Paglia Criticizes Harvard Scholars

More than 700 people crowded Sanders Theatre last night to hear Camille Paglia--a controversial professor from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia--speak on "What is Wrong With Harvard."

The speech was sponsored by the Program on Constitutional Government as part of an ongoing effort to bring to campus politically-oriented academic figures.

Paglia, who is a self-described supporter of pornography, prostitution, abortion, homosexuality and the legal use of drugs, was introduced by Thompson Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield Jr., as an "enemy of the namby-pamby, the hoity-toity and the artsy-fartsy."

She began by stating that the common belief that she is a neo- conservative is incorrect, claiming that it ispossible to support a feminist agenda whileremaining critical of "the disaster called women'sstudies."

Punctuating her rapid speech with staccatobursts of the words "Okay, all right," Pagliaproceeded to outline what she said she believes iswrong with feminist and humanistic studies ingeneral and at Harvard.

The main problem with English departmentstoday, Paglia argued, is that criticism no longerhas any reference to historicism. She stronglycriticized "trendy people in cultural studiescenters who believe that the world was created by[Michel] Foucault in 1969."

"We need to liberate the young from Foucault,[Jacques] Derrida and [Jacques] Lacan--from thisFrench theory crap," she said.

Moving on to Harvard, Paglia said that thoughthe University at one time had great scholars, itnever replenished itself. "Practically inreceivership," the Harvard English Department thenembarked on a "quick shopping expedition" to getnew people, she said.

The University of the Arts professor said shebelieved Harvard is far too insular, with itsprofessors almost completely removed from reality.In addition, she criticized the "publish orperish" attitude of the tenure system as "stupid."

Paglia also cited what she said was professors'preoccupation with attending conferences as amajor problem.

She then personally took on a number of facultymembers from Harvard's Women's Studies, RomanceLanguages and Literature and English and AmericanLiterature and Language departments.

Professor of English Marjorie Garber should "goto the libraries and put in a little effort" ifshe wants to write a major book, Paglia said. Shecriticized Women's Studies Chair Barbara E.Johnson for not publicly declaring herself alesbian "when it would have mattered" but onlyonce she was secure in her post at Harvard.

Paglia also called Susan R. Suleiman, professorof Romance and comparative literatures, "one ofthe great conference groupies of all time." Pagliaalleged that the women who are at the forefront offeminist scholarship today "kissed every male assin view" in order to get there.

Liberals must speak out against elements ofneo-conservatism present in society today, Pagliasaid, warning, "Otherwise you are assisting therise of fascism."

She outlined a four-pronged plan for reform ofthe higher education system--ending allconferences, actively resisting "opportunism" atall levels of academia, exposing the limits ofknowledge of professors already tenured andconvincing American youth to question and todisobey their teachers, to "be rude in theclassroom" if necessary.

Paglia received thunderous applause at the endof her speech. It was obvious, Mansfield said,that she had "made a lot of friends here."

Lawrence G. Benn '95 said "She ignites thefires of life and of scholarship in me."

But many audience members clearly disagreedwith her as well. Assistant Professor ofComparative Literature and of History andLiterature Svetlana Boym said that one of Paglia'sstatements--that "you need to break the eggs inorder to make an omelette"--sounded like somethingJoseph Stalin would have said

Punctuating her rapid speech with staccatobursts of the words "Okay, all right," Pagliaproceeded to outline what she said she believes iswrong with feminist and humanistic studies ingeneral and at Harvard.

The main problem with English departmentstoday, Paglia argued, is that criticism no longerhas any reference to historicism. She stronglycriticized "trendy people in cultural studiescenters who believe that the world was created by[Michel] Foucault in 1969."

"We need to liberate the young from Foucault,[Jacques] Derrida and [Jacques] Lacan--from thisFrench theory crap," she said.

Moving on to Harvard, Paglia said that thoughthe University at one time had great scholars, itnever replenished itself. "Practically inreceivership," the Harvard English Department thenembarked on a "quick shopping expedition" to getnew people, she said.

The University of the Arts professor said shebelieved Harvard is far too insular, with itsprofessors almost completely removed from reality.In addition, she criticized the "publish orperish" attitude of the tenure system as "stupid."

Paglia also cited what she said was professors'preoccupation with attending conferences as amajor problem.

She then personally took on a number of facultymembers from Harvard's Women's Studies, RomanceLanguages and Literature and English and AmericanLiterature and Language departments.

Professor of English Marjorie Garber should "goto the libraries and put in a little effort" ifshe wants to write a major book, Paglia said. Shecriticized Women's Studies Chair Barbara E.Johnson for not publicly declaring herself alesbian "when it would have mattered" but onlyonce she was secure in her post at Harvard.

Paglia also called Susan R. Suleiman, professorof Romance and comparative literatures, "one ofthe great conference groupies of all time." Pagliaalleged that the women who are at the forefront offeminist scholarship today "kissed every male assin view" in order to get there.

Liberals must speak out against elements ofneo-conservatism present in society today, Pagliasaid, warning, "Otherwise you are assisting therise of fascism."

She outlined a four-pronged plan for reform ofthe higher education system--ending allconferences, actively resisting "opportunism" atall levels of academia, exposing the limits ofknowledge of professors already tenured andconvincing American youth to question and todisobey their teachers, to "be rude in theclassroom" if necessary.

Paglia received thunderous applause at the endof her speech. It was obvious, Mansfield said,that she had "made a lot of friends here."

Lawrence G. Benn '95 said "She ignites thefires of life and of scholarship in me."

But many audience members clearly disagreedwith her as well. Assistant Professor ofComparative Literature and of History andLiterature Svetlana Boym said that one of Paglia'sstatements--that "you need to break the eggs inorder to make an omelette"--sounded like somethingJoseph Stalin would have said