Leah Keller, a graduating senior at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., is only now choosing to speak out about her early experiences as a conservative on campus, 3 1/2 years later.
Keller told Red Alert Politics in a phone interview about a freshman year history course for which she was assigned a paper on Dwight D. Eisenhower. After writing a favorable portrayal of the former Republican president, Keller received a C grade and a suggestion that she see her professor.
“The professor said that I should reread the articles because ‘my opinion of Eisenhower might change,’” Keller said. “What was implied was that I didn’t write the opinion that he wanted or was expecting to see.”
Her professor allowed her to rewrite the paper, and she did so, giving a more negative portrayal of Eisenhower than she had done before.
“My writing style or sources didn’t change at all,” Keller noted, “just my opinion of Eisenhower.”
After resubmitting the paper, she earned an A minus and says she “stopped making my opinions clear to my professors.”
She recently opened up about this experience in a blog post entitled “Conservative on Campus” and told Red Alert Politics that this interaction freshman year was just one of many in which she felt marginalized at Muhlenberg for her conservative views.
Interestingly, Keller noted that her old professor reached out to commend her honesty after he saw the blog post. Though he did not apologize, or admit that he was favoring only one interpretation of Eisenhower, he did affirm her a student and thinker.
Liberal influence is so strong at Muhlenberg that few conservatives share their voice in class, according to Keller. Unfortunately, professors also perpetuate this phenomenon.
“I don’t think people are going to be confident to stand up for themselves until professors stop pushing liberal agendas through sharing their own opinions in class,” Keller stated. “I was afraid to ever share my thoughts because discussions impacted my grade.”
Eventually finding her voice after connecting with peers in the Muhlenberg College Republicans Club, Keller noted that there are some students who do want to have substantive political discussions on campus — specifically her peers in the College Democrats Club.
Though these discussions are happening informally, Keller believes that they are unfortunately simply not happening in classes.
“Most [conservative] students just nod and go along with what is happening in class. … I don’t think some professors even realize what they are doing when they emphasize their own views,” Keller concluded.
“Political viewpoints matter, but they don’t define an individual,” Keller noted in her blog post. “No matter your party affiliation, every student should feel comfortable contributing in class discussions and letting their opinions be heard. Hearing differing viewpoints is how we learn; you may find your opinion will change or be strengthened when you hear differing arguments.”
