Jobber of the Week 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Bill Targets Political Bias at Colleges By Kurt Moore, [email protected] The Marion Star MARION -- Ohio Sen. Larry Mumper, R-Marion, is issuing a plea to fellow legislators to demand equality on college campuses. The equality he is demanding is not one of race or gender. He is proposing a bill that he said would "open up debate" by prohibiting political bias at institutions of higher learning. While not detailed in his bill, Mumper believes that bias currently exists and is leaning a bit too far towards the liberal left. The bill, similar to ones introduced in other state legislatures, is likely to spur controversy and already has an Ohio State University at Marion professor asking Mumper to offer up some proof. Mumper is co-sponsor of Senate Bill 24, which if passed would establish an academic bill of rights for higher education. Among other actions, the bill would: # Prohibit "political, ideological, religious or anti-religious indoctrination" by instructors; # Ban them from "persistently introducing controversial matter" not related to their subject of study; # Require institutions to offer a broad range of opinions and viewpoints; # And ban professors from discriminating against students based on their beliefs. Mumper said he has been concerned about political bias on campuses for quite a few years and has heard horror stories from students who fear retribution if they express contrary views. He said his bill would prevent higher education from leaning too far in either direction. "It opens up debate," he said. "It allows students to question theories, participate in classes without fear professors will grade them down." His bill closely resembles conservative activist David Horowitz's proposed Academic Bill of Rights, also being pushed in other states including Indiana. Horowitz, in a column in FrontPage magazine.com, speaks out against what he calls a "blacklist of conservatives on American college campuses, their marginalization in undergraduate life and their virtual exclusion from liberal arts faculties." Mumper, in an interview with The Columbus Dispatch, said he believes many professors undermine students' values because "80 percent or so of them are Democrats, liberals or socialists or card-carrying Communists" out to indoctrinate students. He said Friday that those exact words were meant in jest but said he does believe the wide majority are liberal. He said he also believes a majority of invited speakers lean towards the left, but insists he isn't trying to turn the balance too far to the right either. "I think it should be a situation where they should hear both sides," he said. "I just want things to be fair and open." Efforts by states to push the Academic Bill of Rights has drawn criticism from the American Association of University Professors. Member Graham Larkin, a Stanford University professor, said in an AAUP column that such monitoring would "deprive people of fundamental liberties of expression" and any legislation would "lead to an ethical and administrative quagmire." "Don't believe the double-talk," he wrote. "Mr. Horowitz and the so-called Students for Academic Freedom are enemies of free thought and free speech." Mumper's bill has generated opposition from Ohio State University, where provost Barbara Snyder called such steps unnecessary and said universities already "support and encourage wide-ranging and robust explorations of the universe of ideas." She said it also questions the professionalism of academics who have devoted their lives to teaching and to the principles of free expression and an open exchange of ideas. Ohio State University at Marion Professor Dan Christie, who teaches psychology and peace studies, questioned whether Mumper can provide evidence that students are being indoctrinated. Considering that conservatives are currently in charge, Christie said students are often familiar with the right side and must be given the left side in order to be given a well-rounded view. "It's really our responsibility to figure out where our students are and where we have to go to round their views," he said. Christie invited Mumper to come to the campus and explain his views as well as offer proof. Mumper said he would be willing to do so. "I have reams and reams of examples," he said. http://www.marionstar.com/news/stories/200...ws/1931667.html I'm.... I'm stunned. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuperJerk 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 This falls under the "good luck enforcing it" category. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CheesalaIsGood 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Sort of like when they pass a "Clean up your dogshit or get a ticket" type deal. Yeah, good luck enforcing it indeed. Good luck finding anyone who would WANT to deal with that. Who do you call? The cops? "Yeah, Hi. This is Stewey, and my voice has been supressed. Send the SWAT Team." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest sek69 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Poor, poor opressed conservatives. Controlling all 3 branches of government makes it hard to continue to play victim. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 What will it take for liberals to stop being the victim? Oh wait, being a so-called victim is a cornerstone of American liberalism. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest sek69 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 What will it take for liberals to stop being the victim? Oh wait, being a so-called victim is a cornerstone of American liberalism. Right, thats why this thread is about conservatives crying about the Evil Liberal Menace in colleges. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 What will it take for liberals to stop being the victim? Oh wait, being a so-called victim is a cornerstone of American liberalism. This was probably a more misplaced post than any other on the board. Agreed with the "This is bullshit" crowd. I think this is a big deal personally, they're cracking down on people having an opinion. This seems obvious, but really, it needs to be repeated for the fact that it's ridiculously stupid. I mean my goodness, THEY ARE CRACKING DOWN ON PEOPLE HAVING AN OPINION! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Highland 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 This bill needs to go the way of the underclothes bill in Virginia: Away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Ol' Smitty 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 What will it take for liberals to stop being the victim? Oh wait, being a so-called victim is a cornerstone of American liberalism. Random. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vitamin X Report post Posted February 11, 2005 What will it take for liberals to stop being the victim? Oh wait, being a so-called victim is a cornerstone of American liberalism. Sorry Czech, but this was a pretty ridiculously stupid post and generalization to make. This is almost on the level of your bitching about the NFL in the Super Bowl thread. Try to look at it from an unbiased view for a change in this folder. My opinion on this topic is that I find it a bit silly that they're doing away with political opinion in the classroom (which I assume is directed at the faculty), as if American children are totally and completely incapable of learning and/or forming political opinions of their own. Everyone knows the media is the most influential power in this country, anyways. But they've already gone and censored that to kingdom come (and this hurts both sides, IMO), so it's time to crack down on everything else, it seems. # Ban them from "persistently introducing controversial matter" not related to their subject of study; This is the worst part. Who's to say what's controversial and what's not? Most revolutionary works in history were at one time or another considered controversial, as is the case with many modern works. Banning them from the classroom limits the education one is entitled to. "We'll teach you everything you need to know, except for what we think is offensive.". Asinine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Actually, the bill is meant to curb the nutty professor who like to fail kids who disagree and actually HAVE an opinion. As for the controversial, it's more like the guy who is teaching math and suddenly goes on a rant about the jewish community ruining things and America's constant need to hold down the freedom fighters of Palenstein. It's not saying don't have an opinion, it's saying stop trying to preach your opinion as right and failing kids who don't agree with you or treating them like complete outkasts. Which does happen A LOT on campuses across the country. Far as I'm concerned, any bill that ends the God Complex of some of these professors is nothing but a good thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KingPK 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Among other actions, the bill would: # Prohibit "political, ideological, religious or anti-religious indoctrination" by instructors; # Ban them from "persistently introducing controversial matter" not related to their subject of study; # Require institutions to offer a broad range of opinions and viewpoints; # And ban professors from discriminating against students based on their beliefs. Those are actually pretty good ideas. 2GOLD echoed my opinion perfectly. I never had many of those types of professors, but they DO exist. Professors should teach the subject they are obligated to teach, not try to gain notoriety and press (like this Churchill guy). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 I enjoy my political bias in class. In high school I got it from both sides. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KingPK 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 I'd prefer the professor let the class share and debate their viewpoints on things rather than try to push his agenda. That's what my US Gov. professor did, and it made the class that much better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Now that you put it that way, that's probably more of what I got from most HS teachers. They made their ideas known, but didn't impose them upon us, or let them have any bearing on our grades. I did have a remarkable handful of Republican teachers, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vitamin X Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Actually, the bill is meant to curb the nutty professor who like to fail kids who disagree and actually HAVE an opinion. As for the controversial, it's more like the guy who is teaching math and suddenly goes on a rant about the jewish community ruining things and America's constant need to hold down the freedom fighters of Palenstein. It's not saying don't have an opinion, it's saying stop trying to preach your opinion as right and failing kids who don't agree with you or treating them like complete outkasts. Which does happen A LOT on campuses across the country. Yeah, but there doesn't need to be a law passed in local, state, and certainly not federal legislature enforcing this. Since this appears to be a concern with college campuses, all that's needed to do is just drop the class, or transfer to another one on a schedule that works for you. That's it. In high school it could be done as well, and a complain could be issued with the department he's with. Leave it up to the schools to enforce a fair classroom, not the law. That's just ridiculous. Far as I'm concerned, any bill that ends the God Complex of some of these professors is nothing but a good thing. Sadly, this is something that pretty much comes with being a teacher. Want a fun way to piss off teachers and get away with it? Ask them a question relevant to the subject they're talking about that they don't have an answer to. It's great. I'd prefer the professor let the class share and debate their viewpoints on things rather than try to push his agenda. That's what my US Gov. professor did, and it made the class that much better. I agree. My political science teacher I had last semester did a similar thing as we had a Republican section of the class made up mostly of kids who grew up around these Bush-supporting Cubans in the poor neighborhoods in Little Havana and they were allowed equal opportunity in expresses opinions and viewpoints. In talking to him in private though, I was almost surprised at seeing a dartboard with Bush's face on it in his office. He played darts pretty often it seemed, too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 I ran into one of those "professors" in college. She wasn't too happy when I informed her I didn't find her opinion right or wrong. Apparently the "not right" pissed her off greatly since she then failed my first three papers in a row with no explanation on why she failed them. Ok, if I screwed up spelling or half assed it fine. But when you write a 10 page report, single spaced like she ordered COMPLETE with the most in-depth reference list known to man and you get a 45 for NO REASON you tend to feel something is up. I realized even more when she said, "guess I'm right now aren't I?" I couldn't transfer out of the class since all the others were full and I needed it to pass. Which was out of the question AFTER THAT. I reported her, which did nothing since I failed the course and lost the money spent on the course. She got a week vacation, PAID, and I got shafted out of a class. So yes, I think they SHOULD pass a law since the colleges don't care. They HAVE the money and as far as they are concerned, you can transfer out and someone else will just take your place. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted February 11, 2005 How about this --- when conservatives are actually ALLOWED to become professors of, say, humanities --- then we can call such actions idiotic. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jingus 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Aw come on Mike, there's no left-wing conspiracy to keep conservatives out of college positions. One of the most blatantly Republican teachers I've ever had was an English professor. I'd just say it's less likely because liberals tend to be more concerned with enlightening the youth of today about Pressing Social Issues and conservatives would rather not worry and make money in a real job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special K 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Seriously. Way-left liberals can become teachers and give fuel to all the right-wing pundits. Right-wingers will become businessmen and jerk each other off at businees meetings. I'm very socially liberal myself. Economically conservative. Don't act like conservatives are oppressed. They can teach. It's just people in the liberal spectrum gravitate to such things as teaching., reporting, etc. Why not? They major in bullshit topics. If there was a big influx of conservative teachers, no one would give a shit. Liberals gravitate towards academia (which has made academia a dirty word which is rubbish), conservatives gravitate towards business. I think you get the better end of the deal. I'm an engineer, thankfully I was spared political bullshit on either side.Are ther giant protests that have hurt your candidate? If not, lay off the liberal bias in academia bullshit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 This reminds me of the bull-shit Fairness Doctrine that was around until the mid-1980s (which helped make the RIGHT WING RADIO that we all know and love today). And it's a dumb law proposal that will get the left-wing America-Hating College Profs that couldn't get a job in the real world if their life depended on it a chance to whine about how they're being persecuted. I think the points about # Prohibit "political, ideological, religious or anti-religious indoctrination" by instructors; # Ban them from "persistently introducing controversial matter" not related to their subject of study; # Require institutions to offer a broad range of opinions and viewpoints; # And ban professors from discriminating against students based on their beliefs. have merit in some ways, but this is not worthy of making a feaking law over it. There are other ways to counter these left-wing extremists... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vitamin X Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Thank you, that was exactly my point. It's not enough to make a law over it. OMG BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT~1!@!111 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kahran Ramsus 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 I've had lots of conservative profs, generally in the more scientific fields, but I have had them in history as well, as well as a bunch of staunch liberals. But I never had one who would not let you voice your opinion, although they would argue against it, and I never had anyone let their personal views influence my grades. I'm sure glad I was never in 2Gold's situation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuperJerk 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Actually, the bill is meant to curb the nutty professor who like to fail kids who disagree and actually HAVE an opinion. There seems to be a big gap between the point of the bill and what it actually does. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Aw come on Mike, there's no left-wing conspiracy to keep conservatives out of college positions. One of the most blatantly Republican teachers I've ever had was an English professor. I'd just say it's less likely because liberals tend to be more concerned with enlightening the youth of today about Pressing Social Issues and conservatives would rather not worry and make money in a real job. I suggest you read some blogs like Instapundit, who will occasionally go into stories about highly-deserving conservative intellectuals not getting a position they deserve to a liberal prof fighting it. There are a lot of conservative intellectuals who want to teach the youth and aren't permitted to do so. But, yes, the bill itself is fucking idiotic and will lead to a wealth of problems. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuperJerk 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 Aw come on Mike, there's no left-wing conspiracy to keep conservatives out of college positions. One of the most blatantly Republican teachers I've ever had was an English professor. I'd just say it's less likely because liberals tend to be more concerned with enlightening the youth of today about Pressing Social Issues and conservatives would rather not worry and make money in a real job. I suggest you read some blogs like Instapundit, who will occasionally go into stories about highly-deserving conservative intellectuals not getting a position they deserve to a liberal prof fighting it. There are a lot of conservative intellectuals who want to teach the youth and aren't permitted to do so. Mike's right. I had a few college professors who were pretty conservative, but I went to a small college. I have no doubt there are larger universities where the bias persists. There is also a very vocal conservative intelligensia in this country, Jingus, which includes people like Condeleeza Rice, who provide the theoretical justification for conservative positions. This is ironic considering how much conservatives have complained for the last 40 years about elitist liberal intellectuals. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 OMG BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT~1!@!111 You'd be amazed at how many issues the Conservative Brigade and you Liberal Faggotts can find common ground over. Of course, that's no fun. And chalk me up as someone that was affected by a feminazi prof whose political ideals played a part in my final grade in the two bullshit classes I took with her at the helm. Fucking cunt. She was a PART-TIME COPY EDITOR FOR THE LOCAL PAPER'S FOOD SECTION and thought she worked for the Washington Post... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jobber of the Week 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 I'm also a little concerned that: # Require institutions to offer a broad range of opinions and viewpoints; Is not specifically political, therefore it is vague enough that it may open the door to teaching creationism or "evolution is just a theory" talk in college, which is insane and should be left to the likes of Bob Jones Uni. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Wildbomb 4:20 Report post Posted February 11, 2005 OMG BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT~1!@!111 You'd be amazed at how many issues the Conservative Brigade and you Liberal Faggotts can find common ground over. Of course, that's no fun. And chalk me up as someone that was affected by a feminazi prof whose political ideals played a part in my final grade in the two bullshit classes I took with her at the helm. Fucking cunt. She was a PART-TIME COPY EDITOR FOR THE LOCAL PAPER'S FOOD SECTION and thought she worked for the Washington Post... Jeez, she kinda sounds like the prof I had two semesters ago for Newsgathering. Holy hell. Me=liberal, her not so much. And damn, I know that my grade one project suffered hard for it because she was all praising lol2005FAUXNEWSlol (man, that hasn't been seen by my eyes in a while...I've been watching them lately and they almost seem to be moving more towards the center. Never thought I'd say that), and I decided to disagree. Grade dropped two letter grades, and I had done the most research out of...well, anyone. What the fuck. Then again, maybe it was because she was bitter that she had lost her job at the Boston Globe for an article she wrote entitled "Oy! My pseudo-Jewish mother" Eh, whatever. I'm going to get a broadcast job and be taking some law classes at night. We'll see which one works out. --Ryan ...Conservative Brigade? I thought it was the KKKonservative Brigade™. What happened? Lose your trademark?... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites