The key difference, though, is that arts & humanities classes force students to cultivate written and [hopefully] verbal communications skills in addition to cr

The key difference, though, is that arts & humanities classes force students to cultivate written and [hopefully] verbal communications skills in addition to critical thinking... not to mention reading. I think you vastly overestimate the amount of sway personal politics has over students, or how much faculty discuss/care about politics in the context of their teaching.