Final Feature

IS CONTROVERSIAL EDUCATION AN APPROPRIATE METHOD?

By Paul Ellis















Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative pundit, spoke at Stetson Chapel on Nov. 14 about the conservative approach towards feminism in order to expose a conservative viewpoint around a topic that is important on the Kalamazoo College campus.
This was the purpose of bringing in Schlafly: to show a conservative position about a topic that is large on our liberal campus and to promote discussion about different views that many believe are not equally represented on campus, according to Andy Lukas, vice president of the college republicans.
Schlafly’s visit brought a large amount of awareness to campus. On the day of her visit, many students who opposed her viewpoints wore shirts that said ‘I do NOT support Schlafly,’ a group of students wrote and distributed a newsletter, The Feminist, that argued Schlafly’s points in several different columns written by students.
Using topics that create dialogue and require students to think from a different perspective is the form of education for students to expand their thinking to a different
-MORE-
perspective and is the purpose behind the Liberal Arts Colloquium, or LAC, goal. LACs are education presentations that include lectures from scholars, presentations from significant artists, talks and panels that discuss topics from disciplinary perspectives to pressing contemporary issues with the ideas of the pursuit of knowledge, artistic innovation, intercultural understanding, and moral inquiry fueling the topics.
According to Jennifer Einspahr, associate professor of political science, the number one goal is education. “That is the philosophy of the LAC goal, to expose people to information they normally wouldn’t encounter otherwise.”
For a group that normally brings in speakers that are considered ‘controversial,’
the LAC goal is the goal of the College Republicans. According to Lukas, “Controversial speakers are a tool to get as many people talking as possible, and if after going to hear another side of an argument, they are reaffirmed, that’s fine by me. If they are converted, that’s fine by me, but if they were unsure and get a stance, that’s great. Also, we try to bring in shocking people sometimes to try and get more attendance, and if for no other reason to get people talking. I think the majority of our group disagrees with some of Schlafly’s points, but we did it to start dialogue.”
The requirement of 25 LACs to graduate can be a hassle according to several students, but events that introduce controversial topics usually end up being informative as long as they are attended with an open mind.
Liz Pittman, a member of the women’s resource center, said “LACs are for education, some are boring but you can learn from them. And the system isn’t too bad. There are so many to pick and choose from. You can go to the ones you like, and over
-MORE-

the course of four years, 25 isn’t a ridiculous amount.”
There are also other students who feel that despite having to attend LACs, they are beneficial.
Amelia Laing, another member of the women’s resource center said, “The annoying thing is that you have to do it, and having it mandatory makes it irritating but people wouldn’t go in their free time if they weren’t required. I have gone not wanting to, then come out learning something. The only thing is, you need a certain mindset, and if you can do that, LACs are very beneficial.”
Exposing yourself to a variety of viewpoints, ideas, and thoughts allows the formulating of an educated opinion about a topic after hearing what each side has to offer. These are the ideas behind a liberal arts education and how a liberal arts education is obtained.
“It goes back to the liberal arts idea. It’s valuable to entertain and listen to the ideas of the people with whom you disagree with. And even if you think something is right, it’s good to challenge it from time to time so that it holds its weight,” said Einspahr.
This is not necessarily the case when it comes to a speaker that has a drastically different viewpoint than the majority of the campus. This is usually the cause for a negative reaction from a group on campus that has opposite viewpoints from the speaker.
As seen in the Schlafly forum and other speakers in the past at Kalamazoo College, there is a general disrespect from the crowd that can be seen throughout the presentations with laughing, scoffing, and inattentiveness.
-MORE-

Kevin Groth, a member of student commission, said, “I don’t agree with the points that every speaker on campus makes, but those views aren’t present as much as liberal views. It is very embarrassing to be associated with the Kalamazoo College student body at controversial presentations. For the most part, the theatrics, personal attacks, and attempts to disprove opposing viewpoints are unnecessary and out of line.”
Even though a view is not shared between groups, information can still be obtained from those who have more experience. According to Laing, “You can dislike and disagree but you have to respect others’ views. They reason people bring speakers in is because they have been around the block, they know more, and they bring their experience to campus.”
The best time for a student to expand their views and understanding of a subject is at these particular LACs. They can learn about the topic from another viewpoint and respond in different and positive ways. With controversial speakers that talk on campus, “the hope is that people think about it and not just react emotionally, we ought to
be able to entertain this stuff, and if the ideas are stupid, it doesn’t harm us. We become enriched by it, if we approach it with the right attitude,” said Einspahr.



-30-