• From a Sociological Perspective

I've been a student at this college for three years, and I must say that it is a privilege to observe and participate in various events, forums, and classroom settings that encourage all sorts of political discussion. But once again, staff writers at the Corsair demonstrate a lack of journalistic foresight by exploring issues of academic freedom and academic objectivity concerning politics at SMC through a "liberal" or "conservative" analysis.

As a sociology major, I've learned that any attempt of binary analysis, from race (black/white), class (rich/poor), to gender (masculinity/femininity, woefully overlooks the fluidity and variability within social groups and institutions. In arguing that SMC is a "liberal" institution lacking "conservative" ideas, proponents of the binary miss acknowleging that views of state budget cuts, civil liberties, and U.S. foreign policy cover a wide spectrum of ideas and perspectives that are evident in classrooms and campus activities.  By declaring that the "good ol' days liberal days of SMC are almost over" through the organizing of a Republican student club, students are presented with the familiar, simplistic notion that political speech is limited to two ideologies.

Students should be informed that political speech expressed by professors is not indicative of an institutions' "liberal political agenda." If they disagree or feel offended with such speech, they have the power to challenge, listen, and encourage other students to level the political discussion in the classroom. They also have the choice of speaking with their professors during their office hours, or drop the class if they feel that they belong in a more comfortable academic environment.

Staff writers at the Corsair should offer a better critical analysis of HOW faculty/student walkouts, protests, and class discussions are an encouraging sign of a growing populace that is exercising their diverse political speech. By stimatizing a select group of faculty and an educational institution for promoting a "liberal" political agenda, staff writers suppress ANY possibility of diverse political dialogue and action that is needed for free speech at SMC to flourish.

Kevin Chicas,
SMC Sociology Major