AP: UNC Faculty Decry Western Cultures Program

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050303/ap_on_re_us/unc_foundation


UNC Faculty Decry Western Cultures Program

Thu Mar 3, 9:24 AM ET (AP)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - More than 70 faculty members at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are demanding that administrators stop negotiations with a foundation that wants to create a Western cultures program at the school.



Chancellor James Moeser said he believes many faculty members are wary of the proposal simply because of the John William Pope Foundation's conservative values.

"It will be a major enhancement of our offerings in Western civilizations," he said Wednesday. "And it won't be done at the expense of any other program."

The proposed program would include an academic minor in Western cultures, new honors courses, freshman seminars, undergraduate research awards and study abroad scholarships. The foundation gave the university $25,000 to study the proposal and has said it could donate up to $700,000 a year to fund it initially.

Faculty members complained in a letter to administrators that they have not been adequately involved in the discussions.

Sue Estroff, professor of social medicine and former faculty chairwoman, said a recent curriculum revision revealed no need for more emphasis in Western studies. "Are we for sale, and if so, what for, and if not, what are the guidelines?" she asked.

Foundation President Art Pope has said the proposal is not an attempt to influence the university's curriculum.

"We're not going to let a handful of left-wing faculty stop the students from benefiting from the program," he said.

Maybe move to general discussion?

Historical Significance of Chicken-Fried Steak and West Coast Choppers, and Their Implications in Faith-Based Lowriders

(sorry, couldn't resist)

Just trying to be politically correct!

Perhaps I'll tackle:
Findings Regarding Biological and Psychological Implications of Being A Redneck, Having a red neck, or being named Ned Reck.

The other programs were created to give a nod the majority of the human race--who aren't Dead White Guys. (No offense to the Dead White Guys--Shakespeare, Chaucer, etc. did some good work...)

Since the "benefactor" mentions left-wing faculty, the bias is plain.

______________________

* Of course, a good bit of "Western" civilization came through Muslim culture. The Muslims, in fact, had a very rich civilization on the farthest-West peninsula of the European sub-continent when much of Europe was barbarian. Bet these details won't be mentioned....

(edited for spellcheck)

the "Western Culture" curriculum. Well, maybe if them ther' Injuns is gettin a whoopin' by the cavalry. :crazy:

I heard on c-span today...from a caller.. GAWD GAVE us the USA..
So the "injns" were just "place-holders" until we got here :P

One cannot separate Western culture from the 1400s forward from the bloody history of imperialism and subjugation.

maybe Martin Mull can be a guest lecturer!