Academics

Future leaders in business, government, and civil society need more than just job skills. The following articles defend the value of liberal education, with a focus on academic quality and rigor, fundamental knowledge, and the ideas that have shaped Western Civilization. They also scrutinize academic programs that have departed from these ideals in the name of progressive ideology.

The Top 10 Nuttiest Campus Events in N.C. for 2003

Dec 31, 2003 · Jon Sanders

Among the highlights: When “Free Expression” isn’t; UNC seeks more illegal immigrants and others from out-of-state; crazy rape stats aplenty; another terrorist speaker; a “diversity czar”; a self-stated friend of terrorists seeking to shut up a newspaper; a professor fired for a tolerance demonstration gone awry; and two UNC schools find the idea of student groups keeping membership and leadership reserved for students who agree with the ideas of the group unconscionable.

UNCW faculty accuse College Republicans of fighting for right to discriminate

· Jon Sanders

On Nov. 10, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington derecognized the student group the College Republicans. The university took the extreme measure — which involves freezing its funds and disallowing its use of campus facilities — because the CRs refused to add to its constitution the nondiscrimination clause the university requires. The university has also turned down a conservative student group’s application for registration for the same reason.

At issue are two nondiscrimination clauses that the Student Organization Committee requires to be in student groups’ constitutions.

Bark! the ‘Germanic language’ rings — in this bizarre UNC-CH course

Dec 16, 2003 · Jon Sanders

Since 1997 I have written the “Course of the Month” column for Carolina Journal to highlight courses in North Carolina universities that feature “overt political content, rabid infatuation with pop culture or sexuality, [or] abject silliness.” In the seven years I have been running this feature, this course has to be the most absurd course I have ever encountered.

“EC” abortion advocates encourage dangerous, irresponsible behavior at UNC-Chapel Hill

Nov 18, 2003 · Jon Sanders

Abortion advocates were promoting “safe” sex as part of an October awareness week at UNC-CH. This involved “barhopping on Franklin Street passing out condoms and dental dams to unsuspecting patrons.” In other words, to celebrate emergency contraception week, abortion advocates actively encouraged drunk people to go have sex.

Oops! Congressional “mistake” prompts NIH review

Nov 7, 2003 · Jon Sanders

A mistake by a Congressional staff member ignited a review of research projects approved by the National Institutes of Health. But despite what U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) called “scientific McCarthyism,” it turned out Congress had not declared war on the NIH approval process.

Modest proposals from NCSU profs to work diversity into technical courses

Oct 31, 2003 · Jon Sanders

North Carolina State University has a new “diversity czar.” This new czar “said professors should integrate diversity into the classroom of every discipline, no matter how technical.”

UNC-Chapel Hill officials warn of “brain drain” — again

Oct 24, 2003 · Jon Sanders

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill officials are once again voicing concerns over faculty retention. The “brain drain” concern is that other universities are “raiding” UNC-CH faculty with greater salary offers. UNC-CH officials say the university lost 53 professors to “raids” last year.