How can a Kent State professor have ties to ISIS?

My exposure is based on research that I must say in most cases is biased and needs to viewed as such. Any professional/personal relationships where limited to the years while enrolled for my graduate and undergrad degrees. I get how my comments may have come off as a personal attack on you or your profession entirely not the case. My intent is not in discrediting the institution of higher education but more so glean an understanding of the environment where such comments reap little consequences. I hope that seems like a fair statement. Even in the article you linked the disparity in political ideologies is admitted. I don't doubt that a good majority of educators are good people. However in the case involving Mr. Pino, while the school president announced his displeasure in his comments he was allowed to remain and is still teaching.
In all of this I think there is much room for debate that might suggests that the liberal mindset yields to education - exploring and a wanting of understanding - and accounts for the disparity. The conservative mindset may be more restrictive in the acceptance of new ideas and those with that mindset might not be conducive to an academic environment. In either case there are pros and cons - just wish there was balance.

Bias is measurable. Just saying research is biased doesn't necessarily make it so. You have to actually demonstrate that bias exists. Otherwise, it just comes across as an empty statement that is based in opinion rather than fact.

Institutions of higher education do give much leeway to professors in their written and verbal communication. That enables researchers to push the boundaries on both the knowledge base and how we think about the current knowledge base. Sometimes, that pushes the limits of how society thinks about a particular topic. However, institutions do place limitations. Professors can be fired for cause if they overstep their bounds. The bigger issue is whether or not academic leaders choose to engage that person. You'll find that academic institutions are just like most other organizations out there....they have some great leaders and they have some weak leaders. The problem with academic institutions, much like in healthcare, is that people rise to leadership positions without always having the professional development for that leadership position. In healthcare, just because you are a great surgeon doesn't mean you'd make a great hospital CEO. Those are two separate sets of competencies. However, I see that happen all the time. Likewise in academia, just because you are a great scholar doesn't mean you'd make a great Chancellor or President. Those are also two completely different sets of competencies. People who aren't properly developed for the leadership position they hold will make suboptimal decisions (like allowing knuckleheads to remain on the team, rather than engaging them in a way that stops the suboptimal behavior or gets them out of the system).

Conservatives have a place in higher education. Whether they feel like the minority in that setting should not stop them from taking academic positions, nor stop them from aspiring to positions of leadership within the academic community. They can do that within the system or they can do that by setting up an alternative system (which has somewhat occurred, based on what's mentioned in that article).

Sir I really appreciate your candor in this discussion - It seems when there is research revolving around political inclinations there's always a motive. I totally agree that the prejudice needs to be weeded out to frame an informed opinion. I know at time I can come off as a crazy right winger but I don't think I'm just butt hurt about Mr. Pino. Sure political discourse should be encouraged in academic setting but I feel he overstepped on this one. As well I'm sure the school president had to explore the legal course of action in the matter. If he fired Mr. Pino would that bring about litigation in a 1st Amendment case, wrongful termination or ACLU/freedom of religion case?

On the flip side and slightly more complicated there is the case at Wheaton College that seems like a knee jerk reaction as it interferes with the institutions core values. Not the Christian approach I would expect -

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-wheaton-college-professor-fired-20160105-story.html

SPC David S. - I don't debate that he overstepped his bounds. I actually agree with that. I just don't take a broad brush to paint all of academia for the actions of a small handful. Every large group has a few knuckleheads.

I'm sure that a firing would have resulted in a lawsuit. The School President may have weighed the costs and benefits of the firing/litigation and figured that it was more beneficial to keep the guy. If so, that was a bad call. Now the next person will feel emboldened.