Oberlin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry, this is not a political discussion thread.

Umm, the poster who went off on the supposed lack of political diversity @ LACs injected politics into this thread.

No,. The poster commented on the lack of political diversity and the respondent introduced politics by demanding a defense of Republican political "crimes." The lack of political diversity was never disputed and in fact emphasized by the respondent's utter incapability to stick to the issue, but rather her desire to make political points.

NP. So it's not okay to inject politics into a discussion of Oberlin, yet the assumption is a school with liberal leanings, will stifle free expression. How? By injecting politics into every discussion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry, this is not a political discussion thread.

Umm, the poster who went off on the supposed lack of political diversity @ LACs injected politics into this thread.

No,. The poster commented on the lack of political diversity and the respondent introduced politics by demanding a defense of Republican political "crimes." The lack of political diversity was never disputed and in fact emphasized by the respondent's utter incapability to stick to the issue, but rather her desire to make political points.

NP. So it's not okay to inject politics into a discussion of Oberlin, yet the assumption is a school with liberal leanings, will stifle free expression. How? By injecting politics into every discussion?

Actually, my point would be exactly the same regarding a LAC with conservative leanings, especially if unpopular viewpoints were supressed. Apparently the readership of DCUM is too doltish to realize this.

It is people like you that makes DCUM suck so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry, this is not a political discussion thread.

Umm, the poster who went off on the supposed lack of political diversity @ LACs injected politics into this thread.

No,. The poster commented on the lack of political diversity and the respondent introduced politics by demanding a defense of Republican political "crimes." The lack of political diversity was never disputed and in fact emphasized by the respondent's utter incapability to stick to the issue, but rather her desire to make political points.

NP. So it's not okay to inject politics into a discussion of Oberlin, yet the assumption is a school with liberal leanings, will stifle free expression. How? By injecting politics into every discussion?

Actually, my point would be exactly the same regarding a LAC with conservative leanings, especially if unpopular viewpoints were supressed. Apparently the readership of DCUM is too doltish to realize this.

It is people like you that makes DCUM suck so much.

ah, back to the name calling.

[Anonymous]

ah, back to idiocy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry, this is not a political discussion thread.

Umm, the poster who went off on the supposed lack of political diversity @ LACs injected politics into this thread.

No,. The poster commented on the lack of political diversity and the respondent introduced politics by demanding a defense of Republican political "crimes." The lack of political diversity was never disputed and in fact emphasized by the respondent's utter incapability to stick to the issue, but rather her desire to make political points.

interesting take. read like the poster didn't want to engage in any convo about lack of political diversity unless it applied to lacs, especially perceived liberal ones. that seems like both a narrow and convenient argument, enabling the poster to sidestep any discussion regarding the lack of political diversity in other institutions, which can also have deleterious affects on the body politic.

As the actual author of the posts, let me respond. I think the lack of political diversity amongst both the faculty and student body is a general problem for all academic institutions, but it is particularly a problem at LACs because of their focus on a traditional liberal education emphasizing free inquiry amongst a variety of competing ideas and perspectives. This is obviously less important if you a going to a large university to study STEM. In my view, a lack of diversity will spell the end of LACs, particularly if it is accompanied by an attempt to shout down unpopular views.
As I noted before, I went to a SLAC about 40 years ago. At that time, Oberlin was one of the top 3 LACs in the Midwest. It has been slipping in the ratings since and my impression is that it is due now being viewed on the crazy liberal side of LACs. I have no doubt that actual academics at Oberlin remain first rate. It is likely that my alma mater (Carleton) is just as non-diverse as Oberlin, but its administration at least provides more lip service to valuing diversity of thought. It is my impression that the administration at Oberlin has not been effective in demonstrating a commitment to viewpoint diversity and has at times weighed in on the wrong side.

As a parent of an Oberlin student, I have to say that this post is disconnected from the reality of the school. Its academics are outstanding. It is truly one of the very few colleges that i would characterize as having a serious intellectual environment. On politics, there may be self selection on who applies, but no pressure to conform.

The current president has been there for five years and she, along with a few administrators she hired, has brought impressive leadership and managerial skills. It is now exceedingly well run, including on the financial end, with controls on costs and a billion plus endowment. There may have been an earlier decade or so of ineffective leadership, but those years are gone.

I couldn't be more confident in the quality of my child's education at Oberlin or happier with my child's intellectual, social, and emotional maturation during the three years so far that he has been there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry, this is not a political discussion thread.

Umm, the poster who went off on the supposed lack of political diversity @ LACs injected politics into this thread.

No,. The poster commented on the lack of political diversity and the respondent introduced politics by demanding a defense of Republican political "crimes." The lack of political diversity was never disputed and in fact emphasized by the respondent's utter incapability to stick to the issue, but rather her desire to make political points.

interesting take. read like the poster didn't want to engage in any convo about lack of political diversity unless it applied to lacs, especially perceived liberal ones. that seems like both a narrow and convenient argument, enabling the poster to sidestep any discussion regarding the lack of political diversity in other institutions, which can also have deleterious affects on the body politic.

As the actual author of the posts, let me respond. I think the lack of political diversity amongst both the faculty and student body is a general problem for all academic institutions, but it is particularly a problem at LACs because of their focus on a traditional liberal education emphasizing free inquiry amongst a variety of competing ideas and perspectives. This is obviously less important if you a going to a large university to study STEM. In my view, a lack of diversity will spell the end of LACs, particularly if it is accompanied by an attempt to shout down unpopular views.
As I noted before, I went to a SLAC about 40 years ago. At that time, Oberlin was one of the top 3 LACs in the Midwest. It has been slipping in the ratings since and my impression is that it is due now being viewed on the crazy liberal side of LACs. I have no doubt that actual academics at Oberlin remain first rate. It is likely that my alma mater (Carleton) is just as non-diverse as Oberlin, but its administration at least provides more lip service to valuing diversity of thought. It is my impression that the administration at Oberlin has not been effective in demonstrating a commitment to viewpoint diversity and has at times weighed in on the wrong side.

As a parent of an Oberlin student, I have to say that this post is disconnected from the reality of the school. Its academics are outstanding. It is truly one of the very few colleges that i would characterize as having a serious intellectual environment. On politics, there may be self selection on who applies, but no pressure to conform.

The current president has been there for five years and she, along with a few administrators she hired, has brought impressive leadership and managerial skills. It is now exceedingly well run, including on the financial end, with controls on costs and a billion plus endowment. There may have been an earlier decade or so of ineffective leadership, but those years are gone.

I couldn't be more confident in the quality of my child's education at Oberlin or happier with my child's intellectual, social, and emotional maturation during the three years so far that he has been there.

Different Obie parent and I agree with this. As I’ve seen new parents introducing themselves on the parents board each year, three things stick out. One, so many kids come from the areas of the country with the highest academic attainment: the NY/Boston/Ne corridor, Silicon Valley and the DMV. A surprising number of kids have parents who are professors at other institutions. And, there are so many families that send more than one kid to Oberlin. It is very normal for siblings to be at Oberlin at the same time.

I also agree the new president is going places. I hope Oberlin hangs on to her for several more years. She has a very positive, leading from the front style.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Actually, my point would be exactly the same regarding a LAC with conservative leanings, especially if unpopular viewpoints were supressed. Apparently the readership of DCUM is too doltish to realize this.

It is people like you that makes DCUM suck so much.

The thing is, the "unpopulare viewpoints" are things like people who embrace naziism and students not wanting their fees to pay for their appearances. I am not sure why you think that is ok, but it certainly exposes a lack of nuance to suggest otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry, this is not a political discussion thread.

Umm, the poster who went off on the supposed lack of political diversity @ LACs injected politics into this thread.

No,. The poster commented on the lack of political diversity and the respondent introduced politics by demanding a defense of Republican political "crimes." The lack of political diversity was never disputed and in fact emphasized by the respondent's utter incapability to stick to the issue, but rather her desire to make political points.

interesting take. read like the poster didn't want to engage in any convo about lack of political diversity unless it applied to lacs, especially perceived liberal ones. that seems like both a narrow and convenient argument, enabling the poster to sidestep any discussion regarding the lack of political diversity in other institutions, which can also have deleterious affects on the body politic.

As the actual author of the posts, let me respond. I think the lack of political diversity amongst both the faculty and student body is a general problem for all academic institutions, but it is particularly a problem at LACs because of their focus on a traditional liberal education emphasizing free inquiry amongst a variety of competing ideas and perspectives. This is obviously less important if you a going to a large university to study STEM. In my view, a lack of diversity will spell the end of LACs, particularly if it is accompanied by an attempt to shout down unpopular views.
As I noted before, I went to a SLAC about 40 years ago. At that time, Oberlin was one of the top 3 LACs in the Midwest. It has been slipping in the ratings since and my impression is that it is due now being viewed on the crazy liberal side of LACs. I have no doubt that actual academics at Oberlin remain first rate. It is likely that my alma mater (Carleton) is just as non-diverse as Oberlin, but its administration at least provides more lip service to valuing diversity of thought. It is my impression that the administration at Oberlin has not been effective in demonstrating a commitment to viewpoint diversity and has at times weighed in on the wrong side.

As a parent of an Oberlin student, I have to say that this post is disconnected from the reality of the school. Its academics are outstanding. It is truly one of the very few colleges that i would characterize as having a serious intellectual environment. On politics, there may be self selection on who applies, but no pressure to conform.

The current president has been there for five years and she, along with a few administrators she hired, has brought impressive leadership and managerial skills. It is now exceedingly well run, including on the financial end, with controls on costs and a billion plus endowment. There may have been an earlier decade or so of ineffective leadership, but those years are gone.

I couldn't be more confident in the quality of my child's education at Oberlin or happier with my child's intellectual, social, and emotional maturation during the three years so far that he has been there.

Different Obie parent and I agree with this. As I’ve seen new parents introducing themselves on the parents board each year, three things stick out. One, so many kids come from the areas of the country with the highest academic attainment: the NY/Boston/Ne corridor, Silicon Valley and the DMV. A surprising number of kids have parents who are professors at other institutions. And, there are so many families that send more than one kid to Oberlin. It is very normal for siblings to be at Oberlin at the same time.

I also agree the new president is going places. I hope Oberlin hangs on to her for several more years. She has a very positive, leading from the front style.

That's funny. She's such a perfect college president at Oberlin, that I mentally have placed her there forever. Now you have me worried that she could be lured away!

Her leadership during the pandemic has been better than what I've seen out of any institution. But my favorite story on her is, in thre search for safe, fun pandemic activities, she challenged students to see if they could do more tire flips on the football field than she can do. Hidden talents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually, my point would be exactly the same regarding a LAC with conservative leanings, especially if unpopular viewpoints were supressed. Apparently the readership of DCUM is too doltish to realize this.

It is people like you that makes DCUM suck so much.

The thing is, the "unpopulare viewpoints" are things like people who embrace naziism and students not wanting their fees to pay for their appearances. I am not sure why you think that is ok, but it certainly exposes a lack of nuance to suggest otherwise.

Do you really think you are helping your cause by calling all of your opponents Nazis?
This is precisely the illiberality that is killing LACs. But, then again, you are probably just a teenager trolling in his parents' basement in his underwear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually, my point would be exactly the same regarding a LAC with conservative leanings, especially if unpopular viewpoints were supressed. Apparently the readership of DCUM is too doltish to realize this.

It is people like you that makes DCUM suck so much.

The thing is, the "unpopulare viewpoints" are things like people who embrace naziism and students not wanting their fees to pay for their appearances. I am not sure why you think that is ok, but it certainly exposes a lack of nuance to suggest otherwise.

Do you really think you are helping your cause by calling all of your opponents Nazis?
This is precisely the illiberality that is killing LACs. But, then again, you are probably just a teenager trolling in his parents' basement in his underwear.

This is why no one can take you seriously in this thread. You brag about your top SLAC admission - better than Oberlin - yet repeatedly demonstrate impaired or selective reading comprehension. The poster didn't declare her opponents were "all...Nazis," the poster wrote "the 'unpopulare [sic] viewpoints' are THINGS (emphasis added) like people who embrace naziism [sic]." Things here = AN example, NOT all examples. I hope the "Big Lie" hasn't go so far that protesting Nazism and all manifestations of fascism are now seen as illiberal. I don't think either FDR or Ike would be happy that development.

For the Obies and Parents of Obies, thanks for taking the time to post on your experiences, especially ones in the most recent years. Hope DS gets a chance to visit the school along with some of the other suggestions in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually, my point would be exactly the same regarding a LAC with conservative leanings, especially if unpopular viewpoints were supressed. Apparently the readership of DCUM is too doltish to realize this.

It is people like you that makes DCUM suck so much.

The thing is, the "unpopulare viewpoints" are things like people who embrace naziism and students not wanting their fees to pay for their appearances. I am not sure why you think that is ok, but it certainly exposes a lack of nuance to suggest otherwise.

Do you really think you are helping your cause by calling all of your opponents Nazis?
This is precisely the illiberality that is killing LACs. But, then again, you are probably just a teenager trolling in his parents' basement in his underwear.

This is why no one can take you seriously in this thread. You brag about your top SLAC admission - better than Oberlin - yet repeatedly demonstrate impaired or selective reading comprehension. The poster didn't declare her opponents were "all...Nazis," the poster wrote "the 'unpopulare [sic] viewpoints' are THINGS (emphasis added) like people who embrace naziism [sic]." Things here = AN example, NOT all examples. I hope the "Big Lie" hasn't go so far that protesting Nazism and all manifestations of fascism are now seen as illiberal. I don't think either FDR or Ike would be happy that development.

For the Obies and Parents of Obies, thanks for taking the time to post on your experiences, especially ones in the most recent years. Hope DS gets a chance to visit the school along with some of the other suggestions in this thread.

I have a rising sophomore who loves Oberlin. They rotated classes through this year to de-density campus, give all kids singles and have room to spread out for in person classes. Sophomore and juniors each had one school year in person semester a s are on campus this summer. Oberlin haslofted most COVID limits, including dorm visitors, because the campus hit 85% vaccination. Oberlin is a love it or hate it school. And I would never push it on a kid who disliked it. I would strongly encourage you to book a night for yourself in the Oberlin hotel and contact admission about your kid spending the night on campus with a current student and attending classes this summer— or fall. Your kid will either be convinced this is where they belong. Or never want to get near Oberlin again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Actually, my point would be exactly the same regarding a LAC with conservative leanings, especially if unpopular viewpoints were supressed. Apparently the readership of DCUM is too doltish to realize this.

It is people like you that makes DCUM suck so much.

The thing is, the "unpopulare viewpoints" are things like people who embrace naziism and students not wanting their fees to pay for their appearances. I am not sure why you think that is ok, but it certainly exposes a lack of nuance to suggest otherwise.

Do you really think you are helping your cause by calling all of your opponents Nazis?
This is precisely the illiberality that is killing LACs. But, then again, you are probably just a teenager trolling in his parents' basement in his underwear.

This is why no one can take you seriously in this thread. You brag about your top SLAC admission - better than Oberlin - yet repeatedly demonstrate impaired or selective reading comprehension. The poster didn't declare her opponents were "all...Nazis," the poster wrote "the 'unpopulare [sic] viewpoints' are THINGS (emphasis added) like people who embrace naziism [sic]." Things here = AN example, NOT all examples. I hope the "Big Lie" hasn't go so far that protesting Nazism and all manifestations of fascism are now seen as illiberal. I don't think either FDR or Ike would be happy that development.

For the Obies and Parents of Obies, thanks for taking the time to post on your experiences, especially ones in the most recent years. Hope DS gets a chance to visit the school along with some of the other suggestions in this thread.

I have a rising sophomore who loves Oberlin. They rotated classes through this year to de-density campus, give all kids singles and have room to spread out for in person classes. Sophomore and juniors each had one school year in person semester a s are on campus this summer. Oberlin haslofted most COVID limits, including dorm visitors, because the campus hit 85% vaccination. Oberlin is a love it or hate it school. And I would never push it on a kid who disliked it. I would strongly encourage you to book a night for yourself in the Oberlin hotel and contact admission about your kid spending the night on campus with a current student and attending classes this summer— or fall. Your kid will either be convinced this is where they belong. Or never want to get near Oberlin again.

Great suggestion - TY!

[Anonymous]

I have an Obie and a kid in FCPS. And part of what made FCPS’s COVID response so disheartening was they way the community turn on each other into sniping little faction, because there was no real leadership. Nobody wanted to own the decisions and the SB and Brabrand and teachers spent so much time pointing fingers. And there was so much anger.

And Then I watched Oberlin respond and realized what could have been if we had had strong leadership. This Back to School video was shot as UNC and JMU were sending kids home ad UVA was delaying the start date and Norte Dame was locking down. And nobody knew we would happen when kids went back in campus. Then we got this.

https://vimeo.com/449294946/9cf8368e83?fbclid=IwAR2eMmONavAk9f7T_cr02ZopB3ygQs2QAqKfl8vvdR_xXLoQ7Yk5_GuV6aA

Huge fan of President Ambar. I hope Oberlin can hang into her.

[Anonymous]

Thank you to the current parents that posted

[Anonymous]

News: Oberlin College #13 Nationally Among Liberal Arts Schools in New College Rankings

https://www.oberlin.edu/news/oberlin-college-13-nationally-among-liberal-arts-schools-new-college-rankings