<p>Last night I went to the New York presentation of Eight of the Best Colleges. It includes a powerpoint presentation for each college and a chance to ask questions of an admissions staff member for each school. Macalester also had an alum on hand to answer questions.</p>
<p>I asked the alum about openness to different political points of view on campus. I asked something like: “If a student were to say that George Bush is very intelligent and will go down in history as a great president, what kind of reaction would s/he get?” The alum laughed and said that the reaction would be negative, that opinions like that would not find polite reception and that a conservative student would not be happy at Macalester. This was not her verbatim response, but as close as I can remember. In contrast, I asked the same question to about five of the other college reps and each time the rep assured me that while the students and faculty are left of center, they are also open-minded and encourage honest respectful debate.</p>
<p>So when I had a chance I spoke to the admissions staffer and told him about the conversation. He seemed genuinely disturbed by what I’d been told and told me that if my son applies he should let it be known that he is conservative because they seek diversity of opinion and would like more balance. I wasn’t sure if he was telling me the truth or just trying to be nice, which wouldn’t have been a bad idea, considering the context.</p>
<p>So here are my questions:</p>
<li><p>What would happen if a student politely and appropriately expressed a conservative point of view either in class or out of class?</p></li>
<li><p>Do conservative students now get preferential treatment as minority students?</p></li>
<li><p>Any thoughts about Macalester compared to other comparable colleges? My hunch here is that most people will think that all the colleges are more similar than different, but if anyone knows of a college that is known for respect for different political ideas I’d love to hear about it. Not necessarily a conservative college, but one where all ideas get respect.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Most schools that tend to be lumped with Macalester would probably be in the same boat in terms of political diversity. For example, when asked about political diversity on campus at Lewis & Clark, our tour guide said that "there's maybe one Republican... somewhere, possibly."</p>
<p>I would guess that most liberal arts colleges are incredibly left-leaning, there still are a lot of schools that would be more middle of the road in terms of politics. A teacher I had who did her undergrad at Willamette who said it was a good mix of everyone politically and the student body was somewhere in the middle of the liberal schools (L&C, Reed) and the more conservative schools (U Portland, Linfield) in Oregon. I would also say St. Olaf's, Carleton, the Ivies, the Little Ivies of the East Coast (Williams, Middlebury, etc.) would have an equal representation and respect for all political ideas.</p>
<p>Halie thanks so much for your response. It adds color to this thread in a way that I couldn't have. When I think of $50,000 a year for that kind of arrogant sarcasm, it makes me wonder if this whole thing could even be worth it.</p>
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When I think of $50,000 a year for that kind of arrogant sarcasm, it makes me wonder if this whole thing could even be worth it.
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<p>Keep in mind that "arrogant sarcasm" came from ONE alum... I visited last week and the students are very political (Mac Dems is huge), but they didn't come off as arrogant or condescending about it...</p>
<p>I think the majority of instructors and students at colleges are respectful of differing opinions. That doesn't mean anyone will agree with the statement, "George Bush is very intelligent and will go down in history as a great president." It simply means that your right to believe that, and to express your belief, will be acknowledged. Conversely, everyone else will expect you to respect their right to explain to you why your opinion is ill-conceived.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, one actually learns more in a class when one holds, and tries to defend, a minority opinion. Especially if one also has an open mind. If you aren't afraid of challenges, it will likely be more rewarding to attend a college where your political perspective is uncommon.</p>
<p>I'd be more concerned if someone did not laugh at such a statement.</p>
<p>Most small liberal arts schools are going to be staggeringly liberal. I think a sense of open mindedness depends upon individuals more so than a collective attitude. Honestly, I find it hard to believe you were surprised by such a reaction</p>
<p>Yeah, most LAC around the country aren't to high on Republicans right now. </p>
<p>Quite frankly, I think you should either take the alum's response as a [poor] joke, or at least appreciate her candor and honesty. Better than trying to lie to you and giving you a line on some diversity bull-****. </p>
<p>P.S. If you're looking for an LAC with a lot of conservatives, try Hillsdale in Michigan.</p>
<p>OP, I think your concern is a very valid one ... different schools have different feels ... Gettysburgh probably has quite a few more conservatives than Macalester for example. Schools with less economic and financial diversity tend to have higher conservative populations ... although college populations in general tend to be pretty liberal. </p>
<p>One suggestion would be to raise your concern in general terms (how many conservative students are there on campus and how open is the campus to conservatives and to debate) and avoid the specific quote you used as an example ... it is particularly provocative and likely to generate a far more negative reaction than you would actually experience on campus. Lots of liberals, me included, consider GWB a total disaster as president and this is one topic where there is no middle ground to seek and no way I can put myself into the other person's shoes and understand their viewpoint ... while I love debating topics I avoid all discussions about GWB because of my disappointment and anger at his performance as President ... and I believe my immediate negative reactions to all things GWB is far from unique.</p>
<p>As everyone here is saying, most colleges are very liberal. I went to a school that was not considered way left, and even then self confessed Republicans were not well received. Now more than 30 years later, a lot of us are registered Republicans!
I think the admissions rep from Mac was being much more honest and upfront than the others who gave you the standard reply. I think his answer holds for most college. Hopefully, you did not report him to the school, because I am sure he is going to get some flak for this. The truth of the matter is that unless your son chooses a known conservative college, many of them religious schools, he is going to get some sort of negative reactions if he is an avowed and vocal conservative and/or Christian. It's just the way it is. </p>
<p>I recommend you look at the ISI Guide to collegs called "Choosing the Right College The Whole Truth about America's Top Schools". It has info in there that is decidedly lacking in most college guides and gives a good flavor on the campus politics and intellectual diversity at those schools. I did a quick read on Macalester, and have to say that it is no worse than other like schools in the matter. I have an older version of the book, but I think it is not that out of date. </p>
<p>Funny, my son and three good friends of his are all from Republlican (though not strongly so, really more Independent) families. Yet three out of four of them are going to schools that are liberal in thought--Macalester, L&Clark, Colorado College. As I once read, LACs have a mission to teach kids to think differently from their parents and disagree with everything they believe. My son worked at the Democratic convention and is now a feverent Obama supporter. That's fine. All part of the process and it would have been fine if he had gone to school as a young Republican there as well, though he would have caught some flak for it at his school. </p>
<p>The Catholic colleges seem, to me, to have the most balanced blend with the official views being conservative but still a lot of liberal profs and kids. JMHO.</p>
<p>TangledUpInBlu3, thank you also for adding to the color. </p>
<p>I didn't say I was surprised. Quite the opposite, by saying thanks for adding to the color I'm saying that you have continued with my theme by giving a real-life example.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses so far. One think I'd like to emphasize, if I didn't make it clear in the OP, is that it's not about liberals vs. conservatives and certainly not about Dems vs. Reps.</p>
<p>It's about an openness to new ideas vs. an arrogant closed-mindedness. I wouldn't mind (nor would my son mind) a campus with 99.9% liberals if the response to a conservative statement would be something like "Tell me about that."</p>
<p>dream on.why not accept the fact that at this point in history, most students at liberal colleges are intensely pro Obama, in fact they were in the vanguard of recognizing Obama's appeal and educated their parents.</p>
<p>If you want conservative to engage in dialogue with you, don't go to the liberal arts college.Choose a religious college</p>
<p>You are going to get mean spirited, narrow minded kids anywhere, Birdrock and sometimes it's just a matter of chance if it turns into a nasty encounter of if things are fine and cool with all concerned. You also are not going to get a whole campus load of such kids. Most kids I know are not that hot about politics, but those who are tend to be liberals.</p>
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Most small liberal arts schools are going to be staggeringly liberal
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<p>Why this is baffles me a bit, given that only fairly well off people can afford them, and the majority of those are conservative (e.g. suburbs backing Republicans).</p>
<p>When I lived in TX I didn't mention my misalignment with the right, because it would produce shocked looks on my coworkers (it happened). So if you go to a school w/majority liberal thinking, you may find your like-minded peers keeping quiet.</p>
<p>I've generally found that the wealthiest are often very socially liberal, actually. The educated are often more liberal, and often the educated are often wealthier too.</p>
<p>Bird, it's odd to say that someone who disagrees with your statement that Bush is very intelligent is being closed-minded. Jeez, the man has been President for eight years. How much more evidence am I supposed to accumulate before I make up my mind about him?</p>
<p>Being open-minded doesn't mean never making up your mind.</p>
<p>There are some colleges, LAC-like, that lean right: W&L, Claremont-McKenna, Wake Forrest (not a LAC but LAC-like.)</p>
<p>Maybe OP and student would be happiest with those. If a more liberal school is more appealing, I think an alternative point of view is a gift to the student body.</p>
<p>Treetop, the whole LAC experience is to get kids thinking unlike their parents, I think. So, yes, you get a lot of liberal kids from conservative household. In my opinion this political correctness is sad since it is difficult to have a balanced conversation these days. If you look on the CC political threads, it is a problem there too and, yes, it gets to insult level a lot. So, it is going to be the same with young adults at colleges. Mythmom is right with some of her suggestions. Catholic schools are also more balanced and some of the Christian schools down right conservative.</p>