I went to grad school at UCSD (PhD Political Science, 2004) and know a bit about DOC. UCSD is divided into six colleges, each of which requires that freshmen take a one-year writing sequence. DOC is the sequence for one of the six colleges, Thurgood Marshall College. It is known across campus as the most, ahem, progressive of the writing programs. Having that reputation, it attracts progressive TAs. I never attended a class, but the word on campus is that it’s everything this student says it is.
In fact, I spent two years as a teaching assistant in one of the other programs. (When looking for a job, I applied to each writing sequence *except* DOC.) I worked for the Revelle writing program, which is known as the most traditional on campus. During my time I spent a lot of time teaching my students, you know, how to write, and intelligently read classic texts (Old & New testament, Green and Latin works, etc). I can’t remember discussing contemporary politics.
If you want to check out the DOC program for yourself, go here:
http://marshall.ucsd.edu/current/doc/index.php