UCSC named the worst university in the US
By Jack Ward
web posted October 1, 2007
I was scanning the Internet for interesting articles when I came across an article by David Horowitz naming University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) as the worst university in the US. The article piqued my interest since UCSC is our local university and since UCSC has been suspected of being a cesspool of Liberalism. Horowitz gives credit to UCSC's hard science programs but stated that UCSC's Liberal Arts program drags the university down to "the most radical university in the United States."
In his treatise, "The Worst School in America," Horowitz writes, "In its formal regulations, California's public university system makes clear that its campuses must observe clearly defined academic standards and that political indoctrination is an abuse of its classrooms and students. This is a contract not only between the university's faculty and its administration but between the university and the public, whose taxpayers support it. [The Regents] are responsible to see that the University remain aloof from politics and never function as an instrument for the advance of partisan interest. Misuse of the classroom by… allowing it to be used for political indoctrination… constitutes misuse of the University as an institution."
Horowitz knows something about being a radical. In his book Radical Son: A Generational Odyssey, Horowitz details his life from a dedicated Communist to a Conservative. His parents were active Communist Party members which makes Horowitz certified Marxist. Horowitz became a leading Marxist intellectual, writer, and scholar. He was a leader of the 1960's New Left, a co-founder of the Berkeley's Free Speech Movement, and confidant to the Black Panthers. He became disillusioned with the Left when the Black Panthers murdered a friend. I mention Horowitz's past to emphasize that he understands how Leftist think and how they manipulate the gullible. In his expose, Horowitz addresses many of the Leftist UCSC professors, instructors, departments, and curriculum.
Horowitz takes aim at UCSC Professor Angela Davis noted Vice Presidential candidate on the Communist Party ticket, anti-American activist, and professor in the History of Consciousness Department.
In addition, there is Women's Studies UCSC professor Bettina Aptheker. Aptheker is a self-identified Lesbian, Communist, and she, like Horowitz, was one of the leaders of the UC Berkeley's 'Free Speech Movement'. She is just one of the many Red Diaper Babies that infest Santa Cruz and UCSC.
Working on a doctorate sounds scholarly but ask yourself, "Where does a graduate of the History of Consciousness or Women's Studies' go to seek employment?" What qualities would a graduate bring to an employer? For the answer to that question we should look at the course curriculum. Davis instructs in the joys of Marxism and Aptheker instructs in Women's Studies where students take Transgender and Queer studies courses. Horowitz gives the biography of both Davis and Aptheker on http://www.DiscoverTheNetwork.org.
Horowitz then targets the 'Department of Community Studies'. This is where student learns The Theory and Practice of Resistance and Social Movements. The UCSC catalogue describes the course as: "The goal of this seminar is to learn how to organize a revolution." Mike Rotkin, perennial Santa Cruz City Counsel member and Lecturer & Field Study Coordinator in the Department of Community Studies, is also cited. Rotkin is more than qualified for this role. Previously Rotkin wrote Class, Populism, and Progressive Politics: Santa Cruz Ca. 1970 -82. In it, Rotkin details how the socialist inspired New America Movement (NAM) on the UCSC campus transformed Santa Cruz from a conservative town to a socialist gulag.
It is ironic that while our brave military personnel are risking their lives to liberate the people of Iraq and protect the right of Americans to protest – the anti-American mob at UCSC protests the very existence of the military that protects that right. While I recognize the right of these anti-American 'educators' to spew their hateful anti-American rhetoric, I do object to our tax dollars being used to pay for it. Ask yourself, why should taxpayers be forced to pay for such nonsense? Isn't there a better use for our education dollars? Years ago we joked about worthless university courses. At the top of list was the mythical 'Underwater Basket Weaving'. Now we see that they have created entire university curriculums dedicated to worthless drivel. At least after taking 'Underwater Basket Weaving' you have a basket. After wasting time with these Liberal Arts courses, the only marketable skill is promoting the same drivel at another university.
Of course, Horowitz names more of the worthless UCSC curriculum and instructors than I have allocated space to address. But those that are interested can read Horowitz's entire expose at http://www.frontpagemag.com/. 
(c) 2007 Jack Ward