Quote:
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Rothman sees the findings as evidence of "possible discrimination" against conservatives in hiring and promotion. Even after factoring in levels of achievement, as measured by published work and organization memberships, "the most likely conclusion" is that "being conservative counts against you," he said. "It doesn't surprise me, because I've observed it happening."
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Nothing in the article explains how one of the two researchers came to such a near-conclusion, that there is in fact discrimination against conservatives vs. the more likely prospect that there are simply far less conservatives who have desired the profession of an academic.
I don't take the researchers conclusions seriously and I question the numbers.
But more importantly, so what? For most students, liberal professors are ideal. Liberalism being the philosophy that includes exploration as opposed to constancy. In that respect, it would negatively impact students and society at large if it were to shift towards conservatism.
However, I do agree that it will shift - but not due to any constant rate of fluctuation (in my mind, higher learning has always been more liberal than the "norm"). No, mainly due to the impressive/oppressive control of discourse that conservatives have obtained in the past 30 years.