New "Just Societies" Requirement at George Mason University

I have a grid-type holder with 96 colored markers and pencils, for fashion drawing. What do you think the most cynical colour is? Do I hear Cerulean Blue? Good choice - I hate it. Color me with that one!

This is what it is. Yes, Steve - Indoctrination is the operative word. Additionally, it might be a good gimmick. It could appeal to some parents with college-age children. The parents' youthful idealism never flowered and eventually withered. They regret that. Instead, they successfully achieved high financial standing. Now they want to achieve those long-lost ideals through their kids. So -- Mom and Dad talk them into going to George Mason, and gladly pay the shot?

Likely - not very. Possible - yes. Just barely.

 

We had a Prime Minister 50 years ago who used to talk a LOT about the "Just Society." All the talk came to nothing much, although he did get things de-criminalized for LGBTQ+. I think that was a very good step in the right direction. That man was Pierre Trudeau - father of the incumbent, Justin Trudeau. "Just Society?" Never gonna happen. Human nature is what it is. And politicians are what they are.

 

I see how we have to add a "values outcome" on every syllabus and fail to comprehend why this new GMU gimmick is any different. Or, mandatory ethics and religion courses in the core. It was like this for centuries, Steve, and it arguably never was any other way. It just ticks off different sets of people in case of "justice", and a good chunk of these people look very hard for something, anything, to be ticked off about.
Besides, GMU is not the only university in the country. Liberty, Oral Roberts, and Hillsdale still exist - and I can live with that. Just let my kid check out a dictionary (rhetorically - I'll buy her a dictionary if Zieglers mess up our county completely).

 

This assumes both that "just societies" is something only one side wants and religion survey courses in a Catholic school will be unbiased. Kind of selective skepticism, methinks.

 

I've never accepted--but have always understood--anger over concepts like diversity, equity, and inclusion. (Understood meaning I get where it comes from, but I don't agree with its source.)

Growing up in California, this doesn't sound like indoctrination. (We had classes like this as electives back then.) It sounds like teaching students about these concepts.

 

George Mason is a public sea grant university. I wonder if students could sue to remove the requirement by coloring it as a form of religious belief, or lack thereof? Be fun to try...

 

Like what? Can you give an example?

 

Good plan.

"DEI initiatives that have gone off the deep end" are almost certainly not the same thing as a GE requirement. I suppose these can also go "wrong" in some way.

 

It's not courses. If a professor would like his/her course badged with this, there is a process for it.

 

Given the political orientation of some of GMU's faculty, especially in economics and law, I expect this "flag" will be made available to some courses that aren't what one might traditionally envision for DEI content.