Furman a "right wing" campus?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Furman University
1

<p>On another site that lists colleges by category (College xpress), Furman is listed under 'right wing campuses'; described as "-Although not necessarily religious, these are colleges where values and morals are prized. There is less partying and more sexual abstention, less diversity in clothing styles and more traditional attitudes among students. Many students have a "Republican/right wing" political orientation and may believe that less government is good, that a strong military is a top priority, and that the federal government should not provide "handouts" to the poor. Some of these colleges have a rigid "core" education with required classes instead of electives. "</p>

<p>Do you agree that it belongs on the list?</p>

2

<p>“values and morals are prized” - Agree relatively speaking</p>

<p>“Partying and more sexual abstention” - Agree relatively speaking</p>

<p>“Less diversity in clothing styles and more traditional attitudes among students” - ??? I’d describe it as dress for success a little more. Few go to class in sweats. </p>

<p>“Republican/right wing” political orientation" - Not really (I think they voted for Obama in last mock election they took. College campuses in general are left leaning. Furman probably leans a little less left than most. </p>

<p>“Some of these colleges have a rigid “core” education with required classes instead of electives” - To the contrary, Furman’s general education requirements being a liberal arts university is the polar oposite of “rigid core” requirements. </p>

<p>All IMHO</p>

3

<p>after having my overnight the other day I can definitely speak for the conservative values of fu. First off to say that every student is conservative is far from the truth. I would say that values-wise yeah 75-80 percent are conservative, but politically there are students all over the spectrum. In regards to sexual abstinence and partying, girls (almost all) tend to be pretty conservative in regards to abstinence, and parties occur maybe (if they are lucky) once a week and occur at off campus fraternity houses. No one I saw went to class in sweats except for some athletes, both male and female.</p>

4

<p>Mom of 2, 2012 grads here. While the school still has a southern feel to it, it is hardly right wing. With the large number of students coming from outside the south, the school has a much more open POV, imo. I would say that there is a fair amount of alcohol consumption on the weekends-some with Greek life and some without-hence the “drunk bus”, so kids have a safe way back to campus. The apartments now allow students 21 and older to legally have alcohol in their apartments, and in my experience as a parent, that extends to younger students. i believe the level of abstinence is probably not a s high as some might think, but there are no orgies going on in the dorms. What you will see at Furman is a Greek presence-almost 50% of the girls are in sororities and a lot of the social life and “Lilly Pullitzer” dressing comes from that. The majority of faculty at Furman are liberal and are not shy about their views, and Obama did win the informal student polls in both 08 and 12. So I wouldn’t worry as much as some people might say that FU is a right wing campus. That applies to Bob Jones University.</p>

5

<p>According to my son, Furman does have neat dressers and a few more conservatives than the northeastern or midwestern liberal arts colleges would have (source-D went to one of these and many kids from our community choose good LACs). He feels the student population is very similar to UNC Chapel Hill (also known for being southern with nicely dressed,friendly, smart kids). Furman has a healthy, accepted gay population and a small but present “hipster” crowd (more of these kids are in the arts). My son is very liberal and not “preppy” in his dress. He feels very accepted. The faculty are very liberal and pretty much what you would find at any good liberal arts college. </p>

<p>There is drinking but it is not as over the top as you find at many of the excellent LAC’s in the midwest (daughter went to one of these) or northeast. From my son’s description, it is fairly “classy” and not the “spring break”/"Animal House type of drinking.</p>

6

<p>I would totally agree with the above post who has done a wonderful job of describing the social climate and feel of Furman.</p>

7

<p>Good info! Thank you for your input. Furman definitely seems worth a look!</p>

8

<p>So, I saw this and have to say something! I am a Furman student myself and participate in the music program. Apart from that, I have gone to numerous cultural learning programs run by Conservative Students for a Better Tomorrow to see how the other side thinks. Yes, I am not a conservative. I am a liberal. Kind of comes with the music department, I guess.</p>

<p>There are some variances in clothing throughout the campus. I will not lie, I was put off at first. I am that girl that wanders around in jeans and a t-shirt. When I went to my first economics course, there was a girl that wore 4 inch heels and a dress to every class. The guys looked quite preppy. However, students in my music classes and my German classes have expressed more varied ideas of style. Jazz band is a definite variety, with the social greeks tending to be more on the preppy side. Those in the music greeks may show up in PJs even… since we live in the building.</p>

<p>I am more of a pacifist… and I have numerous friends that share my views. Therefore I do not believe that ones holds either. Also, we are students… we enjoy handouts. I receive so much financial aid (for academics, music, and need-based reasons) that I cannot complain. Though I also maintain a work-study job, and I know students that work off-campus as well. We may actually be more accepting towards federal government handouts than those from our parents.</p>

<p>So we get to partying and drinking. This can depend on where you live. The early letter apartments and lakeside housing are generally calm. Late letter apartments and south housing can become beds of underage drinking and loud music. However, no one will push you to drink if you don’t want to. As a freshman, I went to some music parties to see my friends, but I did not drink anything until I turned 21 in January… well… or until I went to Italy last semester and it was legal anyway. And yes, the school paid for us to go to a wine tasting while we were there. That shows its more country club-esque side it has become known for. As a student on the shy side with social anxiety, I would not have found myself at home at a big party school (and my dad forced me to apply to UGA since I am a Georgia resident). Here, we have smaller gatherings. It lets me fit in. Some parties are over the top (my friends in K hear constant music on the weekends and I don’t know how they sleep). Most are calm. B is actually pretty silent.</p>

<p>Depending on where you look is what you will see. If you come on an accepted students day or audition day, you will definitely see students dressed up and acting professional and courteous. Come on off-days, like I did, and you will see the real school you will be attending. You will see the students goofing off in the music library or serious studying in James B. Duke… Oh, and you will see what the food in the dining hall really tastes like. I will say we are accepting.</p>

9

<p>Gmusic,
Thank you for that info! Can you explain more about the early vs late letter housing? So, if you prefer a quieter place, you’d want to choose a,b,c… but if you want to be in the middle of the action you’d want to be in h,i,j,k (I don’t know what letters are actually there, but that seems to be the idea). Do you have any insight on why that might be? Do some tend to be older students, or students from certain majors? DO you actually get to choose where you will live?</p>

10

<p>Housing- Lakeside- is the quieter of the two housing choices for freshman. Because Lakeside is near the art and music buildings, some in those majors prefer living there. </p>

<p>Soho- is where the majority of freshman live. It is near the sports stadiums. I think most freshman enjoy living in Soho. It is louder than Lakeside, more socially active and the freshman tend to become very close. The rooms are really pretty small and I think they tend to leave their doors open. Hence the closeness is fostered. Of the students I know who lived there, they have met their closest friends in Soho.</p>

<p>My kiddo lived in Lakeside as a freshman. I think she wished she had chosen Soho. This year she lives in the greek housing in Lakeside. It all seemed to have worked out well.
New students fill out housing preferences. I remember students being able to list three housing choices with one or two alternate choices. (Please correct me if I have this wrong) I have no recollection of their being a first come first serve, or early letter- late letter program. I remember all students turning them in around the same time. Furman does like to choose your roommate. (vs. finding your roommate online through room-surf or at accepted students day) This works well for lots of students. </p>

<p>Social climate at Furman- My kiddo always says, “you’ll find what you are looking for here” Want to get involved with the community? Heller Service. Leadership? Shucker Leadership Institute. Super social? Greek life. Outdoor guy/girl? There’s an outdoor adventure club. Politically minded? Groups on both sides of the issues here. Singing? Great students groups for that too. (Bell Tower Boys are really entertaining) Really, you’ll find it all.</p>

<p>Dress- I’ve seen the spectrum. Nicely dressed guys and girls. Also seen girls in t shirts and Nike shorts too. I think more than preppy or hipster you’ll find the kids dress nice- no matter their personal style.</p>

11

<p>As a 70s alum, I am ever interested in how my university is faring. I interview for students in my region and do my best to highlight Furman’s warm community, demanding classrooms and particularly rich, productive student access to relations with professors. </p>

<p>I am pleased to know that Furman does cover insurance/benefits for partners in gay relationships on staff. I don’t know the details but I was happy to hear about this position. The faculty is still a bit left of the student body in general but only due to the reality that most people show up as students at age 18 and have not sorted out their personal takes on politics individually yet. I would say that a significant number of students come from homes with strong values and some from conservative values.</p>

<p>I think the thing that lingers from my era is the sense that Furman is a liberal institution in a very conservative state, and even more so in a very conservative region of South Carolina–the beautiful Uplands which stretch quickly into the glories of the North Carolina Pisgah Mountains and towns near Asheville NC. </p>

<p>So I feel that South Carolina is always a bit of a lot to take on re political conservativism embarrassments, excess and hijinks. </p>

<p>I remember when Max Heller ran for Congress. I adored Max Heller. Lots of dirty tricks back then. He was a wonderful Mayor and his daughter is still on the Trustee Board. I was very active in what is now called the Heller Service Corps and Furman is very much involved with service in Greenville County institutions. Greenville is a great learning laboratory for students. </p>

<p>I like to think that Coastal South Carolina and the incomparable marshes make up for the horrors in my day of seeing Strom Thurmond on campus with his wife the beauty queen etc. </p>

<p>South Carolina is a wonderful state but it deserves better that Furman '83 Mark Sanford.</p>

<p>In my era, costs were much less, and Furman was still church affiliated. We had a few missionary students in every class. One thing I always liked about Furman (I am a military brat) is that I think there is a strong moral/ethical outlook among the students themselves (although my friends are extremely diverse from my Furman days). And there seemed to be a lack of focus on “who is your daddy” re money. I guess because most of the students had different ways to measure values in life before they showed up. </p>

<p>The two or three students I know well who turned out to be from big money were extremely quiet about it and I do think that Furman classrooms are very egalitarian. </p>

<p>If your son or daughter is well spoken, articulate and actually has ideas re issues, the Furman faculty will love them. </p>

<p>There are not many colleges that get behind students and support their dreams as much as the Furman faculty will get behind theirs. My sons at Vandy and Duke will never know what it is like to truly know your professors well.</p>