[BurlyShirley]

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The University of Texas (search) is considering requiring students to study another culture, and some students are upset.
"It absolutely is political correctness gone amok," said Mark Tait, director of internal affairs for the Young Conservatives of Texas (search). Arguing that the University of Texas is already culturally inclusive, Tait said, "Students don't need bureaucracy to tell them to increase and broaden their cultural perspective."

The proposal making Tait mad is one by University President Larry Faulkner, which would require students to spend one semester studying a different culture.

Faulkner said, "That's not just about the principal cultural divisions in the United States; it's even relating to cultural divisions around the world. It's evident to all of us right now that we don't know nearly as much about Islamic culture as we need to know."

The faculty will now debate whether studying other cultures will be mandatory or elective.
LINK

I just get tired of reading crap like this, but what do you guys think?

 

[Tenchiro]

It certainly can't hurt, but forcing it on people is silly.

 

[llkoolkeg]

Burly, if you had only paid attention and passed your sensitivity training class, you would not now be railing against diversity courses!

 

[DHRacer]

you know... if i wanted to learn about another culture, i would... i shouldn't be forced to.

A better idea would be to take EVERY IMMIGRANT (legal or illegal) and MAKE them learn english!!! Then once they've learned english... ship all the illegals back to whence they came!

No more bi-lingual, tri-lingual requirements on job descritions. you come to this country, you learn english. PERIOD! you don't know it, too bad, move back to where you came from.:angry:

 

[RhinofromWA]

Originally posted by DHRacer
No more bi-lingual, tri-lingual requirements on job descritions. you come to this country, you learn english. PERIOD! you don't know it, too bad, move back to where you came from.:angry:

Tough day in apple growing country?

Da Horn

 

[golgiaparatus]

Hmm... If Texas were a country... Austin would be its "California".

 

[MTB_Rob_NC]

Originally posted by DHRacer
you know... if i wanted to learn about another culture, i would... i shouldn't be forced to.

Please explain how YOU or anyone else is being forced to? Damn it why was I forced to learn Calculus? I hate it when they throw the thought of learning out into a college atmosphere.

 

[MTB_Rob_NC]

Originally posted by DHRacer
No more bi-lingual, tri-lingual requirements on job descritions. you come to this country, you learn english. PERIOD! you don't know it, too bad, move back to where you came from.:angry:

Where did the English language come from? I guess all of us that know English should go back some where?

 

[Toshi]

i think this "diversity" class is a lame idea, since i'm 99% certain that their idea of diversity will be less than diverse itself. african history, both factual and fairy tale does not constitute diversity in my book.

 

[Silver]

Mtb_Rob_FL has a good point.

Reminds me of listening to my engineering friends in University bitch about having to take English (the ones bitching had trouble writing a thank you note, by the way...)

Suck it up princess, it won't kill you.

 

[LordOpie]

I thought that's what the mandatory foreign language requirement was for? I thought they taught not just language, but culture as well. At least they did in my spanish classes.

If they really want to make diversity mandatory, make them read news.google.com everyday

 

[RhinofromWA]

Originally posted by LordOpie
I thought that's what the mandatory foreign language requirement was for? I thought they taught not just language, but culture as well. At least they did in my spanish classes.

If they really want to make diversity mandatory, make them read news.google.com everyday

Wearing a Sombrero, drinking Tequila, and dancing on your teachers desk naked does not make you cultured in Spanish class.....



Or was that just my Spanish class? He did give me extra credit....

 

[Skookum]

Good for the school, better yet let's just nuke Texas and be done with it. Evacuate the cattle first of course, i love a juicy Texas steak.

 

[Cooter Brown]

Originally posted by DHRacer
you know... if i wanted to learn about another culture, i would... i shouldn't be forced to.

A better idea would be to take EVERY IMMIGRANT (legal or illegal) and MAKE them learn english!!! Then once they've learned english... ship all the illegals back to whence they came!

No more bi-lingual, tri-lingual requirements on job descritions. you come to this country, you learn english. PERIOD! you don't know it, too bad, move back to where you came from.:angry:

WERD!!

 

[Westy]

For some of the Texans I have met, a course in English or American history would be a lesson on another culture.

 

[BostonBullit]

Originally posted by Mtb_Rob_FL
Please explain how YOU or anyone else is being forced to? Damn it why was I forced to learn Calculus? I hate it when they throw the thought of learning out into a college atmosphere.

What was your major? I know I had to take calc through Differential Equations because I was an EE but the people that majored in drawing (they like it to be called "architecture") didn't. Unless you're a "diversity" major you shouldn't be forced to take a diversity class.

Go rent PCU and watch it, it's where we're headed

 

[Cooter Brown]

Originally posted by BostonBullit
Go rent PCU and watch it, it's where we're headed

PCU?? what's this?

 

[LordOpie]

Originally posted by Cooter Brown
PCU?? what's this?

very funny movie. Jeremy Pivens (?) is great and underrated.

 

[BuddhaRoadkill]

Originally posted by BurlySurly
Mark Tait, director of internal affairs for the Young Conservatives of Texas (search).

Why doesn't Mr Conservative simply use his free-market prerogative and go to a different college instead of whining like a fricken liberal? And why is he living off the welfare state anyway - shouldn't he be at a private college?

It sounds like a good idea to me. Higher education is supposed to be about creating an enlightened citizenry, not just pumping out higher paid bitches. Our universities have turned into glorified vocational schools. Sad no?

 

[BurlyShirley]

Originally posted by BuddhaRoadkill
Why doesn't Mr Conservative simply use his free-market prerogative and go to a different college instead of whining like a fricken liberal? And why is he living off the welfare state anyway - shouldn't he be at a private college?

It sounds like a good idea to me. Higher education is supposed to be about creating an enlightened citizenry, not just pumping out higher paid bitches. Our universities have turned into glorified vocational schools. Sad no?

I wont be going to that college at all, but it still sucks for the people that have to. A "diversity class" IMO doesnt automatically create a more enlightened student, it just forces students to check another box while in school. Its more PC crap. I wish colleges were a little more like vocational schools, personally. That wouldnt be sad at all.

 

[DHRacer]

Originally posted by Mtb_Rob_FL
Please explain how YOU or anyone else is being forced to? Damn it why was I forced to learn Calculus? I hate it when they throw the thought of learning out into a college atmosphere.

well maybe when you were learning calculus, you should have also learned to read... first post in the thread.

and as for your "english speaking" comment... I'll refrain from replying to that, as what I'd like to say to you would probably get me booted from the site, and while some us might have to tolerate your existance here, it's not worth getting banned from the monkey.

 

[911]

If you want a vocational school... then go to one. Universities are supposed to give students a broad based educational background. Most specialized jobs require more specific and technical training after college anyways.

I don’t know when you all went to school… but speaking as someone who currently attends a major university, there are tons of general education requirements students have to take that are of way less “real world value” than a course in cultural diversity. I don’t see why people are so opposed to learning more about different cultures… at a time like this I think it’s probably one of the more valuable things you could study in school.

Anyway, if all you want out of your college experience is to take x number or computer courses and get a degree… then why go to a university? There are penalty of specialized schools that will get you certified in way less time and for a fraction of the cost.

Universities are about broadening and developing yourself as a person so you can enter the world with the knowledge of what interests you, well rounded skills to pursue that interest, and hopefully a better understanding of how the world works, both within and beyond our borders.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Originally posted by 911

Universities are about broadening and developing yourself as a person so you can enter the world with the knowledge of what interests you, well rounded skills to pursue that interest, and hopefully a better understanding of how the world works, both within and beyond our borders.

lame...

There's no way I can do the things I want to do without attending a university. It just cant happen. Other cultures are great and all, but I dont want to be FORCED to study stuff like that when I really could care less. Yes, there are classes I will have to take that I dont care about either, but they most likely arent put there for some PC reason.
If i needed this education for my career, Id take the course. I dont, however.

 

[Cooter Brown]

Originally posted by BurlySurly
lame...

There's no way I can do the things I want to do without attending a university. It just cant happen. Other cultures are great and all, but I dont want to be FORCED to study stuff like that when I really could care less. Yes, there are classes I will have to take that I dont care about either, but they most likely arent put there for some PC reason.
If i needed this education for my career, Id take the course. I dont, however.

zackly!! i really don't give a flying yak shiit about learning about some other culture, if i did, i would go and learn about it by myself. it's just probably the professor of "rabid zimbabwean head dress weaving" wasn't getting the kind of enrollment he needed in his class, got told that that program would be cut and started bitching to the board of directors about some kind of racist, affirmative action bull shiit and now here we are with this assinine proposition that EVERYONE needs to know how to weave a f#cked up head dress in order to compete for jobs on todays market

F#cking moronic

 

[RhinofromWA]

While I think the class is good to have...

I don't think it should be a required course.

Maybe a heavily suggested course but as part of an degree seems like it is force feeding it to the students. English, History, Art, Science, Math are all decent classes for college/university degree. There is a reason there are electives (one chooses to take the class out of a bunch) people can tailor their education to their interests or needs.

I think having the class as an option for a degree is OK.

 

[911]

Originally posted by BurlySurly
There's no way I can do the things I want to do without attending a university. It just cant happen. Other cultures are great and all, but I dont want to be FORCED to study stuff like that when I really could care less. Yes, there are classes I will have to take that I dont care about either, but they most likely arent put there for some PC reason.
If i needed this education for my career, Id take the course. I dont, however.

Just out of curiosity, what are “the things you want to do”?

Anyway, why not protest all general education requirements then? Art, music, film... these all have far less real world value than a global studies or diversity course. Making students expand their horizons ever so slightly isn’t the end of the world. If all a college required of a student is that they finish the courses in their major, I’m not so sure that would be a good thing. No one would take english, writing, math, or anything that didn’t directly coincide with their degree. You’d have a whole lot more myopic people in society… sure they can do engineering, but they can’t write and know nothing of the outside world.

And let’s get realistic for a second. All we’re talking about here is a one semester global studies course. Universities set the number of credits needed for graduation far above the amount of credit you would receive by taking all the courses in your major. What happens is students end up looking for the easiest possible class they can take to kill a few extra credits… stuff like “music in films” which my roommate’s taking right now. Having someone substitute in one class about another culture isn’t the end of the world… and will do more good than harm in my opinion.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Originally posted by 911
Just out of curiosity, what are “the things you want to do”?

The same thing I do right now without a degree, but I wish to get paid more. Governmental PR. Now, granted there are cases that I deal with now that are of cultural significance, however, a general semester long, broad-based class isnt going to teach me anything useful because its impossible to specialize in anything in that amount of time. This class is a 'warm-and-fuzzy' for the bleeding hearts that teaches appreciation. Its nothing more.

 

[911]

So would you advocate a massive restructuring of the university system to make colleges more like high level vocational schools? Do away with all general education and have it be a quick two years and you get a degree type deal.

Or is your problem only with gen-ed's that you deem 'politically correct'?

 

[Toshi]

Originally posted by 911
So would you advocate a massive restructuring of the university system to make colleges more like high level vocational schools? Do away with all general education and have it be a quick two years and you get a degree type deal.

Or is your problem only with gen-ed's that you deem 'politically correct'?

i don't know about burlysurly here, but that last statement is right on. i LOVED taking (music) theory and composition even tho i was a CS major and the class wouldn't even give me core credit. furthermore, i think studying cultures is somewhat fun if fluffy. however, a course on "diversity" per se smacks of being pc, and, as noted in crude form earlier by me and others, would probably just be african history, with maybe some mexican history thrown in too. that does not constitute diversity, and labelling it as such is directly opposed to true diversity of thought imo. whatever that means

(the core being our effort at giving a well rounded education -- english people must take science courses, science people must take history and literature, etc.)

 

[BurlyShirley]

Originally posted by 911
So would you advocate a massive restructuring of the university system to make colleges more like high level vocational schools? Do away with all general education and have it be a quick two years and you get a degree type deal.

Or is your problem only with gen-ed's that you deem 'politically correct'?

Its mainly just the PC nature of it that gets me, but let me adress the other part as well:

I think that some of the stuff you have to take at university is valid. Though, alot of it is just fluff. I mean, there are people who care nothing about music or art, and having to "culture yourself" in such an area is really impossible if the people dont even care. Now, lets say my major were english for example though: I still think that having to learn a bit of biology, mathematics are pretty key and are useful in daily life. The cultures of art, music, and other areas i think arent worth nearly as much to some and therefore shouldnt be required.

 

[RhinofromWA]

The panel is debating if the course should be required or an elective.

I say elective. By all means have the course. Don't require it for the degree, make it an option to choose from for the degree.

At Central WA Univ we had 'core' courses ENG101, Math101, etc. but then you had Arts as an elective. You have a bunch of courses you could choose (I choose drawing) that could fullfill that art requirement.

That is all they need make it an option for a degree selection. But how far is History of the middle ages away from "studying a different culture" Should it be a History elective?

What about a person who is from the cultures that are being studied? Make him study European culture appreciation? I know that was an assumption but if you are studying other cultures which one is left out? Maybe Islamic students in the US should take a "Western civilization is Great" class too.

 

[DHRacer]

Originally posted by 911
So would you advocate a massive restructuring of the university system to make colleges more like high level vocational schools? Do away with all general education and have it be a quick two years and you get a degree type deal.

Or is your problem only with gen-ed's that you deem 'politically correct'?

You're one of those bleeding-heart-liberals, aren't you?

young, naive, doesn't know any better?

 

[911]

Originally posted by DHRacer
You're one of those bleeding-heart-liberals, aren't you?

young, naive, doesn't know any better?

You're one of those narrow-minded conservatives, aren't you?

stubborn, old fashion, unable to think outside the box?

...and my heart's just fine, thank you.

 

[911]

I’ll summarize for the last time… I agree that some gen-eds shouldn’t be required, but I also think that getting a broad based education and exploring more than one subject is really what universities are about. Universities don’t train you specifically for a career, they’re not vocational schools. Most jobs require, more specialized training or schooling after college anyway. Employers expect you to come out of college with a broad set of developed skills that they can then shape according to your profession.

I think a lot of this also depends on what we mean by a “diversity class”. If we’re talking about something like “African basket weaving” or even some cursory “cultures of the world” type course than I agree, that’s a waist of time. But if it’s a serious, college-level global studies class, an in-depth look at middle eastern politics for example, than I see a lot of contemporary relevance to that and don’t think it would be a bad idea to make it part of a school’s core curriculum.

 

[ito]

A lot of schools are starting to have a core curriculum set at creating a more rounded individual. At my school that means some sort of business/economics, fine arts, english, foreign language, cultural studies, math, religion(we are a Jesuit Uni), and some other stuff that many of you on here would consider fluff. A "diversity" course we don't have, but when taking the core classes many of them dip into what would be considered foreign studies. You can study purely American issues and courses if you want, but it also opens up the area to international politics, native american studies, middle eastern art, all sorts of religions, even business classes that deal with other cultures. Basically unless you are truly against learning about a culture other than your own you'll be taking courses that introduce you to other cultures.

I'm not sure what a "diversity" class involves, but adding a global studies or something similar to the core isn't going to hurt anyone. Maybe it's the fact that I enjoy the diversity of the core requirements and used to the requirements of a liberal college, but I fail to see the problem.

PC or not, there is a reason for classes like these. Universities are different from vocational schools, they are for teaching the whole person, not just sending you off into a field to work. The purpose of the class is to motivate thought and discussion.

The Ito

 

[911]

Originally posted by ito
A lot of schools are starting to have a core curriculum set at creating a more rounded individual. At my school that means some sort of business/economics, fine arts, english, foreign language, cultural studies, math, religion(we are a Jesuit Uni), and some other stuff that many of you on here would consider fluff. A "diversity" course we don't have, but when taking the core classes many of them dip into what would be considered foreign studies. You can study purely American issues and courses if you want, but it also opens up the area to international politics, native american studies, middle eastern art, all sorts of religions, even business classes that deal with other cultures. Basically unless you are truly against learning about a culture other than your own you'll be taking courses that introduce you to other cultures.

I'm not sure what a "diversity" class involves, but adding a global studies or something similar to the core isn't going to hurt anyone. Maybe it's the fact that I enjoy the diversity of the core requirements and used to the requirements of a liberal college, but I fail to see the problem.

PC or not, there is a reason for classes like these. Universities are different from vocational schools, they are for teaching the whole person, not just sending you off into a field to work. The purpose of the class is to motivate thought and discussion.

Finally... someone who "get's it".

 

[RhinofromWA]

Originally posted by 911
You're one of those narrow-minded conservatives, aren't you?

stubborn, old fashion, unable to think outside the box?

...and my heart's just fine, thank you.

It is funny how Stubborn, Old fashion, and unable to think outside of the box isn't solely a conservative trait....

Seems liberals pride themselves on being independent thinkers, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER liberal. How far does one think outside the box when in reality their own group box is shifted and they are still in their own box....I can draw you a diagram later. If you are having a hard time thinking outside the box.

They don't seem to able to change from their parties direction (stubborn?)

Seems being liberal isn't a new thing, how are they "new fashion"

So see you aren't that different after all..........

Come one everyone join hands and sing!

 

[valve bouncer]

Originally posted by 911
You're one of those narrow-minded conservatives, aren't you?

stubborn, old fashion, unable to think outside the box?

...and my heart's just fine, thank you.

Touche

 

[911]

Originally posted by RhinofromWA
It is funny how Stubborn, Old fashion, and unable to think outside of the box isn't solely a conservative trait....

Yeah I know... I completely agree with all this. It was just a play on DHRacer's post.

But you could say the same for DHRacer... "young, naive, doesn't know any better" is just as stereotypical and could apply just as easily to conservatives. It's all the same.

 

[Joe Pozer]

Originally posted by 911
Yeah I know... I completely agree with all this. It was just a play on DHRacer's post.

But you could say the same for DHRacer... "young, naive, doesn't know any better" is just as stereotypical and could apply just as easily to conservatives. It's all the same.

To be young and still a college student. It's amazing how a few years out of college will completely destroy the idealistic view of the world.