A liberal breeding ground: The University of Minnesota
University_of_Minnesota_entrance_sign_1
April 27, 2015
Growing up in the suburbs older individuals who I admired always told me that colleges were liberal, and that my religion, ways of thinking, and beliefs would constantly be under attack. They were right. Over the course of my three years in college I have been called a “bigot,” “hypocrite,” and “unintelligent,” because I am a conservative living in a liberal breeding ground: the University of Minnesota.
I have often felt that my beliefs and convictions have been viewed by my peers and professors as unintelligent, and my credibility has been viewed as lacking because I am a white, Christian, middle-class man. I have felt as if my peers and professors think I am not entitled to views on political matters because I carry far too much “privilege. “
The University of Minnesota operates on the principles of diversity and tolerance, yet the same supporters of these policies tend to be the least tolerant people I know, and view diversity only as differences in skin color and ethnic background, rather than differences in thought processes. The great conservative commentator William Buckley describes this sad state of affairs perfectly by stating, “liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other’s views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.” Many liberals claim to be tolerant, but only are until you disagree with them.
My point isn’t to say that every liberal is intolerant or not truly for diversity of opinion, but rather to say that the University of Minnesota is actually decreasing diversity of thought and opinion by enacting the policies it has. If the University is so for diversity why are there so few conservatives teaching in departments like Political Science and Global Studies?
In addition, a select but vocal group of increasingly liberal students demonize conservatives in the classroom and on campus, effectively silencing many conservatives who would like to speak their views but fear the social consequences. We as conservative students must resist the temptation to censor our opinions so others don’t feel uncomfortable, and we must force ourselves to stand for our principles even when it means we are the only ones standing. Let your views be known, and understand that people are going to disagree with you, but it is better than remaining silent.
It took me over two years to finally stand up in class and on campus for principles I believe in, and I regret not having the courage to do so earlier. I sympathize with those who are nervous to be outwardly conservative, but I encourage you to remember that there are others like you. Standing for conservatism may not be easy, but it will be worthwhile. In order to progress the conservative movement, we need your help.
David • Feb 27, 2021 at 8:13 am
I went to the University of Minnesota and got a B.S. in Political Science. I graduated in 2015. I consider myself independent politically. First, I must agree with the originator of this posting and say that many of the professors in the department have liberal leanings both in the form and content of their curriculum. But I would argue that this is not something specific to the University of Minnesota, but a trend across academia and has more to do with an inherent tension between academia and conservatism in the United States.
Something about the experience at University pushes conservatives left and emboldens liberal predilections. There are many potential arguments for why this is. Many conservative leaning folks that I have spoken with on the topic, describe Universities as brain washing factories; conditioning impressionable young students to blasphemy against their nuclear traditions.They often cite pressures from professors and peers.
This is real. I have seen it myself and have been one of those peers engaged in a heated debate with an outspoken conservative colleague in a lecture discussion. But is it a conspiracy? Are universities engaged in a coordinated, global effort on behalf of liberals to stamp out conservative beliefs? I think not. Would the heated debate in class even be happening in that reality? No, discussions are meant to activate critical thinking. In fact, the whole higher education experience (in exception of, ironically, orthodox conservative institutions) are intended to nurture our critical thinking facilities.
So why then, does the originator of this thread, a seemingly competent and obviously educated individual see things the way they do? I would argue that there are three primary reasons.
1) Because critical thinking is inherently in tension with the foundation of conservative thinking; conservation of tradition. Also, the fact that many of those traditions are based in a religion that essentially outlaws critical thinking, at least in regards to morality, is also central to this tension.
2) Paranoia as a projection of ones own intent in the world. One’s perception of what others will do to win, is in fact a projection of what they would do to win. Similarly, paranoia of what government does with its power, is a projection of what one would do with the same power. This is true at the individual and institutional level. Conservatives believe the world is an adversarial, each-person-for-themself type of war zone, because they have built an identity for themselves that is individualistic, confrontational, and frankly violent in nature. And, they seem to take pride in these qualities.
3) Conservatives feel attacked, and are in fact being attacked, and this creates a sort of ideological sheltering in home made brick and bias. I believe that, as a nation, we have forgotten how to engage in healthy political discourse. This is, in large part, to due the natural evolution of a privatized media environment in an unregulated, free market environment (another bit of irony). I personally don’t know how I am suppose to take seriously some of the beliefs of my conservative brother and sisters in this world, but I do know that I need to try because a discussion is two sided.
But I would challenge the composer of this thread to consider whether their opinions on certain issues, and this issue specifically, are balanced and consider all sides. If not, this may be why they have such a poor reception. Unbalanced opinions elicit unbalanced reactions (something I often find myself telling my liberal friends as well). I have found the delivery of an argument is more important than its substance in almost every way.
Joseph • Nov 25, 2020 at 2:25 pm
What value do you find in conservativism? And likewise what value do you find in the U of MN as a a school because conservatives want to gut the teachers union, do away with subsidized tuition and privatize the schools so they are all run by religious people or for-profit institutions. If you find value in the U of MN Betsey Devos is like oil while the U of MN is water.