The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, December 6, 1991 Page: 3 of 20
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THE RICE THRESHER FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1991 3
Polish perspective on the postmodern American academy
byjacek Koronacki
As a Pole born immediately after
the Second Word War, I naturally
admire the United States. Americans
fought against the Nazis for Polish
freedom. Americans sent milk to
nourish Polish children. And Ameri-
cans encouraged hope for a future
without Communism in Poland. The
American people have continued to
prevent much unnecessary oppres-
sion, misery, and despair in Poland.
The American academy,however,
is different In the early seventies, I
focused my attention on the Ameri-
can market of ideas. From the outset,
I was suprised to find considerable
sympathy for the Soviets and their
agenda among the American intel-
lectual fashion longs.
in Poland was merely a "bad Marx-
ism," or that there is another Marx-
ism, one with a "human face." Show
me another Marxism—but not on
paper, in reality!
American scholars try to fool me
by referring to the poor Communist
Gramsd, for example, who spent 10
years in jail. Dr. Sherman tried to do
this in hisrecentlettertothe Thresher.
Perhaps Gramsci was a good-hearted
guy, and I don't blame him for his
error inventing the theory of cul-
tural hegemony for use by Commu-
nists in subjugating European societ-
ies. He died in 1937, soon after his
release from jail, so he was neither
aware of the Soviet reality in the thirv
ties, nor alive when the cultural he-
gemony of the "Communist avant-
garde" was imposed upon one third
of the world.
Why do progressive gurus arrange curricula to
promote relativism? Why do they emphasize
post-modernism, as if this contemporary trend is
a match for 2000 years of European thought?
As I continued to examine the
dominant political and ideological
strands expressed in American
journals of opinion and in the press, I
noticed that academics continued
their assault on traditional morality.
Intheacademicyear 1985to 1986,
I was fortunate to be given a visiting
position at Rice University. I found
the American academic situation to
be much worse than I had expected.
Scholars were continuing to include,
or attempting to include, Marxistand
neo-Marxist authors in university
curricula all over the U.S.
The agenda of these progessives
seemed to me to be mostly
ideological, not scholarly. The assault
continued, but not just as an attack
on traditional moral law. It was
directed against something more
fundamental: the notion of the objec-
tive existence of truth.
As an outside observer I could not
prove at that time that the progres-
sivist agenda was mostly ideological.
But, because I had been subject to
that sort of scholarship for years in a
country governed by Marxists, I had
good reasons to be suspicious. In
Poland, my friends and I stubbornly
and staunchly opposed that
government
Nobody will ever fool me into
believing that what we experienced
However, Gramsci and his best
friend,Togliatti, did found the Italian
Communist Party before Gramsci
was imprisoned. Then, in the twen-
ties, Togliatti fled Mussolini's Italy
and, before coming back to Italy in
the forties, spent most of his time in
Moscow. He necessarily knew about
Stalin's genocide. He happily ac-
cepted Stalin's annexation of East-
Central Europe. And he remained a
Communist until his death in 1963.
He did all of this to build a better
world under the cultural hegemony
of avant-garde thinkers like Gramsci.
Referring to Gramsci and quoting
"one of the principal insights of post-
structuralist criticism" which echoes
Gramsci's theory, Dr. Sherman at-
tempts to convince us that "those
working from a left perspective
employ...complex and subtle analyti-
cal tools." No, Sir! These subtle and
complex tools are tools of hatred and
manipulation.
First, as I already mentioned, it
was the Gramscian theory of cultural
hegemony that the Communist elites
tried on us in East-Central Europe
after the Stalinist terror ended. Sec-
ond, the post-structuralist principle
that "power relations are not con-
fined to the realm of politics or social
conflict but permeate language, cul-
ture, all the forces that shape our
Social students become
conscientious citizens
To the editors,
I am writing to take issue with the
opinions expressed by Marcia
Huffman in the last Thresher. In her
letter, Huffman takes oversimplifica-
tion and generalization from the
sublime to the ridiculous. By substi-
tuting her personal definition of mo-
rality for the honor expected of Rice
students, she draws conclusions that
would make a majority of the student
body a bunch of greedy, conniving,
malicious, self-interested pigs.
Over my four years at Rice, I have
observed hundreds of students
working hard for the Rice commu-
nity and having a social lives (they
are often better known as college
presidents, Thresher editors, RSVP
volunteers, Honor Council members,
etc.). I have also watched many of
these same students (believe it or
not1) go on to be productive and
conscientious citizens.
I am equally offended that I can-
not be "interested in the "pursuit of
learning™ if I happen to have attended
the pub every Thursday night this
semester. I maintain that the factthat
I have been to NOD the past four
years, that the SA (of whieh I am
proudly a member) co-sponsored "Do
it in the Dark," and that my college
hosts (and I support) parties like
"Shut Up and Drink" and "Heaven &
Hell," does NOT make me an "im-
moral individual." And if I may quote
one of my mentors, "Let he who is
without sin cast the first stone," John
8:7.
I would also like to take issue with
Huffman's implication that partying
(and what goes with it) is a negative
thing. I sincerely believe that parties
and the pub are extremely important
in the socialization of young people
who will need to be able to function in
the adult world. Either students can
learn the realities of the world in
college, or they can learn when they
get there—and be inadequately pre-
pared next to their peers. This is the
last time that a person can make a
few dumb mistakes and not be pe-
nalized permanently.
Please do not misunderstand: I
am fully aware that an individual can
function happily throughout his life
without alcohol and late-night danc-
ing. Additionally, I believe that there
is no excuse for stupidity and danger-
ous behavior. However, reasonable
students should allow their col-
leagues the opportunity to "test their
wings" so to speak. I suggest that we
not judge others whose lifestyles are
different, but attempt to compromise
with our neighbors as rational and
understanding human beings.
Mitre Miller
Jones *92
SA President
daily experiences" rests on the false
neo-Marxist premise that fundamen-
tal relations within society can be
reduced to power relations. Just as
the Gramscian theory, the post-
structuralist principle is an invitation
for avant-garde elites to foster cul-
tural changes that would allow elites
to dominate the rest of society.
Almost 50 years ago, Michael
Oaksehott discussed the flaws of
modern rationalism in the context of
political science. In the seventies and
eighties, Leszek Kolakowski demon-
strated that it is impossible for an
Enlightenment rationalist to speak
of objective truth. President Rupp—
in his recent speech on political cor-
rectness, "Teaching Virtue Turns
Vicious"—corroborates this conclu-
sion: within post-Cartesian and anti-
Aristotelian philosophy it is impos-
sible to speak of objective truth.
Given rationalism or any of its
many children—post-structuralism
included—we must either accept the
absurdity of existence or start a power
struggle. Dr. Sherman's premises
suggest that post-structuralists have
chosen the latter solution.
However, had Dr. Sherman used
a better example of post-structuralist
achievement, if there is such, I would
have eagerly reflected upon that par-
ticular achievement Unfortunately,
contrary to what Dr. Sherman claims,
in 1991 the agenda of progessives is
not one of scholarly reflection. If it
were, post-structuralists would teach
their post-structuralism without any
opposition whatsoever. No one would
think of opposing a course in Levi-
Strauss' anthropology if the course
were free of Levi-Strauss' ideology.
vince students that there is no such
thing as objective truth? Why do they
put so much emphasis on post-mod-
ernism, as if this contemporary trend
is a match for 2000years of European
thought? In his recent speech, Rupp
repeatedly defends post-modernist
Dr. Sherman attempts to convince us that "those
working from a left perspective employ...complex
and subtle analytical tools." No, Sirl These are
tools of hatred and manipulation.
The problem begins when Levi-
Strauss dons the robe of a philoso-
pher, generalizes his scientific find-
ings into a philosophy of sorts, and
tells me that my self is just an inter-
nalization of my native tongue. That
is, it is not that I think but rather, it
is my tongue that thinks through
me.
It was Levi-Strauss' belief in
Marxist materialism that led him to
this strange conclusion. While Levi-
Strauss has provided us with inter-
esting conclusions concerning dif-
ferent cultures, it is unfortunately
his disputable philosophy which in-
terests progressive gurus.
Why? Why do these progressive
gurus arrange the curricula in such a
way as to promote relativism, to con-
research as offering new in sights into
anthropology, sociology, and literary
criticism. Unfortunately, nowhere in
his speech does he answer my ques-
tions. Does he really take it for granted
that all American freshmen should
be taught relativism? Should we really
take it for granted that the Judeo-
Christian tradition is over?
These scholars are attempting to
engineer a change of our students'
mores. They are working to have
students reject the Judeo-Christian
tradition and Graeco-Christian
thought What they do, then, is not
scholarly. Instead, it is ideological
and revolutionary.
Jacek Koronacki is a Visiting Associate
Professor of Statistics.
Huffman Testing Center not for Rice
To the editors,
As upstanding Rice seniors, we
find that now is a good time to voice
our opinion regarding the Rice Honor
System We fanatically applaud the
article in last week's Thresher, "Stu-
dents shape Honor System, not other
way around," and have envisioned a
Utopian community founded on the
moral principles stipulated by the
author. Since the honor pledge is
now completely superfluous, and no
trust whatsoever should be afforded
any Rice student, current testing
procedures should be completely
revamped.
Our model community will re-
quire the construction of a state-of-
the art testing facility, complete with
armed guards and separate, sound-
proof, video-monitored cubicles for
each test-taking student Since a strip
search is obviously critical to the
success of the Huffman Testing
Center (named in honor of our in-
spiration), the building shall be di-
vided by gender. Any student such
as those currently undeterred by "a
simple signed statement" attempting
a transgression of testing center
guidelines will now be subjected to
physical as well as academic pun-
ishment Prior to expulsion, scars in
the shape of a "C" (standing for
cheater) shall be inflicted, both upon
the forehead and upon the breast, to
serve as a constant reminder of the
moral falL
Finally, security walls shall be
erected to keep potential underage
drinkers on the dry Rice campus.
Those ofagewho have demonstrated
"good character" through attainment
of a GPA of 3.80 or greater will be
allowed off campus. However, such
students, upon re-entry, must pass
the stringent Rice BAC. test and
register a level of0.01 or lower. Those
sots who fail will be turned away to
face almo st certain death in the harsh,
cruel world outside of our beloved
Rice community.
It is our assertion that only in the
absence of alcoholic consumption
shall immoral campus traditions be
expunged. Willy's Pub will be demol-
ished and the remains burned in front
of Willy's statue to rejoice our
newfound moral direction. Killer
dobermans with razor-sharp pointy
teeth will be released on the 13th,
26th, and 31st of each month after
the new 9 o'clock curfew on our
campus, to ensure that Club 13 never
runs again!
To inculcate morality through
improved party themes, we suggest
the following: NOD shall stand for
"Night of Dignity," a black-tie affair.
"Shhh...I Have to Study"—BYOB
(Bring Your Own Book) will replace
"Shut up and Drink." "Just Don't Do
It" will substitute for "Do it in the
Dark." Academic trivia will be placed
on the backpage of the Thresher, re-
placing all those filthy jokes. Our
Rice Utopia is complete, except for
those refinements Marcia Huffman
will see fit to implement
The Honor System is a necessary
component of a Rice education. We
feel privileged to attend a university
where integrity is assumed; at other
universities, the "Huffman Testing
Center" is an almost-plausible real-
ity, where cheating is only reprehen-
sible when one is caught
While some may take advantage
of the Honor Code's freedom, a
student's social habits can in no way
predict his or her inclination to cheat
The Honor System was not designed
as an infallible net to ensnare every
violator. Instead, the Honor Code
perpetuates honesty through an ap-
peal to one's conscience as opposed
to an external threat of detection.
We deplore the opinion Ms.
Huffman holds regarding the dignity
of her fellow students. The Rice social
life, as that of any university, offers
diversity to suit the particular needs
of its students. To question a studen t's
ethics based on social generalizatio ns
and to blindly condescend to a large
proportion of the Rice student body
is offensive to those who actively
participate in such traditions as Beer-
Bike, Club 13, and Pub Night It is
obvious that the author of the article
is more preoccupied with her GPA
than those that she so naively im-
pugns .
Eric H. Marye
Alexei M. Silverman
Christopher R. Cowles
Jones *92
Puritanism not necessary for Honor
To the editors,
I read with great aggravation
Marcia Huffman's letter, simply be-
cause I do not cheat on my exams.
I do not attend any church. I drink
daily and, occasionally, heavily. I have
attended NOD each year IVe been at
Rice. I run Club 13.1 am "unabashedly
promiscuous," and not only my con-
versation, but my life, as well, often
seems to be one long "perverted
joke."
Miss Huffman is correct in as-
serting that "Rice merely assumes,
not produces good character in its
students." Legislating our character
is not Rice's function. I would be
most distressed if Rice did attempt to
do so, as she proposes. Libertinism
in no way "subvert[s] the Honor
System's very existence." The Honor
Code merely seeks to ensure that we
maintain very simple standards: we
must not seek to advance ourselves
by taking unfair advantage of others.
It is a long leap from this basic code
of conduct to the absolutist Puritan
regime she proposes. I fail to see how
a taste for sexual intercourse makes
me untrustworthy and dishonorable.
What I do with my genitalia is my
(and my partner's or partners')
business; it has nothing to do with
whether or not I keep my word once
I've given it
My morality is clearly not Miss
Huffman's. Nor are my goals hers, in
all likelihood. And although I do
"abandon all...common sense" to
indulge in mindless pleasures on a
fairly regular basis, and plead guilty
as charged to abandoning "decency,"
defined as "that which is not offensive
to Miss Huffman's aesthetic criteria"
as well, I do not and will not abandon
the basic decency requested by the
Honor Code.
I resent Miss Huffman's implica-
tion that, if I drink onThursday night,
or run 13, or go to NOD, I am there-
fore uninterested in the "pursuit of
learning." Her leap from this shaky
conclusion to the assertion that I
therefore must cheat on my exams is,
as well as completely unfounded, ut-
terly insulting.
I too am thankful for take-home
exams, for being allowed to take my
exam and work on it outside, for be-
ing trusted to be a "responsible,
honest adult," and I agree that it is
hard to separate an Honor Code ap-
plied to one's exams and to one's life.
It is, however, perfectly possible to
act with honor while acting without
the morality propounded by Miss
Huffman. I do not use other people to
gain unfair advantage in either my
academic life or my personal life. Not
only do I not cheat I do not steal or
rape. My life may not be moral by her
standards, but it is also not dishonor-
able.
Adam Thornton
Wiess '94
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Zitterkopf, Ann & Howe, Harlan. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, December 6, 1991, newspaper, December 6, 1991; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245799/m1/3/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.