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Many conservative students at this campus believe that the overwhelming majority of professors consider themselves “liberal,” and are indoctrinating their students with progressive, anti-war, pro-affirmative action, “save the rain forest” ideologies.

Well, I have news for those who believe liberalism is being funneled into classrooms and lecture notes: You have always received a biased education. Since you were a child, you’ve been told that Columbus discovered a world already inhabited for thousands of years; that the Pilgrims met friendly American Indians, who happened to invite them to massacre whole civilizations; and that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, while keeping slaves in his northern states. You were led to assume that Europe was the center of culture and that anybody - regardless of race, sex or creed – could become the president of the United States. You were never informed that the United States has actually lost wars, or that they have started many of history’s bloodiest conflicts in order to defend the “national interest”. Do not be surprised that your basic assumptions are finally being challenged at UCLA.

It is not the university’s fault that the most learned people in society happen to be liberal. Because professors have been exposed to many views, they have aligned themselves with progressive ideals. After countless papers, research and theses they come to a conclusion: Those same tree-hugging, diversity-loving, war-opposing ideas will actually benefit society.

The conspiracy theorists, who speculate that universities spend countless hours passing up conservative professors, must look at the facts. Yes, there are more liberal professors at universities, however, one must consider the applicant pool for university positions. The conservatives may be more interested in entering the ranks of corporate America.

Also, if the university was so bent on pushing its liberal, political agenda, then there would be no Bruin Republicans or conservative political slates in the Undergraduate Students Association Council. If you truly harbor a conservative view, your voice can be heard.

If you really object to being taught by a dominantly liberal faculty, you can always go to a university that embodies conservative ethics and values. There is always Bill Jones University, a conservative college campus with many conservative professors. As long as you can get past the ban on interracial dating and the lack of religious freedom, you should fit in just fine.

Or if you’re lucky, perhaps you can receive President George W. Bush’s education. After underachieving in high school, you could go to a prestigious university, pull straight Cs in undergraduate courses, and get a master’s at Harvard, because of its patronage system. Then, you can grow up to oppose affirmative action fervently. After all, you would have benefited from your own privilege.

But regardless of whether you’re conservative, liberal or President Bush himself, you need to challenge the information given to you. Don’t passively complain about having liberal professors you don’t agree with. If you feel you have been given information that is inaccurate, you have the right as a fee-paying, university student to challenge those views. Research the arguments that oppose those of your professors and bring them up in lecture. You did not come to this university to regurgitate some professor’s beliefs, but to analyze and verify the information and “common knowledge.”

Smith is a fourth-year political science student.