It’s common for many students to lose interest in political and legislative news after an election. Making an informed vote is admirable, but the on-again-off-again relationship many students have with the political system is a lazy approach to civic life. Students need to lead the way in being responsible citizens.
In 2008, The Intercollegiate Studies Institute asked 2,500 people questions about their civic knowledge. College graduates answered only 57 percent of the questions correctly in a survey that asked about the topic of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and other political and civic questions.
Civic awareness doesn’t have to be life consuming. Political responsibility can be as simple as picking up a newspaper or current events magazine. Reading about what’s happening in Washington and Sacramento can help start thought-provoking conversations with friends, build educated opinions on current events, and provide a context for processing what is happening in the world.
A well-rounded approach to political news sources is important. Some may dismiss a source they disagree with, but digesting opposing views builds a stronger concept of one’s core beliefs. When it comes to politics, independent thought is a valuable asset. Building an opinion based on news from multiple sources insulates against radical ideologies that sometimes compromise journalism. The Collegian, The Fresno Bee, The New York Times and other free papers on campus are good sources for political news. Students commuting to and from campus can use drive time to catch up on radio news from diverse sources like local talk station KMJ and NPR. As so railed upon by the Rally to Restore Sanity this past weekend, cable news is notorious for a lack of objectivity and is rarely a good choice for responsible civic awareness. Well-informed students must go beyond The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and Saturday Night Live skits if they want to process issues at a level deeper than mere entertainment.
Knowing the present political climate is good, but knowing how our nation arrived here is even better. Founding documents like the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution are required reading for anyone who wants to be politically aware. These documents show the values on which our nation was founded, and an understanding of these values is essential in building a sophisticated political opinion. Students need to know specific provisions and memorize the basic structure of these documents.
College students are known for their activism, but it’s important to not confuse activism with political and civic knowledge. In college, it’s rare to learn about America’s founding principles. More often than not, students learn about issues that divide our nation. Even though these principles may not be taught in college courses, they can be learned. Understanding history’s influence on today’s politics takes work and staying current on political developments takes time. If the educated don’t accept the challenge, who will?
