Robert, I read the Inside Higher Ed article with interest as well. Assuming the underlying research is sound, its results are hardly that surprising. Professors are people too, and most of us form our political views during our youth (broadly defined). In fact, the more one studies the community of scholars, the more human they get — holding political views formed in childhood, susceptible to peer pressure, imperfect, and prone to think highly of themselves (just read some of the comments!).

None of this is particularly problematic. Our democracy has much experience controlling for the worst aspects of human nature. But the academy should not believe that it is in any way immune from the petty prejudices, jealousies, and temptations toward authoritarianism inherent in any other human institution.

More accountability is better than less.