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Tag Archives: University of Missouri

Eric Greitens and the conservative agenda in higher education

22 Wednesday Feb 2017

Posted by willykay in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Board of Curators, David Horowitz, Eric Greitens., higher education, Intellectual diversity, Jamie Farmer, Jay Layman, missouri, University of Missouri

Eric “The Kid” Greitens may be gunning for MU. A couple of weeks ago Missouri’s new, young Governor took out his budget spleen on Missouri’s higher education system, hitting already lean institutions with the loss of a considerable amount of state support – while planning even more of the corporate and higher bracket income cuts responsible for the budget shortfall that prompted the cuts in the first place. Recently he announced the appointment of three new members to the University of Missouri Board of Curators, two of whom come from the business community. In his comments he remarked that higher education needed to be “improved,” specifically by encouraging “more intellectual diversity,” and bringing “real world experience to the table.”

These three facts, budget cuts, loading the university governing structure with business people, and pointedly stressing “intellectual diversity” – shorthand in rightwing circles for inculcating conservative viewpoints in higher education – reflect the influence of both the shadowy and the more overt conservative supporters of Kid Greitens, the folks he needs to please if he expects them to fund his future presidential aspirations.

Intellectual Diversity: While intellectual diversity in academia is an admirable value, the phrase itself has taken on a life of its own in conservative circles. Most notably, it has been popularized in rightwing circles by the reprehensible bigot and conservative provocateur, David Horowitz – who is funded by the Scaife family foundations, the Koch brothers’ DonorsTrust, and the Bradley Foundation, all of which, according to Jane Meyer in her book, Dark Money, have attempted to establish conservative beachheads in American universities. Horowitz has used the term to justify witch-hunts to eliminate what he deems undue leftist influence on campus as well as his demands for what amounts to affirmative action for conservative academics in humanities and social sciences faculties.

In the mouth of Kid Greitens, recipient of over two million dollars of that same “dark money,” likely from one or the other of the same spigots that fund folks like Horowitz, the phrase should raise the hackles of all fair-minded advocates for higher education. Responsible apologists for conservative thought such as Mark Lilla have noted that the “hysteria” whipped up by the intellectual McCarthyism of those like Horowitz who agitate for one-sided “intellectual diversity” contributes “to the dumbing down” of higher education.

Market-based educational priorities: At least two of the appointees to the Board of Curators are drawn from the business world.  Jeff Layman, who was also the finance chair for the Greitens campaign, is a senior vice-president at Morgan Stanley. Jamie Farmer runs a company that supplies materials for fracking operations. Both supported Eric Greitens’ campaign financially, and it’s safe to assume that they’re hunky-dory with his intimation that he wants to introduce “intellectual diversity” to the University, very likely to the detriment of the more traditional understanding of diversity, intellectual or otherwise.

It is also likely that, as at other institutions with governing boards that are top heavy with business types, they will try to move the University into more of a supporting role for business and corporate interests, giving priority  to the training of engineers, accountants and other cogs of industry – and, incidentally, to disciplines where the dreaded “liberal bias” is less pronounced.

Another goal may be to decrease the institutional control of faculty and administrators who are viewed as untrustworthy by many wealthy conservatives. Greg Lewis at The Century Foundation  observes that public universities are now predominantly governed by boards that skew toward businessmen and women who are often at odds with the values of the institutions they oversee. He claims that their approach fails to “reflect the broad diversity of fields and experiences at public institutions,” and instead emphasize decision-making that is hasty, top-down, often uninformed and reflecting market-driven rather than intellectual priorities.

Cracking the Budget Whip: So it seems that Greitens has hinted at his goals for MU: “intellectual diversity” that emphasizes conservative philosophy and values, the elevation of intellectually neutral, technical disciplines, and the devaluing of more traditionally liberal areas such as humanities and social sciences. His appointees to the board seem likely to find these goals simpatico. He only needs one more thing to facilitate the type of change he seems to be promising to initiate: a crisis.

Budget cuts can be just such a crisis. Lack of funds decreases options and makes institutions more open to rapid change. Fear of even more budget cuts are also effective when it comes to whipping recalcitrant administrators into shape. And finally, scarce state resources opens the door to conservative donors who have long been seeking to assert a stronger presence in public higher education. For example, John Warner observes that:

Arizona has reduced its spending on higher education by 41%, zeroing out its contributions to two community colleges entirely. Meanwhile, the libertarian Koch Foundation has stepped into the void, offering funding to Arizona State in return for favorable treatment of their ideas inside the institution.

Conservademia: Jane Meyer remarks in her book that the 1969 Columbia University protests by Afican-American students were the catalyst that helped initiate conservative efforts to turn American universities rightward. Similarly the complaints of the MU African-American Concerned Student 1950 group stirred latent racist indignation in the state and left Missouri right wingers fuming at what they saw as administrative capitulation to the demands of the Black students.

There are clear signs that Kid Greitens is going to try to ameliorate such conservative criticism of the university’s administration while furthering the educational agenda of his conservative supporters. Indications are that he will be just as willing to take aim at liberal campus culture and try to shift it rightwards as he has been to go gunning for labor unions. The guy who in his campaign ads literally aimed a big gun on what he metaphorically designated Jefferson City political culture, may soon declare open season on campus liberals.

readin’, ‘ritin’, and ‘rithmatic

10 Thursday Mar 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House, social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

General Assembly, higher education, J. Eggleston, missouri, Rudi Keller, social media, Twitter, University of Missouri

One view of the utility of higher education:

RudiKeller031016

Rudi Keller ‏@CDTCivilWar
Rep. Eggleston: #Mizzou is ‘there to instill the occupational skills and knowledge to enable our children to get a job. That’s it’ #moleg 11:47 AM – 10 Mar 2016

That explains a lot, though probably not what Representative Eggleston (r) thinks it does.

Critical thinking skills are apparently not a priority for some people.

Can you major in cubicle dwelling? Worker drone studies?

We await the instructions of our corporate overlords.

An early morning social media conversation about legislative micromanagement

05 Tuesday Jan 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri House, social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Caleb Jones, General Assembly, Jeremy LaFaver, micromanagement, missouri, University of Missouri

A combination of football and public protest will do that.

This morning two members of the Missouri House, Representative Jeremy LaFaver (D) and Representative Caleb Jones (r) engaged in a conversation about the University of Missouri via Twitter:

LaFaver010516

Jeremy LaFaver ‏@jeremylafaver
It will be interesting to see if MU caves to the latest legislative temper tantrum. Their lobbying team is knocking it out of the park…. 8:44 AM – 5 Jan 2016

CalebJones010516

Caleb Jones ‏@calebmjones
@jeremylafaver not a temper tantrum. You have kids. Is that who you want teaching them? You should sign up [….] 8:45 AM – 5 Jan 2016

Really? A member of the Missouri General Assembly pushes an anonymous web site attacking two faculty at the University of Missouri on the same morning that domain and web site go up?

You know, if someone in the field of communications made a mistake, acknowledged that mistake, and apologized for it do you think they could offer salient observations about the experience, what they learned, and the processes of modern media to students?

There are several other tweets in the exchange. And, a few times, others joined in:

EliYoklei010516

Eli Yokley ‏@eyokley
@calebmjones @jeremylafaver I think it’s fascinating how the #CoMo delegation has completely flipped its tactics toward @Mizzou since I left 9:24 AM – 5 Jan 2016

Micromanagement will do that.

Previously:

The power (sometimes) of speaking out (November 8, 2015)

Meta: in the public sphere (November 12, 2015)

The power (sometimes) of speaking out

08 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

football, Gary Pinkel, Jay Nixon, missouri, racism, University of Missouri

If you have a voice you have an obligation to use it.

In the Kansas City Star:

November 8, 2015
Yael T. Abouhalkah: Black football players’ strike thrusts MU into national spotlight on racial unrest

By Yael T. Abouhalkah

The announced strike by black football players at the University of Missouri is far more than a sports story. It further thrusts the school into the national spotlight regarding racial unrest, especially on college campuses.

The players are seeking a huge change. They want the resignation or firing of the state’s top university official, president Tim Wolfe.

Others have called for that action — including a student engaged in a hunger strike — but the involvement of the school’s best-known sports team demonstrably increased attention to this issue….

Via Twitter, from University of Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel:

GaryPinkel110815

Coach Gary Pinkel ‏@GaryPinkel
The Mizzou Family stands as one. We are united. We are behind our players. #ConcernedStudent1950 GP 11:39 AM – 8 Nov 2015

From Governor Jay Nixon:

Gov. Nixon statement regarding student protests at the University of Missouri
November 8, 2015

JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon today issued the following statement regarding student protests at the University of Missouri.

“Racism and intolerance have no place at the University of Missouri or anywhere in our state,” Gov. Nixon said. “Our colleges and universities must be havens of trust and understanding. These concerns must be addressed to ensure the University of Missouri is a place where all students can pursue their dreams in an environment of respect, tolerance and inclusion.”

If you speak out someone else may listen.

M – I – Z, boo… part 2

06 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

enlistment, missouri, oath, Obama, University of Missouri

Previously:

M – I – Z, boo… (November 2, 2013)

Tonight, via Twitter, from a member of the republican majority in the Missouri General Assembly:

Casey Guernsey ‏@CaseyGuernsey

I find booing a liar to be patriotic and rather enjoyed it. Crowds Boo Obama at Mizzou Football Game « CBS St. Louis [….] 8:16 PM – 5 Nov 13

Uh, you neglected to mention that it was while new members of the Missouri National Guard were being sworn in during a ceremony at the point in the required text “…and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States…”

Also, via Twitter:

Matt Tharp ‏@matt_tharp

#MOLeg rep and agenda 21 expert —-> MT “@CaseyGuernsey: I find booing a liar to be patriotic and enjoyed it. Crowds Boo Obama at Mizzou” 8:24 PM – 5 Nov 13

It figures.

Though he was absent for that last vote in the regular session.

Update:

Well, that went over well:

Sean Nicholson ‏@ssnich

Birther-> MT @CaseyGuernsey: I find booing a liar to be patriotic and rather enjoyed it. Crowds Boo Obama at MU Game [….] 8:50 PM – 5 Nov 13

Someone else noticed:

Jason Hancock ‏@J_Hancock

MT @CaseyGuernsey I find booing a liar to be patriotic & rather enjoyed it. Crowds Boo Obama at Mizzou Football Game [….] 8:53 PM – 5 Nov 13

And:

Sean Nicholson ‏@ssnich

Recall that @CaseyGuernsey was part of @DrOrlyTaitzEsq birther lawsuit in 2009 [….] 8:55 PM – 5 Nov 13

Update II:

Representative Casey Guernsey (r) deleted his tweet:

Sorry, that page doesn’t exist!

Thanks for noticing-we’re going to fix it up and have things back to normal soon.

Another Twitter comment:

Cameron Sullivan ‏@CamSullivan

Or delete the tweet & just pretend it never happened MT @matt_tharp: @CaseyGuernsey feel free to apologize for your comments whenever #MOLEG 9:18 PM – 5 Nov 13

Uh, the Internets are forever, as someone pointed out via facebook:

He deleted that tweet after about 1,000 screen shots taken by every major new source in the state and many RT’d it.

M – I – Z, boo…

03 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

enlistment, missouri, oath, Obama, University of Missouri

Via Twitter, from the “Mizzou athletics beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch & STLtoday.com” (at the University of Missouri football game in Columbia):

Dave Matter ‏@Dave_Matter

US soldiers taking their oath of enlistment on Faurot Field at halftime. Oath mentions “the president.” Crowd boos. 7:53 PM – 2 Nov 13

A few of the responses:

Jeff Gelski ‏@jjgelski

@stuart_goldman @Dave_Matter Any rodeo clowns in attendance? 7:57 PM – 2 Nov 13

James Hare ‏@harej

@Dave_Matter @Alex_Keck Boy, just wait until they find out President Obama is in charge of the U.S. military. 7:57 PM – 2 Nov 13

TremendousSkullet ‏@STLSlowMo

@Dave_Matter just imagine if they mentioned #Congress…8:01 PM – 2 Nov 13

And those are some of the tame responses.

Because a right wingnut website which posts doctored videos is always credible?

10 Tuesday May 2011

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

academe, academic freedom, Breitbart, Don Giljum, media criticism, University of Missouri

It took a while. A release from the University of Missouri – St. Louis:

statement 05/09/11

Posted on May 9, 2011 by the UMSL Chancellor Tom George and Provost Glen Cope regarding the institution’s Labor Studies Program:

May 9, 2011

Dear Colleagues,

We have finally completed viewing the videos originating at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) from the UMSL course Introduction to Labor Studies. The excerpts that were made public showing the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) instructor Don Giljum and students as well as the UMKC instructor and students were definitely taken out of context, with their meaning highly distorted through splicing and editing from different times within a class period and across multiple class periods.

As stated previously, our campus supports academic freedom, civility, diversity, open discourse and the pursuit of knowledge. We support the academic freedom of faculty, staff and students at UMSL. Contrary to some reports, Don Giljum has not been fired from the campus faculty, and in fact, is completing the course; he remains eligible to teach at UMSL. We sincerely regret the distress to him and others that has been caused by the unauthorized copying, editing and distribution of the course videos.

During the past two weeks, we have received communications over a wide spectrum of viewpoints, and we appreciate people letting us know what they think. We have learned more about video and Internet technologies that can be beneficial or detrimental to positive, civil discourse, and security issues related to the use of such media. We shall explore ways to improve security in the use of electronic media for instruction, research and other activities.

Sincerely,

Tom George

Chancellor

Professor of Chemistry and Physics

Glen Cope

Provost

Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Administration

[emphasis added]

You think the next time a right wingnut putz posts a video old media will ignore it? Not likely.

Harris Gives Away the Game

21 Wednesday Nov 2007

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Jeff Harris, rivalry, University of Kansas, University of Missouri

Or tickets to the game, to be more precise. It’s a clever way to drive traffic to his website.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thurday, November 20, 2007

Contact:  Christian Badger
(573)442-7980

Harris Campaign to Give Away Two MU-KU Tickets
Devoted Mizzou Fan, Jeff Harris Will Award Tickets to Winner
  at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Saturday

Columbia – Jeff Harris’ campaign for Attorney General is excited to announce a special giveaway of two tickets to Saturday’s football game between the Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks. Harris will personally award a pair of tickets what’s being called the “Game of the Century” to the lucky winner outside Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium.

To enter, Missouri Democrats should go to Harris’ website, http://www.ElectJeffHarris.com, and complete the entry form. Entries will close at noon on Friday, November 23, with the winner being selected at random at 3 pm that day.

“Mizzou fans across the state are counting down the minutes until this game kicks off,” Harris said. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to make the game even more special for two lucky Missouri Democrats by giving them a chance to cheer on the Tigers in person.”

The winner of the MU-KU game has a good shot at going to the National Championship game in New Orleans in January.

OU vs Mizzou

13 Saturday Oct 2007

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

University of Missouri, Universiy of Oklahoma

I might write for a Missouri blog, but I’m not a native of Missouri – I’m a transplant from Oklahoma.

Tomorrow in college football, my beloved Sooners, ranked #5 in the nation, will be taking on the Missouri Tigers, undefeated and ranked #11.

Anyone care to make a friendly wager? Not for cash, of course.

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