Why do people assume all colleges and their students are liberal?

Question

I've read accusatory postings regarding higher ed on this site over and over again. In the past year I've moved from teaching high school to the university level and am now working at one the nation's best and most notoriously liberal campuses.

I just walked across our quad where all the student groups were gathered and we had representation from extreme left and right as well as moderate and everything in between. Many of the profs I know are Republicans and the student population is very religious, but also very tolerant of others regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. They also have a high commitment to public service and academics.

So I wonder why people make these assumptions that college campuses are simply 'liberal bastions'?

Answer 1

Because it's easier to generalize, is all. I'm with you--we have very conservative groups on my campus, as well as liberal groups. I think that the political beliefs of the faculty skew toward the left, but not all professors are liberal, and certainly not all colleges are hotbeds of liberalism.

I think some people also confuse tolerance of other beliefs with liberalism.

PS- Congratulations on your new job!

Answer 2

Because many are. Ward Churchill anyone? Most of the Profs I've had were more than outspoken in their Liberal beliefs. I've seen some that were fair respected opposing opinions. I had one that was so tilted to the left and intolerant of other viewpoints that I submitted a paper that my sister-in-law got an A+ on when she had the class years earlier and when I submitted it, I got a D.

Yeah, shame on me for submitting someone else's work. But that along with taking the same class with another Prof and getting an A in the class was more that enough proof of Academic dishonesty that the Liberal Prof had.

Want some more proof? look at all the mindless bashing of Conservatives that some have submitted.

Monkey see, Monkey do!

Answer 3

these republicans you say are tolerant of other races and religions, a "liberal" trait. Who really defines who is what and what is a liberal or neocon, these definitions vary depending who you talk to. You might say, "well i know what they mean." But you aren't the one telling everyone what they are and which group they belong to. In many sense people pick a group and mold themselves after what they need to be. I don't really know, (off topic). We might say the ideas and such a university stands for are or should be liberal. or it could just be a stereotype, perhaps with little truth to it anymore if there ever was. Most protests and things like that often happened on campuses in the vietnam war. Poets, writers, artists, people who are generally concerned about love and social relations. As opposed to those who seek power and wealth. What does conservative and liberal mean to you?

Answer 4

You obviously have never attended college because you would know it's required and that most students use their parent's coverage until 24. I'm working a summer job to pay off some of the term cost of my future master's and doctorate degrees, so no I have no concern for healthcare, it's something I rarely even consider.

Answer 5

Have you talked to a college student lately? I work with a young man of about thirty who is going to college after returning from Iraq and we talk about a lot of things including what his professors teach. Now this mans actions and ethics are conservative all the way yet he believes he is a Liberal. I ask him questions and also have him bring up the subject with his professors. I give him the answer his professor will give and he comes back and asks how I, an old bricklayer who only graduated high school, Knew what his professor would say. So I tell him- Liberals only have one or two responses to a given question no matter which liberal you ask.

Answer 6

I think it's just that traditionally, students of college age tend to be more liberal in their thinking. That doesn't mean ALL college students are liberal of course. There have always been Republican clubs as well as Democratic clubs for instance. Lumping all college kids into one big liberal vat isn't realistic at all, though I think more of them do tend to be liberal minded simply because of their age.

Answer 7

I never said "all college students" were liberal, but the professors - and a lot of the students - at most institutes of higher education are. The worse thing is, professors have been committing academic misconduct and failing students that don't agree with them. I've even heard of conservative student newspapers being burned and students being physically abused.

http://thefire.org
http://www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org

You really need to open your eyes and look around some time.

Answer 8

SOME people have felt this way going back to the days of Vietnam. Obviously, everyone believes as they wish...some, however, listen to various ideas when in college...to learn something other than they were taught in their Conservative upbringings.

I live in a college town, and know some people who are far from liberal--but, of course, many who are not...

Answer 9

I have to say, in my experience, conservative teachers would not push their opinions on me, while the liberal ones did. At college, it was majority liberal opinion once again, with outspoken liberal professors. Of course there were conservatives, but they kept their beliefs to themselves. I found the stereotype to be true. It seems the liberal ones want to brainwash and indoctrinate anyone they can into their beliefs.

Answer 10

At the college i went to I had one teacher make her feelings very well known...she was liberal...i flunked the class due to the fact that i would stand up for my beliefs....(got an A in every other English class)....Anyway, we disagreed and thanks to me for loving good arguments she failed me....

The way I see it, political prefrence should not be known to the students....Most Republicans keep it that way, when teaching students in a class your personal opinion should not cloud your vision! But it happens......The reason most people think professors are Liberals is b/c most liberals will make it well know