Accuracy in Academia is one of several conservative organisations that is disturbed by the alleged free-thinking, free-wheelin’ progressivism of academia. They believe that postsecondary education is too progressive and provides fertile territory for the avante-garde and criticism of all things America. Some of these policing groups are aggressively pursuing an agenda of ideological exclusivity such as Students for Academic Freedom; others are more bipartisan and less driven by ideology such as FIRE. If only they knew how deeply conservative academia is and how difficult it is for progressives generally to survive in higher education in the United States unless they suppress their ideological weltanschaung and desire for peace, social democracy, and the replacement of unregulated capitalism. For every university that tolerates progressive faculty, ten do not. The evidence is simply overwhelming here although one may dispute the provocative ratio. Mr Kline came across my review of A.A.U.P. President Cary Nelson, No University is an Island and sought clarification of some points. I was happy to oblige.
From: Mal Kline
Sent: Tue 12/28/2010 9:24 AM
To: Kirstein, Peter N.
Subject: book review question
Dear Dr. Kirstein,
I enjoyed your book review…but had two questions:
1. You write of “a nation that proclaims itself as the leader of the ‘free world’ despite abandoning apartheid only forty years ago.” Since the civil rights laws and court decisions all went through in the 1960s and “apartheid” in South Africa ended with Nelson Mandela, I was puzzled by the reference. Could you enlighten me?
2. You write that Roger Bowen “suggested seeking external funding from Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.” When did he do this? Did he do so publicly? Full disclosure, my own relations with him have been less than amicable—Bowen that is. I never met the other chap.
Thank you so much for entertaining these inquiries.
Mal Kline
Executive Director
Accuracy in Academia
Suite 330
4455 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, D. C. 20008
(202)364-3085
From: Kirstein, Peter N.
Sent: Tue 12/28/2010 9:49 AM
To: Mal Kline
Subject: RE: book review question
Dear Mr Kline:
2) On p. 213 of Cary Nelson, No University is an Island, he states that Roger Bowen {then General Secretary of A.A.U.P.} suggested buying a couple of buildings with Hugo Chávez’s support. President Nelson states “the proposal never left the office.” There is no reference to when the idea was bruited about.
Best wishes,
