<p>Obviously, as a Southern school, it's going to be more right-leaning. That's a given. </p>
<p>But are people for the most part accepting of others, rather than judgemental? Is there prejudice towards minorities or homosexuals? Would a more liberal minded person feel completely out of place, or is it more of a melting pot of different viewpoints? Is there a really strong religious presence?</p>
<p>My friend's looking at UGA and wanted me to ask around. She had heard the the student body is more moderate than anything else, but wasn't sure what to believe. Thanks for any input.</p>
<p>If you averaged the entire student body together, you'd probably find moderate, mostly apolitical leanings. Sure there's a lot of religion and conservatism, but both of those aren't bad things and it's not like people are going to force you to change your beliefs. </p>
<p>Liberal minded students would definitely not feel out of place; most of the professors are liberal anyways, so there's often an interesting interplay between the more conservative students and the more liberal professors that makes discussions in classes much more interesting. </p>
<p>Besides, the town of Athens is probably about as liberal as you can find in the South; it's got a huge indie scene and plenty of arts stuff, so there's always an anti-war protest or modern art show to go to.</p>
<p>"Obviously, as a Southern school, it's going to be more right-leaning. That's a given. But are people for the most part accepting of others, rather than judgemental? Is there prejudice towards minorities or homosexuals? Would a more liberal minded person feel completely out of place, or is it more of a melting pot of different viewpoints? Is there a really strong religious presence?"</p>
<p>World Changer are you serious? I find it somewhat oxymoronic that there is a concern about being judged when there is clear judgement in your statements. Perhaps it was unintentional, but you come across as thinking a)that there is something wrong with conservative Christians, b) that geographic areas of the US are appropriately stereo-typed and c)that it is okay to hold a stereo-typical view that conservative Christians are by their very nature judgemental and prejudice.</p>
<p>I can only imagine what would have happened if someone had posted the following:
"Regarding NYU, obviously, as an East-coast metropolitan school, it's going to be more left-leaning. That's a given. But are people for the most part accepting of others, rather than judgemental? Is there a bias against whites or Christians? If you express your conservative views will it hurt your grades? Would a more conservative-minded person feel completely out of place, or is it more of a melting pot of different viewpoints? Is there a really strong atheist presence?"</p>
<p>Actually I don't have to imagine as something similar has happened several times on CC. People flip out, stating that posters need to break out of their narrow-minded views and experience other's point of views, that how could someone even think about considering those factors when chosing a college. However, here it is almost a week later and no one seems to think there is anything inappropriate about this thread's OP?</p>
<p>It is disappointing that when it comes to higher education there consists a double-standard of what is acceptable in the arena of social-political opinion and comment.</p>
<p>Is this the same friend as in your other thread on similar topic?</p>
<h2>"UGA vs. Tennessee for progressive thinker? </h2>
<p>I'm asking on behalf of my friend. She's loves both, and wants to go to one or the other, but is afraid that one -or both- may be too much of a culture shock for her (she grew up in NorCal).
So...she wanted me to get your insight. Which of the two is more progressive, or at least moderate, in views? If you were her, which would you choose?"</p>
<p>If so, what is it that she "loves" about UGA? Also, what exactly is it that she thinks is going to be so unbearably different from her progressive life in California that she is willing to ignore the fact that she supposedly loves the school? I'm confused. Given:</p>
<p>pro·gres·sive [pruh-gres-iv]<br>
–adjective 1. favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform, as opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are, esp. in political matters: a progressive mayor.<br>
2. making progress toward better conditions; employing or advocating more enlightened or liberal ideas, new or experimental methods, etc.: a progressive community.<br>
3. characterized by such progress, or by continuous improvement. </p>
<p>Is your friend seriously concerned that a flagship university like UGA, especially with it's size and academic reputation would not be progressive? Again, I am confused by the concern and the question...</p>
<p>Ahh...sorry, I haven't checked this thread in awhile. My friend has decided to stay instate instead of moving to the south, so it hadn't occured to me to check back. </p>
<p>believersmom, sorry if I offended you. I didn't mean it that way. It's just that I personally have never been to the South, and know nothing about it. I didn't mean to imply that I have a problem with any of those things. Rather, I meant it as a call for honest local insight. I've never heard anything but those particular stereotypes and wanted to get the real scoop. In retrospect, I probably could have phrased the questions better, but I just wanted to know what Athens is really like. It was genuine curiousity; sorry if I came across as snotty, I didn't mean to.</p>