WGSI Letter (1)

Dear

Vice-President​ ​Kelly​ ​Hannah-Moffat, Vice-Provost​ ​Sioban​ ​Nelson Dean​ ​David​ ​Cameron Dean​ ​Glen​ ​Jones Carolyn​ ​Rabbat,​ ​Director,​ ​Critical​ ​Incidents,​ ​Safety​ ​and​ ​Health​ ​Awareness Bonnie​ ​McElhinney,​ ​New​ ​College​ ​Principal

Cc:​ ​Cynthia​ ​Messenger,​ ​UTFA​ ​president;​ ​J.​ ​Roy​ ​Gillis,​ ​UTFA​ ​Chair​ ​of​ ​Equity​ ​Committee;​ ​Ryan Culpepper,​ ​Chair​ ​CUPE​ ​3902;​ ​Pri​ ​Sharma,​ ​President,​ ​ASSU;​ ​Christopher​ ​Ball,​ ​GSU​ ​Executive We​ ​are​ ​writing​ ​to​ ​express​ ​our​ ​deep​ ​concern​ ​about​ ​a​ ​proposed​ ​website​ ​being​ ​built​ ​under​ ​the direction​ ​of​ ​Prof​ ​Jordan​ ​Peterson​ ​for​ ​the​ ​purpose​ ​of​ ​identifying​ ​and​ ​ranking​ ​courses​ ​and professors​ ​that​ ​he​ ​advocates​ ​should​ ​be​ ​removed​ ​from​ ​the​ ​university.​ ​ ​This​ ​website,​ ​if​ ​launched, presents​ ​a​ ​serious​ ​case​ ​of​ ​harassment,​ ​fostering​ ​unsafe​ ​work​ ​and​ ​study​ ​conditions​ ​for​ ​students, faculty,​ ​and​ ​staff.​ ​ ​As​ ​two​ ​years​ ​ago​ ​WGSI​ ​under​ ​lockdown​ ​for​ ​6​ ​months​ ​due​ ​to​ ​online​ ​threats, and​ ​as​ ​concerns​ ​about​ ​incidents​ ​of​ ​anti-Black​ ​racism​ ​at​ ​U​ ​of​ ​T​ ​continue,​ ​we​ ​take​ ​the​ ​potential threat​ ​posed​ ​by​ ​this​ ​website​ ​as​ ​a​ ​serious​ ​occupational​ ​safety​ ​and​ ​harassment​ ​issue. We​ ​learned​ ​of​ ​this​ ​website​ ​through​ ​publicly​ ​available​ ​online​ ​videos.​ ​These​ ​videos​ ​describe​ ​the website​ ​as​ ​asking​ ​people​ ​to​ ​upload​ ​course​ ​descriptions,​ ​along​ ​with​ ​professor​ ​names,​ ​and​ ​then using​ ​AI​ ​software​ ​(called​ ​a​ ​“postmodern​ ​lexicon​ ​detector”)​ ​ ​to​ ​rank​ ​them​ ​for​ ​“postmodern neo-Marxian”​ ​content,​ ​which​ ​he​ ​describes​ ​as​ ​a​ ​corruption​ ​that​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​removed​ ​from​ ​the university​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​“nonviolent​ ​warfare.”​ ​ ​Prof​ ​Peterson,​ ​when​ ​describing​ ​this​ ​website,​ ​explicitly identifies​ ​Women​ ​and​ ​Gender​ ​Studies​ ​and​ ​what​ ​he​ ​calls​ ​“racial​ ​and​ ​ethnic​ ​studies”​ ​as​ ​his primary​ ​targets,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​larger​ ​context​ ​of​ ​his​ ​speeches​ ​describing​ ​“postmodern​ ​neomarxism” make​ ​apparent​ ​that​ ​he​ ​is​ ​using​ ​the​ ​term​ ​as​ ​a​ ​code​ ​word​ ​to​ ​describe​ ​scholarship​ ​on​ ​feminism, gender,​ ​sexuality,​ ​and​ ​anti-racism.​ ​The​ ​first​ ​announcement​ ​of​ ​this​ ​website​ ​that​ ​we​ ​know​ ​of​ ​was at​ ​the​ ​Students​ ​in​ ​Support​ ​for​ ​Free​ ​Speech​ ​conference​ ​held​ ​on​ ​June​ ​28th.​ ​ ​In​ ​July,​ ​he​ ​again discusses​ ​this​ ​project,​ ​and​ ​in​ ​his​ ​October​ ​video​ ​explains​ ​that​ ​he​ ​delayed​ ​launching​ ​it​ ​this​ ​fall because​ ​of​ ​events​ ​in​ ​Charlottesville​ ​and​ ​announces​ ​its​ ​launch​ ​for​ ​this​ ​January.​ ​This​ ​website, which​ ​is​ ​built​ ​by​ ​volunteers​ ​and​ ​invites​ ​others​ ​to​ ​upload​ ​course​ ​descriptions,​ ​cleverly​ ​distributes responsibility.​ ​ ​Nonetheless,​ ​the​ ​larger​ ​context​ ​ ​of​ ​the​ ​videos​ ​clearly​ ​indicates​ ​Prof​ ​Peterson’s leadership​ ​in​ ​this​ ​project,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​its​ ​harassing​ ​purpose.​ ​ ​Links​ ​to​ ​the​ ​videos,​ ​with​ ​times​ ​and transcriptions​ ​are​ ​attached​ ​to​ ​this​ ​letter. Prof.​ ​Pederson​ ​has​ ​built​ ​a​ ​large​ ​and​ ​international​ ​following​ ​in​ ​alt-right​ ​networks.​ ​ ​The​ ​launch​ ​of this​ ​website,​ ​while​ ​first​ ​aimed​ ​at​ ​U​ ​of​ ​T,​ ​is​ ​also​ ​directed​ ​at​ ​this​ ​large​ ​audience.​ ​ ​The​ ​harassment and​ ​security​ ​problems​ ​that​ ​this​ ​website​ ​encourages​ ​is​ ​therefore​ ​guaranteed​ ​to​ ​garner international​ ​attention​ ​to​ ​U​ ​of​ ​T.​ ​ ​U​ ​of​ ​T​ ​is​ ​already​ ​in​ ​the​ ​news​ ​for​ ​events​ ​at​ ​Massey​ ​College,​ ​and this​ ​website​ ​is​ ​aimed​ ​at​ ​sparking​ ​an​ ​even​ ​larger​ ​storm​ ​on​ ​campus​ ​and​ ​in​ ​the​ ​media.​ ​ ​Moreover, as​ ​we​ ​see​ ​in​ ​cases​ ​in​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States,​ ​alt-right​ ​harassment​ ​of​ ​professors​ ​and​ ​instructors​ ​is​ ​not confined​ ​to​ ​the​ ​local,​ ​but​ ​uses​ ​the​ ​internet​ ​to​ ​mobilize​ ​trolling​ ​cross-regionally.

​ ​It​ ​is​ ​particularly​ ​concerning​ ​that​ ​Peterson​ ​uses​ ​violence-tinged​ ​language​ ​to​ ​describe​ ​the courses​ ​he​ ​hopes​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​people​ ​from​ ​taking,​ ​describing​ ​them​ ​as​ ​corrupt,​ ​reprehensible, malevolent,​ ​a​ ​plague,​ ​and​ ​even​ ​“bordering​ ​on​ ​murderous,”​ ​and​ ​describing​ ​his​ ​overall​ ​project​ ​as part​ ​of​ ​a​ ​war.​ ​ ​At​ ​one​ ​point​ ​in​ ​his​ ​June​ ​speech​ ​concerning​ ​the​ ​website,​ ​he​ ​stated​ ​that​ ​making purportedly​ ​“postmodern​ ​neomarxist”​ ​arguments​ ​“​ ​should​ ​immediately​ ​get​ ​you​ ​punched​ ​in​ ​the nose​ ​hard​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​knock​ ​you​ ​out.”​ ​ ​These​ ​remarks​ ​are​ ​just​ ​from​ ​the​ ​three​ ​videos​ ​we​ ​know​ ​of where​ ​his​ ​forthcoming​ ​website​ ​is​ ​discussed.​ ​In​ ​public​ ​online​ ​remarks​ ​more​ ​broadly,​ ​Prof Peterson​ ​regularly​ ​describes​ ​women​ ​and​ ​gender​ ​studies​ ​and​ ​what​ ​he​ ​refers​ ​to​ ​as​ ​“racial​ ​and ethnic​ ​group​ ​studies”​ ​as​ ​pathological,​ ​a​ ​cancer,​ ​and​ ​in​ ​other​ ​strongly​ ​denigrating​ ​terms.​ ​ ​The launch​ ​of​ ​this​ ​website​ ​must​ ​be​ ​put​ ​in​ ​this​ ​context​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​fully​ ​understand​ ​it​ ​as​ ​a​ ​platform​ ​that will​ ​generate​ ​harassment. We​ ​strongly​ ​request​ ​that​ ​action​ ​is​ ​taken​ ​by​ ​university​ ​leadership​ ​to​ ​proactively​ ​prevent​ ​this harassment​ ​before​ ​it​ ​begins. We​ ​are​ ​making​ ​this​ ​request​ ​to​ ​the​ ​leadership​ ​of​ ​the​ ​university,​ ​and​ ​asking​ ​that​ ​UTFA,​ ​CUPE, ASSU,​ ​and​ ​GSU​ ​-​ ​who​ ​represent​ ​potentially​ ​affected​ ​students,​ ​faculty,​ ​sessional​ ​instructors, and​ ​staff​ ​-​ ​proactively​ ​support​ ​this​ ​request.​ ​ ​We​ ​are​ ​also​ ​including​ ​the​ ​Principal​ ​of​ ​New​ ​College, where​ ​many​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​targeted​ ​programs​ ​are​ ​housed,​ ​in​ ​this​ ​correspondence. Sincerely, Rinaldo​ ​Walcott,​ ​Chair,​ ​WGSI Michelle​ ​Murphy,​ ​Professor,​ ​History​ ​and​ ​WGSI

Addendum:​​ ​Videos​ ​and​ ​Transcripts Posted​ ​October​ ​3,​ ​2017,​ ​October​ ​Patreon​ ​Q&A,​ ​Posted​ ​by​ ​Jordan​ ​B​ ​Peterson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwkzFKDJzwo [23:58​ ​min] Q:​ ​I​ ​am​ ​wondering​ ​how​ ​the​ ​computer​ ​program​ ​that​ ​ranks​ ​university​ ​courses​ ​as​ ​worthwhile​ ​or​ ​nor not​ ​is​ ​coming​ ​along. “Well,​ ​It​ ​isn’t​ ​rating​ ​them​ ​as​ ​worthwhile,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​rating​ ​them​ ​as​ ​postmodern,​ ​neo​ ​marxism​ ​or​ ​not. And​ ​it​ ​is​ ​actually​ ​fully​ ​developed.​ ​ ​ ​I​ ​was​ ​going​ ​to​ ​launch​ ​it,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​design​ ​it,​ ​somebody

volunteered​ ​to​ ​design​ ​it​ ​and​ ​presented​ ​it​ ​to​ ​me,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​work​ ​very​ ​well.​ ​ ​I​ ​was​ ​going​ ​to launch​ ​it​ ​at​ ​end​ ​of​ ​August​ ​so​ ​that​ ​this​ ​year’s​ ​university​ ​students​ ​could​ ​benefit​ ​from​ ​it,​ ​but​ ​there was​ ​the​ ​Charlottesville​ ​event,​ ​and​ ​then​ ​I​ ​got​ ​busy,​ ​and​ ​also​ ​I​ ​wasn't​ ​feeling​ ​great,​ ​and​ ​so​ ​I​ ​just didn't​ ​hit​ ​the​ ​window​ ​of​ ​time​ ​properly,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​hope​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​launch​ ​it​ ​for​ ​the​ ​January​ ​incoming class.​ ​Do​ ​a​ ​video​ ​about​ ​what​ ​is​ ​wrong​ ​with​ ​the​ ​university​ ​system,​ ​the​ ​many​ ​things​ ​that​ ​are wrong​ ​with​ ​the​ ​university​ ​system,​ ​and​ ​to​ ​launch​ ​the​ ​website​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time.​ ​ ​I​ ​also​ ​had​ ​people suggest​ ​to​ ​me​ ​that​ ​maybe​ ​it​ ​wasn't​ ​a​ ​good​ ​idea,​ ​that​ ​it​ ​would​ ​increase​ ​polarization.​ ​But​ ​I​ ​have thought​ ​about​ ​that​ ​for​ ​about​ ​a​ ​month​ ​and​ ​a​ ​half​ ​and​ ​I​ ​think​ ​that​ ​the​ ​benefit​ ​to​ ​the​ ​consumer,​ ​so that​ ​would​ ​be​ ​the​ ​informed​ ​student,​ ​outweighs​ ​any​ ​danger​ ​of​ ​polarization.​ ​ ​Besides​ ​that something​ ​has​ ​to​ ​be​ ​done​ ​because​ ​the​ ​situation​ ​in​ ​the​ ​universities​ ​is​ ​really​ ​ridiculous.”

Posted​ ​July​ ​3,​ ​2017:​ ​July​ ​Patreon​ ​Q​ ​and​ ​A,​ ​ ​by​ ​Jordan​ ​B​ ​Peterson ​ ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EmrMTRj5jc [47:58​ ​min]​ ​As​ ​you​ ​can​ ​tell​ ​I​ ​can​ ​hardly​ ​say​ ​enough​ ​things​ ​that​ ​aren’t​ ​good​ ​about​ ​postmodern neo-Marxists...Everything​ ​else​ ​they​ ​have​ ​done​ ​ ​is​ ​not​ ​only​ ​ ​intellectually​ ​bankrupt​ ​but​ ​morally reprehensible,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​think​ ​they​ ​are​ ​corrupting​ ​our​ ​culture,​ ​they​ ​are​ ​hurting​ ​young​ ​people,​ ​and they​ ​are​ ​hurting​ ​them​ ​as​ ​well​ ​by​ ​getting​ ​them​ ​to​ ​pay​ ​for​ ​being​ ​hurt,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​really​ ​quite​ ​a malevolent​ ​enterprise,​ ​so​ ​I​ ​have​ ​absolutely​ ​no​ ​regrets​ ​about​ ​going​ ​after​ ​the​ ​postmodern neo-Marxists​ ​as​ ​hard​ ​as​ ​I​ ​possible​ ​can​ ​and​ ​I​ ​am​ ​certainly​ ​not​ ​done​ ​doing​ ​so. [48:46]​ ​So,​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​thing​ ​that​ ​is​ ​going​ ​to​ ​happen,​ ​for​ ​example,​ ​ ​in​ ​the​ ​next​ ​month​ ​or​ ​so,​ ​I​ ​have been​ ​working​ ​with​ ​a​ ​programmer​ ​who​ ​has​ ​volunteered​ ​his​ ​services​ ​and​ ​has​ ​already​ ​produced this,​ ​he​ ​has​ ​produced​ ​a​ ​website​ ​that​ ​enables​ ​people​ ​to​ ​enter​ ​text​ ​that​ ​will​ ​then​ ​classify​ ​the​ ​text as​ ​postmodern​ ​or​ ​non-postmodern​ ​and​ ​so​ ​you​ ​will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​enter​ ​a​ ​course​ ​descriptions​ ​from universities​ ​-​ ​the​ ​course​ ​description,​ ​the​ ​professor’s​ ​name,​ ​the​ ​discipline,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​university.​ ​ ​It will​ ​tell​ ​you​ ​the​ ​degree​ ​to​ ​which​ ​the​ ​description​ ​is​ ​postmodern​ ​and​ ​then​ ​you​ ​can​ ​decide​ ​for yourself​ ​whether​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​take​ ​that​ ​and​ ​become​ ​a​ ​social​ ​justice​ ​warrior,​ ​ ​if​ ​that​ ​is​ ​what​ ​you think​ ​your​ ​education​ ​should​ ​be​ ​about,​ ​or​ ​if​ ​you​ ​should​ ​avoid​ ​that​ ​like​ ​the​ ​plague​ ​that​ ​it​ ​truly​ ​is, and​ ​so​ ​my​ ​goal,​ ​ ​if​ ​I​ ​had​ ​to​ ​set​ ​a​ ​personal​ ​goal,​ ​and​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​thing​ ​maybe​ ​that​ ​you​ ​guys are​ ​helping​ ​me​ ​do​ ​with​ ​my​ ​continued​ ​support​ ​on​ ​Patreon,​ ​ ​is​ ​that​ ​I​ ​would​ ​like​ ​to​ ​knock enrollment​ ​in​ ​the​ ​postmodern​ ​disciplines​ ​down​ ​by​ ​75%​ ​over​ ​the​ ​next​ ​five​ ​years.​ ​ ​I​ ​think​ ​that​ ​I​ ​am thinking​ ​about​ ​it​ ​from​ ​the​ ​perspective​ ​of​ ​nonviolent​ ​warfare,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​that​ ​serious​ ​to​ ​me​ ​and​ ​that​ ​this would​ ​be​ ​equivalent​ ​to​ ​cutting​ ​off​ ​the​ ​supply​ ​chain.​ ​ ​It​ ​is​ ​like​ ​the​ ​postmodernists​ ​need​ ​a continual​ ​influx​ ​of​ ​young​ ​impressionable​ ​minds​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​their​ ​propagandistic​ ​and society​ ​devouring​ ​efforts​ ​and​ ​I​ ​am​ ​going​ ​to​ ​do​ ​absolutely​ ​everything​ ​I​ ​can​ ​to​ ​cut​ ​that​ ​supply chain​ ​off​ ​at​ ​the​ ​source,​ ​hopefully,​ ​and​ ​reduce​ ​their​ ​enrollment​ ​to​ ​the​ ​zero​ ​that​ ​would​ ​match​ ​their citation​ ​rate​ ​for​ ​their​ ​publications.

Posted​ ​July​ ​9,​ ​2017,​ ​Prof​ ​Peterson’s​ ​speech,​ ​“Postmodern​ ​NeoMarxism:​ ​Diagnosis​ ​and Cure)​ ​ ​at​ ​Students​ ​in​ ​Support​ ​of​ ​Free​ ​Speech,​ ​Canadian​ ​Freedom​ ​Summit​ ​on​ ​June​ ​28, 2017​ ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4c-jOdPTN8 [9:51​ ​min]​ ​So​ ​the​ ​next​ ​thing​ ​is​ ​what​ ​to​ ​do​ ​about​ ​it?​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​about​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​things​ ​about​ ​what might​ ​be​ ​done​ ​about​ ​it​ ​apart​ ​from​ ​just​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​it,​ ​which​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​be​ ​reasonably​ ​effective, but​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​for​ ​a​ ​while​ ​that​ ​it​ ​would​ ​be​ ​useful​ ​for​ ​the​ ​political​ ​systems,​ ​the​ ​people​ ​who​ ​are running​ ​the​ ​political​ ​systems,​ ​to​ ​get​ ​them​ ​to​ ​consider​ ​to​ ​do​ ​something​ ​like​ ​cutting​ ​the​ ​funding​ ​of universities​ ​by​ ​25%​ ​and​ ​letting​ ​them​ ​over​ ​the​ ​remains.​ ​And​ ​hopefully​ ​what​ ​that​ ​would​ ​mean​ ​that the​ ​pseudo​ ​disciplines​ ​such​ ​as​ ​as​ ​women's​ ​studies,​ ​that​ ​never​ ​had​ ​a​ ​methodology​ ​which​ ​was credible​ ​to​ ​being​ ​with,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​would​ ​put​ ​in​ ​this​ ​classification​ ​all​ ​the​ ​ethnic​ ​and​ ​racial​ ​studies groups​ ​that​ ​are​ ​popping​ ​up​ ​on​ ​campuses​ ​like​ ​mad​ ​under​ ​the​ ​guise​ ​of​ ​true​ ​disciplines​ ​of​ ​which they​ ​are​ ​not​ ​in​ ​any​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​the​ ​imagination,or​ ​any​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​the​ ​word,​ ​ ​but​ ​also​ ​increasingly​ ​the social​ ​sciences​ ​and​ ​the​ ​general​ ​humanities​ ​that​ ​have​ ​been​ ​corrupted​ ​quite​ ​terribly​ ​by​ ​the postmodern​ ​doctrines,​ ​well​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​well​ ​maybe​ ​it​ ​would​ ​be​ ​good​ ​if​ ​I​ ​could​ ​see​ ​if​ ​the​ ​funding could​ ​be​ ​cut​ ​for​ ​them,​ ​because​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​reason​ ​that​ ​the​ ​public​ ​at​ ​large​ ​should​ ​be​ ​funding​ ​a fifth​ ​column​ ​whose​ ​aim​ ​is​ ​to​ ​disrupt​ ​the​ ​fundamental​ ​structures​ ​of​ ​western​ ​civilization​ ​with​ ​tax money​ ​that​ ​is​ ​devoted​ ​to​ ​supporting​ ​people​ ​while​ ​they​ ​are​ ​doing​ ​that.​ ​[clapping] ….[12:27]​ ​but​ ​then​ ​I​ ​thought,​ ​no,​ ​you​ ​cannot​ ​have​ ​political​ ​interference​ ​with​ ​the​ ​universities,​ ​you think,​ ​what​ ​happens​ ​is​ ​that​ ​if​ ​you​ ​arm​ ​the​ ​politicians​ ​with​ ​what​ ​you​ ​can​ ​and​ ​cannot​ ​teach,​ ​even with​ ​regards​ ​to​ ​funding,​ ​ ​then​ ​that​ ​goes​ ​seriously​ ​sideways​ ​very​ ​rapidly​ ​and​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​end​ ​up with​ ​the​ ​result​ ​that​ ​you​ ​wanted,​ ​you​ ​end​ ​up​ ​with​ ​some​ ​other​ ​results,​ ​because​ ​you​ ​know​ ​how​ ​it is,​ ​when​ ​you​ ​allow​ ​one​ ​organization​ ​to​ ​interfere​ ​with​ ​the​ ​autonomous​ ​function​ ​of​ ​another​ ​it​ ​isn’t the​ ​people​ ​that​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​do​ ​the​ ​regulating​ ​who​ ​do​ ​the​ ​regulating,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​things​ ​that​ ​end​ ​up getting​ ​regulated​ ​aren’t​ ​the​ ​things​ ​that​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​stop.​ ​ ​So​ ​that​ ​is​ ​not​ ​a​ ​good​ ​idea, [13:02]​ ​So,​ ​I​ ​think​ ​I​ ​have​ ​a​ ​better​ ​idea.​ ​And​ ​I​ ​think​ ​the​ ​better​ ​idea​ ​ ​is​ ​that​ ​the​ ​postmodernist should​ ​be​ ​starved​ ​at​ ​the​ ​source,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​use​ ​that​ ​terminology​ ​lightly.​ ​ ​I​ ​think​ ​that​ ​what​ ​needs to​ ​happen​ ​ ​is​ ​that​ ​freshman​ ​and​ ​second​ ​year​ ​university​ ​students,​ ​and​ ​students​ ​coming​ ​into university​ ​from​ ​highschool,​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​educated​ ​about​ ​the​ ​postmodern​ ​cult​ ​and​ ​they​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be encouraged​ ​to​ ​not​ ​take​ ​the​ ​courses,​ ​to​ ​just​ ​drop​ ​the​ ​courses,​ ​ ​to​ ​just​ ​stay​ ​the​ ​hell​ ​away​ ​from them,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​humanities​ ​enrollments​ ​have​ ​been​ ​declining​ ​precipitously​ ​since​ ​the​ ​1960s,​ ​and​ ​a big​ ​part​ ​of​ ​it​ ​is,​ ​you​ ​know,why​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world​ ​would​ ​you​ ​go​ ​as​ ​a​ ​half​ ​confused​ ​high​ ​school​ ​student into​ ​university​ ​and​ ​get​ ​whatever​ ​shreds​ ​of​ ​culture​ ​that​ ​you​ ​are​ ​still​ ​clinging​ ​to​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​your​ ​poor head​ ​above​ ​water​ ​in​ ​this​ ​sea​ ​of​ ​chaos​ ​that​ ​threatens​ ​to​ ​surround​ ​you​ ​taken​ ​away​ ​by​ ​your professors,​ ​so​ ​you​ ​are​ ​stripped​ ​bare​ ​of​ ​anything​ ​but​ ​a​ ​vague​ ​sense​ ​that​ ​maybe​ ​you​ ​are​ ​a horrible​ ​racist​ ​unconsciously​ ​in​ ​some​ ​manner​ ​that​ ​can’t​ ​detect​ ​and​ ​then​ ​be​ ​left​ ​with​ ​nothing​ ​but that​ ​for​ ​your​ ​100,000​ ​dollar​ ​investment​ ​and​ ​your​ ​bloody​ ​student​ ​loan.​ ​So​ ​people​ ​are​ ​smart enough​ ​to​ ​not​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​enroll​ ​in​ ​that​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​thing​ ​over​ ​time​ ​and​ ​the​ ​humanities​ ​have​ ​been being​ ​decimated​ ​since​ ​the​ ​1960s​ ​as​ ​a​ ​consequence,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​is​ ​time​ ​for​ ​that​ ​process​ ​to​ ​accelerate.

[16:00]​ ​But​ ​then​ ​I​ ​got​ ​a​ ​real​ ​interesting​ ​email​ ​from​ ​a​ ​guy,​ ​I​ ​won’t​ ​tell​ ​you​ ​his​ ​name​ ​yet,​ ​but​ ​who​ ​is a​ ​computer​ ​programmer,​ ​and​ ​he​ ​put​ ​together​ ​an​ ​AI​ ​system​ ​to​ ​parse​ ​apart​ ​the​ ​postmodern lexicon​ ​automatically​ ​and​ ​he​ ​set​ ​up​ ​a​ ​website​ ​now​ ​where​ ​students​ ​can​ ​feed​ ​in​ ​course descriptions​ ​of​ ​any​ ​sort​ ​and​ ​it​ ​will​ ​spit​ ​out​ ​whether​ ​or​ ​not​ ​they​ ​are​ ​postmodern.​ ​And​ ​so​ ​the​ ​point is​ ​to​ ​get​ ​the​ ​program​ ​up​ ​to​ ​the​ ​point​ ​where​ ​it​ ​can​ ​automatically​ ​distinguish​ ​between​ ​postmodern and​ ​non​ ​postmodern​ ​content,​ ​and​ ​then​ ​students​ ​will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​cut​ ​and​ ​paste​ ​a​ ​course description​ ​and​ ​paste​ ​it​ ​into​ ​the​ ​analysis​ ​box​ ​on​ ​this​ ​website​ ​along​ ​with​ ​the​ ​professor’s​ ​name, and​ ​the​ ​course’s​ ​name,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​discipline​ ​and​ ​the​ ​university​ ​and​ ​so​ ​we​ ​should​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to produce​ ​a​ ​listing​ ​of​ ​every​ ​university​ ​and​ ​every​ ​course​ ​where​ ​people​ ​are​ ​willing​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in analyzing​ ​across​ ​North​ ​America​ ​and​ ​set​ ​up​ ​a​ ​list​ ​of​ ​courses​ ​and​ ​professors​ ​and​ ​disciplines​ ​that should​ ​be​ ​avoided.​ ​ ​And​ ​so​ ​maybe​ ​we​ ​can​ ​starve​ ​them​ ​out​ ​at​ ​their​ ​source,​ ​and​ ​that’s​ ​what should​ ​happen.​ ​[applause]​ ​So​ ​it​ ​has​ ​to​ ​be​ ​bottom​ ​up​ ​as​ ​far​ ​as​ ​I​ ​can​ ​tell​ ​for​ ​this​ ​to​ ​come​ ​to​ ​an end​ ​and​ ​it​ ​should​ ​come​ ​to​ ​end​ ​because​ ​the​ ​postmodern​ ​neo-marxist​ ​doctrine​ ​is​ ​nothing​ ​but​ ​a cult​ ​except​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​the​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​cult​ ​that​ ​does​ ​not​ ​have​ ​enough​ ​economic​ ​sense​ ​to​ ​run​ ​itself​ ​out of​ ​profit​ ​so​ ​not​ ​only​ ​is​ ​it​ ​a​ ​cult,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​a​ ​failed​ ​cult,​ ​and​ ​so​ ​it​ ​is​ ​a​ ​cult​ ​that​ ​has​ ​to​ ​be​ ​subsidized​ ​by the​ ​public​ ​purse​ ​in​ ​or​ ​to​ ​exist​ ​at​ ​all,​ ​so​ ​that​ ​is​ ​a​ ​pretty​ ​damn​ ​pathetic​ ​cult​ ​because​ ​normally​ ​if​ ​you are​ ​a​ ​decent​ ​cult​ ​leader​ ​you​ ​can​ ​at​ ​least​ ​figure​ ​out​ ​a​ ​way​ ​to​ ​pick​ ​the​ ​pockets​ ​of​ ​your​ ​victims​ ​in​ ​a manner​ ​that​ ​enriches​ ​you​ ​so,​ ​that​ ​can’t​ ​even​ ​manage​ ​to​ ​get​ ​that​ ​right,​ ​which​ ​accounts​ ​for​ ​their pronounced​ ​anti-capitalist​ ​bias​ ​because​ ​they​ ​haven’t​ ​been​ ​able​ ​to​ ​transform​ ​their​ ​ideological doctrine​ ​into​ ​some​ ​way​ ​of​ ​making​ ​themselves​ ​spontaneously​ ​rich.​ ​... ​ ​[19:13]​ ​and​ ​the​ ​marxists​ ​insistence​ ​that​ ​the​ ​only​ ​true​ ​human​ ​motivation​ ​is​ ​power…...although people​ ​always​ ​excuse​ ​that​ ​by​ ​saying​ ​that’s​ ​not​ ​real​ ​communism​ ​which​ ​is​ ​the​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​statement that​ ​should​ ​immediately​ ​get​ ​you​ ​punched​ ​in​ ​the​ ​nose​ ​hard​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​knock​ ​you​ ​out,​ ​as​ ​far​ ​as​ ​I am​ ​concerned.​ ​[applause] [21:26]​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​sleight​ ​of​ ​hand​ ​is​ ​that​ ​they​ ​say,​ ​oh​ ​it’s​ ​not​ ​about​ ​economic​ ​power​ ​it​ ​is​ ​about oppression​ ​and​ ​oppressors​ ​on​ ​a​ ​broader​ ​ ​sense​ ​and​ ​that​ ​is​ ​where​ ​we​ ​got​ ​the​ ​transformation into​ ​identity​ ​politics,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​just​ ​the​ ​Marxist​ ​oppressor​ ​oppressed​ ​doctrine​ ​under​ ​a​ ​new​ ​guise and​ ​I​ ​think​ ​it’s​ ​really​ ​tremendously​ ​reprehensible​ ​for​ ​people​ ​to​ ​be​ ​conducting​ ​intellectually​ ​in​ ​a manner​ ​that​ ​insists​ ​that​ ​the​ ​most​ ​important​ ​element​ ​of​ ​any​ ​student​ ​or​ ​any​ ​person​ ​for​ ​that​ ​matter is​ ​whatever​ ​racial,​ ​gender,​ ​and​ ​sex​ ​identity​ ​happens​ ​to​ ​be​ ​flavor​ ​of​ ​the​ ​month​ ​and​ ​I​ ​think​ ​that the​ ​problem​ ​with​ ​that​ ​fundamentally,​ ​is​ ​first​ ​of​ ​all​ ​that​ ​those​ ​category​ ​stems​ ​are​ ​extraordinarily loose​ ​and​ ​they​ ​are​ ​indefinitely​ ​multipliable​ ​and​ ​you​ ​know,​ ​because​ ​to​ ​take​ ​any​ ​given​ ​individual there’s​ ​probably,​ ​well​ ​it​ ​is​ ​the​ ​postmodern​ ​problem,​ ​there​ ​we​ ​go,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​the​ ​postmodern,​ ​that​ ​there is​ ​almost​ ​an​ ​infinite​ ​number​ ​of​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​categorize​ ​any​ ​given​ ​individual,​ ​so​ ​how​ ​the​ ​hell​ ​do​ ​you figure​ ​out​ ​which​ ​group​ ​they​ ​belong​ ​to​ ​and​ ​that’s​ ​actually​ ​a​ ​major​ ​problem​ ​.​ ​Like​ ​if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​1/8th black​ ​what​ ​does​ ​that​ ​make​ ​you​ ​exactly,​ ​ ​are​ ​you​ ​black​ ​are​ ​you​ ​white,​ ​are​ ​you​ ​oppressed,​ ​are you​ ​oppressor,​ ​are​ ​you,​ ​are​ ​you,​ ​let’s​ ​see,​ ​one​ ​half​ ​as​ ​oppressed​ ​as​ ​someone​ ​ ​who​ ​is​ ​a​ ​quarter black,​ ​does​ ​it​ ​work​ ​out​ ​arithmetically​ ​that​ ​way?​ ​ ​Hey,​ ​I​ ​am​ ​dead​ ​serious​ ​about​ ​this,​ ​man,​ ​if​ ​we are​ ​going​ ​to​ ​play​ ​this​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​game​ ​that’s​ ​exactly​ ​the​ ​question​ ​that​ ​has​ ​to​ ​be​ ​asked,​ ​right,​ ​and then​ ​how​ ​do​ ​you,​ ​how​ ​do​ ​you​ ​multiply​ ​up​ ​your​ ​oppressed​ ​identities,​ ​and​ ​then​ ​again​ ​who

decides,​ ​who​ ​gets​ ​to​ ​decide​ ​exactly​ ​which​ ​identity​ ​you​ ​should​ ​manifest,​ ​and​ ​then​ ​how​ ​do​ ​we rank​ ​order​ ​those​ ​identities,​ ​and​ ​how​ ​do​ ​we​ ​equate​ ​between​ ​them,​ ​and​ ​what​ ​measurement techniques​ ​do​ ​we​ ​use​ ​ ​to​ ​determine​ ​who’s​ ​oppressed​ ​and​ ​who​ ​isn’t,​ ​and​ ​how​ ​do​ ​we​ ​access equality​ ​and​ ​on​ ​what​ ​dimensions​ ​are​ ​we​ ​going​ ​to​ ​assess​ ​equality,​ ​and​ ​who’s​ ​going​ ​to​ ​enforce​ ​it and​ ​who’s​ ​going​ ​to​ ​make​ ​the​ ​decisions?​ ​ ​It’s​ ​like,​ ​oh​ ​well,​ ​we’ll​ ​figure​ ​that​ ​out​ ​as​ ​we​ ​go​ ​along, it’s​ ​like,​ ​yeah,​ ​we​ ​certainly​ ​will​ ​and​ ​the​ ​results​ ​ ​won’t​ ​be​ ​pretty​ ​I​ ​can​ ​tell​ ​you​ ​that,​ ​because​ ​the problem​ ​is​ ​actually​ ​unsolvable,​ ​all​ ​it’ll​ ​mean​ ​is​ ​that​ ​those,​ ​those​ ​categories​ ​will​ ​be​ ​made​ ​at​ ​the whim​ ​of​ ​the​ ​people​ ​who​ ​are​ ​making​ ​the​ ​categories,​ ​and​ ​since,​ ​as​ ​we​ ​know​ ​the​ ​only​ ​thing​ ​they believe​ ​in​ ​power​ ​is​ ​power,​ ​that​ ​the​ ​only​ ​thing​ ​they​ ​believe​ ​in​ ​is​ ​power​ ​is​ ​that​ ​we​ ​can​ ​be absolutely​ ​sure​ ​that​ ​they​ ​will​ ​have​ ​absolutely​ ​no​ ​hesitancy​ ​whatsoever​ ​to​ ​use​ ​power​ ​in​ ​the seeking​ ​of​ ​their​ ​aims​ ​and​ ​I​ ​think​ ​that​ ​the​ ​other​ ​reason​ ​that​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​postmodern​ ​neo-marxist ever​ ​do​ ​is​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​powers​ ​is​ ​because​ ​they​ ​want​ ​to​ ​justify​ ​their​ ​use​ ​of​ ​power​ ​to​ ​get​ ​exactly what​ ​they​ ​want,​ ​when​ ​they​ ​want​ ​it.​ ​ ​There’s​ ​nothing​ ​but​ ​power,​ ​it’s​ ​like,​ ​alright​ ​if​ ​there​ ​is​ ​nothing but​ ​power​ ​that​ ​means​ ​we’re​ ​at​ ​war​ ​over​ ​power​ ​and​ ​if​ ​that​ ​is​ ​the​ ​claim​ ​that​ ​you​ ​make​ ​then​ ​you can​ ​justify​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​power​ ​because​ ​there​ ​isn’t​ ​anything​ ​else​ ​to​ ​turn​ ​to,​ ​there’s​ ​no​ ​logic,​ ​there’s no​ ​dialogue,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​consensus,​ ​there’s​ ​ ​no​ ​discussion​ ​between​ ​well-meaning​ ​people, there’s​ ​nothing​ ​but​ ​divisions​ ​between​ ​power​ ​groups​ ​and​ ​identity​ ​groups,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​Hobbesian​ ​state of​ ​war​ ​between​ ​all​ ​of​ ​us.​ ​Well,​ ​when​ ​I​ ​won’t​ ​look​ ​at​ ​people​ ​aiming​ ​at​ ​that​ ​then​ ​my​ ​ ​proclivity​ ​as​ ​a psychoanalyst​ ​is​ ​to​ ​think​ ​that​ ​that’s​ ​exactly​ ​what​ ​they​ ​want,​ ​to​ ​divide​ ​ ​us​ ​all​ ​up​ ​by​ ​race​ ​and ethnicity​ ​and​ ​sexual​ ​identity​ ​and​ ​sexual​ ​preference​ ​and​ ​sexual​ ​expression​ ​and​ ​gender​ ​identity, and​ ​all​ ​these​ ​multiplying​ ​forces​ ​of​ ​group​ ​identities​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​be​ ​nothing​ ​but​ ​an​ ​invitation​ ​to​ ​chaos and​ ​that’s​ ​exactly​ ​what​ ​I​ ​see​ ​looming,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​come​ ​to​ ​a​ ​stop,​ ​ ​and​ ​it​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​come​ ​to​ ​a stop​ ​as​ ​fast​ ​as​ ​possible,​ ​and​ ​one​ ​way​ ​of​ ​doing​ ​that​ ​is​ ​to​ ​stop​ ​the​ ​universities​ ​from​ ​continuing​ ​to indoctrinate​ ​young​ ​people​ ​who​ ​really​ ​at​ ​least​ ​at​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​any​ ​better​ ​into​ ​playing into​ ​these​ ​absolutely​ ​insane​ ​and​ ​bordering​ ​on​ ​murderous​ ​intellectual​ ​games,​ ​and​ ​so.​ ​[applause] [25:00]​ ​So​ ​then,​ ​I​ ​am​ ​going​ ​to​ ​set​ ​up​ ​this​ ​website​ ​and​ ​maybe​ ​some​ ​other​ ​ones​ ​like​ ​it​ ​and​ ​I’m going​ ​to​ ​do​ ​a​ ​series​ ​of​ ​videos​ ​for​ ​young​ ​university​ ​students​ ​and​ ​for​ ​high​ ​school​ ​students​ ​and​ ​I’m going​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​them​ ​that​ ​perhaps​ ​they​ ​don’t​ ​need​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​university​ ​to​ ​be​ ​indoctrinated,​ ​and perhaps​ ​they​ ​could​ ​go​ ​to​ ​university​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​and​ ​if​ ​they​ ​want​ ​to​ ​know​ ​the​ ​difference​ ​between​ ​an educator​ ​and​ ​someone​ ​who​ ​is​ ​merely​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​indoctrination​ ​and​ ​the​ ​next​ ​generation​ ​of pathetic​ ​whining​ ​radicals​ ​then​ ​they​ ​can​ ​use​ ​the​ ​website​ ​to​ ​distinguish​ ​between​ ​people​ ​who​ ​are credible​ ​and​ ​people​ ​who​ ​aren’t​ ​and​ ​maybe​ ​we​ ​can​ ​drop​ ​the​ ​damn​ ​enrollment​ ​in​ ​those​ ​horrible courses​ ​by​ ​75%​ ​over​ ​the​ ​next​ ​three​ ​years​ ​and​ ​just​ ​stop​ ​it​ ​in​ ​its​ ​tracks.[applause]​ ​So​ ​anyways that​ ​is​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​plan,​ ​and,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​think​ ​it​ ​is​ ​something​ ​that​ ​is​ ​actually​ ​implementable,​ ​these things​ ​can​ ​turn​ ​around​ ​fast​ ​and​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ways​ ​they’ll​ ​turn​ ​around​ ​is​ ​that​ ​if​ ​people​ ​just​ ​stop taking​ ​the​ ​courses​ ​and​ ​so​ ​what​ ​people​ ​need​ ​to​ ​do​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​know​ ​that​ ​they​ ​should​ ​stop​ ​taking the​ ​courses​ ​is​ ​to​ ​know​ ​that​ ​these,​ ​is​ ​to​ ​know​ ​what​ ​it​ ​is​ ​that​ ​these​ ​courses​ ​are​ ​aiming​ ​at​ ​so​ ​that needs​ ​to​ ​be​ ​explained​ ​then​ ​they​ ​need​ ​to​ ​know​ ​what​ ​language​ ​the​ ​people​ ​who​ ​teach​ ​these courses​ ​are​ ​using​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​fulfill​ ​those​ ​aims,​ ​then​ ​they​ ​need​ ​to​ ​know​ ​who​ ​to​ ​identify​ ​the courses,​ ​then​ ​they​ ​need​ ​to​ ​know​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​in​ ​their​ ​best​ ​interest​ ​both,​ ​I​ ​would​ ​say,​ ​spiritually​ ​and economically​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​those​ ​courses​ ​and​ ​those​ ​disciplines​ ​like​ ​the​ ​plague​ ​and​ ​then​ ​maybe​ ​we can​ ​get​ ​the​ ​disciplines​ ​that​ ​have​ ​become​ ​entirely​ ​corrupt​ ​and​ ​the​ ​ones​ ​that​ ​started​ ​that​ ​way​ ​to

put​ ​themselves​ ​back​ ​together​ ​before​ ​they​ ​run​ ​themselves​ ​out​ ​of​ ​ ​existence​ ​completely,​ ​and​ ​I might​ ​as​ ​well​ ​name​ ​a​ ​few​ ​of​ ​the​ ​disciplines​ ​that​ ​i​ ​think​ ​are​ ​particularly​ ​reprehensible​ ​to​ ​begin with.​ ​Obviously​ ​I​ ​am​ ​painting​ ​this​ ​with​ ​a​ ​very​ ​broad​ ​brush​ ​and​ ​I​ ​am​ ​not​ ​making​ ​the​ ​claim​ ​that every​ ​single​ ​person​ ​who​ ​engages​ ​in​ ​activity​ ​within​ ​all​ ​of​ ​these​ ​disciplines​ ​has​ ​been​ ​corrupted beyond​ ​comprehension​ ​by​ ​the​ ​postmodernist​ ​neo-marxist​ ​but​ ​it​ ​is​ ​close​ ​enough​ ​first​ ​pass approximation.

[27:06​ ​min]​ ​So,​ ​as​ ​I​ ​said​ ​ ​already,​ ​women's​ ​studies,​ ​and​ ​all​ ​the​ ​ethnic​ ​studies​ ​and​ ​racial​ ​studies, studies​ ​groups,​ ​man,​ ​those​ ​things​ ​have​ ​to​ ​go​ ​and​ ​the​ ​faster​ ​they​ ​go​ ​the​ ​better.​ ​[applause]​ ​They should​ ​never​ ​be​ ​put….It​ ​would​ ​have​ ​been​ ​better​ ​if​ ​they​ ​had​ ​never​ ​been​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​university​ ​to begin​ ​with​ ​as​ ​far​ ​as​ ​I​ ​can​ ​tell.​ ​Sociology,​ ​that’s​ ​corrupt.​ ​ ​Anthropology,​ ​that’s​ ​corrupt.​ ​English literature,​ ​that’s​ ​corrupt.​ ​ ​Maybe​ ​the​ ​worse​ ​offenders​ ​are​ ​the​ ​faculties​ ​of​ ​education,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​would say​ ​look……..[30:50]​ ​and​ ​I​ ​learned​ ​that​ ​law​ ​has​ ​actually​ ​become​ ​corrupt​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​a​ ​discipline and​ ​its​ ​not​ ​so​ ​much,​ ​I​ ​know​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​lawyers,​ ​and​ ​I’ve​ ​worked​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​but​ ​most​ ​have​ ​been​ ​more​ ​the corporate​ ​and​ ​business​ ​law​ ​of​ ​things​ ​and​ ​so​ ​but​ ​all​ ​the​ ​human​ ​rights​ ​law,​ ​all​ ​the​ ​law​ ​that​ ​doesn’t seem​ ​to​ ​be​ ​attached​ ​in​ ​some​ ​sense​ ​to​ ​business​ ​concerns​ ​has​ ​also​ ​become​ ​corrupt​ ​and​ ​social justice​ ​oriented​ ​beyond​ ​belief. [33:00]The​ ​closing​ ​is,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​a​ ​war​ ​of​ ​ideas​ ​and​ ​an​ ​education​ ​problem​ ​and​ ​what​ ​we​ ​are​ ​going​ ​to​ ​try to​ ​do​ ​is​ ​to​ ​educate​ ​students​ ​well​ ​enough​ ​while​ ​they​ ​are​ ​making​ ​their​ ​course​ ​decisions​ ​so​ ​that they​ ​can​ ​stop​ ​being​ ​indoctrinated​ ​by​ ​people​ ​who​ ​should​ ​have​ ​known​ ​better​ ​than​ ​to​ ​do​ ​that​ ​to begin​ ​with,​ ​and​ ​so​ ​that​ ​is​ ​the​ ​plan​ ​for​ ​the​ ​next​ ​couple​ ​of​ ​years​ ​and​ ​ ​hopefully​ ​it​ ​will​ ​be​ ​effective, so​ ​thank​ ​you​ ​very​ ​much