Intellectual Diversity

This letter is in response to Mike Dickinson’s article entitled “Professors under fire: Accusations of campus liberalism undermine intellectual freedom.” Teachers, much like parents, have a powerful influence on developing minds, it is important that we do in fact hear various opinions, the question remains whether the professors are actually indoctrinating students, providing only one view, when a professor feels strongly about an issue, and voices it, are those who feel differently able to voice their opinions without the fear of being unfairly graded? Perhaps the students who are trying to establish their positions on various issues are only hearing one side. If the teacher plays devils advocate and always attempts to show various views rather than their particular view, it provides for the open and free environment of the exchange of ideas, which academia is meant to be. In our academic careers, we should question all opinions even those with which we agree, as that is the way to enrich our own arguments and views.