Conservative Voices on Campus

Does everyone at the School have a right to express their opinions on politics? At a time when so much of the country is polarized, there are some questions that are beginning to pop up at school as well. Many at the School believe that there is equal opportunity for all to express their opinions. However, some students on the conservative end of the political spectrum don’t believe they can safely express their opinions. They feel that because the overwhelming majority of our community is liberal they will be ostracized and shunned for their different beliefs. 

According to a poll that Expos sent out, out of 108 responses, 92 rated themselves as somewhat liberal. The data from this poll should be an indication of how anyone with a conservative opinion at HRS would feel about expressing their opinions. Oftentimes, we as humans like to have an idea of psychological safety. That is to say, people want to be in a place where their opinions are protected because they have an idea that a lot of people agree with. Once we have this idea of safety, not only do they feel reassured by being in a group, but it also gives a sense of anonymity since they are part of a group, which makes them feel as though they are protected from being personally attacked for their opinions. On top of this, there is a fear of losing support from peers because of their opinions. They have questions like, “What if my friends and peers don’t accept my opinions for what it is?” The fear of being attacked for an opinion, coupled with the idea of losing friends, causes many to not express their thoughts.

While remaining in an inclusive and thoughtful community should be the ultimate goal for students, this isn’t the case for many of our students. Declan Dolorico-McPeake is a senior at the School who views himself as a moderate conservative, which is very different from the right-wing conservatives that many think describe the whole party. Despite this, almost immediately after the election, Dolorico-McPeake was asked by a fellow student “How does it feel to be public enemy #1?” Whether this comment is meant to be taken literally or not doesn’t matter, it represents a microcosm of the issue at the School. Moreover, it is said without listening to the context or views of the other person. However, unlike them, Dolorcio-McPeake supports abortion and some background checks on guns. Additionally, Dolorcio-McPeake stated that recently, there have been more places for meaningful discussions between the two different political views. Despite these recent improvements, our community as a whole has to be more accepting of different opinions.

Keeping all this in mind, it can be understandably hard for conservative students to share their opinions at school. If they are with their friends, oftentimes, they feel comfortable enough to express their thoughts. However, outside of a trusted circle, it can be hard for them to tell people what they think. Being afraid of saying the wrong things, students end up staying silent, discouraging the discourse that is so important to a healthy environment.