Book lists professor among 'dangerous'

Author David Horowitz claims that a Truman faculty member is "poisoning the minds of today's college students," according to a review of Horowitz's new book posted on Amazon.com.

Horowitz included Marc Becker, associate professor of history, in "The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America," which explains his criticisms of various professors and their political stances. Horowitz said he included Becker in the book because of his involvement with Historians Against the War, an organization of historians that opposes U.S. involvement in Iraq.

"The professor is taking advantage of students as captive audiences to sell a political agenda," he said.

Political opinions do not belong in a classroom setting, he said.

"I went through 20 years of schooling," he said. "I never heard one professor ... express a political opinion in class ever. I think that's appropriate."

Horowitz said Becker himself is not a war expert because he lacks expertise with military science, strategic deployment of troops or strategic issues involved.

"He's an expert on Latin America," he said. "He's not an expert on Iraq. He has no academic or scholarly background for making judgments on the war."

Becker said his involvement in Historians Against the War has little bearing on his classroom activity.

"Most of what I do with Historians Against the War has very little to do with what I do in the classroom," he said. "I teach Latin American history, I don't teach Iraqi history."

Horowitz said he does not know exactly how Becker came to be included in the book.

"I have no idea," Horowitz said. "One of my researchers came up with him, and I looked at him and said, 'Yep, this guy will do.'"

Horowitz said he employs about 30 writers and researchers.

Horowitz said he has not talked to any students of Becker, but he thinks it isn't necessary because Becker makes his views and questions very clear on his Web site.

"I don't have to be in his class or interview somebody from his class to know that there's something wrong here," Horowitz said.

The book includes a plethora of scholars.

"I looked at the list, and I'm really in the presence of giants," Becker said.

Becker said he has not read the full book but has read his profile.

Becker said he learned about his inclusion in the book when the national office of the American Association of University Professors notified him through e-mail, he said.

Before becoming incorporated into the book, Becker said a more detailed profile of himself was included on Horowitz's Web site, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org. Horowitz removed it, however, once someone pointed out it could be read online for free, Becker said.

Becker said he thinks he was included in the book because of his Web site. Much of what is in his profile in "The Professors" has been taken from his site, he said.

Becker said he does not focus his lectures on what the book includes.

"I haven't had any students complain to me about any of the things that Horowitz implies that I do here," he said.

Becker said he thinks Horowitz's arguments are weak.

"After thinking about it more, my reaction is if that's the best he can come up with on 'dangerous professors,' he has absolutely no argument," he said.

Becker said he thinks the book is sloppy work.

"It's the type of essay I wouldn't find acceptable from a Truman student," he said. "I could've written something much stronger."

One of Becker's colleagues, Steven Reschly, associate professor of history, said Becker's profile helps one see where Truman fits into the wider world.

"It's impressive that Marc [Becker] is put in a national scale like this," he said. "I think it's great for Truman's visibility."

Senior Sarah McDuff, a student in Becker's Latin American Revolutions course, said the way the book is presented on Amazon.com does not seem to fit Becker.

"Dr. Becker's very open-minded," she said. "He encourages critical thinking and questioning of things."

Junior Chris Peterson, another student in Becker's Latin American Revolutions course, said he did not think Becker's inclusion in the book was fair.

"To include him in saying that these are teachers spewing propaganda and turning our little kids into communists is ... ridiculous," Peterson said.

Becker said if certain ideals were important to Horowitz, he would support political discussions.

"If Horowitz valued freedom, if he valued citizenship, if he valued democracy, if he valued political discourse, he would be encouraging this type of civic engagement and political exchanges even if he disagreed with it," he said.