We Demand: The University and Student Protests (Volume 1) (American Studies Now: Critical Histories of the Present)

"Puts campus activism in a radical historic context."— New York Review of Books In the post–World War II period, students rebelled against the university establishment. In student-led movements, women, minorities, immigrants, and indigenous people demanded that universities adapt to better serve the increasingly heterogeneous public and student bodies. The success of these movements had a profound impact on the intellectual landscape of the twentieth century: out of these efforts were born ethnic studies, women's studies, and American studies. In We Demand, Roderick A. Ferguson demonstrates that less than fifty years since this pivotal shift in the academy, the university is moving away from "the people" in all their diversity. Today the university is refortifying its commitment to the defense of the status quo off campus and the regulation of students, faculty, and staff on campus. The progressive forms of knowledge that the student-led movements demanded and helped to produce are being attacked on every front. Not only is this a reactionary move against the social advances since the '60s and '70s—it is part of the larger threat of anti-intellectualism in the United States. In The Post-world War Ii Period, Students Rebelled Against The Archaic University. In Student-led Movements, They Fought For The New Kinds Of Public The University Needed To Serve--women, Minorities, Immigrants, Indigenous People, And More--with A Success That Had A Profound Impact On The Intellectual Landscape Of The Twentieth Century. Because Of Their Efforts, Ethnic Studies, Women's Studies, And American Studies Were Born, And Minority Communities Have Become More Visible And Important To Academic Debate. Less Than Fifty Years Since This Pivotal Shift In The Academy, However, The University Is Fighting Back. In We Demand, Roderick A. Ferguson Shows How The University, Particularly The Public University, Is Moving Away From The People In All Their Diversity. As More Resources Are Put Toward Stem Education, Humanities And Interdisciplinary Programs Are Being Cut And Shuttered. This Has Had A Devastating Effect On The Pursuit Of Knowledge, And On Interdisciplinary Programs Born From The Hard Work And Effort Of An Earlier Generation. This Is Not Only A Reactionary Move Against The Social Advances Since The '60s And '70s, But Part Of The Larger Threat Of Anti-intellectualism In The United States.--provided By Publisher. The Usable Past Of Kent State And Jackson State -- The Powell Memorandum And The Comeback Of The Economic Machinery -- Student Movements And Post-world War Ii Minority Communities -- Neoliberalism And The Demeaning Of Student Movements. Roderick A. Ferguson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. “Puts campus activism in a radical historic context.”—New York Review of Books
In the post–World War II period, students rebelled against the university establishment. In student-led movements, women, minorities, immigrants, and indigenous people demanded that universities adapt to better serve the increasingly heterogeneous public and student bodies. The success of these movements had a profound impact on the intellectual landscape of the twentieth century: out of these efforts were born ethnic studies, women’s studies, and American studies.
 
In We Demand, Roderick A. Ferguson demonstrates that less than fifty years since this pivotal shift in the academy, the university is moving away from “the people” in all their diversity. Today the university is refortifying its commitment to the defense of the status quo off campus and the regulation of students, faculty, and staff on campus. The progressive forms of knowledge that the student-led movements demanded and helped to produce are being attacked on every front. Not only is this a reactionary move against the social advances since the ’60s and ’70s—it is part of the larger threat of anti-intellectualism in the United States. 
"In the post-World War II period, students rebelled against the archaic university. In student-led movements, they fought for the new kinds of public the university needed to serve ... women, minorities, immigrants, indigenous people, and more ... with a success that had a profound impact on the intellectual landscape of the twentieth century. Because of their efforts, ethnic studies, women's studies, and American studies were born, and minority communities have become more visible and important to academic debate. Less than fifty years since this pivotal shift in the academy, however, the university is fighting back. In We Demand, Roderick A. Ferguson shows how the university, particularly the public university, is moving away from "the people" in all their diversity. As more resources are put toward STEM education, humanities and interdisciplinary programs are being cut and shuttered. This has had a devastating effect on the pursuit of knowledge, and on interdisciplinary programs born from the hard work and effort of an earlier generation. This is not only a reactionary move against the social advances since the '60s and '70s, but part of the larger threat of anti-intellectualism in the United States." ... Provided by publisher In the post World War II period, student movements rebelled against the archaic university. They fought for the new kinds of public the university needed to serve-women, minorities, immigrants, indigenous people, and more-with success that had a profound impact on the intellectual landscape of the twentieth century. Because of their efforts, ethnic studies, Women's studies, and American studies itself were born, and minority communities have become more visible and important to academic debate. Less than fifty years since this pivotal shift in the academy, however, the university is fighting back. In We Demand, Rod Ferguson shows how the university, particularly the public university, is moving away from "the people," in all their diversity. As more resources are put towards STEM education, humanities and interdisciplinary programs are being cut and shuttered. This has had a devastating result on the pursuit of knowledge, and on interdisciplinary programs born from the hard work and effort of an earlier generation. This is not only a reactionary move against the social advances since the 60s and 70s, but is a part of the larger threat of anti-intellectualism in the US Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 10 Overview......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 1. The Usable Past of Kent State and Jackson State......Page 27 2. The Powell Memorandum and the Comeback of the Economic Machinery......Page 48 3. Student Movements and Post–World War II Minority Communities......Page 67 4. Neoliberalism and the Demeaning of Student Movements......Page 81 Conclusion......Page 94 Acknowledgments......Page 112 Notes......Page 114 Glossary......Page 128 Key Figures......Page 132 Selected Bibliography......Page 134 Imprint -- Subvention -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Overview -- Introduction -- 1. The Usable Past of Kent State and Jackson State -- 2. The Powell Memorandum and the Comeback of the Economic Machinery -- 3. Student Movements and Post-World War II Minority Communities -- 4. Neoliberalism and the Demeaning of Student Movements -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Glossary -- Key Figures -- Selected Bibliography