1997: a Golden Oldie — Math instructor tells students that IVC was run by a cult!

I came across this WACKY old DtB post based on something I reported in one of my newsletters in late 1997. It touches on some contemporary themes: cults, conspiracy theories, lunatics in charge, etc. Check it out:

Howard Dachslager’s theory: Irvine Valley College was run by a Humanities “cult” 
By Roy Bauer - November 08, 1997

      Howard Dachslager was among the “other end of campus” faculty who viewed themselves as opposed to the Humanities (and Bio) faculty. The latter tended to have positions of authority at IVC—i.e., they actually participated in shared governance—Peter Morrison, Terry Burgess [then a VPI], Rebecca Welch, et al. The circumstance that some groups of faculty did not step up to fill these leadership positions (Senate, etc.) inspired the fallacy that a conspiracy "by Humanities" was afoot. Nope, it's just that the Hum folks were willing to do their part in shared governance while others seemed to have better things to do (e.g., make shitloads of money teaching overload, large-lecture classes, etc.). —RB, 12/21/20

From the ‘Vine, 11/8/97 [“The ‘VINE: the School of Humanities and Languages’ Unofficial Newsletter November 8, 1997”] 

Howard’s End 

     Shelly, an IVC student government officer, told me on Thursday (the 6th [of November, 1997]) that math instructor Howard Dachslager visited IVC student government and gave a fine address. Students wanted to know how the recent reorganization would affect them. Howard was reassuring; he told students that, for years, the college was run by a “cult”—one like, said Howard, “the Branch Davidians.” He seemed to equate this cult with the faculty of the School of Humanities and Languages. According to Howie (said Shel), the cultists hold math in very low esteem, and they have managed to advance the interests of “the Humanities” while thwarting the interests of math, the sciences, and Voc Ed. [Howard was expressing a view that had often been expressed by Raghu.]

     Inexplicably, Howard apparently cited the relative dearth of Math full-timers at IVC as evidence of the cult’s connivery. But wait! Haven’t math instructors themselves perennially blocked full-time math hires—contrary to the judgment of, among others, Humanities and Languages faculty? At any rate, such was the case when I was a senator for many years. I have often heard it suggested by reliable sorts that some math faculty have repeatedly blocked new full-time hires in order to maintain their stunningly lucrative teaching assignments. 

     Howard, it seems, is convinced that the elimination of the chairs in favor of deans will end the era of abuses at “north campus,” his term for IVC. “Power corrupts,” he said, and it has tended to corrupt chairs, especially those pesky H & L chairs on the grassy knoll. [Howard expressed similar views to me when we participated in an orientation for new Chairs in May or June of ’97.] 

     He did not explain why the same power, put instead in others’ hands, ceases to be corruptive.  

See also 

Textbooks at IVC

The "Reorg"

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Dachslager, at age 88, is still teaching! He'll be using his own text for his 

Computer Science course in the Spring. Check out the price just for a rental!:

TODAY'S OC COVID NUMBERS: