FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Trin9-0]

If Wes is ultra liberal, which schools would be considered conservative or even moderate? 8)

Whether it is a reality or just a stereotype; the perception of Wesleyan as an ultra-liberal institution is prominent even when compared to its peer schools in the NESCAC.

As a side note:

While tailgating after the Trin-Wes game this past fall in Middletown our BBQ area was subject to a Wes-Tech student "protest" against our the murder of innocent animals that we had slaughtered in order to enjoy some hamburgers and hotdogs. There were about 10-15 "protesters" singing, dancing and one was dressed as a cow.

This story is not a joke and is 100% true.

[BobcatsDad]

As mentioned, my son was not interested in an ultra-liberal or PC environment, though to some degree that's pretty hard to avoid at NESCAC schools. He ended up at Bates.  Among the NESCAC schools, I'd say most are in the moderate range. Based on observations of the student bodies, emanations from the administration, and other admittedly unscientific data points, these are my assessments:

Annoyingly ultra-PC (Protests, chalkings, GLBT groups, Vegans running wild, and an actual certified student group called the C--T club (rhymes with punt): Wesleyan

Moderatety PC, but not ridiculous:  Amherst

Some save-the-whales vibe; some rich-kid cruchiness and white-boy dreadlocks, but overall normal sensibilities: Bowdoin, Midd, Bates

Significant down-the-middle, standard-issue prep, pre-Wall Street population: Williams, Colby, Hamilton, Trin

Regular smart suburban pre-law pre-med pre-MBA types prevail: Tufts   

[Col. Partridge]

I would mix around some of those schools into different buckets, but that more or less is the convential wisdom.  I might add that most Wesleyan football players go onto jobs on Wall St. or the professions, so take everything with a grain of salt.

Most annoying to me are the former PC police who I couldn't stand in college, who realized that saving Tibet didn't pay the bills in the real world.  Some of these same peolpe then get Wharton MBAs, and come back reincarnated as Gordon Gekko.  I still can't stand them, just for different reasons now.

[bant551]

Saving the kurds also doesn't pay the bills in the real world.  Careful lest we make this a political board. 

But if I weren't to point out this irony I'd have missed a golden opporunity:

Yes, the hyper-liberals at Wes U are loud, smelly and annoying... but you are basically criticizing these students for trying to advocate for the promotion of freedom and democracy for the oppressed people's of the world (i.e., "Free Tibet" or "Save Darfur")... I think I've heard this before from annoying people who are quite different than the Wes U folks you speak of!!!

[Knightstalker]

I have known people who were just as annoying as the unwashed hippies but were clean and successful.  Nothing wrong with trying to help other people, it just takes a little growing up to realize you can make a difference and earn money at the same time.

[Col. Partridge]

OK, OK poor example.  If I had my way, Tibet would be free, too.  For those small % of unshowered Wes activists who are truly committed to their cause, I salute them, and everyone else who fights unpopular causes for reasons other than material gain.  My point was that I found it ironic that people who were so obnoxious about their world-saving at age 20 became so obnoxious about Hermes ties that match their custom-made suits or whatever by age 30. 

8-0, next time you get the bovine-costumed protesters, invite them to join the M.E.A.T. club, which I found on the internet (can't get a direct link):

The M.E.A.T. Club is a cooking group open to all students. The club focuses on cooking meat, and strives to provide a social venue for its members as well as to the rest of Wesleyan. We plan to organize barbeques and events with other groups in order to engender a sense community between different social groups at the school.

Email Listserv click here to view old emails, documents or join the listserv

[bant551]

Yes, it is quite ironic and those people are ridiculous.  I see your point. 

"Free Tibet".

"Support the Troops".

So long as you aren't really doing anything to free Tibet or to support the troops (other than, of course, wearing the free Tibet shirt, being loud and annoying about it, or putting a Support the Troops magnet on your car), you are pretty much in the same boat, IMO.

Anyway, the general point about the specific types at Weseleyan is 100% accurate.  They truly do remind me of the turds in the movie PCU... and isn't PCU supposed to be based on WesU?  Seeing the things Trin 8-0 described on your recruiting trip, like the PETA turds, isn't exactly a selling point to recruits.

[frank uible]

Except to current or aspiring turds.

[BobcatsDad]

Capt. Partridge -

I take it you're a Wes football alum? You seem to know NESCAC well.
Just curious, what would your buckets be (re political/social characterization of the schools)? The conventional wisdom (received by me) is not always right - you may have a more accurate sense of these things.

[BobcatsDad]

And - more curiosity, Capt. P - does your nom de message board refer to Capt. Alden Partridge, the West Point/Norwich University guy? He is an ancestor of my cousins. But this is off-point. Do want to know about your sense of the NESCAC schools re. campus atmosphere.

[tmerton]

If Wes is ultra liberal, which schools would be considered conservative or even moderate? 8)

Whether it is a reality or just a stereotype; the perception of Wesleyan as an ultra-liberal institution is prominent even when compared to its peer schools in the NESCAC.

As a side note:

While tailgating after the Trin-Wes game this past fall in Middletown our BBQ area was subject to a Wes-Tech student "protest" against our the murder of innocent animals that we had slaughtered in order to enjoy some hamburgers and hotdogs. There were about 10-15 "protesters" singing, dancing and one was dressed as a cow.

This story is not a joke and is 100% true.

I'm sitting here thinking how much fun the parents and families have when those kids come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

[Knightstalker]

+K Tmerton, now I am picturing the same thing.

[Col. Partridge]

Dad, you are correct re: my tag.  I think your ancestor ran a military academy in Middletown before founding Norwich.  He sold the land in Middletown to a bunch of Methodists, who started Wesleyan on the location.

You are also correct re: my status as a Wes football alum.  My take on the schools may be out of date by now, so I wouldn't put too much stock in what I think.  In my random walk down Wall St. I have come accross a lot more Midd grads than those of Colby, and the people I knew who went to Colby were  outdoorsy types, so I would maybe switch those around.  But that's just like, my opinion, man.

[nescac1]

Article on Eph first year Tim Kiely:

http://www.newburyportnews.com/pusports/local_story_223094321?keyword=topstory

[John McGraw]

That's funny.

By coincidence, another Tim Kiely is already in the NESCAC. The other Tim Kiely is a pitcher at Trinity.