These Humanities-majoring students are not happy. The classical Humanities curriculum "focuses on Western ideas and history, in part through the teachings of philosophers like Plato and Aristotle. According to the students this doesn't cut it because 'we are at a time when a broader understanding of world is vital.' They are in the middle of a seven-day sit in; and are demanding an overhaul to the curriculum, and the resignation of the college dean. They say they expected the Humanities program to promote critical thinking and expected a commitment to social justice. Instead they got a focus that is too rigid and limiting. Zeena Rivera, one of the students in the sit-in, wants to know when she will get to start reading authors from China, Africa and South America. The Seattle University President Steven Sundborg said that the students have raised serious concerns. He said, "I cannot pretend to know how deep their pain goes, the amount of harm it has caused or the extent of our own shortcomings as education and administrators". The study of too many dead white men is just too traumatizing for the Humanities majors; and is causing them irreparable harm and pain. LOL
Nothing keeps these victims of the white washing of America from going to the library and checking out a book that is not required for their class. Who knows, maybe that will inspire them to stay in college until they are 40 pursuing a PHD in Chinese-African poetry.
The philosophies of these places, China, Africa, ect... were destroyed. It's called colonialism, and the west eradicated their cultures. Their philosophies are dead, it was dedicated, systematic eradication.
His sarcastic response is very unbecoming of his position, I'd side with the students based just on this. If they have a good reason for their narrow focus he should at least voice it. The world is changing fast and I don't believe Universities and schools are always able to keep up, I think the students made a valid request, the curriculum does seem a bit narrow and could perhaps be updated to include other philosophers to offer the students a broader world view. Personally I would find a wider range of philosophers more interesting too.
This is the typical ' Great Books of the Western World' debate. One problem is hiring the right professor to teach African and Asian philosophy and literature and finding a his salary in the budget.
I like how any time this happens one of their demands if for the immediate resignation of the Dean. If these idiots knew anything they would know that its the professor that picks which topics and sources he covers. It's both scary and interesting to see fascism on the rise among the Millenials and the blame goes entirely on liberals who for decades spouted this racist nonsense. Who the (*)(*)(*)(*) cares what skin color some philosopher had way back then......oh that's right only racists care.
No, they didn't make a valid request. Their first demand was for the resignation of the Dean. Not a "Here's an idea, can we discuss it?" No the little fascist and racist pricks immediately demand someone get fired even though that person doesn't choose what is covered in the classroom. Professor's choose which authors to look at and read about in their classes. More than a couple of my poli sci classes even asked for suggestions if anyone found anything interesting they wanted others to read.
So, then Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics will get "special" acknowledgement. Meanwhile my beloved Polish people just get neglected from all sides.
The university seems to have some good choices for them: Asian Studies, Chinese (minor), Global African Studies (minor).
They don't want to have to memorize anything. It is easier to talk and write about justice and philosophy than to memorize historical facts.
Here's more: http://dailycaller.com/2016/06/02/seattle-u-dean-forced-out-by-three-week-office-occupation/ DailyCaller Daily Caller News Foundation Seattle U Dean Forced Out By Three-Week Office Occupation Photo of Blake Neff BLAKE NEFF Reporter 3:55 PM 06/02/2016 03 03 Share A dean at Seattle University has been placed on leave by school administrators, becoming the victim of a three-week occupation of her office by student activists. Students at Matteo Ricci College (a school at the university focused on liberal arts and the Western canon) first began occupying the college’s front office three weeks ago, demanding that the school acquiesce to a list of ambitious demands. Many of these demands dealt with the school’s curriculum, which they denounced as full of “dead white dudes” and in dire need of racial and sexual diversification. But the activists, who dubbed themselves the MRC Student Coalition, demanded more than just academic changes: The occupiers also said they would not end their sit-in until Kelly either resigned or was fired. They offered a variety of justifications for this demand, but one incident in particular captured media attention. One of the occupiers complained that in 2015, while visiting Kelly’s office, Kelly had recommended she read “(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*),” the autobiography of civil rights activist Dick Gregory. Kelly apparently said the book’s title multiple times when recommending the book, which left the student so mentally traumatized she had to skip class. Dick Gregory himself wrote an essay last week telling students to stop savaging Kelly, and many others stepped forward to defend her as well. Activists refused to back down and the occupation continued seemingly without end. (RELATED: Promises Of Arrest Quickly End Ohio State Occupation) For three weeks, the school stood up to the protesters, with President Stephen Sundborg saying the school was willing to look at its curriculum, but that demanding Kelly get ousted was simply unacceptable. Now, though, Sundborg has completely changed his position, announcing Wednesday that Kelly was being suspended while the school investigated a variety of alleged offenses. “Interim Provost Dullea indicated he took this step based on information that came forward over the past several weeks and his belief that successful operations of the college at this time require Dean Kelly step away from day-to-day management and oversight,” Sundborg wrote in a statement to the school community. It’s unclear what new “information” caused administrators to suddenly turn on Kelly after weeks spent defending her. Sundborg also offered strong praise for the activists he had spent weeks pushing back against. “Social justice—a cornerstone of our Jesuit education—is necessarily messy and unpleasant at times,” he said. “We invite our students to be engaged citizens and to seek equitable and just solutions—and should not feel discomfited when they do. Seattle University will be a better university as we move forward because of our students’ willingness to take a stand they believe in passionately.” MRC wasted no time in celebrating its triumph over the administration. “This is a win,” the group said in a statement on Facebook. They vowed that this victory was only the beginning of their work, though. “We are encouraged to see movement in the right direction, but there remains much more work to be done,” MRC said. “The challenging and creative work of reimagining culture and curriculum can now begin.” Follow Blake on Twitter Send tips to blake@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Tags: Seattle, Seattle University, Washington Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2016/06/02/s...y-three-week-office-occupation/#ixzz4ASdExts1
