 | The Cavalier daily Tuesday April 20, 1971 |  |
Council Survey Results
Change: Direction, Policy, And Tactics
By Patti Kyle
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
The following article is the first in a two-part analysis of the Student
Council's "Survey on Attitudes and Opinions at the University."
"Student dissatisfaction" is a phrase that's going to be tossed around
quite a bit this spring, if the survey of student attitudes and opinions at the
University is any indication of current student views on a variety of issues.
In January of this year a random sample group of 358 students received an
attitude-opinion survey designed to elicit their views.
This survey, taken by the Student Council, sought to discover how
closely student attitudes aligned with the opinions of members of the
Council. With a good response rate from a representative sample, it was
figured that reasonably useful results would be obtained. But the study
goes much further than polling Council's representativeness on a variety of
University issues.
It also serves to point out the scope and direction of student activism,
as well as regarding tactics to be followed in carrying out these activities.
The detailed report of the findings may prove to be a guide to forthcoming
activities.
The questionnaire was divided into five categories: Student Council's role
as a representative body, tactics for change, University policy, direction of
Student Council involvement, and general questions with a ranking of
important University and national issues. The results of some of the more
interesting questions and their implications can serve as a measure of where
students generally stand in their views.
Representativeness Of Student Council
To measure attitudes regarding Council's role as a representative body,
the first section of the survey dealt with Council's accuracy at reflecting
student concerns and their view of its role. The breakdown of responses
follow:
The Student Council accurately reflects my own attitudes and concerns.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 5 (1.9%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 60 (22.2%) |
| NO OPINION | 74 (27.4%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 82 (30.3%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 40 (14.8%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 6 (2.2%) |
The Student Council accurately reflects general attitudes and concerns
of students.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 5 (1.9%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 104 (38.5%) |
| NO OPINION | 61 (22.6%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 69 (25.5%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 23 (8.5%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 5 (1.9%) |
The Student Council serves as an important agency for representing
student views.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 57 (21.1%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 119 (44.0%) |
| NO OPINION | 37 (13.7%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 35 (13.0%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 15 (5.6%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 4 (1.5%) |
The Student Council should become more important in seeking change
at the University.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 97 (35.9%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 94 (34.8%) |
| NO OPINION | 48 (17.8%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 22 (8.1%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 3 (1.1%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 3 (1.1%) |
The first question indicates 45.1% of the respondents disagreed with the
statement that Council reflected their own opinion, while the trend was
reversed (40.4% agree; 34% disagreed) regarding general attitudes. A
majority of 65.1% agreed on Council's importance as a representative of
their views and a majority of 70.7% agreed (as opposed to 9.2% in
disagreement) that Council should increase its role as a vehicle for change
at the University.
Generally, this survey indicated that Council's role in the future is a
more responsive, representative body, as its importance in bringing about
change is recognized.
Tactics For Change
Questions concerning the extent of student willingness to employ
various tactics were posed. Three responses of interest follow:
I would non-violently demonstrate to achieve important goals in which I
believe.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 113 (41.9%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 94 (34.8%) |
| NO OPINION | 15 (5.6%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 23 (8.5%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 18 (6.7%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 4 (1.5%) |
I would non-violently strike to achieve important goals in which I
believe.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 111 (41.0%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 74 (27.4%) |
| NO OPINION | 21 (7.8%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 29 (10.7%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 29. (10.7%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 3 (1.1%) |
Violence in general is necessary if all other attempts at change fail.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 9(3.3%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 11(4.0%) |
| NO OPINION | 8(3.0%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 41(15.2%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 193(71.4%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 5(1.9%) |
A majority opinion among the sample in agreement (76.7%) with the
first statement to non-violently demonstrate, dropped slightly to 67.4%
when asked if they would non-violently strike. Those in agreement to
dissenting tactics dropped sharply to 7.3% when asked if violence in
general is useful.
Another notable factor in the responses is the breakdown of answers by
years in school. Figures indicated no major shift occurs between the
undergraduate and graduate years.
University Policy
Questions on a variety of controversial issues were raised. Especially of
interest were:
The University administration is too lax in its treatment of student
protesters.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 15 (5.6%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 33 ((12.2%) |
| NO OPINION | 74 (27.4%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 88 (32.6%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 54 (20.0%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 3 (1.1%) |
The University administration is too harsh in its treatment of student
protesters.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 23 (8.5%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 42 (15.5%) |
| NO OPINION | 63 (23.3%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 89 (33.0%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 47 (17.4%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 3 (1.1%) |
The University should limit the size of its student enrollment.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 151 (55.9%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 77 (28.5%) |
| NO OPINION | 7 (2.6%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 21 (7.8%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 7 (2.6%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 4 (1.5%) |
The University should actively recruit Black students and disadvantaged
students.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 75 (27.8%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 90 (33.3%) |
| NO OPINION | 34 (12.6%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 35 (13.0%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 29 (10.7%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 4 (1.5%) |
Student publication copy should be approved by the University
administration prior to publication.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 5 (1.9%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 23 (8.5%) |
| NO OPINION | 24 (8.9%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 85 (31.5%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 128 (47.4%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 2 (.7%) |
Student conduct regulations should be made only by students
themselves via student representatives bodies.
| AGREE STRONGLY | 77 (28.5%) |
| AGREE SOMEWHAT | 72 (26.7%) |
| NO OPINION | 16 (6.0%) |
| DISAGREE SOMEWHAT | 77 (28.5%) |
| DISAGREE STRONGLY | 21 (7.8%) |
| NO RESPONSE | 4 (1.5%) |
Concerning student protesters, most students felt that the
administration is fair in its treatment; a majority disagreed with statements
of being too harsh or too lax.
Most impressive is the majority of the sample (84.4%) who agree on
limiting growth, an issue which has currently proved controversial between
the Administration and Council. Pre-censorship of University publications
was overwhelmingly contested. Active recruitment of Black and
disadvantaged students received less ardent support: 61% agreed while
28.6% disagreed.
A significant percentage - 36.3% - of the sample disagreed that student
conduct regulations should be made by the students. The question carried
two qualifiers - "only" and "via student representative leaders" - which
probably affected this response.
In subdividing these responses, results indicated no wide variation
between men and women on policy attitudes. Although female opinions
did not always match the male responses, no trend was indicated of a
conservative or liberal stance.
It should also be noted here that when Student Council members were
polled on their opinions of policy, they unanimously favored regulating
growth. Also, a much greater percentage agreed that students should have a
greater role in governing the University.
Black Students Evaluate The Grounds
| The Cavalier daily Tuesday April 20, 1971 | |