Words & Vision 03.3

12 Pages·2.9 MB·English

by  UFV FSA

WORDS & VISION
HPf© pulty&StaffAssociationNewsletter
Vol.3 No.3
January1996
FEB -6«*
classdespite child-sex..views." .^'{^..request that it not be marketed
Yes,it's all aboutGeraldHannon, duringhisdayshifts.
In this Issue the now-famous fiftyish part-time What sets me sputtering is the
journalisminstructoratRyerson, who crude, crassly commercial ethos
promotes paedophilia and claims to expressed here. Brain, body - is
From The Editor I
bolster histeaching salary by selling everything for sale? How about
sex. Apparently, Mr. Hannon was grades, for instance, or guidance, or
Reports
outraged when his - very public - extra help? Ding ding. I thought
lifestyledeclarations causedRyersonto teachingwas, at least in part, about
President's 2
investigate whether his paedophiliac things that aren't for sale: integrity,
views were being promoted in the trust, ideas, debate, even ideals. After
FacultyGrievance Chair 4
classroom, and to chastise him for all, Education is the other oldest
publicizing his 'private' life andtastes. profession, in which values ratherthan
StatusofWomen Chair 5
In case you missed the follow-up, bodilyfluids aretransmitted; assuch, rt
Hannon responded thisway:"I enjoy cantbe so readilydollarized.
Article
beingaprostitute ... Isell mybrainfor Or can it? Maybe what really
educationalservicesso Icantsee why bothers me is that this story seems
The Southern Cross .... 6
Icant sell mybodyforsexual ones. I prophetic, inanironicsortofway. We
won't be stoppedfrom talking." His all know teaching is becoming
Essay
union, and other supporters, are commercialized: i.e., competitive,
backing his righttofreespeech. business-like, dependenton attracting
TheTrojanHorseof
Allsortsofcrazythoughtspopped financing quitedistinctfrom the stable
Neo-conservatism 6
intomyhead whenIreadthis. Like, governmentfunding ofyore, andso
how much can a fifty-plus male on. The pressure for entrepre-
Notices &Information 9
prostitute make, anyway? And, why neurialism ison. No doubt inits new
not work at Home Hardware on incarnation Education will retain some
weekends instead? And, just what of her venerable values, but we'll be
might one of today's budget hard pressedto defendthem, Ithink,
From The Editor
slashing/stretching college admins do from the hot n' heavy embrace of
Goodbyeto All That witha nifty newjobclassification like corporatismandconsumerism. Inthe
'instructor-hooker'?
1995:flesh-eating bacteria, O.J., But, really, howseriouslycanthis
Words&Visionisthenewsletterofthe
the Referendum, budgetcuts,cyber- be taken - as a political issue UniversityCollegeoftheFraserValleyFaculty
concerning sex-trade workers' rights andStaffAssociation.
sex, Waterworld, sustained pay
Editor:RichardDubanski
parkingatUCFV. And, inthe wake of or freedom ofspeech? Last time I
SecretarialSupport:JacquelineRittcr
agruesome yearfor Education, Iwas checked, prostitutes werestill mostly Printedby:JanetAUanson, UCFVPrinter
aiming for an upbeat column, females ofthe young and victimized Services
Contributionsand ideas are welcomedfrom all
somethingjollylike a"topten1wrap-up variety, not white middle-aged guy
FSA members.
(best-dressed instructor, most profsemployedatbastionsoflearning Formoreinformationorcommentsabout
memorable caflunch specials, etc.). - it's hard to see quite how Mr. Wordsand Vision, contact theFSAOffice,local
4530.
Buta headline inDec. 21st'sSunsent Hannon isdisenfranchised. Nor has
me spinning back to the slough of anyone,asfaras Iknow, putobstacles UCFVFacultyandStaffAssociation,
33844KingRoad,R.RJ2, Abbotsford, B.C.,
despond: "Instructor-prostitute back in inthewayofhis moonlighting, except
V2S7M9. Tel:[phone] FAX:[phone]
January1996
very near future, we may all be houseslong, including non-traditional have become idiomatic in our
workplace discourse." Iamsure that
struttingourstuffonthesameoldsales households, with a sprinkling of
alienatedyoungandmulti-curturalfolk, there would not be very many
floor.
and some generic West Coast members who feel that these words
1996 resolutions? Hmmm. I
accurately reflect the current
should start workingout, lose a few iconoclasts.
pounds...or atleastbuyagirdle. Yet here was this bunch of dis environmentat UCFV.
located BCers dancing in the deep Prior to February 1995, most
A Finely Crafted Glimmer of dark night, onanoddlittlestreet,well would have argued that we are
workingandteachingin adynamicand
out of the mainstream, at the
Hope
precipitousWestern endofthings—all growinginstitution. Itis quite amazing
brought together to cheer how Paul Martin's February (1995)
Here's what happened: New budgethasfundamentally altered our
Confederation. What about all the
Year's Evewe came home earlyfrom
main streetsandregularcommunities view on the viability of public post-
dinner on the Drive, a little before acrossthecountry, Iwondered? Ifwe secondaryeducation. Insome sense
midnight, to phonefriends ator near
wehave beenpreparingforthe96/97
were so imbued with the indelible
the magic moment. The street was
rightness of being Canadian at this budgetforalmosta year now.
jammed with parked cars, indicating
criticalpointinhistory,then howmany Thecurrentyearstartedwiththe
more than one house party on our
more millions heartsand mindsmight introduction of an 8 month internal
block. activate their collective patriotic will budget review process. During this
Atthestrokeoftwelve, suddenly,
exercise we have learned that the
and doeven more.
sounds offireworksand merrymaking
Thetruth reallyisoutthere. Ministry asked each institution to
drew me outside. Afull-blown street developbudgetplans consistent with
partywas goingon;about 150people
- Richard Dubanski at least three different funding
(plus kidsandassorted cats)wereout
scenarios. This includes cuts to base
in the misty night, coming out of
funding which could be as large as
lighted doorways glasses in hand,
10%.
whoopingitupunderthe fuzzy stars.
Understandably,thisexercisehas
As Iwalked toward the crowd,
led to an undeniable sense of
peoplestartedsinging, not'Auld Lang
imminentdanger. This perceptionwas
Syne', but, ofall things, 'OhCanada'.
unintentionally reinforced by the
The anthem ended with loud cheers,
publication ofthe seniority list. This
rocketsin the air, hugs and kisses all
oughtto beanormal eventaccording
around; a humbly proud sense of
to the collective agreement. In the
coast-to-coast connection, that most
future, all can rest assured that the
definingofCanadianemotions,surged
senioritylistwill be publishedyearly.
throughus- like Expo 67onlybetter.
Later, there was more music,
Whereare we as ofJanuary20?
dancing, andgeneralized hoopla, but
that exhilarating moment of
Perhaps, mercifully, the budget
unexpected unity stayed with me
presentations will finally begin on
through the night and beyond.
January 22andwill gofortwoweeks.
Engaging in nationalistic displays is, of
President's Report
Ihave included a copy ofthe budget
course, downrightun-Canadian, and
meetingtimetablewhichshouldclarify
especially unlikely inthis partoftown,
Iwouldhavethought. We don't live in Itisinterestingto lookbackatthe when we will have some idea as to
what will happen on April I. Once
a suburban middle-class neighbour January 1995 issue ofWords&Vision
againIcaution all FSA members that,
hood,butrather inadistrictthat might andsee whatissuesfecedthe FSAonly
throughout the preliminary stages of
be described as Bohemian, funky,or one yearago. To quote, "Change,
this process no one knows exactly
down-at-the-heels, dependingon your growth and UCFV- nouns occurring
whatourbudgetwill befor96/97.
p.o.v. Our street is about fifteen so ofteninthesamephrasethatthey
January1996
supportstaffintheinstitutionsisgetting
IsThereAnythingElseGoingon
BudgetMeetingTimetable
underway.
BesidesThe Budget Process?
Leo Perra, PSEA President, and
Date Event
union heads Ed Lavalle (CIEA) and
Therearecurrentlytwoimportant
Jan.22to BudgetPresentationsto JohnShields(BCGEU)agreethatfiscal
Feb.2 BudgetReviewCbmm. initiativesgoingonwithintheCollege pressures resulting from announced
andInstitutesystem. Thefirstinitiative
Feb. 5,7 Open BudgetPresentations federal cuts to post-secondary
is the multi-institutional discussions.
education threatenaccessforstudents
The following news release
Feb.9 RoundTableReview andjobsecurityforfacultyandstaffin
prepared byCIEAsummarizeswhere
Feb. 13to Mgmt BudgetReview the discussions are and when they the province's post-secondary
Feb.27 educationsystem. Theyareoptimistic
mustconclude.
that some solutions can be found
Mar.4 Recommendations
througjhtheprovince-widediscussions.
College and Institute Provincial
Mar. II OpenForum Unions with current strike
Talks Continue mandatesandemployershavetaken
Mar. 12 Mgmt Review
theunusualstepofextendingthelifeof
Mar. 18 BudgetRecommendations Representativesofemployersand theirstrike votesbyapplying to the
unionsintheprovincescollegesand LabourRelationsBoardforafreezeon
Mar. 27 BudgetRecommendations
institutes continue talks today. The theexpiryofthe votestoJanuary31,
totheCO.W.
parties are seeking to provide a 1996. Manyofthefacultyunionshave
framework agreementforthemore been withoutcontractsforperiodsof
than twenty colleges andinstitutes. sixmonthstooverayear.
Eightfacultyunionlocals, membersof The parties have issues on the
the College Institute Educators' tablefocusingonjobsecurity, salaries
UCFVisboundbythe collective
Association (CIEA), have suspended and maintenance of service to
agreement until March of 1997, and
announcedjob action pending the
under the collective agreement all students.
outcome ofthe talks. A previous
employees have rights which they
deadlineofJanuary5 wasextendedto Uponendofthediscussions,and
must not voluntarily give away in
give the two month oldprocess a ifadocumentisagreedupon,itwill be
hopes ofgetting through the budget
chanceto work. necessarytoholdageneral meetingto
review with only a small superficial
Althoughthecollegeandinstitute determine howwe wish to deal with
fleshwound.Wemustrememberthat
system does nothave a provincial the conclusions which may come out
this isnot an anomalousyear. We
should expectthe budget crunch to master agreement and does not ofthesediscussions.
usuallybargainprovinciaf/y, the threat The second initiative which is
continue forat leastanotheryear.
offederalfunding cuts andpotential going on is the strategic plan
Itisimportantto keep in mind
disputesatlocalcollegesandinstitutes discussions. The first partofthe plan,
that, in 1997,we will be negotiatinga
have spurred both unions and The Context Document, was made
newcollective agreement. As such, I
employerstoseekamulti-institutional available to the members in late
wasalarmedto read inthe December
process. October. Subsequenttothetablingof
issue of Headlineswhere it isstated
The "Multi-Institutional this document, discussions have
that "no employee with more than
Discussions" currently underway proceededtotheactualStrategicPlan
two years' seniority will be laid off
indudethePost-SecondaryEmployers' andthe Implementationdocument.
before March 1997." Ihope that it
Association(PSEA), representingmore Insomesense,thestrategicplanis
was unintentionalto implythatthere
than twenty college and institute meant to address the criticisms of
couldbeasignificantnumberoflayoffs
employers,andaJointUnion Caucus post-secondaryeducationfound inthe
afterthecollectiveagreementexpires.
offacultylocalswhoaremembersof Training For What' document.
It is my hopethatthespiritofArticle
CIEA andthe BC Governmentand Furthermore,itisbelievedthatthereis
18.16will be extended beyondthe
ServiceEmployees'Union(BCGEU), a vital link between the multi-
expiry date of the collective
aswellasseveralindependentlocal institutional discussions and the
agreement,andperhapsbeincluded in
unions. A similar set of talks for StrategicPlandocuments. Withoutthe
the nextcollectiveagreement
January1996
facultymembernominated bythe FSA
way,forcedustoevaluatewhatwedo
multi-institutional framework
agreement,thestrategicplanmaynot and whetherwe are costeffective. It
2. Apart-time faculty towhomthe
is, however, important that all the
getofftheground.
College had offered a course in the
levels of government and internal
governancestructuresatUCFVdonot wintersemester, competed for and
What DoWe KnowAboutThe
wasofferedacontinuingcontractfora
lose sight ofthefact thattheway in
StrategcPlan? which we satisfy the demands of non-instructional position inthe same
department. After this employee
learners and the community is by
What follows is a brief supporting an environment where accepted the College's second and
explanation which lists the different separate contract, the College
facultyandstafffeelthattheinstitution
issueswhichare beingconsideredfor proposedthatshesignathirdcontract,
iscommittedto itsemployees.
inclusion in the strategic plan amalgamating the first and second
Finally, Iwould liketoaddanother
document Oneword ofcaution:The threadtothepost-secondarymosaic: which would have had denied her
strategicPlan isnotyetavailableandis paymentforteachingthecourse. The
theup-comingprovincialelection. Itis
still currently underdiscussion. Most
uncertainhowthe NDPgovernment FSA advised her that she was not
of the items in the list are defined obliged to sign a third or revised
under a new leader will view post-
broadlyand needtobeclarified. secondaryeducation. Furthermore, it contract and the previous two
contracts hadlegal force. However,
iseven more uncertain howa Liberal
Post-Secondary Education(PSE) governmentwillviewtheCollegeand her first contractwas non-continuing
and would expire in thespring, after
should be: Institutesystem.Whatismorecertain,
whichtimetheCollegecouldreassign
however, is that under either
• More relevant This includes governmentthe recentfiscal realities hernon-instructionaldutiesto include
recognizing the needs of the willnotdisappear. Whenonestopsto instruction.
community and the need to consider all of the possible
focus on outcome-based permutationsand combinationsthere 3. Two staff auxiliaries have
learning. is onethingthatweknowforcertain: exceeded the hourly limits (140)
• Accessible to all. Ideas here One can saythatweareworking in permitted under the agreement.
include more support for 'interestingtimes! Personnel will be issuing them r.p.t.
studentswhich mayinclude Prior contracts and making retroactive
- Dale Box
LearningAssessmentinitiatives. adjustments, e.g., pay, seniority.
• More accountable. Thisimplies Thesespecificcases raisetwogeneral
Faculty Grievance
thattheremaybeanintroduction issues: first, the Collegehasno sure
of performance indicators to trackingsystemthatwouldsignalwhen
Chair Report
measure both the quantitative these hourly limits are exceeded;
andqualitativeaspectsofPSE. second, it is now clearthat auxiliary
• More Affordable. This may Sincemylastreport,thefollowing status is beingassignedto employees
include a restructuring and grievable matters have come to my without consistent regard to the
rationalizationof PSEinstitutions. attention: definition ofauxiliary inArticle 1.2 in
the Collective Agreement which
Itishoped thatwe will seethe I. A faculty member who was an restricts these appointments to
first draft of the strategic plan unsuccessful applicant for another emergency replacementonaday-to
documentbytheendofJanuary. positionquestionedthefairnessofthe day basis, not long periods until the
hiringprocedure. The remedysought 140hoursisusedup(andeventhenis
Throughout all of the multi- by this member was College exceeded). Major action is now
institutional discussions and the acknowledgement ofthe procedural required. In the meanwhile, some
development of the strategic plan errors and a re-evaluation of the cooperation from supervisors will be
there is a common thread. This competitors' qualifications. The appreciated: auxiliary appointments
thread isthe new fiscal reality: The College agreed that the hiring areforemergent,shortabsencessuch
procedure was lessthanfairand that
level of funding made available to as illness. Auxiliaries are not to be
Colleges and Institutes has, in some the re-evaluationwouldbedone bya used as perpetual additions to the
January1996
want to give recognrtion to past
labourforceorto replace employees co-chair of SWC for the eastern
organizingatUCFVcarriedoutmainly
region. Kathy works in the Chwk
on lengthyleaves.
byJean Ballard, Michelle Demers,and
library and can be reached at local
FSAstudygroupswill beginsoon,
JillHarrison,andtocommendthoseat
oncestaffhavehadthe opportunityto 2471.
UCFV who were able to give their
volunteer. These sessionswill study
time in particular ways around the
the Collective Agreement and the
Dec.6th events: Julia Brotherston,
FSA'sfunctionsforgeneral useor initial
UPCOMINGSWCMEETINGS
Shelagh Bruhn, Monica Buchanan,
training for union office. Please AgeHb*Tk>WeVfattof*an
WorkorFunT Kathy Davis, Stan de Mello, Cindy
forwardyournamestothe FSAoffice.
Dumas, Jill Harrison, Joanne Higgs,
CamptE Date Time
BonnieHuskins,Catherine McDonald,
-BobSmith
Chilliwadc Tuesday 12:00- MarthaDow, Lori Macintosh, Marina
M204 Feb.6/96 1:00pm Magnone, Kelly Maier, Colleen Rush,
Abbotsford Wednesday 12:00- Anne Russelland Cibelle Soca.
B202 Feb.14/96 1:00pm
- Georgina Marshall
2. The Dec. 6th memorial was a
majorsuccessvalley-wide.
With financial supportfromthe
FSA and UCFV Safer Campuses
Committee, we were able to help
Status of Women
communitygroupscovercostsofthe
Committee Chair purchase ofcandles, rental fees for
one vigil site, and the printing of
%gy
Report posters. Aswell,thisfinancialsupport
allowed ustopurchasethememorial NOTICE!
buttons. StudentActivities inChwk
Two major accomplishments took
and Abbyalso purchasedcandlesand Womeninthe Chillrwackarea
placesince thelastreportin October
300buttons,andourcombinedefforts areorganizingtoforma
1995. raised nearly $450 to be given to women'sresourcecentre. A
women'sgroupsinthecollege region. planningmeetingwill beheld:
I. SWC held meetings in
The vigils themselves were well
NovemberatAbbyand Chwk
Wednesday,January31st
attended in Mission, at Abbotsford
campuses to establish anactual
Centennial Auditorium, andat UCFV 5 p.m.
committee.
Chwk and Abby campuses. Amajor At
theme forthis memorial was unity: AuroraServices
Therewereaboutsevenwomen
weworkedtogethersharinginfo and 45928 HockingAvenue,
at each meeting, with numerous
resources, especially with Melinda Chillrwack
others calling in to say they couldn't
Waters, forthe Women's Resource
makethemeeting,andareinterested
Societyofthe FraserValley, and Don Thecontactpersonat
(to date: over 35 staff, students and
Wright, for the Abbotsford Arts CommunityServicesisCibelle
facultycollege-wide). Ateach meeting
Soca. Cibellecan be reached
Council.
we discussed the structure ofSWC
Iwanttotakethis opportunityto Tues.&Wed.at792-4267.
anddecidedto have co-chairs, giving
givethankstoeveryoneinthecollege
representation to staff/faculty and
communitywho supported the Dec. ALLINTERESTEDWOMEN
eastern/western regions. Iactasthe
6th activities, including our UCFV WELCOME
co-chairforthewesternregion. Atthe
Board, and toBoard memberGwen
Chwk meeting, KATHY DAVIS, was
Pointforhercontributionatthevigil. I
nominated and agreed to act asthe
January1996
electron-flash of words in the
lostness. His otherness. Not the
The Southern Cross poem, Imeanthe bind. Hetosses it dreaming sky: the sky that can
away atthe end ofthepoem, and I becomea nightmare ifyou thinktoo
Ed.: Lastyear, Norbertwaswriter-in- don'trememberifhelooksupthen at fast.
residencedownunder;thefollowingis the Southern Cross or not. For - NorbertRuebsaat
succour; for holiness: redemption.
oneresult
Actualwater.
MichealshowsmetheSouthern All those Europeans were lost, it
The Trojan Horse of
Cross. Thereitis, hesays, pointing. I seems to me now; they had no
groundtoholdonto. Thisiswhatthe
see it: five stars, the bottom one
curvedover. Under, likean umbrella people here (and in Canada then) Neo-conservatism
couldn't comprehend: that these
handle.
It'salsoontheAustralianflag, he European men could travel sofar on
says. Haveyouseenit? the basisofabstractsymbols,abelief: Theliberals have moreorless
I don't remember. But I'm something as numinous and assimilatedtheideasofthesocialist
imaginingit: white starsagainstablue evanescentasa lineofstarsinthesky. left, while conservatives are really
background, dark; itreminds me ofa Aflagintheground. yesterday'sliberals...theinstitutions
somber, more seriousAmericanflag. Iimagnetravelingsouth onsuch which conservatives wish to
Not all that bounciness and white faith. I realize why theyconverted preserve are, andfortwo centuries
straightlines. Natives. Developed huge trading werecalled, liberalinstitutions, i.e.,
Looking atthe Southern Cross. empires- toclawinthethingsofthe institutions which maximize
What the sailors commented on, world. personallibertyvis-a-vis astate, a
guided themselves by, when they Becausetheworld, likeastar,was church oran officialideology. On
crossed theequator, outofreach of always disappearing. Forgetting. the other hand, theseverest critics
Europe. Intotheotherhalf. Intothe Careening into the force ofits own of these institutions - those who
globe. energy. wish to enlarge the scope ofthe
There was a cross there, I Theysayastar's lightcan recede government authority indefinitely,
thought. It was lucky. Something fasterthan wecan reach outwithour so as to achieve ever greater
Christian for them there, in the eyestotouch it. Itimplodes- yes, is equalityatthe expense ofliberty -
SouthernHemisphereamongallthose pulled away by theforce ofits own aretodaycommonlycalledliberals.
heathens. Somethingto holdonto. A gravity, ftsimplybecomesinvisible.
meaninginthe sky. Thethingisstillthere, butoursight - Irving Kristol,
Youcould grasp itandplantit- isn't It'stoo slowto catchthefading TwoCheersfor
likeaflagontosomesouthern beach. star. When itdisappears there isa Capitalism
Touch itwithyourhand,anduseitto hole, whichthe scientists call black.
guideyourmindwhenyouwereafraid Black Holes. A tiny puff of black "Suspicious probing is always
oflosingit. smoke: sightdisappearing. salutary."
In this place that God had Atoms do this too, scientists - Edward Said,
forgotten - but now, in putting you explain. Electrons. Theydanceaway Representationsof
here, remembers again: His Cross fasterthanwe canfollow. The eye's
theIntellectual
finding you there, in the sky. How refractions-1 mean electrons- arrive
holy. at a shore as barren, unmentionable, Neo-conservatism has,
TheotherthingIthinkofwhenI sad, as lonely as sand on a foreign increasingly so, been making wide
think of the Southern Cross, is the beach. inroadsinto NorthAmericanculturein
albatross. Thatsouthern birdwiththe AsailoradriftonthevastSouthern the lasttwo decades; rthas, needless
giganticwingspan. Blanketingthesky. Ocean. tosay,beenreshapingthecontoursof
TheAncient Mariner hung itaround Ilook up attheSouthern Cross the 1st, 3rd, and 4th worlds, also.
his neck. The shadow of its wing andimagnethesilenceofthissailor. I Neo-conservatives are, as Kristol
etchedagainstthedeck. think ofTaylor Coleridge writingthe rightly noted, 19th century
ft seemed the symbol of his poem. Substance kept afloat An
individualistic liberals who hold in
January1996
(the most compellingtheorist offree
question State bureaucracy and 'traditional family values'
(Dobson),'virtues' (Bennett's Bookof enterprise) hail has beena mecca of
control. R. Nisbet, in hisfine book,
Conservatism (1986) traced the Virtues), rebuilding friendships Neo-conservatism. Language canbe
rebirth, developmentandmaturingof (Promise keepers) and creating a used as a baitthatlures, butwhenthe
Neo-conservatism afterWWIIjustas space, once again, for family, lure is taken, the unsuspecting can
R. Kirk's The Conservative Mind friendships, andcommunities. Neo- quicklybepulled intoanet. Coleridge
(1951)highlightedthebasicintellectual conservatives, also, hopeto limitthe oncesuggestedthat language canact
landscape. 7#nevoted NewtGingrich violence onourstreetsand mediaand likeanelectriceel ortorpedo(afish);
the Man of the Year (1995), and limit the use of drugs. Gertrude once itstings itsvictim,allgoesnumb.
Gingrich, of course, although Himmelfarb(thewifeofIrvingKristol) Language, if we are not careful, can
flamboyantandexcessivelyrhetorical, summed upthe moodofthe Neo- numbourcriticalfaculties.
embodies the activist Neo- conservativesinherrecentbook, The
conservative vision. The Neo- Demoralization ofSociety: Victorian I.Kristol said,
conservative goal isto progressively VirtuestoModern Value£(1995)and
(differenttime lines are set)createa herearlierbook, OnLookingIntothe Tocounterthecrisesthatliberalism
balanced budget, strip the State of Abyss[\994).The Neo-conservatives, is provoking in our society,
gaze aboutculture, society andthe conservatismhas to rediscoverand
much that it has clothed itselfin and
revive mediatingstructures. Itis not state, argue that "anarchy is loosed reaffirm its attachment to its three
upon the world" and urge us to do traditional pillars of religion,
that Neo-conservatives want to
abolish the State (they are not somethingto bringfresh watersback nationalismand economicgrowth.
Ofthese, religion iseasilythe most
Anarchists);theyjustwanttodefine in to Eliot's Wasteland We needtoask
sharper detail what the State (the ourselves, though, about how the important because it is the only
power that, inthelongerterm, can
mortal god-Hobbes) should do and Neo-conservatives define what is
shape people's characters and
what the State (the new amissand howthey planto recreate
idol-Nietzshe) should keep its 7heGoodSodety(M\ah 1991). We regulatemotivation.
bureaucratic hands off. The Neo- needtoask ourselvesbeforewe,too
conservatives, inshort, would liketo uncritically or naively, pullthe Trojan
reclaim and invigorate all sorts of horse into the camp, what might Kristol is quite impatient with 'old
conservatives'or'paleoconservatives'
intermediategroupsthatshouldstand descend from the horse while we
like Canada's George Grant who
between the State and the sleep.
autonomous individual in a healthy The Neo-conservatives, as I would be critical ofhisUtopian hopes
society. Therenewal ofsociety(see mentionedabove,uselanguage(e.g., for economic growth, Republican
Tonnies Gemeinshcaft and 'tradition', 'family', 'values', nationalism, and civil religion in the
GeseOsdhaft 1887) is atthe centerof 'friendships', 'community', 'liberty*, serviceofeconomicsand nationalism.
Ralph Reed(CEOoftheChristian
the Neo-conservative interest in 'law','order',and'wisdom")often, ina
reclaimingtheemptycivicspace. compelling and attractive way. A. Coalition) takes Kristol astepfurther
There is something quite Bloom's TheClosingoftheAmerican when he says,
temptingabouttheNeo-conservative Mind was a stinging indictment of
desire to forge a firm middle path modem education and how it has
deprived students of an adequate ...whatmostreligiousconservatives
betweenthe State and the individual;
communitarians (Etzioniandclan)are schooling in the humanities. But, really want is to reclaim some
claimingtodomuchthesamesortof language often needs decoding. strengths ofthe America that was
proud, militarily strong, morally
thing. Even N.ChomskylamentsinZ BloomwasastudentofL Strauss(a
Magazine (April '95) "the virtual rather strident Republican), and sound,andlookeduptobytherest
ofthe world. ThisAmericaexisted
collapse ofcivil society." There is a Bloom's student, F. Fukuyama The
growing interestfrom many different Bid of History and the Last Man untilthenationsculturalfabricwas
(1992) rather uncritically celebrated torn apartbya combination ofthe
politicalperspectives(left,center, right)
in returningto aform oflivingthat is the American experiments as the sexual revolution, the war in
highest on the evolutionary ladder. Vietnam, Watergate, theriseofthe
more interdependent in a local
The Chicago school from which drug culture, and the explosive
community context. Neo-
Strauss, Bloom, Fukuyama,and Kayek growth ofthewelfarestate.'
conservatives use language like
January1996
8
subsidies forthe wealthy butnotfor
Many Neo-conservatives argue, Council at the UN, minimize the
many in the lower income. The
following Collier and Horowitz's impact ofthe General Assembly (the
recent Massey Lectures The
Destructive Generation: Second voice ofthe 3rd world) and create a
Unconscious Civilization
ThoughtsAbout the Sixties (1989), world orderthat reflectstheAmerican
(1995-1996), by John Ralston Saul,
passion for liberty and democracy. A
that the USA was the bearer of
manifestdestinyuntiltheturmoil ofthe recentarticlebyCharlesKrauthammer raises some of the issues I have
60's. Ifonly, the Neo-conservatives PeacekeepingshrChumps {Saturday mentionedabove. Ifwe areto liveon
pine,wecouldgetbacktotheAmerica Night Nov. 1995) reflects the same a thoughtful, critical and conscious
outlook. Weigel is the CEOofthe level, we need to bring into the light
of between WWII and the 1960s.
Suchrevisionistviewsofthe 40s-50s Catholic Neo-conservative think tank that which hides in the unconscious
tend to ignore how the blacks, the Ethics and Public Policy Center mind of the Neo-conservatives.
(EPPC) in Washington. I. Kristol's Although many might easily bedrawn
indigenous peoples, women and the
in by the Neo-conservative call to
poor were treated in this nostalgic comments aboutthe three pillars of
Neo-conservatism-religion, return to such basics as family,
Rockwellian viewofthe USA.
friendships, community, lawand order,
W.Bennett(formersecretaryof nationalism and free-trade echo
Weigel's outlook. Weigel, has just we needto realizethat, on substantive
education and chairman of the
writtenaglowingforwardto Changing issues,the Neo-conservativeagendais
National Endowment for the
about reviving religion (against the
Humanities under Reagan) recently Witness: CatholicBishopsandPublic
published The DevaluingofAmerica Office 1917-1994 (1995). The secularists) astheglue for nationalism
and an aggressive approach to
(1994); the book, appropriately, author of the book, M. Warner (a
historian withthe CIA), criticises the economics. This, then, translates into
carriedthe Focus onthe Familylogo.
moreState powerandsupportforthe
Bennettlaments howthe liberalvision liberalstanceoftheCatholicBishops in
corporate elite, thebanks,themilitary
has ledthe USAdown acul-de-sac; it the last few decades. Warner, like
Weigel, lauds a Neo-conservatism in industrial complex and to a business
was with the coming of Reagan,
which religion is putattheservice of driven approachto education. There
Bennett proclaims, that some hope
State, military, big business and the isnodoubtthatthe TrojanHorsehas
was offered. Bennett said "The
PeaganandBushteams were ones on CIA. This brings me backto the way been broughtintothecamp. Thetask
which Iwasproudtoserve." It might Neo-conservatism useslanguage such is to sort out what the Trojans will
not be inappropriate to askwhether as 'religion', 'family', 'tradition', destroy, athomeandabroad, ifthey
Bennettwasproud ofthe 125,000 in 'community', 'values', 'renewing are not stopped.
Guatemala, 75,000 inEl Salvadorand culture and education'; we need to - Ron Dart
45,000in Nicaraguathatwere killed in decode and deconstruct what this
group actually means by the use of
the 80s with the full financial and
military support of the Peagan suchcompellingtalk.
administration. The Iran-Contra affair Whenwe are not numbed bythe
languageofNeo-conservatism, wecan
andthe USA militarysupport to such
begin toseewhattheiragenda really
authoritarian States as Turkey, Iraq,
Egypt, and Saudi Arabia should cause is. The language of balancing the
budgetmeanswithdrawingsupportfor
some uneasiness, but many
Neo-conservatives such as Bennett hearth, welfare and education but not
ignorethesetroublingdilemmas. for the military industrial complex,
corporate subsidies or an inflated
G. Weigel's Idealism Without
Illusions(1994)takes Bennetta step sense of national security. So,
although Neo-conservatism often
further. Weigel, using P. Johnson's
makes a big noise about a minimal
article Wanted: A New Imperialism
(NationalReview14 Dec. 92)argues state and a strong but unobtrusive
government this means, when
thatthe USAshould, forthe most part,
translated, funding, tax breaks and
take firm control of the Security
January1996
Notices &
Information
BCTF RetirementSeminars
Asinpreviousyears,an invitation
hasbeenextendedtoall Instructorsto
attendthe BCTF RetirementSeminar.
This seminardealswiththe Teachers'
Guest Speaker
Pension Plan, but rt is highly
informative,and itincludes an excellent
section on Lifestyles Planning. No Dr. John Dennison (retired,
registration isrequired. All seminars U.B.C.) will be guest at the next
run9:00amto 4:00 pm,andare free. UniversityCollegeCouncil meetingon
Sex, Lies&Advertising
February 14. Hewill occupythefirst
hour (2 to 3 pm) to discuss the
The schedule isasfollows:
implications of Bill 22 (recent
governance legislation)forEducational
Section:WRPAD02 EM5018
Councils, especially Council's Details:Sat., Feb.24, 1996
Date City Location responsibilities andpowers in relation 10am-5pm
MissionCampus
to those ofofCollegeBoards.
Cost: $72.00
Jan.
13 Nanaimo CoastBastionInn
All faculty andstaff are invited to
20 Langley Newiands
27 Vancouver HolidayInn attend thissession. If itpiquesyour This one day workshop will
Feb. (Van.Cntr) interest, please let Bllenor Greaves integrate lecture, seminar, discussion,
03 CoquWam Coqu'rt.MotorInn
10 Vernon VillageGreen know,sothatweallotamplespacefor performance, and video to help us
17 N.Van. CoachHouseInn thsmeeting. Rightnowit's inAg I15, understandhow advertising influences
24 Richmond RichmondInn in Chilliwack. our masculine andfeminine identities.
Mar.
Participants will learnhowto analyze
02 Penticton (TheClarion)
LakesideResort genderads and understand howto
09 Surrey SurreyCont integrate theirmeanings into daily life.
Ed. Centre
30 Kamloops CoastCdn.Inn This coursewillbeofinterestto media
13 Wms.Lake Overlander Inn relations and advertising people,
Apr.
teachers involved in media literacy,
20 ft.St.John PioneerInn
27 Pr.George HolidayInn parents, students in communications,
May the arts, and humanities, and infact,
04 Victoria HolidayInn anybodywhodealswiththe interplay
oftextand image.
Instructor Norbert Ruebsaot, is an
award-winning writer, commentator,
media analyst, and communications
instructor. In 1994, he was acclaimed
for an excellent presentation/
performanceofhisproject, Advertising
theNew Male, at the VancouverFringe
Festival.
January1996
10
Women's DayDinners
TheWomen'sResourceSoaetyoftheFraserValleypresents:
INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S DAY
DINNER
BUFFET & ENTERTAINMENT
Date-March 8,1996
F™Uy,M«J»8(1996 Place- ParkhillHotel
7 pmi© 10 pm 1160 Davie Street
(Doorsopen&t6t30) Cost - $50.00perperson
Mitsion ReorcAfionCentre, flail Childcare costs willbe reimbursed
7621TWouiSireei,Mieeion
Boorsopenat 6 pm; dinner at 7 pm
. Tickets:$30«(cid:127) employedwomen;$15-25-
ua/underemptoyedwomen
FORTICKETS & INFO,
Fundsreusedwillbeheldintrusttowardsdevelopmentof
PLEASECALL:
a Women'sCentre
andwillprovideseedmoneyforfutureInternational
WomenfsDayactivities. CaroleBummer
604-669-6757
FOR MOREINFORMATION PLEASE
CALL 820-8455 Theproceedswillgotowardsretiringthe1993
electiondebt
MBMtartlTIM^^
Thank you...
The Faculty and Staff Association and its F.S.A. members also wish to extend their
thanks to Vashti King and the Facilities
members would like to extend our thanks to
Department for their prompt and efficient
Anne Reisinger and Vem Wright and their
removal of the snow from the sidewalks and
committee of organizers for putting on a very
parkinglots.
successful 1995Christmasdinner and dance.