Penn State's academic freedom has been called into question because of some complaints by students that professors are not tolerant to their opposing opinions.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a resolution last week that will investigate the academic atmosphere of Penn State and other universities throughout the state to see whether they foster atmospheres of free thought or indoctrination.

A subcommittee of the Committee on Higher Education will conduct the investigation, said State Rep. Lawrence Curry, D-Montgomery.

Some members are concerned that freedom of opinion is not found in classrooms in Pennsylvania universities, said State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, a resolution co-sponsor.

"The goal [of the resolution] would be for students to feel comfortable to express their opinions, even if they're contrary with their professor," Benninghoff said.

Curry, a member of the subcommittee, said that in the last four months, students came forward on their own from Temple University, the University of Pittsburgh, Lincoln University and Penn State have reported about 50 claims that instructors have promoted their own political opinions in classrooms.

Gary Cattell, the Willard preacher, said that while it is Penn State policy to promote academic freedom, he feels that kind of an atmosphere does not exist.

Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said complaints of this nature are bound to happen in a university of this size. Professors are professional educators and advocate engaging students in critical thinking, which may involve expressing their own beliefs.

"The university has always promoted free speech and has always upheld the Constitution," Kendig added. "We have a clear track record of doing so and anyone who would try to refute that isn't basing their opinion on fact."

Curry said the investigation will comprise several hearings, starting in September, in which students may come forward with their claims. The accused faculty member would have the opportunity to respond to the accusations.

Vicki Cangelosi, Young Republicans chair, said in her experience at Penn State, most professors have been balanced in their lectures and in what they say in class, but she suspects that sometimes professors are biased in their grading.

"I have been worried that when I'm writing paper in classes if the professor does not agree with my political leanings, they might mark me down," Cangelosi said.

Cattell said that because of social pressure to conform to liberal beliefs, instructors do not make it easy on students who express a difference of opinion.

Students have told him that professors express personal beliefs in class and may intimidate students into silence or lower their grades for disagreeing.

"There is liberal bias at the university that is taught and I think in certain instances when students step outside that liberal bias they can pay a price," Cattell said.

Paul Clark, a member of the University Faculty Senate, said he believes the resolution arose from the notion that university instructors have liberal beliefs, and it is assumed they share these beliefs in the classroom.

"Regardless of how it is being portrayed," Clark said, "this investigation is part of a larger campaign we're seeing around the country that is driven by the conservative movement."

According to the university's policy manual, faculty members are expected to encourage students to think for themselves without emphasizing their own opinion.

Adam Balin (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies) said his professors have not promoted their beliefs. Instead, he said, they encourage a balance of opinion within the classroom.

Kendig said he was not concerned about the hearings because differences of opinion are inevitable at such a large university.