The DePaul controversy, regarding the decision on granting Professor Norm Finkelstein tenure, is not unique in academia. Administrators and senior faculty often find it difficult to draw a line between scholarship and political views when evaluating candidates for tenure. But one does not often find prominent academic leaders owning up to considering political views.

Here is an exception, as reported in the Daily Princetonian: “Princeton does take into consideration professors’ politics in making its tenure decisions, Dean of the Faculty David Dobkin said. “We do allow a candidate’s political views to influence our opinions,” he said in an email.

Correction (a note added to the article I refer to):

Editor’s note: The original version of this article quoted an e-mail from Dean of the Faculty David Dobkin saying that the University takes professors’ political views into account during the tenure process. Dobkin actually meant to write that the University does not consider political views.