<p>ok so i'm liberal, but ive heard that the students are mac are REALLY liberal, and dont really leave any room for other opinions. does anyone know if this is true? i know that there are always the people who are really set in their opinions, but is this especially true at mac?</p>
<p>its true that almost everybody is liberal, but from what i have found out, there is a strong undercurrent of conservative liberalism. not republican conservative, but conservative in the true sense of the word politically. It makes for very interesting discussion despite the fact that everybody is 'liberal'.
I have found there are some people to just avoid having political discussions with, but on the whole, people here are well educated about their policy views, and there is healthy debate and exchange.</p>
<p>The upperclassmen are a lot more liberal than the freshmen, so I've gathered. We don't know if it is the class dynamic or acquired hippy behavior that 'matures' with time at Mac.</p>
<p>i agree with iplayoboe. i see mac as being at the liberal end of the mainstream, so it's not 'crazy liberal' like some of its pier colleges. pretty much everyone here voted for kerry, but liberal today can mean a lot of different things.</p>
<p>Macalester is certainly not "too liberal." Unless you're a republican. The student body here is generally, and quite unfortunately, full of your run of the mill democrats. If you're looking for a progressive student body interested in thinking outside the confines and parameters of the system, then you will feel detached from general student sentiment. There are groups of kids on campus that really do epitomize the "radically liberal" tag, though.</p>
<p>Student government elections are actually happening today, and two first years are running for president and vice president. The kid running for president was kicked off of campus by residential life for alcohol violations (laughable) and has a mediocre chance in the elections. The kid running for vice president, though, is a genius philosophy major and has an extremely solid chance of winning. If this happens, **** will really be shaken up on campus.</p>
<p>My just-right-of-center son sent in his enrollment form today. He's going in with his eyes open; tells me it's no problem. I just hope that he is able to feel comfortable, welcome and respected given Mac's liberal reputation. He loved everything else about the school. BTW, this subject came up at several of the Sampler sessions last week.</p>