From the Argus Leader, higher ed promised changes to intellectual diversity policies this past year, but according to some, Universities didn’t deliver.
Now lawmakers are stepping in, and taking matters into their own hands:
The bill comes after the South Dakota Board of Regents revised its policies last year to expand freedom of speech on university campuses. But Rep. Sue Peterson, a Sioux Falls Republican and the bill’s sponsor, said those changes should also be enshrined in state law so that they would be harder to roll back by a future board or Legislature.
“It’s necessary now more than ever,” she said.
And…
…Joe Cohn, a lawyer with the national group Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which promotes free speech on college campuses, said that even with the board’s recent changes on free speech, every university in the state currently has at least one unconstitutional speech code. Cohn also said that bans on student funding to religious and political groups conflict with U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
Two SDSU students testified in favor of the bill, saying they have experienced situations where views and speech have been suppressed.
“Those challenges are not coming from students and their peers,” said Trevor Gunlicks, chairman of the South Dakota College Republicans. “They are coming from staff and faculty.”
What do you think?
If you’re a Public University student in South Dakota, and believe your views or speech have been suppressed in the past year, drop me a note.
this bill is a Godsend—thank you legislators for finally taking action to reduce the rampant political correctness on campus
what goes on here at SDSU is insane in the membrane. the diversity cops patrol this place constantly, and anyone who isn’t liberal is mocked and silenced. there is no marketplace of ideas here. good on pierre for this bill, i’m for it
My how that has changed…..free speech and anti-war use to be a liberal stance, not anymore.
This bill is a lie and a fraud. The sponsors are dishonestly asserting they are doing something but in the end it will have no effect. What is worse is its use of anti-freedom tactics to address the current anti-freedom environment. Gives away any moral authority to effect meaningful change. A “cure” which is just more of the disease is poison.
The problem on campuses is bigger than anything this bill pretends to address and the delusion something has done will make it worse. Unless we address this in a meaningful manner, the decline of higher education (in particular State institutions) will continue.
I would agree the issues are way bigger than what this bill does. But no where are they claiming this bill is the silver bullet solution to that bigger issue. I view this bill as a beachhead to begin to tackle the larger issues.
Practically speaking there is NO silver bullet solution to fix the overall problems on college campuses. And there is no way you could pass a bill dealing with everything all at once. Just look at the fierce opposition this bill has faced. It has taken decades to create the problems and it will take a long time to fix it. But it has to start somewhere.
The millionaires on the Board of Regents are out there right now trying to suppress free speech and kill this bill. They are sending threatening letters and making threatening calls to legislators. The millionaires protect the liberal who control the campuses so they can get fake “honorary degrees.” It’s disgusting. Good for the strong and true legislators facing down these charlatans. Pass the bill!!
I’m glad to see this increasing the amount of history and civics in college. Right now all we get is just a bunch of liberal “social justice” classes taught by lesbians who hate this country. It’s dumb. The liberals who run this place will never put an end to that . time for action
“Right now all we get is just a bunch of liberal “social justice” classes taught by lesbians who hate this country.”
What the hell?
Where’s the governor on this matter? We need her help fighting for some justice and making our universities better. That’s why I voted for her. She needs to get out there and pass this bill. She supported in during the primaries when she wanted my vote.
According to yesterday’s testimony, “most South Dakota college students currently don’t have to take a class in history, government, economics or literature to graduate.” but they take Lesbian Social Justice Movements 101!
That is appalling. The Regents are a bunch doofas rich guys who were buddies with Daugaard. I say flush them out. They are allowing this to happen. Who elected them? Nobody did!
I agree, pass this bill
Lincoln County Delegate,
I am support your concern. But this is a beachhead in the wrong hemisphere from where the battle has to be. But, it gives the delusion of doing something.
I don’t go for lies because in the end it will make the problem worse. And I say the word lie with full intention. They know it will not be but a droplet in the ocean.
Troy, as someone who typically respects and appreciates your input on this blog, I am curious why you oppose this bill? It is supported by Dr. Jon Schaff at NSU and Dr. Joseph Bottum at DSU, and would protect 1st Amendment rights on campus, as well as make sure students have basic civic understanding. What is your concern?
It is also supported by Dr. Richardson at USD. Here’s more on Dr. Richardson if you are not familiar. (I know Troy is but others may not be). https://www.usd.edu/faculty-and-staff/William-Richardson
I guess we will have to agree to disagree then. I’m sure the bills proponents are not out to deceive anyone and are genuine in their intent. I assume they would be happy to hear you out on your ideas to fix the mess on college campuses. The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time and the BOR is the biggest elephant in the State.
Pass the bill!
Break the liberal monopoly on campus!
This will do nothing. Absolutely nothing.
The members of the BOR are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, and that’s where the solution to the problem is to be found.
If the regents don’t get it, kick ‘em to the curb.
BOR now threatening students and legislators for being for free speech. What a world. Pass the bill
Noem awol
Pass the bill! More recruitment opportunities for Minnesota Universities, tech schools and having them contribute to the MN economy.
I would encourage Conservative students to record things on campus, including in class. It they have evidence of a violation of their right to free speech, take the professor, dean, custodian, etc. to court. We should use the laws (while we still have them) to protect our rights.
Contrary to the popular belief of the majority-yes, majority-of liberals, the laws apply to them as well as to Conservatives.
I love this idea as well. Even if you don’t go to court, it can have significant impact by communicating it to the public and let the market work. Look at what the exposure of the liberal gobbledygook has done to our Law School. It is rightly in chaos and from the chaos will come meaningful reform. We don’t need more of the same from the conservative side. We need to get back to the basics.
Lincoln County Delegate:
You are exactly right the BOR is the biggest elephant and the by far the worst administered place in all of government in all of South Dakota. The Legislature has been dropping the ball on this problem for decades. The only reason they are finally asserting legislative prerogative is they let it get out of hand. And, since the fix is now so difficult, they are proposing a faux solution.
Maybe their intent is good but the road to H**l is still pained with good intentions.
The big picture is a college degree costs* the taxpayers and students too much money for the substandard quality** of the product. Further, college has become an extension of high school where students have safe spaces instead of a precursor to the real world.
The reasons for my opposition:
1) This bill does nothing to address above shortcomings. NADA. I get the idea take small bites but the reality isn’t even a gnat bite on the real problem. More importantly, it will defer meaningful action. If they are serious, the Legislature has to show serious effort. Not create a conservative safe space and think they have done something.
2) Anne Beal’s comment is exactly right. Personnel is policy and it starts with their confirmation of BOR members. If they actually were demanding a focus on quality of the product and preparation for the real world, the problems they claim this bill will fix become non-existent or deminimus. When is the last time they really grilled a nominee on philosophy? When have they rejected a person who is being re-appointed (in truth, I don’t know if re-appointees are up for Senate confirmation. If they aren’t, this would be the first change to make to put them on notice they have to be accountable)?
3a) They have the power of the purse. When can you recall the legislature ever communicating expectations, measuring those expectations, and then withholding funds for non-performance? APPROPRIATIONS IS THE FIRST JOB OF THE LEGISLATURE. THIS IS ONE THE BIGGEST APPROPRIATIONS THEY MAKE.
3b) The BOR has no incentive on getting students to graduate in four years (they get more revenue if it takes 5 years). After exhausting family and personal funds and scholarships, students can just borrow the money to keep the party going (and if they are going into a field where there is loan forgiveness, they have no cost to party another year). Only the Legislature has the direct incentive to get the students out of college and into the workforce (which is good for our economy too). When a student has five years, it gives them the capacity to take progressive fluff re-education classes. Get the kids out in four years and this won’t matter.
4) As a corollary to getting done in four years, our institutions have to be focused on getting students prepared to have a career. As a person who is involved in companies, I see first hand the quality of education and it is abominable. One very truncated story is a company hired a new accounting graduate from USD to be a cost accountant who was surprised the company didn’t analyze global footprint when buying replacement welding equipment and proposed instituting it. I’m serious.
5) Virtually ALL of these soft progressive “re-education” majors, minors, and even classes are unrelated to a career. Instead of this bill, how about measuring how many of their graduates from these fluff majors are working in the field five years after graduation? And, what is their average salary in those fields? Our students need to hear the truth about what these choices mean. By far, this truth is the worst speech being suppressed. Not the stuff this bill pretends to want to address.
6) This bill makes “fantasy world of college” worse because we are now creating safe spaces for conservatives. Despite differences I have with the student movement of the 1960’s they have my respect because they didn’t whine, run to their mommies, or run to the legislators. They confronted their opposition. What makes Nick Sandmann a hero is he stood his ground. I am confident our conservative college students can stand their ground and don’t need the nanny’s in Pierre to fight their battles.
Longer story only because of its political significance: In the fall of 1980 (in the heat of a US Senate race against Representative Jim Abdnor), USD brought Senator McGovern to campus for a big forum. When the local College Republicans asked for equal time, they were rejected because of McGovern’s greater national prominence (which was true). But, they ignored the greater truth- they did this at this time to help McGovern’s re-election.
Did Bill Protexter and Rhonda Goss whine about fairness? No, instead they asked the Abdnor campaign for a thousand yard signs and pounded on every dorm door asking them to put the sign in their window the day McGovern was on campus. Maybe with the passage of time my memory is exaggerating it but I remember it looked like over half the windows in every dorm had Abdnor signs. What I’m not exaggerating is Senator McGovern at McGovern Day at Canary Stadium told me personally (in the presence of Senator Abdnor and Senator Thune) when he saw those signs he knew he was going to lose.
I could do a better job with more time but I wanted to respond to the request for my thoughts. This bill will not move the ball a single yard closer to solving the real problems and it is wrong to give us the delusion it will. If we want to address this problem, demand the legislature do the hard, meaningful work and start now.
*Total money spent on a degree. Did you know getting done with college in 4 years at Augie costs the same as 5 years at SDSU?
** Job ready capabilities and relevant knowledge to be an employee of sufficient worth to justify salary.
From the Augustana website at http://www.augie.edu/financing-your-education:
“At Augustana, 100 percent of students receive academic, talent and/or need-based financial assistance, with more than $33 million awarded in scholarships, grants, loans, and work study.”
Are you factoring that into the cost?
Good question. Most people think of it as in cost to the student. However, I think we need to include the subsidy by the taxpayer in the cost.
Before Scholarships, Augie costs $40,000 a year or $160,000 for four years.
SDSU costs $17,000 a year or $85,000 a year for five years. But, when you factor in the taxpayer subsidy it is about $105,000.
However, when you factor in scholarships financed by endowment funds/alumni etc, Augie is about $80,000 and SDSU is about $75,000 (this is my recollection of some research I did when my daughter was deciding where to go). But even if my recollection is off, you have to also factor in the impact on the financial well-being of the student getting into the workforce a year earlier and eligible for promotions earlier, etc. which more than closes the gap.
Things may have changed since I graduated from SDSU in 2015, but every one of my teachers and advisors where pushing graduating in four years. I was an Agricultural Business student, but I thought the Economics department at SDSU was great about getting me to graduate in four years. In fact I remember seeing in all the commons little table signs that spelled out the costs of going the extra fifth year. Not saying there isn’t a problem at South Dakota campuses, but I think it does vary on what department you are in.
Too many kids to to college with no deal of what they really want for a major or career and thus waste their time and money. My child did two years at SDSU in pre vet and then got into vet school; he was out and starting his career in just six years. Another of my kids went to USD, graduating in seven years with an accounting degree plus MBA and law degree. They knew what they wanted, how much it would cost, and were focused. They also had time for fun but it wasn’t their major reason for college.
I too had problems with the BOR but that is another story.
We need more conservative voices on campus and the BOR and whoever need to hire them. Now there are basically none in the system. All these kids pay big money to be brainwashed by leftwing professors. Stop the Madness please!
one of the life lessons all kids need to learn is how to perform for an overbearing dictatorial and mentally abusive boss, when they’re stuck in that situation. it’s hard to think of a better daily obstacle-strength training regimen than a daily lit or history class taught by a tenured sjw.