Generation on a Tightrope Notes

Chapter 1
Faces and vases-World is much different than it used to be. Children of
today just didnt live in that time period.
Class of 2012 grew up with technology/
Times have changed a lot with
technology/diversity/economy/terrorism/war and the type of America
we live in.
Major difference is digital technology in higher ed.

Digitaltechnologieshavemadecurrentcollegestudentsa24/7generation,
operatingaroundtheclock,anytime,anyplace.However,theyattendcolleges
withfixedlocationsandfixedcalendarssemesters,courseschedules,and
officehours.
Generationishighlycriticalofbusiness..mostlybelieveprivatecorporations
aretooconcernedwithprofitsandnotenoughwithpublicresponsibilityand
CEOsdontdeservehighsalariestheyreceive.
September11
o 3/5ofundergradshavenegativeopinionofBush.
ObamasAppealtocollegestudent
o Opinionofchange
o Focusontopicsstudentscaredabouteconomy/wars.
o Representedgenerationalchangewasatthetailendofthebabyboom.
o Useddigitalmediatocommunicatew/youngpeople.
o Obamawasablackskinnedmultiracialmanandvoterswereadiverse
generationforwhomhistoricalracialdivisionswereweakening.
Chapter2
Timeittakestogetadegreebachelororassociatestakeslonger.
o Studentsareworkingmorehoursandcanttakefulltimecourseloads.
o Parttimeenrollmentisincreasingduetoagingstudentbody
o Becomingdifficultforstudentstofindthecoursestheyneedtograduate.
o Recession
Studentsfeeltheirgradesunderstatetheirabilities,however,thatdoesnt
correlatewiththeiracademicskillorhowhardtheclassis.
Thisgenerationwasneverpermittedtoskintheirknees,theyallwonawardsat
everythingtheyevertried,theyexpecttocontinuetoreceiveawardsfor
everythingtheydo.
Mostdramaticchangeinacademicinthebookistechnology.

o MixedreviewsaboutPowerPointssomeprofessorsknowhowtouseit,
somedont.Someoveruseit.
Chapter3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Less people spend time on campus due to working longer

hours/attending college part time.
Alcohol is a major issue as to why theyre not as involved on
campus. Instead of going to campus events, the time is spent
drinking at off campus homes.
o Students are drinking more -12 drinks in one night.
o Why Students Drink So much
Stress relief could be a reason they drink so much.
New found Freedoms
Reduces social and sexual inhabitations.
Peer Pressure
Marijuana and Tobacco is second among drugs of choice for
students.
More romance is happening than sex in todays wrld.
Culture of casual relationships and casual sex.
Virtual social life
o Most college students use facebook.
o Students do less well at face to face communication
compared to electronic communications.
o Roommates will have arguments through text messages
and be in the same room and not say a word.
o Digital comm has led to immediacy-instant
information/instant contact and fast responses.
o Diphobe-fear of being without a digital device.
Increased parental contact with deision making/talking to staff.
Deans frequently called this generation of students needy.
Lack of experience with failure and commitment need to develop
coping skills.
Consumerism is also a factor. Parents and students treat
collegeges like a business.
Helicopter/Chinook/Blackhawk parents-hover over their children.
Lawnmower/snowplow parents-they roll over everything in their
paths to defend their cubs.
Stealth parents-swoop to protect their offspring.
Umbrella/Nest parents they shield their progency.

Multicultural tensions
o Preoccupation w/differences on parts of the students.
o Mitosis of student group
o Self-gregation
o Victimization
Multicuralism Today on Campus
o Divide is less, gap between diverse groups is less wife and
changes are not apparent in the stats.
What Changed
o Students are more satisfied w/their college experience and
their attitudes on race and gender issues have become much
less polarized.
More students are okay with more diversity inside of their college
w/students and faculty.
Females believe opportunities for women has improved
65% of undergrads supports gay dating and marriage and civil
unions.
68% at four year schools and 61 at community colleges.

Chapter 6 Politics
Undergrads wants to be less engaged in college and university
governance than their predecessors.
Todays protest activities are more individual than group efforts,
more impersonal , less risky and make increasing use of digital
media.
Different issues are concerns of different groups-activism is done by
small powerful groups of students.
Most common and frequent issues for student protest
o Tuition and fees
o Sexual orientation and gay rights
o Facilities
o Diversity/Parking
Occupy Colleges-Nationwide college student walkout.
o Start FB group page for your college
o Create an event on your Facebook page
o Post your pages on occupy colleges wall
o Tell us where your walk out will be held
o Print flyers and talk about the walk out
o Join your local occupation
Occupy colleges focus on the abstract of social class.
21st century protest.
Students think of themselves and their actions globally instead of
just being Americans. Especially toward the environment.

Students get news from internet-78%..75% tVprint media 50%

other people 44% and radio 40%.
Todays students are engaged to an even larger degree than their
presecessos. Acting more individually and less visibly. Quietyly
engages/outside traditional social institutions and politics.
Chapter 7
Students are counting on the American Dream being available to them
as it was for past generations.
Want money and material goods
Expect to be as well off as their parents
Students are pessimistic about the country-people are only out for
themselves with no real concern for others.
Family and friends are key to their optimism.
Chapter 8

Colleges must educate this generation to thrive in an era of continuing

change. Live productive and successful lives at citizens.
Prepare students for the 21st century.
Education proposed needs to go beyond the formal curriculum, should
infuse all aspects of collegate life.