The community college stands as a beacon of democratic, inclusive ideals. Unlike the four year college--where research and advanced degrees are sought--the community college celebrates learning on a personal, heuristic level. And while such unconventional and even seditious practices have been questioned by those who seek to maintain "standards," the two year school maintains a safe place to learn and explore for more intrinsic, less conventional reasons. Today, many instructors at the community college have embraced the equally egalitarian practices of Reader Response criticism and process writing as pedagogies of empowerment. This article explores the historical pressures coming from more traditional institutions to make the community college more elitist and the importance of respecting the political aspects of educating at the college level.