At first I honestly thought that this was a satire, and not a very well-conceived one. Satire, to be effective, has to be somewhat plausible, at least at the outset.

Consider this excerpt:

I described the case of a Brandeis professor disciplined for saying “wetback” while explaining its use as a pejorative. The word was replaced in the transcript by “[anti-Latin@/anti-immigrant slur].” Discussing the teaching of “Huckleberry Finn,” I questioned the use of euphemisms such as “the n-word” and, in doing so, uttered that forbidden word. I described what I thought was the obvious difference between quoting a word in the context of discussing language, literature or prejudice and hurling it as an epithet.

Two of the panelists challenged me. The audience of 300 to 400 people listened to our spirited, friendly debate — and didn’t appear angry or shocked. But back on campus, I was quickly branded a racist, and I was charged in the Huffington Post with committing “an explicit act of racial violence.” McCartney subsequently apologized that “some students and faculty were hurt” and made to “feel unsafe” by my remarks.

The idea that colleges should be, or in fact can be, “safe” is itself unsafe.  After three weeks of my PPE Gateway class, every year, every single year, at least three students come up after class and say shyly, “I am so confused.  And that’s very interesting.  I’m not sure that I believe what I used to believe.  This class has been unsettling.  Thank you.”  You are most welcome, friends.

Or this, by a kid from my “Econ for Non-majors” class.

Music.  Music to my ears.  But definitely not safe.