If you happen to be a young Republican or conservative of any stripe who is attending the University of Michigan, rest assured that you will receive the same respect and fair treatment as anyone else. Particularly if you happen to wind up taking a class from Professor Susan J. Douglas or any other in the department she chairs. The educator of young minds and prolific writer has penned a thoughtful editorial piece in which she explains that it’s actually okay to hate Republicans because the science supports it. National Review has the details.

“I hate Republicans,” communications department chairwoman and professor Susan J. Douglas boldly declares in the opening of the piece. “I can’t stand the thought of having to spend the next two years watching Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, Ted Cruz, Darrell Issa or any of the legions of other blowhards denying climate change, thwarting immigration reform or championing fetal ‘personhood.’”

She writes that although the fact that her “tendency is to blame the Republicans . . . may seem biased,” historical and psychological research back her up, and so it’s basically actually a fact that Republicans are bad!

Clearly the science is settled. The professor informs us that Republicans:

– are focused on the “determined vilification” of others
– have psychological traits such as “dogmatism, rigidity and intolerance of ambiguity”
– demonstrate resistance to change and support for inequality

James Joyner makes the argument that perhaps Ms. Douglas should be seeking other employment.

I’d go further and question Douglas’ continued membership on the faculty, much less a leadership role, at a state institution.

I’m a near-absolutist on academic freedom and have zero problem with vehement Republicans, Democrats, Communists, or whathaveyou on faculty so long as there’s some reasonable diversity of viewpoints. But to espouse hatred of a particular group, particularly a group that a large portion of the student body is likely to associate with, has, to say the least, a chilling effect on discourse. Further, her column will forevermore be prima facie grounds for appeal for any student of Republican persuasion unsatisfied with their grade in Dr. Douglas’ class.

To get a bit more of the flavor of the professor’s background, it’s worth looking at the titles of a few of her many books:

Enlightened Sexism: The Seductive Message that Feminism’s Work Is Done (2010)
The Mommy Myth: The Idealization of Motherhood and How It Has Undermined All Women, with Meredith Michaels (2005)
Where the Girls Are: Growing Up Female with the Mass Media (1994)

There’s very little left to say. If you are paying for the tuition of a child attending the University of Michigan, pull them out and send them to a technical school. Or a military academy.