Biases are natural; stifling them is not
Everybody, from the media to UCLA, is giving this whole
“Dirty Thirty” ordeal excessive attention. All of this
publicity is only really benefitting Andrew Jones. As UCLA
students, staff and faculty, we should not waste our precious time
worrying about Jones’ scare tactics. History will repeat
itself. Jones will fall like Joseph McCarthy because people will
eventually realize how nonsensical it all is.
Everybody has biases. No matter how hard people try to
neutralize them, biases always have a way of reemerging. Biases
reflect the way we see the world. They make us unique
individuals.
As long as professors respect alternative perspectives when it
comes to debate, discussion and grading, they should be given the
space to freely express themselves in class ““ even if their
expressions take a political form.
Arturo Perez Graduate student, urban planning and
architecture
Courage needed to stand up to liberals
I am so happy to hear that someone finally has the courage to
stand up and expose those biased left-wing liberal nut professors!
The liberal bias is not only happening in our colleges, it’s
happening everywhere: our public schools, our government, and
especially in the press. They are so left-sided that any other form
of thinking is rarely heard of.
I have a daughter who in less than six years will be going to
college, and I don’t want her to be taught what a left-wing
professor thinks should be taught. I am behind Jones 100
percent.
Joanna Patron Pena
Professors will last; “˜Dirty Thirty’
won’t
At first I was shocked to read that a bunch of McCarthy wannabes
were offering to pay students to collect dirt on free-thinking
professors who dare to articulate their views in an academic
environment.
On further reflection, however, I find the whole thing amusing.
The so-called “Bruin Alumni Association” appears to be
a small group of mean-spirited individuals whose feeble efforts to
suppress the open exchange of ideas will soon fade from the
spotlight. The professors they are targeting, on the other hand,
will continue to write and lecture long after the “Alumni
Association” has spent its last dollar.
Hugh Brooks UCLA alumnus
Freedom of speech not the real issue
As a conservative I had to chuckle while watching the news. In
the ’70s I had to struggle through UC San Diego as a history
student. At that time it seemed like nearly all the professors were
communists in the social science department. The only question was
what type.
The network news framed the story as a question of freedom of
speech issue for professors. Give me strength. The poor
darlings.
Is there a group like yours at UCSD?
Roger Hayes Retired Lt. Col., U.S. Marine
Corps
Rid classrooms of all the opinions
Though I’m in agreement with his goal of cleansing the
classrooms of extraneous political content, I don’t think
Jones has gone nearly far enough to accomplish that end.
If we follow the creed of modern American conservative Barry
Goldwater and concur with him that extremism in the defense of
liberty is no vice, then moderation in the defense of liberty is a
vice.
Therefore, I believe that moderate viewpoints must be cleansed
from the classroom as well. And while we’re at it,
conservative perspectives must disappear; besides, in the
give-and-take of intellectual debate, right-wing opinions can
easily give rise to its opposite, left-wing opinion, so better safe
than sorry.
But we shouldn’t stop there: Theories and facts can be
extrapolated and construed to present a case for anything,
including radical viewpoints of both varieties, so it might be
better to strip the classroom of those items as well.
Now it might seem to some that I am advocating a discourse which
will be divested of absolutely everything, but this is certainly
not the case. We can always watch TV or listen to music ““
that is, if the images and lyrics are thoroughly cleansed of
anything resembling an opinion or a viewpoint.
Rob Sullivan Third-year, philosophy
Methods are stale; fresh tactics needed
I appreciate the Daily Bruin Editorial Board’s thoughtful
treatment of the UCLAProfs.com Web site (“Ignoring Web site
will dispel its clout,” Jan. 20). But Jones’ methods
are not isolated. I refer to Students for Academic Freedom, the
so-called Academic Bill of Rights, and similar conservative causes.
Mao only knows what David Horowitz has a hand in lately.
Jones has a minor gift for creating simple variations on
borrowed themes. How droll. Anyone for an “affirmative action
bake sale?” Young conservatives: how about some fresh
tactics? Some ideas that aren’t pre-approved by your
elders?
Leave the public stunts to Michael Moore: He’s better at
them by far. As for classroom surveillance, how would your dream
schools fare in the market? I hope we never find out.
Chris Anderson Graduate student, information
studies
More needs to be done about scandal
It is far too late to ignore the despicable Internet campaign by
Jones to root out and purge “radical” professors from
UCLA’s faculty as the Daily Bruin Editorial Board
suggests.
Reuters has picked up the story and it has already made national
headlines. Two members of the advisory board for Jones’ group
have already resigned. Jones’ campaign to record and publish
professors’ lectures is a clear violation of copyright law
and of school policy.
Chancellor Albert Carnesale ought to do more than send Jones a
letter. This is a major scandal and an embarrassment to our
school’s great name.
Mike Bitondo UCLA alumnus, former Daily Bruin
columnist
“˜Dirty Thirty’ can be a good
fundraiser
In class, my students and I discussed the program implemented by
the Bruin Alumni Association where students may collect a $100
bounty ($50 bonus for documentation) by reporting faculty who use
the lectern to express personal views. Frankly, we are somewhat
jealous and wish to inquire as to how we might implement a similar
program here at Louisiana State University.
We appreciate your concerns regarding freedom of expression. For
the moment, we are unprepared to join the debate.
You may be aware that we experienced an unusually robust
hurricane season this year. Most of us have a renewed interest in
“high ground,” but there is little incentive to wile
away our time occupying it. No, we see the program as an
opportunity for fundraising for some folks in real need.
Once we have a similar program in place, I will make one
outlandish proclamation per lecture. My students, in turn, will
document these statements and report them. The student will keep a
third of the bounty to offset the rising costs of higher education
and donate the remainder to a hurricane relief fund. Should it be
published, we then have the opportunity for a copyright lawsuit
““ another fundraiser.
Gary Breitenbeck LSU professor