A former colleague questioned whether the school’s decision was “politically motivated.”
After the school decided not to extend the contract of a conservative economics professor-professor, Occidental College in Los Angeles was accused of ideological bias.
In a recent op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, economist Mark Skousen stated that Daron Djerdjian had taught various economics classes at Occidental, or “Oxy,” since 2010. Students had given his classes high online ratings.
Despite being the “only free-market professor” on campus, Skousen, who works as adjunct faculty for an academic institute that Djerdjian founded in June, claimed that Occidental declined to extend the untenured Djerdjian’s contract for the current academic year.
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The private liberal arts college’s mission statement highlights its dedication to diversity and equity. Notable alumni include former President Obama. By letting the conservative professor go, Skousen questioned if the college was “putting those values into practice.”
“For all its talk about diversity, equity and inclusion, Occidental College, the only small liberal-arts college in Los Angeles, doesn’t seem keen on putting those values into practice,” he continued in his op-ed. “Late last year the economics department opted not to renew the contract of an untenured professor whose libertarian and conservative views went against the grain. So much for its public commitment to diversity of political views.”
In his op-ed, he added, “For all its talk about diversity, equity and inclusion, Occidental College, the only small liberal-arts college in Los Angeles, doesn’t seem keen on putting those values into practice.” “Late last year the economics department opted not to renew the contract of an untenured professor whose libertarian and conservative views went against the grain. So much for its public commitment to diversity of political views.”
The University’s action shocked the faculty and students as well.
According to a February campus newspaper report, 400 students and alumni signed an email petition requesting the school keep him when news spreads that his contract will not be renewed.
The students wrote in the petition, “This will be a colossal loss to his past, present and prospective students, as well as to the marketplace of ideas at Occidental College and the world at large.”
Students who assisted in organizing the petition stated that they valued hearing various perspectives in the area and that the professor presented more conservative views on campus than other economics professors.
Rayna Singh, a junior with Djerjian as her advisor, stated, “No other professor teaches free-market economics.”
Skousen received anonymous comments from two full-time members who supported the Oxy professor.
A professor referred to Djerdjian’s termination as “political motivated.”
Another defended the school’s rights to extend his contract but also stated that the decision would hurt Oxy students because they “will no longer be exposed to an entirely different free-market perspective that is both stimulating and valuable.”
According to Skousen, the school’s economics department has changed recently. In the past, the department had valued diversity of opinions.
He wrote, “The economics department is now largely staffed by graduates of University of California schools who place more emphasis on fair trade than free trade and market failure than government failure, and are more likely to quote Keynesian Joseph Stiglitz than Milton Friedman.” “Sadly, political diversity is dying at Oxy and is being replaced by less tolerant wokeness.”
A spokesperson for Occidental College stated, “In the pursuit of academic excellence and discourse, Occidental College values political and other forms of diversity, and the Economics Department remains committed to ensuring students are exposed to diverse perspectives in its curricula. The College does not comment on individual personnel matters. The College makes decisions regarding faculty appointments based on curricular need, student demand, and other relevant criteria, without reference to political or other affiliations. These academic factors change from year to year, which is why non-tenure track faculty appointments can change over time. Non-tenure track faculty are generally eligible for reappointment if and when there is curricular need.”
