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There is a real disconnect between the University of Montana’s stated interest in respecting the differences between us and the content of the personal blog of one of its full professors.
On his blog, “Upward Thought,” computer science professor Rob Smith has made many blatant and alarming claims about minority groups and marginalized communities, including that women peak at 18 and should not be educated about same way as men, that homosexuality leads to pedophilia and that pious Muslims are inherently violent.
Smith’s views are heinous for many reasons, but what the Kaimin finds most disturbing – and, potentially, most impactful â – is that Smith is a higher education professor who advocates for women he teaches are not there.
In a November 2020 article titled “Intentionally Raising Children in an Upside-Down World,” Smith argues that “a widely promoted misconception is that girls should have the same kind of education as boys.” Instead, Smith says women shouldn’t give in to the “hedonistic pleasure” that comes with pursuing school and starting a career, and should instead focus on building the skills necessary to be a successful woman. “good mother”.
“To avoid unnecessary suffering and maximize her joy, a young woman must know everything she needs to know to be a good wife and mother and seek it out from as early as possible,†Smith writes.
Smith advocates that women have an unequal education compared to men so that they learn to adapt to motherhood.
Last week, Smith deleted the blog. But the Kaimin has downloaded PDF copies, which are available under the “News” tab on montanakaimin.com.
UM is not necessarily responsible for a person’s blog. Smith’s ideas are his and the right to free speech protects him. But the Kaimin finds it more than disturbing that his philosophies, especially regarding women and education, perpetuate trends that UM is trying to combat.
The computer science department said only 22% of its students are women. President Jesse Johnson said the gender gap has been a concern during his 20 years with the department.
And yet her school and university have employed a teacher who believes women shouldn’t have the same educational opportunities as men. And that when they do, these opportunities are detrimental because they are obstacles to the true development of a woman: motherhood.
Whether Smith thinks this in private or in public doesn’t matter. His outdated and dangerous views on women and education make it very concerning for him to teach young women no matter how he treats them outwardly.
The existence of this professor’s blog shows that sexism in higher education has not disappeared. And it’s not the only time that women have faced threats to their education or safety at UM this year.
In this semester alone, the University has seen a sex discrimination complaint filed against UM and President Seth Bodnar and allegations that deans of the law school have dissuaded students from reporting sexual assault. Rob Smith’s blog is just the latest in a series of problematic events.
Although these are separate events, each indicates a culture that continues to target women and members of under-represented groups. As ASUM President Noah Durnell said in a statement to Smith’s blog, the articles are “not a separate conversation, they demonstrate a pattern of continued discrimination against women at this university.”
The Kaimin’s question to the UM administration is: can you continue to employ a teacher who does not personally believe that education should be equal between men and women? And how can Smith say he doesn’t allow his opinions in the classroom when he doesn’t seem to think women should be there in the first place?
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