A Tufts University professor contends that a new generation of students is moving away from 'woke' culture, finding performative politics unappealing and advocating for serious discussions in academic settings.
In a recent op-ed in the Boston Globe, Tufts University professor Eitan Hersh argues that the peak of 'wokeness' on college campuses may be coming to an end. He claims that a new group of undergraduates, whom he refers to as a 'microgeneration', is rejecting performative politics and instead emphasizing the importance of having serious debates in the classroom. This shift indicates a desire among students to move away from language policing and ideological grandstanding.
Hersh expresses that the emerging students aim to engage in thoughtful discourse rather than adopting the caricature of illiberal 'wokeness,' which they find cringy and embarrassing. According to him, these students strive for maturity and intelligence and want to cultivate skills that enable them to handle complex conversations decisively.
The article also touches on the broader implications of changing campus cultures regarding public confidence in educational institutions. A Gallup poll from September 2023 reveals a significant decline in confidence, with only 35 percent of Americans deeming a college education 'very important', reflecting a larger trend that may impact how educational values and policies evolve in the future.
