CAMPUS REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM

By Steven Hayward
The Onion
May 12, 2015

Leave it to The Onion to get at the truth of campus extremism in one deft paragraph:

Students, Faculty Invited To Freely Express Single Viewpoint

BOSTON—Saying that such a dialogue was essential to the college’s academic mission, Trescott University president Kevin Abrams confirmed Monday that the school encourages a lively exchange of one idea. “As an institution of higher learning, we recognize that it’s inevitable that certain contentious topics will come up from time to time, and when they do, we want to create an atmosphere where both students and faculty feel comfortable voicing a single homogeneous opinion,” said Abrams, adding that no matter the subject, anyone on campus is always welcome to add their support to the accepted consensus. “Whether it’s a discussion of a national political issue or a concern here on campus, an open forum in which one argument is uniformly reinforced is crucial for maintaining the exceptional learning environment we have cultivated here.” Abrams told reporters that counseling resources were available for any student made uncomfortable by the viewpoint.

But wait, there’s more! A choral group at Oberlin College has produced the following tune mocking the students who protested the recent speaking appearance there of Christina Hoff Sommers. In addition to the dead-on lyrics (“. . . or hear things I don’t want to hear/or be triggered by someone white . . .”), the video scrolls the names of all the Oberlin students who signed the anti-Sommers petition on the campus. Looks like a handy list for employers of Oberlin grads not to hire. (Video is 2:21 long.)