UC Berkeley: A Haven for Genuine Political Diversity?

You might think that I, as a conservative at the University of California, Berkeley, have nothing but criticisms of my school. It’s true that I have faced challenges for my beliefs here. Just a few days ago, in my capacity as chairman of the campus chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, I invited Manhattan Institute fellow Daniel Di Martino to speak. Posters advertising his appearance were pulled down minutes after being put up.

Such events, however, have been surprisingly rare here. Conservatives may know UC Berkeley primarily for its association with leftist activism: the anti-war movement, the free-speech movement, and the constant protests. From such evidence, which no one can deny, Berkeley has earned a reputation as the country’s center of progressive activism and hostility to conservative politics. Yet this is only a partial portrait of Berkeley.

AK

About the Author

Ayaan Karan

Ayaan Karan is a junior studying political science at UC Berkeley. He is the chairman of Berkeley’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom.

Featured Tags

You might think that I, as a conservative at the University of California, Berkeley, have nothing but criticisms of my school. It’s true that I have faced challenges for my beliefs here. Just a few days ago, in my capacity as chairman of the campus chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, I invited Manhattan Institute fellow Daniel Di Martino to speak. Posters advertising his appearance were pulled down minutes after being put up.

Such events, however, have been surprisingly rare here. Conservatives may know UC Berkeley primarily for its association with leftist activism: the anti-war movement, the free-speech movement, and the constant protests. From such evidence, which no one can deny, Berkeley has earned a reputation as the country’s center of progressive activism and hostility to conservative politics. Yet this is only a partial portrait of Berkeley.