This discussion is not meant to be political please. D, just a freshman, really hasn’t picked a position, although she def leans right on many issues right now. We talked a bit about conservative vs. liberal schools when she was making her list but I assured her that, while most of the schools on her list were liberal, she might learn alot by engaging in debates and joining the Republican Club. I just urged her even more strongly to join up with this young lady, make a new friend, and help start the debates. I can be very assertive and have no problem debating politics or any other subject if I feel compelled (and able to hold my own lol) but I’m an adult with lots of life experience. While she isn’t all about friends per se, she isn’t really about making waves either. I think she really wants to make a difference and at least get the dialogue going but is unsure in a “I’m young, college is supposed to fun, not confrontational” way.
Do you feel the student body in liberal schools truly isolate conservative students so much that they feel at fear of losing friends and being stigmatized? Or is this much ado about nothing?
Definitely not the case at either of the universities I’ve attended. I’ve known and been friends with conservatives at both Michigan State and Univ of Michigan and I have students share their views from all over the political spectrum in my U of M classes.
@romanigypsyeyes, both of those schools are also as far from LACs as can be. State flagships draw all sorts of students and thus have all sorts of viewpoints (and are gigantic so would have all sorts of social groups).
I think the OP could clarify by asking about liberal LACs which are much smaller and where if 90% of the student body disagrees with you, social ostracism can be more of a problem because there aren’t enough like-minded students for someone out of the mainstream to find their own tribe.
I wanted my kids at very leftie LACs because I wanted them in safe spaces and didn’t want them to have to debate about it. I I wanted them sheltered and to have a little respite from “real life” before they had to go out in the world, where there are precious few safe spaces.
They chose universities instead, but I strongly believe this type environment should be available to those who want it, if there are enough who want it to support it. There are plenty of environments where conservative students can be comfortable as the mainstream. They should consider fit as well.
Yes, thank you @PurpleTitan, I think you’ve now done that for me I don’t know about other kids D’s age (freshman in college) but she knows enough not to be too outspoken just yet. She isn’t educated enough politically (or otherwise) to do so. She’s been taught to listen and learn and I think by engaging in casual debate everyone learns. I hope she’ll find her voice in the next year or two but until then respect the opinions of others.
Unless you are very left leaning or very right leaning, I think you will find a lot of common ground with people in opposing parties. Most people do have a mix of views and are not solely aligned with one platform. Heck even Trump thinks it is okay for Caitlyn Jenner to use the women’s restroom. College is a time for debate and to explore and challenge your own views as well as views of others. If done respectfully, I don’t think your D would find herself isolated by expressing views that are to the right of the ‘typical’ Skidmore student
Thanks @alh, I would never have found that, very interesting.
@wisteria, that is what one would hope but isn’t the article supposedly exposing just the opposite? My take was that if you took opposition to the liberal views you could possibly be ostracized. But, like the thread title says, is this just “over-reacting”. I truly hope my D decides to join forces with others that are open to debating all things important (and not so important) so she can broaden her views. I get that many kids (mine included) gravitate towards their parents’ opinions on political and other matters but have always hoped to raise kids that would embrace learning about the other half and then make their own (educated) choices. In our family, I am conservative but her bio Dad is not, neither are her grandparents or her boyfriend/his family. There’s lots of noise around here lol.
@NEPatsGirl - I do think there are a fair amount of Republicans who are ‘fiscally’ Republican, but socially more moderate or even liberal - ie; for marriage equality, pro-choice etc. So it does get kind of muddled. My D registered the opposite party of my H, much to his dismay. But she did say if either Trump or Cruz gets the nod, she’s going Hillary all the way, which made him happy. I try to stay in the middle
I would like to think that college students are not yet so political that opposing views mean they are relegated to their dorm room for every social occasion. My kid is horribly left, but she doesn’t care, yet, if someone is right. But I have to say, she will definitely feel more comfortable at a college without a lot of conservatives. Persoanlly, I think it’s we adults who don’t play nicely with people who have opposing political views.
I am glad college writers are starting to speak up about this… IMO Identity Politics lenses are truly causing havoc … I totally agree with the article writer’s points due to my son’s experience (although not at Skidmore- don’t have any experience in particular there)… (and I am a liberal mother of a gay son)
This point resonants w me the most:
“What the Skidmore Left seems to ignore is this: if someone disagrees with your methods for achieving social change, it does not mean they are hostile to your goals.” **this, IMO, is so true!! (There are so many socially liberal/fiscally conservative and varying degrees in between republicans and democrats) …
-My son has been alienated by members of some lgbt SJW groups bc he is “cis white gay male” therefore “privileged” and his mere presence instantly is offensive to them; his views are to be invalidated- he has even been asked not to speak up (ever) so that views of oppressed less privileged that might be intimidated can be elevated… the groups refuse to ever read books written by white males… doesn’t matter what the books say, the mere fact that they are written by a white male is enough to boycott… (Now is that really helpful?) Go on Tumblr (big w teens/college scene) and it is practically a "go kill yourself " if you have any variation that doesn’t agree w the majority
My son actually had to make it a factor when choosing a college, ie…which school would be socially open to many viewpoints and accepting of students THAT WANT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME GOALS but go about it without alienating students in the process … he would rule out schools bc “too many intolerant SJW” and yet HE is a SJW… but he hates the way many are going about it all…and they are extreme in what he has experienced.
One of the wonderful things about college is that you can make friends with people because they are fun and kind and wonderful “fellow travelers” in the crazy part of the journey that college is. Later in life, you can marvel that you have dear friends who have beliefs that are so diametrically opposed to your own (so much so that if you met them today, you probably wouldn’t even consider a friendship), and perhaps the strength of your decades-old friendship will allow you to listen to your friend and develop a little bit of understanding of “the other side”.
If your D is simply recognizing that she is not in the mainstream, well, it probably won’t be the first time. If, on the other hand, she is feeling disrespected for that or uncomfortable, she will need to figure out how to speak up for herself. Figuring out how to make the connections with people who are different is a skill, but one that will stand her in good stead if she can master it.
I can tell you after attending a liberal LAC that some viewpoints, within the mainstream of the American national discussion, were simply not tolerated or allowed. These issues had been settled in advance and were not to be questioned or discussed. I got more of this in grad school and looking back it is pretty scary.
@katkatmouse - like what viewpoints? I’m curious if it’s like “gay people deserve equal rights” is unquestioned or if it gets to finer points like “healthcare should be free” or whatever?
You are expressing a viewpoint (gay rights) that isn’t black and white. Another viewpoint is that the govt has no business at all legally recognizing marriage, and it should register ALL civil economic pairings as civil unions, irrespective of gender and whether there is exchange of bodily fluid.
But the SJW students on campus won’t even permit a discussion. All viewpoints not conforming to theirs get shouted down.
I just gave two examples of viewpoints not everyone would agree with, @GMTplus7 that are also current issues. Probably more people agree with the first than the second, certainly among the college aged.
@GMTplus7, that is what I am worried about, that SJW students are bullying the rest. I so wish sometimes that my D was more like me in that she would stand strong but she is non-confrontational.
In truth, this thread really isn’t about my D at all, but about the liberal colleges in general. If she knew her name “D” kept creeping up in this conversation she wouldn’t be too happy with me I’m sure.
I don’t think gmtplus7 is a current LAC student, NEPatsGirl so I suspect she’s basing her opinion on the sensational news stories we discuss here. This is probably a great question to post NOT in the parents forum for that reason, actually. We’d all be sharing secondhand info at best.
I don’t know about other kids D’s age (freshman in college) but she knows enough not to be too outspoken just yet. She isn’t educated enough politically (or otherwise) to do so. She’s been taught to listen and learn and I think by engaging in casual debate everyone learns. I hope she’ll find her voice in the next year or two but until then respect the opinions of others.