2008 Woodie Awards
Do politics belong on campus?
Point/Counterpoint
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Opinion
HEIDI NANIGAN:
Should politics be kept out of our educational system because they bring up controversy? Who has the right to say what is politically controversial and what is not?
"Without academic freedom, the reality is that many faculty members would be chilled and timid in expressing their views and the discussion for thought would be lost," said Erwin Chemerinsky, newly-appointed dean of Donald Bren school of Law at U.C. Irvine who nearly lost his position due to his politics last week.
Discussion within a college setting is what most institutions depend upon in order to get their point across. If the teacher has beliefs that the educational system doesn't agree with, does that mean that their discussions will come to a halt? Would professors have to go back to lecturing strictly from the textbook instead of incorporating some of their own personal experiences?
Some of the best courses that I've taken were those classes that gave us the opportunity as students to speak out and debate about issues at hand.
We were able to learn from our professors' experiences as well as the students around us. Furthermore, I am sure there are English, history and math teachers out there that have strong political beliefs as well. It hasn't stopped them from being able to do their jobs in a professional way.
The last time I checked, we have the right to freedom of speech, whether it is in an educational system, out on the picket lines or in the work place.
People may not like your beliefs but it shouldn't prevent you from being able to do your job to the best of your ability.
Freedom of speech does not exclude professors and deans from publicly commenting on the important issues because of how it will reflect on their institution.
JARROD MOORE:
For most students, college is a breeding ground for free-thought as well as a time of self-discovery and realization in the passage to adulthood. It's when the mind shapes itself socially, idealistically and politically. This is exactly why politics have no place in the classroom.
Should politics be kept out of our educational system because they bring up controversy? Who has the right to say what is politically controversial and what is not?
"Without academic freedom, the reality is that many faculty members would be chilled and timid in expressing their views and the discussion for thought would be lost," said Erwin Chemerinsky, newly-appointed dean of Donald Bren school of Law at U.C. Irvine who nearly lost his position due to his politics last week.
Discussion within a college setting is what most institutions depend upon in order to get their point across. If the teacher has beliefs that the educational system doesn't agree with, does that mean that their discussions will come to a halt? Would professors have to go back to lecturing strictly from the textbook instead of incorporating some of their own personal experiences?
Some of the best courses that I've taken were those classes that gave us the opportunity as students to speak out and debate about issues at hand.
We were able to learn from our professors' experiences as well as the students around us. Furthermore, I am sure there are English, history and math teachers out there that have strong political beliefs as well. It hasn't stopped them from being able to do their jobs in a professional way.
The last time I checked, we have the right to freedom of speech, whether it is in an educational system, out on the picket lines or in the work place.
People may not like your beliefs but it shouldn't prevent you from being able to do your job to the best of your ability.
Freedom of speech does not exclude professors and deans from publicly commenting on the important issues because of how it will reflect on their institution.
JARROD MOORE:
For most students, college is a breeding ground for free-thought as well as a time of self-discovery and realization in the passage to adulthood. It's when the mind shapes itself socially, idealistically and politically. This is exactly why politics have no place in the classroom.
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