In a time where intellectualism and expertise have been facing intense scrutiny in the public eye, the University of New England’s latest President’s Forum, ‘Are Colleges and Universities Too Liberal?’, tries to find an answer by reflecting on the role of higher education in American society.
Is higher education a left-wing echo chamber indoctrinating America’s youth? Is the recent wave of concern about universities a return to 20th-century McCarthyism? Though faced with a number of troubles, including one panelist having to leave early due to an unfortunately timed fire drill, UNE’s forum brought together four panelists from across the country to discuss those questions and more.
The University hosted the 9th President’s Forum on February 13th. Due to inclement weather, the event was held over Zoom instead of in person. Samuel J. Abrams, professor of politics at Sarah Lawrence College and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joined with Reason magazine assistant editor Emma Camp to argue that higher education in the United States has shifted too far to the left of the political spectrum, impacting research and keeping universities from being a place to debate diverse viewpoints.
Opposing Abrams and Camp were Florida Southwestern State College professors of history Brandon Jett and Lynn Pasquerella, former president of Mount Holyoke College and current president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities. The debate was moderated by Jennifer DeBurro, UNE’s dean of students and vice president of Student Affairs.
Camp and Abrams argue that the core of the issue is self-censorship. College professors and students that differ from the majority opinion are frightened of reprisal. This atmosphere of fear prevents colleges from being a “more vibrant and educational sphere,” as Abrams phrased it. According to Camp, colleges are harboring “illiberal” and undemocratic notions that restrict controversial speech.
Jett and Pasquerella responded by saying that the source of any reprisal doesn’t come from the university itself. Students are too stubborn to be easily swayed by professors. “Indoctrination, if we wanted to do it, is not as easy as we think,” said Pasquerella. Instead, she claims that students are the ones cultivating self-censorship through social dynamics outside of the classroom.
During the Q&A segment at the end of the event, Camp offered advice for students who want to engage with differing viewpoints. “Pick your friends well,” she said, proceeding to talk about her own college experience with a debate society at the University of Virginia.
Jett finished the event by speaking on the importance of colleges and universities to the local communities they serve. He talked about how, oftentimes, a student’s professors are the only people they feel comfortable talking to about controversial topics because other figures in their lives shrug off the question.
The next President’s Forum has yet to be announced.
