In order to fill university classrooms with more politically conservative professors, right-wing columnist David Horowitz is leading a campaign to take the issue to Congress.
Horowitz, who is president of the Center for the Study of Popular Culture and author of “Left Illusions: An Intellectual Odyssey,” is pushing for politicians on both the state and national level to initiate legislation to combat what Horowitz refers to as “the current crisis on our campuses.”
The American Association of University Professors rebutted the accusations by Horowitz and his counterparts, and disagreed with several legislative measures proposed to influence faculty hiring.
Jonathan Knight, AAUP’s director of programming for academic freedom and tenure, said so far the legislation does not seem to be making much progress.
Knight sighted instances in Colorado, where the bill’s sponsor withdrew the proposed legislation, and in Georgia, where Congress passed a watered-down version.
The worrisome part is what the legislation intends to accomplish, Knight said.
“It’s not requiring institutions to do something,” Knight said, “But suggesting that they do so, that would be a kind of pressure for universities to adhere.”
Knight said it is dangerous because it is the legislators who control some certain purse strings.
Knight said this legislation legitimizes the notion that politicians can have a say in teachers in colleges and universities. When politicians decide who to hire, he said it infringes upon universities’ rights as independent institutions.
Knight said this is not only a strong position held by AAUP, but all institutions of higher education.
Another concern is how officials would go about determining the political belief of a candidate for a teaching position.
Knight said there is not much room in the interview process for an assessment of political ideology.
Horowitz proposed university officials determine an applicant’s political alignment by simply asking the candidate whether he is a Democrat or a Republican.
Kate Bratton, a University assistant professor of political science said she is not sure whether a professor is a Democrat or a Republican makes him a better teacher.
Hiring is supposed to be based on merit and experience, Bratton said.
“A goal of a professor is to show students a variety of opinions and perspectives,” Bratton said.
Bratton also said she believes the political science department at the University is ideologically diverse.
Several students said they do not think a professor’s political ideology matters in many cases.
Juno Bastian, a French junior, said most of his classes do not discuss politics, and he does not believe it is an issue.
“A normal class — ecology [for example] — has nothing to do with politics,” Bastian said.
In other departments, however, some students said politics are more important and discussed.
Mimi Anderson, a sociology graduate student, said though she only comes in contact with sociology professors, most of them are fairly liberal.
“There are a lot of Bush jokes thrown around,” Anderson said. “But [sociology] students are liberal and more willing to talk about it.”
Angie Douzart, an English senior, said a professor’s ideology plays an important role in scheduling her classes.
“In English, I’ve had several liberals,” Douzart said. “But if I’ve heard that a professor is conservative, I won’t take it.”
But in the English department, Guy Anglade, an English senior, said he likes the way liberal teachers tend to be more interested in what their students have to say.
“It’s all about the exchange of ideas,” Anglade said.
Wayne Parent, political science professor and interim assistant dean of arts and sciences, said in an e-mail, “Good teaching requires credibility with students and teachers who push any agenda usually lose credibility with students.”
Jennifer Barker, a psychology junior, agreed with Parent and said most of the faculty she has come in contact with do not force their views on students — whether they are liberal or conservative.
Barker also said she does not think professors should be hired based on their political ideology.
“In a way it’s discrimination,” Barker said.
She said if a liberal does not get hired simply because they are hiring conservatives, they may pass up the better candidate.
Barker also said conservatives usually are against affirmative action, and in a way, hiring policies like Horowitz proposed is the same thing.