Controversial conservative writer David Horowitz commented on how the U.S. education system, including GW, has shifted too radically to the left, at an event Thursday night at the State Plaza Hotel.

At the discussion, organized by the GW chapter of the conservative student group, Young America’s Foundation, Horowitz discussed the theme of his latest book, “One Party Classroom,” which highlights the flaws in the U.S. education system.

“Our classrooms are moving away from academic standards that have been in place for a century,” Horowitz said.

When asked what he thought of GW, Horowitz said both Knapp and Jill Kasle, the University marshal, are “very, very, very bad” and don’t belong in a university setting because they are “ideologues.”

Horowitz cited examples from 12 universities across the country that he said highlighted the leftist course of education. One example was a course description from a University of California Santa Cruz class that read: “the goal of this seminar is to learn how to organize a revolution.”

He commented that a course description teaching students how to rebel is not a course that belongs in a university but rather could be organized by the Communist Party.

Horowitz added that teachers are using the classroom as a platform to further their own political convictions and are ignoring opposing viewpoints. He singled out faculty in departments such as women’s studies, ethnic studies and cultural to anthropology as subjects that promote leftist ideals.

Horowitz also argued that the bias in the classroom sometimes goes as far as alienating conservative students and, in some cases, harassing them.

Rob Lockwood, president of YAF, said he has felt alienated in class for his political beliefs.

“I have personally felt indoctrinated in my time at George Washington,” Lockwood wrote in an e-mail. “Many ‘teachers’ here often allow their political bias to spill into their lessons. They mock, ridicule, or simply ignore conservatives in many political conversations.”

During his speech, Horowitz said he plans to push for legislation, which would outline the need for both sides of an issue to be discussed during classes. He said he also plans to promote events through conservative organizations such as YAF to help achieve transparency in university curricula.

In 2007, Horowitz spoke at GW for “Islamo-Fascist Week,” prompting protests and a Muslim poster controversy, which gained national news attention.