The Feb. 13 guest commentary, "Clarification and Reflection," offered by Professor Robert Brandon perfectly illustrates the fundamental issue in this discussion: Brandon seems to think that because he doesn't see hiring bias in his department that there is none---yet the numbers speak for themselves!
Would Brandon accept that no hiring bias exists in a hypothetical corporation that, upon examination, is found to be run entirely by white males of European descent? Such blindness to any but a stereotypical leftist viewpoint is, sadly, a common characteristic of the modern academic herd.
Of course a professor need not let his/her political beliefs influence their courses, but how could it fail to do so?
While at Duke I had political, moral and world-view opinions shoved down my throat in the most unlikely courses, and I'm sure it's grown far worse in the past decades.
The only reasonable remedy is balance---by actually seeking out and hiring those whose views represent true diversity.
Of course, with control of the asylum firmly in the hands of the inmates, who will lead the reformation?
The chief offenders--usually found on faculty selection committees--are typically the most convinced that there's no problem!
Hats off to the students who were willing to take on the task of cleaning up this all too ripe Augean stable. Better get a big shovel . . . .
Ray Albrektson
Trinity '70
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.