The Rebirth of McCarthyism

*More classic fairy from the Internet Archives – originally posted Jan 22, 2004.

Think back to your American History class, do you remember McCarthyism. Most probably have some passing familiarity with that period, but as is often the case we have forgotten the lessons of the past.
If the College Republicans at the University of Colorado have their way, we will enter a new era of McCarthyism. But this time, the Republicans have picked a new enemy – liberals. I don’t even know what to say other than how absurd it is. If College Democrats did the same, they would be vilified by EVERY major media outlet.
This started me thinking back about my own college experience. I attended a pretty standard university, and in all honesty I could count the number of liberal professors that I had on one hand – conversely I would need a calculator to count the number of conservative professors. Equally, those liberal professors never used the classroom as a platform for their beliefs – they always presented both sides. The conservative professors on the other hand were always clear on their beliefs. I can remember a chemistry professor that disparaged women, gays, and minorities – what that had to do with Organic Chemistry is still beyond me. I had a professor in Sociology that disparaged poor people, feminists, and non-Christians all under the guise of teaching Demographic theory. Another that referred to a noted author as a stupid fa**ot. Yet another who made disparaging comments towards me due to my advisor (she [the advisor] had lodged a sexual harassment grievance against him). Yet another that decided I wasn’t worthy of the ‘A’ I had earned because I tutored a minority student who otherwise would have failed (I got a ‘B’ and before I could even get the paperwork submitted to appeal he had “lost” all of my graded work).
Are their liberal professors out there that use their class as a platform for their ideas – I’m sure that there are several, but let me teach a quick little lesson in registration. If you disagree with their curriculum take the class under another professor – I learned that lesson in dealing with professors that would rather spit on me than teach me as have most college students.
But, alas, let me give one last little nugget from my experience. I have been a part of several higher education institutions now, as both student and staff. The one thing that has been true at all – conservatives were more likely to be promoted, tenured, and receive “merit” pay raises – many were the same people that take 3 hour lunches and do little of nothing as I referred to in another post, but that’s my take on it.

Tags: , , , ,

Thursday, January 22nd, 2004 Classic Fairy, Politics

No comments yet.

Leave a comment