Walking into Professor Douglas Card’s 4 p.m. sociology class brought an unexpected surprise. Social Inequality was a class I signed up for months ago, not knowing that my professor would soon have attention on the front cover of the Emerald (“Professor sues for libel damages,” ODE, Sept. 29). The article briefly explains the lawsuit he has filed against Daniel Pipes and Jonathan Schanzer for claims that Card bashes race and religion as he teaches Social Inequality at the University.
It didn’t take more than 10 minutes for me to understand how such a judgment could be made about Card from a media columnist. As he described the facts of American society and the binding stereotypes that accompany it, he didn’t hold back from pointing out situations around the world. Differences of race, gender, age, sexuality, religion and culture are not all accepted. Society’s evolution proves that these are not all equal. Facing that fact is something that could easily bring stereotypes of Card, himself, as one who focuses on those differences. But as I sat and listened to his childhood experiences as well as his war stories, I felt that there was much more experience behind his lessons than mere opinions. His expressions and passion can’t hide his personal experiences of oppression, hence his actions in teaching about it.
The fact that he puts things bluntly is beneficial to students such as myself because not only is he a contributing human setting an example in his strive toward equality, but the classroom atmosphere openly accepts debate and understanding of this sensitive subject.