'On Campus, the '60s Begin to Fade as Liberal Professors Retire' in today's NY Times addresses the ideological shift occurring in many college departments. Researchers Neil Gross and Solon Simmons conducted research on the political attitudes of professors teaching in programs where undergraduate degrees were awarded, and found that more professors are identifying themselves as moderates than in the past. Not surprisingly, the field with the largest percentage of self-identified liberals is the social science group.
What I think is most interesting is how the meanings of these words, 'moderate' or 'liberal' or 'conservative' are supposed to encompass the entire political philosophy and practical opinions of individuals, especially professors who may often have nuanced opinions due to their extensive training and research in a particular area. Further, in the sociological field a person's political leaning is becoming less relevant because of the current focus on quantitative research, which requires strict adherence to methodological and statistical norms.
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