Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Is Penn State Serious?   [David French]

Many thanks to former Penn State student (and former ADF Center for Academic Freedom client) A. J. Fluehr, who alerted me to a Penn State University video — part of its "worrisome student behaviors" educational series. It has to be seen to be believed, but is a virtual carnival fun house of leftist academic stereotypes. The well-meaning and completely unbiased anti-war professor? Check. The smiling, wise administrator who cares for his students and is committed to protecting the safety of his teachers? Check. And, of course, we have the scowling, angry veteran with the vaguely threatening demeanor who needs to "get help."

I spent a year with a line unit in the worst parts of Diyala province — during periods where we took horrific casualties — and never once saw the kind of behavior from our young guys that Penn State features in its video vignette. Instead, I encountered respectful, courageous men from every conceivable social, economic, and ethnic background (our unit had the kind of diversity that Penn State can only dream of) who were willing to lay down their lives for folks back home who barely knew they existed. I suppose this is Penn State's way of saying thanks . . . teaching their professors to deal with the latent killers in their midst.

Penn State veterans, if you read this, I would love to hear about your experience on campus. I truly hope that the video is an aberration and in no way representative of the way you've been treated at the university. Tell me your story, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and we'll find out what Penn State is really like.

04/08 04:14 PMShare