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12/29/2004 Archived Entry: "Conservative students, liberal profs"

Posted by steve @ 04:03 AM EST [Link]

OH, SO WHEN CONSERVATIVE STUDENTS COMPLAIN OF BIAS AGAINST THEM IT'S "CHILLING": If you're a conservative student fighting for academic freedom, be prepared to be accused of creating a "chill in the air." See, when liberals invoke academic freedom, it's a good thing. When conservatives do it, it's disruptive and vengeful.

Those behind the trend call it an antidote to the overwhelming liberal dominance of university faculties. But many educators, while agreeing students should never feel bullied, worry that they just want to avoid exposure to ideas that challenge their core beliefs -- an essential part of education.

Some also fear teachers will shy away from sensitive topics, or fend off criticism by "balancing" their syllabuses with opposing viewpoints, even if they represent inferior scholarship.

"Faculty retrench. They are less willing to discuss contemporary problems and I think everyone loses out," said Joe Losco, a professor of political science at Ball State University in Indiana who has supported two colleagues targeted for alleged bias. "It puts a chill in the air."

I find that funny considering that my academic career was threatened by two professors at Laurentian University in the 1990s when I was a conservative columnist at the student paper. Not one professor stood up to defend me...even the conservative proofs remained silent. It was certainly chilling to have tenured professors working to have me fail out. Sorry, no pity from me Mr. Losco.

Read on.