Stop the witch hunt

T here's an academic witch hunt taking place in Pennsylvania right now. However, unlike in centuries past, liberalism in the classroom is the new target. And the state government -- which is holding hearings on political diversity at colleges around Pennsylvania -- is far overstepping its bounds.

Many studies have shown that academia has long tilted to the left, but investigating bias in the classroom is an infringement of academic freedom, the very thing these hearings aim to protect.

Professors should be entitled and encouraged to hold opinions, but there are few instances at this University in which their opinions come into play in the classroom. And when professors do invoke their own beliefs, it's usually a starting point for discussion, at least at Penn.

When students do feel threatened by their professor's opinions, though, students should not take it to their legislators.

It is the responsibility of Pennsylvania's colleges to mold high school students into intelligent, creative and independent thinkers.

And it's the state government's responsibility to concentrate on vital issues, such as making college affordable and creating jobs for soon-to-be college graduates.

The state government must not waste taxpayers' dollars and media attention on non-issues.

Few professors on either side of the political spectrum are taking these laughable hearings seriously. Those involved have used their bully pulpit to simply occupy the media spotlight.

While Penn is not directly affected by the current actions of the state legislature -- the authorizing bill for these hearings named only "state-related or state-owned" institutions -- the hearings alone could have a chilling effect on academia.

One of the leaders of the movement behind the hearings, David Horowitz, called Penn professor Michael Eric Dyson's hip-hop culture class an "intellectual disgrace."

If allowed to continue, this issue will not stop with public institutions.

In the interest of maintaining the most intellectually stimulating and engaging environment possible, issues involving academic freedom should be left to students and their respective universities.

These hearings should remind professors to always be careful of what they say -- and not push students into accepting any particular viewpoint or create a culture unaccepting of intellectual diversity.

Conservative students who feel threatened by academia's liberal slant should make their views heard and create an opportunity for themselves to better understand their own views.

These hearings are attempting to create an issue where one doesn't exist. Pennsylvania representatives should spend their time on important issues, not turning themselves into the 21st-century Joseph McCarthy of academia.

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