Why ETSU needs to welcome ideological diversity

We live in an age calling for more and more diversity. CNN recently even had a (humorous) headline about the Caucasians on Trump’s Coronavirus task force, calling it “another example of Trump administration’s lack of diversity.” In such an age, one area of diversity is ironically often left out—diversity of opinion, or diversity of viewpoint, as ETSU professor Dr. Kevin O’Donnell would prefer to say. There is an emphasis on a certain way of thinking – an idolization of a monolithic ideology that is vehemently opposed to challenges. I have found there to be an unfair suppression of ideas that are contrary to this dominant way of thinking, and even to evidences that may support those ideas.

One place known for being a center for ideas is the university, an institution that should be a marketplace of ideas where people welcome the introduction of alternative viewpoints and can critically assess them. Unfortunately, however, universities have earned a bad reputation for being intolerant to diverse ways of thinking, as opposed to entertaining them for a fruitful discussion.

Thankfully, I have had many wonderful professors, but that does not mean ETSU is quite exempt. Over a dozen students have let me know they have felt a professor was being unfair toward them or their viewpoint.

That kind of mentality not only pushes students away, but is also detrimental to the acquisition of knowledge. Galileo, a cornerstone in the history of science, was once prosecuted for supporting the idea that the planets revolved around the sun, and the Roman Catholic Church convicted him of heresy, forcing him to live under house arrest for the rest of his life. The persecution we see today toward legitimate scholars with dissenting opinions is similar.

Professor Caroline Crocker, author of “Free to Think: Why Scientific Integrity Matters,” lost her teaching position at George Mason University after she, in her words, “questioned aspects of Darwinist theory.” We can also see the scientific bias in the case of Richard Sternberg, an evolutionist who allowed the publication of a research paper presenting evidence for intelligent design and subsequently was forced to resign. The fact is that legitimate, qualified scholars have different ways of looking at evidence to come to their conclusions. They should be respected because of their qualifications, and thus differing opinions should be valued and interacted with – not persecuted.

Thus, ETSU and other universities should aim to hire more professors who, although not embracing every view, will tolerate other views while still giving critical feedback on them. We already have many great professors who would agree with me on this, and in the future I hope to see ETSU become even more welcoming to ideological diversity.