Concern about political bias in the classroom, which has long been a topic of debate in academia, has re-emerged on campus in recent weeks.
The issue was raised most recently by Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) in conjunction with the proposal of an academic bill of rights, spearheaded by College Republicans President Alex Linhart '06, which ultimately failed. An academic bill of rights passed by the student government of Bates College last year stated that "academic freedom and intellectual diversity are values indispensable to the American university."
According to advocates of the bill, its passage would affirm that faculty will not "be hired or fired or denied promotion or tenure on the basis of his or her religious beliefs," nor shall they "use their courses for the purpose of political, ideological, religious or anti-religious indoctrination." Rather, faculty "should consider and make their students aware of other viewpoints."
Students would also be granted protection in the bill, which claims that "students will be graded solely on the basis of their reasoned answers and appropriate knowledge of the subjects and disciplines they study, not on the basis of their political or religious beliefs."
BSG voted against endorsing the bill of rights 3-16, with three members abstaining from the vote. Many members felt that the bill did not apply specifically to the College, which already has similar political and religious protection in place for students and faculty.
Linhart expressed a different opinion.
"In traditional BSG fashion, the bill failed to pass as certain members of the Academic Affairs Committee bowed to administration pressures...we must continue to forge along to obtain freedom from discrimination on our political views," he said.
Even with measures being taken by the College, some students said they have still felt discriminated against.
"I've had teachers who have had such an agenda because of their political biases that they refuse to even entertain ideas which disagree with their own," Ferd Convery '06 said. "I've been marked down on papers because I refused to give in to my teacher's agenda, and numerous students in that class had the same thing happen to them."
In testimony in front of the Maine Legislature this past summer, several Bowdoin students shared their negative experiences and endorsed the academic bill of rights.
"When I arrived as a college freshman...I was set in my ideological views," one student said. "However, within weeks, I no longer felt comfortable expressing my opinions...my professors continually derided the institutions and values I held sacred, actively compelling me to let my voice fall silent."
"I do think it is sometimes difficult for conservative students to speak up in class because they feel that they are in the minority," said Professor of Government and Legal Studies Paul Franco. He said, however, that as the number of conservative students on campus has grown in recent years, "it has become easier for them to express their views in class."
In other testimony, a student said, "I am a disciple of Christ, and during my several years as a Bowdoin student, professors have expressed contempt towards my faith in God." The student then referenced a hostile verbal attack by one professor and mentioned another professor who threw a Bible to the floor.
A third student criticized a course he took at Bowdoin in Marxian economics, saying it failed at "incorporating opposing viewpoints."
Linhart believes that changing the courses offered at the College would help to ease the political bias he sees on campus, noting, "They are all pretty much of a certain point of view."
Thomas Brackett Reed Professor of History and Political Science Dan Levine takes a difference stance on bias at Bowdoin. "Liberal bias in the classroom is an accusation of conservatives who want more conservative ideas in the classroom," he said.
"You encourage students to take points of view, whether they are your points of view or other points of view," Levine added. "But sometimes, you tell students their points of view are nonsense."
Assistant Professor of Government and Legal Studies Michael Franz noted, "I take it as my responsibility not to take one side consistently...you should not be punished for expressing your views."
In an unscientific self-selecting survey of 649 Bowdoin students taken by BSG, 98 said that they felt they had been discriminated against in an academic setting because of their political, religious, or sexual beliefs.
When asked, "Do you believe that a professor's political, religious, or sexual leanings influences the way he/she teaches the class?" 459 students said 'Yes,' while 190 said 'No.'
Linhart commented on the results. "One hundred students is one hundred too many. Even people who don't feel discriminated against feel it should be addressed."
BSG member Kendall Brown '06 agreed.
"If one person feels discriminated against, then we need to take action," she said.