<p>Oberlin looks like a great LAC from an academic viewpoint. However, I have some concerns about the community itself. Although there is a signficant and vocal faction of extremely liberal students, where do most of the other students fit in politically? Would someone who is moderate to conservative, and who holds some strongly religious (but generally private) views regarding abortion and homosexuality be able to fit in? Are students with moderate or conservative views marginalized or is the campus tolerant of diverse viewpoints, including conserative ones? Thanks.</p>
<p>Here are the stats on facebook questioning political orientation: 41% None Listed, 26% Liberal, 14% Very Liberal, 8% Other, 5% Moderate, 2% Apathetic, 2% Libertarian, 1% Conservative, 1% Very Conservative.
So...Oberlin is pretty liberal, though that doesn't mean that everyone is that involved with activism and political stuff (most people are supportive of issues but don't do anything for them). I think moderates would not have a huge problem, especially if you do not go seeking to impress your views on others (though unfortunately some students may try to impress their views instead). I'm guessing there would be more debate and toleration of views than criticization, but I'm not sure, partly because a lot of people have the same views and those topics just haven't arisen. I'm hoping more students will post because I don't feel like I grasp the circumstances for more moderate students on campus but I know that there are atleast some out there and they survive. Most students are pro-choice, though if you aren't I don't think you would be marginalized. However, Oberlin has a very large homosexual population that everyone is very tolerant and supportive of it, so in that case, someone against this might be marginalized. So, what I'm trying to say is that basically, you would have to accept the liberal tone on campus and if it wouldn't bother you too much then I think you'd be OK.</p>
<p>Son just finished his freshman year. He is pretty liberal in his thinking and non-religious. He loves Oberlin, but one thing he really dislikes is that he feels too many students are too dogmatic. His experience is that students who take conservative stands on issues are readily dismissed by their peers. He says he has also seen it happen occassionally in his classes as well. Like I said, he really likes the school, but finds that people are not really interested in an open dialogue with differing opinions.</p>
<p>just wanted to point out that the facebook stats might not be the most reliable source--many people answer the personal info questions with jokes. for example, i just did a search on the class of '09 and am pretty sure that not all 73 people who claim to be "married" actually are.</p>
<p>(but i do agree with what the other posts have said about the political climate at oberlin)</p>
<p>You could always join the Black Gay Republicans club.
Well, maybe you could.</p>
<p>I've heard a lot of classmates on Facebook saying they wished there were more conservatives so that they could have fair debates, otherwise it's all liberals. None of us has actually been to Oberlin yet, though - we all start this fall.</p>
<p>This is what my friend says: I think people are very tolerant. Most people are just looking for you to have a way to back up your argument if you disagree. So they'll debate you to the end concerning liberal/conservative political views and the like.</p>
<p>My son, who's a rising junior, expresses a lot of the same concerns as shennie's son. he feels a lot of the kids are very dogmatic and cling to a lot of knee-jerk liberal positions, without really ever being challenged. If anything, he thinks oberlin needs more conservative students to mix things up a bit. That said, I would agree that someone who is intolerant of the gay community may not find much support there. Tolerance is a big value at oberlin.</p>
<p>I would make a distinction between the two issues the OP raises. I think most Oberlin students would respect pro-life positions on abortion, though the great majority are pro-choice. Homophobia, on the other hand, would be regarded in the same way as racist and misogynist prejudice is. It's bigotry, pure and simple.</p>
<p>Dave 72, Thanks. That was very helpful. My son would not have problems attending classes or even befriending someone who was gay; however, he has strong convictions against its practice. Probably same attitude with illegal substances. He probably would be able to tolerate use by others but would not personally condone it or participate. Can one be 'tolerant" while still expressing conservative positions in class or in the cafeteria at Oberlin or would one be labeled as intolerant or 'homophobic'? I think this would be a very unfortunate experience for him if he were attending a LAC with a relatively small community.</p>
<p>If your son were openly "against [the] practice" of homosexuality, then yes, I think many, many people at Oberlin would consider him a bigot.</p>
<p>But hey, maybe it would be good for him to be somewhere that his preexisting viewpoints would be challenged.</p>
<p>If you straight son chooses not to "practice" homosexuality, I think he would find himself in a lot of company. However, if he announced that he thought homosexuality were sinful or wrong, I think his views would be challenged. But I don't think this is unique to Oberlin. If you look at polls and surveys, you'll find that most young people are accepting and tolerant of homosexuality and believe it is an orientation, not a choice. So he's going to encounter the same views at most colleges -- unless he goes to a place with a strong conservative bent.</p>
<p>Homophobic bigots are not welcome at Oberlin. His presence will harm the welcoming environment of the college. The same is true at all the top schools. Apply elsewhere-- I recommend Liberty, BJU, Notre Dame, and Brigham Young.</p>
<p>I was a member of Oberlin's College Republicans - mostly for the sport of it. There's no better place to hone your debating skills if you aren't as liberal as the student population. Also, the Conservatory has plenty of students who are there for the quality of the music education, not the politics. Many of my Conservatory friends were apolitical and regular church goers.</p>
<p>Oberlin is very liberal, but I didn't find it to be dogmatic and we had plenty of people who were "openly Republican," Christian, and homophobic or bigoted. (We still have a football team, and two senior football players were expelled my year for beating up a Black kid who wrote sarcastic commentary about the football team in the Grape). I went to Hampshire before I transferred, and I hated the self-rightousness there, but most who I met at Oberlin were down to earth and there were plenty engaging political discussions. Also, the 'gay community' at Oberlin is not ubiquitous. You don't have to go to Dragball, but it accounts for some of my best times at the Obe even though I'm straight. Anyway, I had an incredible experience at Oberlin, academically and socially, and I don't think anyone should be detered from going to the school because they're afraid of hippies or radicals, since our anarchist dumpster diving hippies and commies are a very small percentage of kids, about the same as the Randians and Republicans. I think my education gave me a huge advantage in law school, and I am now a very well compensated corporate attorney, despite having gone to such a liberal institution. I mean, you wouldn't turn down a great job in San Francisco or New York because you think the cities are too liberal, at least I wouldn't.</p>