Oct. 15, 2007

American Studies on Offense and Defense

Nicholas Bromell started off his presentation at the American Studies Association meeting on Friday by asking a packed room of participants if they knew the names of any conservative think tanks that are powerful in Washington. Groups like the Heritage Foundation were quickly named by the professors. Bromell, a professor of English at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, then asked if they could name any liberal groups, and the audience was stumped.

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Amy Kaplan, an English professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said that the session was designed to encourage more professors on the left to reach out to Washington and to think about the policy implications of their work. It’s not just getting the attention of policy makers, she said, but a question of “how we can listen” so as to shape ideas that can be executed.

There was general agreement at the session that American studies scholars needed to do more to engage with the public. But at other sessions, professors spoke with some concern about the way some members of the public are trying to hinder their work.

At the session on political engagement, Bromell described one such effort to promote engagement: the History and Democracy Project, a new organization of history and cultural studies scholars trying to set up Washington meetings that will bring together scholars and legislative aides or lawmakers. A debut program will take place in January at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, on “The Liberal Foreign Policy Tradition: Pluses, Problems, and Prospects.”

Having these discussions will create dilemmas for the academic left, Bromell said, where many feel that the Democratic Party is too centrist. “We may need to compromise a bit on our politics,” he said, to reach people.

Historians in particular may be able to score points with the public through comparisons rather than direct policy suggestions, said Mai Ngai, professor of history at Columbia University and a scholar of how immigrants — legal and otherwise — have been treated throughout American history. Her book on the topic ends in 1965, so she initially thought she would have little to add to discussions of current policy.

But she said that she has found op-ed editors like “a usable past” and she is able to thus get attention for key ideas. For example, she has been writing about how there once was a statute of limitations on immigration status, unlike today. Just telling people that, she said, makes them think about whether current policies are the best approach.

Likewise, writing pieces for the public showing that many generations of Americans arrived in the U.S. without required documentation shows them that “illegal status is not an innate condition,” and does not mean “bad character,” she said, only that “illegality is a product of law.”

Another approach for professors may be in how they train graduate students. Dana D. Nelson described a graduate seminar, to be called “Democracy in Action,” that she is planning in American studies at Vanderbilt University. The course will mix books on democratic theory and participatory politics with actual community engagement. Students will be required to do 20 hours of work in a nonprofit or activist group in Nashville and the final course requirement will be a research project for that group. (She stressed that students could work with any group they wanted.)

At another session, however, panelists talked about encounters with members of the public who are trying to limit their work. Louis Mendoza, chair of Chicano studies at the University of Minnesota, said that the classroom is increasingly a “battleground,” with students (or their parents, in calls to department chairs or deans) demanding “balance” and wanting books added or subtracted from course lists.

Mendoza said that he thinks more of these students and parents have never heard of David Horowitz, the conservative activist who has pushed for the right to make such demands, but that his ideas have taken hold. Mendoza said that he isn’t besieged by calls, but that there are “consistent” complaints, especially when professors criticize U.S. policies. “Criticism of U.S. policy is seen as treasonous,” he said.

In some cases, these complaints are organized and intense, he said. Last year, an adjunct in his program, who is active in immigration issues from a pro-immigrant stance, was filmed by a local television station in verbal jousting with an anti-immigrant activist at competing rallies. While the woman only spends a little of her time at the university, and was not speaking at the rally in any way related to the university, calls poured in demanding her ouster, asking for the syllabus she used in class, and disparaging her. Her university connection was seen as the way to go after her, he said.

While the university didn’t fire her, Mendoza said that the incident pointed to the vulnerability of professors whose views challenge conventional thinking. He tried to turn the scrutiny into a positive thing: When he sent out copies of her syllabus to those calling to complain, he took the time to include a note saying of the books she assigned: “These are good works — you should read them.”

— Scott Jaschik

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Comments

As a professor of history I know that history professors are the worst judge of future events. Get a group of historians together and we can’t agree on what happaned in the past. So why ask us to predict the future. Look at any history book where the author has tried to sum up his work with a prediction of what the future holds. It is always good for a laugh.

As for Liberal Think Tanks. Perhaps most people can’t name one because they think of far-left think tanks as being moderate or even correct and not politically driven. They are wrong, but that might be why some people can’t name one.

Wesley, at 7:40 am EDT on October 15, 2007

Political Expression in Class

Why do students have to know your political, or religious, orientation in class? I’m of an older generation(age 73), but I have always sought objectivity and detachment in the classroom, so that my students wrestle with THEIR opinions, not mine. I am a moderate in most things and a classroom advocate in none.

Sol Gittleman, University Professor at Tufts University, at 8:25 am EDT on October 15, 2007

Example of Wesley’s thesis

When I read that few or none of the American Studies Association attendees could immediately name a liberal think tank, I immediately thought of a couple. There was the New America Foundation, for example. And the Ford Foundation. I also thought of the Brookings Institution as a liberal think tank although a little research showed me that the Brookings is properly more centrist. Since I am conservative and could name at least two liberal think tanks, and also regarded a centrist one as liberal, I can present myself as at least one example of what Wesley’s talking about. It’s easier to remember the institutions on the other side of most issues.

Jack Olson, at 8:25 am EDT on October 15, 2007

How often are liberal think tanks introduced on television as “liberal?”

Yet, I defy anyone to find an example of a conservative think tank NOT being introduced as “Conservative.”

No wonder they can’t identify them as “liberal.”

Charlie Bravo, at 9:05 am EDT on October 15, 2007

embarrassing

This is embarrassing. They can’t name liberal think-tanks, because they are so outside the policy-making establishment (even though they claim to study it) that they have no idea what people do in Washington.

As to the silly argument about “illegality being a creature of the law” this is a very long-running discourse in jurisprudence (perhaps THE most important one). It is surprising and disturbing that they don’t even realize this, and instead reduce it to a pithy saying.

Regarding parental involvement. First of all, any student that has his parents call doesn’t belong in college. Secondly, parents can generally be brushed off since they don’t know what they are talking about, anyway.

I am also curious as to know why these people are so convinced that their political goals and ideologies are so similar. Is it because they just assume that they agree but don’t actually discuss anything in depth?

Finally, requiring students to do work, for free, for a non-profit or whatever is beyond silly. Does anyone really think that forcing people to “volunteer” is going to teach people anything? Does anyone think that such labor (by students with little or no skills) is actually valued?

Larry, at 9:10 am EDT on October 15, 2007

Is Mendoza’s “Labelmaker 3000″ dropping some letters?

To illustrate public criticism directed toward professors, Mendoza cites the experience of a woman he describes as “...an adjunct in his program, who is active in immigration issues from a pro-immigrant stance.”

Was she, by chance, pro-ILLEGAL-immigrant? Does Dr. Mendoza not allow for such a distinction? I can’t say that, even down here in the bad ol’ backward South, I’ve ever heard of anyone who is anti-LEGAL-immigrant.

This is the kind of obfuscation that engenders public distrust and incites demands for greater accountability from recipients of public money.

When public money is being used to support agendas that an overwhelming majority believes is not in the public good, yes, you shouldn’t be surprised that “...calls poured in demanding her ouster, asking for the syllabus she used in class, and disparaging her. Her university connection was seen as THE WAY [my emphasis] to go after her, he said.”

No, her university connection was the REASON to go after her. Academic freedom does not extend into my paycheck—and acting as if it does WILL prompt “stalinist” accusations and public outcry... duh!

NOLAvol, at 9:10 am EDT on October 15, 2007

I agree with Dr. Gittleman’s comment. I have taken pride in dealing with bioethical topics that the class can have a great discussion of different sides of an issue without being able to say where I stand at the end. It is more important for the students to hear/discuss the issues than to know my leanings. I reject the idea of education as “indoctrination” and believe that our dependence on public funds makes it far more important to model free and critical thinking than to lead students to a particular viewpoint.

Philip Fox, at 10:50 am EDT on October 15, 2007

It’s easy for American Studies professors to enter the public fray and work on policy matters. All they have to do is alter their language, change their attitude toward politicians, acknowledge that some conservative and libertarian viewpoints have some validity in the public square, and learn to compromise on public policy.

Mark, at 11:30 am EDT on October 15, 2007

Infantilizing students

“Regarding parental involvement. First of all, any student that has his parents call doesn’t belong in college. Secondly, parents can generally be brushed off since they don’t know what they are talking about, anyway.”

A good point, if somewhat bluntly stated. This seems to be an American phenomenon. I complain a lot about my university infantilizing students. But this interference by parents in the education of their adult children is really quite mind-boggling. How do American professors deal with this?

Diana Relke, Professor at U. of Saskatchewan, at 1:40 pm EDT on October 15, 2007

Think Tanks and Volunteerism

I never even knew what a think tank WAS until I moved to the DC Metro area. I didn’t find out until some time around 2001. And I’m not a kiddie, either.

No one values volunteerism? Come on, Mr. Larry. Without volunteers, we wouldn’t have a fire department in many places. We wouldn’t have historic preservation. We wouldn’t have people sheltering the homeless or feeding the hungry or visiting the sick or teaching religious education or helping out in schools....shall I go on??

kgotthardt, at 1:45 pm EDT on October 15, 2007

On being taken seriously

Last week’s IHE story on this convention mentioned that American Studies sought to be taken more “seriously.”

Let’s see .. English professors in the public policy area. Are they academic experts on language in public policy? Reviewed publications? Academic books?

History professors in the public policy area: academic experts on the history of public policy? Reviewed publications? Academic books?

Buzz, at 1:45 pm EDT on October 15, 2007

Social Studies Unity

I have been a high school history teacher for 15 years, and I absolutely expect that when I am at a department meeting everyone assumes that only liberal democrats are in the room. If you disagree folks don’t get angry, it’s just that you have spoiled the mood, the togetherness of the event. Liberal staff bond by talking smack about the President, the war, NCLB or whatever. If you defend the war or the president, you change a bonding experience into a debate. It just isn’t done. I have also seen teachers alienated for their moderately conservative views, and I have been accused of being sexist and racist for suppporting the invasion of Afghanistan. I have seen a female teacher cry because a kid inadvertantly outed her as a republican to the leftist department chair. The few conservative teachers around you are not clueless. I bet there were conservatives in that meeting, they have just been around long enough to know not to speak up. (This is NOT a knock on all leftist teachers. Some of the most radical teachers I have taught with were also the most open to debating and discussing. )Dennymack

dennymack, teacher, at 2:10 pm EDT on October 15, 2007

Parental Interference

“But this interference by parents in the education of their adult children is really quite mind-boggling.”

When the financial aid office stops using the income and assets of parents to decide how much the student will have to pay for their education, then perhaps parents can be criticized for “interfering.” It is one thing (and a wrong thing) for a parent to call a professor to complain about a grade or to plead a student’s case for a late project. It is something completely different to expect a parent to pay a significant amount of money for an “education” for the student only to have the student receive not an education but a one-sided, incomplete, and in many cases inaccurate exposure to propoganda.

Parents should “interfere” when professors are not educating but proselytizing for a pet cause or belief.

scholar*mom, at 2:30 pm EDT on October 15, 2007

response to ScholarMom

scholar*mom, While financial aid can be determined based on the parents’ income, the parents are not the customers. Naturally it is nice to be polite to parents, but this isn’t elementary school and parents are not the PTA. Helicopter parents are either annoying or funny. But, at bottom, they are entitled to nothing. If your child can’t handle college on his own you failed as a parent. You had eighteen years.

Larry, at 2:50 pm EDT on October 15, 2007

It’s rather telling that requests for balance in classroom presentation would be attacked as creating a “battleground.” Who needs David Horowitz when even the teachers in question admit that they “battle” the very idea of balance?

JBM, at 6:10 pm EDT on October 15, 2007

Scholarmom and Larry:

Scholar mom: you are spot on — I couldn’t agree with you more.

Larry: it is not that a parent’s income CAN be used to determine financial aid, it is that it IS used. I — as the parent of current and past college students — am at least as much a “customer” as my children are — I’m paying the bills! Moreover, as a taxpaying citizen of this country, I am a stakeholder in higher education — and that includes all those so-called “private” colleges that receive millions in tax breaks. I’m not advocating “helicopter parents,” but colleges and universities and their employed professors most certainly should not take a cavalier attitude toward parents.

PA Man, at 8:40 pm EDT on October 15, 2007

“English professors in the public policy area. Are they academic experts on language in public policy? Reviewed publications? Academic books?”

Um....Buzz...you don’t need Wonk jargon to write policy. You need someone who can read, think, take into account a variety of opinions, and then write.

If you want jargon, send the final copy off to the “jargon department” to translate it. Obviously neither you nor I work in that department.

kgotthardt, at 5:30 am EDT on October 16, 2007

replies

kgotthardt, Volunteer fire departments work because they require a serious long-term commitment from the individuals involved who all join (mostly but not completely) out of the goodness of their heart. They have organized programs of training. They are not made up of people that spend a semester playing around because some professor wants them to know that fire is hot! The same is true for a lot of historic preservation. It isn’t about dilettantes. The other things you mention can (and in fact are) done by paid staff. Personally, I think it is a little sick to order college students (most of which have absolutely no skills) to deprive the market of unskilled positions.

Parents that help out in schools, I think, are useless, and the practice should stop. But, that is another issue.

Ms. Relke, How American professors deal with parents is the subject of a number of blogs and the like. Most of the time they are ignored. Some departments pay them lip-service, but since students can easily withdraw from classes there is little need to make lasting changes.

I actually think that Buzz has a point here. The English professors in this article really have no clue about the public policy discourse in the first place. Do they really expect to be taken seriously with no public policy background at all? Public policy is a serious subject. It isn’t just a bunch of vague political views, but, if done right requires a sophisticated knowledge of the subject as well as a legal education. These people seem to despise both of them.

Larry, at 5:30 am EDT on October 16, 2007

The media is the left’s think tank

Professors ‘on the left’ have no need to reach out to Washington or ‘to think about policy implications of their work.’ The mainstream media—TV, radio and print—does all this for them. The media and its Dan Rathers, Tom Brokaws, etc. are the think tanks of the left! And, scholar mom’s comments are so well put. We parents are the customers and without us, there would be far fewer college students, which might not be such a bad state of affairs.

Amy De Rosa, at 4:05 pm EDT on October 16, 2007

WTF?

” .. Um....Buzz...you don’t need Wonk jargon to write policy. You need someone who can read, think, take into account a variety of opinions, and then write ..”

That is NOT the job description of an academic, an expert authority in a specific field.

That is the job description of a public policy analyst (e.g., Concord Coalition, Democrat, Republican, et al.)

If someone wants to go work for the Democrats, et al. — get out of academia.

Academia is supposed to be for authoritative experts with clear, cool objectivity and intellectual rigor, and who can teach. Not political operatives and political hacks.

Buzz, at 7:20 pm EDT on October 16, 2007

American Studies and German Romanticism

It would be interesting to know if American Studies has reformed itself since I attended its very ideological meeting in 1990. I have often complained here about the propensity of cultural studies in general to claim competence in history and political science, without training in these rigorous, archive-driven fields. But I have not commented before that American Studies, with its notions of national character, is derived from the organicism of German Romanticism and its postulation of “national character."At the 1990 meeting, several of the leading speakers were literally screaming at the audience regarding the horrors of American racism, sexism, classism, destruction of nature, etc. Among the rank-and-file membership, there were less hysterical teachers whom I respected, but it is thought by many professionals that the field is extremely weak. Members of this list might want to look into the foundations of the field itself, and I believe they will be surprised at the flimsy (counter-Enlightenment) basis for their methodology—actually a subject that has from time to time exercised some of their members.

clare spark, Independent Scholar, at 9:15 pm EDT on October 16, 2007

All Americans should serve their country in some capacity for at least a year. Volunteer work has opened many young people’s eyes to the real world and what we need to do to make it a better place for all.Plus, very few people value what is given to them as much as what they have to work for. Maybe we should all have to completed service to our country before we are given citizenship.

Dawn, at 7:20 am EDT on October 17, 2007

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