When you are planning to attend college, there are a few things you expect to encounter, like getting used to all your homework being posted online and having to manage your time. It is likely that you have walked into classes expecting some of your professors to be a little one-sided in their arguments. When you stick around for a couple years, you come to find out this troubling assumption is truer than you thought.

For students who have ever taken a political science course or the like, there tends to be a common trend among professors. For example, it seems to me that most of them probably voted for President Barack Obama during the elections. There is nothing wrong with voting for Obama, but if I am in a classroom to learn about politics in-depth, I am going to want both sides of the argument. Don’t get me wrong; not all professors are equal. There are plenty of great professors I’ve encountered who present non-biased arguments and make you think about both sides, but the main arguments that dominate lectures and debates in these classes are strongly Democratic. If we are to receive a proper education, we need to see how each political party — Republican, Democrat or Independent — views certain relevant issues.

For example, my introductory political science professor decided he would give a lecture and argument about the questions people raise about whether there is racism involved in the death penalty. He showed statistics and slides, but decided he would conclude the lecture with, “My examples are proof that the death penalty doesn’t work. Just look at Texas; they are gung-ho about the death penalty and yet they have one of the highest crime rates in the United States.” As a student who has been taught never to simply take just anyone at their word, I made sure I checked his information before I commented. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, D.C., counted among the states, has the highest crime rate in the U.S. Texas is at No. 16. I show him my data, after which he bellows through the classroom, “I don’t care!”

This kind of behavior was both immature and unnecessary. Being in position 16 on the list may not be an excellent crime rate, but it’s certainly not top 10 and certainly no Washington, D.C. When someone is so wrapped up in their side of the argument they can’t even look at data, then they are simply impossible to persuade or even argue with.

Why bother? It’s just your education. I should have walked out of his class feeling refreshed and freed from my unjustified political notions, thankful he was there to show me, right? So I ask you as students, are you really going to question the answers or take everything at face value?

There are plenty of “nice” people out there who can sweetly tell you a boldface lie. One of the biggest parts of education and a part we tend to forget to mention is that we must learn how to interpret someone who may or may not have good intentions or all of their facts straight. Everyone makes mistakes, but watch out for the ones who are simply there to turn you into little robots for their political ideals.

Find ideals of your own. Go out and research on your own. Know your information so that when you are confronted, you are prepared to answer the questions honestly and credibly.