In light of recent events...

In light of recent events in charlottesville, I’d like to ask… how conservative does UVA feel? Anecdotes, comparisons to other colleges, whatever. Keep in mind:

  1. I am a very liberal liberal
  2. I’d prefer as straightforward an answer as you think you can give, not any kind of preaching about how I should be open to different political viewpoints please (as I am open, but this does matter to me)
  3. I’m aware that most conservatives aren’t anything like the Charlottesville Neo-Nazis, but this just raised a question in my mind.

Thanks so much for your perspective!

MODERATOR’S NOTE: Please make sure to avoid any political comments.

UVA is a pretty typical public school. We have about 17,000 amazing students.

Please remember that the people who came here this weekend came here because we are a progressive city where the public overwhelmingly supports taking statues of Lee and Jackson down (clearly, this wasn’t just about statues). I can rattle off the license plates that were parked where they staged. They came from all over the country. I thought the news coverage made that clear.

I’m a liberal with a very liberal daughter who is a third year. She loves UVA with all its warts and flaws and believes it is the perfect place for her.

For a public university it is probably more conservative than many elite public flagships. But the city and many (maybe most, I don’t have a good way to judge) professors are liberal as is probably true for most college professors anywhere. My daughter has had no problem finding friends, professors, clubs, and a church group who fully support her and stand beside her in her liberalness.

Walking on grounds planned by a slave owner, built by the blood sweat and tears of slaves is painful to her. That legacy is real, it is painful, and it is complicated. The veneration by most of the community of Thomas Jefferson is frustrating to her. But there are voices at UVA who push back on that. A memorial to slaves is underway and the university is actively doing the messy work of coming to terms with its history. That is part of what makes it a target right now.

But there are plenty of conservative students. She has had lesbian slurs shouted at her from cars when walking down the streets with a friend (she isn’t lesbian but that isn’t even the point). She says there are robust discussions in classes, dorms and elsewhere where all points of the political spectrum are voiced and passionately debated.

For her, she is glad she is in a place were the conservative viewpoint is respectfully (for the most part) expressed. It has sharpened her and helped prepare her for the world of diversity.

If it is important to you to be in a place where the conservative voice will always be shouted down UVA probably isn’t the best place. If you want a place where you can seek out and hang with your liberal peers but also rub shoulders with conservatives from entitled rich kids who have never really examined their political assumptions to principled conservatives with well thought out logically consistent positions that will challenge you back, then it might be the right place.

I know you are asking an honest question. So don’t be offended when I give it to you straight. Which is that your question is borderline ridiculous for UVA. And also for just about any other college other than BYU or Liberty.

Look at these UVA mock election results from 2016:

Clinton 67% vs. Trump 9%. Bernie 64% vs. Clinton 33%

I’m sure that UVA is a bit more politically conservative than, say, Cal Berkeley. But it is still a college. Which means it is going to be quite liberal as compared to just about anyplace else.

http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2016/11/sanders-rubio-were-uva-students-original-pick

Please define what you mean by liberal. Most college campuses have adopted progressive ideology which is not very liberal in a classic sense.

I would suggest instead of identifying yourself with a particular label, identify with specific ideas and concepts that you find to be true and apply those concepts evenly throughout your life, with everyone you meet, and every situation you encounter.

Do not get caught up in political labels that tend to lead otherwise good people to defend bad ideas and bad actions.

I adore UVA. And the Charlottesville area. I took classes, hung out at fraternities, worked there as a college gal, still have many quite liberal adult friends there, including several who work for the U. I would have been delighted if D1 had attended. There will be plenty of types on campus, plenty of opportunity for satisfying discussion. One can grow, academically and otherwise. And I believe the main focus should be that on-campus experience.

But some parts of the south are not for everyone. There are aspects of local culture that will challenge those who are sensitive to various issues.

OP, have you visited? My D1 fell in love with the school, but decided not to apply, for her own reasons. Had she attended, I have zero doubts she would have flourished.