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[deleted] wrote

Reply to comment by LostYonder in by !deleted19441

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LostYonder wrote

Pretty broad questions. the american higher education landscape is extremely diverse in regards to the kinds of institutions - community college, liberal arts college, 3rd/2nd/1st tier state schools, private universities, big city, small town, midwest, east coast, etc. Many are horrid, some try, some are outstanding, some have the reputation of being outstanding but are cesspools of intellectual mediocrity. The vast majority are embedded in "liberal" ideas and thus, ultimately quite intellectually conservative, distracting students from learning by fostering cultures of binge alcoholism, rape/sexual abuse, and concerns over future jobs and skill sets. Though, there remains a few, though rapidly shrinking, pockets of more radical thinking and politics - one has to go out of their way to unearth them on campuses. Thus, where you are located makes a difference - being in an environment where you can escape the campus and engage larger social/political life, connect with like-minded people in the town/city where you end up...

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kore wrote

I would say that depending on what you study even institutions that are themselves embedded in liberal ideas have plenty of professors and students that question that. You're not going to get it in Economics or International Relations or Public Policy, but you will in places like Africana Studies, History, English.

No institution is a monolith. Obviously I can only comment for one but there were sociopathic future politicians and indigenous anarchists eating in the same dining hall.

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LostYonder wrote

Very true - it is possible to find supportive niches, which might just be one or two people, within most universities. And yes, some programs/departments tend to be more questioning/critical than others, though history and English can also be extremely conservative fields, lots of nationalists of the liberal bent.

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[deleted] wrote

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LostYonder wrote

Safe from what? as for being queer, you will certainly find it more liberating. It is also expensive as hell and thus is highly segregated, but also quite ethnically diverse.

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chokingvictim wrote

I live in LA

it's really nice for queer people. lots of meetings and clubs and whatnot

although, if you live in the higher class areas the police don't give a shit about you, but if you're not white and live in anywhere near downtown LA, watch out.

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