Classrooms affected by partisan politics

Although I am not a student at the University of Iowa, I attended two colleges in Dubuque and took classes at Kirkwood Community College.

UI Professor Jeff Cox (April 15 “Perspective” article) says most professors try to keep partisan politics out of the classroom, but I know from experience this is generally not the case. Top colleges do not have robotic professors droning facts.

We, as adults, need to be honest in saying that if you feel passionate about something, it affects your “world view” and the way you express yourself.

In the article, Cox also says that while it may be true more professors are liberal, it's because many faculty see Democrats as being more supportive of higher education. Huh?

Most, if not all, Republicans support higher education. That's how you get ahead in our capitalist society - through hard work, determination and education. But Republicans might not want to pay the tuition of every college student, believing that earning your way is half the education itself.

Cox's own bias is shown in the very statement he makes to defend liberal professors! Certainly Democrats could not be “more supportive” than Republicans.

One cannot help but be swayed by his or her own conscience (just recall UI Professor Ellen Lewin's “F - You” email comment to Republican students). To say otherwise is disingenuous or dishonest.

There, I just “set the tone” for my own political views, without ever having divulged my “partisan politics.”

Spenser Hartman

Dubuque