The campus atmosphere has become so bad for conservatives that even New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof confesses there’s “liberal intolerance.”
“We progressives believe in diversity” and “want women, blacks, Latinos, gays and Muslims at the table — er, so long as they aren’t conservatives,” Kristof wrote. “Universities are the bedrock of progressive values, but the one kind of diversity that universities disregard is ideological and religious. We’re fine with people who don’t look like us, as long as they think like us,” he continued.
Kristof takes a step back in writing “O.K., that’s a little harsh” before mentioning George Yancey, a black sociologist. Yancey told Kristof he has faced more problems in academia for being a Christian and that “it is not even close.”
Yancey is not the only example of a conservative targeted on campus. Jason L. Riley, a black, conservative author, was recently disinvited from Virginia Tech. Conservative professors barely exist because they have a difficult time getting hired, obtaining, and keeping tenure, as highlighted by Passing on the Right. When they do speak out, they’re punished and forced to turn to lawsuits. Perhaps Kristof’s confession isn’t “a little harsh” after all.
Kristof describes a “conversation [which] illuminated primarily liberal arrogance — the implication that conservatives don’t have anything significant to add to the discussion.” They have “incredible compassion” for all sorts of topics, including “even abused chickens, but no obvious empathy for conservative scholars facing discrimination.”
The issue is grave, as Kristof acknowledges:
Kristof admits that the “scarcity of conservatives seems driven in part by discrimination,” as backed up by studies. That there isn’t more of a discussion about “ideological diversity” on campuses is “a liberal blind spot” to Kristof. It may remain until other liberals admit the same.
