12 months ago
Latin American Literature Offers Warnings for Universities Under Trump
Imagine universities are like Juan in the story "The Censors."
They want to protect themselves, so they start making deals with the government.
But these deals might slowly change them, just like Juan became a censor and lost his way.
Some universities are changing their policies to please the government, like the University of Virginia.
The author thinks this could lead to universities losing their core values.
The author worries that if universities start to give in to pressure, they might change and lose their original purpose.
The author uses examples to make a point that yielding to pressure can be a dangerous path.
Author draws parallels between Latin American literature about dictatorships and current challenges for American universities.
Some universities are changing policies due to pressure from the Trump administration.
The author references "The Censors" by Luisa Valenzuela to illustrate the dangers of capitulation.
Brown, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Virginia are mentioned as examples.
Author expresses concern about the potential loss of academic freedom and core values.
- Who
- Charlotte Rogers, Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Virginia.
- What
- The author discusses parallels between Latin American literature about dictatorships and current challenges for American universities.
- Where
- Focus is on American universities.
- When
- The article was published as universities began the fall semester.
- Why
- To warn against the potential dangers of universities yielding to political pressure.
Key facts
- Author
- Charlotte Rogers
- Original Publication
- The Conversation
- Notable Authors Mentioned
- Mario Vargas Llosa, Gabriel García Márquez, Luisa Valenzuela
- Universities yielding to demands
- Brown, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia
Quotes
Juan
The main character in Valenzuela’s story, a censor
“sabotage the machinery, throw sand in its gears”
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“Una vez no crea hábito”
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The narrator
Of the story "The Censors"
“a truly patriotic task, both self-sacrificing and uplifting.”
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“one more victim of devotion to his work”
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Gabriel García Márquez
Colombian writer and journalist
“él solo era el gobierno”
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Brown University
An institution of higher education
“comply with the Trump administration’s vision”
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The University of Chicago
An institution of higher education
“this moment of uncertainty”
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Perhaps some administrators
Unspecified
“one time doesn’t create a habit”
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