Letter to the editor: Student responds to columnist's claims of professors wielding political influence

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Posted: 3/9/10

Dear Editor,

Zach Psick presents once again in his column his belief that Hamline professors are basically liberal partisan hacks. This is the second or third time this year Hamline students have had the opportunity to read this argument, which Psick has conveniently regurgitated for us in the piece.

While we would all appreciate if Psick would write another column, instead of just rewriting the same one again and again, this is not the point of my letter. I would agree that professors here are of a liberal political leaning, but Psick jumps to the conclusion that this must mean they are going to try and shove their beliefs down our throats. Psick has no evidence to support this argument. And it doesn't make any sense either.

Academia thrives on the marketplace of ideas - not their suppression. Empirical evidence doesn't support Psick's claim either. According to a 2008 study, "Indoctrination U.? Faculty Ideology and Changes in Student Political Orientation," (you can Google it and get a summary) which was conducted by two professors one of whom is an active Republican, the other an active Democrat found little evidence that students were being indoctrinated.

Unless you consider a five percent increase in students who consider themselves to be liberal indoctrination.I hope that in future Psick can find the time to write about the very real issues that face the Hamline community (that he apparently hasn't found) and the United States at large.

Richard Dornfeld, '12