http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...050401990.html

Of course the contraversial assignment listed at the beginning of the article is later debunked... It still seems a bit over the edge to me. My college courses, if they gave such assignments, allowed you to pick a topic and stance of interest.
But anecdotes do not an epidemic make. While I don't like the idea of anyone looking favorably or unfavorably on groups of people because it is prejudice... I expect it... And it makes sense that the scientific crowd would take issue with groups associated with anti-science... and as long as they don't turn this bias into real discrimination... I don't see a problem.
My second grade teacher looked unfavorably on me for bringing up evolution theory... I still got past second grade with no effort. So there was no problem.

This is the only part I see concern with:
For one thing... social work classes are a lot different from true liberal arts classes... What they teach you in social work is much like what they teach you in business... It's not of much issue whether or not you agree. You're learning a trade. I'd imagine the fear among actual social workers of voicing opinions is far greater.

But I have to add that I've seen similar sentiment in sociology classes... even classes where I know (*)(*)(*)(*) well the professor was fair to opposing views... hell, they'd even bring up opposing views if no one else did.
I think that this is not necessarily an attribute related to profs... but to young people.
I've noticed a lot of people are "afraid" to bring up opposing points in a lot of different situations. The only way to cure this... is to fill every aspect of their lives with people who agree... or who will not give any constructive criticism. I think it has more to do with the increasing "individualism" of our society than any particular religious/political leaning.
People often think that the new generation is postmodernist and views all ideas as "correct." But I don't think that's the case. Rather they are raised to think "their own" beliefs are correct... and that any offense to their beliefs is an attack...
Part of college is learning to be able to voice your opinions AND even more importantly hear opposing voices and critiquing your own.

Of course my other theory about kids who are "afraid to voice their opinions" is that they use it as an excuse/rationalization not to participate.

But frankly if your subject is something like social work... I really don't see what opinion has to do with it. Sociology, opinion matters (if you can back it up)... but not so with social work. I find this possibly to be more of a (problem?) with kids being raised to overvalue their opinions. While questioning policies is good... it is not productive to clam up when hearing how policies work... then not participate because you disagree. Try doing that in the workplace.

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"Man lives in the sunlit world of that which he believes to be reality. But unseen by most is an underworld, a place that is just as real... but not as brightly lit... A DARK SIDE!"
-opening from Tales From the Darkside

The opening anecdote is intriguing, but lacking in any sort of objective evidence. It appears almost all the details are taken from Brooker's lawsuit -- not exactly a good source for unbiased facts.

Some takes on the case:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227964,00.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...adoption_x.htm

Note the University's strong support for religious freedom, and the differing reasons for why Brooker went before a review board.

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Man up.