Professors: Misunderstood Teachers or Political Targets?

Lately, college and university professors have been under a lot of scrutiny. Especially during political campaigns, they've faced criticism for teaching subjects that some people might find controversial. For instance, during the recent debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Trump quoted Richard Nixon saying, "Professors are the enemy." This might seem surprising since most university teachers in the U.S. are state employees who have taken an oath to uphold the constitution. As a professor who teaches about U.S. slavery and abolition, it can feel tough when people accuse you of "enforcing dogma that is hostile to American conservatives." But the truth is, professors just teach what's in the historical record. It's not about personal or political beliefs. In fact, one of the great things about America is that we have the freedom to discuss and learn about different ideas without the government limiting speech.

It's important to remember that labeling professors as enemies can be dangerous. It's not true most of the time, and it can lead to violence on campus. College campuses have experienced shootings before, and it's a real worry that it could happen again. Everyone on campus deserves to feel safe and be treated with respect, even if there are disagreements about what should be taught in class. Most professors and staff spend their time trying to help students succeed, despite budget cuts and other challenges. It would be much easier to do this without feeling like targets. After all, the job of a professor is to teach students how to think, not what to think.

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