Murder in the cathedral

Andrew Jones, the 24-year-old head of the Bruin Alumni Association at UCLA, is offering a $100 bounty to students who offer information on instructors who are “abusive, one-sided or off-topic” in their discussion of political ideas. Never mind the fact that many of these professors are recipients of teaching awards conferred by students.

Jones has posted a list he calls the “Dirty 30,” in which he accuses 28 professors of unpatriotic behavior with a rating system of “Power Fists.” The last two names on the list have, apparently, not yet been determined.

The most offensive contenders for the list this month are professors Peter McLaren and Kent Wong, both receiving a Jones score of 5/5 “Power Fists”:

1. Peter McLaren (5/5 Power Fists)
This Canadian native teaches the next generation of teachers and professors how to properly indoctrinate students — Paolo Freire-style.  Thanks to his hard-charging efforts, McLaren debuts at the top of the charts.  Long live the king!

2. Kent Wong (5/5 Power Fists)
In any other group, Kent Wong, the dyed-red laborista radical, would be hold [sic] an undisputed title for heavyweight extremism.  If Wong keeps up his public attack on everything to the right of Chairman Mao, he may still do it.  Stay tuned!

Los Angeles Times writers Stuart Silverstein and Peter Y. Hong observe that “although the group says it is concerned about radical professors of any political stripe, it has named an initial ‘Dirty 30’ of teachers it identifies with left-wing or liberal causes.” So far Jones has raised $22,000 from 100 donors in support of his efforts.

Jones is the former chairman of the UCLA student group, the Bruin Republicans. He graduated in June 2003 and now supports himself as the only full-time employee of the Bruin Alumni Organization.

—Michaele Shapiro