Quantcast The Justice
College Media Network

Week of

EDITORIAL: A clash of rules and egos

Abstract:
Following allegations that Prof. Donald Hindley (POL) violated the University's nondiscrimination policy for comments he made in his Latin American politics course, it became clear that serious accusations against a faculty member were being skewed by confusions in jurisdiction and disputes over proper procedure....

  • Displaying 1 - 5 of 5

John Bottonari (Class of '75)

posted 1/22/08 @ 8:36 AM EST

This entire matter is a pitiable travesty. I suggest that the cosseted youth so mortified at hearing "wetback" apply themselves to rectifying injustice on the street instead of flourishing their "sensitivity."

In particular, if the instructor said of Latin American immigrants, as the "Justice" reported,"They WERE CALLED* 'wetbacks,'" he was reporting (an inarguable) state of affairs. Period.

I am nearly 61 years old, and hence, one of the aging "radicals" that traitors like David Horowitz dismiss--but after reading of three twits ruining a 50-year career, I shudder to think that Horowitz, et al, exaggerate less than I'd imagined. God forbid.


*--(EMPHASIS ADDED)
Post a reply to this comment

John Bottonari

posted 1/25/08 @ 5:30 AM EST

As no one else has yet opined herein on this matter. let me add my own P.S.

My father--son of Italian peasants* who, but for his 88 years would also be Horowitz quarry--told me years ago that "WOP" had meant, "Without /immigration/ papers." (A reasonable synonym for "wetback," eh?)

Would the professor's trespassed students kindly remind my father that merely being a member, himself, of the aggrieved class does not inoculate the actor against the charge of discrimination? Further, would each please forward her/his respective hourly rate to the undersigned?

Grazia.

Giovanni Bottonari, A.B.

-----------------------

*--"Peasant" is his term (each parent was also an orphan; there are none of us left in Italy)--no doubt, according to the Brandeis TruthandsensitivitySquad--reflective of his Negative Self-Image. Alas.

But, best wishes, nonetheless.
Post a reply to this comment

Karen

posted 1/25/08 @ 10:10 AM EST

These idiots are the ones demanding terrorist get their day in court and should be presumed innocent. Odd how Stalin-like tactics are being used by a university that used to have a reputation against such things. Can you imagine 2 college student being so freaked out at hearing those words? Now imagine a conservative student having to listen to left-wing professor express their anti-Christian, anti-American views? Imagine an Army veteran having to listen to hippie lecturers tell you only stupid, poor fools join the military. Imagine a man having to listen to the professional victims in the women studies department blame all white men for every ill in this world. Discrimination? every day in left-wing universities. But Marty has a litmus test for what is offensive -- you can only offend white christian men.
Post a reply to this comment

Richard Cataldo '77

posted 1/26/08 @ 10:51 AM EST

I'm a former student of Prof. Donald Hindley and consider him one of the best teachers I had at Brandeis. I found him to be an open-minded , tolerant individual whose concern for the downtrodden of the Third World was always very clear. I truly believe he used the term for educational purposes and did not betray a particular prejudice. Those who found the term offensive need anti-discrimination training; their obtuseness is apparent. I feel the University dropped the ball by not giving Hindley the chance to clarify the issue. A private meeting would have gone a long way toward insuring a fair hearing for a valued faculty member.
Post a reply to this comment

John Bottonari

posted 1/26/08 @ 8:10 PM EST

Glad to see that others are also repelled at the unparodiable, desperate unhipness of the Provost.

MS. KRAUSS: Are you trying to catch up with the other privileged upper-middle-class White people whose high dudgeon--not to mention, utter incomprehension of their own privilege--piled-on Professor Summers at Harvard? Is the "Hindley Affair" a consequence of Brandeis's perhaps-unattainable aspiration to parity /parody/ with Harvard?

I, myself, am immensely grateful to, and for the existence of, Brandeis; and, I emphasize, I am NOT a "neoconservative." To the contrary: I fear and loathe precious chronological adults--living in your own intellectual "Green Zone"--who drive impressionable youth into neoconservatives' scaly* arms.
-----------------

*--Be assured that, as a member of PETA, I intend no offense to actual reptiles.

Giovanni Bottonari, '75
Post a reply to this comment
  • Displaying 1 - 5 of 5

Post Your Comment

  • NOTE: Email address will not be published

Type your comment below (html not allowed)

  I understand posting spam or other comments that are unrelated to this article will cause my comment to be flagged for deletion and possibly cause my IP address to be permanently banned from this server.

Issue Summary Everything in this week's issue.

Fan us on Facebook!

Advertisement

Virtual Print Edition

Please enjoy this virtual version of our print edition. Click on a page to open it fullscreen. Back issues also available.

Poll

Poll: How do you feel about SUMS, the new Student Union Management System?

Cast Vote

View Results

Advertisement