<p>Just heard a "rumor" that students in Notre Dame are quite conservative. Do you think this is true? If so, how conservative it is? Do you think the conservatism might somehow affect the academic freedom and the criticalness in classroom discussions on campus? </p>
<p>thx!</p>
<p>Notre Dame is “conservative” in that the average student is moderate, which makes them much more conservative than the average college campus. From talking to a quite liberal friend (gay, atheist ex catholic) who goes to Notre Dame, it does not negatively affect discussion at all. He’s very happy there.</p>
<p>hahalolk is right, most students at ND are pretty moderate (obviously with some exceptions on both sides), with maybe a roughly 50-50 split of those who lean a little conservative or liberal. However, there is a slight Catholic skew on what issues students tend to be more conservative/liberal on (for example, abortion or Catholic social teaching). I think it actually positively impacts discussion and academic freedom in the classroom and among friends. Students are more moderate so they tend to be a bit more open-minded and less intolerant of opposing viewpoints and having a split between conservatives and liberals (instead of the significant majority liberals enjoy at most other major educational institutions) allows for legitimate debate.</p>
<p>From my experience, Notre Dame is pretty conservative. I’m from a swing state, so I’m used to a close split, and it doesn’t quite feel like that. Catholics on a whole tend liberal, but wealthier Catholics go conservative, and shows at ND. I’d definitely say that it doesn’t impair academic freedom, though. Professors are a wide range, like you’ll find anywhere, and while the student body is skewed conservative, there are students across the spectrum as well. It is worth noting that even most of the more left-leaning students are pro-life, and, from my experience, I’d say a solid majority of students support gay rights.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about the students. Even though there is a tilt, it isn’t like Liberty or Bob Jones, and the students are very accepting. The administration is definitely conservative, as shown by its repeated refusals to add sexual orientation to the university’s non-discrimination policy or allow a Gay-Straight Alliance club, [though</a> the students did have something to say.](<a href=“http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/viewpoint/signatures-of-solidarity-1.2866269]though”>http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/viewpoint/signatures-of-solidarity-1.2866269)</p>
<p>I believe that this question will have a definitive answer by November.</p>