How Liberal is Duke/Durham?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
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<p>Well, I'm from the SF-bay (very liberal), so I'm a little concerned about the sociopolitical atmosphere at Duke. In general, how liberal or conservative is Duke? Obviously I'm not expecting it to be like Berkeley, but is Duke more liberal than most of Durham because the student body is diverse and draws broad demographics from across the country? Thoughts greatly appreciated..</p>

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<p>I visited a few weeks ago, and kids there described the Durham area as “the liberal oasis of the South.”</p>

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<p>Most Duke students come from New England and California (NE sends more students than NC does, in fact) and, like any college campus, students are quite liberal. The difference I’ve noted is that people don’t tend to go crazy over politics. When Obama won in 2008, there were celebrations within dorms, but no major celebration out on the quad or anything, the way there were in other college campuses (UNC students stormed Franklin Street, for example). Durham itself is quite liberal also, at least judging by the way Durham residents voted in the 2008 election. Obama won Durham County 75% to 25% and the city of Durham voted along the same lines. (<a href=“http://www.co.durham.nc.us/departments/elec/2008_Election/November%20Election/OFFICIAL_Binder_14Nov2008.pdf[/url]”>http://www.co.durham.nc.us/departments/elec/2008_Election/November%20Election/OFFICIAL_Binder_14Nov2008.pdf&lt;/a&gt;).</p>

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<p>^That’s only because Durham is heavily minority. Most white NC residents are conservative</p>

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<p>Duke is not Durham, and Durham is not N.C.</p>

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<p>Thanks guys! Well I’m visiting for the first time tomorrow (gotta wake up at 3am for a flight), but it’s nice to get some reassurance. =)</p>

<p>And yes, NC did vote for Obama, but it was mostly b/c of the black vote, not necessarily a reflection on democratic values.</p>

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<p>Durham is the host of the NC gay pride parade.</p>

<p>Need I say more?</p>

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<p>Durham is incredibly liberal. All races in Durham are very liberal. To suggest otherwise is ignoring the fact that the triangle is one of the most educated regions in the country. </p>

<p>Durham is the only place I have ever seen people with Flying Spaghetti Monster bumper stickers, and I have seen quite a few. </p>

<p>The fact is that Durham is very, very liberal. Durham county voted 76% for Obama. The only county in California which had greater Obama support was Alameda with 79%.</p>

<p>Sorry to blow up but these posts about diversity and liberalness are really annoying. Coming from the Midwest (Cincinnati) and then going to Duke, I am so tired of people perceiving both regions as redneck and ignorant with little diversity. Durham is none of these things. </p>

<p>The Northeast and California are not the only-enlightened areas in this country. Personally I would take the people in the Midwest in a second over the people in Boston or New York. They are incredibly nice and down to earth. </p>

<p>Personally I think everyone should be exposed to all ideologies. How can you say that you believe in something when it has never been challenged?</p>

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<p>^^^
Haha…so I take it your a liberal?</p>

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<p>^^ really so you have to be a liberal and vote democrat to be enlightened? Only democrats are enlightened??? hhahahahahahahahahahahaha</p>

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<p>Durham is nearly 50% black, which could explain that figure.</p>

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<p>Let’s not equate being educated with being liberal. I’m sure there are some very highly educated conservatives too.</p>

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<p>

Uh, you do know that NC has had only 2 Republican governors since the 1870s? :rolleyes:</p>

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The atmosphere in Sanford was pretty intense.</p>

<p><a href=“http://news.chronicleblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/sanford4.jpg[/url]”>http://news.chronicleblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/sanford4.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>[Duke</a> Votes Election Party: Sanford Institute](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r3ikRk3UFg]Duke”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r3ikRk3UFg)</p>

<p>You’re right that it was more spread out, though.</p>

<p>

It’s also home to the NC LGBT film festival, and like its neighboring towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill, Durham passed a resolution in favor of gay marriage. Duke Chapel performs same-sex unions.</p>

<p>My personal favorite was when Duke supporters outnumbered Westboro picketers by more than 100 to 1.</p>

<p><a href=“http://dukechronicle.com/node/149184[/url]”>http://dukechronicle.com/node/149184&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>College campuses are all naturally pretty liberal, and Duke is no exception. But compared to other colleges, Duke is probably more conservative.</p>

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<p>This. Duke does a great job fostering diversity through scholarships, etc., but there is still a substantial population of wealthy people. Lots of wealthy people don’t like the government taking their money away, so they tend to be fiscally conservative.</p>

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<p>Actually RTgrove, I am not a liberal. I consider myself a libertarian and I am fiscally conservative. </p>

<p>And RCWhite, that is the worst manipulation of words I have seen in a long time. Never did I say that you have to be democrat to be enlightened. In fact I believe I said I would rather be surrounded by people in the Midwest than people on the coasts. I was referencing the fact that many people on the coasts view the middle of the country as ignorant and redneck. They view themselves as enlightened, while they view the middle of the country as ignorant farmers. I also specifically said that you need to challenge your views to know what you truly believe in. </p>

<p>It would also be ignorant to not admit that educated people are not predominately liberal. Sure there are educated conservatives. But most PHDs are liberal, and Durham has the highest ratio of PHD in the country.</p>

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<p>Before we become too quick to call others ignorant. Most PhD’s are liberal? What’s the percentage? Is it an overwhelming proportion? Where did that little factoid come from? You can’t just make up things and then state it as fact and then call people who disagree ignorant. Also, educated does not mean just PhDs. I would argue that a college degree means being educated.</p>

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<p>[Local</a> Exit Polls - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com](<a href=“Local Exit Polls - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com”>Local Exit Polls - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com)</p>

<p>The results are sort of interesting: Obama won every single education-level demographic, but was strongest among those with no high school education and those with advanced postgraduate degrees. He was weaker among those with just a high school education, some college, or a college degree but no advanced degree.</p>

<p>Similarly, Obama won both the lowest-income and the highest-income demographics but the middle income demographics were basically tied.</p>

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<p>Those numbers are far from overwhelming in any sense of the word. It’s far more likely that during the last election, Obama succeeded in wooing more independents to his side than McCain rather than all of them being liberals.</p>

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<p>“The Northeast and California are not the only-enlightened areas in this country”
you mention the two most liberal areas of the U.S. and you claim they are not the only “enlightened” areas. Therefore you are indeed insinuating that to be enlightened you must be liberal.</p>