A recent survey conducted by Harvard University's Institute of Politics found that many college students are politically active. While there is no surprise there, the study also showed that students have redefined what it means to be politically active, according to Krister Anderson, a survey group leader and Harvard junior.
"It showed two major things," Anderson said. "The first is that college students are concerned with the political arena. The second is that this generation tends to put a technological twist on political activism."
The survey, "Redefining Political Attitudes and Activism," found that 48 percent of college students consider themselves politically active, yet one in four students do not think they have any say in what the government does.
As for national current events, 41 percent of college students approve of the job President Bush is doing. Sixty-two percent of students think the United States should withdraw some or all of our troops in Iraq.
The Institute of Politics conducted the survey with bipartisan polling firm Prime Group from Oct. 10-18 through telephone interviews with 1,204 college undergraduates. The survey, which was released on Nov. 16, had a 2.8 percent margin of error.
Dan Maciejewski, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences and chair of Marquette's chapter of College Republicans, said he thinks students try to be politically active but many are not.
"The intention to be politically active is there but a lot of students don't really follow through," Maciejewski said. "Signing up at O-Fest for a political organization is not being politically involved unless you follow through."
Similarly, Noelle Gilbreath, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences and chair of Marquette's College Democrats chapter, said students could do more to be politically active.
"I think there are a lot of people that are politically active, but of course I think everyone can be more politically active and well versed with what's going on," Gilbreath said.
Although the Harvard poll found that many students consider themselves politically active, it also found that students' definition of political activism has changed.
Anderson said many students feel that wearing political wristbands and T-shirts is a form of political activism. In addition, students use the Internet to e-mail petitions to their representatives and to write political Weblogs, or blogs.
Brandon Henak, a senior in the College of Business Administration, is one of three Marquette students who run the blog GOP3.com: The Triumvirate. The students launched the blog in March; the site now gets an average of 1,000 visitors a day, according to Henak.
"I think (the blog) is political activism, but it's so much more," Henak said. "It provides a perspective that is not monopolized by the mainstream media. (Blogs) really provide perspectives when I need them as opposed to every Tuesday and Thursday or every day like the (Milwaukee) Journal Sentinel."
The blog is a way for the students to express their viewpoints and allow others to participate in politics, according to Brian Collar, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, who also operates GOP3.com.
"I think the blog is a really convenient way to express your views," Collar said. "It's certainly a very democratic way in that everyone can participate in it."
The GOP3.com founders also have their own radio show, Out Loud, on Marquette University Radio. The show can be downloaded to an iPod through podcasts.
There have been about 3,000 downloads of the weekly broadcasts thus far, according to Henak.
Gilbreath agreed with the poll's findings and said technology is helping political activism.
"I think (political activism) has changed; it's just shifted with technology," Gilbreath said. "It's a new way for people to communicate and voice their opinion. It's easier to mobilize a group of people."
Diana Sroka, a sophomore in the College of Communication and editor in chief of The Warrior, an independent news publication run by Marquette students, said the publication began as an effort to give students an alternative news source on campus, but it is not a form of political activism.
"I think first and foremost The Warrior is an information source," Sroka said, "If it motivates students to take action, that's great."
Some students are skeptical of calling certain activities listed in the study a form of political activism.
"If you wear a wristband everyone knows where you stand, but is it effective?" Maciejewski said.
Annie Leff, co-leader of Students for an Environmentally Active Campus , said she questions the effectiveness of some political statements.
"These days people feel that they are doing their part by wearing wristbands but that's not really making change," said Leff, College of Arts & Sciences junior. "Maybe they think they are doing their part or maybe they think they can't change anything because they are just one person."
Student political leaders on Marquette's campus have varying opinions about the level of political activeness of students.
"From a conservative perspective, there's more political activism here than (on) other campuses because we have more groups," Maciejewski said. "There's a greater variety of groups that do political things but aren't political groups. Being a Catholic, Jesuit school has a lot to do with that."
Leff disagreed, saying that compared to other schools, Marquette students are not politically active.
"I don't think Marquette is active at all," Leff said. "In the whole school, there are probably 20 or 30 kids involved by going to conferences and rallies."