I just transferred from a smaller college to a school of 50,000 students. It is neighbors with another school in Southern California that famous on student movement. I joined the school's Students for Bernie club (which unfortunately was the only active leftist club at the school), and they were very strange, very strange even for American. They started out organizing for Bernie's presidential campaign and now they encompass YDSA, new SDS,local unions. Like the old video game bundles where you get all in one bite. The problem comes in the fact that there are only about ten active members a piece, all of whom are members of the above organizations. Some called themselves ML, some laborists,Some are social democrats, some are politically apathetic but pro-labor. This led to me not forming friendships with them. Plus, the club leaders are graduating soon and there is no one to take their place. I asked a graduated PSL member if there weren't any "normal" leftist organizations here. They replied that most real ML wouldn't join this club because it's a registered club with the school, they're afraid of being recognized by the school, and they're Bernie supporters after all.
On top of that, I joined six to seven non-political clubs, but things still weren't going well. Most of the people in the clubs have known each other since freshman year and now that they're seniors I'm the one who jumped in in the middle. I have an alcohol allergy I can't go to any fraternity sorority parties and I'm not interested. The people on my course are super self-isolated, they look down and ignore you when I try to talk to them. I'm looking for help off campus right now so if you're a student in the neighborhood you can contact me.
Thank you for your knowledge! This explains why these two public schools(UCB,UCLA) are included in the "preppy" colleges recommended in the book* The Official Preppy Handbook*. The neighbors I'm talking about are UCLA, also from the UC system, who are closer to the LA community as a whole. Currently, they have SJP, Students For Socialism the youth branch under PSL. They've been holding huge marches over the past few days and have been involved in events in other Los Angeles neighborhoods.I'm ignoring the important fact that there is still a Red Scare in the US university system, as a foreigner I have a preconceived notion that a farce like the 60's won't happen again, but this is America. In where I come from, beating up students is decidedly impossible and untolerated, because people recognize college students as "kids" even though they are legally adults.