Campus Watch   Setting the Record Straight

Planting Conservatism on Campuses

March 6, 2008

Response to:

Planting Conservatism on Campuses
by Sherman De Brosse
Forward America Weblog
March 4, 2008
Categories:
False allegations of attacking professors who criticize Israel

Campus Watch Responds:

Sherman De Brosse, writing at his weblog, Forward America, includes Campus Watch in what he believes is a concerted effort on the part of a variety of organizations and individuals to “plant conservatism on campuses.” In particular, De Brosse alleges that Campus Watch somehow goes after academics who are critical of Israel. As he puts it:

In 2002, Daniel Pipes of Middle East Forum formed Campus Watch and immediately targeted campuses and professors who had the “wrong” views on Israel...

In fact, Campus Watch does not “target” anyone. We simply provide criticism where warranted, something to which academia, like all other professional fields, should not be immune. In addition, Campus Watch does not promote any one view on Israel, but, rather, accurate and unbiased scholarship. Campus Watch’s purpose is outlined in our mission statement as follows:

The project mainly addresses five problems: analytical failures, the mixing of politics with scholarship, intolerance of alternative views, apologetics, and the abuse of power over students. Campus Watch fully respects the freedom of speech of those it debates while insisting on its own freedom to comment on their words and deeds.

(Posted by Cinnamon Stillwell)