Tag Archive for: University of California – Berkeley

The Graves of Academe: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Queer and Trans Studies

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Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics

I’ve been intermittently visiting – sometimes with amusement, always with horror —  a website where academic jobs are advertised. I do this not  for myself, but to help keep tabs for a friend’s son, who has been looking for permanent employment in a university for several years. His problem is that he is, in every possible way, wrong, just wrong. He’s a white male. White males are so…well, you know. There are just so many – far too many — of them in the groves of academe. It’s only fair to put a hiring freeze on the entire category – no more white males,  until everything evens out. He studies European history. Europe is so…yesterday. Something has to be dropped, after all, to make room for Pan-African Studies, Islamic Studies, North African Studies, Qaddafi Studies, Gender Studies, Queer Studies, Black Queer Studies, Black Feminist Queer Studies,  Reparations Studies, Palestinian Diaspora Studies, Interpersonal Preference Theory, Psycho-Psychology, Latinx LGBTQ Studies, Scheduled Caste Studies, Identity Studies, und so weiter. He knows à fond four, or possibly five, languages, acquired at great effort. And he can do research in another three. But languages are out. Who needs them, now that we all have Google Translate? He’s attended – received high degrees from — several of the most famous universities in England and America. His doctoral thesis was a brilliant piece of work. So what? He has one book coming out this year, and another in 2024. Who cares?

What I have learned is that the Gods of the Copybook Headings are Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Sometimes the elements are rearranged, like those famous deck chairs on James Cameron’s doomed ship, just for fun, even though we all know it will soon be sinking. University X wants to hire only those convinced of the deep need for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, while University Y, on the other hand, wants to hire only those who positively pant to prove their worth in furthering Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity.  University Z, the most tradition-bound of the three, hopes to employ only the most enthusiastic coney-barker promoters of that tripartite panacea for all our woes, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Did I mention Gender? Did I mention Race?

I don’t think I can take much more of this.

Framingham State UNIVERSITY  “Six Higher Education Excellence In Diversity Awards”

At FSU, we are deeply committed to inclusive excellence and strive to promote a culture of antiracism, encouraging a challenging yet collaborative learning environment, and providing culturally relevant education. FSU is designated as an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and also belongs to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Inclusive Excellence community, providing national leadership in science education and exploring strategies that will lead to more inclusive science education. We are honored that our commitment earned FSU six Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Awards from INSIGHT Into Diversity. We encourage applications from those who share our commitment to promoting a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive community.

University of Richmond: “Developing A Diverse Workforce”

The University of Richmond is a private university located just a short drive from downtown Richmond, Virginia. Through its five schools and wide array of campus programming, the University combines the best qualities of a small liberal arts college and a large university. With approximately 4,000 students, an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, and more than 90% of traditional undergraduate students living on campus, the University is remarkably student-centered, focused on preparing students “to live lives of purpose, thoughtful inquiry, and responsible leadership in a global and pluralistic society.”

The University of Richmond is committed to developing a diverse workforce and student body, and to modeling an inclusive campus community which values the expression of difference in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development, and institutional success. Our academic community strongly encourages applications that are in keeping with this commitment. For more information on the department and its programs, please see history.richmond.edu.

Loyola University: “Diversity Reading Groups” and “Best Practices for Hiring”

“With a newly established Office of Equity and Inclusion headed by our Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, we are committed to providing an environment where everyone can learn, grow, and thrive. Key efforts include faculty development programming, opportunities for learning (e.g., Diversity Reading Groups), investment in pedagogical resources for differential instruction (e.g., Fellows Programs), affinity faculty and staff groups, and following best-practices for hiring.

Loyola University Maryland strongly values the benefits that diversity brings to the workplace. In accord with its Ignatian values, the University is committed to creating and promoting a community that recognizes the inherent value and dignity of each person. Loyola University Maryland does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, or any other legally protected classification.

University of California, Berkeley: “Equity, Inclusion, And Belonging”

“Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values at UC Berkeley. Our excellence can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and academic and non-academic staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates for our academic positions will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging.

“The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

Beloit College: “Critical Identity Studies”

“We welcome candidates from a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, as well as those who can contribute to programs in Justice and Rights, Critical Identity Studies or Environmental Studies. Teaching responsibilities include survey courses in modern U.S. history as well as introductory and upper-level courses in the candidate’s area of expertise. The successful candidate will share Beloit’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and will demonstrate an ability to support students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

Because equity and inclusion are central to our students’ liberal education and vital to the thriving of all members of our residential learning community, Beloit College aspires to be an actively anti-racist institution. We recognize our aspiration as ongoing and institution-wide, involving collective commitment and accountability. We welcome employees who are committed to and will actively contribute to our efforts to celebrate our cultural and intellectual richness and be resolute in advancing inclusion and equity. We encourage all interested individuals meeting the criteria of the described position to apply.

Located in a diverse community close to Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago, Beloit is a selective undergraduate liberal arts college that attracts students from across the United States and the world. The college emphasizes excellence in teaching, learning beyond the traditional classroom, international perspectives, and collaborative research among students and faculty. It is recognized as one of the Colleges That Change Lives. AA/EEO

Rutgers University: “Racial Justice Work”

The Department of Childhood Studies at Rutgers University—Camden invites applications for a one-year postdoctoral fellowship, renewable for a second year, to commence September 1, 2023. The position will be funded by a Higher Learning grant awarded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as part of the “Rethinking Race and Justice Through Childhood Studies” initiative. This initiative seeks to support emerging scholars of race and childhood, provide institutional support for racial justice work in the field, and demonstrate the justice and career potential of humanities training through civically engaged childhood studies.

The department has hosted several major international conferences, sponsors an array of lectures and symposia, including our speaker series in Centering Black Childhoods and workshop series on anti-racist pedagogy, and annually welcomes visiting scholars from around the world.

Applicants must have earned the Ph.D. in Childhood Studies or another humanities-related field, such as English, History, African American Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Latinx Studies, Film/Media Studies, Education, Geography, or Cultural Studies

Rutgers University—Camden’s Department of Childhood Studies is committed to fostering diversity within its community. We are eager to further diversify our faculty and encourage Black, Indigenous and people of color, persons with disabilities and persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression to apply.

Wesleyan University: “Non-Position-Related Criminal Record”

Wesleyan University invites applications for an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in African American Studies beginning July 1, 2023. We seek candidates with expertise in research areas concerning the African Diaspora, particularly Latin America and/or the Pacific, with substantive research and teaching interests in Black feminisms, Afro-Atlantic history, disability studies, queer studies, and/or environmental studies. The successful candidate will offer courses originating in the African American Studies Department.

“In the cover letter, applicants should describe how they will embrace the college’s commitment to fostering an inclusive community, as well as their experience working with individuals from historically marginalized or underserved groups.

Wesleyan University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious practice or creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record.

Northern Arizona University: “Focus On Queer And/Or Trans Studies and Transnational Feminisms”

“We are looking for a teacher-scholar with a PhD in Women’s and Gender Studies or a related field. We especially welcome applicants who focus on queer and/or trans studies and transnational feminisms, and who demonstrate engagement with intersectionality. The ideal candidate will have a record of effective teaching in classes related to the WGS Queer Studies Minor, as well as WGS introductory, core, transnational or global feminisms, and other elective courses. Successful candidates should have experience in or attentiveness to working with underrepresented groups.

University of Winnipeg: “Preference Given to Indigenous Persons and Members of Racialized Communities”

The Department of History at the University of Winnipeg acknowledges that we live and work in the ancestral and traditional territories of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew, Assiniboine, Cree, Dakota, Dene, and the heartland of the Métis nation.

We invite applications for a tenure-track position in Indigenous History at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning July 1, 2023, subject to budgetary approval. The successful candidate will have, or be close to completing, a PhD in Indigenous History or a directly related field, such as Indigenous Studies, with a specialization in Indigenous Peoples whose homelands are located in part or wholly within the modern boundaries of Canada and the continental USA. This can include those with a transborder specialization encompassing the present-day US-Mexico borderlands. This position is open to all with a preference given to Indigenous Persons and members of Racialized Communities.

“In the cover letter the applicant is strongly encouraged to provide a description of their relationship to the study of Indigenous History which might include (but is not limited to) family lines and relationality, community relationships, connections to place, Indigenous Identity, or organizational affiliations.

University of Hamburg, Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin bzw. Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter (w/m/d) in Literaturwissenschaft/Wissenskulturen und Interdisziplinarität § 28 Abs. 3 HmbHG,

I’m sorry, but your words are too long. Please try again.

University of Innsbruck, Universitätsprofessur für Germanistische Mediävistik mit Schwerpunkt Spätmittelalter und Frühe Neuzeit (15.05.2023)

That means you too, Innsbruck.

AUTHOR

HUGH FITZGERALD

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EDITORS NOTE: This Jihad Watch column is republished with permission all rights reserved

Those who promote ‘Islamophobia’ have blood on their hands

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Islamophobia campaigns like those at the University of California Berkeley and the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) must share some blame for terror attacks like Orlando and San Bernardino.

Islamophobia campaigns can intimidate people to restrain their communications that might otherwise save lives.  Proponents who continue to promote Islamophobia campaigns given the evidence from Orlando and San Bernardino would appear to be maintaining a position that the greater good of suppressing free speech of millions of Americans is worth the downside risk of not preventing jihad and saving lives.

Proponents of Islamophobia campaigns must share some of the blame for the Islamic terror attacks that killed 49 people in Orlando and 14 people in San Bernardino.  These campaigns can cause people not to report suspicious actions by Muslims because they fear being branded a racist or Islamophobe.

Fear of being branded an Islamophobe played a role in suppressing communications that may have had different results for the lives of 63 people in San Bernardino and Orlando:

SAN BERNARDINO

Townhall.com  Neighbor Didn’t Report Suspicious Activity of San Bernardino Killers For Fear of Being Called Racist

Katie Pavlich Dec 03, 2015 10:15 AM

According to a local Los Angeles news report, a neighbor of San Bernardino massacre suspects Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik didn’t report suspicious activity at their apartment for fear of being accused of racism.

This is the same politically correct culture that lead to the Ft. Hood shooting when Nidal Hassan, who had been spouting violent Islamic propaganda to neighbors on post and reaching out to Al Qaeda, was ignored for fear of “Islamophobia” accusations.

ORLANDO

Floridatoday.com Mateen’s employer ignored complaints about his death threats because he was a Muslim.

Gilroy, a former Fort Pierce police officer, said Mateen frequently made homophobic and racial comments. Gilroy said he complained to his employer several times but it did nothing because he was Muslim. Gilroy quit after he said Mateen began stalking him via multiple text messages — 20 or 30 a day. He also sent Gilroy 13 to 15 phone messages a day, he said.

“I quit because everything he said was toxic,” Gilroy said Sunday, “and the company wouldn’t do anything. This guy was unhinged and unstable. He talked of killing people.”

The desire not to be labeled a racist or Islamophobe will likely result in more people not being willing to report suspicious behavior in the future.  Tragically, Islamophobia campaigns are having a chilling impact on the free speech of Americans and helping jihad.

The Council on American Islamic Relations issued a press release on June 10, 2016 which states in part:

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/10/2016) – On Tuesday, June 14, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Center for Race and Gender at UC Berkeley will release a report detailing the more than $200 million provided to 33 Islamophobic groups nationwide in recent years.

The report, titled “Confronting Fear,” also documents the negative impact of Islamophobia on American society and offers a four-point strategy designed to push back against the well-funded and well-coordinated promotion of anti-Muslim sentiment.

WHAT: Release of ‘Confronting Fear’ Report on Funding of Islamophobic Groups
WHEN: Tuesday, June 14, 11 a.m.
WHERE: CAIR’s Capitol Hill Headquarters, 453 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

The behavior of millions of Americans are influenced by various Islamophobia reports and campaigns.  Most people who see UC Berkeley’s negative branding of prominent organizations and people will not want to have any part of that humiliation.  Being branded a racist or Islamophobe can cost a person’s educational opportunities, employment and career path.  While there is obviously no direct link between any proponent’s Islamophobia campaign and a terrorist act such propaganda suppresses free speech in a manner that adversely impacts public safety.

(Five years ago)  On Thursday, June 23, 2011 the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Race and Gender (CRG) held a news conference on Capitol Hill to release “Same Hate, New Target,” the first-of-its-kind annual report outlining the disturbing growth of Islamophobia in the United States during 2009-2010.

As of 10:00 PM EDST, June 15, 2016 UC Berkeley and CAIR have NOT released their Islamophobe report that CAIR’s press release stated would be announced on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 11 AM.   The University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Race and Gender website contains the 2015 Islamophobia Report but not the 2016 report mentioned in CAIR’s June 10, 2016 news release.  Is it possible that UC Berkeley officials think it is a bad time to release this report in the aftermath of the Orlando terror attack?

Florida Family Association has prepared an email for you to send that urges University of California Berkeley officials to stop promoting their Islamophobe campaigns that suppress free speech in a manner that can adversely impact public safety.

To send your email, please click the following link, enter your name and email address then click the “Send Your Message” button. You may also edit the subject or message text if you wish.

Click here to send your email that urges University of California Berkeley officials to stop promoting their Islamophobe campaigns that suppress free speech in a manner that can adversely impact public safety.

U.S. Senator Cotton’s Letter to Iran’s Leaders Clarified

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When Arkansas junior Senator Tom Cotton sent his open letter on Monday, March 9th to “The Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran” signed by 46 other Republican colleagues, 7 declined, it caused a ruckus.

Cotton’s letter endeavored to  remind Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei, President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarif of the Constitutional authorities.  The Executive Branch’s power in Article II, Sec.2 gives  it the right to negotiate foreign agreements. The Legislative Branch, in this case the Senate, must provide its “advise and consent” to treaties on a two-thirds vote and a three-fifths vote in the instances of Congressional-executive agreements. Anything not approved by Congress, such as the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between President Obama and Ayatollah Khamenei is deemed an executive agreement which could end with current term of the President in January 2017. Thus “the next President could revoke the executive agreement with the stroke of a pen and future Congresses could modify the terms of the agreement at any time.”

From the President to leading Democratic Senators, the short missive was rebuked as an unwelcome ‘stunt’ interfering with the Executive Branch of government prerogative of engaging in foreign relations.  President Obama considered it “ironic” considering  the signatories of the Cotton letter in league with those notorious hard liners in Tehran.  He alleged they were seeking to upend the MOU. The New York Daily News published a front page  picture of the Cotton letter accusing the signatories of being ‘traitors’.  For the first 48 hours that continued to be the criticism of Sen. Cotton and the GOP leadership in the Senate, with the exception of the 7 who agreed with the White House for different reasons. Senator Corker (R-TN) thought it was unhelpful as he was endeavoring to line up Democratic votes for his Senate Bill 615, The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA) of 2015 co-sponsored by embattled Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ).

Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif while calling the Cotton letter, “a propaganda ploy” argued:

“I wish to enlighten the authors that if the next administration revokes any agreement with the stroke of a pen, as they boast, it will have simply committed a blatant violation of international law,” according to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The executive agreement was not bilateral but rather multi-lateral with the rest of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, subject to a resolution of the Security Council.

That majority of US international agreements in recent decades are in fact what the signatories describe as “mere executive agreements” and not treaties ratified by the Senate.

That “their letter in fact undermines the credibility of thousands of such mere executive agreements that have been or will be entered into by the US with various other governments.”

Ayatollah Khamenei considered the Cotton letter reflective of the “US disintegration”. According to the Mehr news agency, the Supreme Ruler said:

Of course I am worried. Every time we reach a stage where the end of the negotiations is in sight, the tone of the other side, specifically the Americans, becomes harsher, coarser and tougher. This is the nature of their tricks and deceptions.

Further, he said the letter was ‘a sign of the decay of political ethics in the American system”, and he described as “laughable long-standing U.S. accusations of Iranian involvement in terrorism.”

Jen Psaki 3-11-15 Legal Insurrrection

Source: Legal Insurrection

Notwithstanding the roiling criticism of the Cotton letter, comments by Secretary Kerry at a Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing on Wednesday, echoed those of State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki on Tuesday who said, “historically, the United States has pursued important national security through non-binding arrangements.” Kerry said in his testimony that the Obama Administration was “not negotiating a legally binding plan” but one from “executive to executive,” Politico reported. Kerry insisted such a deal would still “have a capacity of enforcement.” Thus, he confirmed that the proposed Memorandum of Understanding  between the P5+1  and Iran was non-binding on the parties hinging on verification of conditions.  Something hitherto unachievable with the Mullahs who have a tendency to hide developments. This despite representations by President Obama that the negotiations in Geneva were making good progress towards that goal. Kerry said it was non-binding because we currently don’t recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran, passed embargoes arising from the 444 day Tehran US Embassy seizure and hostage taking in 1979 and adopted Congressional sanctions against its nuclear program. Further, the State Department considers the Republic a state sponsor of terrorism, something Ayatollah Khamenei categorically disagrees with as witnessed by his comments on the Cotton letter.  But seeing is believing when it comes to the Shia autocrats in Tehran proficient practitioners of taqiyya, otherwise known as lying for Allah. Iran ‘reformist’ President Hassan Rouhani suggested that diplomacy with the Administration was an active form of “jihad” equivalent to the 2,500 mile range cruise missile Iran unveiled this week.

Two legal experts on the matter of executive agreements disagreed with the position of Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif and Secretary Kerry in the context of the Cotton letter. Daniel Wiser writing in the Washington Free Beacon asserted  that Cotton was correct and Zarif wrong. They concurred that future US Presidents could revoke the agreement over a bad deal, meaning, violation of provisions by Iran:

Jeremy Rabkin, a law professor at George Mason University and an expert in international law and Constitutional history, said in an email that “nonbinding” by definition means that the United States “will not violate international law if we don’t adhere to its terms”—contrary to Zarif’s assertion.

“In other words we’re saying it is NOT an international obligation, just a statement of intent,” he said.

“What Kerry seemed to say was not that his Iran deal would be in the same category but that it would not be legally binding in any sense, just a kind of memorandum of understanding,” Rabkin said. “I wonder whether he understood what he was saying. It was more or less conceding that what Cotton’s letter said was the administration’s own view—that the ‘agreement’ with Iran would not be legally binding, so (presumably) not something that could bind Obama’s successor.”

Cotton responded with a Tweet, saying:

Important question: if deal with Iran isn’t legally binding, then what’s to keep Iran from breaking said deal and developing a bomb?

Wiser then cites a National Review article by a second legal expert, John Yoo, a law professor at University of California, Berkeley and a former Justice Department official in the George W. Bush Administration:

The Cotton letter is right, because if President Obama strikes a nuclear deal with Iran using only [an executive agreement], he is only committing to refrain from exercising his executive power—i.e., by not attacking Iran or by lifting sanctions under power delegated by Congress. Not only could the next president terminate the agreement; Obama himself could terminate the deal.  Obama’s executive agreement cannot prevent Congress from imposing mandatory, severe sanctions on Iran without the possibility of presidential waiver (my preferred solution for handling the Iranian nuclear crisis right now). Obama can agree to allow Iran to keep a nuclear-processing capability; Congress can cut Iran out of the world trading and financial system.

But the fracas over Cotton’s letter continued unabated. An unidentified resident of Bogota, N.J.  “C.H.” shot off a petition to the Obama White House website, “We the People,” expressing the view that the 47 signers were in violation of the 1799 Logan Act and may have jeopardized achievement of a nuclear agreement with Iran.  Further “C.H.” contended that the Republican Senators might be subject to possible criminal actions brought under provisions of the hoary law that private individuals are barred from engaging in foreign relations. The petition took off like a rocket with upwards of 165,000 signatures heading for over 200,000 in less than 48 hours. That will allegedly require a response by the President, as witnessed by an earlier petition on support for medical marijuana.

But “C.H.” is wrong. Members of Congress in either chamber are exempt from that restriction. Moreover, there have been a number of instances where the many of the Democratic Congressional and Administration critics of Cotton and his Republican colleagues have engaged in private foreign relations episodes.  Among those who undertook such actions were Vice President Biden, Secretary Kerry when they were Senators and current House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, and the late Teddy Kennedy.  In Pelosi’s case, following her assumption of the House Speakership in 2006, she went off to Damascus in 2007 to sit with President Bashar Assad, despite the protestations of the Bush Administration who were trying to isolate the Syrian dictator.  However,  Republicans have done the same thing when it also suited their political purposes.

Finally, there was another groundswell campaign seeking to gain passage of Sen. Corker’s INARA.  Christians United for Israel (CUFI) flooded Capitol Hill with more than 57,000 emails from members across the US in support of passage of INARA because they were worried about Iran’s possession of nuclear capabilities.  The CUFI initiative was triggered by the March 3rd address by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu before a Joint Meeting of Congress  who made it abundantly clear that he believed the Administration’s 10 year phased deal was a “very bad deal.”

 writing in the Legal Insurrection blog about the Cotton letter controversy concluded:

And to think, all of that wailing and gnashing of teeth from Democrats wasted over a non-binding agreement, one that would have absolutely no legal sway over Iran.

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EDITORS NOTE: This column originally appeared in the New English Review. The featured image is of Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK) poses for photographers in his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Source: Carolyn Kaster— AP.