2008 Woodie Awards
Professors address possibility of 'radical' label
Students paid at UCLA for exposing professors raised questions surrounding free speech, politics and professor's freedoms to choose lecture topics in the classroom.
By: Ryan Martin
Issue date: 3/2/06 Section: News
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A California-based group concerned about University of California, Los Angeles professors' "political partisanship and indoctrination" against the War on Terror have been trying to expose professors deemed to be left-wing radicals. The Bruin Alumni Association, which isn't associated with UCLA, paid students $100 to tape-record professors' lectures in which they speak about political ideology.
The group's actions have been denounced by some and found to violate university policy, which prohibits surreptitious tape-recordings of professors' lectures. Warren Rosenblum, professor in Webster's department of history, politics and international relations, said it was wrong of the group to promote the recordings.
"The university's policy was clear so it doesn't seem like there is anything to debate," Rosenblum said. "It also seems like a basic courtesy, if not an issue of intellectual property, for a student to ask a professor's permission before taping. Nine times out of ten the professor will say 'yes,' but he has the right to say no and certainly has the right to be aware that his comments are being recorded and possibly distributed beyond the classroom."
Mike Salevouris, professor in Webster's department of history, politics and international relations, said there is no problem of political partisanship at Webster.
"I do not think there is a problem that needs to be exposed," Salevouris said. "On the other hand, the action of the audio tapers should be exposed for the thought-control and intimidation it represents."
Dan Hellinger, chair and professor of Webster's department of history, politics and international relations, said professors should always attempt to avoid subjects that don't relate to class material.
"I think that professors ought to try to avoid gratuitous comments on politics, religion, etc., that are not germane to the course topic," Hellinger said. "Furthermore, professors have a responsibility to allow dissident voices to be heard on issues."
The group's actions have been denounced by some and found to violate university policy, which prohibits surreptitious tape-recordings of professors' lectures. Warren Rosenblum, professor in Webster's department of history, politics and international relations, said it was wrong of the group to promote the recordings.
"The university's policy was clear so it doesn't seem like there is anything to debate," Rosenblum said. "It also seems like a basic courtesy, if not an issue of intellectual property, for a student to ask a professor's permission before taping. Nine times out of ten the professor will say 'yes,' but he has the right to say no and certainly has the right to be aware that his comments are being recorded and possibly distributed beyond the classroom."
Mike Salevouris, professor in Webster's department of history, politics and international relations, said there is no problem of political partisanship at Webster.
"I do not think there is a problem that needs to be exposed," Salevouris said. "On the other hand, the action of the audio tapers should be exposed for the thought-control and intimidation it represents."
Dan Hellinger, chair and professor of Webster's department of history, politics and international relations, said professors should always attempt to avoid subjects that don't relate to class material.
"I think that professors ought to try to avoid gratuitous comments on politics, religion, etc., that are not germane to the course topic," Hellinger said. "Furthermore, professors have a responsibility to allow dissident voices to be heard on issues."