A new program called Heterodox University aims to help students at intellectually one-sided college campuses "reduce political orthodoxy" and bring about "greater viewpoint diversity" at their schools, Campus Reform reports.
The program, spearheaded by Heterodox Academy, provides participants with resolutions they can submit to their student governments on three main issues: the adoption of the Chicago Principles on Freedom of expression, the implementation of a non-obstruction policy for protests, and a clear commitment to improving "viewpoint diversity."
With the recent surge in "safe spaces," "trigger warnings," and movements to prevent conservatives from speaking at prominent college campuses, there has been a dearth of visiting speakers and professors who are not left-wing, Heterodox Academy committee member Jonathan Haidt wrote in the announcement.
Calling all college students: Do you love the intellectual climate on your campus? Or do you sometimes wish that a broader range of viewpoints was represented in the classroom, and by invited speakers? Are some students reluctant to speak up in class because they are afraid they’ll be shunned if they question the dominant viewpoint?
American college campuses have been growing more politically purified since the 1990s. Professors and visiting speakers who are not on the left, politically, are becoming increasingly rare. This should concern you—especially if you are on the left. Political orthodoxy impoverishes everyone’s education. Exposure to a diversity of viewpoints (i.e., heterodoxy) is the best way to expand your mind and improve your ability to deal with the politically diverse world you’ll find after graduation.
The University of Chicago made news along similar lines this week with a letter to the incoming class of 2020 that the school's commitment to "academic freedom" meant it not support safe spaces, banning controversial speakers, or trigger warnings for possibly offensive material.
As Campus Reform reported, Haidt said many professors and students would be happy to have a wider breadth of opinion on their campuses:
"We think that there are many schools where a majority of students, including many or most on the left, would welcome a more vibrant intellectual climate, one that makes room for students, professors, and visiting speakers who are on the left," he continued. "But at present, these students have few ways to make their wishes known."
While Heterodox Academy focuses mostly on increasing political diversity among college faculty, it plans to roll out several new student resources over the course of the fall semester, including the "fearless speech index," an online survey that will allow administrators to "measure the degree to which students feel free to speak up in class."
Haidt also encouraged interested students to "read our blog post on the subject" and "find out what it takes at your school to introduce a campus-wide referendum.
"Even if an initiative fails," he asserted, "we think that a campus-wide discussion of viewpoint diversity would be a good thing."
Note: This article has been updated.