In the Feb. 17 edition of The Post Tim Boggs wrote an article defending State Senate Bill 24, aka the Academic Bill of Rights. Boggs' argument is that if you actually read the bill then anyone with common sense would realize that the bill seeks to guarantee freedom of speech rather than restrict it. I apologize for my ignorance, but isn't that what we have a First Amendment for? Why do we need a bill to enhance freedom of speech? Boggs also says I know I am not the only one who has sat through a class irrelevant to contemporary politics only to hear how we are screwing things up in Iraq etc. Tim fails to state what classes he is referring to. Is a class on the Ancient Greek world irrelevant to contemporary politics? Irving Kristol, the godfather of neo-conservatism wrote an article entitled The Neoconservative Persuasion where he explains neo-conservatism (http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/000tzmlw.asp?pg=2). Kristol writes, There is no set of neoconservative beliefs concerning foreign policy
only a set of attitudes derived from historical experience. (The favorite neoconservative text on foreign affairs thanks to professors Leo Strauss of Chicago and Donald Kagan of Yale is Thucydides on the Peloponnesian War.). Given that statement, along with the massive documentation on neoconservative influence in U.S. foreign policy, doesn't that make Thucydides a legitimate topic for discussion in a class seemingly irrelevant to contemporary politics? If a professor is ranting about politics in a biology class, unless it concerns the theory of evolution, then you do have a say in what happens: it is called a student evaluation. That sort of conduct is a professional matter that should not be tolerated. Do you really need government to protect you from insidious forces seeking to control your thoughts, or should you take matters into your own hands and hold the professor accountable for their conduct? Additionally, if liberalism is so rampant and such a threat that we need to enact a bill, how does Mr. Boggs explain why college graduates identify themselves more as Republicans rather than Democrats? A recent Pew Research poll (http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=236) shows that by a slight majority more graduates of four year universities identify as Republican rather than Democrat. If there is a liberal conspiracy and indoctrination going on in the universities, then the professors must be doing a poor job. Thus, the need for State Senate Bill 24 would seem to be counterproductive since they are muzzling their best recruiters. Finally, I am sorry your professors are not kowtowing to your service in Iraq. I fail to see where that statement was relevant in an otherwise articulate article. Perhaps you would just rather be ignored, then you can complain about how veterans are ignored by a society who doesn't appreciate your sacrifice. As a veteran I don't expect anyone who hasn't served to understand why or to understand what I do. Perhaps you would feel more comfortable on active service where contrary opinions can be dealt with. If not, then get out and engage your professors and fellow student -you don't need the government to come to your rescue. You might just learn something new. -Richard McGaha is a Ph.D. student in history. Send him an e-mail at richard.mcgaha@ohiou.edu.
17
Archives
Letter to the Editor
