| Today's
Students Draw a Line Between Political and Community Engagement,
Survey Suggests
A recent national survey of college
students by the Institute of Politics at Harvard University
concluded that the majority of college students are engaged
in their communities but are disengaged from the political
process. Students appear to see a "distinction between
public service and political participation." Students,
according to the survey, are calling for increased access
to political leaders and opportunities to learn more about
the nuts-and-bolts of the political process at an earlier
age. Although those surveyed felt that politics are important,
they are unsure about how to effectively join the political
process. The report contains six recommendations on how to
motivate students to engage in political service.
FINDINGS
The survey found that students
are very involved in community volunteering and strongly believe
in its effectiveness, but they tend to avoid involvement in
political activities. While fewer than 10 percent of students
involve themselves in political campaigns, two-thirds of students
say they have recently volunteered in community service, and
89 percent of this group volunteered in high school. Overall,
80 percent of all undergraduates volunteered in high school.
Students do follow politics
and consider them important. Seventy-one percent of students
watch the news or read the newspaper more than once a week;
forty-two percent do so daily. Sixty-eight percent report
discussing politics with friends or family at least once a
week. Eighty-seven percent of students feel politics is an
effective way to solve important issues in the country and
nearly that many (84 percent) feel it is effective locally.
Ninety percent of students
view themselves as patriotic and most support the action against
Iraq, with some conditions; support for America to act alone
is only 18 percent. Most students have reservations about
serving in the military themselves. Twenty-eight percent of
students unconditionally oppose military action. Forty-four
percent of students reported that in the event the draft was
reinstated, they would seek alternate forms of service. Twenty-five
percent reported an unconditional desire to serve, and 28
percent say they would serve with "reservations."
Political engagement and
trust in government were at higher levels soon after September
11, but have declined for college students since. Trust in
government has dropped between 5 to 11 percent within the
last year. Trust in the federal government, however, remains
15 percent higher than it was in 2000.
Concerns about terrorism
and foreign policy are outpacing traditional student concerns
such as education and the economy. Two-thirds of students
are "somewhat" or "greatly" concerned
about a possible upcoming terrorist attack on the United States.
For college students, the
military is the most trusted government entity, above Congress,
the President and the federal government. Seventy percent
say they trust the military to do the right thing, compared
to 58 percent with that confidence in the President.
College students are paying attention
to political events, but many distrust the media's portrayal.
Trust in the media to "do the right thing" all or
most of the time is twelve percent (compared to 70 percent
who have confidence in the military).
|
 |
|
|
DID YOU KNOW?
-
Fifty-six percent of undergraduates
disagreed with the claim that political involvement rarely
has tangible results.
- Sixty-nine percent of students
say that the U.S. should act with the support of allies
if the UN inspectors fail in their mission in Iraq.
-
Only 9 percent of students surveyed
have volunteered on a political campaign.
-
The single greatest predictor
of whether a college student will make community service
a college priority is whether or not they volunteered
in high school.
-
Interest in careers in non-profit
or community-based organizations is strong (68 percent),
but interest in running for public office is very low
(16 percent).
-
Only 26 percent of students
surveyed believe that the American political system is
sound.
-
African-American students prove
not only more politically active, but more skeptical of
the political system—especially the federal government
and Congress.
-
Two-thirds of seniors did community
service or volunteered during college.
-
Only 32 percent of students
are registered to vote.
-
Ninety percent of students consider
themselves patriotic.
|
