI. The racist DEI is d. e. a. d.
End Federal Aid to colleges and states…. Stop rewarding their failure
What colleges and states? What failure?
This tit-for-tat back and forth is childish and non-productive and a direct result of allowing the use of “anonymous” in non-identifying oneself on this blog. Personal sniping anonymously is infantile. Both sides.
” Personal sniping anonymously is infantile’. Both sides. ”
Walt, do you realize that you too are anonymous and your comemnt is personal sniping.
Geezzz… whatever happened to self-awareness?
Lunacy
Lunatic.
Who the hell are you, waltrthompson? IF that’s your real name!
So sorry Mr Authority, Will you let me go if I show you my ‘papers’ and I apologize for mooning you?
Please don’t throw me in your gulag comrade! I’m not one of those ‘Federalist papers’ type!
When will we stop sending our tax dollars to all these universities and colleges?
Keep in mind once those tax dollars are in the US Treasury, they are not yours but Washington DC’s.
Wondering … Are these pass or fail courses? Must a student “disrupt” some event to pass?
Uno reverse, disrupt the oppression of the class!
This social justice crap is so intellectually shallow and circular, I imagine just a few courageous students taking this class to ask pointed, non-rhetorical questions that put the instructor immediately on the defensive. I work with smart high school students, and know there are those capable of destroying this garbage indoctrination with wit and humor.
It will be devastating. Young Americans are not as dimwit as these SJW professors.
I would imagine you would never call your alleged students dumb, which would be a reflection on you. But still, high schoolers are just mindless drones who for whatever reasons decide to attend OSU, or where ever, not for political indoctrination but a lifestyle or career choice, just to raise their social standing.
Actually intellectually shallow is a feature not a bug. It is all designed to appeal to the emotions of a mob’s sense of ‘justice’ to circumvent our laws. The intellectuals are actually the ones they need to get rid of (and those pesky individual-rights laws). Socialism must extinguish any individual impulse toward greatness or endeavour to keep the herd ‘together’ and acting ‘as one’. Gross huh? Anti-humanists.
“Much of the rhetoric on the university’s website reads more like the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) . . .”
“OSU *requires all undergraduate students* . . .” (JT, emphasis added)
Communist “Cuba’s educational system requires *mandatory* political and ideological courses at all levels, focusing heavily on Marxist-Leninist theory [and] revolutionary history . . .” (emphasis added)
“Communist Russia (the Soviet Union) *required* all university and college students to take mandatory political courses centered on Marxism-Leninism, the history of the Communist Party, and scientific communism regardless of their major.” That ideology was propagandized as the “absolute truth.” (emphasis added)
Care to assert again that the DSA does *not* want communist policies and tactics in America?
Your point? if there is one.
Figure it out MORON ANON
Figure it out MORON ANON
YES YOU should try you PSYCHO
YES YOU should try you PSYCHO
Yeah learn to read ano.
Yeah learn to read dustoff
Reading is fundamental. Did you go to OSU by chance? I’m going to need a 500 word essay from you by the morning on the point of Sam’s comment. We are going to teach you reading comprehension young man! Capitalism needs people who can read, Communism has no such need.
Sam,
You are correct.
My daughter was forced to take a DEI course as a graduation requirement.
Complete waste of time and money. Not education but indoctrination of a captive, and forced to pay, audience.
So, one course out of 20, or 24? Just get a passing grade, move on, grow up, get a career started.
No one was forced, she could have transferred if she thought it was wrong. But here you are whining about it.
Then why did you send her there or pay for it?
Don’t blame the school or DEI, blame yourself man.
Wrong.
She was entering her junior year with graduation in sight.
The college then, at the height of wokeism/DEI crap, then mandated DEI courses for graduation requirement. She was not about to transfer to another school. That would be illogical at that time.
She choose to goto that school.
Of course I blame the school and all those in academia. They have a captive audience and they know it and will use it to abuse their power as they see fit.
Big deal man. You put her in it and found out later you didn’t like that the school changed requirements. Big deal, kid should just take it and graduate. Its her life, not yours. But its still your fault, according to your narrative, yo made a stupid decision and then you regret it. Again, its her life, so butt out. But for all we know, you just may be lying about it all just to get attention here.
Once again, you lack of reading comprehension skills are showing.
She, not I, did not want to be forced to take and pay for it. She thought it was and still does to this day, think it is BS. And she is correct.
I did not make any decision. She did based on the information at the time, and then the school changed the rules and forced her to take that course as a graduation requirement. Had she known that prior to enrollment, she may have opted for a different college. But of course she could not see they were going to change the rules.
Just like now at OSU. If there is a junior or even a senior who now has to take one of these DEI courses as a graduation requirement.
Just another example of higher-indoctrination, forced captive audience, forced payment to graduate.
WHAT is your problem Mister?
Big deal man. You put her in it and found out later you didn’t like that the school changed requirements. The kid should just take it and graduate. Its her life, not yours. But its still your fault, according to your narrative, you made a stupid decision and then you regret it. Again, its her life, so butt out. But for all we know, you just may be lying about it all just to get attention here.
Sam, it is undeniable what the DSA wants. Read what the Red Star Caucus of the DSA wants in its own words:
https://redstarcaucus.org/points-of-unity/#we-believe-in-the-creative-historical-power-of-revolution.
This is who the Democrat Party is aligning itself for power. The first couple of sentences of the link is:
“Red Star is a Marxist-Leninist caucus in DSA. Our primary goal, the goal which informs all of our organizing work, is to abolish capitalism and, ultimately, to achieve communism. We do not believe that capitalism can be reformed into socialism – it must be overthrown and replaced.”
(I suspect the link I provided may be removed if it gets widely distributed.)
“Our primary goal . . .”
Thanks for the link.
That goal has been well known ever since Marx wrote it, and Lenin implemented it. And the DSA has made it very clear that their models are Lenin and Mao. Establishment D’s can chose to evade that fact. But they cannot evade the destructive consequences of that choice.
Love the sound of leftys screeching in the morning. LOUDER Please!
Do you seriously believe those students are actually Manchurian Candidates with the capabilities to seek out and “disrupt” oppressive systems in the United States and around the world”? Heck, they’re mindless, stupid 22 years old without drive or ambition or any common sense, or how to survive the modern world without the help of their parents while living in their basements until the parents die. And then they become the new generation of homeless.
Good one. ” It is a lesson that will not be lost on many students who find themselves isolated and marginalized in their own state school systems.” JT.
College mandatory courses will not eradicate the marginalization that leads to isolation.
It is a Human Condition that is wired-in which utilizes oppression for survival.
Mandatory College courses will not exorcise this behavior.
—
AI string: ( Why did Kane kill Abel )
According to the Book of Genesis, Cain killed his brother Abel primarily out of jealousy and anger because God favored Abel’s animal sacrifice over Cain’s offering of crops. When both brothers brought their gifts to the Lord, Abel offered the firstborn and best of his flock, which God accepted. Cain, a farmer, brought a portion of his crops, but God had no regard for it. This rejection filled Cain with deep resentment, leading him to lure Abel into a field and commit history’s first recorded murder.
The Biblical Narrative and Motive
The Offerings: Cain presented fruit from the ground, while Abel brought the best firstborn lambs of his flock.
Divine Rejection: God accepted Abel’s offering of faith and blood, but rejected Cain’s offering.
The Warning: God confronted Cain about his anger, warning him that sin was crouching at his door and urging him to choose what is right.
The Murder: Ignoring the divine warning, Cain invited Abel out to the field and slew him.
Spiritual Context: The New Testament expands on the motive in 1 John 3:12, stating that Cain murdered Abel because “his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous”.
What garbage.
” What garbage.” – Anon at 7:06 AM
Bad-Anon 👿 you are the perfect example (the epitome) of what & why there is dissension.
Your very purpose (Being) is to create opposition, generate dissension, exploit chaos.
Conversely we need You, to contrast and justify Our righteous posture. By deploying you’re Cynical Hypocritism, you enhance Our lives, you illuminate Our right from Your wrong.
There is no Synastry (struggle in terms of emotion) between this dielectric (Good & Evil), it is … as they say, what it is. You will always exist.
A few days ago we discussed Parliamentarism and Constitutionalism and it’s Evolution toward the Enlightenment of Mankind (rather how it has stalled or perhaps reached an equilibrium).
It occurs that from your efforts on this Blog and the efforts of the Democratic Party to disrupt the evolution toward the Good, that Good prevails in greater ‘light’.
So with that, I welcome you home.
We’ll keep the ‘light’ on for you.
Yours truly,
Good-Anon ☀️
What garbage.
Idle hands are the work of the Devil. *
Keep up the good work! – Good-Anon ☀️
* The idiom “the devil finds work for idle hands” means that people who have nothing productive to do are more likely to get into trouble, mischief, or bad behavior out of boredom.
“The inequitable distribution of social, economic, and political power in Oregon State University is sustained through systems of oppression, which represent a variety of discriminatory institutional beliefs and practices.” That works, and not just of OSU but for many universities across America.
Speaking of oppression: I remember the results when I once challenged a foaming-mouth leftist professor on his condemnation of Edmund Burke. That was an educational moment.
Diversity (i e. class-disordered ideologies), Equivocation, and Indoctrination. #HateLovesAbortion
Let me see. Receive Federal funds. Teach students how to destroy the country. Wow!
Note to Marxist academics. Study up on how the Red Guard turned on their handlers. Students turning on their professors is as old as time.
Excellent post JT👍
Ever stop to think those kids want that sort of education.
You really think they simply walk into that school with a blank mind and are then forced into DEI ideology courses?
Good thing consumers can buy the education they want without some crazies (MAGA) dictating what they can learn.
These are mandatory courses, not electives.
You missed the point, they chose to attend OSU for a reason.
Sounds like your education, or better said, lack of, taught you to hate what you can’t understand. Meaning, you relish your ignorance.
I recommend Americans that feel oppressed travel to North Korea to find out about oppression and how to fight oppression. It’s such a liberty loving freedom loving free from oppression country you might just even decide to stay their permanently. In prison!
What a stupid comment.
MORON ANON sounds like an 8 year old!
Whatever you say jerkoff. Opps, Dustoff.
PSYCHO MORON ….yourself!
Silly Dustoff, always has his panties in a twist. Do you wear a tutu when your pee?
Let me guess; ANON is in the 5th grade!! Sure posts like it!! Panties,Pee,Sh-t Sure sounds like a 5th grader!! Keep it up PSYCHO MORON ANON
Your Special Ed class is starting shortly.
Let me guess; kirk is in the 5th grade!! Sure posts like it!! Panties,Pee,Sh-t Sure sounds like a 5th grader!! Keep it up PSYCHO MORON kirk
Your Special Ed class is starting shortly.
ANON sure isn’t very original for a 5th grader
kirk sure isn’t very original for a 5th grader
Ano
Our little child shows up to post gibberish
Dustoff
Our little child shows up to post gibberish
Still getting it wrong Ano.
But. I’m not surprised.
Still getting it wrong kirk.
But. I’m not surprised.
by using social justice theories,
_____________________________
Heck Oregon high schools are a joke. (Oregon high schools still require students to pass coursework in math and English to graduate, but the state has suspended the mandatory “Essential Skills” standardized testing requirement for reading, writing, and math through the 2027–2028 school year). But learn to protest, you get a gold start.
“Oregon high schools are a joke.” Are you saying you’re still in high school and that you’re a joke? No surprise there.
MORON ANON IS A JOKE! DAILY!
Still playing that stupid game Dustoff.
Not Dustoff or Estovir YOU DF MORON!! Crappy replies from MORON ANON DAILY!!!
Oh oh, did yo just shit your panties?
Are you 8 years old?? What a DF YOU ARE!! LOSER
Are you 8 years old?? What a DF YOU ARE!! LOSER
ANON ran out of material and has to copy others!!
kirk ran out of material and has to copy others!!
Nope, you may have this issue.
Mom not change you’re diapers this morning
Nope, you may have this issue.
Mom not change you’re diapers this morning
Games… Is that the best retort you’ve got…. Jezzz ano.
Games… Is that the best retort you’ve got…. Jezzz dustoff
Try again loser. I posted what the school does you moron.
Try again loser. I posted what the school does you moron.
They are emotionally driven. Can’t be reasoned with.
“Can’t be reasoned with.” Really? Have you at least tried?
Yep
Great, now show us the proof.
OK proof? you want proof? your replys are emotionally driven and I can prove it. Ready?
What replies?
“Replys”? Seriously? You can’t write a simple sentence.