I just saw this Yale halloween incident, and the videos someone took with their phone. How widespread is this mentality and behavior in US Universities?
Is it particularly prominent at Yale and other Ivies, or among all selective Universities?
What does “widespread” mean? Media loves juicy stories – how many kids are snatched off of streets or playgrounds? Based on the 24 hour news cycle, parents think predators are acting daily. Sift through your news intake, I would suggest.
Based on this event and the 4 videos I saw, I think it’s pretty safe to conclude that this is widespread at Yale.
A crowd of college students yelling and swearing at a PhD college Dean…over Halloween costumes? In my view many people swearing and screaming at the Dean in the video should be reprimanded or even expelled.
This got me a bit worried about the level of thought on University campuses because a) it’s Yale so supposedly these students are elite and b) the views expressed by the students in the videos are profoundly stupid and I cannot even imagine being surrounded by only these types of people for 4 years. That is why I am asking whether it is a widespread phenomenon or not.
So “widespread” means is this kind of thing accepted at Universities in the US in general? Or just at Yale?
I haven’t seen those types of videos from other universities. What exactly are you looking for? Your user name does not inspire confidence that you really have a legitimate question, though.
I’m just asking: what is the environment like on US college campuses? Is the norm respect for peers, professors, and ideas, and intellectual discourse, or should students expect to be surrounded by people like the ones filmed at Yale?
Maybe you should explain what you mean by “this mentality” and “this kind of thing” and “these types of people”, and get your facts straight while you’re at it.
Neither Christakis’ are deans, they are masters, which actually makes a difference in this case. Deans are associated with academics, masters with residential/social aspects.
The protest wasn’t over “Halloween costumes”, but over an email issued by Christakis in response to a Yale request for students to exercise careful thought in what they choose to depict in their Halloween costume choices.
There are a lot of videos out there of the one gathering; if the 4 videos you saw were of the same event, then I don’t know how you “conclude” that this is a “widespread” thing… of course, I’m not sure what the “thing” is that you’re talking about.
I’ll say this for American Universities in general:
a) “Elite” students and “PhD” faculty don’t get any special treatment or shelter against criticism
b) You don’t get punished or expelled for airing “profoundly stupid” views in public
“b) You don’t get punished or expelled for airing “profoundly stupid” views in public”
Then why are Yale students calling for this man to be fired for articulating views they find profoundly stupid?
Also, I didn’t say that. I said they should be reprimanded for behaving aggressively and extremely rudely to Yale faculty. Frankly, being a Dean or a Master or a professor does not make any difference to me whatsoever in this case: treat people with respect, particularly people who work for an institution you attend.
I would not be in favor of punishing students for expressing “criticism” of faculty, as you put it, (I saw swearing, aggressive behavior, and total lack of respect here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IEFD_JVYd0) but I would certainly hope what is shown in this video would be treated differently.
“Maybe you should explain what you mean by “this mentality” and “this kind of thing” and “these types of people”, and get your facts straight while you’re at it.”
What I mean is simple: is the behavior in the above video accepted as normal? From what I’m hearing here, it is, and that makes me sad. That’s all.
“if the 4 videos you saw were of the same event, then I don’t know how you “conclude” that this is a “widespread” thing”
I think video evidence is enough to conclude that it happened at Yale. And frankly, the level of intellectual ability, exposure to the world, and knowledge of social norms displayed by the Yale students in the video I have linked above is revoltingly low.
My question is simple: is the behavior and level of entitlement shown by the students in this video common on University campuses?
People can over react anywhere over anything. The context of this tirade was an unaddressed issue several weeks before over some bad behavior by a fraternity having a “white girls only” party and then the Associate Master’s email which she later regretted not being more sensitive to how difficult it is to be a person of color at Yale or indeed, the USA.
Now if you’re wanting a balanced view of the issue – dig further. If you want confirmation bias that you can use to toss onto US “elite” schools as being overly PC and intolerant which you can further dump into your evidence canister – go right ahead.
Because it’s pretty clear that any lapses into PC warrant your wrath –
Thank you for the helpful response!
That was actually the original reason I made this thread–to obtain a balanced view.
You are correct in inferring that I can’t stand this type of PC situation. That is why I was hoping to learn whether or not I should expect to encounter it in US university. However, my query had nothing to do with Yale–I don’t particularly care about that event. I want to know whether this attitude is held more broadly among elite US schools or not.
To rephrase my original question: is this Yale incident an isolated event, or is it symptomatic of a mindset that is common at most Universities?
Yes. In fact, it’s not just “elite” students, ALL Americans are like that. 
Lol touche
Are you an international thinking of coming to the US for college? You should visit colleges before applying if so. Different campuses have different atmospheres.
Unfortunately, that was not very feasible. Thanks for the advice though!
If you want a serious answer to the original question, I suggest you visit the website for the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). https://www.thefire.org/ Unfortunately this is all too common.
Also, for any individual school, you should take a look at that school’s on-line student newspaper. That can really tell you a lot about the views on campus.
OP- I am appalled by that video! There is no defense for her actions and it doesn’t matter what the set off was. Free speech applies to everyone and it doesn’t include profanity or inciting violence (when she takes off her backpack and gets in his face it looks like she is about to hit him).
Civil discourse isn’t screaming/ cussing out and threatening another person… imagine if everyone acted like that when they get upset…
The SJW content varies from school to school. One way to tell if a school has a high SJWC is by looking at employment after graduation statistics. If they have alot of people working in government and/or not-for-profit, assume a high SJWC.
@Trollicus The political correctness at some schools is beyond belief. No longer is the term “freshman” used, everything is gender neutral, Israel is viewed as a terrorist state, Christians are treated like trash, Catholics are mocked. The application for the University of California system gives students a choice of SIX gender types. Is that amazing SIX gender types. Some students are hypersensitive to fraternities, sororities, sports and parties.
If you need recommendations on more moderate schools just ask. There are plenty that have not gone overboard.
@TurnderT, What’s wrong with the UC system giving students a choice of six gender types? Why would you have an objection to that?
@katliamom Because it is all politics to marginalize the 99.9% that identify as traditional male and female. It’s total BS.
How about all things you are not allowed to ask students? Have you seen that list?
@TurnerT How is it “marginalizing” male or female? These two ARE among the six choices, you know.