I usually don’t put much faith in Niche polls, but if use Niche as our guide . . .
4% of the polled students at University of Alabama described the students as Progressive/Very Liberal or Liberal, compared to 32% at University of Arizona.
43% of the polled students at University of Alabama described the students as Conservative or Very Conservative, compared to 7% at University of Arizona.
Haven’t checked them all, but I’m not sure you’d find many major colleges that skew more conservative than U of Alabama.
As for what if anything can be extrapolated from the vaccination rate, we’ll have to agree to disagree.
@sevenmom, I’m glad to hear about vaccination rates at Virginia Tech. The vaccination rate I gave was for the University of Alabama. I was surprised to see that it was so low, given it is in the high 90% range many colleges.
Colleges do tend to trend liberal (or neutral), but as we’ve learned in the Times of Covid, the politics of the surrounding area or state also invade the campus bubble. There are the laws of the state to consider. There are also the media in the area - newspapers, TV stations and what they cover. In some states college students are considered for jury duty (or the student could be at the hands of a ‘jury of his peers’ if unfortunately gets arrested).
I have one kid who cared about politics but was fine in a red state, on a red campus, and found the people nice and didn’t butt heads with anyone. My other kid was in a red state but really paid no attention to politics, the media, and luckily didn’t need a jury for anything. I’d say her campus was neutral politically.
Younger adults, including most college students, do tend to be more left leaning than older adults. However, “more left leaning” in Alabama may be different from “more left leaning” in California.
The number of unvaxxed students may have an adverse effect on the number/size of in-person classes, the ability to attend sporting events, use of recreational facilities, etc.
I’m concerned for my daughter at Clemson, only about a 50% rate. Since there is no vaccine mandate, everyone is tested weekly, lots of breakthrough cases, covid hotel full. I’m afraid that my fully vaccinated covid recovered daughter will test positive and have to come home for 10 days. I’m not concerned about her siblings at universities that mandated vaccines, they’re not getting tested weekly.
I’m the parent of a 2020 grad and a current sophomore-both high stats kids and very liberal. They were both able to find their place at Alabama and neither had any negative experiences with professors with regard to political leanings. Definitely look into the University Fellows Experience. It’s a phenomenal opportunity and my son has made amazing connections and become very involved in a variety of organizations. I wouldn’t write off UA strictly because the state itself is so conservative. The university definitely attracts all kinds.
I wish this was still true. UA is run by virtue signalers who have given the Office of DEI there free reign to indoctrinate students in NeoMarxist CRT. Just last night they held a “conversation” on CRT. No dissenting voice was presented. I am an alumnus and not happy about this.
D is a senior in a sorority at Bama. From the NE, center left on politics. Many of her sorority sisters are similar, although not all - and Greeks tend more conservative than others. The Blount Liberal Arts group is even more liberal.
You WILL hear alternate views and my D and I are pleased about it because it has made her consider her opinions, and learn how to handle different perspectives. Even more importantly, she has learned how to befriend people with other views and see them as actual humans, and understand WHY someone might think differently.
But she will admit it was good she had Blount and sorority friends who felt similarly to her when she needed comfort in that bubble. That is human too.
Arizona State was too expensive for us, and D didn’t like Arizona when we visited. Alabama and South Carolina were her merit safeties. My second D, applying now, will have Ole Miss and Alabama as her auto merit safeties.
Nearing two years into this pandemic, with over 660,000 dead, I’m not willing to befriend humans or understand them either, when their views aren’t based in reality and science. Period. End of story for me.
I have no problem with UA or any other school providing a discussion about CRT. My issue is the UA DEI holding a one-sided discussion about it. I have no issue with National Socialism being studied either, but none of us want UA to promote it. By the way, NPR is not a source I hold in high esteem. National Propaganda Radio. And General Milley is a creep! White Rage? Oh please. After BLM Summer, you guys still want to focus on White rage? Absurd.
This thread went down fast. I would note, though, that basing your friendships on reality and science will lead to a lonely life quite quickly. Reality is perception based. My perception of reality is different that yours as reality is, by definition, observation based. Science changes all the time, it is by definition a revolutionary field (interestingly with exceedingly conservative elements). You cannot “believe” in science. It either is or is not. Matters of science are proven. Someone basing their beliefs on “science” in the Middle Ages would have rightfully believed in a heliocentric universe and four elements as human science had not observationally proven anything else. So, while we look back on them and laugh, others in the future will do the same to us. Pick your relationships not on science or perception, but whether you like the person.
The question the OP asked is how conservative the campus is, not a debate on science or perception. Nor is this the thread to debate any aspect of COVID. Let’s not get off-track.
