One of Berkeley’s likely oppressors offered a suitably self-abasing banner: “I will think before I speak and act,” promised a white male student from the class of 2016. Ordinarily, such a vow of self-control might seem like the sort of bourgeois virtue celebrated by Amy Wax and Larry Alexander (chapter 12). In the current academic context, however, it means: “I will mentally scan the University of California’s official list of microaggressions before I open my mouth to avoid expressing an offensive belief in color blindness, meritocracy, or the value of hard work.”
A former head of the bureaucracy that created the banner campaign weighed in with her own banner. “Respect the full humanity of others,” urged Na’ilah Suad Nasir, who pulled in $215,000 a year as vice chancellor for equity and inclusion. This admonition would be appropriate when trying to mediate, say, between warring tribes given to slaughtering one another’s members. But the diversocrat assumption that Berkeley’s pacific students, raised from nursery school on the pablum of tolerance and diversity, are at risk of seriously violating one another’s humanity, beyond the ordinary slights of everyday social interaction, is absurd. What this seemingly gratuitous admonition really means is: “Do not violate any politically correct taboo around race, gender identity, or any other favored category in the armamentarium of narcissistic grievance.”
Equally officious was the charge to “Keep an open mind and listen with integrity,” from Joseph Greenwell, the associate vice chancellor and dean of students. The nauseatingly pop-psychological coinage of “listening with integrity” is a tip-off that student-services bureaucrats think of themselves as leading an encounter session, not an institution of higher learning. Students arrive at Berkeley shockingly ignorant of the most basic rudiments of history and Western culture. Berkeley’s adults should feel haunted by the need to cram as much knowledge as possible into their students’ heads before they depart. But the only reference in the banner campaign to the academic resources lying open to those knowledge-deficient students is: “Take advantage of the American Cultures curriculum,” from a Hispanic student in the class of 2015. As we have seen, American Cultures is Berkeley’s diversity requirement: “a more inclusive curriculum that reflect[s] the diverse racial groups of the U.S.,” in the words of the official website, and that allows “collaborative social justice projects alongside community organizations.” A more appropriate admonition for an incoming student would have been: “Take some American history before you leave.”
Holmes and Cardozo invited students to the life of the mind. The diversocrats who have commandeered the American university invite students to a cultural reeducation camp where they can confess their political sins or perfect their sense of victimhood. The post-Trump nervous breakdown was a direct consequence of the diversocrats’ reign; reaction to his election will only solidify their power, and deepen the delusion that students and recent graduates bring into the larger world. Rather than emerging with minds broadened and informed by the best that our heritage offers, students increasingly are narrowed into groups defined by grievance. Who—other than a vast administrative bureaucracy—benefits from such diminishment? And what will replace what has been lost?
NOTES
Please note that some of the links referenced throughout this work may no longer be active.
Introduction
1. W. E. B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk, with an introduction by John Edgar Wideman (New York: The Library of America, 2009, pbk.), 438.
2. The Frederick Douglass Papers, Series Two: Autobiographical Writings, vol. 2: My Bondage and My Freedom, eds. John W. Blassingame, John R. McKivigan, and Peter P. Hinks (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2003), 90–91.
3. Victor Wang, “Student Petition Urges English Department to Diversify Curriculum,” Yale Daily News, May 16, 2016, accessed May 7, 2018, http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2016/05/26/student-petition-urges-english-department-to-diversify-curriculum/.
4. Allison Stanger, “Understanding the Angry Mob at Middlebury That Gave Me a Concussion,” op-ed, New York Times, Mar. 13, 2017, accessed May 7, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/opinion/understanding-the-angry-mob-that-gave-me-a-concussion.html.
5. Middlebury Faculty for an Inclusive Community, “An Initial Statement of Our Principles,” Middlebury Campus, May 10, 2017, accessed May 7, 2018, http://middleburycampus.com/35724/opinions/an-initial-statement-on-the-principles-of-inclusivity-civil-freedoms-and-community/.
Chapter One: The Hysterical Campus
1. Steven Glick, “Claremont Students Plan to Protest ‘Anti-Black Fascist’ Heather Mac Donald,” Claremont Independent, Apr. 6, 2017, accessed May 7, 2018, https://claremontindependent.com/students-plan-to-protest-anti-black-fascist-heather-mac-donald/.
2. Hiram Chodosh, “Last Night’s Ath Talk,” email message to Claremont McKenna faculty, staff, and students, Apr. 7, 2017.
3. Editorial Board, “Ath Talks Aren’t Neutral,” Student Life, Apr. 7, 2017, accessed May 7, 2018, http://tsl.news/opinions/6698/.
4. Dray Denson, Avery Jonas, and Shanaya Stephenson, “Open letter to David Oxtoby: In Response to Academic Freedom and Free Speech,” Apr. 17, 2017, accessed Apr. 24, 2018, http://archive.is/Dm2DN#selection-147.10-147.127.
5. Haruka Senju,”Violence as Self-defense,” Daily Californian, Feb. 7, 2017, accessed May 7, 2018, http://www.dailycal.org/2017/02/07/violence-self-defense/.
6. Neil Lawrence, “Black Bloc Did What Campus Should Have,” Daily Californian, Feb. 7, 2017, accessed Apr. 24, 2018, http://www.dailycal.org/2017/02/07/black-bloc-campus/.
7. Elizabeth Abel, Wendy Brown, Judith Butler, Ian Duncan, Donna Jones, David Landreth, Saba Mahmood, et al., Letter to Chancellor Nicholas Dirks, Jan. 3, 2017, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://docs.google.com/document/d/13mTOQ7wVst6voLMg6Pvr-3uJ2Fbn7zcXg_Bkx8mGDOk/edit.
8. “Yale University Student Protest Halloween Costume Email,” YouTube video, posted Nov. 6, 2015, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IEFD_JVYd0&feature=youtu.be.
9. “Part III: Yale Students and Nicholas Kristachis [sic],” YouTube video, Nov. 5, 2015, posted Nov. 14, 2015, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-q3Y8pRoj8&feature=youtu.be&t=2m; “Part IV: Yale Students and Nicholas Kristachis [sic],” YouTube video, Nov. 5, 2015, posted Nov. 14, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es1W9cREZAs&feature=youtu.be&t=2m.
10. “President and Yale College Dean Underscore Commitment to a ‘Better Yale’” statement, Yale University website, Nov. 6, 2015, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://news.yale.edu/2015/11/06/president-and-yale-college-dean-underscore-commitment-better-yale.
11. Sam Budnyk, “Emory Students Express Discontent with Administrative Response to Trump Chalkings,” Emory Wheel, Mar. 22, 2016, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, http://emorywheel.com/emory-students-express-discontent-with-administrative-response-to-trump-chalkings/.
12. Jim Galloway, “Chalk One Up for Donald Trump at Emory University,” Political Insider (blog), Atlantic Journal-Constitution, Mar. 22, 2016, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://politics.myajc.com/blog/politics/chalk-one-for-donald-trump-emory-university/6pgzUuEj8T4bhrGT2RFMjL/.
13. BWOG Staff, “Columbia Class of 2018 Facebook Page Debates POC Core Professors,” BWOG Columbia Student News, Nov. 15, 2015, accessed Apr. 21, 2018, http://bwog.com/2015/11/15/columbia-class-of-2018-facebook-page-debates-poc-core-professors/.
14. “Note to Employees from CEO Sundar Pichai,” Google blog, Aug. 8, 2017, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://www.blog.google/topics/diversity/note-employees-ceo-sundar-pichai/.
15. Yonatan Zunger, “So, About This Googler’s Manifesto,” Medium, Aug. 5, 2017, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://medium.com/@yonatanzunger/so-about-this-googlers-manifesto-1e3773ed1788.
16. Sarah Emerson, Louise Matsakis, and Jason Koebler, “Internal Reaction to Google Employee’s Manifesto Show Anti-Diversity Views Have Support,” Motherboard, Aug. 5, 2017, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/ywpamw/internal-reaction-to-google-empl
oyees-manifesto-show-anti-diversity-views-have-support.
Chapter Two: Elites to Affirmative Action Voters: Drop Dead
1. John Searle, interview, Dec. 1, 2006.
2. Interview with University of California-San Diego professor, Dec. 4, 2006.
3. Richard Sander, interview, Nov. 4, 2006.
4. Nina Robinson, interview, Nov. 30, 2006.
5. Brent Bridgeman and Cathy Wendler, Characteristics of Minority Students Who Excel on the SAT and in the Classroom, Policy Information Report (Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service, 2005), accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/PICMINSAT.pdf.
6. Mark Rashid, interview, Nov. 21, 2006.
7. Richard H. Sander, “A Systematic Analysis of Affirmative Action in American Law Schools,” Stanford Law Review 57 (Nov. 2004), 367–483, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, http://www.adversity.net/Sander/Systemic_Analysis_FINAL.pdf.
8. Katherine S. Mangan, “Combatants Over Affirmative Action in Admissions Await Law Review Issue That’s Their Next Battleground,” Chronicle of Higher Education, Apr. 15, 2005, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://www.chronicle.com/article/Combatants-Over-Affirmative/120448.
9. Goodwin Liu, “A Misguided Challenge to Affirmative Action,” Commentary, Los Angeles Times, Dec. 20, 2004, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, http://articles.latimes.com/2004/dec/20/opinion/oe-liu20.
10. Katherine S. Mangan, “Does Affirmative Action Hurt Black Students?” Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov. 12, 2004, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://www.chronicle.com/article/Does-Affirmative-Action-Hurt/19206.
11. “Robert Birgeneau: ‘We Serve California Extremely Well,’” Berkelyan, UC Berkeley News, October 18, 2006, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://www.berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/2006/10/18_Birgeneau.shtml.
Chapter Three: Affirmative Disaster
1. Peter Arcidiacono, Esteban M. Aucejo, and Ken Spenner, “What Happens after Enrollment? An Analysis of the Time Path of Racial Differences in GPA and Major Choice,” IZA Journal of Labor Economics 1, no. 5 (Oct. 2012), accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://izajole.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/2193-8997-1-5.
2. Ibid.
3. “Black Students at Duke Upset Over Study,” UrbanMecca, Herald-Sun (Durham, NC), Jan. 13, 2012, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, http://urbanmecca.net/news/2012/01/13/black-students-at-duke-upset-over-study/.
4. karla fc holloway (@ProfHolloway), “#Duke authors’ unpublished study of #race + #AffirmativeAction lacks academic rigor,” Jan. 16, 2012, https://twitter.com/ProfHolloway/status/159011440831901697.
5. Timothy B. Tyson, “The Econometrics of Rwandan Pear Blossoms at Duke University,” Mike Klonsky’s Blog, Jan. 27, 2012, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, http://michaelklonsky.blogspot.com/2012/01/econometrics-of-rwandan-pear-blossoms.html.
6. “Politics of Grievance at Duke,” ZetaBoards, Jan. 22, 2012, accessed May 7, 2018, http://s1.zetaboards.com/Liestoppers_meeting/topic/4662188/1/.
Chapter Four: The Microaggression Farce
1. Cathryn Dhanatya, interview, July 7, 2014.
2. Rosalind Raby, interview, July 17, 2014.
3. Rosalind Raby, “Val Rust: A Lifetime of Achievement,” SSCE Newsletter (Spring 2013), 5, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/19168727/spring-2013-ssce-newsletter-ampersand-ucla.
4. Interview with recent graduate, July 20, 2014.
5. Daniel Solorzano, Sayil Camacho, William Dandridge, Johanna Drucker, Alma Flores, Annamarie Francois, Patricia Garcia, Sandra Graham, Timothy Ho, Tyrone Howard, et al., “Final Report of the GSE&IS Committee on Race and Ethnic Relations,” UCLA Ed & IS, GSE&IS Resources (June 2014), accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://portal.gseis.ucla.edu/incident-resolution/gse-is-committee-on-race-and-ethnic-relations-final-report.
6. Elie Mystal, “Racists’ T-Shirts on Campus? Only If You Bother to Think About It,” Above the Law, Nov. 22, 2013, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://abovethelaw.com/2013/11/racists-t-shirts-on-campus-only-if-you-bother-to-think-about-it/.
7. “Substantively Respond to BLSA’s Suggestions for a Less Hostile Campus Climate,” petition from BLSA at UCLA School of Law to Dean Rachel Moran, UCLA School of Law, Change.org, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://www.change.org/p/dean-rachel-moran-ucla-school-of-law-substantively-respond-to-blsa-s-suggestions-for-a-less-hostile-campus-climate-2.
8. Rachel Moran, “Initial Steps to Enhance Diversity and Inclusion in Our Community,” email message to Classes of 2014, 2015, and 2016, Feb. 28, 2014.
9. Institute of Education Sciences, “The Nation’s Report Card: Reading, 2013, State Snapshot Report, California Grade 8 Public Schools,” accessed May 7, 2018, http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/subject/publications/stt2013/pdf/2014464CA8.pdf.
10. “Quick Facts About UCLA,” UCLA Undergraduate Admission website, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/campusprofile.htm.
11. UCLA Office of Media Relations, “Statement on Video by African American Student Group,” UCLA Newsroom, Nov. 7, 2013, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, http://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/statement-on-video-by-african-249314.
12. Gene D. Block, “The Impact of Proposition 209 and Our Duty to Our Students,” UCLA Office of the Chancellor website, Feb. 24, 2014, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, https://chancellor.ucla.edu/messages/the-impact-of-proposition-209-and-our-duty-to-our-students/.
13. Sy Stokes guest appearance, NewsNation with Tamron Hall, Nov. 11, 2013, YouTube video, posted Nov. 11, 2013, accessed Apr. 22, 2018, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpaZv-YM4kE.
Chapter Five: Are We All Unconscious Racists?
1. “Our Teams: Vice Chancellor’s Team, Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Jerry Kang,” UCLA website, accessed Apr. 23, 2018, https://equity.ucla.edu/about-us/our-teams/vice-chancellor/.
2. Frederich R. Lynch, “Why Trump Supporters Distrust Immigration and Diversity,” op-ed, New York Times, Aug. 4, 2017, accessed Apr. 23, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/04/opinion/trump-supporters-immigration-diversity.html.
3. Joelle Emerson, interview, Aug. 14, 2017.
4. “Why Family Income Differences Don’t Explain the Racial Gap in SAT Scores,” Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, no. 20 (Summer 1998), 6, DOI: 10.2307/2999198. Accessed May 7, 2018, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2999198.
5. California Department of Education News Release, “Schools Chief Torlakson Reports Across-the-Board Progress Toward Career and College Readiness in CAASPP Results,” Release: 16–57, Aug. 24, 2016, accessed Apr. 23, 2018, https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr16/yr16rel57.asp.
6. Roland G. Fryer, Jr. “An Empirical Analysis of Racial Differences in Police Use of Force,” National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper 22399, issued July 2016, revised Jan. 2018, accessed Apr. 23, 2018, http://www.nber.org/papers/w22399; Ted R. Miller, Bruce A. Lawrence, Nancy N. Carlson, Delia Hendrie, Sean Randall, Ian R. H. Rockett, and Rebecca S. Spicer, “Perils of Police Action: A Cautionary Tale from US Data Sets,” Injury Prevention 23, no. 1 (June 16, 2016), accessed Apr. 23, 2018, http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2016/06/16/injuryprev-2016-042023; Phillip Atiba Goff, Tracey Lloyd, Amanda Geller, Steven Raphael, and Jack Glaser, The Science of Justice: Race, Arrests, and Police Use of Force, Center for Policing Equity, UCLA (July 2016), accessed Apr. 23, 2018, http://policingequity.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/CPE_SoJ_Race-Arrests-UoF_2016-07-08-1130.pdf; Lois James, Stephen M. James, and Bryan J. Vila, “The Reverse Racism Effect: Are Cops More Hesitant to Shoot Black Than White Suspects?” Criminology & Public Policy 15, no 2 (May 2016), 457–79, accessed Apr. 23, 2018, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1745-9133.12187/abstract.
7. James P. O’Neill: Crime and Enforcement Activity in New York City, Jan. 1–December 31, 2016, NYPD Commissioner’s report, accessed Apr. 23, 2018, http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/analysis_and_planning/year-end-2016-enforcement-report.pdf.
8. Federal Bureau of Investigation, “2015 Law Enforcement Officers Killed & Assaulted,” Table 41: 2015 Law Enforcement Officers Feloniously Killed
: Race and Sex of Known Offender, 2006–2015, accessed Apr. 23, 2018, https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2015/tables/table_41_leos_fk_race_and_sex_of_known_offender_2006-2015.xls.
Chapter Six: The Campus Rape Myth
1. Kristi Tanner, “Database: 2016 FBI Crime Statistics by U.S. City,” Detroit Free Press, Sept. 25, 2017, accessed Apr. 23, 2018, https://www.freep.com/story/news/2017/09/25/database-2016-fbi-crime-statistics-u-s-city/701445001/.
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