I was at Columbia while Roger Lehecka was dean. He was a good guy, a bit of a hippie in the best way, both competent and popular with students. I take his appointment as a good sign. The University has lost its way. Beyond tolerance for anti-semitism, it looks like propaganda is masquerading as instruction. Read this gibberish course description to see what I mean:
I hope and wish the Best for Dean Lehecka. He’s assuming responsibilities for uniting Students & Faculty of Columbia. I’ve never had the privilege of attending an outstanding university like Columbia. The School stands as a beacon of Academic rigor and works to improve in attracting
& retaining minorities. All we need to do is look at our results for Public Schools in major Cities - our Public Schools are failing.
Most important is the challenge in establishing & maintaining mutual dignity and respect for all . The Country witnessed a World Class Institution spiral into a tribal camp of hate . Columbia has an obligation to show the world how to get along and be respectful of our differences.
Calling people names and making threats undermines the confidence of Columbia as a Safe Environment where discussion of different cultures is encouraged and done so in a respectful manner
There are a lot of details missing from this article that I’d need to see explored before I can judge either the subject or the reporter - for example, how did this guy improve graduation rates: did he enhance the quality of education or simply lower standards?
More, I’m curious why this article appeared in my “activity” feed. I’m not saying it wasn’t interesting (intriguing, not informative), but it just appeared out of nowhere and doesn’t really reflect the subjects I’ve generally shown interest in. If you want me to read something, simply publish it. When you shove something in my face, my instinct is to respond combatively.
A more in depth profile of him will come. We’re simply reporting the news of his appointment at this time. I can’t speak to why it appeared in your feed—that would be something the Substack algorithm did, not something we control on our end.
Perhaps he accomplished it some other way, but the easiest way to rapidly increase graduation rates is to lower standards.
Also teaching a course focused on equity does not fill me with confidence that Columbia is returning to academic excellence vs pushingt equiity, diversity, inclusing, free speech intolerance and destructive identify politics that has destoyed higher education.
With that said, I hope my concerns will be proven to be wrong and he will actually steer the University away for workensess and group think toward critical thinking skills and meritocracy.
Just a thought here: IF Lehecka lives as his BIO states then it appears to me that he’s a “Peace Maker”…. Time will tell…try to always remember this, “Actions speaks louder than words”! So, if he is as his BIO states then student life at Columbia will get better and yes, we are living in turbulent times where “wrong is called right and right is called wrong”. Let’s hope and pray student life at Columbia will get better and if students learn to treat others as they want to be treated then it will excel.
I looked at the curriculum for the American Studies Institute. Only addresses 20th/21st century. Unfortunately more “woke” than real history, history not taught so that a student can evaluate /& reach own decision, but rather taught through a slanted lens. What a mess we have made of education. In fact I might suggest that the word education is an oxymoron.
Columbia has been a volatile place for decades. That instability has been deemed “education” by many. When, for many others, it created a miserable environment for meaningful education. There was little respect for those who different from the prevailing attitudes on campus.
thanks so much for this wonderfully enlightening piece! i believe in ivy league education and look forward to a long and prosperous intellecutally challenging semester at columbia! my name is aaron klein and i run hope unlimited; we are dedicating to empowering and educating the community on the importance of a judgement free and safe space to collaborate!
I was at Columbia while Roger Lehecka was dean. He was a good guy, a bit of a hippie in the best way, both competent and popular with students. I take his appointment as a good sign. The University has lost its way. Beyond tolerance for anti-semitism, it looks like propaganda is masquerading as instruction. Read this gibberish course description to see what I mean:
https://doc.sis.columbia.edu/subj/MDES/W4633-20241-001/
I hope and wish the Best for Dean Lehecka. He’s assuming responsibilities for uniting Students & Faculty of Columbia. I’ve never had the privilege of attending an outstanding university like Columbia. The School stands as a beacon of Academic rigor and works to improve in attracting
& retaining minorities. All we need to do is look at our results for Public Schools in major Cities - our Public Schools are failing.
Most important is the challenge in establishing & maintaining mutual dignity and respect for all . The Country witnessed a World Class Institution spiral into a tribal camp of hate . Columbia has an obligation to show the world how to get along and be respectful of our differences.
Calling people names and making threats undermines the confidence of Columbia as a Safe Environment where discussion of different cultures is encouraged and done so in a respectful manner
There are a lot of details missing from this article that I’d need to see explored before I can judge either the subject or the reporter - for example, how did this guy improve graduation rates: did he enhance the quality of education or simply lower standards?
More, I’m curious why this article appeared in my “activity” feed. I’m not saying it wasn’t interesting (intriguing, not informative), but it just appeared out of nowhere and doesn’t really reflect the subjects I’ve generally shown interest in. If you want me to read something, simply publish it. When you shove something in my face, my instinct is to respond combatively.
A more in depth profile of him will come. We’re simply reporting the news of his appointment at this time. I can’t speak to why it appeared in your feed—that would be something the Substack algorithm did, not something we control on our end.
I appreciate the follow-up and will keep an eye out for the future article. Thank you.
Perhaps he accomplished it some other way, but the easiest way to rapidly increase graduation rates is to lower standards.
Also teaching a course focused on equity does not fill me with confidence that Columbia is returning to academic excellence vs pushingt equiity, diversity, inclusing, free speech intolerance and destructive identify politics that has destoyed higher education.
With that said, I hope my concerns will be proven to be wrong and he will actually steer the University away for workensess and group think toward critical thinking skills and meritocracy.
Just a thought here: IF Lehecka lives as his BIO states then it appears to me that he’s a “Peace Maker”…. Time will tell…try to always remember this, “Actions speaks louder than words”! So, if he is as his BIO states then student life at Columbia will get better and yes, we are living in turbulent times where “wrong is called right and right is called wrong”. Let’s hope and pray student life at Columbia will get better and if students learn to treat others as they want to be treated then it will excel.
I looked at the curriculum for the American Studies Institute. Only addresses 20th/21st century. Unfortunately more “woke” than real history, history not taught so that a student can evaluate /& reach own decision, but rather taught through a slanted lens. What a mess we have made of education. In fact I might suggest that the word education is an oxymoron.
Columbia has been a volatile place for decades. That instability has been deemed “education” by many. When, for many others, it created a miserable environment for meaningful education. There was little respect for those who different from the prevailing attitudes on campus.
thanks so much for this wonderfully enlightening piece! i believe in ivy league education and look forward to a long and prosperous intellecutally challenging semester at columbia! my name is aaron klein and i run hope unlimited; we are dedicating to empowering and educating the community on the importance of a judgement free and safe space to collaborate!
Hey Jack, welcome.
I am Jethro, your "Usher" into the "Hollowed Corridors" of this prestigious domain we call, "The Houe of Substack".
So, I guess messages CAN boomerang and come bite you the "rear nethers".
Welcome and cheers.
The Usher.
Talk about run on sentences!
In other words, you will experience indoctrination by outside-the-norm, self-proclaimed pundits.
Uh, no thanks.
Why is Columbia so pro Israel? Being pro zionist Israel and being pro new are 2 different things. Stop throwing news into your hate rhetoric.
A question does he teach DEI and men in woman's bathrooms and sports. If he does should have stayed retired
Will he get rid of the hamas fanboys? Really don't need that shit.
https://marlowe1.substack.com/p/the-housebreaker-of-shady-hill-the
I am afraid it will be a slightly toned down “more of the same” at Columbia.
Sounds promising
Good article !