College students pretty liberal, but the professors were not, or didn’t bring it to class. The middle-class State U I went to was very neutral, politically. You would always see a few drippy hippies with poster boards on the quad with the outrage du jour (Appartheid, AIDS, abortion rights, etc.) but they weren’t allowed to have loud speakers or make a ruckus. They were easily ignored.

Debate was taken seriously. You were expected to know your facts inside and out, have examples at hand, know the common logical fallacies, and be able to make a reasoned and persuasive argument without resorting to ad hominem attacks. Most of the time, these sessions had an sense of humor to them — humor being highly persuasive — and a grudging admiration for your opponent’s debate skills. No matter your position, you were disabused of extremism very quickly; it’s just impossible to defend with facts and reason.

Oh, and the girls were hotter and friendlier, and the music and cars were way better than anything in the last 30 years.