Not just the title is provacative, the professor is as well, seemingly for no purpose other than simply provoking controversy…
‘Saying he glorified cop killers seems like a sensationalist statement to make.’ What is sensationalist about it? The article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported and quoted what Sajnani actually posted on Twitter. Sanjani said that after watching the televised reporting on the 5 Dallas officers slain, he posted a link to the song ‘Officer Down’ and commented ‘Watching CNN, this is the song I am currently enjoying in my head.’
By definition it’s not glorifying:
glo·ri·fy
ˈɡlôrəˌfī/
verb
gerund or present participle: glorifying
2.
describe or represent as admirable, especially unjustifiably or undeservedly.
“a football video glorifying violence”
Also Officer Down is a tribute song, not sure why there has to be an immediate negative assumption.
I would be curious to see the syllabus for this class that’s for sure.
While attendance is optional and the class is not required, it fulfills UW’s ethnic studies requirement for graduation. I wonder what other courses are offered that fulfill the requirement.
I was referring to the professor’s social media comments. It’s his social media comments, not his course, which should get him fired.
Not sure there’s anything specific enough in his comments to get him in trouble with anybody. The controversial tweets are 1. about a song he was enjoying. 2. a question about whether a new type of protest is going to go viral.
Should he be fired? I don’t know. I would expect most of the true academics are not wasting time or stirring up controversy by posting songs and tweeting like a middle schooler. Or maybe there’s no such things as bad publicity. Might help sell more rap CDs.
To give you some context on Wisconsin: home to one of the most segregated major cities in the United States; has one of the biggest achievement gaps in the United States; the state’s only black supreme court justice was defeated for reelection with the aid of race-baiting advertising; the governor and the legislature have made big cuts to the state university system’s budget but tension between legislators and the system and faculty members predated the current governor’s appearance in 2010. It’s a messy situation and has been one for a long time.