Bowen Xu, A04, Week 8

Bowen Xu

ASA 002 A04

2020.05.15

In this week's class, our focus shifted from the various kinds of oppression and discrimination suffered by ethnic minorities to another aspect, that is, the shocking low status and difficult situation of scholars in all jobs. Napoleon once said, "Teacher is the most noble humble and the most humble noble." When I read O'Brien's article "Resistance is Not Futile", I realized it for the first time. The lives of scholars are not always bright and beautiful. Obrien's article cuts from a class he took. When he and his students discussed the plight of low-income people and the reasons, he suddenly found that his life was similar to the difficulties of poor workers in garment factories and textile factories. How ironic does this sound? A university faculty member and a blue collar basic worker. I believe that few people will put them in the same class. In fact, higher education tutors who seem to be supposed to lead a prosperous life are actually likely to lead a struggling life. This is exactly the status quo in American education. At first glance, the author's articles look like very fragmented books and diaries. He expounded his experience of moving between different educational institutions and how he spent his life carefully. The numbers and humble encounters seemed so helpless and sad to me.

Who exactly caused it? As the tuition fees of American universities are increasing, teachers, which are the core characters on campus, and even the soul, are living an increasingly embarrassing life. What caused this contrast. I always think that there are few ivory towers in campus society. There are no dark and nasty conflicts of interest. Some are pure academic passion. But in fact, I was wrong. When I heard lecture speakers in the class like narrative novels, telling how employees on the university campus used financial means and tax-related matters to obtain economic benefits, I was shocked and also very angry . We should not let the campus, the last land, become a battlefield of interest. Therefore, when our interests are violated, we should bravely expose the shady spots we have discovered. Similarly, when our teachers live a difficult life for various reasons, while we sympathize and sigh, we should also explore the reasons and trace the roots. "When everyone shines a light, you don't have to wait for the flames." I think this is what I hope for, a socially responsible youth image, and a purely ideal campus.

Question: Does the leadership really deduct wages for economic benefits on campus?

Reference

Valverde, K.-L. C., & Dariotis, W. M. (2020). Fight the tower: Asian American women scholars resistance and renewal in the academy. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, pp.323-336.