Feb 12, 2005
States Considering Legislation to Counter Perceived Liberalism on College Campuses
By Elizabeth DeForest
Associated Press Writer


WESTERVILLE, Ohio (AP) - College sophomore Charis Bridgman tends to keep quiet in class if she thinks her professor might disagree with her Christian-influenced ideas.

The 19-year-old says schools such as her Otterbein College in suburban Columbus should be a place for open discussion, but she feels some professors make students afraid to speak up.

"They might chastise me, or not even listen to my opinion or give me a chance to explain," she said.

Professors would have to include diverse opinions in classrooms under legislation being pushed in Ohio and several other states by conservatives who fear too many professors indoctrinate young minds with liberal propaganda. Such measures have had little success getting approval in the other states.

"I see students coming out having gone in without any ideological leanings one way or another, coming out with an indoctrination of a lot of left-wing issues," said bill sponsor Sen. Larry Mumper, a former high school teacher whose Republican party controls the Legislature.

The proposal in Ohio to create an academic "bill of rights" would prohibit public and private college professors from presenting opinions as fact or penalizing students for expressing their views. Professors would not be allowed to introduce controversial material unrelated to the course.

Professors dismissed the bill as unnecessary and questioned whether its supporters had ulterior motives, such as wanting more conservative professors.

Similar legislation failed in California and Colorado last year, while the Georgia Senate passed a resolution, which is less binding than a bill, that suggests adoption. The California bill, which would affect only public schools, has been reintroduced and faces opposition from professors and student groups. An Indiana bill is nearly identical to Ohio's.

The Ohio legislation is based on principles advocated by Students for Academic Freedom, a Washington, D.C.-based student network founded by conservative activist David Horowitz.

"It doesn't matter a professor's viewpoint," Horowitz said in an interview. "They can be a good professor, liberal or conservative, provided they pursue an educational mission and not a political agenda."

Mumper said he is concerned universities are not teaching the values held by taxpaying parents and students.

He questioned why lawmakers should approve funding for universities with "professors who would send some students out in the world to vote against the very public policy that their parents have elected us for."

A faculty group or school committee could oversee complaints from students who believe their grades were affected by a professor's bias, Mumper said.

Joe White, a political science professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, said students could use perceived discrimination as an excuse to refuse to learn.

"We're not supposed to teach for their comfort," he said.

Other opponents, including the American Association of University Professors, say such bills could stifle debate.

"We see nothing but mischief if we invite people from outside of the university to somehow start monitoring what goes on inside the classroom," said David Patton, an AAUP member and professor emeritus of Ohio State University.

Sen. Teresa Fedor, a Democrat from Toledo, agrees: "Can we say 21st century witch hunt and book burning?"

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On The Net:

www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org

www.aaup.org

AP-ES-02-12-05 0330EST

This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBVUXVJ35E.html

# Go Back To The Story

Here is the Students for Academic Freedom's website.

http://www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org/

This is ridiculous! The mood on colllege campuses varies and pendulum swings back and forth. Some colleges are extremely liberal as a whole and some extremely conservative; most have a mix. I agree Professors shouldn't present controversial material unrelated to the course, but then the Profs shouldn't present any material unrelated to the course since that doesn't further the goal of the course itself.

Unfortunately, I'm sure we've all been in situations in which our grade was affected by the Professor's personal disagreement with the answer/view on a particular subject (heck my worst experience happened on a final in grad school in which the dept head wanted us to regurgitate the information he presented - half the class did, the other half answered using fact from current scientific literature). I'm sure there are just as many people with liberal opinions sometimes afraid to speak up in class (both in college and HS) because of the views of classmates and/or the teachers. Let's be honest, how many kids just try to figure out how they'll be tested and perform just to get the good grade - if they do this, it's not going to affect their personal views if they don't buy into it. They're talking out of both sides of their mouths, they say kids with opposing views are afraid to speak up and then they say the kids are indoctrinated to believe and vote differently than their conservative parents and other taxpayers. WTF?? If this is passedin Ohio, then they must also force Religious colleges (the bill includes public and private colleges) to hire profs to present views that currently are not allowed to be taught on some religious college campuses (Pro-Choice, acceptance of homosexuality and the rights for gays to marry, etc.).

Ah, the professor as Svengali and all these good, conservative children are brainwashed? A lot of people see opposing views they've not been exposed to in College, some change their mind, some do not. It's called the learning process and they don't employ cult-like brain-washing techniques; if the parents of these kids think their can't think for themselves, what are they doing sending them to college?


She hasn't spoken up and is making an assumption without even trying and it's the Professor's fault? #1 she needs to speak up; #2 if she thinks that her views may be controversial in her class, she needs to think about how best to present her views and ensure she can support them clearly - open debate means being prepared to take criticism; if you want your view heard, don't attack and definitely listen to those who disagree (it's the best way to test your own belief in your view and shore up your arguments to support it).

Awww, he's not getting enough to be right wing conservatives. For a man who used to teach HS, he knows little about children and young adults. Teenagers and young adults tend to be idealistic and somewhat naive, as they have little real-life experience to help them put things in perspective. As such, this makes them more likely to have liberal leanings since liberalism is all about trying to make sure everyone is treated fairly and equally regardless. As people gain life experience, they run into the gray areas in which what is right and wrong isn't so obvious; this is when they need to be able to think critically so they can define their own views.


Universities aren't supposed to teach "values", let alone those held by taxpayers. University Professors are not elected officials whose job is to further government programs and advance the political needs of a constituency. The goal of a University is to educate those enrolled there; this means presenting ideas, theories, facts within the context of a curriculum. Larry Mumper needs a dictionary.

Educate:

1. To develop the innate capacities of, especially by schooling or instruction. See Synonyms at teach.
2. To provide with knowledge or training in a particular area or for a particular purpose: decided to educate herself in foreign languages; entered a seminary to be educated for the priesthood.
3.
a. To provide with information; inform: a campaign that educated the public about the dangers of smoking.
b. To bring to an understanding or acceptance: hoped to educate the voters to the need for increased spending on public schools.
4. To stimulate or develop the mental or moral growth of.
5. To develop or refine (one's taste or appreciation, for example).

You're right Angry! But these "people" are on a roll! They want power, and they WON'T listen to reason!

We've got the fight of our lives coming for the foreseeable future!

That's the reason they call a big chunk of education a liberal arts education. Parents who don't want their children to become more liberal than they are better keep them on the farm and in the shopes and factories.

This truly is an outrage ! Yet another attempt, based on scanty evidence, to
brainwash the public. We must not allow this type of intrusion into our educational system !

I was a religion minor in college. I took classes with a very dear friend of mine who was a fundamentalist and did not agree with the fact based (secular?) teaching of the evolution of Christianity. None of the professors penalized her for this- none.

Those who want their kids to be brainwashed can send them to Bob Jones U.

Or Yale- which seems to be turning out a healthy number of neocons.

(btw, did anyone ever stop to consider why professors might have progressive personal leanings? Could it possibly be because, on the whole, they tend to be very intelligent people?)

Exactly! But this is a campaign with political beginings (Right Wing Talk Radio), and a Political goal!

I've been hearing these "entertainers" ranting on about this for years out here in Southern California!

They've got their targeted causes and institutions and they hope to remake America.

My daughter in High School talks of the opposite.
She has often told me stories of how her teachers have all voted for Bush, and times when concerns of his presidency have come up it has been uncomfortable for 'the future democrats... ' They cannot silence our voice

This was many moons ago, but I had two very conservative teachers in high school one taught American government and the other current affairs.

It might be a strechts but as far as i can see the Bill goes against free speech, the right to assembly, and free worship. since it would preclude one segment of the population (The Liberals) to the advantage of another (Neo-cons)
Or am i wrong?

Now they come for the academics, every other tyranny has done the same thing.
Tenured professors won't allow this to occur, and if some regents want to force the issue the quality professors will teach elsewhere.

Just like they did in Iran in the late 70s/early 80s. ..didn't one of the yahoosin VA reference Muslim Culture in Arab countries? Hmmmm

Bah...as a conservative (ack! dont shoot! ), this annoys me. Grow a backbone and speak out in class if you views are to the right of the profs. If you have good solid arguements, you ought be fine. If you dont...well...

All I can say is that some of my most enjoyable classes here at Ohio State have occured when my views are diametrically opposed to my professors and we are allowed to have a good back and forth discussion. In all these classes, since I did the work and put forth the effort and whatnot, I recieved the appropriate grades (ie A's :-) ). I can only see a problem if a professor is a)not giving students a chance to express their views as well, or b)is awarding grades solely on political viewpoints. Just my two cents...

In this world today, I fear you are wrong. Note that they are trying this in several states- once there is break-through, I really fear what could come next.

I have to repeat that there is a large array of colleges/universities for students to choose from...... and a bright student should be willing to listen to an opposing viewpoint, even if they do not have the courage to express differing views.