Closed Minds?: Politics and Ideology in American Universities
"The authors shed light, always through their numbers and sometimes with their prose, on an important topic in American discourse. It's a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the topice" —Robert VerBruggen,The American Spectator"The question of ideological bias in universities has been debated for years. Bruce Smith, Jeremy Mayer, and Lee Fritschler have approached this question with scrupulous research and open minds. They have come up with conclusions that probably surprised them —and will certainly surprise others." —Alan Brinkley, Columbia University"This thoughtful study will not generate universal agreement but it warrants the attention of anyone who cares about the future of American universities. Our universities create our future leaders so the kind of environment they provide is a central subject and one ably explored in this important book." —Lawrence H. Summers, Harvard University"The purpose ofClosed Minds?is to present an impartial assessment of the right's accusations that liberal dogmatists are using their power to indoctrinate postsecondary students, to deny access to faculty positions to conservative scholars an systematically to undermine well-established interpretations of American history and life in the United States today. Smith, Mayer and Fritschler have done a commendable job." —Howard A. Doughty,The Innovation Journal"A fascinating tour of one aspect of the culture wars debate and its effect on universities. Based on an exhaustive survey, the authors conclude that, while most professors lean liberal and Democratic, there are no serious or major issues of bias in college teaching or the hiring of faculty." —C. Peter Magrath,West Virginia University Newsletter