Ms. Riley, a college graduate and right-wing journalist, had some trouble reasoning her way through the Kushner honorary degree fiasco at CUNY, as we noted the other day. In response to my query as to who the heck she was, readers came up with some interesting tidbits. One philosopher wrote:
I'm not sure if you wasted time looking through Shaefer Riley's earlier posts, but I am sorry to report that I did. She is predictably reactionary on the question of collective bargaining for university faculty, is dismissive of the William Cronon affair at UW-Madison, seems to be against tenure, and is openly contemptuous of actual academics. I suppose the Chronicle thinks she adds a distinct voice to their blog. Quite odd.
Odd seems an understatement. A philosophy PhD student at Loyola/Chicago wrote:
[A] quick look at her website reveals her stance regarding higher education. In her "Books" section, this is the overview of her book titled "The Faculty Lounges: And Other Reasons Why You Won’t Get The College Education You Pay For":
"Veteran journalist Naomi Schaefer Riley contends that tenure–the jobs-for-life entitlement that comes with a university position–is at the heart of so many problems with higher education today. She explores how tenure–with the job security, mediocre salaries, and low levels of accountability it entails–may be attracting the least innovative and interesting members of our society into teaching."
Amazing...
Given her non-existent credentials, all Ms. Riley appears to have going for her is the misguided idea that in addition to perspectives that are cosmopolitan, informed, and supportive of higher education, CHE needs for "diversity" sakes to have the perspectives of reactionary and anti-intellectual cranks. As it is, the CHE "Brainstorms" blog features some conservative academics and scholars. As her idiotic intervention in the Kushner affair illustrates, Ms. Riley adds nothing of any intellectual substance. Shame on CHE.
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