Study explores freshmen demographics

By Timothy Kudo
Daily Bruin Senior Staff Across the nation, 76.1 percent of this
year’s freshman class is white, 73.4 percent want to be very
well off financially, and 12.1 percent are worried they won’t
have enough money to graduate from college, according to a report
released by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA.
Titled, “The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall
2000,” the study characterizes the class of 2004 as studying
less ““ but using that time to get involved in their
communities. Aside from the number of incoming students who are
white, the report shows that 10.4 percent are African American, 1.9
percent are American Indian, 7.1 percent are Asian American, 7
percent are Latinos and 3.6 are “other.” According to
Linda Sax, director of the freshman survey, the percentage of white
students is the lowest ever ““ down from a high of 91.2
percent in 1966, the year the survey started. Sax attributes the
decrease to shifting demographics and changing opportunities for
students. But it seems that the end of affirmative action in states
like California has not significantly impacted national numbers. It
did, however, lead to demographic changes in the UC system.
“With the demise of affirmative action, we haven’t seen
the increase in white students, so I don’t think
there’s much of a correlation there,” Sax said.
“But, the numbers of non-white students would really be
higher if there was a higher level of financial aid for
students.” The report also shows that students are less
likely to discuss and follow politics, and most didn’t vote
in student elections. “That’s some bad news,” Sax
said. “But, the country in general reflects that
trend.” In 1966, interest in keeping up to date on political
affairs was at a high of 60.3 percent. Half of freshmen
characterize their political views as
“middle-of-the-road,” with a little more than a quarter
of them describing themselves as liberal or “far left.”
Additionally, the majority of freshmen feel there is too much
concern for the rights of criminals in courts, that abortion should
be legal, that the federal government should do more to control
handguns, that the wealthy should pay more taxes, and that same-sex
couples should be able to marry. Also, 49.9 percent of students
feel affirmative action in college admissions should be abolished,
27.2 percent feel an individual can do little to bring about
societal change, and 20.5 percent feel racial discrimination is no
longer a problem in America. The survey is given to 269,413
freshmen at 434 colleges. While the Higher Education Research
Institute, which is a part of the Graduate School of Education
& Information Studies, uses the data for research.
Participating colleges get the data as well. Most colleges use the
information to determine why students choose to attend their
college, Sax said. At UCLA, the data is used to see what sort of
preferences students have, said Judith Richlin-Klonsky, director of
the student affairs information and research office. Researchers
hope to administer a similar survey in the spring to see how
freshman attitudes have changed over the course of a year, and
another after four years. Most attitudes don’t change over a
single year, according to last year’s preliminary spring
survey, but results are more dramatic before graduation. The few
things that often do change after one year are that students drink
more and are more stressed. Also, after four years, students are
more liberal and material values decline if students are proactive
in their college experience. “What contributes to that change
most often is the sense of involvement,” Sax said. “The
more students get to know their faculty and get to know their
students, the more involved they are and the stronger the positive
effects of college are.” But many students are already aware
of the changes college fosters that are part of growing up.
“This is the first time I was away from home, responsibility
was in my own hands, it’s up to you now whether you make
it,” Shervin Rouhani, a third-year cognitive science
student.

With reports by Noah Grand, Daily Bruin Contributor

WHAT FRESHMEN DO Below is a sampling of
activities done by this year’s freshman class. Answers reflect a
percentage of the entire 1.1-million group, adjusted for
statistical significance 10 percent Smoked cigarettes 48.3 percent
Drank beer 53.9 percent Drank wine or liquor 35.3 percent Overslept
and missed class or an appointment 16.4 percent Discussed politics
67.6 percent Socialized with someone of another racial/ethnic group
64.5 percent Came late to class 65.6 percent Communicated via
e-mail 67.4 percent Used the Internet for research or homework 78.5
percent Used a personal computer SOURCE: The American Freshman:
National Forms for Fall 2000 Original by ADAM BROWN/Daily Bruin Web
Adaptation by VICKI FENG