Seattle University has caved in to the demands of the rather pathetic students who feel “traumatized” by the “profoundly damaging” experience of reading classic literature. As Shift reported, last month, a group of students “occupied” the front lobby of the Matteo Ricci College (MRC) — the school’s college of humanities — demanding the resignation of Jodi Kelly, the college’s dean.
Why do these students want Kelly to resign?
Well, according to their grammar/spelling error-filled online petition, the students feel “traumatized” by the “profoundly damaging” experience of reading classics. One student told a very liberal blog that the “humanities curriculum is based heavily on Western canon and European classic literature, i.e. stuff that old racist and sexist white guys wrote down.”
Stocked with pizza, pillows, and Beyonce’s Lemonade album playing over speakers, the “profoundly damaged” students have taken turns “occupying” the lobby ever since.
Unfortunately, Seattle University caved. This week, Interim Provost Bob Dullea placed Kelly on administrative leave. Via the Seattle Times:
In an email to the college’s community, Interim Provost Bob Dullea said Kelly will remain on leave pending the outcome of complaints filed in the school’s Office of Institutional Equity and a “broader review of issues” regarding her position. No details were available.
“I have taken this action because I believe, based on information that has come forward over the past several weeks, that successful operations of the college at this time require that she step away from day-to-day management and oversight,” Dullea wrote in the email.
It appears that Seattle University is more than willing to submit to a handful (really, about ten) 20 years olds who, at their experienced age, think so highly of themselves that they dismiss the classics as written by “old racist and sexist white guys.”
Perhaps Seattle University should consider changing its mascot from “Rudy the Redhawk” to the “Rudy the Spineless Rat.”
