3Thu-3B-5a: You Flunk! Our Failing Colleges and Universities
Class | Registration opens 7/28/25 10:00 AM
Colleges and universities have always been places to get a higher education. A place where the exchange of ideas was encouraged. A place where the freedom to publicly express ideas and beliefs (even very unpopular beliefs) was always sacrosanct. That’s not the case today. Civil discourse has been abandoned, and the commitment to shared intellectual principles has become as fractured as today’s America.
My course will delve into all aspects of American colleges for the last fifty years. What’s been taught as “fact” to our kids and grandchildren? How has this teaching shaped the present atmosphere at US colleges? Have colleges created a homegrown, anti-American, fifth column in America? The kids of today will be tomorrows leaders… what does that mean for the future? We’ll discuss future college populations and share ideas of how best to educate young people.
After introductory remarks, the class will be mainly discussion based on the week’s readings. Preparation time should be about ½ hour a week.
Books and Other Resources:
I suggest reading one or more of the following books prior to taking this course:
Horowitz, David. One-Party Classroom. Crown Forum, 2009
Nelson, Cary. Mindless. The Jewish Quarterly #259, March 2025
Levine, Arthur and Van Pelt, Scott. The Great Upheaval. Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore 2021
Daniels, Ronald J. What Universities Owe Democracy. Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore 2021
Articles and videos will be provided.
Len Glassman
I’m a graduate of Northeastern University (BS Business and Marketing). I’m married with grown children and grandchildren. My post graduate degree is from the University of Hard Knocks…fifty years in business. I was a manufacturer and distributor of auto and truck parts. I play pickleball, golf, and fish Cape Cod and the islands relentlessly.
I’ve been associated with LLIAC for many years. In the past, I’ve lead several “Great Decisions” classes. Most recently, I wrote and lead a class called “Red State-Blue State… the threat to democracy”. It was well received. The post-class reviews were all positive. I always encourage and welcome everyone’s opinions and thoughts on the subject we’re discussing.