When the Man Behind the Curtain Just Stops Hiding...

http://www.americablog.com/2011/05/charles-koch-to-approve-new-professors.html

A foundation bankrolled by Libertarian businessman Charles G. Koch has pledged $1.5 million for positions in Florida State University's economics department. In return, his representatives get to screen and sign off on any hires for a new program promoting "political economy and free enterprise."

Traditionally, university donors have little official input into choosing the person who fills a chair they've funded. The power of university faculty and officials to choose professors without outside interference is considered a hallmark of academic freedom.

Under the agreement with the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, however, faculty only retain the illusion of control. The contract specifies that an advisory committee appointed by Koch decides which candidates should be considered. The foundation can also withdraw its funding if it's not happy with the faculty's choice or if the hires don't meet "objectives" set by Koch during annual evaluations.

This is out and out lunacy. As something of an academic in recovery, I have to say it raises every metaphorical hackle in my body to read about the obscenely wealthy using their obscene wealth to basically buy university curriculum. That isn't to say a true marxist couldn't argue that the power elite always stands to benefit and dictates what is relevant in most cases regarding many of the institutions in a capitalistic society. It in many cases establishes the cannon, or core curriculum as well as the standards in which academic pursuits are accomplished, but rarely have I seen such a case where a slush fund is insisting upon using its influence to side step a democratic hiring committee.

I won't be so naive to suggest that these sorts of power elites don't generally wield such power...but to basically install your own curriculum and then your own personal pick for the educators providing it comes across as a crass, bold step in an increasingly artificial process. Its a sad day for higher education.

Lock Out- Homophobia and Sports Culture

A few thoughts spring to mind when I read a study like this on College Sports and Gay Athletes:

(1.) I really miss doing social research from time to time- especially the really relevant things like peeling back the social complexity of homophobia in entrenched "hypermasculine" environments,

(2.) The internalized self loathing involved in some of these stories is staggeringly difficult to read about...to have been on the receiving end of it must be emotionally exhausting, I get why it would be safer to stay closeted for the entirety of one's career...but its inexcusable to put that sort of strain on people psychologically in the long term.

(3.) I really need to make a decision about what to do about school over the next month or so...burning the proverbial daylight.

(4.) I'm dubious about whether or not homophobia in sports is waining as much as the article suggests- I brought this up in class yesterday; or more aptly the scenario surrounding the Kobe Bryant "F-bomb" and the rationalizations were mixed and perplexing. Some students did the "he didn't mean the slur as a slur" rationalization, others , the "everybody in sports does it so it must be okay" argument, and still others the "people in the sub-culture (gay people) refer to themselves as f-bombs...if Kobe was gay would it matter?" *facepalm* We're going to have to reboot this discussion it seems...some of them are juuust on the verge of connecting to the idea that slurs and stigma have a purpose, and that purpose is fulfilled based on context.

I showed the group a few skits from the Chappelle Show, and am curious about whether or not they laugh AT or WITH the joke. Is the marginalized group "funny" or is it funny because racism is stupid? I'll update this as we revisit it in class tomorrow. Internalized self loathing seems a good place to begin. Fun times.

Some Sneaker Pimps to get the day going- "Low Place Like Home"

My Campus > Yours.

As a mildly underemployed adjunct, I've had the luxury of parusing a few community colleges around Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and on the whole am well pleased with the range and depth of the curriculum. The campuses? Not always sterling, but a bargain at any price. That said, here's a ranking of 10 community colleges that will likely out shine anything I'll ever teach at (Middlesex County College's main campus was pretty grand mind you) , but it bares consideration.

http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2010/11/18/10-most-beautiful-community-colleges-in-america/

Also? British Sea Power is one of those bands I hear on occasion, am reminded I adore...and forget to add to my rotation. This track? Just perfect.