See the text of the bill at <http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_SB_24>.
<blockquote>Bill Targets Political Bias at Colleges By Kurt Moore, kdmoore at nncogannett.com The Marion Star Originally published Saturday, January 29, 2005 <http://www.marionstar.com/news/stories/20050129/localnews/1931667.html>
MARION -- Ohio Sen. Larry Mumper, R-Marion, is issuing a plea to fellow legislators to demand equality on college campuses.
The equality he is demanding is not one of race or gender. He is proposing a bill that he said would "open up debate" by prohibiting political bias at institutions of higher learning.
While not detailed in his bill, Mumper believes that bias currently exists and is leaning a bit too far towards the liberal left. The bill, similar to ones introduced in other state legislatures, is likely to spur controversy and already has an Ohio State University at Marion professor asking Mumper to offer up some proof.
Mumper is co-sponsor of Senate Bill 24, which if passed would establish an academic bill of rights for higher education. Among other actions, the bill would:
# Prohibit "political, ideological, religious or anti-religious indoctrination" by instructors;
# Ban them from "persistently introducing controversial matter" not related to their subject of study;
# Require institutions to offer a broad range of opinions and viewpoints;
# And ban professors from discriminating against students based on their beliefs.
Mumper said he has been concerned about political bias on campuses for quite a few years and has heard horror stories from students who fear retribution if they express contrary views. He said his bill would prevent higher education from leaning too far in either direction.
"It opens up debate," he said. "It allows students to question theories, participate in classes without fear professors will grade them down."
His bill closely resembles conservative activist David Horowitz's proposed Academic Bill of Rights, also being pushed in other states including Indiana. Horowitz, in a column in FrontPage magazine.com, speaks out against what he calls a "blacklist of conservatives on American college campuses, their marginalization in undergraduate life and their virtual exclusion from liberal arts faculties."
Mumper, in an interview with The Columbus Dispatch, said he believes many professors undermine students' values because "80 percent or so of them are Democrats, liberals or socialists or card-carrying Communists" out to indoctrinate students. He said Friday that those exact words were meant in jest but said he does believe the wide majority are liberal.
He said he also believes a majority of invited speakers lean towards the left, but insists he isn't trying to turn the balance too far to the right either.
"I think it should be a situation where they should hear both sides," he said. "I just want things to be fair and open."
Efforts by states to push the Academic Bill of Rights has drawn criticism from the American Association of University Professors. Member Graham Larkin, a Stanford University professor, said in an AAUP column that such monitoring would "deprive people of fundamental liberties of expression" and any legislation would "lead to an ethical and administrative quagmire."
"Don't believe the double-talk," he wrote. "Mr. Horowitz and the so-called Students for Academic Freedom are enemies of free thought and free speech."
Mumper's bill has generated opposition from Ohio State University, where provost Barbara Snyder called such steps unnecessary and said universities already "support and encourage wide-ranging and robust explorations of the universe of ideas."
She said it also questions the professionalism of academics who have devoted their lives to teaching and to the principles of free expression and an open exchange of ideas.
Ohio State University at Marion Professor Dan Christie, who teaches psychology and peace studies, questioned whether Mumper can provide evidence that students are being indoctrinated.
Considering that conservatives are currently in charge, Christie said students are often familiar with the right side and must be given the left side in order to be given a well-rounded view.
"It's really our responsibility to figure out where our students are and where we have to go to round their views," he said.
Christie invited Mumper to come to the campus and explain his views as well as offer proof. Mumper said he would be willing to do so.
"I have reams and reams of examples," he said.
Mumper says bill would 'open up debate'
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* Critical Montages: <http://montages.blogspot.com/> * Greens for Nader: <http://greensfornader.net/> * Bring Them Home Now! <http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/> * OSU-GESO: <http://www.osu-geso.org/> * Calendars of Events in Columbus: <http://sif.org.ohio-state.edu/calendar.html>, <http://www.freepress.org/calendar.php>, & <http://www.cpanews.org/> * Student International Forum: <http://sif.org.ohio-state.edu/> * Committee for Justice in Palestine: <http://www.osudivest.org/> * Al-Awda-Ohio: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Al-Awda-Ohio> * Solidarity: <http://www.solidarity-us.org/>