<p>I consider myself very liberal on most issues. Due to my religion I am conservative on issues like abortion, gay marriage, and the death penalty; I dont support any of them. (this is not a debate thread, im just stating my beliefs)</p>
<p>For anyone who has visited brown or is a student there, do u think Brown is so liberal that people will reject me bc of my beliefs? I have a firm stance on my beliefs and I dont care if many people dont agree with me (I respect their opinions and their right to believe whatever they want), but I dont think I want to be in a place where people are constantly in my face, trying to debate and convince me to change what i think. Or where people label me as “that pro-life girl”.</p>
<p>I’ve heard from other people how brown is so liberal, im just wondering how other people’s experiences have been. I love evrything else about the school, esp the curriculum. I plan to visit if im accepted, but for now I just want to get an idea.</p>
<p>As a senior at Brown I say this with complete honesty--</p>
<p>No one will even know what you think about abortion or the death penalty, and gay marriage may come up if you like to talk politics but won't affect your friendships.</p>
<p>People can very easily compartmentalize you as a political person and you as a person they want to spend time with. It's far from all politics, all the time, and it's far from the kind of place where we'd reject you for your views.</p>
<p>You're not likely to find large throngs of students who support your beliefs but you're not going to be alienated in anyway at all, unless you feel comfortable being around someone who expresses opposing beliefs (but that's being a bit hypocritical anyway...).</p>
<p>Do some searching on liberalism at Brown-- there are a few excellent threads on this on the Brown CC board already.</p>
<p>You'll be fine as long as you are not outspoken. If you are constantly talking about how homosexuality and abortion are wrong, then you will meet opposition. Remember that some of these issues are very personal and touchy. As long as you don't like to voice your beliefs very often you should be fine.</p>
<p>I'm not trying to make this into a debate or anything, but I'm pretty sure your 'typical liberal' does not support the death penalty. Or am I somehow mistaken?</p>
<p>thats good im not one to go and throw my opinions in peoples' faces, so i think i'll be fine. I dont mind a casual repectable debate, I just didn't want to put myself in a situation where i just wouldn't fit in. And yes these isuues are very sensitive and personal. </p>
<p>My hs is kinda liberal and I haven't had any problems.</p>
<p>i think it's sad that people would have to feel like they shouldn't voice their opinions, so as not to upset anyone. not exactly the most accepting or condusive atmosphere.</p>
<p>I doubt anyone would have a problem voicing their opinions here.</p>
<p>Like I said, people are able to compartmentalize your political beliefs and their disagreement with you and the rest of your personality and your friendship.</p>
<p>We're not social inept at Brown-- we can function in society. That's why this "oh, stupid super hippy liberal" stuff is so hilarious to me. Brown is like most places in this world-- I have no idea what hte people around me think. Sometimes we have very serious and deep conversations, and sometimes we don't talk about politics at all. Like I said, most students are apolitical-- politics don't rule the lives of those on campus just like they don't rule the lives of most people. Being at Brown is like being anywhere else.</p>
<p>Are you going to find a ton of people who are likely to agree with a stance against gay-marriage? No, absolutely not. There are certainly some students but in a room with 100 Brown students you wouldn't find more than 5-10 that are against gay marriage (estimate). Does that mean I think you'd be uncomfortable being one of those 5-10 students, be scorned, etc? Absolutely not.</p>
<p>Like anywhere, and perhaps, more so than most places, you're beliefs are going to be challenged at Brown-- everyone here is smarter than you are. That's how most students feel because of how impressive our classmates are on the whole. I've learned a remarkable amount from my classmates about politics, and it does not matter that I'm generally a progressive.</p>
<p>What I'm really saying is-- politics won't effect you here any more than high school accept that you're far more likely to have a really compelling conversation about these issues no matter where you stand when the topic does come up.</p>
<p>I'm not on campus now but in general, I think there is a distinction between expressing your opinions and trying to convert people. I think what really puts people off is when someone proselytizes and suggests that if you don't convert, you're going to hell. (And I've known people to say that.)</p>
<p>My daughter took a class on public policy and religion. Many of the students in that class, when she took it, were not liberal. There were many who espoused conservative viewpoints like the ones you hold.</p>
<p>yea im not the one to try and convert the world, one thing I value about America is the fact that you believe in whatever religion you want or none at all. Some Christians do make it their mission to tell everyone that they're doomed to hell. I certainly dont mind sharing my faith, but I wouldn't personally attack or insult someone (just like I wouldn't want them to attack me, a simple treat peoplen they way you want to be treated principle).</p>
<p>"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers." quoting our new president!!!</p>
<p>During my college search, I excluded HBCU's and Christain colleges bc I do want people around who are not like me, I just don't want to be alone. </p>
<p>And from the posts above I can see that I'll be fine at Brown (if I can get in!!!)</p>
<p>it depends. if you voice your opinions in a sound, reasoned, calm, discussion based way, people will respect you and actually probably appreciate the opportunity to debate with someone. </p>
<p>people will respect your opinions as long as you express them in a respectful way. Honestly, being in the political minority on some very sensitive issues, the cards are stacked slightly against you, particularly on gay marriage because of the massive queer community at brown. if you bring signs saying "no gay marriage" to a QA (queer alliance) meeting, people probably won't like you. If you, when the issue is up, express your opinion, people will not judge you by your political views whatsoever. </p>
<p>from what you just posted above, i'm gonna guess you'll be just fine.</p>
<p>i agree with everyone else here - politics does not have to rule your life. hell, i'm a libertarian bordering on anarcho-capitalism in an honors economics and honors political science class - the fact that i haven't completely alienated both of those teachers and everyone else in those classes with my oddball political beliefs is that people can usually divorce their politics from their relationships. i've gotten into heated debates with my best friends over politics, but after it's over, we joke about it. once in a while, i win someone over. hey, i've managed to convince all my friends that we would be better off ending the drug war and legalizing all drugs, which is a huge victory in my book. anyway, what i'm trying to say is that personal politics will not destroy your relationships, but more often than not will just make things a little more interesting then they would be if EVERYONE agreed with you.</p>
<p>it's how you express them. if you are vocally homophobic, at a place like brown it will be a problem among many circles of people. </p>
<p>the inequity here is that liberal people don't necessarily have to divorce themselves from their views (this is true of most colleges) whereas to get by conservatives often do on most issues (like social issues).</p>