SWA #7

Three essays in Carolina Reader discuss some recent changes in the college population concerning religion, politics, and social class. Each article poses a casual argument that a specific aspect of college students is changing over time and each provide various reasons influencing these specific changes.
The first article, “Matters of Faith Find a New Prominence on Campus,” by Alan Finder was published in 2007 and argues that the number of college students involved in “active religious life,” as professor Gomes from Harvard University words it, is much higher than that of past numbers. Finder suggests that the religious based issues in politics such as abortion and war leave students asking questions and actively seeking answers. Another reason, he says, is the attacks of September 11th and how that had an “influence of religion on world affairs.” Another reason, he says, is that young people have grown up so nurtured and protected by their family and their environment that once they enter college life they don’t have the “resources” to handle traumatic events such as a suicide and some eventually turn to religious exploration. Finder, finally, suggests that an increase in community service and social activism has led to and increase in faith on campus.
An increase in social activism may influence not only religion on campus but politics as well. The second piece, “Schools of Thought: The Liberal-Conservative Divide on College Campuses,” by Richard Just was published in 2003 and argues that active political conservatism among college students is not only increasing but becoming more evident. Just claims that students, especially conservative ones, are noticing an overwhelming liberal bias not only among the majority of students but also among faculty and staff. He reasons that the old generation of liberals who battled oppressive issues such as “freer sexuality, affirmative action, greater curricular and cultural diversity,” now occupy many positions on the faculty and impose their political views, intentionally or not, upon their students. Just suggests that the outweighing number of democrats to republicans is bringing more attention to the conservative presence on campuses and due to this spotlight, the funding for right party projects such as newspapers and speakers greatly overshadows that of the common liberals.
Lastly, an article entitled, “The College Dropout Boom,” by David Leonhardt was written in 2005 and argues that the number of college dropouts is increasing and is mostly due to the vast gaps between lower, middle, and upper class. Leonhardt says that various factors now contribute to young adults not only getting accepted to colleges but staying enrolled all four years. He suggests that high schools can take some of the blame for failing to prepare students well enough for college and, therefore, after a few semesters of not succeeding, end up dropping out. Another reason, he says, is that “tuition bills scare some students from even applying and leave others with years of debt.” Which, according to Leonhardt, the lower-income students receive no admissions preference and, if they are accepted, cannot afford to remain enrolled for four to five years, scholarship or not. He also states that many low-income students don’t have family members or examples in everyday life that have gone to college which also decreases the likelihood that they would attend or apply.
Though these writers claim that there is an increase in attitude toward religion, politics, and class from the past, as a college student it isn’t exactly evident that these changes are occurring on campus, but then again I don’t have experience to compare them with past attitudes. But if these increases are truly happening, luckily some of us are observing, writing, and monitoring this supposed progress of change.