UVSC class on hold over conservative concerns
The move is unusual, as the trustees — the governing board for the 24,000-student college — generally approve every proposal brought before them.
The proposed global/intercultural understanding requirement would be a three-credit hour course that would teach students about multicultural issues, difference and diversity.
Two years ago, community members, donors and members of the state Legislature were upset at the college administration for allowing liberal filmmaker Michael Moore on campus to speak before the presidential election. The Moore controversy became a national news story.
Trustees worried Thursday night that liberal-leaning professors would push their personal points of view on students in global/intercultural courses, despite assurances that professors can be relieved from courses if students complain about such incidents.
"We'd be happy to take it back and tighten it down," UVSC President Bill Sederburg told the trustees after several minutes of discussion. "I can see the concern. The worry is the definition is so broad it could be anybody's point of view about these issues."
Global/intercultural courses are intended to replace students' stereotypes with recognition of the complexity of different ethnic and religious groups. The requirement's proposal also states students would learn appreciation for the contributions of different groups, and students would gain confidence in relating respectfully with different people.
"Our world is getting increasingly interconnected," said Bill Evenson, the School of Science and Health's associate dean, who presented the proposal to the trustees. "We want to make sure our students are prepared."
"Is there any at all likelihood that this could be misused?" trustee Thomas Powell asked.
Trustees said they were worried about "sensitive issues" that could offend the "conservative community," specifically a mandate that students apply the material they learn to their local and campus communities.
"That's supposed to refer to the Hispanic community, for instance," Evenson said. "Interaction with that community could be very beneficial."
Trustee chairman Dan Campbell said the language of the proposal must be changed because "we're not going to be two years down the road and have further discussion, having something happen that wasn't supposed to happen."
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