I am writing in regard to an issue that has come up in the past few weeks both here at the University and at other campuses across the country. The issue is that of political ideology and the conservative minority at many universities.
There has been a lot of talk about biases against conservatives at universities. At other campuses, it has been brought out that political minorities are not given any protection that other groups enjoy.
Here at the University, the issue of grading based on political views and not quality of work has come up. In addition, the issue has arisen of whether a radio station that broadcasts a politically biased radio show should be allowed to use the University’s image.
I would like praise the people that are bringing these issues up. No matter what a person’s point of view, they should have a right to be heard. It is wrong that some would prevent conservatives from voicing their opinion. I know that my political ideology and views are not all correct, and just the same the left is not always right.
What is right is to allow both views to come out and be heard, and through that we can advance society. At Amherst College in Massachusetts, they chose to create student senate seats that were based on underrepresented minorities. Every group that applied was granted a seat except for conservatives. Now this wouldn’t change the balance of power or anything like that; it would simply have given a voice to an underrepresented group. Why not give these people a voice? Even if it is little heard, it is better than being silenced.
Here at the University, it has been brought out that many conservative students feel like they get graded down for putting conservative views in papers. The Emerald’s advice column suggests that conservative students should avoid putting their political views in papers. Is that fair to repress one’s voice because it doesn’t coincide with the majority?
Also here at the University, there has been much talk about not allowing KUGN-AM to call themselves “the voice of the Ducks” because they broadcast Michael Savage’s conservative radio program. People should be proud that the voice of the Ducks can be associated with allowing all views to be presented. Even our “teach-ins” are not educating if they come from one point of view.
I know that the University is a liberal university, and I came here, if not for anything else, to see and be exposed to the other side. As a result, some of my views have become more liberal, and others are now more conservative.
Our political views should be dynamic and not static. This can only happen through seeing a good representation of differing views. Rather than condemning the expression of a conservative voice, we should be praising it for its balancing effect. Just the same, conservative universities should praise liberal voices for adding an element of balance. If we shut out one point of view, no matter what that point of view is, at the University, we become ignorant and not educated. I assume that by coming to college, we all want to be educated.