Top 10 Most Politically Liberal Colleges
Article provided by The Princeton Review
Where do college students sport Che Guevara T-shirts, support Green Party candidates, and flock to see Michael Moore documentaries? The Princeton Review surveyed tens of thousands of students across the country; the students' responses make clear that political liberalism thrives at these ten schools.
1. Bard College
Left-leaning Bard undergrads proudly proclaim that their school is "3,000 miles left of left," while detractors complain that the atmosphere is "so militantly PC that it occasionally resembles a fascist state." The proximity of New York City gives the Bard campus "an urban hipster feel and a definite lean to the far left politically."
2. Hampshire College
"Politics and the constant negotiation of being left wing in a capitalist society" are always the subjects of the day at Hampshire College, where "It is impossible to avoid the constant wave of ultra-left, antigovernment, anti-American flyers, lectures, and events." Said one undergrad pointedly, "Just try bringing in a conservative speaker to campus. Students will be there quicker than the life-span of a Hollywood marriage to protest, disrupt, and cause mayhem."
3. Sarah Lawrence College
Shockingly, another East Coast school rounds out the top three of this list. Sarah Lawrence, undergrads say, is "a veritable politically correct zoo" where "Democrats are considered conservative" by the "strange artists, the politically involved, and the tree-hugging hippies who are ridiculed at many other schools" but make up the majority here.
4. New College of Florida
"Many are left wing, but not all; many are gay/bisexual, but not all; many are vegan or vegetarian, but not all; and everyone is appreciative or at least tolerant of others' decisions" at New College of Florida, a "very liberal campus with left-wing ideas" and a "commitment to community and social problems." What's missing from the crowd is Republicans. Wrote one student, "I don't think I've met one Republican, and if there was one on campus, s/he would probably not last long at New College."
5. Wesleyan University
Wesleyan's lefties are distinguished by "the ability to laugh at their own über-liberal consciousness. For example, we've invented the term 'Wesbian' for a straight woman who is drawn in by the trendy queer community at Wes." Joked one student, "The atmosphere here is open to many political views, as long as it's radical."
6. Grinnell College
The typical Grinnellian "grew up with parents that listened to folk music" and prefers to be described as "unique, idiosyncratic and progressive," although some simply describe her as "way out in left field politically." Students are not only left-leaning but also "opinionated and unafraid to express that opinion, in class or otherwise." Forewarned is forearmed.
7. Reed College
"Generally speaking, if politically you're not a liberal at Reed, you're Green Party, and if you're not Green Party, you're either a Communist or a libertarian," students at this small, intellectually intense Northwest school tell us. They are self-aware enough to concede that "At times the political liberalism of the student body is undoubtedly stifling to fundamentalist Christians and Republicans, which is slightly ironic given the 'open-mindedness' that Reedies claim to pride themselves on."
8. Macalester College
At Macalester, "People are very liberal--extremely so--politically and I think Republican or fundamentalist students might feel a little uncomfortable in this predominantly left-wing environment." "Someone is usually protesting something" here, sometimes on campus and sometimes at the nearby Mall of America. "Since being here, I've started to feel more and more guilty about shopping at the MoA. The last time I went there, some students from Mac had been protesting sweatshop labor there just the day before. Oops!"
9. Oberlin College
"Oberlin is made up of kids who really have the urge to speak out and contribute, whether it be directly through environmental or volunteer work or indirectly through the arts or humanities," explained one undergrad, noting also that "It can be obnoxiously liberal at times--as in students doing really bizarre things in the name of being 'individualistic.' For instance, a group of students decorated Wilder Bowl with hundreds of fake feathered turkeys to protest something. I never found out what exactly they were protesting. They were not trying to be funny, though; they were dead serious about those turkeys."
10. Vassar College
Vassar undergrads are too liberal even for some of their liberal peers. Reported one, "I am from Portland, Oregon, and have always considered myself a liberal--I voted Green last election--but I frequently find myself defending conservative points to my peers and feel more conservative than I ever have before." As one student put it, "It's even a joke here to call someone who is slow to make a univocally liberal statement a 'closet Republican.'" Fortunately, all the back-and-forth is done in an "atmosphere of friendly acceptance."
Article provided by The Princeton Review
Where do college students sport Che Guevara T-shirts, support Green Party candidates, and flock to see Michael Moore documentaries? The Princeton Review surveyed tens of thousands of students across the country; the students' responses make clear that political liberalism thrives at these ten schools.
1. Bard College
Left-leaning Bard undergrads proudly proclaim that their school is "3,000 miles left of left," while detractors complain that the atmosphere is "so militantly PC that it occasionally resembles a fascist state." The proximity of New York City gives the Bard campus "an urban hipster feel and a definite lean to the far left politically."
2. Hampshire College
"Politics and the constant negotiation of being left wing in a capitalist society" are always the subjects of the day at Hampshire College, where "It is impossible to avoid the constant wave of ultra-left, antigovernment, anti-American flyers, lectures, and events." Said one undergrad pointedly, "Just try bringing in a conservative speaker to campus. Students will be there quicker than the life-span of a Hollywood marriage to protest, disrupt, and cause mayhem."
3. Sarah Lawrence College
Shockingly, another East Coast school rounds out the top three of this list. Sarah Lawrence, undergrads say, is "a veritable politically correct zoo" where "Democrats are considered conservative" by the "strange artists, the politically involved, and the tree-hugging hippies who are ridiculed at many other schools" but make up the majority here.
4. New College of Florida
"Many are left wing, but not all; many are gay/bisexual, but not all; many are vegan or vegetarian, but not all; and everyone is appreciative or at least tolerant of others' decisions" at New College of Florida, a "very liberal campus with left-wing ideas" and a "commitment to community and social problems." What's missing from the crowd is Republicans. Wrote one student, "I don't think I've met one Republican, and if there was one on campus, s/he would probably not last long at New College."
5. Wesleyan University
Wesleyan's lefties are distinguished by "the ability to laugh at their own über-liberal consciousness. For example, we've invented the term 'Wesbian' for a straight woman who is drawn in by the trendy queer community at Wes." Joked one student, "The atmosphere here is open to many political views, as long as it's radical."
6. Grinnell College
The typical Grinnellian "grew up with parents that listened to folk music" and prefers to be described as "unique, idiosyncratic and progressive," although some simply describe her as "way out in left field politically." Students are not only left-leaning but also "opinionated and unafraid to express that opinion, in class or otherwise." Forewarned is forearmed.
7. Reed College
"Generally speaking, if politically you're not a liberal at Reed, you're Green Party, and if you're not Green Party, you're either a Communist or a libertarian," students at this small, intellectually intense Northwest school tell us. They are self-aware enough to concede that "At times the political liberalism of the student body is undoubtedly stifling to fundamentalist Christians and Republicans, which is slightly ironic given the 'open-mindedness' that Reedies claim to pride themselves on."
8. Macalester College
At Macalester, "People are very liberal--extremely so--politically and I think Republican or fundamentalist students might feel a little uncomfortable in this predominantly left-wing environment." "Someone is usually protesting something" here, sometimes on campus and sometimes at the nearby Mall of America. "Since being here, I've started to feel more and more guilty about shopping at the MoA. The last time I went there, some students from Mac had been protesting sweatshop labor there just the day before. Oops!"
9. Oberlin College
"Oberlin is made up of kids who really have the urge to speak out and contribute, whether it be directly through environmental or volunteer work or indirectly through the arts or humanities," explained one undergrad, noting also that "It can be obnoxiously liberal at times--as in students doing really bizarre things in the name of being 'individualistic.' For instance, a group of students decorated Wilder Bowl with hundreds of fake feathered turkeys to protest something. I never found out what exactly they were protesting. They were not trying to be funny, though; they were dead serious about those turkeys."
10. Vassar College
Vassar undergrads are too liberal even for some of their liberal peers. Reported one, "I am from Portland, Oregon, and have always considered myself a liberal--I voted Green last election--but I frequently find myself defending conservative points to my peers and feel more conservative than I ever have before." As one student put it, "It's even a joke here to call someone who is slow to make a univocally liberal statement a 'closet Republican.'" Fortunately, all the back-and-forth is done in an "atmosphere of friendly acceptance."
Glad I went to the last college on the list. I mean, the very last one. My college was ranked the most conservative this year.
