Gender segregated classrooms in US? Sure - for the Saudis....(Colson)

[The Straight Story]

Who Is Becoming Like Whom?
The Saudis Get a Pass . . . Again

August 26, 2005

A key goal in the war on terrorism is the promotion of democracy and pluralism in the Islamic world. It’s expected that these Western ideals will cripple radical Islam by reducing the number of potential terrorist recruits, and by making the Middle East more like the West.

Apparently, someone in Blacksburg, Virginia, didn’t get the word.

Blacksburg is home to Virginia Tech, Virginia’s largest public university. This past summer, Virginia Tech was paid $246,000 to host a program in “faculty development” for King Abdul-Aziz University in Saudi Arabia.

Such arrangements aren’t unusual, but what was unusual was the Saudis’ request that the classes be gender-segregated. University officials said that the Saudis wanted the courses to “mirror classroom settings at their home institution.”

As one Virginia Tech spokesman put it, the university “chose to respect the Saudi culture ‘rather than impress our culture on them.’” Well, that explanation did not go down well with Tech faculty members. One professor even filed a grievance. Virginia Tech’s provost issued an apology-of-sorts and called the flap a “learning moment” that will guide Tech’s future actions.

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[Nobody]

1. I just gotta say this:

GIRL GERMS!!!!!!

[LiberalVoice]

3. Coooooties!

Or however the hell you spell it.

[LiberalVoice]

2. "chose to respect the Saudi culture"

lmao at this asshat. I'm sure what he really meant to say was "chose to respect the $246,000 that crazy a-rab mother fucker paid me to be his bitch" :eyes:

[gatorboy]

5. On the agenda for respecting Saudi culture tomorrow?

Public decapitations for tardiness.

[funflower]

4. I didn't know Chuck Colson was a feminist....

Is it possible I'm about to agree with him about something?

:crazy:

[wli]

6. soon to be mandatory all over the US if the fundies get their way n/t

[Nobody]

7. On a much more serious note

Ever notice how the only times when America (tm) respects other cultures is when it gives a free pass on running roughshod over human rights? Yes, human rights involve all humans, not just the males.

I will respect your right to worship whatever you want, celebrate whatever holidays and rites of passage you want, raise your children your own way, entertain yourselves however you want, but I draw a line.

I draw a line at forcing 15 girls back into a burning building because they didn't have their heads covered. Those girls died. (Saudi Arabia a few years ago)

I certainly draw a line at genital mutilation. For both sexes. EWWWWWW! Not only does the idea of it make me wince, but it's unhealthy, interferes with natural bodily functions, and results in constant pain for those who undergo it. Some practices do need to be eliminated, and this is one of them. (This is not just Saudi Arabia, but several other countries and did NOT originate with Islam)

As for adjusting our own teaching environment to fit the Saudi environment, didn't they insist on our women soldiers to adhere to their dress code when they were there for Operation Desert Shield/Storm? Especially considering that abayas were not the best things to be wearing when trying to do your job as a soldier.