Story 7

Current college students are the future voters, job-creators, politicians, and middle class of America. But do these students actually care about what is happening in the world around them? Politically, are they aware, involved, and do they care?

A survey recently conducted looks for the answers to these questions. 27 students from Anoka-Ramsey Community College were polled. They were asked the question, “How much would you say you really care about political issues in general?”

The majority (almost half, at 12 students) said that they “kind of care” about political issues.

The next highest category, with seven students, said that they “definitely care”.

Three students said they “care” about political issues, and three others said they are “mostly indifferent”.

Only two students said that they “don’t care” about political issues at all.

Clearly, how college students feel about political issues is fairly widespread. However, the vast majority of students do care in some way about these issues.

Some students believe that the issues in the news doesn’t affect them, or that the media and society makes a big deal about something that might not deserve it. ARCC student Collin Plante made the comment that, “Most of the political issues are mostly hype.”

Seven of the students were asked questions regarding their political involvement. One of the students said she has not been and is not planning on being politically involved anytime soon (this includes voting).

Four of these students said they have and/or are planning on voting.

Just two of these students said that they are planning on voting as well as being politically active in some other way. This would include rallies, protests, contacting a representative, attending a caucus, etc.

Judging by the ARCC students who were polled, the next generation (current college students) may not differ that much from the current American middle class after all. Most students care and are involved in some way or another.