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Record for NoIndoctrination.org entry #2694.

City University of New York (CUNY)

Apr. 23, 2009

http://www.cuny.edu

Other University or Dept.-Sponsored Bias

Required: No

Level of Bias: Excessive

Comments: What follows is a NoIndoctrination.org post:

NoIndoctrination.org questions the professionalism of academic programs and centers that advocate particular sociopolitical positions. Such is our concern at The City University of New York, a public university.

An email was sent out announcing the May 1 Second Annual "Rightist Movements" Conference at CUNY, titled "The Right in These Times: Understanding and Combating Contemporary Shifts to the Right." The conference includes a Roundtable Discussion, "Contesting and Understanding the Right: Beyond the Academy," and a Conversation, "The Right in these Times." [This email announcement, including the speaker list, is posted on the InterActivist Info Exchange (http://info.interactivist.net/node/12565).]

From the announcement: "This conference brings together academic researchers, activists, and representatives of non-governmental organizations involved in understanding and contesting both contemporary trends toward the right and rightist efforts, from fiscally or socially conservative movements to hate groups. The aim of the conference is to draw on the insights of those conducting this important work across diverse professional fields toward an understanding of shifts to the right currently underway, as well as to build alliances and encourage collaboration between activists and academic and non-academic thinkers and researchers."

It is not uncommon for one-sided conferences to be held on college campuses, and this particular event might be of interest to many within the CUNY academic community. While it is reasonable that sociopolitical action clubs on campus might sponsor such a conference, this event is sponsored by the "Ph.D. Program in Anthropology, CUNY Graduate Center; The Center for Place, Culture and Politics, CUNY Graduate Center; Center for the Humanities, CUNY Graduate Center; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; People for the American Way." [The CUNY Graduate Center is described on its website (http://www.gc.cuny.edu/index.htm) as the "Doctorate–granting institution of the City University of New York."]

It is interesting to note that CUNY’s academic freedom statement (http://www1.cuny.edu/forums/chancellor/?p=4) includes "At CUNY, as at other reputable institutions of higher education, academic freedom informs the entire academic community: the free exchange of ideas applies to students choosing a course of study...." and that the CUNY Anthropology Ph.D. Program (http://web.gc.cuny.edu/Anthropology) states that its program "is committed to encouraging diversity among its students...." (http://web.gc.cuny.edu/Anthropology/proginfo.html)

Given the announced topics of discussion and speaker list, it is doubtful this academic-sponsored event provides a fair and "free exchange of ideas." It also appears that "diversity" in some CUNY disciplines of study (e.g., anthropology) excludes those with views that are not aligned with the "proper" orthodoxy. Indeed, a student of anthropology wrote us the following: "[This conference] is very upsetting to me because it goes against what anthropologists stand for which is a non-judgmental view of people and ideas."

[Note: NoIndoctrination.org would be equally concerned if an academic program or center sponsored a conference focused on "Combating Contemporary Shifts to the Left" and "Contesting the Left."
Those reading this post might like to read John Leo's May 6 essay concerning this conference. It can be found at http://www.mindingthecampus.com/forum/2009/05/an_academic_conference_to_comb.html]

Rebuttal notices were sent to Dr. William P. Kelly, President, The Graduate Center; Dr. Chase F. Robinson, Provost and Senior Vice-President, The Graduate Center; Dr. Louise Lennihan, Associate Provost and Dean for the Humanities and Social Sciences (Acting), The Graduate Center; Anthropology Ph.D. Program; Mathew Goldstein, CUNY Chancellor; Alexandra Logue, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & University Provost; CUNY Board of Trustees.
Any official reply will be posted below.

Rebuttal

When an orientation/other posting goes online, NoIndoctrination.org sends a notice to the administrator inviting him/her to contest any specifics. (See Rebuttals.) If we receive a rebuttal, it will be posted here.