12 Most Politically Charged College Campuses

From the Blog of
bestcollegesonline.com

Protests, political rallies and activism have been centered around college campuses for decades, perhaps because these sites are havens for free thought and inquiry, or because many college students are filled with a passion and idealism that isn’t as prevalent in the working world. Whatever the reason, not all colleges are created equal when it comes to political fervor, and some stand out as being particularly politically charged.

While this is by no means a definitive list, we think the schools we’ve highlighted here are some of the most political in the country. Home to radical thought, politically involved students and faculty, and strong activist communities, these schools make a name for themselves not only though the education they provide but also the drive of their students to change the world and fight for what they believe is right.

Hampshire College

Hampshire College is one of America’s most notoriously liberal colleges. A haven for hippies and free thinkers, the school takes a different approach when it comes to grading, curriculum and the design of majors themselves. These factors combine to create a school that’s pretty politically-charged as a whole, with students who aren’t afraid to speak out on controversial issues. This year, Hampshire activists actually shut down an Israeli PR campaign with loud and unrelenting cheers. Thirty five years earlier, Hampshire was the first institution to divest from Apartheid in South Africa. In 2008, 350 students walked out of classes to protest what they felt was institutional racism at the school. With a long history of political involvement and a continual commitment to it by students at Hampshire today, this school is undoubtedly one of the most politically active today.

Columbia University

Columbia has consistently been ranked as one of the best schools in the nation for decades, but it doesn’t just provide students with a great place to get an education; it’s also a hub for political debate and protest. This isn’t just a recent development, either. In 1968, the school was home to several major (and quite legendary) protests, opposing the school’s expansion into neighboring Morningside Heights, a partnership between Columbia and the Pentagon and the school’s involvement in supporting the Vietnam War. Since that time, students at Columbia have spoken out about apartheid, Darfur, Palestine and a whole host of other political hot button issues.

George Washington University

Located mere blocks from the White House, students at George Washington U are encouraged to immerse themselves in the political life of the surrounding community, and many students take on serious political internships as early as their freshman or sophomore years. Unlike some of the other schools on this list, GWU is home to a wide spectrum of political beliefs, due in part perhaps to its very diverse campus. While the political atmosphere at GWU is more about direct involvement with the U.S. government than a thriving activism culture, that doesn’t mean the school has been controversy-free. In 2010, over 2,000 students got together to counter-protest the Westboro Baptist Church, a notoriously anti-gay, fundamentalist group. The school was also a site of major protest in 2001, when it was home to huge protests against the IMF and World Bank.

Occidental College

Occidental College has been the site of some pretty politically-charged debates over the past 50 years. In 1970, Occidental students wrote 7,000 letters to Washington D.C. to protest U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. In 1998, students persuaded the college president, to issue a public statement criticizing the oil company Arco’s support for the military dictatorship in Burma. Today, there are numerous organizations on campus that actively protest for causes like gay rights, human rights, and labor unions and the students are no strangers to debate with the school winning the first Los Angeles Public Debate Championship in 2005.

Pitzer College

Pitzer College has historically been a very liberal school and student activism has always been a major part of college life. Athletics aren’t as popular for many students at Pitzer, but that’s because many see involvement in politics as a sort of sport in itself. In fact, many students take their political involvement nearly as seriously as their studies (though many are majoring in political studies to begin with). Students at Pitzer have protested in recent years about a wide range of issues, from the alleged injustices of the Jena Six to the the college bringing in Karl Rove as a speaker. While most students at Pitzer are left-leaning politically, the school is a hotbed of political activity of all kinds.

Claremont McKenna College

University of California, Berkeley

New York University

Wesleyan University

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Oberlin College

American University

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I'm Ron Denaro and thanks for joining College Campus Chatter today!

Ron Denaro is the president of College Campus Trips, a tour company providing high school students with tours of college campuses, nationwide. For more information, call (954) 567-5751 or e-mail: ron@collegecampustrips.com