Covers Contents - Past Issues - Wake Forest University

TO THE EDITOR:I read with interest your article“The Journey Endeth”(June 2006)and especially the story aboutKelly McManus (’06). I was quiteimpressed with her. ongratulationsKelly!My reason for writing is thecomment, “As one of the fewliberals in a largely conservativestudent body, she naturally gravitatedto College Democrats.”Since many years have passedsince the “no dancing,” SouthernBaptist Convention control ofWake Forest, my assumption ofthe student body was that it wasnot so conservative that being aliberal Democrat would be atypical.Perhaps Wake Forest is moreof a conservative bastion than Iestimated. Is playing LibertyUniversity at Homecoming, withits icon Jerry Falwell likely inattendance, an indication of WakeForest’s conservative nature?I have remained a loyal andproud Deac with the understandingthat our liberal educationuniversity was at least progressive.I’ve encouraged my grandsonsto have Wake Forest as theireducational goal. For certain theyare Deacon sports fans. ShouldI now encourage them to look atDuke or UNC where “conservative”is not a majority description?Douglas Phelps (’61)New Bern, North CarolinaEditors’ Note: Wake Forest Magazineasked Kelly McManus, whojoined Teach for America after graduation,to respond to Mr. Phelps’ letter.Without a doubt, a lot at WakeForest has changed since yourtime and my dad’s time at theUniversity. I love hearing aboutmy dad’s experience, but I amcertainly glad that the Universityhas evolved with the times!The statement that I was oneof the few liberals on campus wasdefinitely referencing the politicalviews and positions of the majorityof the students. I would venturethat most of the students,including most of my friends,would consider themselves fairlyconservative Republican students.That said, however, theCollege Democrats and othermore progressive student groupsgrew tremendously in theirmembership and visibility oncampus during my four years.During my first “kick off”meetingas a member of the CollegeDemocrats executive board, wehad about 150 students in attendance!Each year, the editorialpage of the Old Gold and Blackbecame more diverse in its viewpoints,and more opportunitiesfor discussion and debate on avariety of issues developed forthe student body to experience.Because of my leadership positionsand vocal support of certainissues, I was definitely identifiedwithin my class and within theschool as one of the leaders of theprogressive community on campus,and I thoroughly enjoyedthat responsibility.I would be lying, though, ifI didn’t admit that it felt lonelyand frustrating at times. I learnedwhat it was like to be in the minority,especially a greatly outnumberedminority.These frustrations,though, did not compare in theirfrequency or intensity to thelearning and growth that I experiencedthrough this process. Ideveloped my own sense of identity,passion, and commitment; Ilearned the value of listening toothers, deciding which battles tofight, and determining for myselfwhat I cared for most.I left Wake Forest more sure ofmyself and more confident in myability to take on any challengewhich needs to be met. Therewere certainly many times whenI wished I was in the majority asfar as political opinion went, butI would not be the person I amtoday without having to withstandsome of the firestorms that weresent my way. Attending anotherschool could have potentiallytaught me complacency instead ofbuilding the fire that burns withinme now. Wake Forest might havea majority-conservative studentbody, but it helped me becomemore committed to the progressivecauses of social justice than Iwas when I entered.Kelly McManus (’06)Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaL E T T E R Swww.wfu.edu/wowf SEPTEMBER 2006 11