For more information on the following story, contact Mike Corbett by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (765) 468-6019.
COLLEGE STUDENTS NOT INTERESTED IN POLITICS
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Today's college students may have less interest in political matters than their counterparts of the 1960s and 1970s, says a recent Ball State University study.
A survey of Ball State students found that about nine percent reported being very interested in politics while 14 percent had no interest, said Mike Corbett, political science professor.
"More than half the students said they were just a little interested," Corbett said. "Students are not as interested in politics as they are in other matters such as starting careers or developing romantic relationships.
"The term is privatism because they are interested in their private lives now," he said. "They'll wait a few years until they are older and settled in their lives before taking an interest in public matters."
The survey was conducted last semester to provide hands-on experience for students in Corbett's voter polling techniques class as well as to determine student views on a variety of political and social issues. About 236 students participated.
According to the survey:
*Forty-two percent of respondents said politicians can be trusted to do what they think is best for the country while 39 percent either disagreed or strongly disagreed.
*About 58 percent said they would be willing to vote for a woman to serve as president.
*Eighty-eight percent agreed it was important to vote and 70 percent said an individual's vote could make a difference.
*Social issues, including abortion, prayer in school and crime, were the most important reasons to vote for 44 percent.
*Economic issues were second at 34 percent.
Corbett said half of the respondents have voted in an election, but only 17 percent attended a political rally and only 11 percent previously worked in a campaign of a candidate for political office.
"Many students believe it is their duty to vote, but leave the rest of political action up to others," he said. "They don't see that as part of the role of being a good citizen at this point in their lives."
(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Corbett by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (765) 468-6019. For more stories visit the Ball State University News Center at www.bsu.edu/news on the World Wide Web.)
Marc Ransford
1/28/00
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