Universities Professors Show Near Unanimity in Democratic Preference

2024 Presidential Election: A Divisive Battle

The 2024 presidential election is predicted to be the most divisive in history. The public is almost evenly divided between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. However, there seems to be near unanimity among one group: professors.

Survey Reveals Democratic Preference Among Professors

A recent survey of over 1,000 professors revealed that 78% would vote for Harris, while only 8% would vote for Trump. This result is hardly surprising given the gradual removal of conservative, libertarian, and dissenting professors from departments across the country. The lack of political and intellectual diversity may be discouraging some donors and applicants from higher education.

Call for Universities to Reject Neutrality

In a recent op-ed, Wesleyan University President Michael Roth called on universities to reject “institutional neutrality” and officially support Kamala Harris. He argued against fears of appearing partisan and compared Trump’s election to the rise of the Nazis.

Intolerance in Higher Education

The intolerance in higher education is evident in the fact that many departments no longer have a single Republican faculty member. The ideological echo chamber is hardly appealing to many who are facing rising tuition costs with little hope of being taught by faculty with opposing views.

Georgetown Study on Law School Professors

A recent Georgetown study found that only nine percent of law school professors identify as conservative at the top 50 law schools. This aligns with the percentage of Trump voters found in the recent poll.

Harvard Law School: A Case Study

Harvard Law School recently found itself at the bottom of the annual ranking of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). The Harvard Crimson has documented how the school’s departments have virtually eliminated Republicans. In one study of multiple departments last year, they found that more than 75 percent of the faculty self-identified as “liberal” or “very liberal.” Only 5 percent identified as “conservative,” and only 0.4% as “very conservative.”

Impact of Academic Echo Chamber

The impact of this academic echo chamber is evident in surveys showing that 28 percent of Harvard students engaged in self-censorship. This figure has doubled since 2021. Students depend on professors for recommendations, and challenging the orthodoxy at the school can threaten their standing.

Resistance to Change

There is little likelihood that Harvard or higher education will change. Academics like Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley law school, have denounced conservative justices as mere “partisan hacks.” Other faculty have joined in claims that Trump and his supporters are “fascists” out to destroy democracy.

Bottom Line

The political polling of professors reflects the near complete removal of conservative faculty from colleges. The question remains whether donors or applicants will continue to support an echo chamber that has become ideologically deafening. What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you think this trend will continue or change in the future? Share this article with your friends and let us know your opinion. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is everyday at 6pm.