Collegiate Times

Recently, I got into a Facebook discussion about diversity with a graduate student, and he brought up the issue of ideology.

Often times when we talk about concepts of diversity, we shy away from talking about ideology because it can be wrought with challenges. Webster’s Dictionary defines ideology as “a manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group or culture.”

Ideology can be shaped by one’s background, beliefs and affiliations.

For example, we see the challenges of ideology when we witness the disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over healthcare as this clash of ideology impacts everyone. Another form of ideology can be seen in Iran and the firm grip of the government versus the opposition. In this case, you witness how violence is used to suppress ideas and maintain the status quo.

So, what does this have to do with Virginia Tech? Depending on one’s ideology, you might view institutions of higher education in a different light. Conservatives would argue that institutions of higher education are bastions of liberalism in terms of their policies and the academic discourse, and many will point to the examples of the Vietnam-era protests.

In other respects, some could argue that Tech is a conservative institution shaped by its past and traditions. All of this raises questions about what these labels really mean. There is always a tension between different ideologies, whether it is liberal or conservative, or the right versus the left.

We see this tension within the tenure process, when faculty members are judged by their peers based on their body of work. There have been cases where faculty who did not publish in the “right” journals for their field were viewed negatively by their colleagues. Critics will point to the concept of academic freedom as being a liberal quality, but even this concept is fraught with ideological challenges.

We also see this tension in campus discussions, when in the aftermath of April 16, 2007 a different voice was heard advocating for the need of allowing guns on campus.

This was met with a lot of uproar as many felt it was insensitive to the victims and to the community. However, there were those who argued that this right to self-defense was crucial. This conversation is now caught up in broader national conversation about gun rights.

Another discussion surrounds those dealing with the Amethyst Initiative, which is looking at the lowering of the drinking age. This is countered by the efforts of Mothers against Drunk Driving, who advocate for the continuation of the 21-and-over policies.

Ideology can also manifest itself in terms of student involvement opportunities. I’ll talk about my undergraduate experience. As a student, if I wanted to get involved with student government, I needed to have one prerequisite — that I was a member of a particular organization.

While this was never officially codified in policy, it was clearly the practice. I wonder how many Florida students have missed out on the opportunity to help make a difference because of this practice. Too many times we see this blanket application of ideology, and it denies an opportunity for no reason.

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A version of this article appeared in the Mar 2 issue of the Collegiate Times.