<p>Im not into politics but I still want to know about the political nature of the colleges I apply to. I'm gay and I wouldn't feel comfortable being in a college where I may feel rejected or feel that my values are being questioned. So in all, how does UCLA react with "gays" and how political left or right are they?</p>
<p>Definitely non-conservative. The political spectrum of UCLA ranges from "fist-pumping, CALPIRG liberal" to "open-minded Bush-supporter", and you'll find both extremes in North Campus while South Campus is politically neutral. There are about fifteen LGBT groups and quarterly publications on campus, some which cater to specific ethnicities, and the Daily Bruin editorials are fiercely left-wing and pro-LGBT. The Bruin Standard is the conservative "underground" newspaper at UCLA but most people don't take it seriously. Queer students are very welcome here -- however, last year an LGBT student committed suicide in Dykstra, possibly because of personal issues, although the specific cause was unknown (<a href="http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?ID=31090%5B/url%5D">http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?ID=31090</a>).</p>
<p>The conservative scene at UCLA is really diverse.</p>
<p>You have your libertarian, capitalist, secular, objectivists in groups like L.O.G.I.C (in fact they don't like being labelled as conservative--but let's just say they're the polar opposite of ..Marxist Communists--represented on campus by the La Rouche Democrats) </p>
<p>The Christian conservatives in groups like Bruins for Life (the pro-life organization on campus) </p>
<p>Bruin Republicans is a mix of moderates, republitarians, and super conservatives. </p>
<p>I find the liberals at UCLA quite moderate-Bruin Democrats in particular. Minus the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEchA) people and Feminist Majority types etc... I'd say UCLA on the whole, student body wise is a "moderately liberal" campus. (Professors are a different story!)</p>
<p>UCLA definitely cannot be categorized as a heavily "liberal" or "conservative" university. I've met people ranging from very liberal to very conservative, and everything in between. Generally students are on the liberal side, but that's what you'll find at most major secular universities. UCLA is a pretty healthy mix; you'll find lots of everything if you look.</p>
<p>From my heterosexual prospective, UCLA is one of the best universities in the nation to be openly homosexual. I believe UCLA has the largest LBGT center in the country - it even has a library and a computer lab! Generally, homosexuality is tolerated - if not accepted - by almost everyone. For example, my RA is gay; everyone knows it, but it's not a big deal at all. People at UCLA are friendly, understanding, and open to different lifestyles.</p>
<p>seems to me that gays are accepted at UCLA. at least, i can't think of any public incidents about it. </p>
<p>i think there's a Men's center for counseling or support groups. i'm sure there's also some student groups, but i'm not too familiar with it. </p>
<p>they're just regular students throughout UCLA. among the people i've met, i've had/have a TA, my orientation counselor, floormates, friends, etc. that are gay. nobody seems to have a problem with that. also during orientation, there was a session about respecting a diverse environment, with sexual orientation part of that diverse environment. </p>
<p>someone cited that 10% of the campus is LGBT but i'm not sure how accurate that is. </p>
<p>in terms of politics, i'd say the campus is moderately liberal too. most people are liberal, but the range of opinions and inclinations is pretty wide. we're not berkeley liberal though haha. but as a whole, we're definitely not conservative.</p>
<p>Oh, please, kfc4u, we're not the school which has different graduation ceremonies depending on race. If that isn't mindless liberalism, do tell what is.</p>
<p>haha DRab, you have a point there. </p>
<p>but in terms of overall campus culture, don't you think berkeley is more liberal than UCLA? perhaps not as liberal as its past reputation indicates, but still more liberal than UCLA.</p>
<p>
Whoa! The LaRouche Public Affairs Committee is part of the Democratic presence on campus? Zounds -- that's got to be rectified right away... I mean, during an argument with a loudmouthed "Larouche-bag" on Bruin Walk I asked him what his major was, and he said he didn't go to this school at all... figures. As a former Bruin Democrat, I'm pretty sure the Bruin Democrats have no official ties with LaRouche PAC at all.</p>
<p>Also, did anyone attend the evening debate between them and Club L.O.G.I.C. during 5th week last quarter? I wanted to watch them get smoked in public but unforunately I had a few Java programs to write that night... :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Yes, I agree that Berkeley, as a whole is more liberal than UCLA, but wow has the rediculous reputation remained far too strong! The profs are probably, on average, very similar, or maybe I'm just making a baseless claim without any backing that can't be refuted. Anyway, there is a vocal Republican minority at Berkeley, I've heard the largest Republican club in the country, the Berkeley College Democrats. They have a lot of interaction with the Cal Dems, from what I hear from my friend, an active Cal Dem.</p>
<p>FLOPSY i went! </p>
<p>haha yeah they looked really bad and had nothing constructive to say.</p>