Rightwingers bribing 60 universities to Teach Ayn Rand's philosophy

[JPZenger]

http://www.alternet.org/teaparty/151066/ayn_rand_u_rich_conservatives_--_not_just_the_kochs_--_buying_up_professors_and_influence_on_campus?page=4

This link was also covered in a post in DU's Editorial section. It addresses multiple ways that rightwingers are paying universities to influence their teaching. The one that caught my eye is towards the beginning of the article - funding to 60 universities to get them to teach Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" book with a professor who provides a favorable interpretation of it.

[JPZenger]

1. 4 Campuses of the University of North Carolina Accepted the Bribe

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-05/schools-find-ayn-rand-can-t-be-shrugged-as-donors-build-courses.html

The above article describes this bribery scheme and says at least four campuses of the University of North Carolina have agreed to the bribe.

[JPZenger]

3. Uni. of Texas At Austin Created Endowed Professor of Objectivism

http://www.capitalismmagazine.com/culture/education/academia/5142-hostile-to-reason-academics-fear-ayn-rand-s-atlas-shrugged.html

According to the above article, the University of Texas at Austin accepted $2 million from Allison to create an endowed professorship to study Ayn Rand's "Objectivist" "philosophy."

I particularly enjoy when Bible belters get so excited about Rand, considering she was such an extreme atheist.

[Frances]

2. Where is the fundamentalist outrage?

Ayn Rand's philosophy is the exact opposite of Jesus's teachings.

[Ian David]

4. "Blessed are the individualists, for their wealth is their own." Gospel of Jesus Rand n/t

[jwirr]

5. Hopefully each class has a liberal in it that is willing to speak out.

Someone who is smart enough to take on the professor and push the truth with facts.

[FBaggins]

6. That's just fine. All of those positions should be available at a university.

It's great if someone else decides they're willing to pay for it instead of convincing the state legislature that they have to do it.

With the recent change over in the NC legislature, they would probably do it.