How is it like to be a conservative student at the University of Michigan?
I suspect… just like on most US campuses today …conservatives are in the closet. That is a real shame.
Depends on the type of person you are. I am a fairly conservative person, but I respect other people’s opinions and values, and I do not think mine are better than those of others, and I had a great time at Michigan. I made lasting friendships with fellow conservatives as well as liberals. If you are tolerant and respectful of others, you will fit in just fine at Michigan.
@gmfreedom I hardly think so. There’s a conservative-leaning student newspaper, The Michigan Review.
Also, @MiamiHeat16 it depends what you mean by “a conservative student.” What’s your definition of conservative?
@brantly a student who believes in traditional family values, opposes abortion and the legalization of recreational marijuana. A person who believes men and women are equal but are not the same, who does not consider himself or herself a feminist and who is also a practicing Catholic
If he/she believes men and women are equal, then he/she is a feminist 
Remember when women were second-class citizens? Couldn’t move up the ladder in companies? Were thought to be “taking a man’s spot” if admitted to law or medical school? Secretary, nurse, receptionist, and teacher were the only jobs widely available to women? Remember that? Feminism arose in response to that atmosphere. If your child (or you?) prefers that situation, then, yes, I agree, not a feminist.
As far as the other things, unless he/she is an anti-abortion activist or anti-marijuana activist, then I don’t think it makes any difference.
Oh, also, what do you mean by “traditional family values”? Anti-gay? As long as you don’t throw rocks at gay people or discriminate against them (deny a gay person membership in a club because they are gay, protest against having gay students admitted to the school), or write anti-gay screeds in the Michigan Daily, you should be fine.
“a student who believes in traditional family values, opposes abortion and the legalization of recreational marijuana.”
There is a distinct difference between believing in family values, and believing that abortion and the legalization of recreational marijuana aren’t right (which are values I happen to share), and passing judgement on those who think otherwise, or insisting that a country should mount laws enforcing those personal sets of values while curtailing the rights of others who do not share those values. It is one thing to be conservative, it is another entirely to be intrusive.
I think people with all political ideas are well tolerated at UMich…as long as you’re not a jerk about proselytizing your own beliefs above other’s beliefs. My daughter had a very Christian, very conservative roommate for a semester her Freshman year. My kiddo is an Atheist who is extremely liberal. The girls got along incredibly well, and remain friends today. One thing UMich has going for it…is that most of the kids are very smart. Smart enough not to have pissing wars over religion and politics…and smart enough to focus on commonality, cooperation, and sameness, instead. These kids have so much on their plates, they don’t have time to worry about the rest. They just hang on to each other for support and root for each other’s successes:)
Sadly KneeDeepClunge, at most elite universities, you have a group of kids with a one-dimensional view of the world. They possess the intelligence, but lack the vision and experience to see the big picture, but they are opinionated and loud. But that’s just one type of student. From my experience, however, you have more students who are far less opinionated and comfortable with the knowledge that they do not have all the answers. Those students tend to be curious and accepting of others, as long as their own thoughts and beliefs are not marginalized.
Liberals are intolerant people. If your views don’t directly parallel theirs, you are automatically racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic. I’d watch out. I lean conservative at a very liberal high school and am just abused for my views.
hbaugh1, the moment you label one group, you have lost the battle. Most liberals and most conservatives are perfectly reasonable. Intolerance knows no party lines. It is an ill that is equally prevalent everywhere. You will have intolerant students at Michigan, both liberal and conservative. Since most college students are naturally liberal, the majority of intolerant students you will run into in college will be liberal. But you can easily avoid them. Most students in college are laid back and perfectly open to rational, fair and balanced points of view.
Charlie Rose had a great segment on this earlier in the month
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2017-03-07/free-speech-on-college-campuses-charlie-rose
This accurately describe the radical liberal student body of Michigan based on my experience, which tend to be not very tolerant and open-minded; but as the guests have pointed out, it’s not a Michigan issue, it’s a pretty prevalent issue amongst top colleges.
Side note, Charlie Rose has been out recently for health issues, and ironically the recent segments without him have been great, and this one is amongst the best one ever - which is a very high bar because Charlie Rose is one of the best at his job.
@hbaugh1 Extremists at either end of the political spectrum are intolerant. One could hardly call extreme conservatives “tolerant.” Problem is, political parties and political movements tend to become defined by their extremes. In reality, almost everyone is somewhere in the middle.
Also, a lot of labels are mis-applied. A lot of what passes for conservatism is hardly conservative, and vice versa.
I suggest that you matriculate in the business or engineering colleges where fact based dialog is encouraged. But most students are regular kids who want to do well and have fun. You’ll find that faculty tends to keep their conservative views to themselves in other areas, as it does not help with promotions. This is just an unfortunate reality at most colleges today.
Most conservative students just find liberals annoying because of protests which occasionally can make it hard to hear in class, but disruptions are very minimal and don’t affect the student body to any great degree.
Hey I have a question for anyone who has experience on campus. Are there any conservative groups that are very active on campus? Many schools have these groups but they hardly meet, or host programs! Thank you!
My son is a conservative in Michigan. He told me as soon as he opened his mouth, he got attacked and ridiculed. He decided to keep to himself, not talk about politics.
@JH8888 thanks for that, i am the same and am looking at Michigan. One of the things i am worried about! I’m all for open dialogue and disagreement but don’t want to go to a place where dialogue is often hindered.
@JH8888 @goblue8721 that was my experience as well - even though I am much more conservative fiscally and don’t really care too much about social issues. And I attended Michigan years ago, it’s definitely worse now.
@JH8888 I’d be curious, first, how he defines conservative. And second, what he said that got him “attacked.” To be a conservative nowadays could mean espousing the economic theories of Milton Friedman. Or it could mean applying Christian religious principles to public policy.
Just wait until those liberal snowflakes hit the real world!
My son is fairly conservative and it is not an issue. Just don’t engage them bc they cannot be engaged…