Duke University responds to ‘Fun Home’ controversy

[Blue_Adept]

“With a class of 1,750 new students from around the world, it would be impossible to find a single book that that did not challenge someone’s way of thinking,” Michael Schoenfeld, the university’s vice president for public affairs, said in a statement issued Monday. “We understand and respect that, but also hope that students will begin their time at Duke with open minds and a willingness to explore new ideas, whether they agree with them or not.”

Linkage

Good to see them standing by its inclusion and not quickly abandoning it. Some thought and effort is put into the selections afterall.

[Blue_Adept]

1. Original complainer also walks back statement

Acts willy-nilly:

“Obviously, the purpose of Fun Home is literary and not pornographic in nature,” he told The Daily Beast. “However, I still hold that personally, it would be dishonoring to God for me to read it and to view it.”

[rurallib]

2. And thus personally, will he take the 'F" that he deserves if he refuses to do the assignment?

[reformist2]

3. It's not an assignment.

[Journeyman]

5. Reading. It's fundamental . . .

As with previous titles chosen by the Duke Common Experience Program, Fun Home isn’t required reading; there’s no grade given or documentation of a student’s participation. The program is designed to “give incoming students a shared intellectual experience with other members of their class” (the author is also invited to speak on campus).

[ladyVet]

4. Good for Duke. I guess the wishy washy freshman will get a big fat F, then. nt

[cwydro]

6. No, no F will result.

It was just suggested summer reading for incoming freshman.

Scary that they've got freshmen of this mentality.

[Octafish]

7. Kick the students out who won't read the thing.

Biggest part of the education deal is learning new ideas.

[Vincardog]

8. IMO the biggest part of education is learning tolerance.

[hifiguy]

9. Anyone goony enough to think you can

dishonor an imaginary being by reading a book, required or not, has no business whatsoever at an elite school like Duke. None. Zip, zero, el zilcho. One of the reichwing diploma mills would be a far more appripriate place for a dimwit like this.

[mnhtnbb]

10. Reminiscent of the controversy at UNC-Chapel Hill years ago

when, in 2002, a book about the Qur'an was on the suggested reading list for incoming freshman.

http://gazette.unc.edu/archives/02sep11/file.4.html

Three guesses who were the most vocal opponents?