[ahamilton]

> I know the idea that conservatives are persecuted by liberal academics is a popular one. But isn't it more likely that what the article is talking about is due to rural vs urban or academic vs non-academic backgrounds and experiences rather than liberal vs conservative ideology?

Just about everybody believes, both intuitively and based on research, that ideology relates to discriminatory behavior by employers, cops, judges, juries, etc. Why assume elite academic admissions committees, tasked with rejecting 95% of applicants, are different?

Elite disdain for the assumed characteristics of rural Americans may not explain all of the outreach or attendance gaps, but it's reasonable to assume it plays a role.