A problem that is especially difficult to correct is the predominance of liberal and liberal-leaning professors, especially in social science and humanities departments, where they often outnumber conservatives by 10 or even 15 to one. As a result, there is an important body of conservative thought that is now nearly or completely absent on the faculties of many eminent universities. That is not ideal for educating students or for fruitful collegial discussion and disagreement within the faculty. Surveys show that most professors in most universities agree.
In seeking to solve this problem, universities should certainly not compromise their rigorous standards for making faculty appointments. Still, it is possible to make some immediate progress by trying to hire conservatives as visiting professors or lecturers while also encouraging conservative students with ability to consider embarking on an academic career.
Universities with predominantly liberal faculties also need to take particular care not to indoctrinate their students or appear to be doing so. In surveys of undergraduates, large numbers of respondents report that many of their professors express their political opinions during class, most often on matters unrelated to the subject matter of the course. Although large majorities of the students say they are not influenced by their instructors’ opinions, conservatives are unlikely to consider this evidence convincing. Moreover, in several courses that have been introduced in recent decades on subjects such as women’s studies and race relations, the line between indoctrination and a simple statement of facts can be hard to draw.
Difficult problems.....
