As a conservative or libertarian student, the title of this blog post shouldn’t come as an earth-shattering revelation. It probably did not take long for you to realize that most of your professors are liberal and that many of them do not take kindly to students that dare to disagree with their “wisdom.” During my college years I can remember being afraid to speak up in class when I had an ideological difference with the professor. However, I was also fortunate to have had professors that encouraged debate and discussion. Unfortunately, this is not the norm - I got lucky.

The truth is that the majority of college professors have betrayed the core principles on which higher education was founded. I have always been fascinated by etymology, which is the study of the history and development of words (yes, I realize this is a nerdy admission, but please bear with me). The root of the word “university” itself shows just how much university professors have failed in their duty to students. “University” is derived from the Latin phrase, universitas magistrorum et scholarium, which means “community of masters and scholars.”

Thus, a university was designed to be a community in which students would learn through the exchange of ideas with their professors rather than through the absorption of dictated lessons. By attempting to silence the voices of dissenting students through embarrassment, intimidation, and even grade manipulation, liberal professors are destroying that community. The modern university, then, is no longer a sacred place where learning occurs through cooperation and free exchange, but a den of indoctrination.

Although the average college classroom may seem intimidating for conservative students, never allow fear to prevent you from respectfully voicing your opinion. I emphasize “respectfully” because outright confrontation will get you nowhere and, in the end, you will be just as guilty of destroying the community of learning as your authoritarian professor. Also, develop relationships with your professors. You would be surprised just how far visiting a professor’s office and discussing your differences in opinion will go to opening up the classroom.

Finally, if you do feel that you have been unjustly discriminated against for your beliefs, discuss the problem with the department head or the administration of the university. Again, however, I will caution you use the utmost respect when you do this. Your position is much stronger if you can maintain the high-ground and resist being sucked into petty, personal arguments.

Caroline Crocker has a great editorial in today’s Washington Examiner about the issue of intellectual freedom. Read it here.