<p>Oh, I was aware it existed. I just never bothered to look at it because I’ve always thought applying an ideological litmus test is not a sound way to choose a college. I’ve also thought most of the charges of “discrimination against conservative views” are trumped up out of all proportion. In most cases that I’m aware of, such labels reflect dissatisfaction of a few students with one or more professors in one, or at most a small handful of programs, often something out-of-the-mainstream like gender studies. The solution is obvious–don’t take that class, or don’t take a class with that professor. To tar an entire college or university on that basis does everyone a disservice. It’s not only unfair to the institution and to the many fair-minded faculty who work there (and in my experience, that’s the overwhelming majority at every school I’ve ever been associated with), but it also does a disservice to the students who rely on these ratings and in so doing close off some outstanding educational opportunities. </p>
<p>Personally, I’m not a big fan of Duke, but to suggest conservative students should avoid Duke because of some kind of pervasive anti-conservative institutional bias? That’s preposterous, and just really poor advice. </p>
<p>Or how about Georgia Tech, for Pete’s sake? That’s another school that gets a “red” rating. Are you kidding me? About 75% of the students at Georgia Tech are in STEM fields; another 14% are in business. Georgia Tech doesn’t even have departments or majors in most social science or humanities disciplines. The idea that there’s going to be some kind of pervasive anti-conservative institutional bias at an institution like that is just downright silly. Sure, some conservative students might occasionally have a conflict with one or more of the tiny number of humanities or social science scholars on the faculty there, but that’s going to be so marginal to the college experience of most of them that it’s just absurd to suggest that self-identified conservative students should avoid the place. They’re just shooting themselves in the foot if they take that advice.</p>
<p>I agree 100%. It’s only a tool. It’s not a be all, end all. </p>
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<p>No idea. I haven’t read their report to see why they got their rating… if I were interested in the school, I would. Then one can make an informed decision.</p>
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<p>Perhaps you could make your own guide book and list specifics as to why - then people might pay you for the privilege of reading it. ;)</p>
<p>The specifics are what I like - just as with any other guidebook. Then we can make decisions based upon what we feel about the factors.</p>
<p>One problem with these kinds of discussions is that a lot of things tend to be mixed together that may not necessarily go together. The OP is looking for a college in which conservative views will be tolerated in the political science department. What does he mean by this? Presumably he doesn’t mean such views as when the earth was created, exactly, or whether homosexuality is a sin, or other religiously conservative views. Presumably he’s not asking about the college’s rules on dating and drinking.</p>
<p>So, if he’s asking whether the political science department will turn him into a Marxist, I think we can be comfortable in telling him that most colleges, even those with a reputation for being very left-leaning, will tolerate conservative political views within the political science department, and many professors may even enjoy having a few conservatives to joust with.</p>
<p>I hope all colleges would be intolerant of ignorance. All views are not equal and college should be the place where this should be called out. You would be ridiculed if you believe the Earth is flat, pray to Zeus, or do bloodletting for health purposes. Poly Sci should be no different.</p>
<p>Sorry if this offends but it needed to be said.</p>
<p>*I hope all colleges would be intolerant of ignorance. All views are not equal and college should be the place where this should be called out. You would be ridiculed if you believe the Earth is flat, pray to Zeus, or do bloodletting for health purposes. Poly Sci should be no different.</p>
<p>Sorry if this offends but it needed to be said.*</p>
<p>But in the area of Poly Sci, “ignorance” can be in the eye of the beholder. At a school where liberal profs dominate, they could deem all conservative views as being “ignorant”. And, the same in reverse. It’s ok for any wild-haired idea to be verbalized. The sound-thinkers won’t buy into it anyway. The “earth is flat”…ok…who’s going to believe that except some tiny fringe percent of the population.</p>
<p>There was a person at a blood drive I went to who had a note from his doctor permitting him to donate more often than traditionally allowed (every 4 weeks). He went on to explain that he had a health deal where his body produced too many red blood cells… they looked at the note, checked their records (saw it was “regular” with him) and let him donate.</p>
<p>He was definitely bloodletting for health purposes. ;)</p>
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<p>Everyone always talks about these folks, but truly, has anyone ever met someone IRL who is in that fringe? I know I haven’t. I know plenty of people with non-mainstream beliefs about oodles of different topics, but that just isn’t one of them. Out of the mainstream adds diversity to life - something I consider good for our planet in most cases (terrorists excepted). Schools where everyone toes one line or another are probably quite boring - and can easily set a student up to believe (incorrectly) that the whole world is just like them. I’d avoid both extremes personally.</p>
<p>If I may offer a quick .02…
I’m currently an undergrad at Brown majoring in polisci, and I also have significant experience in the sociology, public policy, economics, and public health fields here. I definitely expected a far more overbearing liberal environment when I first came a couple years ago; I self-identify as independent, though definitely more liberal.</p>
<p>I’m fully aware of the stereotypes that are supposed to exist at Brown and other schools where admittedly a majority of the faculty and students are left-leaning (or more extremist). However, my personal experience with this assumption is that true to some extent, but to a far lesser extent–and not actually in the political science department. I think the vast majority of political science (or politically-minded) students and faculty are highly respectful of all viewpoints, or at least this has been my experience when arguing for my more conservative positions. I’ve found everyone here to be intelligent, logical, and open to differing perspectives–and they also are quite passionate and eloquent people. During last year’s Presidential election, I had a significant number of friends supporting both candidates and (usually) without too much hostility from either side. A number of students and faculty are even rather conservative; the majority of athletes, for example. Our Political Theory Project is run by libertarian Prof. Tomasi, who’s quite strongly affiliated with the Cato Institute and tends to hire like-minded professors. </p>
<p>Where I think the liberal bias does exist is from the majority of students who aren’t in the political science, public policy, econ, etc. departments–the engineering and sciences students, the film/theater/english students, etc. I think that the politically-minded who come to Brown have more experience debating those with opposing viewpoints (and are interested enough in the discipline) that they will at least give a fair shake to those with whom they disagree. But it’s also true that Brown tends to attract a more liberal-minded person, so students in other fields are going to be a little more rigid and less aware of/respectful/willing to hear opposing viewpoints, since they have less interest in politics as a whole (my hypothesis). This has just been my experience–I’m aware it’s a broad generalization–but I think that the conservative students who are interested in politics, while they may be a minority, don’t feel “pushed out” of the conversation. Though there is some of the mindless political correctness that one might expect, it’s not nearly as pervasive or insistent as many make it out to be. Nor is it that big of a deal.</p>
<p>^^Along those same lines, Wesleyan gets a “red signal” from the conservative Intercollegiate Studies Institute, but when Justice Scalia visited a few years ago, he spent nearly the entire day on campus without incident. The few dozen students who ventured to protest were almost certainly not poll sci majors.</p>
<p>Which brings me to my larger point which is that with half the families of these students paying northward of $250,000 <em>in cash</em> for their educations, I think apathy is more likely the political default. A true conservative would probably need a fairly active Left just to keep up their skills!</p>