NoIndoctrination.org - View Listing

[Help NoIndoctrination.org - Donate Now Through Network For Good]

Warning: Postings are only opinions. (See Terms of Service)

Note: Although the postings appear to be anonymous, NoIndoctrination.org knows the posters' names. We communicate with the posters before putting their comments online. We also research each posting and ask for corroborating material when appropriate.

Record for NoIndoctrination.org entry #2.

University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

Sep. 25, 2002

http://www.ucsd.edu

Freshman Orientation

Required: Yes

Level of Bias: Objectionable

Comments: During this day-long mandatory "freshperson" (yes, that was a term used) orientation for Warren College at UCSD in Sept. 2000, students were required to attend various sessions and activities. Only one of these was related to academics - the planning of our course schedules. The afternoon and evening were devoted to games, role-playing, and other "sensitivity" programs. Most notable was a session in which the organizer would name a "victim" group (e.g., those from low-income families, those who had been racially discriminated against, those who were or were good friends with homosexuals, etc.) and the students who fit that category would stand until the next group was called. This served only to intimidate and embarrass those not standing, especially since the activity must have lasted for 30 or so rounds and each group was kept standing for about a minute. The organizer then decided to talk some - about how those who had stood up had more to deal with than others, about how no one has the right to be concerned about privacy if he/she has a homosexual roommate, etc. Rather than merely telling us to be respectful towards other people, those running the orientation went beyond and made this an exercise in thought reform. It was not a very promising start to one's first year of college.

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.