Academic Freedom

Bolstered by studies that show college instructors are overwhelmingly left-leaning Democrats, conservative groups are raising alarms about what they call political indoctrination on campus. Students who complain that professors ridicule their conservative religious and political views have turned for protection to campus speech codes instituted in the 1980s to protect women and minority students. Other groups are pushing hard to get the codes eliminated, arguing that they enforce left-wing ideological conformity. A growing number of Web sites collect and publicize reports of politically biased professors, courses and departments, as conservatives accuse academics of voicing opinions that could weaken public resolve in a time of war. In response, Congress and 18 states are considering legislation that would require publicly funded universities to ensure there is a diversity of opinion on campus and that students don't feel put upon by professors' views.