Is Durham that right-wing?

Hi, I have an offer to study at Durham next year but one of my main concerns is that the stereotype of the university is quite right-wing. I consider myself very left wing and would really like to engage in politics more at university and am concerned about whether I would really fit in here. I wondered whether any current students had any opinions or experiences to share? Thank you

Reply 1

Loonylottie

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Durham University

Durham

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Reply 2

Antifazian

The place is generally pretty politically apathetic, in that political engagement just doesn't seem to be a big thing like it is at other more active unis, however yes unfortunately most people lean to the right largely because most people here are white, middle or upper-middle class, well-off and from conservative families. If that's a big problem for you then you might not enjoy your time here that much, it's certainly negatively impacted on mine as it's very frustrating.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 3

clonedmemories

I can't say I've ever had an issue with it myself - of course there are people who are right wing, perhaps more than in the population as a whole, but Durham is full of as diverse a range of viewpoints, and there are almost always people who you'll find whose views are similar to yours. Perhaps certain subjects/colleges may attract people with certain viewpoints - as an Anthropology and Sociology student, almost everyone I've encountered on my course is liberal and left-wing, which is what I would expect from a subject like that, perhaps more so than something like, Law or PPE (though bear in mind that I am generalising and making assumptions here that really aren't necessarily true). There are also societies for pretty much every main political and social viewpoint, from a Conservative Association to Green Party group and Marxist Society, as far as I'm aware. Either way, it won't be difficult to find people who hold similar, left-wing views to you, I would imagine.

(Also, as Antifazian said, it is, on the whole, a rather apolitical university generally, and the politics stuff is done far more on an individual level rather than the university as a whole)

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 4

tengentoppa

Original post by Antifazian

Why is that? Surely different political perspectives would be nice and create debate? I can't see having people of a different political persuasion than you could ruin your university experience.

Reply 5

Antifazian

Original post by tengentoppa

Why is that? Surely different political perspectives would be nice and create debate? I can't see having people of a different political persuasion than you could ruin your university experience.

No because the point is that there aren't people with different perspectives (obviously a generalisation, but that's what op is asking for), most people are very similar in that sense, and add that on top of the general lack of diversity and open-mindedness of the place and it creates a very homogenous, very frustrating place to be for someone like me. I didn't say ruin, I said it negatively impacted. But I also did say that most people are apathetic, and so if the op wants to get into politics in a big way it's also probably not the ideal place to be, although stuff does go on on a smaller or more individual level in some societies.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 6

Loonylottie

Thank you for you replies

Reply 7

Indismissable_Me

I definitely hold beliefs that would seem to some as very left wing. But to be honest I don't see any party or political leaning these days that is capable of managing a modern society.

However I would not allow the ideological indoctrination of fellow students to prevent me from going to the University I wanted too. Come to Durham, rise to the challenge and show how, your way is the best way.

Don't ever avoid those situations that will challenge you most, as they are there to make you all that you can be.