An interesting dilemma for CAL State Poly

[BurbankHibee]

Briefly, a local CA college is being asked by the Saudie government to set up an engineering program in Saudie. BUT, the dilemma is that the program in Saudie would not be open to women and women lecturers wouldn't be allowed. CAL Poly prides itself on how many females graduate from its engineering programs.

The two arguments seem to be;
1. Feck them, if they want the program set up, they need to change their ways.
2. By setting up the program it could help leverage change.

Bits and pieces from the LA Times

Over five years, Cal Poly would receive $5.9 million from the Saudi government to create an engineering curriculum, build labs and train teachers in Jubail, a sprawling oil center on the Persian Gulf. Only men would qualify to take or teach engineering classes, although the campus has separate classes in other disciplines for women.

"No matter how you cut it, we're supporting the oppression of women," said Jim LoCascio, a professor of mechanical engineering at Cal Poly since 1981.

"It seems odd that a college with such a great history of women in engineering would partner with a school to start something detracting from that view," said Van Dellen, a senior majoring in aerospace engineering.

Hassan said such programs are slowly helping Saudi society to become more progressive -- a point echoed by Cal Poly provost Durgin: "It's better to participate and help them evolve than to stand off and hope that something will happen," he said.

But LoCascio, the faculty member who's been the most outspoken on the topic, disagreed.

"Look at South Africa," he said. "The University of California divested from South Africa, along with the rest of the world, and apartheid came to an end."

[Only Registered Users Can See Links. Click Here To Register]

The link may not work after 24 hours.

Looking at the last argument (in bold) shouldn't this be the stand ?

[Burbank Lilywhite]

As a state run university, and one that yours and mine tax dollars are used to keep running, I expect and demand them to tell the Saudi's to go feck themselves. If they are not going to allow women the full use of the university as both student and lecturer we (as a fully integrated society and university structure) cannot be a part of it.

Imagine the uproar here in California if they tried to do the same thing here.

This excuse by the Saudi's is aparthied just like South Africa. It's only based on gender not race, and is aprathied just the same.