As an Iowa Boy This Doesn't Surprize Me In Any Way Shape or Form

Iowa City is a hotbed of liberalism. The only surprize is how few claims have actually been filed. This is 1 of those times that I am ashamed of the state I love.

Intolerant Iowa? Republicans Need Not Apply

With all the news about discrimination, some of the most egregious forms of bias regularly escape scrutiny. One of them is the persistent discrimination conservative academics suffer at the hands of liberal state universities. In Iowa, for example, three discrimination claims have been lodged against the university system for blatant bias against applicants for professorships based on either their political affiliation (Republican) or views on particular issues (abortion).

One of the complaints was filed by Teresa Wagner, J.D. (for the record a former legal policy advisor at Family Research Council). In 2007 the University of Iowa law school had openings for two legal writing instructors. Wagner applied for the position with eminent qualifications. She is a former instructor at George Mason University Law School in Virginia, the editor of two books of essays, and author of several legal briefs, including one filed with the U.S. Supreme Court. Despite that background, the university administration chose an instructor who described himself as an "off the charts liberal" who "hated Republicans."

Wagner's complaint in the case describes several incidents surrounding the hiring process that illustrated how the university screened against her views on social issues. Lest there be any doubt about a pattern, it should be noted that the University of Iowa History Department has not a single Republican on its faculty and the law college has but one (of 50 professors), and he was hired more than 20 years ago. Moreover, the Iowa Supreme Court imposed homosexual marriage against the people's wishes earlier this year in Varnum v. Brien. How many Republicans on that court? Zero. Something is gravely amiss in the Hawkeye State.

Read the legal brief: Wagner v. Jones

Press-Citizen: Iowa needs more intellectually diverse universities