Greetings, subscribers. Here’s a flashback to 1986 when I returned to college in Ohio after having dropped out of East Carolina University in N.C. in 1970 to join a cult. Things have changed since then, but my experience speaks to recent unimaginable challenges to education.
Back in 1986, my cult life imploded. I desired to shed that imposed identity and learn new things, enjoy freedom to think and question, challenge ideas and have my own challenged in a respectful way, as well as speak my mind without being condemned as a heretic.
At the time, I was still working at the cult’s compound—The Way International headquarters in New Knoxville, Ohio. My family and I lived in a rented house in that little town. If you’ve read my memoir, Undertow, you may remember I resigned from The Way’s biblical research department in the summer of 1986. I then was given a job (my request) in the Child Care unit, but felt compelled to resign from that after discovering leadership’s negligence. Afterwards, those leaders banished me to work in the compound’s car wash. I remember an immaculate car that I had to clean anyway: it belonged to the wife of the then-Way president, Craig Martindale.
Meanwhile, I’d enrolled as a returning college student in The Ohio State University, at the nearby Lima, Ohio, branch. After serving sixteen years as a propagandist for The Way, at the suggestion of a friend I decided to go back to college and finish my education. This post contains the essay I had to write in the required course called “University Survey,” sort of an orientation class to college life.
Recently, I found my handwritten draft of this essay with scratched out words and corrected spelling. For fun, it’s inserted here. Also recently, and more to the point of this post, one of my friends who teaches at a nearby state college told me she is prohibited by a new state law in Florida from saying a laundry list of words in the classroom, such as “diversity.” If she does, she’ll be “reported.”
This made me reflect on the old days when I took for granted that freedom of speech, a key element of academic freedom, was honored in school.
What I Expect from OSU
by Charlene Bishop [my married name at the time]
September, 1986
I expect a lot from OSU. First of all, and most importantly to me, I expect to be in an atmosphere of “academic freedom” in each class I take. After reading the chapter in the University Survey handbook entitled, “An Epilogue on Academic Freedom,” I literally cheered out loud. I cherish an environment conducive to open discussion and “free thinking.” I am very pleased to be attending an institution that makes that available to me.
As a returning student who has been out of college for sixteen years, I am anticipating the personal growth that will come from being a participant in the learning experience at OSU. Here, I expect to receive opportunities to push my mind to its limits and expand those limits with the help of constructive criticism from my instructors.
Lastly, from OSU I expect that it will live up to its reputation of caring about the success of its students and demonstrate its purpose as a university:
“The unique mission of a university is the discovery, preservation and dissemination of truth.” ~ from “An Epilogue on Academic Freedom.”
—END—
Did I get what I expected?
The short answer: YES. A longer answer is that the OSU professors I had classes with were terrific, especially the Sociologist I describe in Undertow in the first chapter, “Hiding in Plain Sight.” She helped me understand the high-control group I was in, and the dangers of cultic groups like it.
In addition, I took two writing courses. Those caring instructors definitely boosted my confidence to learn the craft and write in a serious way. So, it’s clear to me that I blossomed at OSU in an encouraging atmosphere conducive to freedom of expression essential to a flourishing life. This continued for me at what was then called Valencia Community College in Orlando, and at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL, where I graduated in 1994. I feel extremely lucky.
What happens in college now?
I worry. The question is: how will college professors and students in Florida’s educational system, and in other states, fare under recently imposed restrictions on academic freedom and freedom of speech? Do you worry, too?
Thanks for reading!
Your writer on the wing,
Charlene
Kathleen Brandt
I certainly do worry, Charlene.
My mom recently passed away at 91. She was a middle-school librarian for much of her career. I am so thankful that she didn’t have to go through the problems school librarians are facing in many US states today. (Her teaching career was in the 90s and 00s — plenty of challenges, but NOTHING like today.)
Yes, I worry. Is there an answer? Do you know of one?
Great essay, by the way.
Charlene L. Edge
Your mom was remarkable!
I’m not flush with answers, other than vote the perpetrators out of office, protest in any non-violent way you can. Raise awareness. That’s easy to say. Harder to do, at least at this point. Sigh…
Steve Muratore
There is not ONE answer. There are many answers, including three Charlene’s response to you comment included.
In honor of your librarian mother, I’ll list a couple of key literary resources:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19756981-how-nonviolent-struggle-works
Nonviolent protest is not passive.
and
https://www.amazon.com/Ryan-Holiday-ebook/dp/B00G3L1B8K/
The Obstacle is the Way
As to The Obstacle, as Ryan Holiday has written, I often point to Thomas Paine’s opening to his essay The American Crisis:
THESE are the times that try men’s souls.
The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
Peggy+Lantz
Yes, I worry too. What to do? Write a letter to the editor or to your legislator, but always with courtesy. And vote. Unfortunately, so few with the integrity I look for are running for office. If you can, be that person. Attend meetings of your councilmen/women. Let them know what you want from them. Write something.