Many take it for granted that the liberal mindsets found amongst university educators influence the political views of students.
As reported in the NY Times this week (Professors' Liberalism Contagious? Maybe Not), several recent studies refute this and indirectly point to the power of PR and social networks. As written in the piece:
An article of faith among conservative critics of American universities has been that liberal professors politically indoctrinate their students... but a handful of new studies have found such worries to be overwrought. Three sets of researchers recently concluded that professors have virtually no impact on the political views of students.... The notion that students are induced to move left is a "fantasy," said Jeremy Mayer.
Jeremy Mayer is one of the authors of the book Closed Minds? Politics and Ideology in American Universities.
"Parents and family are the most important influence," followed by the news media and peers, he said. "Professors are among the least influential."
The report points to the power of media and peer groups in shaping views, and at least indirectly would seem to validate the power of PR to do the same, since PR seeks to communicate with and through these channels.
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