@Publisher - I know Davidson very well – growing up there, now living not far away, and through my job.
Clearly the student you know had a bad experience. It does not reflect well on the college and cannot be excused.
Niche student reviewers describe the student body as both moderate or liberal more frequently than they describe it as conservative.
The college is active around issues of social justice. They just started a commission to examine and come to terms with the college’s links to slavery (similar to what Georgetown did). The college president, a woman, is a national leader on equity and higher education.
I have more than impressions to bring to this conversation – first hand and current familiarity with the college. Are there conservatives and is it a place where a conservative would feel comfortable? Yes. As I stated in my earlier post – students’ fall all along the political spectrum and that’s a strength, in my opinion.
But it does not “lean conservative.” When I was growing up, yes. Today, no.