Ethics and schools

[LuvOrlando]

What practice?

Using public funds to further a perspective, choosing sides. The original point.

Is it ethical?

oy vey

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I've got 2 kids and they can go where they wish, more or less, as long as the institution is more interested in exposing them than molding them. This is why I loved going to CUNY and living in NYC, but exposure is different. There is no undercurrent in exposure, it's natural. This is not what I am talking about.

My dd is changing schools next yr from her huge liberal university to a college more in the bible belt. It should be an interesting yr.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

I am interested in other opinions as long as they get the question. I keep getting pulled off on different tangents nor related to the original question, which is why I keep posting.
I'd like to hear, I think it is ethical because .....

Reading more and more on this thread, I have absolutely no clue what your question is. You say it is not about exposing the young adults to other viewpoints such as speakers, you say you agree with different viewpoints taught in classes.

What is your point exactly?

 

[FireDancer]

Using public funds to further a perspective, choosing sides. The original point.

Is it ethical?

oy vey

We have no idea what specifically you are talking about. If it is merely having someone come and speak they are not furthering any agenda, they are merely providing a point of view. If a college student can't tell the difference they may not belong in college.

 

[Planogirl]

I have no problem with exposing kids to different ideologies and even bringing speakers on campus. What I see too often is a strong preference for one side or the other. I think that would slant anyone's thinking and isn't particularly instructive.

 

[jrmasm]

Reading more and more on this thread, I have absolutely no clue what your question is. You say it is not about exposing the young adults to other viewpoints such as speakers, you say you agree with different viewpoints taught in classes.

What is your point exactly?

Glad I'm not the only one.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Sorry, OP....

Everyone here HAS said why they think it is ethical...
Because, university should be an open forum....

Still not telling specifically what you are referring to?????
Just throwing around general words like 'bias'.

Really you need to give us some example of how 'public funds' have been directly diverted/issued towards something so insidious.

OK, lets say I have huge University names the University of Happy. Now I take a huge amount of public funding and enjoy a great deal of success. Suppose my directors all despise cats. Would it be ethical for them to use their position of authority and control over funding to further their own personal distaste for felines? Would it be ethical? Or, would it be more ethical to fund people looking to ban kitty cats on their own time with their own personal money?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

She is against the university paying for the speaker.

 

[Aisling]

So you don't see an ethical dilemma when a University that receives public funds uses those funds to support a point of view?

I do. Supporting specific points of view belongs in private universities not tax-payer funded ones.

 

[jrmasm]

She is against the university paying for the speaker.

Don't universities pay for speakers ALL THE TIME? Or do they usually just invite them? I'm thinking that most on a speaking tour don't do it for free.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Is it ethical for a public university to use public funds to further a particular point of view?

 

[Aisling]

She is against the university paying for the speaker.

In that case, I'd go along with it. I remember when the president of Iran came to speak at a school here, people were outraged, but I said let him speak. It was a learning experience no matter how vile the man is. Banning people from speaking at universities is is telling us what we're allowed and not allowed to hear. That's scary.

 

[FireDancer]

OK, lets say I have huge University names the University of Happy. Now I take a huge amount of public funding and enjoy a great deal of success. Suppose my directors all despise cats. Would it be ethical for them to use their position of authority and control over funding to further their own personal distaste for felines? Would it be ethical? Or, would it be more ethical to fund people looking to ban kitty cats on their own time with their own personal money?

I will just say that if they were very anti-feline I would have no problem with them bringing in an anti-feline speaker or even having anti-feline student groups provided they don't forbit pro-feline groups as well.

I would find no ethical dilama in the above. This is especially true if people have to pay to attend this speaker. The pro-feline people would not be presented with the view at all since they can simply decide not to purchase a ticket. If attending the anti-feline was mandatory it would be a different story.

 

[Aisling]

Is it ethical for a public university to use public funds to further a particular point of view?

No, not ethical.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not sure what you mean.

Like should a public university not have certain topics (that cannot be discussed on the dis) simply b/c they receive public funding?

If that is the case--then no, I do not think it is an ethical issue as our nation is "freedom of" and not "freedom from" and the schools should offer coursework that students would like to learn about.

Sometimes that includes inviting speakers.

Sometimes that includes tolerating certain speakers on public grounds spouting off diatribes.

And unless that speaker was mandated for everyone to get their degree--I see no harm in a visiting person spouting their stuff. Nothing says you have to go to it. I also do not see how it is an endorsement.

At UF, we had Accent and all materials pertaining to advertising a speaker clearly stated that the school did not necessarily endorse the views of that speaker. And we had some doozies--including "dis-board" disallowed type topics. These speeches were free, but the speaker was paid with student government funds that came from the school which was state supplemented.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I do. Supporting specific points of view belongs in private universities not tax-payer funded ones.

Thank you!

This is where I am leaning, if someone disagrees I'm curious why they think so. Maybe I'm wrong, I am wrong plenty. But, so far precious few even get the question much less are debating other perspectives on it. Uggh, thank you Aisling

 

[FireDancer]

Is it ethical for a public university to use public funds to further a particular point of view?

I would have to see proof that the funds are public first. Many public Universities get private donations or endowments that can be used for this. Also, if there is a charge to see said speaker then it is being funded by admission, not publicly.

 

[Aisling]

Not sure what you mean.

Like should a public university not have certain topics (that cannot be discussed on the dis) simply b/c they receive public funding?

I believe speakers who have a specific point of view should be invited for the exchange of ideas. But the public university itself should NOT be promoting any points of view.

 

[Aisling]

Thank you!

This is where I am leaning, if someone disagrees I'm curious why they think so. Maybe I'm wrong, I am wrong plenty. But, so far precious few even get the question much less are debating other perspectives on it. Uggh, thank you Aisling

LOL I didn't have any problem understanding the question! It's a simple yes or no!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I believe speakers who have a specific point of view should be invited for the exchange of ideas. But the public university itself should NOT be promoting any points of view.

Figured that out--did the university say they were promoting it.

As I edited above, UF has a speakers' bureau, but none of the actual speakers are endorsed by the school. In fact, at the time that I went, it said as such on all materials advertising the speaker.

Additionally--unlike a public primary or secondary school, students pay fees to attend. So isolating if it is government dollars or not gets tricky.