The New Yorker Radio Hour

A Conservative Professor on How to Fix Campus Culture

47 snips
Oct 3, 2025
Robert P. George, a Princeton legal scholar and political philosopher, dives into the tumultuous landscape of campus culture. He discusses how academia has shifted left since the 1960s, leading to self-censorship among students and faculty. George advocates for exposing students to diverse ideas rather than imposing punitive measures. He explores the political alienation felt by working-class communities and the rise of the ‘age of feeling,’ arguing for the revival of civil discourse across ideological divides. His insights aim to restore meaningful dialogue in a polarized society.
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INSIGHT

Conservative Presence Grew But Remains Small

  • Princeton's faculty now includes around 20–25 outspoken conservatives, up from near zero in 1985.
  • That still leaves conservatives a small minority compared with liberals across departments.
INSIGHT

Ideological Reproduction Explains Campus Uniformity

  • Faculty tend to reproduce themselves and favor people like themselves, which explains ideological homogeneity.
  • George says this is human nature and would occur if conservatives held similar dominance.
INSIGHT

Self-Censorship Driven By Social Stigma

  • Many students and faculty self-censor due to fear of social disapprobation, not primarily grade penalties.
  • Social media and lasting reputational harm drive this reluctance to speak openly.
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