Saturday, May 08, 2004

Racism Runs Rampant Even Among Department Filled With Politically-Correct Leftists

A headline in last week's issue of the campus student newspaper reads "Prof. Denied Tenure, Brands Decision Racist."

In the article, the professor in question, Captain Kangaroo, is quoted as saying:
"The decision to deny me tenure...is based on discrimination [...] I think it is appalling that such discrimination and racism is practiced on a campus with 80 to 85 percent black students."
The obviously well-trained student reporter dutifully followed that quote up with reference to the truth:
"In fact, the figure is closer to 50 percent."
How funny is it that Captain Kangaroo claims to have been denied tenure based solely on the basis of race, then so quickly demonstrates her own academic, er, quality by failing to check the very facts upon which she bases her argument? How hard would it have been for a professor to find out what percentage of our students are black, when a student reporter apparently had no problem doing so? Could it be that this mathematical mistake perfectly symbolizes the professor's fitness for lifetime employment as an educator?

Not only that, but what does it say about this professor who sees white racism everywhere she turns, that her perception of the number of black students on campus is so wide of the mark?

There are black students everywhere! Oh, no!

The student reporter is to be commended for correcting the professor's math. And for this sentence:
"Captain Kangaroo did not cite any specific incidents to support her charges."
Apparently our students are learning something about logic and argumentation in their writing classes, which may be more than we can say for the students in Captain Kangaroo's own classes in "African, Asian, and post-colonial literature," in which, according to a student petition protesting the tenure decision:
"Captain Kangaroo has taught students about the caste system in India, government corruption in that country, and mistreatment of women in Africa."
It would be interesting to ask these students whether she also taught them about literature, the ostensible subject of the courses.

One final point, since Captain Kangaroo brought it up in the article.

She is quoted as saying, about colleagues who have received tenure since she came to the University:
"They have tenured Mister Rogers, Krusty the Clown, and the Easter Bunny while I was here for far fewer publications than mine."
One is tempted to ask why she offers no explanation as to why the Easter Bunny, who is black, was awarded tenure, if the Department is such a hotbed of racism. Is Captain Kangaroo saying that in one case, the Department expresses its (alleged) racism by denying tenure to non-white professors, but in another case, it does so by hugging them close? That she spouts such illogical nonsense is perhaps as telling as any evidence one might require in order to decide whether she deserves a lifetime appointment as a teacher.

Further, it is well-known that the Easter Bunny publicy supported Captain Kangaroo's bid for tenure. It is simply astounding to this writer that she would turn around and repay the Easter Bunny's friendship and loyalty by impugning his academic qualifications.