Occupy Harvard? Students Protest Class by Famed Econ Professor by Staging Walkout
- Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:02pm by
Becket Adams
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Harvard students and community members gather in front of John Harvard statue in solidarity with the Occupy Movement and Occupy Oakland (Image: The Harvard Crimson)
Greg Mankiw is a well-known Professor of Economics at Harvard University and a leading mind in the area of “new Keynesian” economics (a theory that tries to apply an understanding of individual behavior to the Keynesian school of thought). From 2003 to 2005 he was the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers for the Bush administration and he is also an economic adviser to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Suddenly, he has also become the target of a Harvard “Occupy Speakout” demonstration. What did he do to draw this kind of attention? The Daily Mail headline sums up the accusations: “Did a Harvard economics class cause the financial crisis?”
In an effort to show their support for the Occupy movement, 70 Harvard students decided to stage and publicize a walkout of Mankiw’s EC 10 class.
In conjunction with the walkout, they also penned an open letter to Mankiw, claiming that “his conservative curriculum has influenced former Harvard students – including today’s policy makers and bankers – to bring about the financial crisis.”
One man did all that?
Watch the walkout (courtesy of The Harvard Crimson):
But their criticisms did not end there. The letter also claims that he “does not include primary sources and rarely features articles from academic journals, [so] we have very little access to alternative approaches to economics.”
Very little access?
The letter continues:
We found a course that espouses a specific – and limited – view of economics that we believe perpetuates problematic and inefficient systems of economic inequality in our society today.
We are deeply concerned about the way that this bias affects students, the University, and our greater society.
However, not all of the Harvard students were on board with the demonstration.
“When the students got up to leave, some of their peers booed,” reports the Daily Mail.
Once they had exited the classroom, the protesters gathered outside the building to continue their demonstration. One of the organizers, Rachel J. Sandalow-Ash, said to her fellow demonstrators: “Harvard graduates have been complicit [and] have aided many of the worst injustices of recent years. Harvard students will not do that anymore. We will use our education for good, and not for personal gain at the expense of millions.”
She also accused Mankiw of pushing a “strongly conservative neoliberal ideology.” She said, for example, that she thought lectures promoted conservative views against minimum wage, reports The Harvard Crimson.
Mankiw seemed more amused than upset by the protest.
“The class is very conventional economics. Adam Smith is pretty non-controversial among economists. But it can seem pretty conservative the first time you hear it,” Mankiw said in a recent CNN Money article.
“The economics profession has been implicated, by some people on the left, as a reason for recent developments,” he continued. “So I shouldn’t have been too surprised that we ended up one of the targets.”
The protesters disagree with his personal evaluation of the course.
“I think a more diverse viewpoint needs to be raised,” Sandalow-Ash said. “The problem is that in an introductory course, what the professor says is generally taken as fact,” she said.
Again, some students think that the characterization of Mankiw’s class as “biased” is unfair.
“The class is about pure economic efficiency. Ideology comes into play when we determine how to balance efficiency with social equity,” Harvard Republican Club Secretary Aditi Ghai said in a The Harvard Crimson report.
What does Mankiw say about his course?
“The goal of economics is to help people evaluate the inevitable tradeoffs that public policy entails,” said Mankiw. “While I do not share the specific views of the Occupy Wall Street movement, I am delighted to see students engaged in thinking broadly about social and economic policy. I hope that Ec 10 can help contribute to [that] ongoing discussion.”
Speaking of “ongoing discussion,” here’s a question: If an honest, truth-seeking student disagrees with a professor’s theories, wouldn’t it be better for the student to discuss and argue their ideas with the teacher rather than stand outside? It seems the former would be more conducive to helping the student arrive at the truth whereas the latter is mostly good for getting attention.
“I’m disappointed the students will miss the lecture,” Mankiw said. “I think the material is something they’d actually find interesting.”
Indeed they might have.
Fox declared the walkout a major “miss” on the students part.
(h/t Newser)
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Comments (111)
An AmericanMom
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:40pmI hope they all get F’s!
Report Post »db321
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 10:57pmI’m starting to see a trend – they protest anything conservative. These idiots are IDIOTS!
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 11:13pmI am sure the professor is going to be fair and judge them on their class performance and not their lack of good judgement. Obviously these students are ignoring progressive professors like Bill Ayers and other of his ilk who have used the classroom to promote socialism for decades. Evidently, it is okay to push your agenda…..as long as it is progressive.
Why don’t they just quit the course and thus waste their tuition money? As the saying goes, put your money where your mouth is.
Report Post »artistskeptic
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 11:53pmThe elete intellectual students at Harvard obviously already know more than they could possibly be taught or at least stimulated to consider; therefore, we should all bow down and acknowledge the wisdom of the Harvard student as***les. Not in my lifetime, I’ve worked with too many graduates of that disgusting place, arrogant, eletist idiots believing their purchased degree has great meaning but too stupid to funciton in routine near clerical positions. May they all be forever unemployed.
Report Post »SecularConservative
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 6:27amMake attendance a bigger portion of the grade haha damn, these stupid college kids piss me off sometimes…
Report Post »txbigfoot
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 7:48amSurprise,,, pop quiz, you failed the course, Welcome back and any repeating student must take additional testing.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:17amYou are an idiot Americanmom. Do you have any idea what Keynesian economics is or how it affects us? This is not an OWS sentiment but one that should be held by every capitalist red-blooded American. Keynes was an economist who thought that the only thing that mattered was spending. He fervently perpetuated the broken window fallacy and thinks that war leads to economic improvment. He is one of the most villainous individuals of the last century who stole as much if not more from people than any socialist dictator and convinced them it was for their own good and the good of the economy. He is the reason our debt, taxes, and inflation are all so high.
These students were right to exercise their choice as a consumer to reject the services that they were being rendered. I did the same when I had a professor try to tell me that the earth can only support 500 million human lives. Essentially, he was espousing his belief that 95% of humanity should whither and die so that he could have prosperity.
Think before you type lest I and others should be forced to chastise you again.
Report Post »novelator
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:22amAnd how many sheep is Harvard producing these days?
70.
That’s all the “organizers” wanted to know.
Report Post »SecularConservative
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:45am@SGTB – doing a little inter-webs research you are very right. So, could it be possible that the “walk outs” are actually conservative thinkers? Keynesian economics does sound like it relates to the new jobs bill the Dems are pushing.
Report Post »Abraham Young
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 9:13am@SGTB If you had taken the time to read the article you would know that the students were objecting to Adam Smith and not to John Keynes.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 12:40pm@SGTB
He isn’t teaching keynesian economics. He‘s explaining what keynesian economics actually is and why it doesn’t work in the real world. You’re the kind of idiot that would be occupying wall street because you heard some buzzword and rushed out to protest it.
Report Post »YoungBloodNews
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:39pmSorry, I dont like the idea of having this whole thing hing one 1 man. There is no supreme court anymore. Just even votes on both sides then one man in the middle :(
And the fact that the appeals court cited bogus reasoning for making their decision, I think we should be able to discuss in a topic/article of its own…
Report Post »9635kari
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:39pmHe is an adviser to Bush and Romney? Keynesian economics? I thought this style was against conservative thought. Why is Romney following this guy?
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:53pmBecause Romney is a progressive, and RINO, a wolf in conservative clothing.
Report Post »Pouncing Porcupine
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 10:00pmThe powers that be are desperate and know they will be voted into oblivion next year (if there is an election), so they engineered this “movement” knowing that it would snowball. These tools are being used to subvert our electoral process.
Occupy + (Impending Man-Caused Disaster?) = Martial Law/Suspended 2012 Election/Totalitarianism.
Operation
Report Post »Create
Civil
Unrest to
Precede
Imminent
Emergency
Declaration
Wrender
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 10:03pmKeynesian economics are used heavily by both the left and the right. This economic theory keeps politicians in power as it gives ‘reasons’ on why they should be able to utilize deficit spending – they can spend to their hearts content with plenty of data and formulas from Keynesian theory to back them up . This spending in turn gets votes as they can spend to their hearts content.
The applied Keynesian theory goes much deeper. If we were to look at the ‘baseline budgeting’ system that our government uses, BOTH parties are guilty of abusing the public‘s perception of ’cutting a budget’. Baseline budgeting allows for automatic marked increases for department every year – therefore a cut can be claimed when it is actually only a cut to an increase, not an actual cut.
This is only one example of how government uses this type of economic theory to grow its power. What is rarely ever mentioned is Austrian Economics as the opposing view. In my opinion, it is by far the most accurate and reasoned theory. Look up the Boom and Bust rap for a short intro to the theory. For more detailed inquiries look up Hayek, Mises( dot org), Rothbard, Thomas Woods, Peter Schiff, Robert Murphy, Jim Rodgers, and Ron Paul. These are all prominent Austrian Economist, some still alive today and attempting to influence and stop the coming inevitable train wreck.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 8:23am@ Wrender,
Great comments! I love the Keynes and Hayek rap. It‘s the only rap song you’ll ever catch me listening to. But! You neglected to mention Milton Friedman. I know, I know, he’s not really an economist, but you mentioned my homeboy Ron, so I think people should also look up Milton Friedman. There is an extensive collection of Milton on youtube and there is even a video of him taking a college age Michael Moore to school in one of them. Milton was definately a person who could explain Austrian economics and Liberty quite well. Probably the best person I’ve seen explaining these subjects.
Report Post »Laus Deo
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:35pmI feel like smashing some (highly educated) college commies.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:34pmThese kids were indoctrinated with liberalism, socialism and Marxism from somewhere. Was it from their rich parents?? I don’t think so. It was from the exclusive schools they sent them to and letting those schools brainwash their kids with no input from themselves (the parents). Be careful where you send your kids to get their education. Most, so called, ivy league schools are nothing but marxism factories. What a bunch of fools??
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 12:50amI love your name. I referred to Johnny Carson’s Carnac the magnificient more that once in regard to Bidens predictions. Anyway I agree with your comments. These young adults have no clue . They will be sorry if what they wish for comes true………………………I seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee them in a state of shock crying and begging in the streets. Lol. Loved Carson!
Report Post »sayangku
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 4:04pm“We will use our education for good, and not for personal gain at the expense of millions.”
Gee thanks. Our next president needs to be from anywhere other than the Ivy league gene pool. Pathetic!
Report Post »mattmo79
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:32pmYeah the commies at Harvard help make the Marxist in Chief!! That is one of the greatest injustices ever to happen in the world!!
Report Post »Pouncing Porcupine
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 10:09pmBill Clinton was the first black President. Barack Obama is the first Affirmative Action President.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:31pmGreg Mankiw is a well-known Professor of Economics at Harvard University and a leading mind in the area of “new Keynesian” economics.
Report Post »Any baffoon who thinks keynesian economics works, in any form, should not be teaching it at any school within the American border. Oh, They can teach it, as long as they know history, how it has never worked and always enslaves the people through debt. And saying, “It will work this time, we can do it differently.” is the same as saying that about communism, socialism, monarchies, etc.. They Do Not Work to the Advantage of The People! FFS, Stop repeating history.
nohussein
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:30pmprofessor socialist, like they say ” those that can, can, those that can’t, teach.
Report Post »Kiergen
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:29pmHarvard better bolster it’s endowment now. Future “generous giving” will be severely limited by people with no desire to succeed.
Report Post »SecularConservative
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 6:30amI bet half of the walk-outs were just looking for an excuse to get out of class haha Economics was probably their most challenging course… after basket weaving of course :)
Report Post »PilgrimStuckInBizarroWorld
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:28pmI’m a little confused. The article is about a Prof. who teaches “the area of ‘new Keynesian’ economics…” .Isn’t that a progressive idea. The article claims that “his conservative curriculum has influenced former Harvard students…” I don’t think “Keynesian economics” is very conservative. We really are living in a messed up world, I call Bizarro World!
Report Post »ohnomrbill
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:40pmit is a conservative plan both bush and mitt use this as there guides to fix the problems we have stop with the stupid comments and find out what your party stands for its just creepy that you don’t know that and call yourself a conservative
Report Post »VTDave
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 9:42pmOHNOMRBILL,
Report Post »Republican does not equal conservative; especially these days. Got it?!!!! Maybe you should get your S straight before running of at the keyboard.
lukerw
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 12:43pmIn every Socialist Revolution… once the Government is overthrown… the Rebel form Groups, in order to eliminate each other, in order to dominate the Power Structure: the eat their own. This is just another case of Socialists attempting to destroy their own.
Report Post »Hopefully, Mankiw will reconsider his Socialist Support positions… and switch sides!
faires
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:28pmLet’em walk out, they’re the ones who had to have a Haaaaavid education, it‘s no skin off anyones noses if they’ve staged a walk out__they’re payin for the education__who cares!!!!
Report Post »Kiergen
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:26pmPlease implement the well worn email tactic of socializing their grades or failing these students on the “pop quiz” they missed
Report Post »ColdDeadHands
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:23pmIt’s too much work for these students to actually “step inside the classroom for debate”. A generation having been given cell phones in first grade by their parents and trophies for last place by their coaches, brought down to the common denominator in their education by the schools, what else would we expect of them?
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:35pmWhy do all these enlightened 20 yr olds have 4 to 6 names before you get to their last name? Just wondering…
Report Post »barber2
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:21pmGuess after we take back the White House we need to take back the universities. PARENT ALERT: your children are being expensively brainwashed ! And you are PAYING for it !
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 11:30pmhaha love the expensively brainwashed comment isnt that the truth
Report Post »Depressed_American
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:21pmWho are these students to tell the professor what to teach in his class!!! It’s college people!!! YOU DON’T HAVE TO TAKE HIS CLASS!!!! Kick them all out of Harvard. They are too stupid to understand what oppertunities they have. Too stupid to be in one of the most Prestigious schools in this country.
Report Post »Legal Immigrant
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:20pmThe police will act stupidly…
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:47pmAnd doctors will remove tonsils for profit.
Report Post »LuvThisCntry
Posted on November 9, 2011 at 3:21amTo make more money, doctors would rather cut off a Diabetic’s legs than treat the Diabetes.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:19pmJust more of the Occupier Movement. Now they are Occupying Free Speech. Am growing increasingly tired of these “ spontaneously” organized Far Left Bully groups. Know they are planning to Occupy the Courts on January 20, 2012. Guess I missed this “memo” on Occupying Universities. Well, actually the Far Left has been Occupying our universities since the 1960′s when I attended and had to listen to some of this baloney.
Report Post »nohussein
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:18pmNo surprise, the hussein came from there, courtesy of affirmative action.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:41pmYeah. And his records are still sealed!. Would just love to know what he studied and what papers he wrote while there. Think this article says a lot about the answer to both of those questions .
Report Post »Whats up with that
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:17pmMake his next exam all on the material on the day everyone walked out and fail them all…Punks…
Report Post »barber2
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:30pmThe girls will file sexual harassment charges …
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:16pmHarvard is a joke; used to be a Christian university. Glad there are a few folks that do know that libs are losers.
Report Post »YoungBloodNews
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:14pmBLAZErs, you need to fire your story finder. I mean really?????
Where is the story about the Courts upholding Obamacare?????? THIS IS 10000000x more important!
Report Post »barber2
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:29pmTo you, maybe. This is headed to the SCOTUS which Obama excoriated in his State of the Union Speech over Citizens United . He knows his policies are headed for a show down which he will lose due to his over use of Executive powers. ( He hasn’t been able to pack the courts enough with Far Lefties. Thank heaven. ) And , who knows, maybe the legislative branch will start to stand up to Mr. Executive Order.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:30pmThe only court that matters hasn’t ruled yet,when they do the unconstitutional law will be struck down 5-4 not withstanding the four radicals on the court.One man will decide,Kennedy is the swing vote and I believe he’ll go with Scalia, Roberts,Thomas,Alitto.
Report Post »JustMeHere_01
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 9:34pm@YoungBloodNews
I have to ask you this, where do you get most of your news from. I would guess that it is the MSM that has made at least 84 stories on the Cain sexual episodes about him. You do realize that your credible news sources have covered the Cain situation more times in one week that they covered the Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright during the entire campaign that Barrack Obama went through.
So you tell the Blaze Readers what you think is more important. Vetting a person running for president or some story about a court ruling against Health Care.
You are funny in my opinion.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:12pmHarvard graduates have been complicit [and] have aided many of the worst injustices of recent years. Harvard students will not do that anymore. We will use our education for good, and not for personal gain at the expense of millions.” Sounds like commies in the making,central planners big government is the answer,hogwash.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:35pmThe poor naive “useful tools” of the Far Left. These kids probably came from homes with huge spiritual voids which the Left is filling like the Jim Jones cults of old. Parents need to attend to the spiritual development of their kids. Otherwise: deluded Occupiers who can be manipulated by political gurus whose concern for power far outweighs their concern for the “good of man.” Sad for everyone.
Report Post »Donald
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:10pmWow…maybe there is some hope with the youth of America
Report Post »barber2
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:24pmHuh? You must mean the ones NOT at schools like Harvard? ( maybe that is why there is such a disconnect between IQ and common sense ! )
Report Post »johnannegalt
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:10pmOh yeah, and this note to “occupiers” STILL stands!! —-> http://markamerica.com/2011/10/27/note-to-occupiers-wake-up/
Report Post »johnannegalt
Posted on November 8, 2011 at 8:09pmSo, Harvard’s going to become the NEXT rape capital? http://markamerica.com/2011/11/02/occupy-unsafe-for-women/
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