List of Un-American Professors

Late last month a website called Professor Watchlist launched with the intention to “expose” teaching staff at universities across the country who advance “leftist propoganda” and discriminate against conservative students.

The website currently lists more than 100 professors; each listing comes accompanied with the professor’s photograph, school association, and a brief description of why they are listed. The various offenses include anti-fracking statements, critiques of Republican presidential candidates, and the creation of a “Check Your Privilege” campaign. Some professors are listed for reasons as vague as lecturing on the existence of racism.

The website is maintained by Turning Point USA, a non-profit with the mission “to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government” [x].  The deny any association with the alt-right movement or the Trump campaign.

In an interview with Time, University of Pennsylvania professor Althea Butler stated, “[Professor Watchlist is] obviously an attempt to silence people” [x]. Turning Point, however, claims otherwise: “TPUSA will continue to fight for free speech and the right for professors to say whatever they wish; however students, parents, and alumni deserve to know the specific incidents and names of professors that advance a radical agenda in lecture halls.”

Another listed professor called the list “essentially a new species of McCarthyism, especially in terms of its overtones of ‘disloyalty’ to the American republic” in an op-ed for The New York Times. While Turning Point is not affiliated with any government office, the list does show a worrying shift in American attitudes regarding free speech.

Professor Joan Neuberger from the University of Texas at Austin (on the list for objecting to concealed weapons on college campuses) told The New York Times: “In the past, I have taken the position that we ignore such challenges to free speech and the hate mail that usually accompanies it, but no longer. Now I say we fight as hard as we can against people who don’t care about accuracy, who can’t recognize fake news and who seek to monitor what we do as educators.”

-r.d.

 CL Takes the World

Singer/ Rapper Lee Chaerin (CL) is currently taking over the world– LITERALLY.

Okay, not literally– But she’s coming pretty close.

Way back in 2009, CL debuted as the main rapper and leader of 2NE1. The group’s name, a stylized acronym for the 21st Century, New Evolution sound that would become the group’s signature sound, would go down in history as one of the most successful and influential Kpop acts of all time.

Not only has 2NE1 won numerous awards in their native Korea (including Mnet’s Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for their 2010 album To Anyone), but 2NE1’s members and music have been featured worldwide.

You may recognize 2NE1’s I am the Best from Microsoft’s Surface Pro ads in 2014-15.

Ever see ABC’s The Bachelor (Juan Pablo)? Well, in one episode, the bachelor “decides” that he needs a woman with some Kpop in here. The contestants were flown to Korea where they are trained by 2NE1, and even work as backup dancers in a 2NE1 performance.

The group also performed their hit song Crush live for a runway  performance on America’s Next Top Model.

HOWEVER, on November 25, 2016, the group’s agency, YG Entertainment, officially announced the disbandment of 2NE1.

Fans and netizens freaked out. Many cried. I may or may not have cried… 😦

But despair not! Despite the group’s end, CL is still with YG, and she is still churning out the music!

CL’s collaborations include YG labelmates Big Bang, Teddy, and G-Dragon, and international DJ’s Skrillex and Diplo. She’s worked behind the scenes with the likes of Will I.am., and famoulsy remixed Nicki Minaj’s Did it on ‘Em track (her version is called Billion Dollar Baby). Since the summer, CL has dropped several big hits including Hello Bi+ches and Lifted. She is currently working on her state-side debut EP, also entitled Lifted, with Stuart Braun (who also manages Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande).

The short version is this: CL has the world’s attention. Now, what will she do with it?

Check out CL’s plans for the future!:

CL – CNN STYLE: Conquering America

There is no official set release date for the Lifted EP. We are waiting with bated breath, CL… 🙂

PS… This CL News Brief was inspired by this photo~~~

It’s a pretty BIG deal that CL and Rihanna are buddies– So much so that RiRi gifted CL these chic boots. The fact that one of the biggest pop starts in America is giving the transcontinental phenom, CL, friendship, props, and a seal of approval is MASSIVE. Clearly, CL is the flyest woman Rihanna knows.

Let’s get it, CL! 😀