Rachel L. Wagley ‘11 arrived on Harvard’s campus excited about the prospect of conveying her conservative convictions to a college whose main connection to Red State America is its Crimson hue.
After attending a high school with no debate team or organized political student groups, Wagley was eager for lively intellectual discourse with classmates.
“Students at Harvard are so intelligent and willing to listen, but they don’t often hear the conservative side of the political spectrum represented,” says Wagley. “I feel it’s important that conservatives speak up because if the majority drowns out the minority, that entirely defeats the University’s purpose to promote intellectual and rational discussion.”
Luckily, Wagley relishes chances for debate.
“I thrive here because, as a conservative, there are so many opportunities to find pathways to express your ideologies, which really sharpens you,” she says.
Last year, Wagley took the helm of True Love Revolution (TLR), a non-political student organization that promotes abstinence before marriage. She has since become a fearless voice of opposition to the hook-up culture on campus.
“She doesn’t promote this by being a prude, but rather with sweet reason,” says Government Professor Harvey C. Mansfield ‘53 who was especially impressed with Wagley after hearing her speak at a TLR event. “She is not all peaches and cream. She can make a sharp point.”
But Wagley does more than explain the philosophical framework for her conservative social ideology.
“She really lives out the life that she defends, in the hopes that people will see the benefits of it,” says Luciana E. Milano ‘14, who was inspired by Wagley to join TLR.
Even those who do not share her conservative ideology cannot help but respect her commitment.
“I don’t agree with her on everything, but I admire that she is so willing to throw herself out there,” says friend Collin A. Jones ‘12.
Though rebutting leftist sentiments may seem like a demoralizing endeavor in the overwhelmingly liberal climate, Rachel has only been invigorated by her experience at Harvard.
“My goal is always to explain and make people understand why I believe what I believe, which is not to say everyone needs to think what I think, “ she says. “Then I wouldn’t have anyone to debate!”
