College Conservatives Ask For Academic Freedom · 19 April 2004
By Gordon Sawyer--Access North Georgia, 4/16/04
Ever since the 1960's it has been recognized openly that the majority of college and university faculty members have not only been politically liberal, but also have taught their students from a strong liberal bias. These same professors generally supported diversity on campus, but that diversity referred to the color of one's skin, not the content of political thought. In the past few years conservative college students have been taking a stand, insisting that the professors at least present both liberal and conservative viewpoints, and not penalize students who hold conservative beliefs. These students have recently gone national under a group called Students For Academic Freedom, and they now have chapters on more than 100 campuses. College Republicans at both Georgia and Georgia Tech say they are forming chapters.
These students obviously got the attention of the Georgia legislature, for it passed an "Academic Bill of Rights" which, although it has no enforcement power, none-the-less lets college faculty members know their teaching is open for review if abused.
What is interesting about all this ... and encouraging in my view ... is that this movement is coming from conservative college students who are thinking for themselves, deciding where they stand on issues, and insisting the right to be openly conservative if they so choose. To which I say: good for them.
This is Gordon Sawyer, and may the wind always be at your back.
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