37% of Students Say They Would Evade the Draft
37% of all college students said they would be "likely to try to
evade the draft," while another 21% would be willing to serve "but
only if stationed in the United States." Only 35% of college
students today would be "willing to serve and fight anywhere in the
world."
College Students Do Not Believe American Values Are Superior to the
Values of Other Nations
College students do not see America as representing superior values.
A barely measurable 5% "strongly agree" that the values of the
United States are superior to the values of other nations (20%
somewhat agree). By comparison, fully 71% disagree with the
statement that U.S. values are superior, and 34% "strongly disagree."
Students Evaluate the War Against Terror
While President Bush receives very high marks for his handling of
the presidency (70% approval), a majority of college students (57%)
believe the policies of the United States are "at least somewhat
responsible" for the September 11th terrorist attacks.
A clear majority of college students (60%) believe "developing a
better understanding of the values and history of other cultures and
nations that dislike us" is a better approach to preventing
terrorism than investing in strong military and defense capabilities
at home and abroad" (33%).
-- 66% of arts & humanities students would embrace the
"understanding option" while 28% would prefer the "military option."
By comparison, 55% of economic and business majors would chose the
"understanding option" while 41% would prefer the "military option."
-- Despite a very limited willingness to serve in the military and
fight overseas, fully 66% believe the U.S. government "has the right
to invade Iraq because Saddam Hussein is still attempting to build
weapons of mass destruction" and 79% believe the U.S. "has the right
to overthrow" Hussein. Although the questionnaire wording does
differ, support for removing Hussein from power is at least as
great, if not actually greater, among college students than among
the adult population. That support for such an invasion is 58% among
those who acknowledge that they would personally "evade" the draft
is particularly noteworthy.
Attitudes About Western Culture
College students are known for their tolerance and occasional
practice of alternative beliefs, value systems and cultures. But
this tolerance has led to a state of belief where American college
students are unwilling to make a moral judgment about their value
systems and culture.
-- American students intensely and overwhelmingly disagree with the
statement that Western culture is superior to Arab culture. Only 16%
believe Western culture is superior to Arab culture but 79% do not.
-- Just 3% of college students "strongly agree" that Western culture
is superior to Arab culture, while 43% "strongly disagree."
Attitudes Toward Israel & the Palestinians
The college population's support leans toward the Israelis in the
current conflict, but the results are definitely not overwhelming.
In most national surveys, Americans tend to take the Israeli side
over the Palestinians by ratios of 2 or 3 to 1 and margins of about
25%. Among college students, the ratio is only 3 to 2 and the margin
is just 13% (35% pro-Israeli; 22% pro-Palestinian). No national poll
of adults conducted since 9/11 has shown such a close ratio or
margin.
The only two college sub-groups that are more pro-Palestinian than
pro-Israeli are private college students and students from
Northeastern colleges. Fully 34% of private school attendees back
the Palestinians, while 26% support the Israeli position. The
Northeastern regional difference is even greater: 38% support the
Palestinians while 23% back the Israelis.
Only a bare majority (53%) believe the recent Israeli military
action against Yasser Arafat and the PLO is no different than the
U.S. taking military action against Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda,
while 38% reject the comparison.