Higher Education Spending
Kentucky Higher Education Spending
Public tax and tuition dollars are going to fund classes at the University of Kentucky that involve the political agenda of various political entitites such as the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and the Fairness Alliance. In consideration of the skyrocketing college tuition and state budget shortfalls, is this the best use and salary scale for public tax dollars?
Associate Professor of Sociology Director, Discovery Seminar Program
Position "...includes teaching in the Discovery Seminar Program, introducing students to sociology through the study of family poverty in KY, and recently offering a DSP seminar on regulating sex and gender in U.S. Regularly teaches undergraduate methods (Social Research Methods I, SOC 302), the Sociology of Family (SOC334), and a graduate seminar with topics of inequality (SOC 735) on the Social Construction of Motherhood and Reproduction. (Professor) ...is Fulbright Senior Specialist, and the Chair of the Appalachian Center/University of Rome Scholar Exchange Program." [1] Quote linked here.
Salary = $54,494 [2]
Professor is reported as chairwoman-elect of the board of Planned Parenthood of the Bluegrass. [3] Linked here.
Associate Professor of Political Science and Gender and Women's Studies and Associate Director of the Gender and Women's Studies
Position "...includes the effects of minority stress on the well-being of GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender) individuals and same-sex couples, and legal status issues for same-sex couples." [4] Quote linked here.
Salary = $70,650 [5] Quote linked here.
Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the College of Social Work
Position "...include(s) examining the individual and community level impact of homophobia, heterosexism, racism, classism, ethnocentrism, and sexism in the lives of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender) people. Additionally...work explores strategies for social change and advocacy around issues affecting members of disenfranchised groups. (Position is held by)...a steering committee member of the Bluegrass Chapter of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance [6] Quote linked here.
Salary = $62,292 [7]
Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies
Position..."holds faculty appointments in the College of Engineering (Computer Science) and the College of Education (Instructional Systems Design)...areas of interest and research include all aspects of multimedia, especially its use in instructional systems...responsibilities include finding and supporting ways for undergraduates to engage in research and scholarly activities beyond their regular classroom experiences...administers several research-related scholarship programs and edits Kaleidoscope, the University of Kentucky Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship...In the Fall of 2006...seminar will focus on Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights. (Professor)...is a member of the Board of Directors of the Kentucky chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and a member of the Advisory Committee for Reproductive Freedom Project [8]
[9] Quote linked here.
Salary = $107,636 [10]
Assistant Professor in the Gender and Women's Studies Program and the Department of Anthropology
"...research in South Asia and the United States has roots in longstanding engagements with sexuality, gender, religion and the nature of power. It focuses in particular on the body as an artifact of culture and power in relation to questions of sexual subjectivity and citizenship...(professor) is teaching Introduction to Gender and Women's Studies in the Social Sciences; Introduction to Queer Studies; Queer Theory and Kinship Studies; and Anthropology, Religion, Secularism...current book project, an enthnography of 'sacred prostitution' and its reform, is entitled Given to the Goddess: South Indian Devadasis, Ethics, Kinship. This manuscript considers the relationship among processes of secularision, the criminalization of marginal religion and the normalization of outcaste female sexuality in the context of postcolonial India." [11] Quote linked here.
Salary = $57,500 [12]
Questions
- In consideration of the skyrocketing college tuition and state budget shortfalls, should public tax dollars be used for the salary scope for these inherently political and moral positions?
- Would the scope of these positions and salary scale be considered for public tax funding if the positions fell on the other side of the political spectrum or even involved the opposing political spectrum?
