<p>I'm seriously surprised that I just found out about this incident, even after all my research into UD. It's definitely one of my top choices but after reading this I'm a little shaky: University</a> of Delaware: Students Required to Undergo Ideological Reeducation - FIRE
I know it's old, and the program has been ended, but this kind of thing does worry me as to the overall attitude of the university, encouraging extremist liberal doctrine like "only whites can be racist". Does someone who went here during the years of this program know anything as to how much of this article is true or sensationalized? I seriously thought it was a joke when I read it. Also, should it be factoring into my decision as to whether or not to go here, considering that there may be hidden remnants of it?</p>
<p>My D was a nursing student at UD from 2006-2010. She lived in a dorm her first year. According to her the Residence Life Program centered around getting students to comply with alcohol usage regulations and developing good study habits more than anything else. She did feel however, that some of the RA’s had their own individualized “agendas” that the students in general tended to take with a grain of salt or more commonly just ignored. I generally tried to keep up an awareness of things happening on campus while she was there and I never heard anything about the issues noted in your link. If you are concerned that UD is a bastion of liberalism like “Berkely” in the 60"s and early 70’s you really have nothing to worry about. I never perceived that the university made any effort to instill political ideologies upon students other than to instill a motivation to learn and achieve educational goals. I believe every major university will have groups of students with more “extremist” views (right, left, or whatever) and will view any university action form their own particular perspective. If I had to describe a political flavor for the UD administration as a whole I would gauge it overall as “moderate”, with tolerance towards a wide range of beliefs as long as they are not disciminatory in nature. Just my perspective based upon my experiences.</p>
<p>Well, that’s good to hear then. I don’t know how a university that is about 80% white could ever pass off requiring its students to learn that all whites are racist, so that’s where part of my disbelief lies. Perhaps it was just overblown by a couple students, since apparently for your daughter it was never mandatory for them to learn the ideas mentioned by FIRE. Shame though, I’m sure that many who don’t look further into people like your daughter’s experiences end up seeing this article and perceiving UD as some Orwellian system of education. But thanks for the reply, glad to hear that its not Berkeley liberal as the article made it seem.</p>
<p>My son was there from 2007 to 2009 before he transferred. What you read on FIRE is true. He experienced the interviews and group sessions and thought they were stupid, intrusive, and a waste of time. He and his roommate were even reprimanded for writing on the board on their door in a foreign language. However, they did stop the program his freshman year, and there was nothing like that going on sophomore year. About the best thing I can say about it is that they were responsive to the criticism.</p>
<p>And he was told that all white people were racists.</p>
<p>ipepper - how did you manage to come across this article? Sounds like a laudable goal (diversity) but very flawed execution. In any event, this incident is an old one (affected only 2007 freshman) and the program was halted immediately when the problems were identified. Seems like U Del did the right thing when it became clear the program was flawed. I have visited U Del and I would not be concerned that you would be likely to encounter thought indoctrination there. Suggest that you visit to reassure yourself. Good luck in your college search. </p>
<p>Heres a link to the reporting on this from the Philadelphia Inquirer back in 2007. <a href=“Inquirer.com: Philadelphia local news, sports, jobs, cars, homes”>Inquirer.com: Philadelphia local news, sports, jobs, cars, homes;
<p>pamom59 - I did actually visit and enjoyed it a lot, it was actually after visiting that I came across the article while looking up videos on youtube about the school. The FIRE report came up as one of the first items. My concern was whether the incident reflects an overall ultra-liberal attitude throughout the university, which apparently it does not. Not really thinking that it would come back or anything. I hope it was just a poor execution of a diversity program and not some neo-Marxist agenda.</p>
<p>ipepper- My son is currently a UD freshman, and when I read your post and the FIRE article last week, I was appalled. My son happened to be home for the weekend, so I had him read the article as well. He told me that so far, he hasn’t experienced any of what happened in 2007. No one has asked about, or has tried to sway his beliefs, in any way, shape, or form. I am concerned though, because the article alleges that there have been repeated attempts to re-instate elements of the program.</p>
<p>I’m with you ipepper, it does make me question the overall attitude of the university. Why would they approve and implement such an extreme, flawed, and intrusive program in the first place? They obviously believed in the message, and their methods, or they wouldn’t have done it. They only pulled the program when the back lash proved to be too damaging. </p>
<p>It’s something that I plan to keep an eye on.</p>
<p>I’m curious, where did you see that there were repeated attempts to re-instate the program since 2007? Dr. Harker became the President the summer of 2007, after the program had been selected. That was the first big problem he had to deal with as President and I’ll bet he wouldn’t want to face that again. DD was an RA the following year and there wasn’t anything vaguely similar.</p>
<p>The FIRE article alleges there have been attempts, but it gives no details. I haven’t found anything else on the subject in the searches I’ve done. I may actually contact FIRE and inquire about it myself.</p>