On May 6, political science professor David Wilson's Problems in American Politics class will release the results of the Blue Hen Poll 2008.
The poll was designed by students in the class and executed via an online survey, Wilson said.
The university's Office of Institutional Research provided a random sample of 1,500 undergraduates to take the survey. Between March 13 and April 11, approximately 43 percent of the students responded. Wilson said this is approximatley three times the response rate of other on-campus surveys.
The Blue Hen Poll 2008 was conceived in the wake of the Princeton Review ranking the university fourth in its "Election, What Election?" category, he said. The Princeton Review ranked 366 colleges and universities throughout the United States based on its perception of the political awareness of the student bodies.
Wilson said the poll will attempt to verify or falsify that claim when the results are released.
Alex Goode, president of YouthVote, a political awareness Resident Student Organization at the university, stated in an e-mail message that he hopes the results of the poll will have an effect on the student body.
"If the poll reveals that the student body is apathetic, then hopefully it'll be a way to awaken them to become more active in politics," Goode said. "If there are positive results, then we have something to counter the Princeton Review."
In addition to asking questions related to politics and involvement, the poll questioned students' lifestyles such as their interest level in the classroom, religious affiliation and involvement and alcohol consumption over the past month, according to the questionnaire, in order to gather more detailed background information about its respondents.
The survey asked students questions ranging from how often they exercise, to why they chose to take the survey. It presented students with more relative questions involving what their political affiliation is and their level of involvement in the political process.
Laura Coogan, one of Wilson's students, stated in an e-mail message that the class is working in teams to analyze the results of the survey.
"As a class, we are all helping to analyze the poll results," Coogan said. "We have split into three teams with four people in each team, to help each other."
Although Wilson and his students refused to comment specifically on the results of the poll until the results are officially released, Wilson said he was able to provide some insight into his students' findings.
"[There is] a large consensus that [students at the university] have somewhat or a lot of interest in politics," he said.
Goode said a lack of time, rather than a lack of interest, may be to blame.
"I don't think the student body is apathetic toward politics," he said. "It's difficult for me even as a political science major to stay up to date on political events."
Richard Goldschein, another student enrolled in the course, said the question of whether or not students are truly apathetic can only be answered through the results of the poll.
"The public will be able to answer the question of student apathy when the results are reported next month," Goldschein said.
The students who designed and administered the poll will release the results on May 6 at Trabant University Center. The polling agencies of major news organizations, such as CBS and ABC, will be present, barring any scheduling conflicts, Wilson said.
He said apathy can be measured in a number of different ways.
"Just saying 'What election?' may not mean anything about political engagement or student apathy," Wilson said. "Involvement may be just wearing a sticker, going to a meeting, or talking to people trying to change their opinions on an issue."
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