Public Colleges Steering Your Mind In One Direction

You're quite right about bias in academia. Just being on one side of the issue isn't the problem, though - it's the imposition of those opinions, few of which are based on solid, verifiable data/fact, on the student body that is unacceptable. One of the most important (but overlooked) parts of this issue is the colossal waste of time and resources that are wasted during a professor's irrelevant screeds. I didn't like paying a ton of money just to tune out of a worthless discussion.

I was part of a department that is famous for its social/political liberalism though I shared few of those inclinations. My mentor couldn't have been more different than I; we had no problem at all working together for years. We enjoyed each other's company and complemented each other well. She is a responsible scholar and an excellent teacher.

The Howard Zinn method of tailoring scholarship to fit political goals or to advance a social cause is deplorable - and it's gaining favor in higher education. Where are we headed with it? Difficult to say, but the proliferation of the internet helps. Suddenly, wackademics on both sides face increased accountability for what they do and say - that will help filter the intellectual chaff.

I have definitely noticed this as well. While most college students seem to be liberal, higher institutions should not be cutting off other opinions. Because there are so many liberal voices, I think it is important to hear the opposite side as well. People get so entrenched w/ Republican vs. Democrat that differences aren't even being heard, it's just become the idea of whose side are you on. Everyone should have the chance to raise questions and opinions from all sides. Professors, especially, should be encouraging college students to hear mulitple sides. In the real world, we can't just cut people off from their beliefs. It will be hard to get along w/ people, once we step out of the classroom, if all that matters are our own opinions.

One of the problematic features of higher education is specialty; many times the most extreme professors don't balance their views because they simply don't know the other side well enough. The focus shouldn't be on political leanings but on truth; unmotivated, disinterested scholarly inquiry.

I think the example that bothers me the most is receiving extra crediting for skipping class, attending an anti-war rally and getting credit for it. I think if you want to skip class to support a cause, go for it, but why should you earn credit for NOT being in class? As for the bias on political issues, everyone is guilty on some level, but we focus on teachers because they are looked to for wisdom in our schools. In my experience here at the University of Washington, I have found that some professors actually come right out and tell you their political stance, but they are very interested in hearing opinions from students as long as they can back up their opinions with evidence. The fact is that I think most students come to college with a political stance they have developed for 18 years of their lives, and unless they are open to change and willing to hear other ideas, their political stance will likely not change regardless of their professors. But I do find it unethical for a professor or teacher to persuade students one way or another.

I agree that it is unethical for any one person's viewpoint to be silenced because the majority does not agree with it. At the heart of democracy are the protections citizens are given against the tyranny of the majority and freedom of speech. As a journalism major, I definately understand that an open flow of communication with as many different views and opinions as there are people are an important contribution to our society and it is part of what helps us to grow and develop our community. However, I think it would be a mistake to assume that all universities across America are skewed with a liberal bias. It is true that statistically college students tend to be more liberal than conservative. However, statistically, I think many professors of political science and economics - two areas of study that are the most likely to take on some form of political subject where bias can become evident - tend to lean towards more moderate/conservative viewpoints. Remember that the University of Washington is a particularly liberal campus in one of the most liberal cities in the country. The biases seen in how professors conduct their classes here at the UW are not necessarily reflective of the rest of the country. I'm sure at any university you could find examples of professors who are skewed in both directions.

I also think that a professor having an opinion and expressing that opinion to their class is not unethical if it is used for the purpose of opening up students to debate and explore different ideas. It is only unethical if they present it as the only correct answer and do not allow for any discussion around the subject. I think it would be a mistake, however, to say that bias in classrooms is a phenomenon that is distict to only one political viewpoint. If we are to truly make a change and take a stand against the supression of dissention, we need to tackle the problem on the scale that it truly presents itself.

There's a disturbing trend here. I understand the propensity for romance about democracy and citizen participation, but that is not the important issue on college campuses.

Scholars at all levels, from students to professors, should be concerned with truth, not opinion or their ability to express it. It doesn't matter what anyone's opinion is or how many/few say it - what matters is the burden of proof that is (or should be more often) put on scholarly work. A bad argument isn't advanced by a large number of supporters and a good one isn't any less valid because it has fewer. The validity of the argument is of paramount importance. The truly rotten professors are the ones who ignore this and profess x, y or z because it's what they want to believe or what they want you to believe. It is irresponsible.

I mentioned earlier that I had a radical left-wing mentor for a few years. That didn't matter at all to me or her because both of us were concerned wholly with valid scholarship, not political agendas.

Thank you, Sean. I do try to let y'all know when I'm voicing my opinion -- but I also think it's important to look at different sides of an issue.