<p>Folks....just for the sake of this discussion, I wasn't asking for advice. My son's positions on certain schools and certain states hasn't changed. There are places that he's planning to avoid. Other than those, we haven't reconsidered any school choices becuse of how their communities chose to vote. I only raised this becuase I thought it was interesting discussion after realizing that we were NOT considerig factors being considered by others we know.</p>
<p>I have found that people consider all sorts of factors in college admission that would never cross my mind. Some want their kids to live at home and go to the college down the street. Some refuse to have the kids on a campus that is not dry, that's not Christian, that's not an HBCU, that's not mainstream, that's not the parents' alma mater, that's not free (even when the parents are very well off). Some parents refuse to let their kids apply to colleges where the teams were rivals of the parents' alma maters. </p>
<p>The one thing that floors me are the middle class parents who refuse to pay a dime for their kids to go to college. Some parents say they sent themselves through college, so they expect their kids to do the same. I can understand when the parents are low income, but it seems rather selfish to me when the parents appear to be cmfortably off, but somehow consider that college is a luxury that the students should take out gigantic loans, work jobs, etc. to pay full freight in order to go. </p>
<p>I can see expecting students to pay something toward their education, but not full freight if the parents can afford to help out.</p>
<p>I would hope that my son has begun to develop his own sense of viewpoint well before the time he leaves home at 18. Of course, everyone should remain open to dialogue and consideration. But, I don't think he's been parrotting his views.....esp since we often disagree. I also read the school's newspapper and found that the student body is pretty diverse in terms of views of hot button issues....with the exception of abortion, which was overwhelmingly supported.</p>
<p>Actually, some conservatives are bigots, while liberals are not. Liberals may be intolerant of conservatives, but they don't pass laws condeming them! I speak from the experience of living in a very red state.</p>
<p>We're 70% Republican, and recently passed a constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage. Even mainstream Republicans regularly condemn the "gay agenda"--i.e., wanting to be with a partner and be left alone. Gays are beaten up, their cars are damaged, and they receive threatening letters. We have one of the highest teen suicide rates in the country, and there is speculation that gay teens in our state are some of the victims. I lay the blame for this at the feet of the Evangelical Republicans. Wish the liberal, tolerant Republicans would rise up and take back their party! </p>
<p>If a gay student wanted to attend one of our state universities they would probably be okay--only sporadic incidents of graffiti and gay-bashing. But I would encourage a gay child, or one of color, to go to school in a more tolerant state. Both of our kids were lucky enough to go to school out of Montana.</p>
<p>Northstarmom, as a student myself, I agree completely with your opinion concerning parents not wishing to contribute to their student's college education. By refusing to pay, a parent sends the wrong message to the student; when getting into and attending college is such an important part of a child's life, a parent should support their children, not send them out onto the streets to fend for themselves simply to "build character." Not to mention the fact that they (the parents) who were forced to support themselves had a smaller parent income bracket and received more financial aid money than their own children will. I'm sure that the parents who do this feel that their reasons are valid, but if my parents refused to help me out (to a certain extent of course - I obviously would understand their financial limitations), I would be very disappointed. I would also hope that they would not expect me to help them out later in life.</p>
<p>but that's just my opinion.</p>
<p>Most colleges have a variety of political views on campus - but in general are fairly liberal, and often the surrounding areas of campuses are heavily influenced by the campus. Unless you are attending Brigham Young University or Oral Roberts college, chances are good that the campus will have many liberal voices and some conservative voices - even if the school is in a state that swung Republican.</p>
<p>BEGIN QUOTE: "I'm not sure where we went wrong," says Ellen McCormack, nervously fondling the recycled paper cup holding her organic Kona soy latte. "It seems like only yesterday Rain was a carefree little boy at the Montessori school, playing non-competitive musical chairs with the other children and his care facilitators." "But now..." she pauses, staring out the window of her postmodern Palo Alto home. The words are hesitant, measured, bearing a tale of family heartbreak almost too painful for her to recount. "But now, Rain insists that I call him Bobby Ray."</p>
<p>Across the country In toney Westchester County, New York, Jim and Sandy Vandenberg describe a similar tale of family grief. "We are people of faith who keep the sabbath," says Sandy, a curator in the Dada collection of the Museum of Modern Art. "Even when she was a toddler, we made sure Emily got up early every Sunday morning to read the New York Times Book Review. Sunday morning was our time, until..." "Until those damned Jesus bastards stole my little girl," interrupts her husband, barely containing his anger. Once a Freshman honors student in Lacanian Deconstruction Theory at NYU, their daughter is now better known as Lurleen McDaniel -- reigning Princess of the Tulsa Livestock Show and Rodeo. END QUOTE</p>
<p>This is an important article...a bit long, but it seems momsdream's friends may have a point.
<a href="http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2004/11/blue_state_blue.html%5B/url%5D">http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2004/11/blue_state_blue.html</a></p>
<p>One would think that parents would want their college bound young ADULTS to enjoy their college experience since it is their college student, not them, that has to live at the college of choice for 4 years. Other than for financial reasons, dictating where ones young adult will go to college is all about control. And quite honestly, unless a state school such as UVA and Chapel Hill mandate that a certain percentage of the incoming class is comprised of in state students, most will spend most of their time with other college students who are from all over the Nation.</p>
<p>Interesting. My S has expressed concern over attending school in a blue state, particularly when he looked at some of the required social sciences courses. There are some weird courses at some of the big Eastern schools.</p>
<p>It's less that the views are so liberal than his concern than nothing short of a liberal view would be tolerated on campus. That's certainly an impression easy to form looking in from the outside.</p>
<p>Driver, you have a whole dorm floor laughing so hard they're crying! Parents, really, let go! Send your children off to see world views and let them become open minded sekers of their own truthes. Be big, if they are reacting to your own misery over the election which so many of you have made clear, tell them to go to the Red States and speak their opinions.</p>
<p>I am student from a red state applying to blue state schools and
am concerned the election will affect my chances.</p>
<p>I'm amazed that people can make such sweeping generalizations about campus culture in red states/blue states. I remember that some time back, thedad had said his D wouldn't attend college in any state that voted for Bush. I've never understood statements like that. Some of the most liberal campuses are in red states and some red states won by such narrowly defined margines. To hold a state or region in contempt because of its electoral outcome is showing ignorance. I agree with canuckeh on how ridiculous this all is. I'm still ROFL from reading the article linked above! Satire at its best!</p>
<p>"Earlier this year, science teachers howled when state Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox proposed a new science curriculum that dropped the word "evolution" in favor of "changes over time.""</p>
<p>Btw, this lady is Kathy Cox with a "K", not GA's extremely intelligent and professional Democrat Cathy Cox with a "C". </p>
<p>Anyways, I have to say that I have lived in GA my whole life, and I can't wait until next september when I can get the heck out of here. </p>
<p>People are rascist, and make comments against blacks, women, jews, and gays. </p>
<p>I am not trying to generalize, but having grown up next to people throwing around the word "n****" with no problem makes me have remorse for the south.</p>
<p>However, the 2000 election was the first election that GA EVER elected a democratic governor. I think that the majority of Georgians are conservative democrats at heart, and prefer a republican president with democratic legislatures.</p>
<p>In south Georgia, being a republican is political suicide. It is extremely democratic there, and I think in a few years GA in particular will see a change in leadership.</p>
<p>As far as evolution goes, that whole "biological changes over time" thing was met with a lot of opposition and ridicule. Even the most conservative leaders disagreed. So please don't generalize the population of one state by one lady's stupid mistake. The change of evolution in textbooks never actually worked out, and all we have now is a cheesy disclaimer, which really doesn't hurt anyone no matter how cheesy it is.</p>
<p>And about colleges, I have to say that the city of Atlanta is very liberal. Drive through virginia highlands, buckhead, and other areas, and you will quickly notice the extremely large amount of Kerry/Edwards signs. Plus, the Atl. mayor is a liberal, African-American female.</p>
<p>Emory is in a very open-minded and beautiful part of Atlanta, and I would be disheartened to see people not giving this fine university a chance just because of it's location. I would LOVE to live in that area, it's the best place in the world.</p>
<p>UGA is pretty spilt as far as political views. My profs(I am taking some classes there now as a hs student) are bleeding liberals who face plenty of oppostion but probably more students who agree with them in the classroom.</p>
<p>UGA is also advocating a new rigorous recruitment of diverse applicants and affirmative action, so I don't consider it too conservative. Plus, UGA has a large gay population and Jewish groups.</p>
<p>However, the frats still waive around the confederate flags and country music, so you have to accept the culture a little bit.</p>
<p>"However, the 2000 election was the first election that GA EVER elected a democratic governor"</p>
<p>Jimmy Carter may beg to differ with you, hoo.</p>
<p>Uhh...it's a fact that Gov. Sonny Perdue was the first GA Republican governor. I meant to say Republican, not democratic. Woops.</p>
<p>I was pulling your leg, hoo. I thought you meant Republican. :) However, I think that Perdue was elected in 2002, not 2000, right?</p>
<p>Yep, you're right. And I was depressed for a week. And not only that, he cut the budget by 40% on GA public universities.</p>
<p>Well (I don't know if anyone posted this already), but if you see that map, practically the entire nation appears red. I don't think you can make linear comparisons between the red states either. Alabama is not the same as Ohio. Florida (although technically a part of the South), is not the same as Mississippi. So yes, I think it would be an uninformed way to select colleges.</p>
<p>PS, I went to high school in NYC and people in my high school made racist, uninformed comments all the time (including the staff, all of which who claimed they were "liberal" and voted Democrat). I began to wonder if I were in the Twilight Zone, because I grew up around white Christian conservatives and was NEVER made to feel that way in my life.</p>
<p>"We try hard to engage all of our students in fun, healthy activities like Progressive Eco-Action March and Rage Against Intolerance Week," says Lawrence DiBenedetto of Patrice Lumumba Magnet School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "Unfortunately, there are going to be those who fall through the cracks, into a life of bass fishing and stockcar racing." "I guess you might could say we're rebels," says Rachel 'Tyffanie' Stern, 17, lighting a Merit Menthol 100. Once destined for Vassar, Stern is now living with friends after her parents kicked her out of the house for spending her bat mitzvah money on a bass boat. Last month she became the youngest Jewish female to win an event on the Bassmasters Pro Tour.</p>
<p>Pausing for furtive glances, several of the teens share sniffs from a bottle of Harmon Triple Heat deer scent. "Wooo-eee, ***** howdy, that's gonna bring a mess of them whitetail bucks," says 19-year old Wei-Li 'Lamar' Cheung. A former Westinghouse Science Award winner, Cheung has devoted his chemistry and biology skill to building a fledgling hunting supply business. A first generation Asian-American, Cheung says he was drawn to the group by their acceptance of minorities. "Hell, I kept tellin' all my family and teachers I wanna play fiddle, not violin," he explains. "The 'Necks accept me the way I am."</p>
<p>Excerpt from the important article "Blue State Blues as Coastal Parents Battle Invasion of Dollywood Values," by David Burge.</p>