She Refused to Stay Silent at Vanderbilt

Alena entered Vanderbilt expecting to find a more conservative environment in Tennessee—but instead, she often felt alone in her beliefs and hesitant to speak openly in class. Now a Summer 2026 Luce Center intern, she reflects on how her faith gave her the courage to challenge political complacency, question ideological bias, and refuse to stay silent.

She also explains why conservative students should not simply abandon liberal campuses, why Christians must remain rooted in Scripture, and why young conservatives need practical skills in AI and technology to shape the future rather than surrender it.

She also explains why conservative students should not simply abandon liberal campuses, why Christians must remain rooted in Scripture, and why young conservatives need practical skills in AI and technology to shape the future rather than surrender it.

0:00 Introduction

0:27 Meet Alina: Faith, National Security, and AI

1:20 Growing Up as a Pastor’s Daughter

7:52 How Social Media Made Her Liberal

10:52 Feeling Alone as a Conservative at Vanderbilt

12:46 The Required Class That Made Her Afraid to Speak

16:28 Why Conservatives Shouldn’t Flee Liberal Campuses

20:54 Why Conservatives Cannot Ignore AI

26:06 AI Therapy and Artificial Relationships