Although Ohio University biology professor Ivan Smith is a self-proclaimed liberal, he said he knows there is an overall lack of conservative professors in classrooms.
People don't hear the conservative view
he said.
This week, however, some conservative voices are speaking out on campus, as the College Republicans host Conservative Week. Each day, students have the opportunity to see a discussion, speaker or panel presentation, with Friday marked as Coming Out Conservative day. Speakers include OU professor Richard Vedder and Dan Flynn, author of Why the Left Hates America.
Some OU students said they see the necessity of the speakers because of experiences with liberal professors.
Sophomore Annie Mitchell, treasurer for the College Republicans, said the classroom should not be a place for only liberal opinions. The classroom is not a place for (professors) to flaunt their political views and brainwash people she said.
With the exception of departments such as economics and philosophy, Mitchell said she does not feel conservative professors share equal representation with their liberal counterparts.
When I walk into a classroom like sociology or psychology I'm expecting to have a liberal professor
and I try to keep my guard up
she said. Mitchell added that professors' statements have made her angry, and if she is in a class where participation is possible, she responds. I don't hold back
she said.
Senior Melanie Sheavly is a sociology major and a member of the College Republicans. She said despite knowing she would be going into a major with predominantly liberal professors, she chose to stay with it.
I have a lot of classes where the professors just get on their soap boxes
she said. I have one sociology professor who pretty much endorses any Democrat.
Senior Toby Fallsgraff, president of the College Democrats, said much of this issue might lie in studies that have shown the higher a person's degree, the more likely the person is to agree with more liberal views. I don't think this has a negative effect on students
though
he said.
Fallsgraff said OU has yet to see a Liberal Week, but plans are in the works. Somebody said to me the reason there's no Liberal Week is because every week in Athens is liberal week
Fallsgraff said. I don't necessarily agree
but I think it'll be sometime in late May.
