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Record for NoIndoctrination.org entry #298.

University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

Nov. 17, 2003

http://www.ucsd.edu

Course: DOC 1: Diversity

Course Catalog Description: This course focuses on sociocultural diversity in examining class, ethnicity, race, gender, and sexuality as significant markers of differences among persons. Emphasizing American society, it explores the understandings of diversity and its economic, moral and political consequences. [This course is required for all Marshall College students at UCSD. DOC stands for "Dimensions of Culture."]

Professor: Jason Kosnoski

Required? Met a General Ed./diversity/other requirement with a few course options.

Lecture Bias: Excessive

Comments: The only reason students showed up was because attendance was mandatory. Students would agree that his lectures didn't make any sense. He got flustered easily, drew ridiculous diagrams, and went off on tangents. I only say that lectures were biased because on the rare occasion he did talk about relevant stuff to the course, it was on the biased book. However, the "professor"* admitted that he was "to the extreme left" and would often crack jokes that bashed Bush and conservatives. I found this to be unprofessional and ostracizing. I felt uncomfortable as a Bush-supporter, and do not think anyone should feel that way in a classroom. While there is nothing wrong with learning the leftist (in this case EXCESSIVELY leftist) viewpoint, it is NOT ok to omit the other side of the story. [* Note: Lecturer Jason Kosnoski received his Ph.D. in May 2003, and is currently a post-doc at CUNY's Hunter College.]

Discussion Bias: Noticeable

Comments: Students were NOT encouraged to express opposing views. Each section was a frustrated attempt by the TA to reteach the course material because the lectures were so bad. The TA force-fed us material, and approached opinions in the course reader as if they were facts. I definitely did NOT feel comfortable expressing my viewpoints as a conservative. 1st of all, most of my peers do not even keep up with events and usually just go along with their emotions or what the liberal media tells them. They seemed to be already brainwashed by the material. DOC 1 had made them strongly believe what the TA taught. 2nd of all, the TA would express irritation when presented with a different viewpoint. She would argue against them, not to be devil's advocate, but to preach. The TA would really get upset. Some students in my discussion told me that they didn't like how the course was so close-minded. We were forced to write a paper that basically reiterated the leftist argument, as if we ourselves truly believed it. The paper prompt asked us to use the readings' "evidence" as to why certain groups are disenfranchised. They are basically asking you to use the biased essays to construct a similar opinion. When fellow students presented a different view and gave it to the TA to look over, she would mark it up and tell them to redo it. If you disagreed with the TAs or the readings you were marked down....which is basically telling us the students that we're wrong.

Readings Bias: Excessive

Comments: The required Course Reader was littered with strongly biased liberal bullshit written by many UCSD professors themselves. The entire course reader was noticeably BIASED. Some authors were Omi, Espiritu, Claire Kim, Steinberg. Some ideas they pushed were that Asians were not culturally inclined to do better; it is the politicking of whites. Another is that SATs are not an accurate measure and culturally biased and therefore should be taken outta schools. Another is that affirmative action is the right thing to do because minorities do not have the same opportunities/resources. They TOTALLY had an agenda.

General Comments: Here are 3 official statements by UC:1.) "The University also seeks to foster in its students a mature independence of mind, and this purpose cannot be achieved unless students and faculty are free within the classroom to express the widest range of viewpoints in accord with the standards of scholarly inquiry and professional ethics"; 2.) "Use of the position or powers of a faculty member to coerce the judgment or conscience of a student..." is considered "unacceptable" faculty conduct; and 3) "As teachers, the professors encourage the free pursuit of learning of their students. They hold before them the best scholarly standards of their discipline. Professors demonstrate respect for students as individuals and adhere to their proper roles as intellectual guides and counselors....They protect their [students'] academic freedom." These statements were NOT applied in this situation because of my above reasons. Ironically, a course labeled "diversity" offers NO diversity of OPINION at all. I am disappointed that a distinguished university such as UCSD would teach such one-sided garbage. Please note that I am not some bitter student that did poorly and am lashing out. I got one of 2 A's in the class, but did so at the cost of my beliefs.

Rebuttal

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