2008 Woodie Awards
Survey Raises Eyebrows
LaGina Phillips
Issue date: 11/16/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Over the past couple weeks instructors have been asking students to fill out a 41-question Students Rights Survey during class about their political and religious views, including whether students think their instructors' views are pushed on them.
Suzanne Engler and Rebecca Stein, the anthropology instructors who created the survey, declined to comment on why the survey is being conducted despite the April rejection of The Academic (or Student) Bill of Rights, the legislation that the instructors cite in their cover letter to the survey.
However, congress is considering similar legislature that would affect the Higher Education Act and is expected to soon pass.
Stein and Engler created the Valley survey because "We noticed that there is a lack of scientific research on student experiences and attitudes on this issue," according to their letter included with the surveys.
The stated purpose of The Academic (or Student) Bill of Rights, written by Senator Bill Morrow, is to require colleges and universities to maintain political pluralism and diversity and to ensure that "faculty members will not use their courses or their position for the purpose of political, ideological, religious or anti-religious indoctrination."
"I think what is most troubling to me is that the [Education] Code would be modified and would include language that makes reference to a 'student immaturity,'" said Joanne Waddell, chapter president of Valley College's Faculty Guild. "If I were a student I would be insulted by the language. As an instructor I am insulted that [Morrow] thinks our students are so easily swayed."
Valley student Theresa Mariscal agrees with Waddell, saying, "We're adults now, we believe what we want to believe."
Political science instructor Anthony O'Regan thinks that it is a good idea to balance what instructors teach.
"I can't think of any sector of American life that has less diversity than academia," O'Regan said. "[But] I'm not sure that this specific legislation is a good idea."
Staff writers Jesus Esquivel and Marc Howard contributed to this story.
Suzanne Engler and Rebecca Stein, the anthropology instructors who created the survey, declined to comment on why the survey is being conducted despite the April rejection of The Academic (or Student) Bill of Rights, the legislation that the instructors cite in their cover letter to the survey.
However, congress is considering similar legislature that would affect the Higher Education Act and is expected to soon pass.
Stein and Engler created the Valley survey because "We noticed that there is a lack of scientific research on student experiences and attitudes on this issue," according to their letter included with the surveys.
The stated purpose of The Academic (or Student) Bill of Rights, written by Senator Bill Morrow, is to require colleges and universities to maintain political pluralism and diversity and to ensure that "faculty members will not use their courses or their position for the purpose of political, ideological, religious or anti-religious indoctrination."
"I think what is most troubling to me is that the [Education] Code would be modified and would include language that makes reference to a 'student immaturity,'" said Joanne Waddell, chapter president of Valley College's Faculty Guild. "If I were a student I would be insulted by the language. As an instructor I am insulted that [Morrow] thinks our students are so easily swayed."
Valley student Theresa Mariscal agrees with Waddell, saying, "We're adults now, we believe what we want to believe."
Political science instructor Anthony O'Regan thinks that it is a good idea to balance what instructors teach.
"I can't think of any sector of American life that has less diversity than academia," O'Regan said. "[But] I'm not sure that this specific legislation is a good idea."
Staff writers Jesus Esquivel and Marc Howard contributed to this story.
