Investigations into academic freedom might draw conclusions on whether faculty members display bias in their teaching, but they will not be able to change Penn State policies.

In July, a resolution was introduced to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to address the issue of whether professors encourage a diversity of ideas within the classrooms of state-owned and state-related universities rather than promote their own views.

Although the subcommittee conducting the investigation can tell Penn State administrators there is a problem with certain faculty members, there is no direct action the committee can take to rectify those problems, said state Rep. Lawrence Curry, D-Montgomery, chairman of the subcommittee on higher education.

Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said many of the complaints are directed toward guest speakers, not faculty.

"A lot of complaints are from the outside ... people who don't want particular kinds of speakers," Mahon said.

Penn State Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) chairman Shauna Moser said she believes there are biases in some Penn State classes and she hopes the investigation will give way to change.

Moser also said she hopes that once the investigation is completed, some professors will realize the biases they may take into the classroom.

"Without legislation, the university doesn't want to take steps on their own," Moser said.

In July, Curry told The Daily Collegian he expected the investigation to begin in September.

Resolution co-sponsor Rep. Richard Stevenson, R-Mercer, said some students have expressed concern about a possible lack of self-expression in the classrooms.

"There are issues," he said. "There are some students who feel intimidated to expressing themselves openly [in the classroom]."

State Rep. Scott Boyd, R-Lancaster, another co-sponsor of the legislation, said that even if the subcommittee finds problems with academic freedom at state universities, the resolution cannot directly influence Penn State operations.

But, according to the resolution, the investigating subcommittee will have until Jan. 30 to make recommendations for "remedial legislation and other appropriate action." Before any legislation will be introduced, the subcommittee can recommend that university faculties alter teaching methods.

"Faculty would be encouraged to not interject their personal views, but rather present a fair and balanced view of issues and topics and provide an environment for students to make up their own mind," Boyd said.

The University Faculty Senate has not held any organized meetings to address the resolution, Senate chair Jamie Myers said. The Senate is in a "wait-and-see position," until the investigation begins, he said.

Myers, an education professor, said he does not feel the need to be careful of what he says inside the classroom.

"I pay a lot of attention to make sure all different possible viewpoints are brought to the table and that each one is critically examined for the underlying issues," he said.

Other students said they have experienced this balance in their classes.

"They [professors] usually listen to what I say and take it for what it is," Diane Flowers (junior-information sciences and technology) said.

Other students said they could remember a few incidents when professors overtly displayed a bias.

Adam Glassman (senior-finance) recalled an incident when a professor was discussing the conflict in the Middle East and displayed a bias.

When Glassman wrote a letter displaying his concern, the professor later apologized.

"We do have a lot of freedom," Akirah Carter (junior-health policy administration) said. "A lot of teachers encouraged us to speak up."