By Christopher Flickinger–Human Events–04/11/06
The first national Academic Freedom Conference gets an A+ from “the dean.”
The event — held in Washington D.C. last Thursday and Friday — allowed me to meet with people from various organizations that are dedicated to taking politics (the professors’ politics) out of the classrooms. It also gave me an opportunity to survey the “academic landscape” as students from campuses across the nation described horror stories of liberal indoctrination.
David Horowitz, author of “The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America” and his group, Students for Academic Freedom, organized the conference. Panel discussions were held, testimonials were given and education reform was in the spotlight.
Horowitz touted his Academic Bill of Rights, which holds professors and administrators accountable to a teaching standard established by American Association of University Professors. That “standard” states, “Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject.” Horowitz accurately pointed-out that educators have long since abandoned their own policy.
The conference also featured young conservatives who attested to liberalism pervasive hand throughout higher education. Student speakers came from campuses across the nation including University of California at Davis, Temple, Georgia Tech, Duke and other institutions of higher liberal indoctrination.
Although the forum focused on bias in the classroom, I believe its most beneficial aspect was the convening of various groups and individuals who are determined to restore academic excellence and intellectual integrity. The effort to end liberal bias on campus has been gaining steam, and the Academic Freedom Conference provided the first opportunity for those of us involved in the cause to finally meet.
Human Events U, the Network of College Conservatives, Young America’s Foundation, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Students for Academic Freedom, the Alliance Defense Fund and other such groups all have a common link — ending liberal indoctrination. Each group offers a unique way of combating liberal bias on campus. And, after meeting and talking with each other at this conference, many of us will be combining our efforts and working together to strengthen the movement.
Now, in an obvious attempt to diminish the success of the conference, a story posted at the leftwing website CampusProgress.org claims, “The majority of the people in attendance were either on one of the panels or were a spouse/ child/ assistant to a panel member.”
Wrong. I wasn’t on a panel nor was I related to anyone who spoke.
The story also says, “Horowitz was on pretty much every panel.”
Wrong again. Panels consisted of students, education experts and legislators. While Horowitz sat-in on a few discussions, he wasn’t featured on “pretty much every panel.” Then again, even if he was, how would that be an issue? He hosted the conference, his group — Students for Academic Freedom — organized the event, and he just published a book on the “most dangerous professors.” Yeah, I think I would want to hear from him.
Ladies and gentlemen, the future of higher education is bright for conservatives!
The school year is coming to an end, but Human Events U and the Network of College Conservatives is just getting started. We will continue to get our “ducks in a row” so that by next fall when school starts, conservatives on campus will see an unprecedented effort to bring liberal indoctrination to an end. This is an exciting time for college students — especially conservative students!
Mr. Flickinger is the “dean” of Human Events U and founder of the Network of Campus Conservatives. He is a native of Pittsburgh, who graduated from Ohio University Scripps School of Journalism with specializations in political science and economics
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