[lbo-talk] mayor of Champaign: Obama not an American

[Bill Quimby]

Probably I'm being hopelessly pessimistic, but I question the thought (maybe it
was a hope that I share) that a Midwestern state university would have a
liberalizing effect on the town in which it is located. While yes, the immediate
campus neighborhood may tolerate an LGBT community, a few hippies, and
Chomsky's latest on display, my experience living near Columbus and having
worked at Ohio State suggests that a state university (and its faculty!) sadly
tries extremely hard NOT to sow liberal feelings among the populace or among its
students. To do so would threaten it's flow of money and support from the state
and from dollar-rich alums.

(And while there may be a liberal prof or two, the rah rah for the football team
can be depended on to drown out any negative publicity should she/he have
made anything close to a critical statement.)

- Bill

Doug Henwood wrote:
> 
> On Apr 17, 2010, at 10:01 PM, C. G. Estabrook wrote:
> 
>> Doug, you've been here (and I've been here for years): it's a fucking 
>> cornfield.
> 
> The University of Illinois is huge. It has no civilizing effect on its 
> hometown? I remember Churbana as surrounded by cornfields, but the town 
> itself as a typical university town. As I recall Charlottesville, it was 
> surrounded by right-wing rednecks but the town itself would never elect some 
> idiot xenophobe as mayor. Maybe 30 years have distorted my memory. Is it 
> really that bad?
> 
> Doug ___________________________________ 
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>