Social Tone on Campus

Parent Cafe
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<p>Liberal, Conservative or Moderate……Oh My!</p>

<p>The social tone, or campus culture, is one of the most important factors that can make or break your child’s happiness at a college. It’s also one of the most difficult campus qualities to understand. </p>

<p>Steven W. Lawry, president of Antioch College, points out that “‘campus culture’ and ‘campus climate’ can be very difficult terms to define or phenomena to describe…they are characterized largely by a complex set of values and value judgments, they are also terms that don’t easily invite agreement….” </p>

<p>College is the first opportunity to get new and challenging inputs that will shape your child’s self-image and passions. But a bad reaction to campus life could show itself in your child’s detachment, boredom or feeling of isolation.</p>

<p>It’s important that your child “own” this aspect of college selection. Your role requires a shift from being a decision-maker to a decision-facilitator. </p>

<p>Diversity Rules! </p>

<p>Colleges strive for diversity, as one of the most important influences that shape learning. Diversity can take many forms: political, religious, social, economic or even geographic. The impact of these diversities on a student’s experience at a college is palpable, once living there. But it is difficult to anticipate from a traditional college tour. And the diversity statistics reported by a specific college often stop with the number of minority or international students enrolled.</p>

<p>The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) defines educational enrichment, in part, as a result of the “serious conversations” students have with people who are “very different from you”, in addition to those who are of a different race or ethnicity. However, for your child to receive knowledge effectively at college, he or she must feel comfortable with the living and learning environment. An urban, northern-bred student might be miserable at a southern, rural campus. Success depends on “what” the current climate on campus actually is, how pervasive it is in the classroom and in student housing, and how your child responds. You can make your child aware of the benefits of diversity and encourage openness. </p>

<p>It’s Isn’t Easy Being….Liberal </p>

<p>Academia is all about foraging new ideas, so you might assume that most colleges offer a liberal living and learning environment. There are no published statistics about whether a college is liberal, conservative or moderate. You have to assess this intuitively, and judge whether your child will fit in. </p>

<p>At top liberal schools, The Princeton Review says that "a bohemian ideal is enforced” and the environment is “Utopian-liberal”, giving a parent a pretty clear idea of what lifestyle is expected. “Hippies, hipsters, and geek chic” are common sights on the Bard College campus, the most liberal campus, according to U.S. News and World Report. However, students say that the reality is that “most people here are friendly, social, and pretty normal.” On the other hand, “If you’re uncreative or conservative you probably wouldn’t fit in.” </p>

<p>The Princeton Review provides rankings of 361 colleges, based on such touchy-feely aspects of campus life as political persuasion, marijuana and drug use, the prevalence of religion, the popularity of student government, and the students’ level of acceptance of the gay community on campus. Of Warren Wilson College, The Review says: “(It’s) mildly famous” for their "extreme liberalism…a haven for hippies and very left-wing people. (Students are) identifiable by their dread locks, Phish t-shirts, [and] political buttons, (and they) “like good organic wholesome food” and “hand-rolled cigarettes” and typically know “some botanical-ornithological basics.” Students say that: “Wilson is known as a hippie college, but there is a startling diversity of other kinds of alterna-creatures here.”</p>

<p>So It’s Cool to Be Conservative? </p>

<p>Conservatism reaches the classroom, according to Young American’s Foundation top Ten Conservative College’s list. A stated mission and programs that emphasize can identify a conservative college: </p>

<p>· Principles of smaller government
· Strong national defense
· Free enterprise
· Traditional values</p>

<p>Furthermore, according to YAF, conservative studies center on Western Civilization “instead of straying toward the study of Marxism, feminism, sexuality, postmodernism, and other modern distractions…”. </p>

<p>Hillsdale College, the “most conservative” on The Princeton Review’s list supports: ‘limited government,’ its role as ‘a defender of free markets and conservative values,’ and its emphasis on learning from ‘original texts’, (which) is appreciated by its largely ‘conservative, white, (and) Christian’ students…”. Students agree that “‘typical students are smart and religious’ at Hillsdale; they ‘go to church every Sunday and (their) religious beliefs come out in (how they speak and act)’.”</p>

<p>At other top conservative colleges, the Princeton Review says: </p>

<p>· “Students here ‘do not accept anything other than 100 percent manners, 100 percent class, 100 percent preppy, and 100 percent conservative all the time.’".</p>

<p>· “…(there is) a campus environment “full of Christians that get along great with each other, but have a hard time knowing how to treat anyone that isn’t exactly like them.”</p>

<p>Two-thirds (63%) of the students surveyed in the 2004-05 Post-Secondary Planning survey from the National Research Center for College & University Relations (NRCCUR) prefer a “moderate social environment” on campus, 12% prefer a conservative environment and 25% prefer a liberal environment. Furthermore, more than 40% of the students prefer a denominational church-related college, and Catholic or Baptist schools are most favored. </p>

<p>That said, the larger the campus, the more likely it is that extreme liberalism or conservatism will not dominate the environment. On the other hand, minority groups can cling together at larger schools, making it harder to experience diversity, unless diversity is “institutionalized” – made a priority – in the classroom and student housing environments. </p>

<p>Sizing Up Your College Choices</p>

<p>The best time to dig deep into a college’s culture is after you’ve determined that the college meets your academic and financial and practical needs, and you’ve visited once. When you’re ready to put together your final list of eight to ten colleges that meet all of your basic criteria, you need further evaluate your child’s chances for success at them: </p>

<li><p>Read about the college’s mission statement and strategic plan, and look at the President’s message, on the web site. Ask to see the most recent student satisfaction survey, which should be on file in the President’s office. </p></li>
<li><p>Don’t assume that a college that is affiliated with a religious institution will express that heritage in daily campus life. The influence of that institution may or may not be dominant on campus. </p></li>
<li><p>Ask the tour guide and college representatives about the social tone, campus culture (or campus climate) and to provide examples of how they experience it. </p></li>
<li><p>Visit your final choice colleges a second time, after you’ve been accepted but before you accept the financial aid offer. On this visit: </p>

<p>Pay attention to verbiage used in event posters, student newspapers, and presentations. And ask random students on campus for their opinion about the campus climate.</p>

<p>Take advantage of overnight stay programs that are commonly offered by the Admissions Department. </p>

<p>Have your child visit or call the residence halls, explaining that he/she is a prospective student and ask the same questions that you asked of the tour guides and official representatives. </p></li>
<li><p>To fully understand how diversity and collaborative learning impacts daily campus life, take the extra effort to interview faculty members (especially those in your child’s field of study). Be sure to ask for specific examples or data, about the following questions: </p></li>
</ol>

<p>· How does the institution encourage activities where students from different backgrounds meet and work together? Ask for examples where the activities impacted the majority of students, not just members of club or academic program. </p>

<p>· How often do students work in teams to complete assignments, solve problems, or apply course content? </p>

<p>· How frequently do students engage in service learning or take part in community-based projects, to fulfill class requirements?</p>

<p>· How many students collaborate on research with faculty members?</p>

<p>· How many interdisciplinary courses are offered? Are they open to all students? </p>

<p>· How many students are involved with living and learning communities? How is the faculty involved with these communities?</p>

<li><p>Since retention and graduation rates are correlated with student satisfaction, look them up on the College Board College Matchmaker, or other, college search engine, and compare your final choice colleges.</p></li>
<li><p>Consult student-written guides and forums about campus life, which are available for selected campuses. The most popular guides are: </p></li>
</ol>

<p>“The Insider’s Guide to The Colleges,” The Yale Daily News
“Students’ Guide to Colleges”, the Penguin Group
“The Big Book of Colleges ‘07”, College *******</p>

<li><p>You may want to have a discussion with your child about the importance of campus diversity and culture to his or her happiness as a student. But don’t expect tremendous insight. Your child’s personality is still in a formative stage and he or she has a limited worldview.</p></li>
<li><p>Resist the urge to judge the campus morals and values, superficially. What you think is best for your child might not, in fact, be best. Listen beyond what your child says about a campus. He or she wants to please you and may be telling you what you want to hear. Look for signs of genuine enthusiasm.</p></li>
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<p>My bias is that social fit is as important as academic fit, especially for the first year or two of college. Finding a few quirky, intellectual peers, mostly through ECs, has helped my son thrive in HS. Being surrounded by quirky, intellectual peers in college will be, I predict, a little piece of heaven for him. If I turn out to be wrong, I'll freely admit it, but for now, I'm sticking to my story.</p>

<p>BTW, Antioch College was my alma mater and was a perfect social fit for me. It felt like arriving at a surprise party where I was surrounded by people who were all connected to me even though they might not know each other. That level of social comfort, IMO, makes it possible to blossom academically and personally.</p>

<p>And I also think campus visits can be extremely informative about fit, though they are a snapshot. You can have a bad day at a "good fit" college, but if you arrive at a place for the first time and feel right at home, I have to think that's a good sign.</p>

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<p>Social and political culture are important considerations and I think some of the assessment suggestions are valuable. One BIG factor is missing from this discussion - Alcohol and drug use. On many campuses the alcohol/drug issues dwarf any additional concerns about "social tone."</p>

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<p>One other thing that needs to be considered is the dating culture, or more specifically: is there a dating culture at all? At some campuses traditional dating in the form of someone asking someone out on a date to a movie, dinner , whatever appears not to exist. Some college guides suggest that is the norm. For a kid expecting a traditional dating scene that could be quite a jolt.</p>

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<p>Does a "traditional dating culture" exist? I'm asking seriously; I know there are some significant regional differences below the radar of our malled, A&F culture.</p>

<p>I could probably count the number of "traditional dates" I ever had on my fingers. My wife wouldn't need any digits at all -- I'm pretty sure she never had a "date". My 20-year-old daughter: maybe two or three, irony-laden of course. My almost-18 son: maybe four or five, all but one with someone who was already his official girlfriend at the time. I'm not counting friends-decide-to-go-to-school-dance-togethers, or (in my case) escort duties assigned by third parties, as "dates", but those wouldn't increase the absolute numbers much.</p>

<p>In other words, for two generations in my world "dating" has been something you see in old movies. </p>

<p>My mother once sent us a letter she had written home to my grandmother when my mother was in grad school, though. It was stunning: 7 official dates in a week with 7 different guys, one of them my father. She took one night off to write a paper (with the help of one of the guys who had taken her out), but doubled up on Saturday (football game in the afternoon, then dinner and dancing at night). Those were the days! (Also amazing: The boys, besides my father, included a future Ivy League university president, two future Ivy League law school deans, and a future Oscar-nominated screenwriter. Did I mention that my mother, at 22, was quite pretty?)</p>

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<p>JHS, whether anything exists as in the movies I'd have to say I doubt it. But at least my D has found at Rhodes a few occasions that she has called "dates". 3 movies and one dinner and dancing that she has discussed with her mom. I guess I am juxtaposing "dates" with what the guidebooks call "random hookups". </p>

<p>Heck, there was dating at times in Sex and the City wasn't there? In between random hook-ups to be sure.</p>

<p>(While moderate to liberal politically, my D is conservative in dress and socially. As such, it was a consideration in her college search.)</p>

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<p>I must say, the "random hook-ups" following "alcohol-drenched" parties I've read about in the Insider's Guide don't appeal to me much as a parent and I'm no prude and certainly don't consider myself conservative. The drunken parties have been the biggest complaint of kids I know who are in college now; that it takes awhile to find friends who party differently. I have a lot of faith and trust in my son, but it does concern me (maybe because I remember my own college years).</p>

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<p>Uh, notwithstanding my general East Coast-ness, "Sex and the City" did not resemble my life much. </p>

<p>To be clear, I wasn't thinking of "dating" vs. "random hook-ups". I was thinking of "dating" vs. hanging out a lot with people you meet in classes or activities or jobs, and doing stuff in odd-numbered groups, and every once in a while after about 20 hours of earnest conversations in less than a week and ditching the respective wingmen suddenly you're making out with your new girlfriend/boyfriend.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I was thinking of "dating" vs. hanging out a lot with people you meet in classes or activities or jobs, and doing stuff in odd-numbered groups, and every once in a while after about 20 hours of earnest conversations in less than a week and ditching the respective wingmen suddenly you're making out with your new girlfriend/boyfriend.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The latter was definitely my college life. Tell me it still exists!</p>

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<p>Thanks for this list………ordered them today. :)</p>

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<p>Dating, dances, going out still exists.....at least that is the news I am getting from son. Yes a dance! My 97 year old mom wanted to know if they danced. She was having a hard time envisioning her grandson going to a dressed-up dance. I asked and got the reply she figured on, "nope." Music was very loud and everyone just stood around. Oh well.....</p>

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<p>Many kids have steady, exclusive relationships in college. My S did for a year and a half. That was what was meant by dating in my day, and it definitely still exists. </p>

<p>Dances still exist, too. They went to several semi-formal type get-togethers on campus (he needed a suit, gak!)</p>

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<p>I'm pretty sure curmudgeon wasn't talking about steady, exclusive relationships when he used the term "dating". To me, "dating" means one of the many routes between meeting someone attractive and having a steady, exclusive relationship with him or her, or deciding not to.</p>

<p>I agree that steady, exclusive relationships still exist. When they don't, that will really be trouble!</p>

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<p>But JHS, my point is, the "we're going on a date" model didn't exist when I was in college, either, so bemoaning its loss now feels kind of quaint to me.</p>

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<p>Well, it may be quaint in places but here in Texas, and it appears at Rhodes that there are in fact "dates". I'm going to define a date as two people who are not at that time in a relationship with each other who decide to go somewhere for the purpose of being together. Two such couples would be a double date. Another defining factor in dating is that it is socially acceptable to date more than one person at a time.</p>

<p>In someone's example above the moment the two decided to slip off on their own from the group constitutes a date of sorts. Admittedly a cheap one. </p>

<p>What do y'all call it when a guy calls a girl and asks her to a dance, party, recital, movie whatever (or vice-versa)? Isn't that still called a date? </p>

<p>I beginning to feel like I better call Veronica and Betty because Jughead sure is telling me wrong.</p>

<p>Are y'all suggesting that where you live it is group functions and then a relationship just blows up from that ? </p>

<p>I've been out of the game so long but I have certainly been around enough teenage girls lately and they all date (to one extent or the other). Proms/big dances/Homecoming are still times of great trepidation to little Johnny as he gets up the nerve to ask Sally out on a date. Go figure. </p>

<p>When the blonde in Sex and The City is asked to dinner by Big or the furniture guy , isn't that still called a date? </p>

<p>I'm about to join StickerShock and Hereshoping in the "We Still think Ike's the President" group. Jeez. Who'd a thunk it?</p>

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<p>Well, my kids each went to the Prom with a friend. I guess you can call that a date, though no romance or possibility of was implied.</p>

<p>Other than that, what makes your description diffeerent from two platonic same sex friends going to some function together? I guess hanging out with someone who happens to be of the opposite sex is a date, then, but it doens't seem like the dating of yore, to me.</p>

<p>And actually, yes, what i see with my kids is hanging out with a group, and then a pair deciding to "go out" which is where it changes from friendship to something different. That's how my H and I first got together, too, so it seems the norm to me.</p>

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<p>I think you said it yourself quite well. The "romance or possibility of" makes it a date.</p>

<p>


What if they are not in the same group of friends? </p>

<p>And the group to date thing ("deciding to go out")happens a lot in D's world , too. (In fact , I think that may be the more common way to find dates. But it's still a date, isn't it? What else would you call "going out"? (It's not a relationship. Heck, it's just a date. LOL)</p>

<p>It may also just be we are using words differently. To me "going out" is the same as a date, as in "going out on a date". And a date does not require a corsage or curtsy or even picking up each other at home or dorm. It's just a date. ;)</p>

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<p>Well, I"m just describing my observations, not trying to suggest a sociological study, but "going out" seems to be more than a date. It seems analogous to "being a couple." I don't see the in-between. I guess they may not be in the same group, but they seem to know each other in casual way, then they seem to "go out" in a "we're a couple" way. I'm just sayin....</p>

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<p>It may be , but what if you only go out once or twice, is that a couple? I'm not picking at you. Nor do I think you are picking at me. In fact I think this is interesting. ;) It may be that we use words differently. "I've been going out with Betty for a while" suggests a relationship. "I'm going out with Betty Saturday night" suggests a date. To me.</p>

<p>garland, if I can ask- what does "date" or "dating" mean to you?</p>

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<p>"Betty" :) just cracks me up</p>