SMU’s Center for Teaching Excellence hosted a paneldiscussion regarding the role of politics in the classroomWednesday afternoon in Dallas Hall’s McCord Auditorium.

Senior history and English double-major Scott Charney andsophomore communications major Lauren Leahy joined historyprofessor Ed Countryman and political science professor MichaelLusztig, along with law professor and panel moderator Bill Bridge,for the discussion, which covered such topics as free speech in theclassroom, bias and the relationship between professor andstudent.

“There are always politics involved in theclassroom,” Countryman said at the outset of the discussion.”My job is to open things up and let the students talk aboutit.”

The four panelists all seemed to agree that both professors andstudents will have separate political beliefs and backgrounds, buttheir opinions about the size of the role it plays in the overalllearning experience was anything but common ground.

“Bias is universal,” Lusztig said, “but Iwonder what difference it makes. It’s not important if youlean to the left or the right [politically], but what matters iswhether or not you are tolerant of others’ ideas.”

Leahy said , “What’s provided in class is notnecessarily true. I always go into a class assuming that theprofessor has his or her own political perspective.

“The concept of classroom bias makes the typical student abit more timid when it comes to expressing their thoughts. Forothers, it may be an initiative to challenge a bitharder.”

“In this power relationship,” Countryman said,”I am the one giving the grade from A to F. On that count, Ican’t do anything but wear my own heart on my sleeve.

“Unashamedly, I lay my liberal credentials out infront.”

Charney explained that, while differing viewpoints can play arole, he tries to maintain an open mind regarding a course.

“I don’t go into a class with a certain assumptionabout the professor,” he said.

Aside from bias, another topic of discussion was the role ofboth professor and student in the classroom.

“Our responsibility as students is to do exactly what theprofessors push us to do,” Leahy said, “thinkcritically, analyze things, and look into the theories thatthey’re telling us.”

Countryman described the classroom as a place where,”we’re talking about comments, and people agree to goback and forth.”

Lusztig presented his opinion in the form of six rules by whichdiscussions should be based.

“First of all, we need to teach students to be on thelookout for bias.

“Second, they need to lay their cards out on the table.While keeping this in mind, it is also important to remember tofollow all of the rules,” Lutzig said.

He continued by illustrating the notions that theories should bechallenged, and professors ought to encourage students to challengeboth the theories and lectures.

“Finally, and perhaps most important,” he added,”the prerogative of the student in the classroom is tointerpret what they learn as they see fit.”

Bridge offered a unique viewpoint on the role of the professor,stating that, “the most successful teachers are those whofeel most passionately about their subject.”

While not always agreeing on the specifics, all four panelistsdid appear to find common ground on the fact that there is a timeand place for politics in the classroom.

“Students have a right to know where I stand,”Countryman said.

Leahy added that, “College is the quintessential time forstudents to find themselves. We’re constantly looking forwhat we want to take with us beyond graduation.”

In order to achieve this endowment of knowledge, classroomdiscussions, a right to free speech and an open mind are allnecessities for professors and students alike.

“I think one of the important things to remember is that[students] are not robots,” Leahy stated. “Wedon’t process every single thing a professor says asabsolutely true.”

The next CTE event will be part of the Spring 2004 Brown BagSeries. Assistant professor of history Crista DeLuzio and UserServices & Outreach Librarian Rebecca Graff will lead”Facilitating Undergraduate Research”.

The discussion will cover such topics from research methods toplagiarism, and will take place at 12:30-2 p.m. on Feb. 19 in theTexana Room of the DeGolyer Library.