Conservative Students: Don’t Abandon the Ivy League

‘Stay quiet, regurgitate their ideology, get good grades, and get out.” So I was warned upon deciding to attend the University of Pennsylvania. Although my parents cheered when I was accepted, this new chapter of my life had a caveat: It meant four years of sacrificing my intellectual integrity and hiding my conservative politics, my Catholic faith, and my critique of liberal ideas from my new community.

The warnings I received were certainly well founded. In my tenure alone, Penn has made headlines for abysmal Covid policies, the discovery of classified Biden-administration documents, anonymous donations from Chinese adversaries. And that isn’t even to mention the virulent antisemitism and a viral congressional hearing that led to the resignation of its president. So it’s not surprising that Republicans are already publicly disavowing America’s top institutions, Penn among them. Its public shaming will likely result in a new message to young conservatives: “Take your high SAT score and good grades to a school that shares your values.” But this message is mistaken.

LB

About the Author

Lexi Boccuzzi

Lexi Boccuzzi is a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute. She is also a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where she founded a new heterodox student publication, The Pennsylvania Post. She often writes about culture, conservatism, electoral politics, and higher education as it pertains to Gen Z. Her work can also be found in City Journal and Real Clear Politics.

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‘Stay quiet, regurgitate their ideology, get good grades, and get out.” So I was warned upon deciding to attend the University of Pennsylvania. Although my parents cheered when I was accepted, this new chapter of my life had a caveat: It meant four years of sacrificing my intellectual integrity and hiding my conservative politics, my Catholic faith, and my critique of liberal ideas from my new community.

The warnings I received were certainly well founded. In my tenure alone, Penn has made headlines for abysmal Covid policies, the discovery of classified Biden-administration documents, anonymous donations from Chinese adversaries. And that isn’t even to mention the virulent antisemitism and a viral congressional hearing that led to the resignation of its president. So it’s not surprising that Republicans are already publicly disavowing America’s top institutions, Penn among them. Its public shaming will likely result in a new message to young conservatives: “Take your high SAT score and good grades to a school that shares your values.” But this message is mistaken.

LB

About the Author

Lexi Boccuzzi

Lexi Boccuzzi is a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute. She is also a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where she founded a new heterodox student publication, The Pennsylvania Post. She often writes about culture, conservatism, electoral politics, and higher education as it pertains to Gen Z. Her work can also be found in City Journal and Real Clear Politics.