Liberals prevail in classroom

The liberal tilt remains a presence in college classrooms to the distress of some students, according to a survey released yesterday by the Independent Women’s Forum.

The professors are an outspoken bunch.

The survey found that an “overwhelming majority” of the respondents — 70 percent — said their professors expressed their political views in class.

Those views are liberal, according to 43 percent of the respondents. Another 18 percent said the viewpoint was conservative, while 37 percent said they weren’t sure which way the professors leaned.

Other recent research indicates that liberals are abundant in the college classroom.

A 2002 survey by pollster Frank Luntz found that 3 percent of Ivy League professors were Republican and 57 percent were Democrats. Just 9 percent voted for President Bush while 84 percent voted for Al Gore in the 2000 election.

Last year, the Chronicle of Higher Education noted that just 15 percent of instructors at both public and private universities described themselves as conservative.

The IWF polled 724 students in late November — to reveal a few effects of this ideological trend.

A third of the respondents — 31 percent — said they had to complete assignments that required them “to take a philosophical position” that made them uncomfortable.

Another 31 percent said they were either “very uncomfortable” or “uncomfortable” expressing personal political views in class that deviated from their professor’s views. Another 25 percent said they were reluctant to share any personal political philosophy while in class.

Almost a quarter — 23 percent — said they were “afraid to speak up in class” because they did not agree with the political leanings of their professor.

Most, however, did not worry that a professor might penalize them over a political disagreement. Seventy-six percent said they did not believe their grade would suffer because of differences in opinion.

The surveyed students were engaged politically: 84 percent said they would most likely vote in the 2004 presidential election, while 52 percent said they were either “extremely” or “highly” interested in the election itself.

Among the respondents, 29 percent said they were Republicans, 32 percent were Democrats, 18 percent independent and 5 percent described themselves as “other.” Twelve percent were undecided.

A total of 35 percent said they favored Mr. Bush, 43 percent favored a Democratic nominee and 20 percent remained undecided.

Among the Republican students, 73 percent described themselves as conservative and 23 percent as moderates. Three-quarters of them said they would most likely vote.

Among Democrats, 53 percent were liberals and 32 percent were moderates. Sixty-five percent said they would most likely vote.

The complete survey can be viewed at the IWF Web site (www.iwf.org).