Pro-Bush or anti-Bush, pro-globalization or anti-capitalism, conservative or liberal, there are opinions galore voiced in the University’s classrooms. And while the University has set guidelines for the faculty’s political expression, it does not have official rules that curtail what professors can or cannot say.
With staggering global challenges — including the war in Iraq, terrorism, economic crises, social inequalities and environmental degradation — people have various convictions they want to share in and outside the classroom. Some professors are particularly vocal about their political ideologies, and whether their values may be different or even offensive to some students, they do have the academic freedom to voice them.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Lorraine Davis said the University can’t restrict professors because free exchange of ideas is vital to the goals of the school.
“As an institution, one of our purposes is to be able to discuss all sides of an issue and represent all components,” Davis said. “Universities need to be places where different ideas can be expressed and explained.”
Still, the University does have some expectations of teachers. According to the faculty handbook, teachers “are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing subjects, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter that has no relation to the subject.” The handbook also states that “(i)n the exercise of this freedom of expression, faculty members should manifest appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others and should make every effort to indicate that they are not institutional spokesmen.”
Associate English Professor Shari Huhndorf, who also teaches Native American Studies, said having hard and fast rules that restrict political speech would be dangerous. In her teaching, her political opinions do find their way into class discussion.
“I’m very aware of (my opinions) and they always come out,” she said. “I’ll make my stance clear, but I’ll present the opposing view,” she said, adding that with all controversial topics she encourages debate and respect for diverse perspectives. She said there will always be people who are offended by those who don’t agree with them, but most students are eager to learn different things.
Professor Robert O Brien, head of the sociology department, also believes trying to introduce more stringent rules would be an “infringement of academic freedoms.”
“My personal bent would be that I wouldn’t want to say things that stifle discussion,” O Brien said. However, certain expressions such as hate speech are forbidden in his department, he added.
Associate Professor Gerald Berk, head of the political science department, said his department doesn’t have written guidelines that he knows about, but faculty know they have to be careful not to silence opposing standpoints.
“I think we as political scientists are aware that all of the issues we discuss are highly debatable and I think we all want to cultivate debate,” he said. Berk added that he expresses some of his own views, and he tries to create an atmosphere where people can disagree and his views are not seen as the final point. He said he is always concerned not only about what he says but also about what students say to each other.
Due to their positions, professors can say what they want, and students may wonder whether they can challenge a professor without facing ridicule or a low grade.
“Eighteen-year-olds are going to look up to (professors) and they don’t have the rhetorical skills to respond,” Rani Sampson, a second-year law student, said. She said students may not only be too afraid to say anything, but also the discussion of politics, especially in non-related fields, may deter the class from the fundamental lessons.
O Brien said he can understand students’ worries, but he would still encourage them to seek recourse if they have a problem. Students who do not agree with teachers may see the department head or file grievances.
“I know it takes nerve,” he said. “And I know if there’s one student, there may be others who didn’t come forward.” He said even if a student has “loudly and vociferously” discussed a contentious issue with a professor, this shouldn’t form the basis for a grade.
“I hope everyone who is teaching would separate that by three miles from the student grade,” he said.
As department head, O Brien said he has received complaints from students who didn’t appreciate a professor’s comments or misinterpreted their meaning.
“Most times the complaint will be about the tone and how it’s said rather than the substance,” he said. He concluded that there were many different ways to say the same thing.
Since he became department head last January, Berk said he has received only two complaints.
“One student was complaining that their professor was too liberal and the other student complained that the professor was too conservative,” he said.
International studies graduate student Holly LeMasurier said there should definitely be more space for student dialogue.
“I would hope to find the opportunity to counter what professors say,” she said.
While there are cases of overly vocal teachers, LeMasurier said she believes professors should not be afraid to state their opinions.
“I think it’s good for students to see models of people who believe in something and are passionate and take a stand, and there isn’t enough of that in academia,” she said. “I guess it’s frustrating when teachers don’t take a stand.”