Universities in the US with a large socialist presence?

[Aspiring Humanist]

What Universities/Colleges in the USA have strong socialist groups/student movements that actually take action? I'll be applying to colleges soon and that will be a big factor. Location isn't much of a problem as long as its in the country

[Broletariat]

At this point, I'm pretty convinced there is no genuine large concentration of socialists like what you're looking for.

You should look for a college based off of what you want to study and build socialism wherever you go.

[The Douche]

The new school has a big socialist presence. One of my girlfriend's friends went there though, she said that the kids were really snooty and cliquish. But if you're going to play the activist game then you'll make friends that way.

[Aspiring Humanist]

Well what I'm interested in studying has little to no value as a career so wherever I go to study will basically be the same opportunities. There has to be some sort of socialist student networks somewhere..

[The Douche]

The new school really is your best bet, if you can afford it, I mean, shit, it was started by marxists...

[Aspiring Humanist]

I was planning on majoring in Balkan studies, and the new school looks like an art school. thanks for the recommendation though.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I had a friend visit UC Santa Cruz and ran into many people calling themselves Marxists.

[The Douche]

The new school is a liberal arts school. They have some interesting programs, you can even major in social justice studies.

Anyhow, I think there are very few schools that have programs for Balkan studies, so I think the availability of that program determines where you can go to school.

[Welshy]

Well If you want to major in Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst has a few marxist professors in the Economics Department. They also offer courses in marxist economics. And as far as socialist organizations go the only group active on campus is the International Socialist Organization.

[Magón]

I had a friend visit UC Santa Cruz and ran into many people calling themselves Marxists.

I can confirm this since I go to UCSC. There's a good amount of Marxists and Anarchists, but there's also a lot of those who can fool you into thinking they might be one or the other, and really aren't, they're just liberals who share some opinions on some subjects.

[Ele'ill]

Evergreen State College

[eric922]

My school, UT has a movement of about 30 people, who are fairly active on campus and in protests around TN.

[Dunk]

Look for universities with a sizable SDS student group. I'm sure there will be liberal activists in it, but there's also going to be comrades in there.

[Comrade Ian]

UCSC has an ISO branch which I'm part of and also has a large number of anarchists who I'm friends with, as well as the History of Conciousness program which has a lot of marxists and ex cp radicals. We have a pretty non sectarian environment, helped by the fact that there aren't any Stalinists.

[FreeFocus]

The vast majority of colleges/universities will have some student groups concerned with important social justice issues, if not an explicitly socialist organization. I don't suggest basing your college search off of this criterion only. Find a university that you like - location, size, areas of study - and go for it. The rest will take care of itself if you look to build ties.

[Magón]

UCSC has an ISO branch which I'm part of and also has a large number of anarchists who I'm friends with, as well as the History of Conciousness program which has a lot of marxists and ex cp radicals. We have a pretty non sectarian environment, helped by the fact that there aren't any Stalinists.

Hey, we probably know some of the same people then! :thumbup1:

[Rocky Rococo]

it might be easier to tell you where not to go.

First of all, you don't want to go to a university that uses somebody's full name. You don't want to go to Oral Roberts University, you don't want to go to Brigham Young University, you certainly don't want to go to Bob Jones University.

Next, you'll want to steer clear of a university that's name is a single abstract virtue, e.g., Liberty University. Take my word, you don't want to go there.

Find out who the most highly paid member of the college faculty and staff is. If it's the coach of the football team, you probably don't want to go there. In a related matter, if you think a couch is something of value that should not be ignited at the conclusion of a sporting event, then you'll want to steer clear of Morgantown, WV.

If you're serious about pursuing a relatively obscure field like Balkan Studies, it's unlikely that a college with a hyphen or ampersand in its name is your best choice.

[smk]

I know that this thread is super dated, but I found a list of american academics deemed "dangerous" to the right. so it may be helpful to anyone searching for this topic later: http://campusprogress.org/articles/david_horowitzs_101_most_dangerous_academics_in_am erica/

[Susurrus]

I don't know for sure of the atmosphere there, but this is the unofficial seal of Reed College in Portland, OR:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fe/ReedCollege-FauxSeal-bw.jpg

It says, Communism, Atheism, Free Love