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发帖数: 29846 | 1 'Male' and 'Female' OK: Citing Free Speech Concerns, Washington State
University Revises Syllabi
By Mark Judge | September 1, 2015 | 3:48 PM EDT
As classes are beginning for a new school year, Washington State University
is revising several class syllabi due to concerns over free speech.
"Over the weekend, we became aware that some faculty members, in the
interest of fostering a constructive climate for discussion, included
language in class syllabi that has been interpreted as abridging students’
free speech rights," WSU Interim President Daniel J. Bernardo said August 31
. "We are working with these faculty members to clarify, and in some cases
modify, course policies to ensure that students’ free speech rights are
recognized and protected.”
Several professors at Washington State University had course guides advising
incoming students to avoid certain terms.
Professor Selena Lester Breikss teaches “Women & Popular Culture” at WSU.
On her syllabus she informs students that they risk failing if they use “
oppressive and hateful language” – such as “referring to women/men as
females or males”:
Use of racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, classist, or
generally offensive language in class or submission of such material will
not be tolerated. (This includes “The Man,” “Colored People,” “Illegals
/Illegal Aliens,” “Tranny” and so on - or referring to women/men as
females or males) If I see it or hear it, I will correct it in class since
it can be a learning moment for many students. Repeated use of oppressive
and hateful language will be handled accordingly – including but not
limited to removal from the class without attendance or participation points
, failure of the assignment, and - in extreme cases - failure for the
semester.
The final project for “Women & Popular Culture” is called “Cultural
Jamming.” It involves both a paper and creating an advertisement: “Culture
Jamming was originated by guerilla anti-consumerist social movements to
call attention to the social, political, economic, and cultural costs of
conspicuous consumption and unfettered capitalism.”
Professor John Steamas teaches “Introduction to Multicultural Literature”
at WSU. “Reflect your grasp of history and social relations by respecting
shy and quiet classmates and by deferring to the experiences of people of
color,” the course outline says.
In “Introduction to Comparative Ethnic Studies,” students would have their
grade on a paper lowered one point for each use of the terms “illegal
aliens” and illegals.”
In Michael Johnson Jr.’s “Race and Racism in U.S. Popular Culture” class
students are required to “acknowledge” existence of various oppressions,
including “heterosexism.”
"No student will have points docked merely as a result of using terms that
may be deemed offensive to some,” said President Bernardo. “Blanket
restriction of the use of certain terms is not consistent with the values
upon which this university is founded." |
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