Film attacks campus' liberal atmospheres
By: Emmeline Zhao
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: News
Last update: 1/30/08 at 6:31 AM EST
Last update: 1/30/08 at 6:31 AM EST
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This was the message presented by "Indoctrinate U," a film written and directed by Evan Maloney, which made its college debut in Reynolds Theater Tuesday night.
The documentary examines political environments of college campuses across the country and presents interviews with students, professors and families associated with those universities to demonstrate makers' views that the modern American university has become a home to ideological conformity.
At the screening, Maloney said he hopes the stories of those interviewed in the film will inspire other people to stand up for their beliefs.
"Though it can be perilous and there can be consequences, I think that in the long run, if you fight for something you believe in, you'll look back on it and say, 'I'm glad I fought back for that,'" he said.
The film cites historical events as its basis for the political changes colleges have experienced over the years, criticizing professors' unconscious coercion of opinions congruent to their own.
"At the heart of the university is the survival of the mind and critical thinking," Producer Thor Halvorssen said after the screening. "And there is no critical thinking in a monoculture."
Maloney incorporated studies and research that show one-sided political views in faculty, revealing some university departments with as many as 30 liberal professors to one conservative professor.
"The argument [colleges] make in favor of diversity is that it opens our eyes to different perspectives," Maloney said. "But they're only interested in diversity of appearance, not intellectual diversity."
Such a desire for diversity of appearance is portrayed in the documentary through California State University's affirmative action bake sale where identical cupcakes were sold at different prices to different racial groups.
"The diversity movement is one of the most ridiculous, fraudulent things ever," Halvorssen said. "Why? Because it's easy for university officials to focus on."
"Indoctrinate U" also presents topics concerning the repression of freedom of speech in terms of flyer censorship and speech regulations created by universities to limit what students can and cannot say on campus.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 12
watt
posted 1/30/08 @ 9:53 AM EST
It is amazing that many members of the academy are blind to the fact that, in their demand for idealogical conformity on campus, they have become, to many in our society, a laughingstock of intellectual insecurity. (Continued…)
what diversity?
posted 1/30/08 @ 9:54 AM EST
The film does not attack the liberal bias on campus', or the conservative bias on other campus'. It does attack the fake ideology of diversity as being all inclusive. (Continued…)
Ken Larrey
posted 1/30/08 @ 9:55 AM EST
That's not Evan in the picture, that's Thor Halvorssen, the producer.
Ken Larrey
posted 1/30/08 @ 10:43 AM EST
"Maloney said in the documentary that one student lost a lawsuit against his university for posting flyers that advertised a book with an allegedly offensive title"
Steve Hinkle, the student, did not lose a lawsuit against the university. (Continued…)
roger freberg
posted 1/31/08 @ 10:48 AM EST
As in the Steve Hinkle case at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, many universities act as laws unto themselves , reporting to no one. Fortunately, Federal courts do not act so provincially. (Continued…)
Johnny America
posted 1/31/08 @ 8:19 PM EST
The next such movie should not only premiere on Duke campus but be about the Duke lacrosse lynching. Starring:
Lubiano: As the head LYNCH-herder, writing advertisements in the Duke Chronicle condemning her innocent students. (Continued…)
Fred Free
posted 2/04/08 @ 12:59 PM EST
Militant liberals are just as closed minded as militant conservatives. Walking around calling yourself "open minded" doesn't mean jack if you are intolerant of diverse views and opinions. (Continued…)
Smarty
posted 3/25/08 @ 5:42 PM EST
That was actually one of the weakest reviews of anything that I have ever read. In no way did the author attempt to show how the movie attempts to make it's point. (Continued…)
Bill
posted 4/15/08 @ 9:12 AM EST
The U.S. power structure consists of leftover socialist elites from the 60's. Google William Ayers of U.I.C. who is a former member of the Weather Underground, participated in terrorist bombings, and now is an instructor at the University of Illinois, Chicago. (Continued…)
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