Indoctrinate-U

[Chulo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-zz1HwxIjg


Indoctrinate U is a 2007 American feature-length documentary film written by, directed by and starring Evan Coyne Maloney, on ideological conformism and political correctness in American higher education. Among other things, the film examines the use of institutional mechanisms such as speech codes, which are used to punish students who express political views that are unpopular within academia.
The film covers anti-military protests at UC Santa Cruz and San Francisco State University, treatment of conservative students at Cal Poly and the University of Tennessee, racial and ethnic politics at the University of Michigan and Yale, teaching at Duke and Columbia, among other subjects. It also includes interviews with David French and Greg Lukianoff, (then respectively president and director of legal and public advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education), Glenn Reynolds, Daniel Pipes and others.
Maloney spent two and a half years making the documentary by conducting interviews on various college campuses and with various thinkers. The film was preceded by two shorter versions, Brainwashing 101 and Brainwashing 201: The Second Semester. The two shorts led the 2004 American Film Renaissance festival to select Indoctrinate U as its "most anticipated documentary."
In March 2007, Maloney appeared on Hannity's America to discuss the film. On April 19 of the same year, he appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal where they showed clips from the film and took calls.
Indoctrinate U was produced by On the Fence Films with the support of the Moving Picture Institute, and Stuart Browning, Blaine Greenberg, and Thor Halvorssen. The film's executive producers are Stuart Browning and Blaine Greenberg. Its associate producer is Frayda Levy. It was edited by Chandler Tuttle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxSg2oRU6Bs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj9mVVyo2hY
and the rest of the clips are here
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=rickrocker&view=videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9Thgt7dEVw


I watched this last night on the Documentary Channel, quite an interesting show with some interesting facts.
The Documentary Channel will be showing Indoctrinate U next week as part of its "Controversy in America" series.
Monday, October 27th: 09:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Tuesday, October 28th: Midnight - 01:30 AM (after midnight Monday)
Saturday, November 1st: 05:00 PM - 06:30 PM
Sunday, November 2nd: 02:00 AM - 03:30 AM
Tuesday, November 4th: 03:00 AM - 04:30 AM
(All times Eastern U.S.)
The Documentary Channel is available on satellite and many cable systems nationwide. Check your provider for channel information.

[Wimbly]

That is a very eye opening documentary. I've experienced similar situations at my college. In fact, they sponsored a black supremacists group to speak at the school. What did they speak about? Enslaving white people.

I kid you not, white people were applauding during the speech.

[T.S.C.Plage]

Talk about indoctrination...

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=163621

[Chulo]

a few interesting points that the documentary makes, and I found an article or two about

Something is very wrong at our elite universities. Last month Larry Summers resigned as president of Harvard; today Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi will speak by video to a conference at Columbia University that his regime is cosponsoring. (Columbia won't answer questions about how much funding it got from Libya or what implied strings were attached.) Then there's Yale, which for three weeks has refused to make any comment or defense beyond a vague 144-word statement about its decision to admit Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi--a former ambassador-at-large of the murderous Afghan Taliban--as a special student. From the Wall Street Journal
http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110008127

Never mind that Sayed Ramathullah only has a 4th grade education

[Gleipnir]

There are plenty of options available to individuals when it comes to choosing an institution that can cater to ones specific ideology/religion/politics-

One has to be incredibly naive not to understand that institutions are there to institutionalize you. Of course, just because one disagrees with the ideological/political/religious agenda of the institution one is attending, one always has the option to stop attendance and to in turn cease giving the said institution their money.

Of course, who says you have to agree at all- there are plenty of ways to continue to pursue and fulfill your own interests and to get what you are paying for without agreeing with their ideological/religious/political 'indoctrination' and to actively resist institutionalization whilst pursuing a path that will have a mutual outcome for yourself and the institution involved.

Educational institutions have a variety of agendas to pursue, including but not limited to catering to the many different groups that provide crucial funding. They are trying to pursue their self-interests and if you are egotistical enough to believe that they owe you something by not trying to institutionalize you then you need a reality check.

Just my 2 cents.

[Havoc345]

That is a very eye opening documentary. I've experienced similar situations at my college. In fact, they sponsored a black supremacists group to speak at the school. What did they speak about? Enslaving white people.

I kid you not, white people were applauding during the speech.

Adam Corolla got it right when he said " For every racist white guy there is 25 white guys with white guilt ".

[Chulo]

There are plenty of options available to individuals when it comes to choosing an institution that can cater to ones specific ideology/religion/politics-

One has to be incredibly naive not to understand that institutions are there to institutionalize you. Of course, just because one disagrees with the ideological/political/religious agenda of the institution one is attending, one always has the option to stop attendance and to in turn cease giving the said institution their money.

Of course, who says you have to agree at all- there are plenty of ways to continue to pursue and fulfill your own interests and to get what you are paying for without agreeing with their ideological/religious/political 'indoctrination' and to actively resist institutionalization whilst pursuing a path that will have a mutual outcome for yourself and the institution involved.

Educational institutions have a variety of agendas to pursue, including but not limited to catering to the many different groups that provide crucial funding. They are trying to pursue their self-interests and if you are egotistical enough to believe that they owe you something by not trying to institutionalize you then you need a reality check.

Just my 2 cents.
All fine and true until the institution denies that there is no such bias and that they do their best to present knowledge not opinion. It obvious to us that everyone has bias, its just that the educational system thinks they have been able to leave it at the door.

[little icebear]

Good movie, raises important points. However, the maker´s got one thing wrong: The education system in pretty much every country and at all times included indoctrination. Not necessarily torwards right or left but generally in favour of the status quo.
Another point more important that actual education is simply sustaining a procedure of grading in order to make students comparable.

Another question: If the whole system for higher education in the US is commie-infested through and through - why is there no real, influential "left" in the US political scene? And don´t tell my anything about Obama and the Democratic party. Anyone who considers them to be leftist hasn´t met a real leftist in his lifetime. Aside from counterculter-leftovers and activism, there is no "left" that has any say in America´s politics.

[Ratamacue]

Good movie, raises important points. However, the maker´s got one thing wrong: The education system in pretty much every country and at all times included indoctrination. Not necessarily torwards right or left but generally in favour of the status quo.
Another point more important that actual education is simply sustaining a procedure of grading in order to make students comparable.

Another question: If the whole system for higher education in the US is commie-infested through and through - why is there no real, influential "left" in the US political scene? And don´t tell my anything about Obama and the Democratic party. Anyone who considers them to be leftist hasn´t met a real leftist in his lifetime. Aside from counterculter-leftovers and activism, there is no "left" that has any say in America´s politics.Because the people you find in politics are usually businessmen, not academics.

[Chulo]

Good movie, raises important points. However, the maker´s got one thing wrong: The education system in pretty much every country and at all times included indoctrination. Not necessarily torwards right or left but generally in favour of the status quo.
Another point more important that actual education is simply sustaining a procedure of grading in order to make students comparable.

Another question: If the whole system for higher education in the US is commie-infested through and through - why is there no real, influential "left" in the US political scene? And don´t tell my anything about Obama and the Democratic party. Anyone who considers them to be leftist hasn´t met a real leftist in his lifetime. Aside from counterculter-leftovers and activism, there is no "left" that has any say in America´s politics.
Bringing up Obama, look at his mentors like Ayers. They were radical left advocates.
Where is the left? The 60's activist who were 20 are now the 60 year old professors that are influencing the youth in college, its a gradual integration into society that is the danger.

[little icebear]

Because the people you find in politics are usually businessmen, not academics.

In that case - why worry? p-) They do their... well, whatever lefties do, within the ivory towers of academia and as soon as their students graduate and enter the real world of capitalism they grow up and adjust to reality. :)

[little icebear]

Bringing up Obama, look at his mentors like Ayers. They were radical left advocates.


Well, what is Obama doing in terms of foreign policy? He´s still in Iraq, he´s still in Afghanistan.

From the perspective of a young Ayers, he would be judged as the face of American imperialism.
Someone who´s blowing up military and government buildings can hardly be regarded as the "mentor" of a president who persues a policy that involves the American military doing evil imperialistic nation-building and COIN in "liberated" nations, can he?

[Chulo]

Well, what is Obama doing in terms of foreign policy? He´s still in Iraq, he´s still in Afghanistan.

From the perspective of a young Ayers, he would be judged as the face of American imperialism.
Someone who´s blowing up military and government buildings can hardly be regarded as the "mentor" of a president who persues a policy that involves the American military doing evil imperialistic nation-building and COIN in "liberated" nations, can he?
Well Ayers was the mentor to Obama, there is enough connection between to them show it was more than just "incidental".

[little icebear]

Whatever being a "mentor" might means... maybe Ayers has changed, maybe he is not so much of Obama´s mentor afterall - however: Even if Obama is a leftie from a Bush-supporting, McCain/Pailin voting, mp.net surfing p-) Republican´s POV - his policies do not resemble late 60s, Mao-quoting and Vietcong supporting, far-left only a dead imperialist is a good imperialist- views.
In most countries of the western world, he could blend in with the more liberal members of the resident conservative parties. He´s certainly no "radical", so how does it show that Ayers is his "mentor"? Last time I saw pictures of Obama alongside a soldier, he pinned a medal on his chest - he did not spit in his face as a young Ayers would probably have done...

[Chulo]

Whatever being a "mentor" might means... maybe Ayers has changed, maybe he is not so much of Obama´s mentor afterall - however: Even if Obama is a leftie from a Bush-supporting, McCain/Pailin voting, mp.net surfing p-) Republican´s POV - his policies do not resemble late 60s, Mao-quoting and Vietcong supporting, far-left only a dead imperialist is a good imperialist- views.
In most countries of the western world, he could blend in with the more liberal members of the resident conservative parties. He´s certainly no "radical", so how does it show that Ayers is his "mentor"? Last time I saw pictures of Obama alongside a soldier, he pinned a medal on his chest - he did not spit in his face as a young Ayers would probably have done...
Like you said, as "young Ayers" would have done, Ayers has changed and knows how the play the system from the inside, but he still preachings the same thing. He understands that being a "radical terrorist" is not a good idea at this time.
It would be idiotic to think that someone in Obama's position would use his platform to rail against the very nation he was voted to run, but he can use the platform to further the ideas.

How is Ayers and Obama connected? Well there are enough stories and articles written about that. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/08/the_william_ayers_connection.html

And I understand the concept of "leftest" is different in each nation, but this documentary is specifically about the U.S , a professor that calls an Kuwaiti a terrorist just for the reason that the student wrote a pro-American paper? The fact that 80 to 90 % of professors in general identify or have registered with the Democratic party?

[little icebear]

Although it is true, that a concept of anti-patriotism or anti-nationalism that disregards flying or honoring the flag and to pledge allegiance to the nation is unheard of amongst the right and exclusively found amongst certain factions of the left (as seen in the movie), it does strike me as kind of odd, that being "pro"-american is reserved for the right while being anti-american is being used synonymously with being "left"...

But that´s probably material for a whole thread of its own. What I was after: If far-left ideas are so widespread amongst academica - where are the commies in the Congress and the White House? I do understand that there is leftist influence in terms of domestic issues, but there is no visible influence in American foreign policy - the very topic which has seen the most vocal opposition from leftists in the past.


Like you said, as "young Ayers" would have done, Ayers has changed and knows how the play the system from the inside

Maybe he simply changed from a stupid, angry young radical into a smarter, older moderate who learned that it is not right to plant bombs and burn down houses for "the greater good".

[bigfootsf]

San Francisco State. Nothing there would really surprise me. I remember three academics I had:

1. Nasally voiced Poli Sci 101 teacher, spent 1 month on Watergate. You know, out of the entirety of American political history. (This was before 9/11 and what I presume is now a monthlong study of the USA Patriot Act.) About three weeks and four days into it, a student (who happened to be a white guy) finally asked, "Look, I know Watergate was important, but what was the point of all this?" She became quite terse with him and snapped that it was a turning point in American political history. Lesson: never get between the Baby Boomers and their legacy.

2. International Relations 104 buffoon professor. Tried to tell us that the movie/book "Being There" was about the numbing of the American people by right-wing politicians and the military/industrial complex. I thought about raising my hand and saying, "Actually, the whole point of the book is that the main character is retarded and it's a satire on American politics." But I kept my mouth shut. He was too good for us to stick around to administer the final exam and instead went off to monitor the elections in Argentina, where I'm sure his pompous, self-righteous act went over great there.

3. Big, barrel-chested geography professor with a horrible case of rosacea. Hobbled around on a pair of crutches, sneering like one of the creatures from "The Dark Crystal". I had pegged him for an ex-officer, of everyone I had met, but hated the military the government. Occasionally made snide references to the dopey frat boys in the back. Once ******ly harassed a student going around making announcements by asking her, in front of the entire class, "Are you good in bed?" He disappeared shortly thereafter, after being in a bad car accident where he hit a pedestrian and subsequently lost his own legs. I felt bad for the pedestrian.

[Noons86]

As a recent college graduate, whenever this subject comes up I feel the need to rush to the defense of my former teachers.

One thing to be noted, however. Before rushing to judgement of many of our universities, we should remember that most of them pay their football coaches at least 10x as much as any of their radical professors. So if we are to measure their values/agendas in terms of money allocation...

[Chulo]

Maybe he simply changed from a stupid, angry young radical into a smarter, older moderate who learned that it is not right to plant bombs and burn down houses for "the greater good".
That would be a nice idea, but except for what he still "preaches" in his lectures show that he still holds the same ideas. He just doesnt want to risk taking action.

[Chulo]

As a recent college graduate, whenever this subject comes up I feel the need to rush to the defense of my former teachers.

One thing to be noted, however. Before rushing to judgement of many of our universities, we should remember that most of them pay their football coaches at least 10x as much as any of their radical professors. So if we are to measure their values/agendas in terms of money allocation...
So you are saying just because they get paid less they should be compensated by letting their personal and political views be soapboxed in the class room?

[Danik]

Good movie, raises important points. However, the maker´s got one thing wrong: The education system in pretty much every country and at all times included indoctrination. Not necessarily torwards right or left but generally in favour of the status quo.
Another point more important that actual education is simply sustaining a procedure of grading in order to make students comparable.

Another question: If the whole system for higher education in the US is commie-infested through and through - why is there no real, influential "left" in the US political scene? And don´t tell my anything about Obama and the Democratic party. Anyone who considers them to be leftist hasn´t met a real leftist in his lifetime. Aside from counterculter-leftovers and activism, there is no "left" that has any say in America´s politics.

If you are sitting in a class taught by a leftist academic than most likely you are:

A) Earning a degree that leads you to being a college professor or a waiter in NYC

B) Taking a non-degree course for the required credits

Out of four years I can only remember one professor who took his politics into the classroom, the students shouted him down until he got back to the topic at hand, Accounting.

[Havoc345]

If you are sitting in a class taught by a leftist academic than most likely you are:

A) Earning a degree that leads you to being a college professor or a waiter in NYC

B) Taking a non-degree course for the required credits

Out of four years I can only remember one professor who took his politics into the classroom, the students shouted him down until he got back to the topic at hand, Accounting.

Spot on on that I can't even count on my hands and toes how many people I worked with in retail who had nonsense degrees like "Human Development" or extremely general degrees in Psychology or some BS Social Science Degree.

[3rdMillhouse]

Brazilian universities are exactly like that, the only political view you can express is leftist liberal political view, if you're either centrist or right-wing then you're labeled as either a nazi or a facist.

PS: that's what happens when you let the commies infiltrate academia

[Zoomie]

If you are sitting in a class taught by a leftist academic than most likely you are:

A) Earning a degree that leads you to being a college professor or a waiter in NYC

B) Taking a non-degree course for the required credits

Out of four years I can only remember one professor who took his politics into the classroom, the students shouted him down until he got back to the topic at hand, Accounting.
Or you're just plain ignorant, and generalizing something you know nothing about. I can name about a dozen classes I had that were taught by leftist academics, and they were all part of my degree, and #1 clearly doesn't apply to me.

[Danik]

Or you're just plain ignorant, and generalizing something you know nothing about. I can name about a dozen classes I had that were taught by leftist academics, and they were all part of my degree, and #1 clearly doesn't apply to me.


Number one implies that you are not making money as is the purpose of the university: to prepare you for a career.

I may be generalizing but degrees in engineering, finance, economics, medicine, etc do not require hours and hours of sociology and ethnic studies where a leftist academic can get away with lecturing his opinions instead of teaching.

On to the actual movie...it has more to do with silencing dissent among both students and professors at the institutional level, not the classroom.

The fact that it is a problem on campus should be of concern to all, regardless of political affiliation.

[budgie]

How is Ayers and Obama connected? Well there are enough stories and articles written about that. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/08/the_william_ayers_connection.html

The tenuous connections to Ayers aren't enough to make Obama a 'leftist'. Mentor? Pffft. If anything he used the guy as a political stepping stone and dropped him when it became inconvenient. Obama isn't a radical - he's a pragmatist. And unfortunately, as the Ayers case demonstrates, a politician through and through.


And I understand the concept of "leftest" is different in each nation, but this documentary is specifically about the U.S , a professor that calls an Kuwaiti a terrorist just for the reason that the student wrote a pro-American paper? The fact that 80 to 90 % of professors in general identify or have registered with the Democratic party?

Unfortunately the concept is universal. Right Wing America cannot just insist that in their paradigm, the Democrats are leftist. They may be left of center but there are many many degrees between them and Karl Marx.