Jerry Sandusky, Penn State's class catalog, and sexual deviance...
If you take a look at the Penn State University catalog as I did this afternoon, you will find a long list of classes meant to inoculate students to sexual deviance. Here are a few of the courses and their descriptions:
ENGL 245(GH;US) (WMNST 245) Introduction to Lesbian and Gay Studies (3) An introduction to the study of homosexual identities across a wide range of disciplines and methodologies.
An introduction to the study of homosexual identities across a wide range of disciplines and methodologies, this course explores the history of modern, “western” ideas about sexual identity as manifested in both writing and images. The class examines sexuality not as a “natural” or consistent phenomenon, but as a set of beliefs that have changed over time and manifest themselves differently in different cultural and historical contexts.
Starting in the late nineteenth century, scientific and medical authorities began categorizing individuals into sexual types based on their manifestations of gendered characteristics and their erotic attractions and practices. This medical typing corresponded with the development of subcultures associated with deviance from sexual norms; these subcultures produced a rich variety of texts, images, performances, and social forms, many of which are now considered central to both vernacular and high culture.
This course explores this rich archive. It investigates constructions of sexual conformity and how sexual nonconformists positioned themselves as a shared group identity. It examines how sexual distinctions between gendered, raced, and classed bodies were historically produced and culturally contested. It considers what commonalities gay identities may – or may not – share with lesbian identities and how the increasing visibility of bisexuality, transgender, and transsexuality has altered perceptions of sexual identity. The course explores the relationship of the avant-garde to mass-mediated politics of GLBTQ subcultures and the impetus to “normalcy.” Comparative study of issues of sexual mobility beyond and between the borders of the United States expands the course’s critical scope beyond dominant forms of western culture.
This course does not propose definitive answers to the questions of identity it addresses. Instead it negotiates the ways sexualities have enabled individuals to articulate – and disarticulate – themselves within social bodies past and present. This course, therefore, has wide relevance for students interested in how group identities come into being and transform over time in dynamic relation to other historical forces. Exploring a wide variety of texts and images associated with the history of sexual identity as well as a variety of interpretations of that history, this course opens students to an archive with the potential to inform and enrich their understandings of many kinds of challenges to regimes of normativity today.
BB H 251(US) Straight Talks I: Advanced Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Peer Education (3) Exploration of social justice issues, diversity leadership, and group facilitation skills related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally issues.
Straight Talks I provides students an opportunity to explore various lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allies (LGBTA) issues from an educational perspective. Students will be exposed to theories, terminology, and various speakers who will approach topics such as LGBTA history and multicultural issues. The course projects are designed to enhance both written and oral skills, and provide students an opportunity to work together. Finally, the course challenges students to think critically about the social, economic, and political cultures around them and how these cultures affect sexual and gender orientation issues.
Course Objectives:
Philosophical
1. To think critically about your spiritual, social, economic, political and cultural existences and their relationship to your understanding of sexual and gender orientation issues.
2. To develop a critical consciousness that will bring awareness of the ways custom, ritual and tradition helped shape and continue to shape our daily lives.
3. To develop a fuller understanding of the way gender and sexual orientation are conceived of by other people and the ways in which these conceptions link with other elements of identity including ethnicity, class, gender, ability etc.
4. To challenge you to consider the following questions: a) What does it mean to provide educational programming? b) What does it mean to be a peer educator? c) How do I influence others by my involvement in this program? d) How do I what to influence others by my involvement in this program? e) How do I change the world so that it is a better place when I leave it?
Praxis
1. Develop facilitation and presentation skills
2. Obtain knowledge about LGBTA history and current issues and concerns.
3. Conceive of and articulate what it means to 'come out'.
4. Acquire information on sexual orientation, identity development and queer history.
5. Refine your ability to provide programming activities in the form of facilitation, discussion, skits, and exercises.
6. Develop a sense of community and rapport with other panelists through class discussions and projects.
ART H 225(GA;GH) (ENGL 225, WMNST 225) Sexuality and Modern Visual Culture (3) An examination of the visual expression of gender and sexual identities in English-speaking cultures since the late nineteenth century.
The terms "feminist" and "homosexual" were invented by the Victorians and reflect profound shifts in conceptions of identity. Another invention of the nineteenth century was the idea of the literary and artistic "avant-garde," a minority contingent with politically and/or aesthetically advanced views. These ideas of minority culture were deeply enmeshed with one another, and have exerted profound influence ever since. This course explores that history with the objective of developing a more sophisticated understanding of how the history of ideas affects our sense of who we are and how we read both texts and images. The course will be relevant to students of American and English studies, art, art history, and women's and sexuality studies.
To find hundreds of other classes like the above, you can enter “gender” or “sexuality” or “gay” or “homophobia” in the search box on the catalog page (upper right corner).
What got me thinking about the classes offered at Penn State? The damning report from Freeh and company on Penn State’s failures to deal with their resident homosexual predator, Jerry Sandusky, got me thinking about it (...by the way, the word “homosexual” is not present in the 267 pages).
Now you think about it for a millisecond: when the administrators and professors of our universities carefully create a culture in which their own sexual deviance is protected, promoted, and professed, can we be surprised that Jerry Sandusky could roam those revered halls and hallowed locker rooms for decades sodomizing 9 year-old boys? For many--certainly not for all, but for many--Jerry Sandusky is the embodiment of their very own lectures.
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OK, how exactly does this subject matter fit into the English department, or that of behavioral health? Agreed that normalizing this kind of thing is a huge issue, but just as large in my estimation is the utter destruction of logic apparently being perpetrated by Penn State.
And bazillions of other bastions of "higher knowledge".
Colleges and universities have always been in part ways in which a society passes on to a new generation its "culture," i.e., its spoken and unspoken beliefs, values and standards. That is exactly what Penn State is trying to do: pass on the beliefs, values, and standards of the elite class who dominate higher education and the mass media.
Alas, Babylon.
English is, in many ways, the study of culture through literature. So LGBT literature would fit into that if you deemed LGBT culture something worth being studied in its own class. It's completely understandable if you don't, but as an English major myself, I just wanted to say that it fits the general structure of an English major to have classes like this.
I didn't take any LGBT-related courses in my major, although I did take several courses about American Indian literature, and like most English courses, they almost double as history and philosophy lessons -- the latter two coming from the perspective of the oftentimes very liberal professor, of course. The oddest thing is that, despite the fact that you read a lot, almost none of the upper-level courses in my English department used the word "literature" in their titles or descriptions. The lines between English and the social sciences are getting blurred, unfortunately.
Jay--understood, but the course description says nothing about literature of any type. I could understand it if it referred to the literature in that genre--ick--but it doesn't. It's a complete logical non sequitur.
It mentions "exploring the archive" and the utilization of texts. By this point in an English major, you know you're going to be reading books, so the courses are promoted by stating what those books are supposed to teach you and how the theme of the course is organized.
I'm not defending the content of the course, though. Just wanted to make a note about English as a subject.
This doesn't begin and end with Penn State, as excellent as the connection made here is and as sad as the outcomes! This is rampant in almost every institute of higher learning, in some form of fashion of indoctrination, across our country! Also, it is not only affecting our schools but is a big part of the dumbing down of America and the affect it has on candidates and elections at every level. Finally, and while not as damaging, yet, we see the effects on religion and our churches/faith organizations, even so-called conservative ones, in this...the National Assoc. of Evangelicals has received a grant from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy (an arm of Planned Parenthood for all intents and purposes) to keep themselves afloat after the sexual scandal of it's past president, Ted Haggard! How sad that they are willing to fall for the lies, claiming that 'they tell us that contraception reduces pregnancy and therefore, abortion,' instead of listening to the Truth of God's Word in Galatians 6: 7 - 9. If they would look for themselves they would clearly see that any long-term studies and results (6 months and longer) regarding the 'free sex' agenda of The National Campaign and Planned Parenthood has always failed miserably at every turn regarding pregnancies, STDs and yes, even abortions! We are reaping the fleshly and sinful sowing that has been, and continues to be, done even in many of our churches! I pray the Church will awaken to its complicity and sin in all of this along with our education, media and govt. systems before it is too late (which may not be far off)!
...and how many courses actually focused on various sexual perversions mention nothing about it in their course descriptions? 99% of my generic 100-level English course at Indiana University was spent discussing this bilge.
...I had to look up the word "bilge" in the thesaurus because the spam filter wouldn't take the word "puke" (but it seems to like quotations around it). just shows to go ya I di-int learnt nothin in that English class.
Thats TYPICAL. but see below what I found at;
http://www.agelesslove.com/boards/chit-chat/37985-15-strange-funny-colle...
15 STRANGE (funny) College courses
I gotta take some of these. LOL
The University of California, Berkeley offers you these WONDERFUL classes,
Arguing with Judge Judy: Popular ‘Logic’ on TV Judge Shows
Not quite what one would expect, the professor of this course emphasizes repeatedly in the course listing that this class is “NOT a course about law or “legal reasoning.” It is instead an exploration of logical fallacies that are often presented by defendants and plaintiffs on court television shows like Judge Judy and The People’s Court. Seems right up the alley of most college students, as they are squarely in the demographic of afternoon television programming (which also targets the elderly and unemployed).
AND this class, Simpsons and Philosophy
This one is probably predictable as you’ve got a twenty year old show with plenty of rich fairly intellectual material and a main character with the name of “Homer”. UC-Berkeley claims this isn’t at all a dumbed down class, but a fairly rigorous philosophical course. The text of the class is the book “The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D’oh of Homer,” edited by William Irwin and features weighty questions such as “Can Nietzsche’s rejection of traditional morality justify Bart’s bad behavior?”.
OH and THIS Class for you gamers. The Strategy of Starcraft! WOO HOO
The University of California, San Diego and Reed College in Portland Oregon offers Underwater Basket Weaving!
Underwater basket weaving involves making wicker baskets by dipping reeds or stalks of plants into water, and letting them soak. Full body immersion is optional I suppose
Pitzer College, Learning From YouTube. Now Honestly YOU can!! I know because I have learned HOW to assemble a wedding cake!
Philosophy and Star Trek is what Georgetown Uni offers. Live long and prosper my friend!
Centre College offers The Art of Walking. Not as funny as you think ( I laughed though!) You will enjoy walks around severy Parks in Danville Kentucky having lectures and enjoying old cemeteries, nearby Shaker village and battlegrounds.
They Also offer Myth and Science Fiction. Star wars, The Matrix and Lord of the rings.
The University of Wisconsin offers A Guiding Light for the Young and the Restless; YEP you heard right it is Daytime Serials: Family and Social Roles. AH so is the Days of our lives.
Santa Clara University would love to invite you to this class; The JOY of garbage.
The Joy of Garbage is a Santa Clara University course that actually deals with real science through the lens of garbage. Students study decomposition, what makes soil rot, the chemicals that give garbage an unpleasant odor, and they also learn about sustainability when it comes to the things we throw away. Classes don’t just study household garbage either, there’s also a section on nuclear waste. And topping things off there are even field trips, with students visiting local sanitation plants and landfills.
(great for detectives AND anyone who wants to work in a morgue.)
University of California at Irvine has a class called, The Science of Superheroes ( I never knew there was a science that dealt with this!)
Students at UC Irvine can learn about physics by using familiar superhero icons such as Spider-Man, Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman. The professor teaches the physics of flying and fluid dynamics using Superman as his example, and the students also learn about super strong spider silk as used by Spider-Man. The professor explains it saying “It gives me a chance to talk about real science but in a context that is very familiar to the students”.
(kinda cool!)
My favorite one is Columbia College, Chicago class; Zombies in Popular media!
Lest you think it’s just about zombie movies, it should be emphasized that the course also covers the history of voodoo in Hait, and video games like Resident Evil as well as zombies in cinema.
Frostburg State University has The Science of Harry Potter...YEP!! I can NOW learn to FLY, Just kidding.
Not only does Frostburg State offer a course on the science of Harry Potter - it’s an honors course. The class discusses topics such as whether or not Fluffy the three headed dog could be explained by genetic engineering or if antigravity research could actually produce a flying broomstick. The course is modeled after (and uses as a textbook) the book “The Science of Harry Potter: How Magic Really Works,” by Roger Highfield. The class is geared towards non-science majors and, probably not surprisingly, there is no lab work.
(YES and HONOR class..I AM SO taking this one!)
State University of New York at Buffalo Has Cyberporn and Society
Students taking this course watch porn. At school. There are actually quite a few porn courses in the US, including a class at Northwestern that deals with obscenity where the professor screens the Italian movie Saló, a film that has a great argument for being the sickest movie ever made. Seeing it in a college course would be extremely bizarre.
Oregon State offers Far Side Entomology
The comic strip “The Far Side” featured a rich universe filled with interesting animals and bugs. Far Side Entomology professor Michael Burgett uses the comic strip as a teaching tool to explore interactions between humans and insects. About the course, Burgett says “The anthropomorphism in the cartoons makes an immediate connection between insects and people … Students take those connections farther, connecting to ideas and relationships they wouldn’t have imagined in a straight systematics course.”
This has been going on for decades. But for the Main guys to allow Sandusky to B.K.O.C. ( boink kids on campus ) I don't think it is that widespread, but I could be very wrong, I fear.
Thats TYPICAL. but see below what I found at;
http://www.agelesslove.com/boards/chit-chat/37985-15-strange-funny-colle...
15 STRANGE (funny) College courses
I gotta take some of these. LOL
The University of California, Berkeley offers you these WONDERFUL classes,
Arguing with Judge Judy: Popular ‘Logic’ on TV Judge Shows
Not quite what one would expect, the professor of this course emphasizes repeatedly in the course listing that this class is “NOT a course about law or “legal reasoning.” It is instead an exploration of logical fallacies that are often presented by defendants and plaintiffs on court television shows like Judge Judy and The People’s Court. Seems right up the alley of most college students, as they are squarely in the demographic of afternoon television programming (which also targets the elderly and unemployed).
AND this class, Simpsons and Philosophy
This one is probably predictable as you’ve got a twenty year old show with plenty of rich fairly intellectual material and a main character with the name of “Homer”. UC-Berkeley claims this isn’t at all a dumbed down class, but a fairly rigorous philosophical course. The text of the class is the book “The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D’oh of Homer,” edited by William Irwin and features weighty questions such as “Can Nietzsche’s rejection of traditional morality justify Bart’s bad behavior?”.
OH and THIS Class for you gamers. The Strategy of Starcraft! WOO HOO
The University of California, San Diego and Reed College in Portland Oregon offers Underwater Basket Weaving!
Underwater basket weaving involves making wicker baskets by dipping reeds or stalks of plants into water, and letting them soak. Full body immersion is optional I suppose
Pitzer College, Learning From YouTube. Now Honestly YOU can!! I know because I have learned HOW to assemble a wedding cake!
Philosophy and Star Trek is what Georgetown Uni offers. Live long and prosper my friend!
Centre College offers The Art of Walking. Not as funny as you think ( I laughed though!) You will enjoy walks around severy Parks in Danville Kentucky having lectures and enjoying old cemeteries, nearby Shaker village and battlegrounds.
They Also offer Myth and Science Fiction. Star wars, The Matrix and Lord of the rings.
The University of Wisconsin offers A Guiding Light for the Young and the Restless; YEP you heard right it is Daytime Serials: Family and Social Roles. AH so is the Days of our lives.
Santa Clara University would love to invite you to this class; The JOY of garbage.
The Joy of Garbage is a Santa Clara University course that actually deals with real science through the lens of garbage. Students study decomposition, what makes soil rot, the chemicals that give garbage an unpleasant odor, and they also learn about sustainability when it comes to the things we throw away. Classes don’t just study household garbage either, there’s also a section on nuclear waste. And topping things off there are even field trips, with students visiting local sanitation plants and landfills.
(great for detectives AND anyone who wants to work in a morgue.)
University of California at Irvine has a class called, The Science of Superheroes ( I never knew there was a science that dealt with this!)
Students at UC Irvine can learn about physics by using familiar superhero icons such as Spider-Man, Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman. The professor teaches the physics of flying and fluid dynamics using Superman as his example, and the students also learn about super strong spider silk as used by Spider-Man. The professor explains it saying “It gives me a chance to talk about real science but in a context that is very familiar to the students”.
(kinda cool!)
My favorite one is Columbia College, Chicago class; Zombies in Popular media!
Lest you think it’s just about zombie movies, it should be emphasized that the course also covers the history of voodoo in Hait, and video games like Resident Evil as well as zombies in cinema.
Frostburg State University has The Science of Harry Potter...YEP!! I can NOW learn to FLY, Just kidding.
Not only does Frostburg State offer a course on the science of Harry Potter - it’s an honors course. The class discusses topics such as whether or not Fluffy the three headed dog could be explained by genetic engineering or if antigravity research could actually produce a flying broomstick. The course is modeled after (and uses as a textbook) the book “The Science of Harry Potter: How Magic Really Works,” by Roger Highfield. The class is geared towards non-science majors and, probably not surprisingly, there is no lab work.
(YES and HONOR class..I AM SO taking this one!)
State University of New York at Buffalo Has Cyberporn and Society
Students taking this course watch porn. At school. There are actually quite a few porn courses in the US, including a class at Northwestern that deals with obscenity where the professor screens the Italian movie Saló, a film that has a great argument for being the sickest movie ever made. Seeing it in a college course would be extremely bizarre.
Oregon State offers Far Side Entomology
The comic strip “The Far Side” featured a rich universe filled with interesting animals and bugs. Far Side Entomology professor Michael Burgett uses the comic strip as a teaching tool to explore interactions between humans and insects. About the course, Burgett says “The anthropomorphism in the cartoons makes an immediate connection between insects and people … Students take those connections farther, connecting to ideas and relationships they wouldn’t have imagined in a straight systematics course.”
This has been going on for decades. But for the Main guys to allow Sandusky to B.K.O.C. ( boink kids on campus ) I don't think it is that widespread, but I could be very wrong, I fear.
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