Here's Your Degree. Now Go Defeat Demagogues

[Gator88NE]

It’s commencement season, and Michael Bloomberg recently addressed the University of Michigan’s class of 2016.

The most useful knowledge that you leave here with today has nothing to do with your major. It’s about how to study, cooperate, listen carefully, think critically and resolve conflicts through reason. Those are the most important skills in the working world, and it’s why colleges have always exposed students to challenging and uncomfortable ideas.

The fact that some university boards and administrations now bow to pressure and shield students from these ideas through “safe spaces,” “code words” and “trigger warnings” is, in my view, a terrible mistake.

The whole purpose of college is to learn how to deal with difficult situations – not run away from them. A microaggression is exactly that: micro. And one of the most dangerous places on a college campus is a safe space, because it creates the false impression that we can insulate ourselves from those who hold different views.

We can’t do this, and we shouldn’t try – not in politics or in the workplace. In the global economy, and in a democratic society, an open mind is the most valuable asset you can possess.

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-04-30/here-s-your-degree-now-go-defeat-demagogues

[Pizzagirl]

Nicely said.

[romanigypsyeyes]

Except that this really isn’t a problem at the vast, vast majority of universities or classes. In fact, not a single one that I personally know of (though I am the first to admit that I don’t have friends at every one of the 3000+ universities in the US but I do have PhD friends at pretty much every “top” university.)

The whole trigger thing and whatnot has been completely overblown by the media.

And I am in an extremely liberal department at U of M (a liberal university). You know what our administration has told us about trigger warnings, safe spaces, etc? Nothing. Bupkis. Not a single word. Nothing in GSI training, nothing to the faculty, nothing to the university at large.

I do warn my students before there are graphic scenes of rape, murder, suicide, etc because I think it’s common courtesy. But neither I, nor any of the faculty or students that I know who teach in very liberal departments (like Women’s Studies) include trigger warnings for “microaggressions” or anything of the sort. They also have not found their discussions to be curtailed by fears of microaggressions or triggers.

In the courses I’ve taught at my friends have taught here at U of M DO deal with very, very difficult situations all the time. They work through issues of racism, sexism, and the list goes on. Students have very different opinions and they are free to express them and often do. Students have vigorous debates over these issues both in and outside of classes.

But, whatever, what do I know as someone who is actually in the trenches so to speak.

[momofthreeboys]

Romanig…there are those that think the midwest contains folk who have common sense, perhaps it rubs off on the non-mid-westerners in Ann Arbor

I agree, nicely said Michael Bloomberg.