Analysis by Sarah Baker
Are Pirates students aware of the political atmosphere? Do they know the U.S. Vice President? The Pope? The college’s own President? The Buccaneer editorial leaders set out to answer these questions and others using data gathered around campus.
They printed nine pictures of people who have been socially or politically influential, or media-dominating within the last decade.
Over 50 people were surveyed and asked to identify the names of the political figures they recognized on paper, starting with Michelle Obama.
86 percent of the sampled student body recognized her and as the list goes on, the numbers only decrease.
Vice President Joe Biden, was only identified by 26 percent of the sampled student body. Meaning not every student interviewed identified the lead- ers of their very own country of residence.
Peninsula College President Luke Robbins was recognized by 40 percent of the sampled students; less than half.
Throughout the survey, 14 percent of students didn’t recognize anyone. None could identify each and every figure. Furthermore, the individuals who agreed to give statements all coalesced in the fact that they couldn’t iden- tify anyone who wasn’t “big in media.”
Not one of them considered themselves politically aware either. The average number of identified figures stands at about five out of nine, and each per- son who gave a statement said that they all flip through news channels occasionally.
But when asked why or why not they considered themselves politically aware, the responses began to differ.
Jake Jordan, age 20, said, “I don’t actively follow politics. I only have interest to some de- gree.”
Alek Long, age 19, stated, “I’m only kinda politically aware. I wish I was more. I just don’t have the time for it.”
Conversely, Sierra Perdue, age 16, said that she would call herself more “politically inclined” than politically aware. “I wouldn’t go out of my way to learn about poli- tics though.”
Lastly, when Marcus DeLano, age 19, was asked he simply said, “no.”
Most respondents seem to be relatively informed, but stu- dents would not personally try to seek information relating to politics; they are aware of what people are talking about and what’s “big in social media.” Things outside of that realm didn’t affect the student’s “daily lives,” and therefore stood at a point of unrecognized signifi- cance for the respondents.
Students who recognized more than the average identi- fied figures answered a little differently.
Nick Johnson, age 20, re- plied, “Eh. I can’t say. No one can ever really see the full pic- ture.” Then, Naomi Gish, who identified the most figures of any- one, stated, “I pay attention to the front page.” The answer to the initial questions, it appears, is yes. Peninsula College students are disinterested in politics that are not pertinent to their daily lives.
Respondents did not engage in things that were not discussed with friends, in social media or re- quired for schoolwork.
Students did not pursue political education, they either happened upon it online or in discus- sions or they didn’t at all.
I feel that this says much more about home life and the efficacy of public education than it does about the average PC student.