TA at Canadian University censured over critical thinking class material

[PlectrumElectrum]

Link here

This link contains a recording of the meeting the TA had to attend due to complaints made by students who felt ‘unsafe’ due the the video footage the TA included in the class.

It’s pretty shocking listening to the way this is handled. It’s ‘problematic’ that the TA was neutral in a class on critical thinking.

Just listened to that clip. Her 'crime' was showing a 5-minute video of Jordan Peterson without outright condemnation, in order to get the students to discuss what he was saying and develop their ability to think critically. The university wanted her to tell them what to think, and make sure they knew what ideas were unacceptable. It's almost like they want the students to be vulnerable to whatever cult or dictator comes along.

She was impressive, though. Eloquent and quite clear about what she was trying to achieve. The university staff were mumbling incoherently about transphobia and harm, and clearly not sure exactly how she had broken the rules.

For anyone interested in these issues, that is a must-listen. In it you will hear how those who are desperate to be seen as progressive are policing this.

Two things that stand out for me:

1. no student must be exposed to anything that might cause them upset, which means that with the snowflakiest students, it would be best not to expose them to anything except what they themselves have pre-approved; and
2. that when these secret tribunals are being held, even then they don't want to specify what the charges are.

My word! This is some struggle session bullshit. I mean, what the hell? It seems like she showed a clip of a mainstream tv programme, like Newsnight or something? (Correct me if I've got that wrong.)

How have these people talked themselves into this kind of institutional neuroticism? Are academics vulnerable to this because they are generally compliant (institutionalised) kind of people? It's pretty wild to listen in on. How can the academy function if dissent is violence? Even on a trivial level, like, how would they cope with a competitive debating society on campus, I wonder? Where people argue positions they do not hold, I mean. Have those all been closed down? So many questions!