<p>I think virtually all of the “elite” universities have a very notable liberal bent compared to the rest of the American public (according to Gallup, around 40% identify themselves as conservative while 20% identify themselves as liberal). Conservatives will be given a lot of trouble for expressing their beliefs on a lot of these campuses. Dartmouth at least has the Dartmouth review and is in a rural location.</p>
<p>I should have phrased myself a little differently. You may be a very devout Christian in the sense of practicing the moral ways espoused by it, but I’m just saying most Christians today would be viewed as a heretic by the standards of Christians a few hundred years ago.</p>
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<p>No, I was not trying to imply anything about your intelligence. The academic rigor of Pepperdine is not what I had in mind, but the social atmosphere. You have repeatedly expressed fear about other students vandalizing your car: either because they disagree with your religious views or because it is a higher end vehicle. It would appear that you would feel more comfortable in a place where the other students by and large share your religious views and your socioeconomic status. Pepperdine is reported flush with well-heeled, Christian students. It is a respectable school, intellectually. Therefore it would seem like a good fit for you.</p>
<p>I would have suggested Wheaton in Illinois, but they don’t have as much of a reputation as a school for wealthy students, and since you apparently regard those less wealthy than you as potential car vandals, I thought you would prefer Pepperdine.</p>
<p>During the Presidential season we did hold a debate where the whole campus was involved particularly the political clubs. I don’t know if we regularly hold debates in general but Gov. Lynch is here somewhat often and I know on the College Dems. side we bring in some political figures, or their staff for some meeting and are trying to do more of that this term. And again speaking for the dems., I know we traveled to help & stay at fund-raising event with Bill Clinton, Paul Hodes and a bunch of NH dems that you may or may not know and I’m sure the republicans also travel around, assuming they don’t object to socialist tollbooths (joking).</p>
<p>One of the really interesting events that happened was Gov. Lynch and Gov. John Hoeven (from ND & dmouth grad) coming to speak about thier roles as governors. It was pretty non-partisan and definitely not a debate, in part because Gov. Lynch is as centrist as you can get, but it was pretty interesting. And for any of you politics nerds, Gov. Hoeven is expect to take one of what is now a Democratic senate seat in ND.</p>
<p>Now when did I ever reference “less wealthy” students as car vandals?</p>
<p>Not once. You just made a rash judgement. I find it very rude that you made such an assumption.</p>
<p>You know, many “wealthy” people will vandalize cars, as well, since they are often jealous of others.</p>
<p>By the way, the car was originally my mom’s. We didn’t buy a brand new Audi just for myself.</p>
<p>Thanks, masonfactor! Your political information was very helpful to me! I’m not interested in politics, but it would be interesting to watch the debates.</p>
<p>Actually, Douglas, <em>I</em> don’t know ANYONE who vandalizes cars, wealthy, poor, or somewhere in between. (And I know people who range from vast inherited wealth to dirt poor.) Nor would anyone I know from either end of the political spectrum actually vandalize a car because it had a --to them–offensive bumper sticker on it. (I’m sure many would be TEMPTED 
but their better nature would prevail.)</p>
<p>I would not see a car with a scratch and assume that it had been vandalized. I found your assumption strange, particularly because you made some kind of mental link between the cost of the car and the supposed vandalism. Frankly, I also find it bizarre to think of touring the Dartmouth campus and making notes on the models and relative cost of the cars you saw. But hey, to each his own. If that’s the kind of thing you think about, it is what it is.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that I very much doubt that anyone at D would be so impressed with or offended by your Audi that they would either vandalize the car or hold it against you. (Now maybe if you brought a Rolls… 
)</p>
<p>A search of the Dartmouth network using Facebook’s “Advanced Search 2.0 Beta” reveals the following the results:</p>
<p>Very Liberal: 66 Liberal: 44 Moderate: 38 Conservative: 11<br>
Very Conservative: 3 Libertarian: 14</p>
<p>Here’s for Harvard:</p>
<p>Very Lib: 174 Lib: 293 Moderate: 199 Conservative: 128
Very Conservative: 64 Libertarian: 69</p>
<p>Stats can be deceiving.
I’m socially liberal but fiscally conservative and I have some beliefs that are Republican values, even though I would hardly fit into the party being a gay asian male from NYC, part of the liberal elite if you will.</p>
<p>There’s so many facets to political beliefs, that it’s almost impossible for people to label themselves.</p>
<p>All the Ivy Leagues, even the ‘conservative’ ones, are pervasively liberal, especially on social issues. Hell, every college in the northeastern United States would be pervasively liberal.</p>
<p>I don’t know how we got to discussing the political viewpoints of others, but it is good to know that some potential Dartmouth 2014ers are interested in the political views of others.</p>
<p>Those are interesting stats. I’m probably in that moderate to conservative range.</p>
<p>What exactly is your definition of socially liberal? I just wanted to make sure everyone here is on the same page.</p>
<p>In the midst of the extremely partisan health care issue, I think it’s more important than ever to listen to all viewpoints and respect others that disagree with ourselves. We’ve come to Dartmouth to learn. Let’s save the car smashing and finger pointing for the political arena. One thing I have discovered browsing around the Dartmouth fb group is that students in Hanover rarely fit the stereotype of what we’ve come to believe define Democrats and Republicans. The best thing to do is to keep an open mind, and respect others’ rights to express themselves even if they contradict your own beliefs.</p>
<p>Well I consider being socially liberal people as people who identify with more typically liberal ideas…on well social issues</p>
<p>lol, I know not a great explanation.
For example, I’m pro-choice, pro-gay marriage etc.
But I also believe in smaller government.</p>
<p>I’m a mixed bag of political ideas really.</p>
<p>Interesting leeduh…</p>
<p>I’m pretty liberal on environmental issues (I’m not a hippie, but you get my point). I mean, it’s totally unnecessary for a high school student to drive a Chevy Tahoe or a Hummer H2 (someone actually has one at my school… what a waste).</p>
<p>I personally am pro-life. I, too, am for a smaller government.</p>
<p>I, personally, am not for gay marriage. However, as a Christian, I am not one to judge. So, I’d probably just skip that issue on the ballot.</p>
<p>I guess I’m a potluck of politics, as well.</p>
<p>Good point, hollow. Although, I don’t think anyone has really been “pointing fingers” on this site…</p>
<p>@DouglasW: Yea, I think we’re doing a good job here about keeping our various posts in good order. I was referring to the fear that one should feel persecuted at Dmouth for disagreeing with the “norm”.</p>
<p>It’s great, and obviously expected, that possible future Dartmouth students can be able to discuss their political ideas without pointing fingers. I think the earlier conflict in this topic resulted in misunderstanding rather than malice over differing ideas on certain issues.</p>
<p>If I were to end up at Dartmouth, I’d be thrilled to discuss these things with you all. I’m also fairly interested in politics, and like many of you, I have views that can’t really fit into one of the big two parties. I’m pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, and liberal when it comes to the environment, but I’m also in favor of smaller government, specifically less government intervention in business and things like that.</p>
<p>I’m a bit late coming to this thread, I suppose, but after reading through all of it I’m quite excited for the potential for discussion of these things at D if I were to attend.</p>