ASU-West Lecture Incites Student Dispute · 28 March 2005
Author and political analyst Dr. Jim Nelson Black visits West to discuss the corruption of college minds
By Jayme Cook--West Express--3/28/05
In an event sponsored by Students for Academic Freedom (SAF), Dr. Jim Nelson Black will visit ASU's West campus this Tuesday, March 29 to lecture on political bias and classroom indoctrination in American universities and its implications in American society.
Dr. Black will share the findings from his recent book, Freefall of the American University: How Our Colleges Are Corrupting the Minds and Morals of the Next Generation, which suggests the decline of intellectual diversity within college institutions, advocating that the university mainstream has become increasingly left-wing.
"Not only do professors and universities now claim this monopoly on viewpoints, but they in many cases actively abuse the rights of individuals who share opposing viewpoints," states Kevin Smith, President of SAF. "This bias toward one side of the political spectrum, the absence of ideas contrary to the mainstream, and the intolerance to those students, textbooks, and professors who share in the disagreement, constitutes an atmosphere of indoctrination.
Issues such as these will be addressed by Black on Tuesday, though some students have expressed concern regarding the lecture.
Smith received an e-mail from a student asking why this "neo-fascist" was being allowed to speak at the university and suggesting a debate format, setting a "non-right winger" against the guest speaker.
Though Smith agrees with the debate suggestion, he defends Black's solo lecture by citing other campus events, such as a recent lecture by Professor Calvin O. Shrag on the "death of God" that were sanctioned by the university and presented without a counter-speaker present. Smith also notes that other lecturers were solicited by ASU Administration while Black's lecture is sponsored by allocations approved by the Student Senate.
Smith states that hosting the Dr. Jim Nelson Black event may balance the academic agenda and provide students with a point of view that he feels is often omitted in the classroom experience.
"We contend that unless the university fosters an environment open to the free exchange of ideas, then the university cannot claim to provide true academic freedom," Smith continues.
Regardless of political sway, all are encouraged to attend the lecture on March 29 at 6:30 p.m. in La Sala A. A question and answer session will follow the lecture as well as with a book signing.
For more information on Dr. Jim Nelson Black, visit www.jnblack.com.
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