[dennisw]

Although I've met several conservative intellectuals in the last year who would love an academic post but have given up after years of trying, outright blackballing is rare. The disparate outcome emerges through an indirect filtering process that runs from graduate school to tenure and beyond.

[Freedom4US]

The brutal truth of the matter - leftist thought/indoctrination can tolerate NO dissent or discussion or contrary viewpoints to be entertained, simply because they are absurdly easy to refute, ridicule and utterly decimate with reasoned discourse and of course, logic.

One sharp student can flay a lecturing professor, and "ruin" the class - this is the dirty little secret, and why certain techniques are used skillfully to crush conservatives on campus, if possible. Truth and reason are their own reward. Leftist claptrap is a whole 'nuther matter.

[Route101]

I saw this "takeover" start to happen back in high school ...I had a social science teacher who told all of us that no one could bring a tape recorder to class...she then proceeded to ream the U.S. for it's Viet Nam War Policies....Guess what folks?!...that was 1965...I wonder how far this has advanced since then in todays public school system?...L.O.L....

[jagrmeister]

Unfortunately, this article is more of the same. We do a fine job of criticizing the left-leaning tilt of universities but do precious little about it. Chronic complaints are no solution. The author's suggestion that we somehow convince the left-leaning faculty to reform themselves is feeble and bound to failure. His proposal that outside solutions are out of the question is foolish; reform can only come from the outside.

[SkyPilot]

The liberal "filtering" process does not work as well when it comes to hard sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

Many professors and academics are not as bright as they think they are, or claim to be. They are not really scholars, they just "play one on TV."

There is very little in common between a professor teaching Thermodynamics and one teaching Trans-gendered Queer Theory.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Although I find this article compelling, I am disturbed to note that whole paragraphs of it appear to be lifted, verbatim and without attribution, from George Will's current column on the same topic. Please have a look.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/georgewill/gw20041128.shtml

[G.Mason]

Professor Bauerlein has identified the problem, however, as usual there are no positive solutions offered.

He states ... "But we can't open the university to conservative ideas and persons by outside command. That would poison the atmosphere and jeopardize the ideals of free inquiry."

and then goes on to say ... "Leftist bias evolved within the protocols of academic practice (though not without intimidation), and conservative challenges should evolve in the same way."

The question remains for some of us, much smarter than I, to find this needed remedy.

As Freepers are among the most intelligent of people I know, let's have at it.

[StACase]

Being the lone dissenter in a colloquy, one learns to acquire sure facts, crisp arguments, and a thick skin.

Number one and two above should be the norm no matter what your viewpoint.

[Republicanprofessor]

This article was already posted within the past 2 weeks under this title: Liberal Groupthink Is Anti-Intellectual (An analysis of liberalism on campus)

There were 46 replies before, in case people are interested in reading them again. I enjoyed reading the replies here, but I already got my 2 cents in earlier.

Working at a smaller campus, where one can be a generalist, may make it easier to be a conservative, because my research doesn't have to be so specific. Thank goodness.

[SolutionsOnly]

I just learned from my sister that my niece will be attending Boston College. I am severely depressed. The poor girl will be ruined.

[Unam Sanctam]

The Chronicle of Higher Education is a prestigious journal in this profession, is it not? It's great that this article was in there.

[somniferum]

These liberal professors should heed the advice of Aaron Tippin.

You get up every morning 'fore the sun comes up
Toss a lunchbox into a pickup truck
A long, hard day sure ain't much fun
But you've gotta get it started if you wanna get it done
You set your mind and roll up your sleeves
You're workin' on a working man's Ph.D.

With your heart in your hands and the sweat on your brow
You build the things that really make the world go around
If it works, if it runs, if it lasts for years
You bet your bottom dollar it was made right here
With pride, honor and dignity
From a man with a working man's Ph.D.

Now there ain't no shame in a job well done
From driving a nail to driving a truck
As a matter of fact I'd like to set things straight
A few more people should be pullin' their weight
If you wanna cram course in reality
You get yourself a working man's Ph.D.

When the quittin' whistle blows and the dust settles down
There ain't no trophies or cheering crowds
You'll face yourself at the end of the day
And be damn proud of whatever you've made
Can't hang it on the wall for the world to see
But you've got yourself a working man's Ph.D.

Now there ain't no shame in a job well done
From driving a nail to driving a truck
As a matter of fact I'd like to set things straight
A few more people should be pullin' their weight
If you wanna cram course in reality
You get yourself a working man's Ph.D.