Joel Fleming is a student at a Canadian university. Perhaps this is why he doesn't identify which one.
I am an atheist. I don't believe in any divine presence, or any organizing force. That being said, I'm bowled over by the mental toughness it takes to be openly religious at university. In tutorial today, we were discussing from where morality is derived. One girl in the class was a devout Catholic and made cogent, reasonable arguments from her theistic perspective. The ridicule, vitriol and scorn poured upon this girl by the class, and especially by the TA, was, to my mind, disgraceful. I've participated in class discussions where students have advocated communism, defended shari'a and dismissed democracy as "one Western type of system." Their views were opposed in a respectful, non-judgemental manner without a hint of personal acrimony or contempt. Where the fuck was that respect today?
It's been missing a long time, Joel.
My experience in ethical philosophy was exactly opposite when I went to university. I took it through St. Thomas Moore college which may have a lot to do with it. (It's the Catholic college on the U. of S. campus for those of you who don't know.) A religious basis for ethical ideology was supported and encouraged although the course itself wasn't supposed to be based on religion. I was the 'maverick' of the class and seemed to almost always end up being ganged up on by other students. It didn't really bother me -- in fact I revelled in it. ;-)
But I do agree that by far and wide the universities are bastions of left-leaning commies and pinkos. The most embarassing example I saw of this was listening to a lecture by an English (I believe that was his discipline) prof at the Mendel. I was there with my friend Becky (a student from the U.S. studying here at the Univ who was presenting at the event). The prof tore into Bush and everything American although it had nothing to do with the topic. I felt very embarassed for all of Canada that day with Becky having to listen to it.