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- Political awareness among college students has hit its highest level in a decade according the UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute. In a survey of 276,449 first-year students at 413 colleges and universities, 33.9 percent felt that "keeping up to date with political affairs" was a very important or essential life goal, up from 32.9 percent last year and up from a record low of 28.1 in 2000.
The figures in this study were statistically adjusted to represent the total population of approximately 1.2 million first-time, full-time students at four-year institutions. Some numbers were rounded off so figures may add up to more than 100 percent.
Other survey results include:
- 25.1 percent of the freshman felt chances are very good "they will strengthen religious beliefs / convictions" while in college.
- 20.1 percent of freshmen considered influencing the political structure was considered an essential life goal compared with 19.6 percent last year and 17.1 percent in 1999.
- "Political views of freshmen shifted to the right this year, continuing a recent trend. " Only 24.2 percent identified themselves as liberal this year, compared with 25.3 last year, while 21.1 percent said they were conservative, compared with 20.0 last year.
- Catholic students made up 29.7 percent of frosh class this year, Baptist 11.1, Methodist 5.8, Presbyterian 4.1 and "other Christian" was 13.4 percent. (Note: Churches of Christ were not listed.)
- Parental income found those making $100,000 or more at 31.2 percent, $50,000 to $99,999 at 38.2 percent, while 38.2 per cent of parents made $49,999 or less per year.
- Developing a meaningful philosophy of life has declined as a life goal of college students. Only 39.3 percent listed that as an essential or important
goal this year.
- Students rated themselves above average or in the highest 10 percent with 72.9 per cent listing "cooperation" first with "drive to achieve" rated second at 71.6 and "academic ability" was third at 69.7. "Religiousness" was 20th place at only 31.0 percent just above artistic ability at 29.8.
- "Same-sex couples should have the right to legal marital status" was agreed to "strongly or somewhat" by 59.4 percent with men at
50.2 and women at 66.9. (Chronicle of Higher Education, January 30, 2004)
- The NAACP adopted a pro-abortion policy position for the first time in the 95-year history of the nation's largest civil rights organization. NAACP Board Chair Julian Bond said, "This is an issue of equal rights, and we are pleased to join those insisting on a woman's right to control her own body." (www.lifenws.com March 20, 2004 and washingtonbureau@naacpnet.org)
- 582,996 international students are enrolled in American colleges. 40 percent of United States science Ph.D's "go to non-U.S. students." (US New and World Report, October 13, 2003) Note: Santa Barbara Turnpike Road Church of Christ had to close enrollment for their weekly "Lets Start Talking FriendSpeak" class for international students during the winter quarter due to maxed out facilities and teachers. Most FriendSpeak students are in Ph.D programs at UC Santa Barbara.
- A new campus work is beginning this year at the University of Buffalo in New York according to Andrew Hill who will lead the start of this ministry along with the help of five UB students. The Amherst and Mayfair churches are partnering to start "The Bridge: A Campus Ministry of the Churches of Christ at UB." The program is fully funded and has 800 square feet of space on campus (please pray for this new work and that others across our nation will also "catch the vision" and follow the UB "Bridge" example!).
- A Pittsburgh University football player's death was charged to a Roman Catholic Priest, Rev. Henry Krawczyk. Billy Gaines, 19, was furnished with alcohol at a church cookout and fell from the St. Anne's Church ceiling while exploring a crawl space (Riverside Press-Enterprise 8/28/03).
- Four members of the California Baptist University's debate team forfeited their rounds at a recent Cal State Long Beach tournament because "they refused to defend partial-birth abortion." Mary Pryfogle, captain of the CBU team, said "it's not like theater where you role play and distance yourself from your morals… we've debated other moral issues that were not as heavy, but Scripture is very clear on this." Matt Taylor, CSLB debate coach, said "I do not remember a time when debaters refused to debate. I always like to see people stand up for their principles." (bpress@sbc.net January 14, 2004).
Rick Rowland, D.Min., is a professor in the Communication Department at Pepperdine University and also directs the public speaking program. He is the External Campus Ministry / Young Adult leader for the Murrieta, Church of Christ serving students at Mt. San Jacinto and Palomar Colleges in California.
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