<p>I’m applying to Brown and am wondering something. All the reviews I read on Brown make it seem as though there is a huge intolerance of the right wing, and that the few Republicans quickly learn to keep quiet about their opinions. I know its the most liberal Ivy, but how true do you guys think this is? I support the Republican stance on foreign policy and the Libertarian party on most everything else, but I tend to classify myself as conservative and I hold very strong beliefs. I am always ready to listen to and respectfully debate those of a different opinion, but I get the impression that I’ll just be eaten alive and disrespected if I actively voice these beliefs at Brown, if I attend. What do you guys think? How strong is the liberal slant, truly?</p>
<p>Please use the search function to look for threads on conservatives at Brown and liberalism at Brown to find your answers.</p>
<p>I’m not gonna lie, man. I’m not even conservative (more moderate to be honest), but it seems like everytime some political issue comes up, I’ve got to defend myself.</p>
<p>Its gotten to the point where I just avoid the subjects in general since its not worth arguing over. </p>
<p>I don’t mean to dissuade you against applying or insinuate Brown’s culture is oppressive to those on the right side of the political spectrum; however, I feel it would be careless of me not to emphasis that if you hold beliefs that are generally conservative, prepare to feel like the minority and have to defend yourself.</p>
<p>Anyway, this doesn’t mean that you’re debate opponents won’t give you a chance to refute them, but they will usually act pretty condescending about it. That’s what you get with over educated twenty somethings anywhere tough. This isn’t an isolated phenonmenon to say the least.</p>
<p>That said, if you don’t usually bring it up or have the gumption (and patience to say the least) then you will be fine.</p>
<p>Geez, what a way to introduce me to college confidential. Thank you so much.
Seriously, though, were you trying to metaphorically/elaborately answer my question with a resounding YES, or are you actually being serious? If your intolerant and extreme overreaction to the question of a person with different political beliefs than you is anything reflective of the Brown student body, then thank you for answering my question better than anyone else could have done.</p>
<p>I’m not looking to offend anyone (and really, I don’t see how my question could have); I just wanted advice. I really like Brown and am in the process of being athletically recruited - I wanted to know if this was something I should seriously take into consideration, because I want to major in poli sci or IR. I’m not a junior; I’m a senior, I already sent in my app. And although I probably shouldn’t respect your attacks on me by responding to them, if you must know, I read a lot of reviews on **************.com that seemed to imply what I asked. So please, dude, stop overreacting, calm down. </p>
<p>“Members of the student body censor and often make personal attacks towards those (other students or guest speakers) whose ideas do not conform to left-wing ideology. Then again, this commonly occurs at other Ivies.”</p>
<p>“Brown is a University that cares more about its prestige and creating “individualism” in their students. It is the poorest Ivy because there is little sense of school spirit. The administration is compiled of deans with their own agendas and do not look at both sides of a dispute. The campus is full of overly liberal students that have small protests about anything politically conservative. I wish I had gone to Princeton or Penn.”</p>
<p>“Although I went to Brown hoping to find the “open-minded” and “intellectual” atmosphere that is flaunted by there brochures, website, and US News and World Report, all I found were students with nearly unlimited bank accounts, whose parents had likely been the reason for their acceptance. Rather than taking advantage of the coreless curriculum and developing a unique major, students were mostly lazy and unfocused. Furthermore, as someone who very much leans on the left side of the political spectrum, I was excited about the prospect of being in a liberal environment, but “liberal” doesn’t even scratch the surface of Brown’s atmosphere. The students (and some of the professors, even) won’t tolerate even moderately liberal view points; it’s all or nothing. This is the only time when students actually get riled up…most of the time they are just apathetic.”</p>
<p>I’m not saying I agree with those reviews - I read them, was curious to their validity, subsequently posted a question here asking about them, and oh, was unjustly attacked for doing so.</p>
<p>To Welshy: Thank you very much, your answer was very helpful to me when I first read it. Seriously, your answer wasn’t even saying bad stuff about Brown, I don’t know why the other person got so worked up.</p>
<p>Also, to the other person, Brown has frequently been given the “Red Light” regarding political diversity and tolerance by objective third-party college planning resources. I’m not making stuff up, nor am I badmouthing Brown. I am asking a question.</p>
<p>Atollia, I wish I had the time to address each of your concerns from those reviews, that I find highly dubious, but right now i don’t. I really hope you use the search function as we’ve had several great multipage threads about this that are easy to find. I have no computer at work for the moment or I’d find the threads for you.</p>
<p>Ignore the pro-Brown guy in this thread. He’s a bit overzealous and has a tendency to exaggerate and seems to have a low tolerance for all the criticism that is common on this site.</p>
<p>Sorry for spelling your name wrong-- iPhone.</p>
<p>I 2nd what Modest said, about collegeconfidentspelledbackwards and using the search function…</p>
<p>I don’t know about the OP–I think there are plenty of people who have this quesiton–but I think welshy attends or plans to attend Stanford.</p>
<p>On that point collegeconfident was probably right, I doubt that person went to Brown, it’s painfully obvious.</p>
<p>Thank you modestmelody and other guys, I did search for the forums and found most of them really helpful, especially some ones like “can a conservative love brown” and the “liberal atmosphere at brown”. They relieved me a lot; guess I should’ve know I could find negative reviews like the ones I shared for any school, but that their reviewer’s experiences are probably the anomaly. They did worry me at first, though, because I’ve read quite a few more than just those ones I shared. (-ones I shared from students review . com, didn’t think it would get starred out)</p>
<p>lol, you guys are unbelievable. </p>
<p>I don’t know why I even try to help people on this site anymore.</p>
<p>ok fine so you’ve been at Brown for ONE semester. Hardly long enough to remove yourself from the initial impression. I remember it well (from my first semester as a tranny).</p>
<p>Attolia, do apply! I love debating and hearing what other people think. Something tells me it’d be a tad more interesting if students actually have different opinions, that’s what makes a diverse student body.</p>
<p>Talk to the staff of the Brown Spectator to see some variation. I’ve also met quite a few economic conservatives in my time a Brown, sorta like libertarians without the stupid.</p>
<p>The Brown Spectator is a great publication.</p>
<p>Also, if you want a sure-fire way of avoiding the “liberal indoctrination” that is talked about so frequently (only by people who don’t go to Brown), it’s really quite easy: get an Sc.B. Your classes won’t have the slightest tinge of politicization.</p>
<p>Among students, I can assure you there is no “liberal agenda” that there is rumored to be among faculty. Sure, a lot of students are easy-going and open-minded (what many would colloquially describe as “liberal”), but there is by no means a tangibly monolithic political ideology that permeates the campus.</p>
<p>If you’re asking who most student’s supported for President though, I think Obama won. </p>
<p>[The</a> Brown Daily Herald - Students storm onto Main Green](<a href=“http://www.browndailyherald.com/campus-news/students-storm-onto-main-green-1.1668916]The”>http://www.browndailyherald.com/campus-news/students-storm-onto-main-green-1.1668916)</p>
<p>Thank you guys :), and thank you welshy too - despite what anyone else said, your answer was still really helpful to me, especially since it sounds like you come from the minority politically.</p>
<p>Yeah I’m more economically conservative - I strongly buy into the theory surrounding low taxes, and mostly I just believe in small government. I’m fine with abortion and gay marriage, because I believe they shouldn’t be the government’s business. It’s weird how the Republican party, who is supposed to be the champion of small government, opposes those issues. The party’s like a walking contradiction, like “you should never let the government control you, you should keep them out of your life, oh except on moral issues.” lol</p>
<p>Thank you all so much! You guys have very much ceased my worrying. Now I’m getting excited about going (if I get accepted). Completely unrelated, how bad is the cold weather?</p>
<p>Lots of people are into low taxes and small government but feel the whole social conservatism thing is totally inconsistent with those ideas (protip: it is). So I don’t think you’ll have any problems.</p>
<p>Cold is fine for me, but I’m from NY so this isn’t really all that different than what I’m used to.</p>
<p>It’s a bit warmer than I’m used to, myself, but I’m from MA. Bring some warm clothes, though both my dorm rooms so far have been <em>burning</em> (my roommate and I sleep with the windows open and no blankets still, even though it may be about 5 degrees outside at night).</p>