What kind of political atmosphere is there at MIT?

[kemcab]

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The word “liberal” in the context of politics has evolved to mean something quite different than “liberal” as a general adjective. I know some very closed-minded liberals as well as some very open-minded, thoughtful conservatives. It all depends on the person.

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<p>Of course. I’d say most people are closed-minded though, liberal or conservative. There are some ideas you really just can’t dignify even with acknowledgement nowadays, though. </p>

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Generally, MIT students are quite liberal on social issues and foreign policy. On fiscal policy, however, they are actually somewhat evenly divided.

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<p>Perhaps because those issues are (or, rather, should be) generally cut and dry whereas fiscal policy usually isn’t. I lean left on social issues and fiscal policy and right on foreign policy, but overall I wouldn’t identify myself as being of the liberal camp. The only thing I believe in is, essentially, whatever works.</p>

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I came to MIT as a traditionally conservative Republican (with an environmentalist streak), and now I am a libertarian-leaning “small government” conservative (still hanging onto the environmentalist streak). I guess you could say I’m a “Goldwater conservative” or a “Ron Paul conservative”.

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<p>Well, that tells me that a) beliefs change and b) it’s hard to be a conservative in a humanities class at most colleges. Most of my friends are generally liberal but not expressly so, except maybe one. I’d say I’m a centrist. I’m willing to say socialism might work provided that technology is someday advanced enough to provide for most or even all, but I would still say that the free market is necessary for growth and survival. </p>

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During my first semester at MIT, I took 24.02 (Moral Problems and the Good Life). The class focused disproportionately on hot-button issues like abortion and homosexuality, which was disappointing to me. It seemed like the professor (and especially my TA) wanted to make political statements. We had to write three position papers, and I took very conservative positions in each paper. I realized that it might have been wise to moderate my opinions, but since it was Pass/NoRecord, I just went ahead and wrote very forceful conservative arguments. I was always a great writer in high school, and my 24.02 TA acknowledged my strong writing style…but she still gave me grades of C+/B- on all my papers.

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<p>I’m not sure if I’d take the class, but if I did I would consistently adhere to moral relativism rather than advance a distinctly left or right opinion. Yeah, it does seem like a class that’d be prone to being politicized. I guess, though, that it couldn’t really hurt to write a conservative argument given MIT’s Pass/No Record policy. I don’t know how or why one would deliberately penalize somebody else for a different position, though.</p>

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Shortly before the final, I emailed the professor to request a meeting to discuss “some concerns” I had about the class. The final consisted of an essay, some short free responses, and matching quotes to authors from the class readings. I chose an essay prompt related to homosexuality and used all the same arguments I had used in one of my papers. I even used some of the exact wording from the paper. I did alright on the quote matching section, though I left one or two things blank. I was very surprised to learn that I got an A+ on that final.

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<p>Oh, wow. From what you’re telling me I guess the professor kinda realized what was going on and took some prudent restraint while grading your final. You didn’t submit a complaint, but if I were the professor or TA, I’d figure there’s no reason to make a difference of opinion a big thing and just drop it. </p>

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Though my political views have evolved such that I no longer believe many of the things I wrote in those 24.02 papers, I still view what happened as nothing but bias and discrimination. If I could do it over again, I would submit a complaint. I guess I’m telling this story now because I want any social conservatives out there to know that they should be discreet. I would like to think that my problem was an isolated incident, but I know another conservative student who had a similar problem with 24.02.

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<p>By all means, people should definitely do that. I’m not a conservative by any means but even now I’m still a bit uneasy about politically-charged classes now considering how grades may as well depend on the faculty’s political views. </p>

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I should also make it clear that I never experienced any contempt from any fellow students because of my political views. The students are generally very open-minded and respectful.

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<p>From what I’ve read I’d definitely say so. Then again, most people I know usually are. Even those who don’t have the courtesy to keep their contempt strictly private.</p>