Copyright © 2006-2007 The Regents of the University of California All Rights Reserved.

PART III: CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Activities

1. During this academic year, have you been involved in any of the following activities or organizations?

 
Participant or member Officer or leader Neither
Student government 112  (5.9%)   41  (2.2%)   1730  (91.9%)  
Fraternity or sorority 137  (7.3%)   143  (7.6%)   1591  (85.0%)  
Other campus-based club or organization 821  (43.3%)   461  (24.3%)   614  (32.4%)  
Off-campus club or organization 482  (25.7%)   139  (7.4%)   1257  (66.9%)  

2. Which of these best describes your opinion on the following statements?

  Strongly disagree Disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Agree Strongly agree
Opportunities for community service while at Cal are important to me 81  (4.3%)   141  (7.5%)   190  (10.1%)   580  (30.7%)   529  (28.0%)   368  (19.5%)  
Opportunities to develop my leadership skills while at Cal are important to me 47  (2.5%)   72  (3.8%)   148  (7.9%)   524  (27.8%)   597  (31.7%)   497  (26.4%)  
My experience at Cal provides adequate opportunity to explore my cultural identity 95  (5.1%)   134  (7.1%)   268  (14.3%)   598  (31.8%)   564  (30.0%)   221  (11.8%)  
I feel I can express my political opinions on campus 51  (2.7%)   66  (3.5%)   161  (8.5%)   502  (26.6%)   751  (39.9%)   353  (18.7%)  

Community Service & Leadership

3. DURING THIS ACADEMIC YEAR, have you done community service work either on or off campus?

981  (51.7%)  

915  (48.3%)  

How did you get involved in this particular community service work? If you have been involved in more than one form of community service, please answer for the one that has been the largest time commitment.

62  (6.5%)  
76  (7.9%)  
21  (2.2%)  
110  (11.5%)  
336  (35.0%)  
39  (4.1%)  
59  (6.1%)  
17  (1.8%)  
240  (25.0%)  

Why did you participate in this community service? Please check all that apply.

124  (5.4%)   126  (5.5%)  
218  (9.5%)   402  (17.5%)  
7  (0.3%)   737  (32.1%)  
79  (3.4%)   380  (16.6%)  
293  (12.8%)   66  (2.9%)   [Open-ended text field]

What was the type of organization where you did this community service? If you have been involved in more than one form of community service, please answer for the one that has been the largest time commitment.

238  (26.4%)   109  (12.1%)  
7  (0.8%)   17  (1.9%)  
10  (1.1%)   3  (0.3%)  
54  (6.0%)   57  (6.3%)  
14  (1.6%)   5  (0.6%)  
65  (7.2%)   26  (2.9%)  
49  (5.4%)   181  (20.1%)   [Open-ended text field]

65  (7.2%)  

What kind of community service work did you do? Please check all that apply.

264  (11.5%)   36  (1.6%)  
277  (12.1%)   199  (8.7%)  
194  (8.5%)   133  (5.8%)  
250  (10.9%)   142  (6.2%)  
78  (3.4%)   121  (5.3%)  
97  (4.2%)   166  (7.2%)  
184  (8.0%)   84  (3.7%)   [Open-ended text field]

Thinking back on this academic year, how often did you do community service work?

205  (22.7%)  
160  (17.7%)  
157  (17.4%)  
382  (42.3%)  

During a TYPICAL 7-day (168 hour) week in this academic year, how many hours do you spend performing community service work?

  0 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-12 More than 12

169  (18.7%)   306  (33.8%)   211  (23.3%)   95  (10.5%)   60  (6.6%)   31  (3.4%)   32  (3.5%)  

News & Information Sources

4. How often would you say you follow what's going on in government and public affairs?

565  (30.0%)  
664  (35.3%)  
439  (23.3%)  
214  (11.4%)  

5. How interested are you in the campaign for the 2008 presidential election?

765  (40.6%)  
750  (39.8%)  
253  (13.4%)  
117  (6.2%)  

6. How often do you use the following sources of NEWS INFORMATION during this past academic year?

  Rarely or never Less than once a week Once a week Several times a week Everyday More than once a day
National television news 800  (42.7%)   363  (19.4%)   277  (14.8%)   292  (15.6%)   98  (5.2%)   45  (2.4%)  
Local television news 869  (46.3%)   363  (19.3%)   246  (13.1%)   287  (15.3%)   83  (4.4%)   29  (1.5%)  
Internet 72  (3.8%)   127  (6.8%)   239  (12.7%)   440  (23.5%)   437  (23.3%)   561  (29.9%)  
Public television 1001  (53.5%)   308  (16.5%)   216  (11.6%)   217  (11.6%)   85  (4.5%)   43  (2.3%)  
Public radio 1149  (61.4%)   288  (15.4%)   161  (8.6%)   166  (8.9%)   65  (3.5%)   43  (2.3%)  
Talk radio 1357  (72.7%)   215  (11.5%)   135  (7.2%)   102  (5.5%)   37  (2.0%)   21  (1.1%)  
Weekly news magazines 945  (50.5%)   393  (21.0%)   283  (15.1%)   178  (9.5%)   49  (2.6%)   22  (1.2%)  
Campus newspaper 441  (23.5%)   352  (18.8%)   324  (17.3%)   449  (24.0%)   282  (15.1%)   25  (1.3%)  
Other daily newspaper 884  (47.2%)   356  (19.0%)   220  (11.8%)   234  (12.5%)   121  (6.5%)   57  (3.0%)  

7. Thinking back over the past month, which of the following was the main source of information for you about news and public affairs?

121  (6.5%)   24  (1.3%)  
98  (5.2%)   37  (2.0%)  
1233  (65.8%)   133  (7.1%)  
25  (1.3%)   155  (8.3%)  
49  (2.6%)  

8. Aside from campus newspapers and weekly newspapers, which, if any, newspapers do you read (not online) at least several times a week? (If you read more than three newspapers, please choose the three newspapers you read most often.)

  Daily newspaper #1   Daily newspaper #2   Daily newspaper #3
   
314  (36.0%)   San Francisco Chronicle
  206  (23.6%)   New York Times
  78  (8.9%)   Wall Street Journal
  22  (2.5%)   Oakland Tribune
  43  (4.9%)   San Jose Mercury News
  21  (2.4%)   Contra Costa Times
  81  (9.3%)   Los Angeles Times
  45  (5.2%)   Other local newspaper
  26  (3.0%)   Other US newspaper (not local)
  37  (4.2%)   Other international paper (outside US)
  [1336 missing]     (Select one)
  		  148  (27.2%)   San Francisco Chronicle
  147  (27.0%)   New York Times
  41  (7.5%)   Wall Street Journal
  24  (4.4%)   Oakland Tribune
  24  (4.4%)   San Jose Mercury News
  14  (2.6%)   Contra Costa Times
  41  (7.5%)   Los Angeles Times
  42  (7.7%)   Other local newspaper
  36  (6.6%)   Other US newspaper (not local)
  27  (5.0%)   Other international paper (outside US)
  [1693 missing]     (Select one)
  		  38  (10.5%)   San Francisco Chronicle
  46  (12.7%)   New York Times
  53  (14.6%)   Wall Street Journal
  33  (9.1%)   Oakland Tribune
  23  (6.3%)   San Jose Mercury News
  11  (3.0%)   Contra Costa Times
  27  (7.4%)   Los Angeles Times
  52  (14.3%)   Other local newspaper
  41  (11.3%)   Other US newspaper (not local)
  39  (10.7%)   Other international paper (outside US)
  [1898 missing]     (Select one)
 

9. How often do you use the Internet as a source of news?

137  (7.3%)  
161  (8.6%)  
251  (13.4%)  
381  (20.3%)  
419  (22.3%)  
530  (28.2%)  

9a. Which news website(s) do you use? (If you use more than three websites on a fairly regular basis, please choose the three websites you use most often.)

  News website #1   News website #2   News website #3
   
284  (20.7%)   CNN.com
  182  (13.3%)   NYTimes.com (New York Times)
  298  (21.8%)   Yahoo!
  157  (11.5%)   Google News (news.google.com)
  72  (5.3%)   MSN.com
  150  (11.0%)   BBC.co.uk
  35  (2.6%)   SFGate.com (San Francisco Chronicle)
  20  (1.5%)   LATimes.com (Los Angeles Times)
  27  (2.0%)   MSNBC.com
  18  (1.3%)   ESPN.com
  126  (9.2%)   Other news website
  [818 missing]     (Select one)
  		  198  (17.6%)   CNN.com
  124  (11.0%)   NYTimes.com (New York Times)
  168  (14.9%)   Yahoo!
  152  (13.5%)   Google News (news.google.com)
  60  (5.3%)   MSN.com
  99  (8.8%)   BBC.co.uk
  62  (5.5%)   SFGate.com (San Francisco Chronicle)
  28  (2.5%)   LATimes.com (Los Angeles Times)
  48  (4.3%)   MSNBC.com
  49  (4.3%)   ESPN.com
  140  (12.4%)   Other news website
  [1078 missing]     (Select one)
  		  88  (10.7%)   CNN.com
  77  (9.4%)   NYTimes.com (New York Times)
  70  (8.5%)   Yahoo!
  87  (10.6%)   Google News (news.google.com)
  47  (5.7%)   MSN.com
  85  (10.4%)   BBC.co.uk
  59  (7.2%)   SFGate.com (San Francisco Chronicle)
  31  (3.8%)   LATimes.com (Los Angeles Times)
  42  (5.1%)   MSNBC.com
  57  (6.9%)   ESPN.com
  178  (21.7%)   Other news website
  [1411 missing]     (Select one)
 

Political Engagement

10. Thinking back on this academic year, how often have you done each of the following?

  Never Rarely Occasionally Somewhat often Often Very often
Attended meetings or rallies related to local, state, or national politics 1166  (62.3%)   358  (19.1%)   221  (11.8%)   70  (3.7%)   33  (1.8%)   23  (1.2%)  
Engaged in protests or demonstrations 1388  (74.4%)   245  (13.1%)   151  (8.1%)   56  (3.0%)   13  (0.7%)   13  (0.7%)  
Performed work or service for a political campaign 1435  (77.2%)   217  (11.7%)   125  (6.7%)   39  (2.1%)   23  (1.2%)   21  (1.1%)  
Talked with friends about current events or things you have heard about in the news 116  (6.2%)   157  (8.4%)   490  (26.2%)   371  (19.9%)   367  (19.7%)   366  (19.6%)  

11. And during this academic year, have you ever . . .

  No Yes
. . . signed an online petition? 1122  (60.1%)   746  (39.9%)  
. . . forwarded an online petition to someone else? 1564  (83.7%)   304  (16.3%)  
. . . written a letter or e-mail to an elected official? 1568  (83.9%)   301  (16.1%)  
. . . donated money to a political cause? 1617  (86.4%)   254  (13.6%)  
. . . worn a wristband to show your support for a political cause or issue? 1605  (86.2%)   257  (13.8%)  
. . . refused to buy something from a company because you disagreed with the company's social or political values? 1086  (58.2%)   781  (41.8%)  

12. Did you vote in the general election in November 2006?

209  (11.2%)  
102  (5.4%)  
696  (37.2%)  
436  (23.3%)  
430  (23.0%)  

13. When it comes to politics, where would you place yourself on this scale? Please select the response closest to your position.

  Very liberal Liberal Slightly liberal Moderate: middle of the road Slightly conservative Conservative Very conservative

172  (9.2%)   647  (34.7%)   372  (19.9%)   405  (21.7%)   178  (9.5%)   79  (4.2%)   12  (0.6%)  

14. Below is a scale with strong Democrats on one end and strong Republicans on the other, and with independents in the middle. Where would you place yourself in the scale?

    Other party (please specify)
I strongly prefer the Democrats I prefer the Democrats I am basically independent but lean toward the Democrats I am independent, I have no preference for either party I am basically independent but lean toward the Republicans I prefer the Republicans I strongly prefer the Republicans  
229  (12.5%)   473  (25.8%)   550  (30.0%)   367  (20.0%)   138  (7.5%)   58  (3.2%)   20  (1.1%)     [Open-ended text field]

15. Now think for a minute about your parents when you were growing up. Where would you place your MOTHER on this scale?

    Other party (please specify)
Strongly prefers the Democrats Prefers the Democrats Basically independent but leans toward the Democrats Independent, no preference for either party Basically independent but leans toward the Republicans Prefers the Republicans Strongly prefer the Republicans Don't know  
241  (13.0%)   448  (24.2%)   261  (14.1%)   290  (15.7%)   132  (7.1%)   182  (9.8%)   109  (5.9%)   190  (10.3%)     [Open-ended text field]

16. Where would you place your FATHER on this scale?

    Other party (please specify)
Strongly prefers the Democrats Prefers the Democrats Basically independent but leans toward the Democrats Independent, no preference for either party Basically independent but leans toward the Republicans Prefers the Republicans Strongly prefer the Republicans Don't know  
195  (10.6%)   348  (18.9%)   275  (15.0%)   258  (14.0%)   161  (8.8%)   242  (13.2%)   150  (8.2%)   209  (11.4%)     [Open-ended text field]

17. What is your religious preference?

69  (3.7%)   4  (0.2%)  
134  (7.1%)   267  (14.2%)  
60  (3.2%)   9  (0.5%)  
22  (1.2%)   8  (0.4%)  
13  (0.7%)   9  (0.5%)  
33  (1.8%)   6  (0.3%)  
87  (4.6%)   2  (0.1%)  
11  (0.6%)   165  (8.8%)  
39  (2.1%)   47  (2.5%)  
72  (3.8%)   822  (43.7%)  

17a. Do you consider yourself a Born-Again Christian?

1599  (87.0%)  
239  (13.0%)  

18. Which of these best describes your opinion on the following issues?

  Agree strongly Agree somewhat Disagree somewhat Disagree strongly
Abortion should be legal 1036  (55.3%)   524  (28.0%)   181  (9.7%)   132  (7.0%)  
The death penalty should be abolished 468  (25.1%)   564  (30.3%)   610  (32.7%)   222  (11.9%)  
Racial discrimination is no longer a major problem in America 34  (1.8%)   156  (8.3%)   573  (30.6%)   1107  (59.2%)  
Realistically, an individual can do little to bring about changes in our society 88  (4.7%)   438  (23.4%)   767  (41.0%)   578  (30.9%)  
Wealthy people should pay a larger share of taxes than they do now 584  (31.3%)   765  (41.1%)   371  (19.9%)   143  (7.7%)  
Colleges should prohibit racist/sexist speech on campus 400  (21.5%)   572  (30.7%)   613  (32.9%)   276  (14.8%)  
Same-sex couples should have the right to legal marital status 1094  (58.9%)   428  (23.1%)   186  (10.0%)   148  (8.0%)  
A national health care plan is needed to cover everybody's medical costs 806  (43.5%)   716  (38.6%)   237  (12.8%)   96  (5.2%)  
In view of the developments since we first sent our troops to Iraq, I think the United States made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq 1142  (61.5%)   502  (27.0%)   166  (8.9%)   48  (2.6%)  
The federal government's war on terrorism has unnecessarily compromised our civil liberties in this country 865  (47.0%)   629  (34.1%)   271  (14.7%)   77  (4.2%)  
Undocumented immigrants should be denied access to public education 146  (7.9%)   365  (19.7%)   619  (33.5%)   719  (38.9%)  

19. Do you think this country is moving in the right direction or wrong direction?

155  (8.2%)  
1047  (55.3%)  
693  (36.6%)  

Notes: Counts are in bold and precede items they are counting. Missing values are not included in the counts. Percentages for multiple selection items are based on the total number of active cases.

Number of cases: 2,295

Response rate for module: 49.7%

Margin of error for module: ±1.5%