The Ivy Jungle Network

Campus Ministry Update

March 2008

Trends in Student Ministry, Culture and Higher Education

Gen Y Peaks this Year: This year will mark the largest high school graduating class ever with just over 3 million high school graduates. It will also mark the end of a steady growth in graduating class size that has continued since the early 1990's. The overall numbers will begin to drop next year. However, the demographics will vary widely based on region. The South and West will continue to grow, with a continued dramatic increase among non-white Hispanic high school graduates. The Midwest and East will begin to see a steady decline next year. Nationally, the number of white graduates will fall by 11% over the next 12 years, while the percentage of minority graduates increases, with a "majority-minority" class expected in the West in 2010 and in the South in 2017. (Inside Higher Ed March 20, 2008)

Losing Their Religion: A new study by the Pew Charitable Trust shows that nearly a quarter of Americans now embrace a new religion or opted for no religion since their childhood. That number jumps to almost 45% when switches in Protestant denominations are included. On the whole, almost 80% of the US claims to be Christian. But only 51% now claim to be Protestant. One in four 18-29 year olds claims no religious affiliation. 10% of all Americans now claim to be "ex-Catholics." Only 4% of Americans claim to be atheists or agnostics. (AP February 26, 2008)

Txt Me Pls: Growing Leaders recently spent time with a number of focus groups of young adults ages 16-24 and asked them how they most like to receive communication. Texts first, email last, was the message for the group. In order of preference, their answers showed: text messages; MySpace/Facebook; podcasts; instant messaging; cell phone; cd/dvd; books and then email. (Growing Leaders Leadership Link March 2008).

Parents on Facebook: One of the fastest growing demographics on Facebook are moms and dads of high school and college students. When the college focused social network opened their ranks to anyone with an email address in 2006, it created the opportunity for parents to "friend" their offspring and their friends. For many students it poses a dilemma in how to respond to a friend request from mom and dad. While they are happy to proclaim their personal style, interests and exploits to the world, having mom or dad look in may prove to much. Several "abolish parents" groups have now sprung up on the social networking site. (Chicago Tribune online March 14, 2008)

Google Religion Quiz: The consumer approach to religion expressed by today's generation of young adults is perhaps best illustrated by a recent Google ad for a quiz to determine "which religion is right for you?" Unlike generations before which saw religion as a part of heritage and identity, many young people today see it a matter of personal preference, much like finding a suitable haircut or the best flavor of ice cream. Still, most Americans say religion is important to them, with 60% indicating that it is "very important" to them. (Boston Globe online February 29, 2008)

25% of Young Women Infected: Shocking results from a recent study by the Center for Disease Control show that one out of every four girls ages 14-19 has an STD. That translates into approximately 3 million infected girls - about 40% of all girls who admit to having had sex. The infection rate was particularly high among African American girls. The HPV virus was the most common infection. (AP March 11, 2008)

Hazing Happening on Campus: While almost every college has a formal ban on hazing, more than half of those who belong to student organizations say they have experienced it. From fraternities and athletic teams, to choirs and academic societies, students say hazing is happening on campus. Some forms of hazing such as being forced to drink alcohol or physical harm are obvious, but others regarding public singing or chants, wearing embarrassing clothing, or participating in skits or roasts are not. In fact, 9 out of 10 students who reported participating in behavior that is classified as hazing did not think they had been hazed. The study was conducted by two professors from the University of Maine who studied more than 11,000 students from 53 institutions. (AP March 11, 2008)

Drunkorexia: This new term is being used to describe the increasingly common practice of college students (mostly women) who starve themselves in order to "save" calories in preparation for a night of drinking. While the term has only recently been coined, the problem is not new. Studies show that 30% of young women with alcohol problems also struggle with an eating disorder. Health experts fear the practice of limiting food intake has a number of problems associated with it. In addition to fueling eating disorders, women who drink on an empty stomach are much more likely to become drunk more quickly, suffer blackouts, and could be victim of other physical or sexual abuse in their inebriated states. Most women do not realize that alcohol affects the female body more severely than their male peers. Addiction experts point out that 2 years of excessive drinking has the same effect on a woman as 10 years on a man. (CBS January 23, 2008)

Unofficial St. Patty's Day: Because St. Patrick's Day so often fell over Spring Break, a number of bars near the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign began to host an unofficial St. Patrick's Day to capitalize on student drinkers before they left campus. Concerned over the increase in popularity, campus and city officials have begun discussing steps to force bars to keep out underage patrons, wait until later in the day to open and/or serve alcohol, and limit how drinks are served. For the second straight year the university has sought parental help to curtail drunkenness, by sending letters home encouraging parents to talk with students about their conduct during that weekend. (Inside Higher Ed February 29, 2008)

Spring Break Gone Wild: The popular image of spring break on MTV and other media outlets portrays spring break as a constant mix of alcohol and sex. For those who go on such trips, that can be true. The Journal of American College Health estimates that men who go on such trips consume an average of 18 drinks a day while their female companions drink 10. 83% of women report that they have friends who drank a majority of the nights they were on spring break. 59% report they had friends who were sexually active during that time with more than one partner and most said they had friends who had unprotected sex on spring break. (Total Life Counseling Update March 12, 2008)

Spring Break at Home: Despite the ubiquity of coverage on MTV, less than 100,000 college students visit Cancun, Acapulco, Jamaica and the Bahamas over Spring Break each year. That number may be even smaller this year as passport regulations and a struggling economy make it more difficult to travel. A growing number of students are opting for school sponsored service trips, are staying on campus to work, or just going home. (AP March 22, 2008)

Campus Violence On the Decline: Northern Illinois and campus murders in North Carolina and Arkansas have grabbed headlines and created a sense of unease on campus. However, police statistics show that crime is actually on the decline on campus. Violent crime dropped by 9% from 1994 to 2004 (the latest period available) and property crime fell by 30%. Even so, a survey after the murder of the student body president at UNC-Chapel Hill showed that one in five students reported that they did not feel safe on campus. (Inside Higher Ed March 20, 2008).

Campus Footbaths: The University of Michigan has come under fire as it joins more than a dozen other colleges with footbaths in some public restrooms. The fixtures will accommodate Muslims who practice ritual foot washing as part of their daily prayers. Separation of Church and State groups have decried the measure and some conservative groups have protested the "Islamification" of college campuses. University officials have defended the practice saying that the footbaths are available to all students, not just Muslims. (First Things March 2008)

Prison and College: Five states in the US now spend more money on prisons than colleges. A report by the Pew Charitable Trust shows that Vermont, Michigan, Oregon, Connecticut and Delaware all spend more money on incarceration than high education. (Inside Higher Ed February 29, 2008)

Guns on Campus in OK: The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow students who hold conceal and carry gun permits and have undergone special training to have their weapons on university campuses. The Senate is now considering the measure which gained support after a gunman opened fire in a classroom at Northern Illinois University. College administrators remain opposed to the idea of having more guns on campus. The state does have a concealed weapon law, but current restrictions prevent licensed gun owners from carrying their weapons on campus. (AP March 14, 2008)

More Students Seeking Aid: Over 66% of students at four year private institutions apply for federal financial aid, compared with 59% at public schools, and 34% at two year schools. However, in terms of increase in applications, community college applicants far outpace their four year school counterparts. Since 2001, applications from those attending community colleges have increased by 37%, compared with an increase of just 7% for private schools and 10% for public schools. (Inside Higher Ed February 22, 2008)

Watch Ben Stein's Movie: Perhaps the most famous thing he ever said was, "Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?", but former speech writer, game show host, and commentator Ben Stein has joined the ranks of Michael Moore in challenging the establishment in a new documentary, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. The movie, which opens on April 18, explores what it considers the dogmatic rule of evolution in science education. While school boards at the elementary and high school levels have debated the role of intelligent design in curriculum, the movie asserts that any break from evolution is not allowed in the world of higher ed. Ben Stein, a Jew, narrates and stars in the film which investigates professors who lost positions for their stance on intelligent design and hopes to invigorate further discussion on college campuses. (Inside Higher Ed March 24, 2008)