Should a ‘Diverse’ Campus Mean More Conservatives?

Hume · Sep 14, 2024

But for many who advocate it — and certainly for many who are wary — viewpoint diversity boils down to one thing: the need for more conservatives on syllabuses, in the classroom and, perhaps most important, on the faculty.

Many in higher education see that demand as part of escalating right-wing attacks on the political independence of universities, and a cynical effort to weaponize one of contemporary academia’s paramount values — diversity — against itself.

Should a ‘Diverse’ Campus Mean More Conservatives?

Republicans are demanding colleges embrace “viewpoint diversity.” They aren’t the only ones who are concerned.

www.nytimes.com

Hume · Sep 14, 2024

A ‘Liberal’ Profession?

Academia has been seen as a liberal profession since the early 20th century, Gross writes in his book. Today, he says, it employs a higher percentage of liberals than nearly any other profession. While results vary by discipline and type of institution, most surveys suggest that only about 10 to 15 percent of faculty across the country are conservative.

Hume · Sep 14, 2024

When it comes to shaping students’ politics, professors may have little influence compared with family, fellow students or social media.

Earlier this year, Gross conducted a survey of undergraduates at a variety of four-year schools across the country. Nearly 60 percent felt their professors did a “very good” or “pretty good” job of managing class discussion when students took opposing sides on political subjects. And 90 percent reported that professors discussed their personal political views “rarely,” “never” or “occasionally.”