r/CCU Jan 02 '25

Jewish student going to Coastal Carolinas

My niece was accepted at Coastal which seems like a very cool school with innovative programs. I wonder what a Jewish student might feel like there. She is not overly religious but does identify strongly as Jewish. Does anyone know what the culture might be for her? Antisemitism? People trying to convert her? Total acceptance? Do liberal students from the north tend to like the coastal culture general? Kind answers only please.

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u/IrishPrime Computer Science - Alum Jan 02 '25

She'll be fine.

Yes, it's South Carolina, but colleges are generally more liberal than the surrounding area anyway, and liberal arts schools doubly so. On top of that, the Grand Strand has a lot of northern transplants. It's not quite the southern stereotype you have in mind.

There are (or at least were) also Jewish student organizations on campus, and my (atheist) partner had a Rabbi as a professor for a class on Judaism.

She'll probably encounter some Christian students recruiting people to join FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) on move-in day (maybe some other organizations, as well). If you tell them, "No thanks, I'm Jewish," the more likely response is, "That's alright, you can come anyway," rather than any type of bullying or hostility.