The new religion of Wokeism had not yet cleared the field (though its adherents were everywhere, they often had a defensive crouch) so the overall vibe was just somewhat vacant nihilistic hedonism. That kind of situation offers fertile soil for a new religion to take hold.
PS some might be interested in the brief and fiery history of Peninsula at Harvard. In those days, the Salient was very much a Romney crowd (at least until Pappin came along) and the Peninsula were the based ones.
It's amazing how much has changed in the intervening decades. I too can remember when these things were debated in fairly civil discourse. Everyone's voice was heard. I graduated from Smith in '86, and I distinctly recall having my eyeballs opened the day my government professor, Phil Green, a Jewish Marxist on the board of The Nation, told us the Nazi supporters had ad a right to march in predominantly Jewish Skokie, IL. I had taken the emotional side, assuming harm to the residents (of a psychological sort), but he was adamant: this is what free speech looks like. As Jesus said about loving one's neighbor, any fool can love one's pals. It's the other that puts us to the test. Harvard in its current incarnation has failed that test in every way.
Oh yes, it's horrendous. People have been fired for doing their jobs, free speech is nonexistent, and the delusions of self-righteousness and victimization are standard. The fact that Smith allows trans men in is appalling. In the FB group to which I belong, "Smithies Who Love Cats," (and the dog group!) we are made to address the group as "Sibs," not "Sisters," because, as I was helpfully informed, "not everyone identifies as a woman." 🤡 This is (was) a WOMEN'S college. I don't know what part of that is so difficult for the obese Queer Theory majors with unicorn hair and outsized entitlement.
More interesting 'fun facts' about Smith (from Perplexity AI): Recent data and surveys indicate that Smith College has one of the highest percentages of students identifying as LGBTQ among U.S. colleges. The most current and widely cited estimate is that approximately 70% of Smith College students identify as LGBTQ, according to a 2022 report by the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology, with a margin of error of 6%. This figure includes students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other non-heterosexual identities. The 70% figure is notably higher than both the national average for college students (23%) and the general U.S. population (7.1%)
I wonder if Smith regrets remaining 'all women' (again, to be debated if that is in fact so now) because at this point in time it seems like it's developed into a retreat/haven for gay (or whatever!) women...the dynamics of which does not make it a politically diverse or even dynamic learning environment anymore. It's become a refuge.
That is so sadly true. It is no longer the place where I could debate, with joy in the doing and no rancor whatsoever, reincarnation with Indian students, or come nearly to tears as I wrestled with the impact of Hannah Arendt's letters. It is a concentration camp, expensive and luxurious, and committed to indoctrination and the most repulsive of pseudo-progressive agendas. It is so sad. One wonders if it will survive much longer.
Fascinating. God bless the Salient.
The Gen-X production in the Currier dining hall was somewhat different:
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1999/11/12/jesus-christ-superstar-a-work-in/
The new religion of Wokeism had not yet cleared the field (though its adherents were everywhere, they often had a defensive crouch) so the overall vibe was just somewhat vacant nihilistic hedonism. That kind of situation offers fertile soil for a new religion to take hold.
Disgusting but unsurprising. Incredibly sad what has become of Harvard.
PS some might be interested in the brief and fiery history of Peninsula at Harvard. In those days, the Salient was very much a Romney crowd (at least until Pappin came along) and the Peninsula were the based ones.
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1992/6/4/peninsula-issue-sparks-campus-controversy-pit/
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2002/12/12/letter-draws-students-anger-a-letter/
It's amazing how much has changed in the intervening decades. I too can remember when these things were debated in fairly civil discourse. Everyone's voice was heard. I graduated from Smith in '86, and I distinctly recall having my eyeballs opened the day my government professor, Phil Green, a Jewish Marxist on the board of The Nation, told us the Nazi supporters had ad a right to march in predominantly Jewish Skokie, IL. I had taken the emotional side, assuming harm to the residents (of a psychological sort), but he was adamant: this is what free speech looks like. As Jesus said about loving one's neighbor, any fool can love one's pals. It's the other that puts us to the test. Harvard in its current incarnation has failed that test in every way.
Have you checked out Smith lately? It could easily keep Harvard in good company today. The rot is pervasive & deep. - Smith ‘79
Oh yes, it's horrendous. People have been fired for doing their jobs, free speech is nonexistent, and the delusions of self-righteousness and victimization are standard. The fact that Smith allows trans men in is appalling. In the FB group to which I belong, "Smithies Who Love Cats," (and the dog group!) we are made to address the group as "Sibs," not "Sisters," because, as I was helpfully informed, "not everyone identifies as a woman." 🤡 This is (was) a WOMEN'S college. I don't know what part of that is so difficult for the obese Queer Theory majors with unicorn hair and outsized entitlement.
More interesting 'fun facts' about Smith (from Perplexity AI): Recent data and surveys indicate that Smith College has one of the highest percentages of students identifying as LGBTQ among U.S. colleges. The most current and widely cited estimate is that approximately 70% of Smith College students identify as LGBTQ, according to a 2022 report by the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology, with a margin of error of 6%. This figure includes students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other non-heterosexual identities. The 70% figure is notably higher than both the national average for college students (23%) and the general U.S. population (7.1%)
I wonder if Smith regrets remaining 'all women' (again, to be debated if that is in fact so now) because at this point in time it seems like it's developed into a retreat/haven for gay (or whatever!) women...the dynamics of which does not make it a politically diverse or even dynamic learning environment anymore. It's become a refuge.
That is so sadly true. It is no longer the place where I could debate, with joy in the doing and no rancor whatsoever, reincarnation with Indian students, or come nearly to tears as I wrestled with the impact of Hannah Arendt's letters. It is a concentration camp, expensive and luxurious, and committed to indoctrination and the most repulsive of pseudo-progressive agendas. It is so sad. One wonders if it will survive much longer.