Most likely it is a combination of the two, one reinforcing the other. Whatever its source, the results of this idealism are dramatic. It impels Oberlinians to be open to new perspectives, to rethink their positions when necessary, to speak their minds, to strive to make the world a better place. Because Oberlinians are such a diverse group of individuals, they don't always agree on what the world's problems are, let alone on the solutions to those problems. Outsiders might look at this community and see dissension and disunity.
Insiders know better.
In this community the right to disagree is respected and the need to debate issues is understood they are inherent to intellectual inquiry and academic freedom. Tolerance is highly prized at Oberlin. It is precisely because the Oberlin community is so supportive that this intellectual ferment can thrive. This spirit of idealism, this sense of conviction, unites the many different individuals in the Oberlin community. Students, faculty members, and alumni believe they can change the world.