WEEK 5- George Welly

George Welly 

A01 

Week 5

Within Imperial University, authors Piya Chatterjee and Sunaina Maira dive into their respective universities, that being the University of California, Riverside and the University of California, Davis. Moreover, Chatterjee and Maira delve into the fact that this unnecessary brutality has it’s roots with problems on larger scale, particularly on the national level with events such as 9/11. In respect to the events in 9/11, America as a whole began to target anyone who had opposing ideals. Imposing such ideals have been prevalent within countless times in American history, whether it be in McCarthyism and the time of the red scare. Ultimately, the university is emulating these actions in restricting what should be freedom of speech. Additionally, both authors continue to stress how just how America pinpoints the enemy as anyone who poses a threat to US democracy and freedom, universities are utilizing the same argument, however Chatterjee and Maira argue that the universities’ actions are only doing more harm than actual protection. 

As I continued to read, I became more and more shocked that such actions are prevalent within these institutions. Surely I understand trying to maintain peace within the institution is key, however buying military grade equipment, as well as the addition of SWAT teams is completely unacceptable. The university is trying to cover up their main intentions, which is why this idea connects with the theme so clearly—the same imperialistic ideologies that drove America into imperialism is the same ideology that fuels the university. A university should not take advantage of its students and oppress anyone that does not align themselves with their own beliefs; such thoughts and actions are evidently immoral and the fact that an imperial university is a reality is quite saddening. 

Q. We know the media is very powerful in determining the future of a university. With that being said, how can universities heal from their excessive actions? e.g. How can Davis heal from “Pepper spray university?” 

References: 

Chatterjee, P., & Maira, S. (2014). Imperial University: Academic Repression and Scholarly Dissent. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

Rawlinson, K. (2016, April 21). Pepper spray university says sorry for search manipulation. Retrieved April 30, 2017, from http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36102959