Intellectual discrimination in hiring practices

Wheeler Frost's Nov. 1 guest column, "History at Iowa was history at Duke for Mark Moyar," highlighted a grave problem in university hiring practices. While there are probably exceptions, it is clear that history departments have discriminated against Republican historian Mark Moyar because of his views.

Some of my classmates have proposed other reasons for Moyar's troubles. They say he might have a personality issue, or he might give boring lectures. But since when have major research universities cared that much about a professor's social skills or teaching ability? The answer is never. And if they did, a lot of professors would not have their jobs.

By virtue of his credentials alone, Moyar is not automatically entitled to a professorship at Duke. But when such an academically accomplished and prolific a historian cannot find a job at most colleges and universities, it should disturb anyone who truly cares about intellectual diversity.

There should not be affirmative action for conservatives; there should just be fair treatment. Moyar has not received it.

Jamie Deal

Trinity '08