Right, left or middle: let your political views be heard
The Traveler Editorial Board
Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: Opinion
Those on both sides of the aisle argue vigorously about these and similar findings - some say professors use their liberal ideology to bully students, and others maintain that students becoming more liberal in college simply reflects the average shift in political thinking throughout a person's life.
But perhaps why university students tend to be liberal isn't the issue at all. If more liberal organizations than anything else exist on campuses, or if those groups simply are more vocal, it seems that those who consider themselves "middle of the road" or conservative might have fewer outlets to express their views with students who think similarly.
If these students don't mind being underrepresented or don't hold strong political views, that's fine, but because the UCLA study found that most students - particularly women - begin shifting away from the political left after college, that's probably not the case.
So, students, find people who think like you do. Start some organizations that reflect your beliefs, or join the ones that already exist.
A university should be a place to encourage diversity and foster learning and discovery, and if only one idea is represented by the majority of professors and student organizations, neither can be done.
But perhaps why university students tend to be liberal isn't the issue at all. If more liberal organizations than anything else exist on campuses, or if those groups simply are more vocal, it seems that those who consider themselves "middle of the road" or conservative might have fewer outlets to express their views with students who think similarly.
If these students don't mind being underrepresented or don't hold strong political views, that's fine, but because the UCLA study found that most students - particularly women - begin shifting away from the political left after college, that's probably not the case.
So, students, find people who think like you do. Start some organizations that reflect your beliefs, or join the ones that already exist.
A university should be a place to encourage diversity and foster learning and discovery, and if only one idea is represented by the majority of professors and student organizations, neither can be done.
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