Cracking the liberal hold on colleges, one liberal at a time

In Minnesota, like any other state, we have many colleges that have an overt liberal bent, although the intensity can vary. Highly rated St. Olaf college and Carlton College in Northfield, for example, are infamous for their left-wing bias. They are considered good schools, despite lacking intellectual diversity. Between those two in particular, they churn out thousands and thousands of Minnesotans as well as students from all over the nation, and, to some extent, the world.

While St. Olaf certainly leans left, Carlton is off the charts. Green hair and nipple rings are de rigeur (Is that French? Sorry). The students at Carlton who don't fit in, or who are considered outsiders are the ones who don't wear a greasy Wellstone! shirt to class. If your vehicle isn't covered with leftist stickers, gay advertisements (rainbows, or the double bar "human rights" symbol), Wellstone! stickers, or Kerry/Edwards, you are probably some intolerant conservative.

Then along comes the Center of the American Experiment's new website, "Intellectual Takeout". Methinks the Red Star picking up Katherine Kersten as a permanent columnist has given the CAE and conservatism in Minnesota in general a shot of adrenaline. Katherine is a fellow of the CAE. Mary Jane Smetanka of the Red Star reports in today's paper: "New conservative website aimed at college students":

Hoping to breach the walls of supposedly liberal colleges and universities with intellectual ammunition, the Center of the American Experiment Tuesday launched a new website for conservative college students.

Center CEO Annette Meeks said the website (www.intellectualtakeout.com) is the first of its kind and is intended to "support free exchange of ideas on campus." "The point is not to indoctrinate students," she said, but to "expose students to points of view not readily available in the classroom."

The students, of course, are the ones who will benefit directly from intellectual diversity. Says student Nolan Soltvedt:

Nolan Soltvedt, a University of Minnesota senior, welcomed the site's debut. While he said he hasn't seen overt bias in most of his classes, he's been uncomfortable with some professorial asides and political discussions that were unrelated to class subjects. He said conservative students can feel intimidated.

"For me, this will be an excellent resource," he said. "Sometimes it's tough to get both sides."

Of course, this will drive the green-haired, nipple ringed, ACLU-lovin' crowd crazy, but isn't that the point?