Ethnic-studies divisions across U.S. working to defend their discipline

[intheflow]

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E53%257E2722200,00.html

Denver Post

Ethnic-studies professors and deans nationwide are feeling that they are under a microscope as the scholarship and background of University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill are scrutinized across the country.

(snip)

"The epistemological nadir of any university is found in the wacky world of ethnic and gender studies: black studies, Africana studies, Chicano studies, Latino studies, Puerto Rican studies, Middle Eastern studies, Native American studies, women's studies, gay and lesbian studies, et al.," wrote columnist Mark Goldblatt in the Feb. 9 online edition of the conservative magazine The National Review. "The suggestion that 'studying' is involved in any of these subjects is laughable."

(snip)

"Because these programs were born out of political controversy - out of the civil rights movement - there is more scrutiny," said Nunez- Janes. "But it seems like a double standard that the actions of one professor reflect on all ethnic-studies programs. If a math professor does something controversial, does it reflect on all math departments?

(snip)

[LinuxInsurgent]

1. part and parcel...

of the Horowitz brand of right-wing witchhunting of liberal professors.

A reminder to the right-wingers, we people of color are here, and we wish to preserve and learn about our own cultures. We will not assimilate...and resistance is NOT futile.

Get over yourselves...because we are the WORLD MAJORITY.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Of course we're going to see this sort of thing...

These programs have been under fire for years, and Churchill just gives them more ammo.

Don't actually discuss the value of these programs, which does deserve some discussion, but just expand the polemic.

[intheflow]

3. The article mentions the value of the programs.

(snip)

Ethnic studies blossomed on U.S. college campuses in the protest years of the late 1960s and the early 1970s with the emergence of African-American studies and Chicano-American studies, Munoz said. Soon after, Native American and Asian-American programs sprouted.

Ethnic-studies programs were formed to incorporate all the disciplines under one roof.

"There was a feeling by blacks, Chicanos and Native Americans that their role in American history had not been understood and accounted for, that universities taught Renaissance history and revolutionary history - and that was all well and good - but they needed to pay attention to the history of people of color," Starn said.

(snip)

"I took a course called 'Chicana Feminisms and Knowledge' to satisfy that requirement, and the course was very enlightening, bringing up issues and uncovering history that I had never considered before," said Levi Darrell, a CU arts and sciences student. "Rather than inspiring hatred, they teach students by example how important it is to practice goodwill and solidarity."

(snip)

[TreasonousBastard]

5. The article may mention it...

and they certainly have some value.

But, The forces against this sort of thing are not about to go away anytime soon.

[Robert Oak]

4. wtf is this about?

If it weren't for "woman's studies" I would have never found out
about Emilie du Châtelet (she intrepeted Newton's works and plus) that really are still buried out there. If it weren't for "black studies" I doubt I would have ever
read Malcolm X's autobiography...if it weren't for "gay studies" I doubt
I would have been aware of Alan Turing, probably one of the most brilliant scientists of our time, prosecuted for having a trist and he committed suicide...

There are so many figures who had enormous contributions that are written out of "WASP approved" history.