Worrisome …

… A Mole Hunt for Diversity ‘Bias’ at Villanova - WSJ.

In short, students are being asked to rate professors according to their perceived agreement with progressive political opinion on bias and identity. Students are also invited to “comment on the instructor’s sensitivity to the diversity of the students in the class.” Professors are rated on their “sensitivity” to a student’s “biological sex, disability, gender identity, national origin, political viewpoint, race/ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, etc.” The “etc.” in particular seems like an ominous catchall, as if the sole principle of sound teaching has become “that no student shall be offended.”

Here is the response from Villanova: A Message from the President and Provost.

This is not easy work; but it is the work that stands as the foundation of a civil society. We are far from being the perfect model in this endeavor.  There are ways in which we must continue to reflect upon our failings and then strive to rectify them. But our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is not among them. On the contrary, Villanova University stands as a great educational institution because of our commitment to difference and the authentic community we create.

What bien-pensant gobbledygook. The purpose of an education is to acquire an experienced mind, experienced by virtue of acquaintance with the grand tradition, extending back centuries,  of art, music, literature, and philosophy.

 "To foster knowledge without a concern for human connection, or absent a concern for how such knowledge can “ignite change” in our communities is, simply put, inadequate and hollow." I'll tell you what is inadequate and hollow: Some academic apparatchik and his sidekick presuming to instruct anyone as to how to think regarding the issues of the day (that's called propaganda). The point, Padre, is to provide students with means to arrive at their own conclusions, not the conclusions you have arrived at (not that I think much thought went into those conclusions). Maybe Villanova should start offering courses in Newspeak and Doublethink.

I might add that I will take the word of one of the best poets writing today and his colleague over that of a university administrator any day of the week. When it comes to academic bureaucrats, I’m from Missouri.