In response to the letter Classroom not forum for professors’ political ideas (SN 9/9), the writer incorrectly assumes that healthy political debate between students and professors will negatively affect their grade in the class and should be somehow disallowed due to the university’s position receiving taxpayer money.

Aside from the fact that an American studies class is a fine place to argue a relevant topic such as a competing politicians vying to lead our country, I find it hard to believe that the teacher who was “abusing their position as educators to influence students” did not allow an opposing view to come to light, or at least speak their mind. Higher education is largely devoted to the constant challenging of one’s beliefs. If no such interaction happens, then not much can be learned. Leaving the comfort zone of a familiar environment such as college or a hometown will require the ability to defend and rationalize individual ways of thinking and beliefs.