Obviously, the university is predominantly liberal, but so are almost all universities in the US. I go to a predominantly liberal high school and I don’t feel unwelcome as a conservative. What concerned me was an article seemingly published by someone high up in the community explicitly saying that we are unwelcome (http://www.studlife.com/forum/2019/02/06/its-ok-that-conservatives-dont-feel-welcome/).
I would ignore that article.
Define conservative.
@brantly Right-wing socially and economically but not racist, sexist, or any other of the discriminatory stereotypes associated with the ideology
The vice-provost strongly disagreed: http://www.studlife.com/forum/2019/02/09/letter-to-the-editor-27/
It’s important to be specific. Socially and economically conservative can mean different things to different people. According to my web search, social conservatism means:
anti-choice, anti-gay marriage, pro-prayer in public schools, abstinence-only sex education, and anti-ERA.
Economic conservatives are in favor of lowest possible taxes, minimal public services, minimal or no financial services for the needy (notwithstanding the fact that many economic conservatives believe in the Universal Basic Income).
There would be many students who would vehemently disagree with all of the above and would enjoy debating the student who holds these views. Many students would would feel threatened and unsafe by the anti-choice and anti-gay-marriage advocacy part of social conservatism
But the biggest problem is that social and economic conservatives who, as you say, are not “racist, sexist, or any other of the discriminatory stereotypes associated with the ideology” must align themselves with candidates and parties that espouse “racist, sexist, or any other of the discriminatory stereotypes associated with the ideology.” I think that’s what a lot of students would be incensed about.
Is it not fair to say that criticism of conservatism is a form of free speech itself? I see no problem with liberals getting upset with conservative views as they’re criticizing an ideology that people choose to believe in. Conservatives criticize liberals all the time too, so it’s a two way conflict. It isn’t on par with racism, sexism, or homophobia as such forms of bigotry are directed at innate characteristics. Thus, it does seem sensible for students to feel threatened as @brantly said.
Rather than questioning why American conservatism isn’t welcomed on campus, question why it is not being welcomed in the first place (keep in mind this ideology is heavily derived from Reagan, an opponent of desegregation and LGBT rights).
In Europe, you will see that conservative discrimination isn’t much of a problem on campuses as the conservatives there are much more caught up with the times compared to their American counterparts. Take a look at the UK, the Oxford and Cambridge parliamentary constituencies have their fair of conservatives and liberal democrat (centrists despite their name) MPs. In Sweden, you’ll notice that in cities and highly educated areas they tend to vote for the more conservative candidates rather than the left leaning ones.
I am in no way defending suppressing conservative thought on campus or making them feel uncomfortable. I think it is unproductive and judgmental to ostracize people in a college campus. But I think it’s important to understand and consider why many college students in America don’t feel comfortable around conservative thought, especially in this political climate.
Read post 6 and 7 and you probably have your answer.
I think the backlash the referenced article received in the Wash U community and the strong letter to the editor submitted in protest by the vice chancellor merit a closer look by you.
The short answer is they are not welcome. The university administration can try and sugarcoat it but that doesn’t change the fact that conservatives are not welcome.
I don’t think WashU is more liberal than other top universities. It has a range people with various ranges of openness and tolerance - not sure it is on average out of the ‘norm’. Young adults at colleges across the country are more liberal and hence what they find acceptable is changing everywhere.
According to a recent PEW survey 57 percent of millennials call themselves consistently liberal or mostly liberal. Only 12 percent call themselves consistently conservative or mostly conservative.
https://www.people-press.org/2018/03/01/the-generation-gap-in-american-politics/
Some individuals at any given university may act out inappropriately. It seems the policies including the leadership at WashU are decent. http://www.studlife.com/forum/2019/02/09/letter-to-the-editor-27/