> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
> Behalf Of Gautam Mukunda
> Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 8:56 AM

...

> Despite the claims of a lot of people, I don't think
> any serious person could claim that there isn't an
> overwhelming leftward bias to hiring in academia.
> Heck, I've had professors I was close to state quite
> openly that they would never consider extending an
> offer to any conservative.  Unless you want to explain
> some other reason why the proportion of Republicans on
> college campuses, particularly top-tier campuses, is
> so low.

I wouldn't make that argument.  No question that academia is generally
liberal.  And that doesn't surprise me a bit.  Academia, especially when
there's research involved, is inherently progressive, constantly
questioning.  The value of conservatism is in its resistance to change, so
it has a certain natural opposition to inquisitive questioning.

At their best, conservatives preserve what's good about what we have; at
their worst, liberals question everything.  At their worst, conservatives
try to hang onto everything; at their best, liberals open our eyes to
progress.

I should note, I suppose, that I'm the offspring of a college professor and
middle school English teacher.  And I majored in writing and speech.  I've
had to work a bit at appreciating the role of the conservative point of
view!  And you've helped in that, I'll add.

Nick

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