UC denies students unbiased education

Welcome to higher education, where you will encounter militant
professors bent upon indoctrinating you with their political
ideologies. You will be expected to memorize these ideals and
regurgitate these beliefs. If you fail to do so, you will suffer
the wrath of the liberal extremist. And in the dominantly liberal
University of California system, you will be cheated not only out
of the best possible education, but also out of a multi-faceted
view of life, which consists of both conservative and liberal
viewpoints.

Granted, not all professors fit the aforementioned profile, but
when they do (and at one time or another they will), you’re
in for liberal-loving lectures. There is a perceptible imbalance in
the amount of conservatives and liberal professors on UC campuses.
A study done by the UCLA Higher Education Research Institute
reported that 48 percent of professors classify themselves as
liberal or “far left,” while only 18 percent are
conservative or “far right.” Issues and topics being
discussed and presented in lectures are primarily taught by
professors of a liberal mindset. In addition, those with majority
or professor-opposing beliefs may be reprimanded either directly
(i.e. being graded down for a paper, which clearly expresses an
opposing view from the professor) or indirectly (i.e. being
belittled by a professor for your conservative stance in a
classroom setting).

Students of varying political ideologies should not be forced to
conform to the ideals of a professor with a liberal slant in order
to achieve “success” at the university level. Most
students enter college as impressionable youths, particularly in
the area of politics. If students with unformed political beliefs
enter an institution of higher learning and are only presented with
one view of politics, they are being done a great disservice.

Students are not only being robbed of the full potential of
their learning experiences, but they are also being manipulated
into the left wing frame of mind. The fact is that they are seldom,
if at all, shown an educated view of the conservative stance or any
other political philosophy. While it is difficult to eliminate
opinion and bias from instruction, some professors are neglecting
to make a conscious effort; instead they continuously rant and rave
about President George W. Bush’s ignorance and about why war
is wrong. Professors are not promoting intelligent, independent
thinkers or a tolerance for opposing beliefs.

Unfortunately, the game (which consists of guessing a
professor’s political stance and nodding your head in earnest
agreement) must be played frequently in order to make it through
the UC system. Even if students are to blame for their lack of
fervor and inability to separate fact from imposed opinion, it is
their job as students to incorporate what they’re taught in
classes into their personal and political belief system.

Unfortunately, I have learned from experience and no longer have
the courage or conviction to blatantly profess my political
principles in the face of an extremely determined, liberal
professor. My words are met by professors bent on showing me the
error of my ways and the supremacy of theirs. I am met with a look
of disgust and seen as the most ignorant of students to ever set
foot in their classroom. How dare I voice a thought-provoking
opinion, meant to perpetuate independent thought?

To be a truly educated person one must be aware and informed on
a wide array of political views, including those which may be in
opposition to your own. Professors should be responsible for
impartially guiding us along the way.

Varona is a third-year English student. E-mail her at
[email protected].