James McGee

== Biography ==
=== Portland State University ===
James McGee is an Assoc. Professor in the Sociology department of the (fictional) Portland State University. He is on the Faculty Senate.
In 2019, McGee proposed that faculty not be allowed to wear jeans in the classroom, as it "prompts casual classroom decorum and a sloppy education". This was defeated. However in 2021 he opposed to the Faculty Senate mandating the wearing of masks in classrooms, to help prevent the spread of COVID, saying they don't have the right to control what happens in the classroom. He sees no irony in this.
For several years, McGee's seminars at the Honor's College have been all male, all white. Ryan Matthews found a 2012 report on the Honor's College commissioned by the Faculty Senate, with recommendations for improvement in areas of inclusion and diversity. In 2018 he asked Dr Maria Lopez to supervise a one-on-one project, updating the data and assessing progress. Ryan found students need special permission from McGee to take his courses, and it was rumored that he didn't give permission to women or people of color. McGee gave Ryan a list of the names of some his former students, and approves a short questionnaire. As part of contacting the students, Ryan asked them to self-describe their demographic - age/sex/race. All are white, male and 18-22. He then also asks if they are representative of the members of their class, and all agree. Class sizes range from 6 to 10 students. Dr Lopez uses Ryan's paper to convince the Faculty Senate that the Honor's College needs to do a progress report. Two weeks later, McGee is added to Ryan's thesis committee, even though Ryan has never taken a class from him. Ryan then petitions for the right to add an outside faculty member, and Dr McShane is added as a fourth committee member, which ends any chance of in-house pressure being placed on other committee members.In 2020, the Honor's College is supposed to do a self-study, and an outside evaluator will be brought in during the Spring 2021 term to issue a report.
Ryan Matthews sees James McGee as a local version of Jordan Peterson. Previously McGee has kept a low profile, but in late 2020 seems to have become emboldened.
== Physical Appearance ==
Professor McGee is a short man, in his 60s, with a gray goatee and thinning hair. He has a paunch, and obviously doesn't exercise. He wears a tweed jacket with patches on the elbows over a plaid vest and tattersall shirt and a bow tie. 
=== Honor's Class: Men's Rights - A Movement for Our Times ===
In Winter term 2021. Professor McGee teaches this class in a seminar room at the Honor's College. Students sit around a large conference table. Blair sits opposite the door, towards the back. Ryan and Teresa sit mid-table. Professor McGee does not wear a mask.
Students enrolled include: Ryan Matthews, Teresa Valdez-Matthews, Blair Williams, Eugene Cathcart, Mr Crier and seven others.
Prof McGee describes the class as a rigorous examination of the Men's Rights Movement that began in the 1980s as a pushback to the feminist movement's attempts to erode the rights of men, particularly in the areas of domestic assault, child custody and support, and in the handling of rape accusations. 
In the first class, he provides a syllabus and reading list, and a self-assembled reader. The final project is a research paper. The class will meet from 8-10:30am. Prof McGee states masks are optional, regardless of Faculty Senate rules that masks are mandatory.
When the seminar starts, Ryan takes notes on paper, Blair uses a laptop, Teresa records it on her laptop as well as taking notes, Eugene takes no notes. During the break, McGee tells Teresa she cannot record the class, citing the need for free and open debate. Teresa agrees not to record class discussions - but will continue to record his lecture. After the break, McGee lectures on founders of the men's rights movement: Warren Farrell, and Paul Elam. Discussion the following week will be about contrasting styles of advocacy and how they are deployed today in the men's movement and beyond.
Each time McGee mis-names Teresa, she corrects him. Ryan later lets her know this is a deliberate micro-aggression by McGee, intended to label her as a second-class citizen, only there as Ryan's wife.
In the second class, McGee again calls Teresa 'Mrs Matthews'. She corrects him and calls him Mr McGee. He states he should be called Dr, or Professor McGee. He again talks to her about recording the class, she gives him a note from Disability Support Services which underlines PSU policy.
The discussion centers on an article that told men that if a woman slaps or hits them, they should punch the woman's head into the wall to respect a man's strength. Ryan finds it outrageous. Eugene says women should expect equal treatment. Ryan uses the example of Eugene and Cage at the Saturday protest - would Cage have been justified in beating him? Wouldn't the police have charged Cage with assault? But Cage didn't retaliate, because he believes he shouldn't use his greater strength against those weaker than him. Another student suggests the author is only using rhetorical hyperbole to make a point. Ryan counters that with Trump's 'rhetoric' before the failed insurrection on Jan 6. Should Trump not be held accountable? McGee says it's not about politics, but Ryan wonders how any discussion of the Men's Rights Movement can't be political. McGee ends the lecture 10minutes early.