People are often divided by political affiliations, and Kansas University students are no exception.

However, students say politics are not heavily divisive, despite the fact that the KU campus is thought of as a liberal-dominated area.

Politics are not a big thing on the Lawrence campus today, according to Henry Way, a doctoral student studying the political geography of Kansas. Way has found that his students often have a clear opinion on any given issue, but political beliefs only divide students in a classroom or debate setting.

Karen Bentley, chairwoman of the KU College Republicans, said many students on campus respect those who have a different political ideology.

“I think that political views have a divisive influence at KU only when the political discussion lacks respect of the individual’s right to an opinion or respect of the individual,” Bentley said. “When someone does not respect the right of a person to have a political opinion, then that divides students. As a College Republican, I know that it is not really in-style to listen to the conservative students on the hill. But it is important that communication remain a two-way street.”

Carrie Peterson, a member of the Young Democrats, agreed that political viewpoints are not usually divisive despite the presence of differing perspectives on campus.

“Even though I do not agree with what a lot of people believe, I respect their opinions,” Peterson said. “(People) just have to be willing to accept that there is not always one right answer to any given political issue.”

Way did mention a different sort of divisiveness on campus, though.

“A lot of students feel they can’t be conservative in this fairly liberal atmosphere,” Way said. “At times, they feel like they’re being mocked by faculty or (teaching assistants) who make it very clear that they are liberal or Democratic.”

Way added that this left some students feeling alienated. One of his students left KU for Kansas State, saying Lawrence was too liberal.

“Politics is about different views, and if we’re going to have a free-thinking university, then we’ve got to freely accept conservative views as well as liberal views,” Way said.