When it comes to the issue of on-campus ROTC, some Stanford professors are still not ready to play nice:
History professor Bart Bernstein, who helped lead the movement against ROTC 40 years ago, disapproved of ROTC for several additional reasons. “It requires that the faculty be appointed by the Pentagon, not by the university. Secondly, the course content … is not as rigorous, not as demanding, not as deep and does not require the same level of analysis.”
Bernstein’s third objection: “Students in ROTC courses are not as intellectually free as they are in Stanford courses — for instance, they are not allowed to criticize the president of the U.S., foreign policy and military action.”
“One can accept and endorse the military,” said Bernstein, who joined ROTC as a teenager, “and still believe ROTC is inappropriate and propose that officers be recruited and trained in other ways.”
We’re open to suggestions, professor.
And thanks for the “acceptance.” Generous, that.
Stanford establishes Ethnic Studies Program: http://news.stanford.edu/pr/96/961204ethnic.html
So much for this argument: “Secondly, the course content … is not as rigorous, not as demanding, not as deep and does not require the same level of analysis.”
What an arrogant pr–k!
Having attended one of those elite universities, I find it very difficult to believe (in fact, inconceivable) that any curriculum designed to train military leaders who will be responsible for the lives of others, could be less rigorous than many of the courses already on offer, where failing the class requires near-complete absence of work.
Physics for Poets. Rocks for Jocks. Email for Credit. Kiddie Lit. Math Alive.
These names, bestowed by students, are not indicative of grueling levels of effort, nor of requirements for great intellectual prowess.
As to the comments quote: “Students in ROTC courses are not as intellectually free as they are in Stanford courses — for instance, they are not allowed to criticize the president of the U.S., foreign policy and military action.”
That’s an absolute lie. Those restrictions only apply to a cadet who has signed a contract to commit to accepting a commission, if offered. For the first 2 years of the program, ANY student on campus may take any ROTC course without any sort of obligation and/or restrictions.
When I was a cadet (back in the dark-ages) there were almost a dozen students who were taking various ROTC courses who had no intention of entering the program, per se. They were interested in courses such as “Organization for National Defense”, and land navigation courses, terrain analysis, etc. There were a couple of Forestry students taking those latter courses.
There’s a simple solution to this problem: If a college or university receives ANY amount of Federal funding, then it MUST accept an ROTC program if students request one. Likewise, if the college or university accepts students who are receiving Federal student loans or grants, then it MUST accept an ROTC program if students request it.
Clearly, courses in military science could never contain the intellectual rigor of the following course actually being offered at Stanford (undoubtedly, multiple viewpoints will be welcomed in class discussion…)
AFRICAAM 75B: Black Sitcoms
The portrayal of black life on television in the 70s. Critical framework including concepts of identity, race, gender, and class. In-class viewings. Sitcoms in relation to theoretical work including that of Toni Morrison, Marlon Riggs, Hermann Gray, Ann duCille, and Mark Anthony Neal.
Terms: Spr, offered occasionally | Units: 2 | Grading: Letter or Credit/No Credit
When 60% of all grades recorded for Harvard undergraduates are A– or better, I would opine that a certificate of completion from a certified welding school has more academic heft and rigor than an undergraduate degree from Harvard. At least one knows the welder has actually demonstrated a working knowledge about *something* in order to fulfill his course requirements.
VX – you nailed it. I don’t know if the 60% figure is correct, but it is a reported fact that flunking courses in the elite, Ivy League schools is virtually impossible. Take our exalted leader, for example . . . not that we’ve seen his grades . . .
We were visting my son for his Master’s graduation back in December. he told us that at the beginning of his last final he asked the instructor what average he needed to have a guaranteed ‘B for the course, and if he already had it he said he was going to walk out. Knowing my son reputation as a smart a$$, the instructor was ready for him. He took the final. My son laughed about it when he back home that afternoon.
Hmm. Judging by this remark, and your general writing style, I would say that your grandson-apple didn’t fall very far from the tree. It’s OK, BAP folks are some of my favorite people.
My son is a bit wild. When he was in Iraq he was put in for an award. The uppers downgraded it. Twice. They gave a senior NCO who did almost nothing the original award my son was put in for. I can’t recall what he was originally put in for.
There was a major formation for the awards, then about 20 minutes after that one was dismissed, there was a Battalion formation. As the battalion was brought to attention, my son was walking to his quarters and walked about 10 yards behind the BC. My son stopped, took out a cigarette lighter he had bummed, took out the ribbon and lit it. The LTC had turned around to see what was up, saw my son and the burning ribbon and turned around and went on like nothing had happened. I think the BC agreed with my son’s comment on the award.
Yep, a chip of the old block.
“Students in ROTC courses are not as intellectually free as they are in Stanford courses — for instance, they are not allowed to criticize the president of the U.S., foreign policy and military action.”
eah, and students NOT in ROTC aren’t free NOT to… not if they want to get good grades or letters of recommendation from lefty university-
eah= yeah
If you are going to live in a glass house, it’s probably best that you not throw stones.
Kris, people who live in glass houses should take baths in the basement.
Mr. Bernstein is an idiot. He’s suited to a life of academia.
But, they should in no way form or fashion, allow him contact with students. The man is an intellectual pedophile.
And, no, I don’t think the allusion is too strong.
I’m surprised the Algotrolls let that one by.
Greetings:
You don’t think that the sight of all those uniforms reminds him of something he avoided after his teenage ROTC experience, do you ???
The snooty perfesser is typical of the pond scum liberals who infest academia, and have been polluting the minds of students for the last 30-40 years.
A college education today is little better than a GED High School degree was before they sat down in the halls of learning and converted the courses to Marxist indoctrination and make-believe courses on lesbian writers, African American studies, and Community Organizing 101.
The benefits from an ROTC course far exceed that of the revisionist “history” crap spewed by the snooty perfesser.
Eliminate all federal payments to universities which do not have (and support!) ROTC programs.
John, not all degrees are created equal, nor are universities. I attended Miami University, and I can assure you that the majority of the programs were fairly demanding.
If you like Cambridge but want to go to a school with some actual academic rigor, take a walk down the the south end of Mass. Ave. and you’ll find what you’re looking for.
[...] week, Neptunus Lex ran a short post discussing the ongoing issue with Stanford University and ROTC. That set off a slow burn on my [...]