As a recent alum of UNC-CH and an intern with the John Locke Foundation, it seems as though I may be the keystone ? or at least a keystone — to the bridge linking the liberal campus to the conservative foundation (if indeed a bridge can/will be constructed). Initially, I agree with much of what George has said when he characterizes the protest for protest mentality of much of the campus. Oftentimes when I came upon fliers around campus, or witnessed first-hand many public outcries, I discovered what appeared to me to be an immense nostalgia for the retro-active, high-energy, social-catalystic campus of the 60s. In the minds of many of these protest-mongers, a campus is not a campus unless there is social criticism to be had. And, in many cases, its not enough to form long lines during class hours, chanting outrages and celebrating chaos, but there must also be slurs against the “other side” ? whatever that is, for of course it changes daily — in the name of free speech.

And then, lay upon this the cries of diversity, freedom, and creative expression. Somehow, the advent of a Western Civ. curriculum would violate these tenants on which the university stands. But, as George and Jon point out, the justification for protest and angst is a simple non sequitur. Protesting freedom while upholding seclusion is not only reasonably bankrupt; it is also just plain stupid. The liberal attempt to cry freedom by brandishing the revamped and redirected echoes of the 60s is ridiculous. And believe me, they try.

In the end, all this hubbub is misguided. You cannot fundamentally scream and kick for equality and diversity while you’re protesting for selective exclusion. If you don’t what to learn about your culture (your immediate and present culture and the history behind it) then don’t. The injection of a western mentality into a few classes is not the release of some cancerous disease. Students will not be infected and then attacked from the inside. But will instead be exposed to a “new” idea. And isn’t that what all UNC-CH students want?