PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 19, 2006
Ready, Aim, But No Fire On Campus Bias
Legislatures Mull Conservative Academic 'Bill Of Rights'
-
Conservative activist David Horowitz, founder of Students for Academic Freedom, is leading the widely debated but never successful fight to turn his "Academic Bill of Rights" into law. Here, he speaks Jan. 10, 2006, at Temple University. (AP)
-
Interactive Education In America Backpack ready? Learn more about education in America through fun facts, national statistics and unusual schools.
-
Interactive History Of Press Freedom Follow the evolving struggles over press freedom in the United States.
-
Interactive Star Politicians There's a long list of entertainers who've tried to make the move from the world of make-believe to the world of politics.
"These are people who are sitting in judgment on whether I graduate," DeJohn told the lawmakers.
Temple officials declined to respond to DeJohn's allegations, citing federal privacy requirements governing student records.
Pennsylvania's inquiry was authorized by the state House at the behest of Representative Gibson C. Armstrong, who says he merely wants the committee to assess whether political orthodoxy is a widespread problem and whether a legislative remedy is warranted.
"I don't think anyone on this committee is interested in seeing the government ... interfere in what happens in our state college classrooms," the Republican said at the hearing.
William E. Scheuerman, vice president of the
"Merely the threat of government intervention is enough, believe me, to frighten college administrators and some faculty so they are less likely to raise tough questions," he said.
Advocates for tighter controls are trying other strategies, as well. At the University of California, Los Angeles, a conservative alumni group offered students money to police professors accused of pushing liberal views — a move that sparked a former congressman and two others to quit the group's advisory board, saying Wednesday that the tactic was extreme.
Horowitz said verifying the accuracy of every bias complaint is difficult. But he told the lawmakers at Temple that the American Council of Trustees and Alumni found last year that half of students surveyed said professors frequently comment in class on politics — even when it is not relevant to the course.
"I would not be here if I weren't persuaded by 20 years of walking around campuses and seeing this," Horowitz said.
©MMVI, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From U.S.
Author Thomas Friedman on Obama's Afghanistan plan and the war on terror.
