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Service more appealing than politics for college students

ANN ARBOR, Mich.-Although sweeping and mopping the floors of a homeless shelter seems like grimy work, Michigan senior David Eklund said the good feeling he gets by seeing the smiles on peoples' faces is more rewarding than participating in political activities.

Eklund is not the only college student who feels that community service is a more fulfilling way to spend his time than engaging in political or public services based on a study by the Panetta Institute for Public Policy.

The Washington D.C.-based Mellman Group conducted a nationwide survey of 800 college students under 31 years of age. Surveyors wanted to investigate people's desire to go into public service or political careers, gauge how connected students are to the political process and to find out students' personal goals, said Mellman Group Vice President Margie Omero.

The Mellman Group found that students feel less alienated by the government than adults overall, Omero said. She added that students are less inclined to participate in politics because "the government doesn't play a very big role in students' lives."

The study also showed that there is wide support for performing community service in exchange for temporary forbearance on student loans.

"There's not very much that is inspiring right now in the political scene," Eklund said. Because of the students' lack of participation "there is no need for (politicians) to address" issues that concern students, Eklund said.

"It's not acceptable that students disengage from politics," said Michigan Student Assembly Vice President Andy Coulouris.

"The actions of government do affect them," said Dennis Denno, press secretary for the Michigan Democratic Party.

But part of the problem with political participation is that "students and people in general have grown cynical" of the government, said Ed Patru, spokesperson for the Michigan Republican Party.

But despite the study's findings that students are less inclined to participate in political activity, Denno said, "Our experience is that students are very active. We rely heavily on student volunteers."

Patru said students have been active with their organization as well. "We have a tremendous pool of students" volunteering, he said.

Although some students may feel that the government does not influence their lives once they are able to volunteer, they can see for themselves that the government does affect them, Patru said.

Coulouris said he is working with the Edward Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning to put together the Democracy Project, in an effort to promote civic engagement among students. Civic engagement is "the other half of community service," he said.

Although students are more likely to participate in community service projects, the study found that "the current opportunities are not particularly well known," Omero said.