In Columbia's defense, letting these retards air their opinions for public reaction is probably the best solution - they are being absolutely shredded in the comments. One of my favs:

I really, really, really distrust people who write pieces like this. As an Hispanic former student, I really don't trust people who merely invoke minority struggles as a cudgel in order to dictate what can and can't be taught in a classroom and how it can or can't be taught.

"Toni Morrison is a writer of both the African Diaspora and the Western world, and her novels—aside from being some of the most intellectually and emotionally compelling writing in the last century—should be valued as founding texts of the Western canon. The student’s remark regarding Toni Morrison was not merely insensitive, but also revealing of larger ideological divides. This would have been an opportune moment for the professor to intervene."

"Intervene" being code for "shut down the conversation".Merely disagreeing with another student about whether or not Beloved should be in the Core b/c people likely already read it in high school IS NOT an opportunity to 'intervene,' but to argue. THIS is where intellectual (and believe it or not, emotional) growth happens for both students. You don't get to unilaterally decide what texts should be in the Core over FEELINGS of safety. Although it no longer amazes me people fall for this sort of emotional manipulation, I still find it disgusting. I also find it disgusting that half the people reading this will be inclined to pay attention to it (at first) because I labeled myself as Hispanic (as if that lent me any authority on the subject).

As much as I'd like for Beloved and 100 Years of Solitude to be in the Core, I have to recognize that I need to make a case for it. I don't want a Disaffected People's Feelings Committee representing me. They're censors and manipulative busybodies invoking others' struggles in order to make themselves feel important/relevant.