There are hundreds of liberal professors across the U.S. promoting their views in classrooms, and that environment is dangerous for students, David Horowitz, a conservative commentator and author, said on campus Thursday.
Horowitz was at ASU at the invitation of the College Republicans, who invited the author to speak about his book, "The Professors," in order to conclude their Conservative Pride Week.
More than 100 students attended the event, as well as state Rep. Laura Knaperek, R-Tempe.
"[Horowitz's] message is for students to have the ability to think on their own," Knaperek said.
Horowitz said professors should teach objectively.
"When schools produce students who learned to think on the left or on the right, they're not thinking for themselves," Horowitz said.
Because of Horowitz's controversial scrutiny of left-wing politics, his bodyguard and several ASU police officers were present to provide security.
Horowitz spoke about college professors who advocate liberal politics in the classroom.
"You can't get a real education if your professors are only giving you one side of the story," Horowitz said. "You also won't get an education if professors are blowing off leftist steam on the war in Iraq or the racist hurricane."
Horowitz said his book documents professors who have no business teaching in a classroom.
"Professors are not supposed to be dealing in opinions," Horowitz said.
Keith Hester, a local high school teacher and political science student at ASU, said he thought Horowitz's views were too extreme.
"I don't agree with him, but I want to hear what he has to say," Hester said. "In my class, we talk about politics, but I tell the students that what I say is my opinion, and that they can think what they want."
Horowitz said he would like to see a bill passed that would require university administrations to establish a set of criteria of what a professor can and cannot say in the classroom.
"The bill would stop teachers from advocating controversial issues in classrooms, but they would still be able to discuss issues," Horowitz said.
Horowitz also spoke about his thoughts on affirmative action. He said it is useless and used Oprah Winfrey's success as an example.
"Oprah is the only person who can tell people to go out and read an 800-page book and they listen," Horowitz said. "She didn't get to be who she is through affirmative action."
He said hard work made her one of the most successful people in the world.
"An oppressed African-American can rise to be whatever she wants," he said.
When the event ended, Horowitz went to the Borders bookstore on Mill Avenue for a book signing.
Reach the reporter at natalie.i.hayes@asu.edu.
