Professors at American universities are more likely to be Democrats than Republicans, according to a recent survey, but it is not clear whether that trend is the case at Marquette.

The survey, taken by Daniel Klein of Santa Clara University and Charlotta Stern of Stockholm University, said Democrats represent over 80 percent of professors in anthropology, economics, history, philosophy, political science and sociology.

The surveyors consider the findings dangerous to academia.

"Quite possibly, the academic environment keeps the minority voices muffled and fearful. Being tolerated might depend on their avoiding aggressive intellectual and cultural competition," Klein and Stern wrote in Academic Questions, the journal of the National Association of Scholars, an organization that works toward academic freedom.

The situation leads to a uncomfortable balance on some campuses.

"It makes more sense to view the campus landscape as composed of a very dominant left … and a heroic fringe of several different non-left voices," Klein and Stern wrote.

The idea of more Democrats in academia is no surprise to Michael Fleet, a professor of political science. He said he speculated conservatives were less likely to choose academia.

"It's not that the university system discriminates, but it's hard to find conservatives," Fleet said.

It's unclear if there is such an imbalance here at Marquette — or if the political affiliations should matter to students.

"I simply don't think only one party has all the answers," said Brian Brush, a professor of economics. He said he didn't know whether there were more Democrats than Republicans teaching here.

David Wagner, an assistant professor of biological sciences, said he believed there were more Democrats than Republicans "by a bit."

"It's more Republican than I would have expected," Wagner said.

Fleet said he believed the ratio of liberal to conservative professors was relatively close, but there were more liberal professors. "I don't think Marquette's in danger of having conservative voices silenced," Fleet said.

Some professors don't believe such a survey is a good idea and, in fact, sells short the professor's ability to teach fairly.

"When I go to a dentist, I don't care if he's Republican or Democrat," said McGee Young, assistant professor of political science. "I reject the premise that what gets taught is filtered through an ideological lens."

He said he understood how professors' political beliefs could be a concern, but it was still insulting to suggest political beliefs could keep professors from teaching fairly.

"We are a profession, and most of us try to do it well. We want to be scholars, not to brainwash people," Young said.

But their intentions may not lead to results.

"Even if an academic tried to avoid (expressing their beliefs), there's no guarantee that students won't read between the lines," Fleet said.

Outside of the academic areas surveyed, political beliefs can become the topic of classroom discussion.

"I want people to be able to express their viewpoint without any fear of repercussion," said Stephen Karian, assistant professor of English. To that end, he doesn't disclose his political leanings and strives to make his class as nonpartisan as possible.

In general, the expression of various viewpoints is positive for students, Fleet said.

"All students are served by the vigorous give-and-take and the juxtaposition of various viewpoints," Fleet said.