Professors may not affect views much

An article of faith among conservative critics of US universities has been that liberal professors politically indoctrinate their students. This conviction not only fueled the culture wars but has also led state lawmakers to consider requiring colleges to submit reports to the government detailing their progress in ensuring "intellectual diversity," prompted universities to establish faculty positions devoted to conservatism, and spurred the creation of a network of volunteer watchdogs to monitor "political correctness" on campuses.

But three sets of researchers recently concluded that professors have virtually no impact on the political views and ideology of their students.

If there has been a conspiracy among liberal faculty members to influence students, "they've done a pretty bad job," said A. Lee Fritschler, a professor of public policy at George Mason University and an author of the new book "Closed Minds? Politics and Ideology in American Universities" (Brookings Institution Press).

The notion that students are induced to move leftward "is a fantasy," said Jeremy D. Mayer, another of the book's authors.

NEW YORK TIMES