HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

The IOP survey of 1,200 undergraduates across the country was conducted between Oct. 18 and 27 and carries a margin of error of +/-2.8 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

This poll is part of an annual study of college students' attitudes toward public service and government. In addition to looking at attitudes, the poll asked specific questions about current events, including views on war with Iraq and the reinstatement of a military draft.

"Contrary to popular belief, college students are engaged in their community and tuned into current events," said Dan Glickman, director of the IOP and a former U.S. Cabinet secretary and member of Congress. "But it is little wonder that they feel disengaged from politics when the campaigns focus most of their attention on elderly voters, Social Security, and prescription drugs. Politicians need to connect with younger people or risk a diminished representative government and a distorted pool of voters."

Poll findings

Sixty-one percent of college students performed community service in the past year. Three-quarters of this group volunteer once a month or more frequently.

This "habit" of volunteerism was instilled in high school. Eighty percent of college students performed direct service while in high school and 89 percent of recent volunteers did so in secondary school.

Students believe volunteerism is an effective form of public service to solve problems on both the local and national level.

Only 14 percent of students have participated in a government, political, or issues-related organization, and 9 percent have volunteered on a political campaign.

Forty-two percent of undergraduates follow the news on a daily basis and 71 percent do so more than once per week.

Current events

Sixty-nine percent of students believe that the United States should act against Iraq with the support of allies if UN inspections fail. Only 28 percent believe the United States should take no military action against Iraq.

Two-thirds of respondents, however, oppose the reinstatement of a military draft. Forty-four percent said, if drafted, they would seek an alternative to service.

More than two-thirds of students (69 percent) said they are a great deal or somewhat concerned about the possibility of another major terrorist attack in the United States.

Students almost universally (90 percent) consider themselves patriotic. Eighty-two percent said the Sept. 11 attacks affected their perspective on politics and national issues.

The poll is designed and analyzed by a group of Harvard College undergraduates. John DellaVolpe, a partner in the opinion research firm Schneider / DellaVolpe / Schulman, assisted the group and executed the telephone surveys.