WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — Students and parents are questioning a college professor after she reportedly issued assignment criteria that filtered student’s research options.
The assignment criteria told students in a West Liberty University political science course what sources they can and cannot use.
Among those students are asked not to use are The Onion, an openly fictitious parody of real-life news, and Fox News, a professional news organization.
In the assignment criteria, the professor allegedly says, "The tagline Fox News makes me cringe."
"One of our values at West Liberty is to encourage students to go out and inquire and gather information and look at as many different sources as possible on any side, before you reach your opinion," said Robin Capehart, president of West Liberty University.
Upset students and parents have taken their concerns to local media, like NEWS9’s news partner Dave Bloomquist at WWVA, who shared an email from a concerned parent with us.
Parents claim it is unfair to the students to encourage some sources which lean in one direction politically, while discouraging those going in the other direction.
"If students have concerns about these types of issues, they can approach their department chair, they can approach the dean," said Capehart.
Bloomquist also spoke with the professor, Stephanie Wolfe, on the radio this morning, but she declined to speak with NEWS9.
"Any attempt to limit the breadth of a student's ability to investigate is obviously something at which we have a concern," said Capehart.
Officials said that Wolfe is only with the university for this year in place of another instructor who had taken leave.
They also said Wolfe has gone back to the class and lifted any limitation on research sources.
Pol. Sci. prof bans use of Fox News as source
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