...universities are populated only by gun-hating commie liberal traitor Democrats who live only to take away freedom from the righteous.
[Emphasis mine]
I'm not sure if you are speaking tongue-in-cheek, John, but I no longer buy that argument on assertion only.
At one time, I did, because I think at one time it was largely true (at least in terms of dominance of rhetoric by those folks). I've been in university enough (16 years of it during the 70's through late 90's) to have experienced it.
But I'm no longer convinced of it. Now, I'd want to see evidence of the assertion from a study.
** I don't intend to (and won't) hijack the thread, but I just wanted to respond top this.
It is true that not ALL students are flaming tree hugging commie liberals but after 5 years at UF I am utterly convinced that MOST are. All you have to do is:
1. Sit through a couple meetings of the College Republicans then a couple meeting of the College Democrats to see which has more people and is more extreme and illogical.
2. Walk through various locations on campus where clubs actively "table" (or recruit/deseminate info). You will see far left clubs dominate moderate and conservative clubs.
3. try to get funding for student government for something other than a liberal cause/event (e.g. Trying to get funding for our Pistol and Rifle Club)
4. If that isn't enough, just look at a political map of Florida. Gainesville is a little blue spot sorrounded by a sea of Red. This is especially funny considering that the majority of Alachua Co. locals are conservative. UF alone tips this scale.
5. Attend a class tought by a conservitive professor and express liberal views, then attend a class by a liberal grad student and express conservative views. Observe which one actually affects your grade (I received a C- in a "Moral Issues" class because of my conservative interpretations.)
6. Look at the student funded speakers and performers that have attended UF in the past few years. After student Gov paid $40K (speaking fee) + expenses to Micheal Moore, Sean Hannity offered to come and speak for free if his excenses were covered. Student Gov. wouldn't do this.
7. And, just dare to be a politically incorrect. If your liberal you are using your protected free speech (like when campus pro-choice group lines grass spaces betrween walways with coat hangers) but if you are conservative you must appologize if not be punished (school newpaper cartoon of Condi Rice saying "N---a please" to Kanye West a week before Kanye performed his song "Gold Digger" at UF that has numerous uses of the "N" word). Funny the political cartoon was criticized heavily but the West performance wasn't.
8. And finally, just pick up a local Alligator (school newspaper) and read it on a daily basis. Don't forget to catch the leftist editorials and polical cartoons.
If all this isn't enough to show you a strong liberal bias on our campus, then no study in the world will satisfy your skepticism.