<p>From my 4 years at Columbia, I can say with a fair degree of accuracy that about 15% of guys who sing in a cappella groups are gay, and about that % for musical theater as well. I mean, I sang in an a cappella group at columbia for 4 years, and while we always had our token gay tenor, we never had more than one.</p>
<p>among other NYC schools, NYU has a higher gay population (esp. at Tisch), and New School University is even worse. Several girls I know actually transferred to Barnard because they couldn't get a date downtown, a fact I may have exploited... ;)</p>
<p>wherever you read that, they're going on stereotypes or very incomplete information. Columbia is not nearly as gay a school as the others in NYC or some of its peers. Having an active Gay-Straight Alliance just means that Columbia students like to be involved in causes, it doesn't mean they're overrunning the campus.</p>
<p>Glad to see you're so openminded. The admission comittee is going to love you. I think over the course of this thread you have quoted all five of the most homophobic people I have ever met. good job.</p>
<p>"Glad to see you're so openminded. The admission comittee is going to love you. I think over the course of this thread you have quoted all five of the most homophobic people I have ever met. good job."</p>
<p>trackster, i can why you see things that way, but i think homophobia is a common trait for a lot of students coming into college. I think that palming off or shunning such people serves only to strengthen their views. In fact i think a university like Columbia (if committed to building understanding about sexual orientation), needs to take students who are prejudiced and allow them to meet unfamiliar types of people in an open environment. This is what actually has the potential to reverse stereotypes and builds understanding and acceptance.</p>
<p>I don't think 1MX is being offensive, in fact i'd say that it is commendable that he is voicing a concern that he genuinely has. My reading of it is that his prejudice stems from nothing more than unfamiliarity. I can attest that many people secretly feel/have felt the same way, and an opening of the mind only takes place with a broadening of experience, and perhaps an acknowledgment of the prejudice. I don't condone discrimination or prejudice, but i think there are a set of ways that better reduce it.</p>
<p>i seriously don't feel like there are any more gays at columbia than there are, percentage wise, in any regular state school. i thought nyu had the stereotype of having a really large LGBT community?</p>
<p>"Glad to see you're so openminded. The admission comittee is going to love you. I think over the course of this thread you have quoted all five of the most homophobic people I have ever met. good job."</p>
<p>-honestly, why do you have to bring admissions into this? he's just asking about the gay population...no need to be such a jerk about it.</p>
<p>i can say with certainty that the attitude towards gays at columbia is just fine. homophobes are few and far between here. this is not bob jones university, nobody would be shocked or upset if you were gay on campus.</p>
<p>"you will have a harder time being a conservative on campus than being gay"</p>
<p>i dont think anyone really has a hard time, its true that liberals on campus are in greater numbers and voice opinions louder, but the conservatives are present, accepted and vocal. As long as you aren't obnoxious and are respectful of outside opinions, no-one will hold your views against you. most don't fit the republican/democrat mold anyway.</p>
<p>I'm sorry, but I don't think 'homophobic' individuals function well in a college environment. Colleges have gay people. Lots of them.</p>
<p>Bob Jones peopl are nice. Also, Bob Jones has the largest collection of Renaissance art outside of Europe. Unfortunately, they aquired all of this art between the years of 1945-1955. Some art historian from BJU had himself a field day, and decided to bring home souvineers.</p>
<p>
[quote]
As long as you aren't obnoxious and are respectful of outside opinions, no-one will hold your views against you.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This is a gross exaggeration. If you share views that are "controversial" for Columbia (but happen to be held by the majority or a significant plurality of America), a good number of Columbia students and faculty WILL think you are racist/bigoted/homophobic/xenophobic/etc. You'll likely be viewed as "anti-gay" if you're against gay marriage, don't-ask-don't-tell, etc. You may be viewed as racist if you're against affirmative action and think affirmative action bake sales are a good way to convey your ideas. And so on.</p>
<p>
[quote]
most don't fit the republican/democrat mold anyway.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Totally false. As Denzera says, the Dems are huge. The vast majority of Columbia students hold liberal/progressive views on both social and fiscal issues whether or not they call themselves "Democrats."</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm sorry, but I don't think 'homophobic' individuals function well in a college environment. Colleges have gay people. Lots of them.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Depends on the school. Gays probably fit well in Ivies and LACs, and being "homophobic" at those schools is less tolerated. On the other hand, your average State U -- especially in the South -- is going to be pretty damn homophobic.</p>