Articles

Nov 16, 2004 · George Leef

The Overselling of Higher Education

This talk has had a long gestation period – 24 years to be precise. In the fall of 1980, I was hired by a small, nonselective college to teach a number of courses – Business Law, Principles of Economics, and an upper-level course in Political Economy. An experience in the latter class one fall day was, as Senator Kerry would say, “seared” into my memory. I had asked the students to read a few pages from Hayek’s The Mirage of Social Justice, expecting that they would do the reading and come to class prepared for some discussion.

Sadly, I found out that the students a) had not bothered to read the assignment, or b) didn’t understand grasp anything from it and c) were not the least bit bothered by their inability to answer any of the questions I posed. After much embarrassing silence, one young fellow put up his hand, and I eagerly called on him. He said, “Couldn’t you, like, just tell us the main point?”

Nov 13, 2004 · Jon Sanders

Western Civ proposal at UNC sparks smear campaign by fearful radicals

RALEIGH — The study of Western Civilization used to be a rite of passage for the university-educated. Now it is an afterthought at best, consigned to the shadows of the curriculum as universities pursue trendy multiculturalism. And the reaction to a proposal to bring Western Civ back shows just how feared the liberating study is by the campus radicals.

Nov 10, 2004 · Jon Sanders

UNC-Chapel Hill leftists gear up to protest Western Civ program

UNC-Chapel Hill leftists list articles by George Leef and our Course of the Month honorees as proof that UNC-CH should not accept a grant from the Pope Foundation to fund the study of Western Civilization at the flagship institution (which they termed “Accept[ing] $12 Million from Racist, Sexist, Classist, Homophobic Donors”).

Nov 8, 2004 · Jon Sanders

We Lost, But You’re Stupid

RALEIGH — In the famous fable by Aesop, a fox exerts itself in vain attempting to snatch a cluster of grapes. Finally realizing that the grapes were out of his reach, the fox consoled himself by convincing himself they were sour. “Sour grapes” became a way to describe a face-saving attitude for having failed to attain something desperately sought.

Nov 1, 2004 · George Leef

New minor proposed at UNC-Chapel Hill: Yankette/ee Studies

Seeking to expand UNC-Chapel Hill’s worldwide reputation as the leading public university in America, a group of faculty members have proposed a new minor that they say would greatly enhance cultural awareness – Yankee/ette Studies.

Oct 29, 2004 · Jon Sanders

Kerry only tells half the story on college costs

As part of his litany of George Bush woes, John Kerry cites rising college costs. It’s up dramatically since Bush took office, he says, pricing hundreds of thousands of students out. Kerry cites only the “sticker price” of tuition and fees, however. He’s ignoring that the net price ‹ that’s the sticker price discounted by grant aids and tax benefits ‹ is actually lower now than it was ten years ago.

Oct 26, 2004 · Jon Sanders

Kerry only tells half the story about college costs

As part of his litany of George Bush woes, John Kerry cites rising college costs. It’s up dramatically since Bush took office, he says, pricing hundreds of thousands of students out. Kerry cites only the “sticker price” of tuition and fees, however. He’s ignoring that the net price — that’s the sticker price discounted by grant aids and tax benefits — is actually lower now than it was ten years ago.

Oct 21, 2004 · George Leef

Do We Need to Have “Latina/o” Studies Programs?

Last spring, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill established a new minor in “Latina/o Studies.” A recent announcement from UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences proclaims that “The establishment of the new program, beginning this semester, follows recognition of the increasing importance and influence of the rapidly growing number of people in North Carolina and the region who came – or whose ancestors came – from countries in Latin America….”

Oct 20, 2004 · Jon Sanders

Alarm bells ring: Horowitz is coming! Horowitz is coming!

An e-mail sent to faculty at North Carolina State warned against the Pope Center’s upcoming conference on academic freedom, because speaker David Horowitz’s “Academic Bill of Rights” contains “carefully chosen language” that “does not fully expose the agenda behind it.” Fortunately for N.C. State, the professor behind the e-mail did know “the real agenda — imposing political litmus tests on course content.” Ye cats!

Oct 14, 2004 · Shannon Blosser

Pope Center Conference Saturday at N.C. State

RALEIGH – Academic freedom and the rights of students to express their views on different subjects will be among the topics discussed during the annual John W. Pope Center for Higher Education Policy Conference Saturday at the Jane S. McKimmon Center at N.C. State University.