Doug
>37% of Students Say They Would Evade the Draft
>
>37% of all college students said they would be "likely to try to
>evade the draft," while another 21% would be willing to serve "but
>only if stationed in the United States." Only 35% of college
>students today would be "willing to serve and fight anywhere in the
>world."
>
>College Students Do Not Believe American Values Are Superior to the
>Values of Other Nations
>
>College students do not see America as representing superior values.
>A barely measurable 5% "strongly agree" that the values of the
>United States are superior to the values of other nations (20%
>somewhat agree). By comparison, fully 71% disagree with the
>statement that U.S. values are superior, and 34% "strongly disagree."
>
>Students Evaluate the War Against Terror
>
>While President Bush receives very high marks for his handling of
>the presidency (70% approval), a majority of college students (57%)
>believe the policies of the United States are "at least somewhat
>responsible" for the September 11th terrorist attacks.
>
>A clear majority of college students (60%) believe "developing a
>better understanding of the values and history of other cultures and
>nations that dislike us" is a better approach to preventing
>terrorism than investing in strong military and defense capabilities
>at home and abroad" (33%).
>
>-- 66% of arts & humanities students would embrace the
>"understanding option" while 28% would prefer the "military option."
>By comparison, 55% of economic and business majors would chose the
>"understanding option" while 41% would prefer the "military option."
>
>-- Despite a very limited willingness to serve in the military and
>fight overseas, fully 66% believe the U.S. government "has the right
>to invade Iraq because Saddam Hussein is still attempting to build
>weapons of mass destruction" and 79% believe the U.S. "has the right
>to overthrow" Hussein. Although the questionnaire wording does
>differ, support for removing Hussein from power is at least as
>great, if not actually greater, among college students than among
>the adult population. That support for such an invasion is 58% among
>those who acknowledge that they would personally "evade" the draft
>is particularly noteworthy.
>
>Attitudes About Western Culture
>
>College students are known for their tolerance and occasional
>practice of alternative beliefs, value systems and cultures. But
>this tolerance has led to a state of belief where American college
>students are unwilling to make a moral judgment about their value
>systems and culture.
>
>-- American students intensely and overwhelmingly disagree with the
>statement that Western culture is superior to Arab culture. Only 16%
>believe Western culture is superior to Arab culture but 79% do not.
>
>-- Just 3% of college students "strongly agree" that Western culture
>is superior to Arab culture, while 43% "strongly disagree."
>
>Attitudes Toward Israel & the Palestinians
>
>The college population's support leans toward the Israelis in the
>current conflict, but the results are definitely not overwhelming.
>In most national surveys, Americans tend to take the Israeli side
>over the Palestinians by ratios of 2 or 3 to 1 and margins of about
>25%. Among college students, the ratio is only 3 to 2 and the margin
>is just 13% (35% pro-Israeli; 22% pro-Palestinian). No national poll
>of adults conducted since 9/11 has shown such a close ratio or
>margin.
>
>The only two college sub-groups that are more pro-Palestinian than
>pro-Israeli are private college students and students from
>Northeastern colleges. Fully 34% of private school attendees back
>the Palestinians, while 26% support the Israeli position. The
>Northeastern regional difference is even greater: 38% support the
>Palestinians while 23% back the Israelis.
>
>Only a bare majority (53%) believe the recent Israeli military
>action against Yasser Arafat and the PLO is no different than the
>U.S. taking military action against Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda,
>while 38% reject the comparison.