Conservative Campuses in the Norhteast

tk21769 · March 2011

^ Creekland, I think you're right. UR has an open curriculum and gets a green; Columbia has a Core and gets yellow.

Politics aside, I'd agree the reviews are well-written and cover some interesting ground. They offer useful descriptions from a clearly-stated perspective.

Hunt · March 2011

I continue to think that a student who is conservative on economic issues, but moderate or liberal on social issues, is not likely to be significantly discriminated against anywhere.

MomofWildChild · March 2011

^^ That describes my son and he manages to hold his own anywhere.

quomodo · March 2011

@Hunt: try being afraid to state who you supported for president for fear your classmates and teachers would ridicule and insult you, try telling people you lean conservative and having them say "But you're smart!" and then get back to me on that.

I'm very liberal on social issues but conservative on fiscal and foreign policy matters, and have been discriminated against many, many times because of my conservative views. As a younger kid I was made to feel ashamed and like I was doing something wrong. One time, as my teacher gave a diatribe about how awful Republicans were, I was so inflamed and upset I actually had to walk out of the classroom. I've gotten more comfortable over time with expressing my beliefs, but I still don't tell people about my conservative viewpoints unless they are good friends and I trust them. If I told most people who are acquaintances about where I stand politically, they would judge me and view me more negatively.

I'm sorry that this is a little off-topic but I just wanted to clear up that misconception. I don't think someone who leans conservative should be made to feel his or her beliefs make him/her a bad person--but this is exactly the sort of attitude espoused by my environment growing up in very liberal areas of the country. And I think a lot of people don't realize this is an issue. A lot of right-wingers could stand to be a lot more tolerant. So could a lot of left-wingers.

Creekland · March 2011

^^ This is quite similar to other experiences I have heard about at various colleges from real life students. I will not support any colleges getting a red light with ISI (don't care about FIRE). Period. Fortunately, my boys don't mind making their first cut with that in mind. There are so many other equally as good schools out there in any category.

My boys may, indeed, change their views when they get in college. My views now differ from those I was brought up with. However, I don't want any change to be due to excessive peer (or prof) pressure. It does happen more often than many may like to believe. It wasn't until getting out of college and getting involved with owning a business and other experiences that I saw a whole different side of life as my parents are involved in academia and I grew up in an extremely liberal area.

I suppose I fit Churchill's quote mentioned earlier. My boys have at least had a more balanced beginning to their life (they've seen the business and my folks are still liberal). They don't need a high pressure one-sided college. There are other choices out there for us.

To each our own. I'm sure the far liberal places appeal to many just as the far conservative places seem to. Those of us more in the middle can enjoy our preferences too, but I'd support far conservative before I'd support far liberal.

Creekland · March 2011

Hmm, I probably should qualify that last post. The most religiously conservative school I've come across (Pensacola Christian College) is not one I would ever send my boys to. I suppose they would stay home and be uneducated if there were no other option between them and the far left schools.

However, schools like Hillsdale and Grove City I would need to look into more if any of my boys were interested (they aren't right now).

Lower level (academically) schools don't make the radar for us regardless of politics. I suppose PCC is easily eliminated with that group.

Hunt · March 2011

I'm sorry, but I'm not persuaded. I guess people who have minority views in any situation may feel this way, but that goes with the territory in a free society.

Creekland · March 2011

^^ Getting nit-picky here, but I don't think those of us with moderately conservative views are in the minority anymore - except in academia - and the vast majority I come into contact with feel the same way I do about higher education. Granted, compared to the nation, my associates form a small sample size, but based on trends statistically, I still don't think we're in the minority.

In the end, it's nice that there are a variety of schools to choose from. That way there's something for everyone from far left to far right.

Conservative Campuses in the Norhteast

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