SWA 8: College Changes

One of the few consistent things about life is change is always taking place. No matter the circumstances or criteria, society is universally shifting viewpoints and ideals from those in the past. One such faction of society undergoing change is college campuses. In the last few decades, the college population has undergone changes in matters of faith, political orientation, and class. In their essays, authors Alan Finder, Richard Just, and David Leonhardt discuss these changes, and the reasons why they are taking place.
In his essay “Matters of Faith Find a New Prominence on Campus,” author Alan Finder writes about how religious affiliations are increasing across campuses. One interviewed professor estimates a “more active religious life than there has been in 100 years” (75). Finder attributes this to a number of factors. One of these is the rise of the religious right in politics, which “has made questions of faith more talked about generally” (68). There is also an increase of religion on world affairs, making it more in the spotlight. A final reason for this religious boom is due to how parents, in an effort not to force religion on their children as their baby boomer parents did to them, have allowed their children to find religious experiences on their own. Once in college, they have decided to pursue religion.
A second change among college campuses has been the political orientation among students. Author Richard Just, in his essay “Schools of Thought: The Liberal-Conservative Divide on College Campuses” examines this change. Just claims that conservative beliefs are on the rise on college campuses. He attributes this to a rise in conservative student organizations, such as newspapers. In many instances, certain liberal student groups tend to be too radical or extreme. Many students do not like this and would rather pursue a more open and welcoming environment more and more conservative groups are promoting. While liberals still have the majority on college campuses, the gap between them and conservatives have narrowed compared with years past.
The third major change discussed in these essays is the increasingly high college dropout rate. In his essay “The College Dropout Boom,” author David Leonhardt examines this growing trend among students. Leonhardt writes that many students would rather start working right out of high school for a salary than go to a high priced college. The average college graduate is coming from a more wealthy and affluent family and area. Many students from rural towns do not have aspirations to look towards higher education and leave town. Some are happy where they are and getting on with their lives.
These are some of the major changes occurring across college campuses throughout the country. As supported by all of their authors claims, the increase in religion, conservative morals, and college dropout rate have all become trademark changes among college campuses in recent years.