The Colorado Board of Regents wants to take a poll to find out whether ideology governs hiring practices in the university system and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is clearly not happy about it. “It remains to be seen whether or not this survey will lead to the adoption of such a litmus test,” Henry Reichman [1], chair of the AAUP’s Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure stated yesterday. “We are encouraged by reports that faculty representatives will participate in the design and implementation of this survey.”
The skeptical might wonder if the “faculty representatives” will neutralize the study, particularly given some of the stated views of the faculty. “I’ve been here for twelve years and I don’t think the issue they’re bringing up is the problem they’re characterizing it to be,” Professor Paul Chinowsky, professor of engineering and incoming chair of the Boulder Faculty Assembly, said. “And I don’t think the average faculty member thinks it is. . . . Is this a result of someone’s agenda?”
He claims that allegations that the campus tilts left are “just plain wrong.” “If you look across campus, it’s actually a very diverse campus,” he insists. But does he want to limit the view?
Malcolm A. Kline is the Executive Director of Accuracy in Academia.
If you would like to comment on this article, e-mail mal.kline@academia.org [2].