'Indoctrine U' raises brows, offers insight
Politics on Wheels
Emily Barry
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: The Other
Due to the existence of a large majority of political liberals in universities, Maloney argues that politically liberal ideas have formed a monopoly covering the intellectual ideals propagated in higher education.
First of all, let me get this out in the open: I am a liberal. But I'm a liberal who dislikes Michael Moore movies - a lot.
I believe that dirty reporting is dirty reporting, regardless of which side it's from.
It seems to me as though Maloney took a page right out of Michael Moore's Book of Propaganda when he made "Indoctrinate U," complete with guerilla reporting and sarcastic narration.
It spent a good deal of time arguing for actual conservative political stances. By using so much of its time arguing against affirmative action and student-led protests on army recruitment, "Indoctrinate U" failed in its attempt at a statement on academic justice.
For instance: a girl is harassed by fellow students and a professor because she writes a letter to the editor against affirmative action. Fair enough, right? No one should be bullied out of their beliefs.
Maloney takes it a step further, however, and spends about 20 minutes assisting the girl in arguing against this political stance with expert usage of video footage and professorial comments.
I could make the argument that many conservatives make to those who "victimize" themselves.
Something to the tune of: "This is the American economy. Sometimes you have to give up a little bit of your culture and your dignity to please The Man. If you want to get ahead, you have to learn to fit in; if you're being oppressed, it's probably your own fault."
Sound familiar? But I don't think that's true. I really do think that being discriminated against for your beliefs, or for any reason, is reprehensible.
I think it's important for students and faculty to join up in a movement to prevent this discrimination from either side.
I don't, however, think that "Indoctrinate U" stood up to its own goals.
First of all, let me get this out in the open: I am a liberal. But I'm a liberal who dislikes Michael Moore movies - a lot.
I believe that dirty reporting is dirty reporting, regardless of which side it's from.
It seems to me as though Maloney took a page right out of Michael Moore's Book of Propaganda when he made "Indoctrinate U," complete with guerilla reporting and sarcastic narration.
It spent a good deal of time arguing for actual conservative political stances. By using so much of its time arguing against affirmative action and student-led protests on army recruitment, "Indoctrinate U" failed in its attempt at a statement on academic justice.
For instance: a girl is harassed by fellow students and a professor because she writes a letter to the editor against affirmative action. Fair enough, right? No one should be bullied out of their beliefs.
Maloney takes it a step further, however, and spends about 20 minutes assisting the girl in arguing against this political stance with expert usage of video footage and professorial comments.
I could make the argument that many conservatives make to those who "victimize" themselves.
Something to the tune of: "This is the American economy. Sometimes you have to give up a little bit of your culture and your dignity to please The Man. If you want to get ahead, you have to learn to fit in; if you're being oppressed, it's probably your own fault."
Sound familiar? But I don't think that's true. I really do think that being discriminated against for your beliefs, or for any reason, is reprehensible.
I think it's important for students and faculty to join up in a movement to prevent this discrimination from either side.
I don't, however, think that "Indoctrinate U" stood up to its own goals.