An assignment from a visiting assistant political science professor at West Liberty University is getting national attention.
In the class, students were instructed to watch two news sources and keep a journal on politics. Students were told specifically, though, not to use The Onion, because it is a news parody, and Fox News.
The instructor said the following of Fox News: “The tagline “Fox News” makes me cringe. Please do not subject me to this biased news station. I would almost rather you print off an article from The Onion.”
West Liberty University President Rob Capehart says the assistant professor has since lifted the restriction. He says that was the right decision.
“Our job is to encourage students to go out and do as much research as possible, to go out and investigate and find all the information they can and then form their own opinions,” Capehart said on Friday’s MetroNews Talkline.
“The job of the professor is to challenge those opinions and engage in a dialogue.”
At this point, Capehart says the matter has been resolved.
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Comments
Roger
Shauna, what two news sources were the students instructed to watch?
February 15, 2013 at 11:51 am | Report comment
Shauna Johnson
They were originally told they could consult any two news sources they wanted, just not Fox News or The Onion.
February 15, 2013 at 12:10 pm | Report comment
Damion
The only surprising thing to me is that this made the news. I am sure this type of brain washing occurs routinely at our centers of "higher learning".
February 15, 2013 at 12:17 pm | Report comment
Wvrefugee
That is an idiot comment! Spoken like a true modern day West Virginian!!!
February 15, 2013 at 2:55 pm | Report comment
Teufel
And the oboma networks are true and accurate ??? This moron shouldn't be teaching
February 15, 2013 at 12:27 pm | Report comment
C.Hoffman
At best Fox News is left of center. The problem lies in the media, academia and politics being so far left that Fox News appears to the sycophants of the left as a "far right news outlet". As it is from the associate professor's perspective biasedly applied to the students instructed. I agree with Teufel's analysis.
February 15, 2013 at 12:48 pm | Report comment
Taylor
I'd say the prof didn't want them watching fiction.
February 15, 2013 at 1:09 pm | Report comment
GWB
You, sir, are an idiot of the exact type as the liberal professor. Take your head out of your posterior and get a life.
February 15, 2013 at 3:10 pm | Report comment
Sherry Smith
Sir, you need to learn manners & civility. If you have something with content to share, do it. Name calling is ignorant.
February 15, 2013 at 5:36 pm | Report comment
Rick P. from Lewisburg
Ok. So they should watch MSNBC? and the 2nd source would be the huffington post? I'm surprised at all of you. Yes, fox is right leaning, but so are NBC extensions left leaning. If you ban one, it is only fair to ban the other. I hope none of you decide to defend MSNBC as an unbiased news source
February 15, 2013 at 9:37 pm | Report comment
RHytonen
Because PROVABLE FACTS (as well as national polls ON THE ISSUES, rather than expensively overrepeated propaganda to redefine terms like "liberal,") are decidedly farther than center LEFT.
People need to accept that current, longstanding LAW and judicial precedent
- and NOT corporate funded propaganda, "left" OR "right" -
FACTUALLY DEFINE THE "CENTER"
That would include Roe v Wade, Civil Rights, The Voting Act, The New Deal (SS, Medicare/aid, Welfare,) SNAP, LIHEAP...
among others.
And over 70% say Tax The Rich, Jail the recession-engineering Bankers (and reinstitute Glass Steagall,) and don't touch entitlements except to remove the contributions cap and INCREASE them (and the minimum wage;) and require baclground checks and ban military weapons and large capacity magazines.
February 16, 2013 at 12:31 pm | Report comment
RHytonen
"I hope none of you decide to defend MSNBC as an unbiased news source"
Compared to what?
If you answer "FOX," - you're on.
Personally (as I also disagree with the Administation on many issues,) I would not accept any second sourcing for either, that doesn't include Democracy Now - as well as The New York Times, THE Internationally Defined American Newspaper of Record.
February 16, 2013 at 12:50 pm | Report comment
RHytonen
So would I and the millions of viewers fleeing the preposterous Fox/Corporate propaganda mill in droves.
Of course, train and auto wrecks, other disasters, and freak shows of all kinds, will always remain a huge draw. So I wouldn't count show business popularity as any statement on truth, information, or even political popularity.
When it comes down to that, there is only ONE indication of political popularity - elections, at least so far...
Corporations are desperately trying to change that, with currently only Occupy (and The Mountain Party) to resist the tide of big money; the truly frightening threat to truth, freedom and democracy.
February 16, 2013 at 12:42 pm | Report comment
thornton
"The job of the professor is to challenge those opinions and engage in a dialogue”.....since the prof violated the job description and attempted to direct the student responses, why is she still employed at West liberty?
If she faced some consequences for her actions, unapproved by the powers-that-be, what were the consequences.
I would that think the the issue being "resolved" by the parties is no rejoinder to end investigation and information gathering.
Kinda goes against investigative journalism, no?
February 15, 2013 at 2:55 pm | Report comment
Wvrefugee
Good call on the prof's part! It's not news, it's right wing, racists propoganda that stupid people in WV tend to believe as gospel!
If I were her, I would end my contract with a small school like West Liberty!
February 15, 2013 at 2:58 pm | Report comment
GWB
If I were you, I would perhaps think about how biased your comment is and realize that fair and balanced is not the #1 news source in America for no reason.
February 15, 2013 at 3:11 pm | Report comment
rdl
Why isn't Sherry on here blasting another liberal for being uncivilized like she did earlier?
February 16, 2013 at 6:34 pm | Report comment
Powderhorn
If "stupid" people in West Virginia are watching it and taking it as gospel is that why the same old politicians keep getting elected time after time. If people were so brainwashed by this, I'd think they would vote differently. I don't watch it, bu tthat doesn't make me feel any smarter.
February 15, 2013 at 3:07 pm | Report comment
RHytonen
"I don't watch it (fox,) but that doesn't make me feel any smarter."
According to a recent study, it actually should.
http://www.businessinsider.com/study-watching-fox-news-makes-you-less-informed-than-watching-no-news-at-all-2012-5
(OK, "smart" and "well-informed" ARE two different criteria. )
Full disclosure: I stopped watching ANY TV - We "cut the cable" over a year ago. Why pay a;ost $100/month for corporate propaganda, which you get almost exclusively on ALL channels.
The only "news" you can trust as by definition true and nonmanipulative for someone ELSE's profit, is livestreamed from the streets.
Corporations tell ALL stations what is "news" and "important enough to broadcast;" i.e., what THEY want you to see -and believe about it. And what they do NOT want you to see or consider important. And a corporation is legally bound to consider ONLY its profits as important."
February 16, 2013 at 1:28 pm | Report comment
Protechcpa
For eight years I taught both graduate and undergrad as a full time professor (not WVU or West Liberty) and most of the liberal arts professors were completely intolerant of any ideas outside of their own radical left wing agenda. They literally screamed at the students from their desktops in some of the most anti American diatribes imaginable. In all my years of teaching, as far to the right as I am, I never imposed my political views on my students. I let them figure it out. That is where we have failed as a country, in my opinion. Conservatives are more than willing to co-exist with liberals as long as our rights are not INFRINGED. The left, however, is constantly on the attack, bent on forcing their policies of failure upon all of us. We need to arch our backs against these bullies while freedom still rings.
February 15, 2013 at 3:18 pm | Report comment
C.Hoffman
Well articulated Protechcpa. I second and practice your solution to the statist propagandist's bully tactics. It's not that they don't know anything it's just that most of what they know is wrong.
February 15, 2013 at 3:41 pm | Report comment
RHytonen
"policies of failure" ?
Like trickle down ("Supply Side") economics, and deregulation?
(And no, Rubin and Summers HARDLY define "The Left" - to anyone, irrespective of WHO was in the White House when the GLBA sold America to Wall Street.)
February 16, 2013 at 12:55 pm | Report comment
RHytonen
"Conservatives are more than willing to co-exist with liberals as long as our rights are not INFRINGED. "
The behavior of Congress proves that statement in violent opposition to reality.
February 16, 2013 at 1:31 pm | Report comment
Damion
I rest my case. Thank you.
February 17, 2013 at 3:20 pm | Report comment
WvWES
It's obvious that FIX New uses fear mongering, racial and hatefulness, inaccurate facts and numbers to promote their agenda. FIX News Network plays to the ignorant. It's
shameful these Republican Politicians want to hide behind the skirts of these FIX news
broadcasters. The assistant political science professor was doing only what was right.
February 15, 2013 at 5:06 pm | Report comment
cutty77
Fox News. Fair and Balanced,yea right.The Biggest Hack News Station on The Planet.Rupport Murdock is he in Jail Yet.I'm sure he is Mr Raese Hero.LOL
February 15, 2013 at 5:26 pm | Report comment
Sherry Smith
Fox News is incorporated as an entertainment program not as a news program.
February 15, 2013 at 5:39 pm | Report comment
RHytonen
And Fix also fanously fought in a Florida court for he "right" to call factually untrue material "News" - and to fire AND GAG whistleblowers (in the interest of a corporation's profiting by tainting food products and not labeling it)
- in direct contradiction to the first amendent's freedom of the press.
February 16, 2013 at 1:36 pm | Report comment
Damion
I always assumed the "balanced" aspect of FOX News was in comparison to all the other liberal-biased outlets.
February 17, 2013 at 3:25 pm | Report comment
Doug
I sure hope this "Visiting Professor's" visit is VERY, VERY SHORT!!! It's liberal wack jobs like her that sadly have such an influence on today's kids.
Obviously, she's never watched FOX, because compared to the "Big Three" they are extremely fair and balanced. It's frightening that many people get their "unbiased" news from NBC, ABC and CBS. These three networks are so in bed with King Obama it's scary! A compliant press is just as bad as lack of a free press!
I hope the Administration of West Liberty gets rid of this wacko. Sadly though, their hands are probably tied.
As a native West Virginian I'm so proud that EVERY one of the 55 counties in the state voted AGAINST King Obama. Given that Democrats in WV outnumber Republicans by almost 2 to 1, that speaks volumes.
Send this idiot back to where she came from!!!
February 15, 2013 at 6:41 pm | Report comment
RHytonen
Equating PROVEN lies with PROVEN facts, is NOT "Fair" NOR "balanced."
But I can definitely see encouraging them to seek a number of sources on the same subject - and then discussing their conclusions as to what is true and why.
And anyone claiming "(Fox 'News') are extremely fair and balanced." is easily FACTUALLY PROVABLE as being "The wacko." (as well as from their continuing statements, the racist. Birtherism, for instance, has been SOUNDLY and unequivocally proven factually unfounded and, as allegorical personal attack, pure, ignorant racism.)
February 16, 2013 at 12:19 pm | Report comment
Doug
RHytonen,
Oh my goodness! Where to start. People like you are sooooo misinformed and sooooo gullible! I'm surprised you haven't submitted your application to become one of King Obama's czars.
The New York Times, what a wonderfully non biased paper. Has the Bengazi investigation/coverup made it past page 32?
They're as much in bed with King O as the rest of the Socialist Media hacks!
I would like to continue, but wasting time with ultra, ultra Libs like you is nothing but an exercise in futility.
By the way, I'm 100% Caucasian and have been been VERY happily married to a 100% Black Lady for the past 25 years. So much for your racist B.S.!!!!!
February 16, 2013 at 4:51 pm | Report comment
WVCitizen
Doug,
Without wasting my time or effort,you sir are a NUT!!!
February 16, 2013 at 10:06 pm | Report comment
TC
As a right leaning conservative I have a little insight for most of you on this board. Conservatives by definition are at times " a little hard-headed". Liberals by definition are "always stupid"!
February 18, 2013 at 8:08 am | Report comment