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.

Silliness washing over Duke in Fall 2003

Sep 26, 2003 · Jon Sanders

So far this semester folks at Duke University have been so awash in concerns over racism, sexism, and homophobia, that Duke has risked appearing like a parody of the “politically correct” university.

Why UNC-CH leftists are right to complain about Coulter’s visit

Sep 19, 2003 · Jon Sanders

UNC-CH leftists are incensed about the decision to fund Coulter’s speech. Why should they pay — through their student fees — to support Coulter, whose views they find odious?

In other words, they’re sounding like conservatives, who’ve been objecting to their being made to support leftist causes through student fees for years.

Why it’s so hard to get a sound general education from UNC schools

Sep 12, 2003 · Jon Sanders

Under today’s assumptions, it isn’t enough to teach history. History incorporates things outside the aegis. But “Third World History” and “African American History” (which address racism), “History of Women in America” (which addresses sexism), and “Lesbians in History” (which addresses homophobia) will do.

UNC schools promise strong general education, but do they deliver?

Aug 27, 2003 · George Leef

Suppose that you have dropped your son or daughter off at one of the campuses of the University of North Carolina system. You have plenty to worry about: housing, roommates, clothing, money, and so forth. It’s quite a load.

At the risk of further depressing you, there’s one more thing that you should be worrying about, but probably aren’t. That is the college curriculum.

Office for Civil Rights Trumpets Students’ Rights Over College Codes

Aug 18, 2003 · Jon Sanders

A resounding affirmation of free-speech rights on college campuses was recently made by the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education.

Harmony Remains Elusive, But N.C. State Still Celebrates

Aug 2, 2003 · Jon Sanders

The Division of Student Affairs at North Carolina State University will be “Celebrating Race and Ethnicity” this semester. Really. It has even developed a full slate of programs by which to celebrate these all-important nouns.

Education Dept. ‘further clarifies’ Title IX enforcement

Jul 18, 2003 · Jon Sanders

Several months have passed since a federal commission urged changes to how the government enforces Title IX of the Education of Amendments. Several years have passed since the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights last issued a Clarification of OCR’s policies to determine compliance with the measure. On July 11, in a “Dear Colleague” letter, OCR issued what Gerald Reynolds, assistant secretary for civil rights, termed a “Further Clarification of Intercollegiate Athletics Policy Guidance Regarding Title IX Compliance.”

Court’s squishy language should allow conservatives to join the campus debate

Jul 14, 2003 · Jon Sanders

Conservatives willing to brave the touchy-feely miasma of the Supreme Court’s recent decision of Grutter v. Bollinger, which allows universities to consider race in admissions as an element of diversity, should be heartened by the ruling, flawed as it is. Here’s why.

‘Critical thinking’ often means not questioning your professors

Jun 26, 2003 · Jon Sanders

Next to “diversity,” used as a synonym for discrimination by race, a favorite euphemism at universities today is “critical thinking.” The usual occasions for its use, however, are rather ironic — to stymie rather than stimulate critical thinking.