Volume 125 Issue 45
kansan.com
Thursday, November 8, 2012
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
UDK
the student voice since 1904
WEEKEND
ANSAN spike
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IDENTIFYING GENERATION Y
TECHNOLOGY TAKES PRIORITY
Youth marked by expanding social values and departure from religion
RACHEL SALYER rsalyer@kansan.com
With cell phones as bedmates and college a necessity, the millennial generation is fast setting itself apart from parents and grandparents.
The millennial generation, or those born after 1980, has the highest amount of education, with 54 percent having some college education, according to a 2010 Pew Research Center study. The study examined millennials age 18 to 29.
With 83 percent of millennials reporting they have slept with their cell phone at some point compared to 46 percent of all other generations, it's obvious technology helps define the generation.
SOURCE: PEW RESEARCH CENTER
"My phone is always by my side," said Allegra Baxter, Olathe junior. "I use it for weather, communication. Everything. I think I definitely use it differently than my parents do."
The millennial generation looks different than previous ones, with 61 percent identifying as white, compared to 70 percent of those 30 or older. Those identifying as black increased from 11 to 14 percent, with Hispanics increasing the most from 13 to 19 percent and Asians remaining at five percent.
But the priorities of millennials are not much different from those who came before, with parenting and a successful
marriage being the two most important life priorities. Of those 29 and younger, 52 percent listed being a good parent and 30 percent listed a successful marriage, compared to 30 percent and 35 percent, respectively, of those 30 and older.
For students like Chris Dill, a freshman from Austin, Texas, the priorities seem a little out of whack.
"Success, having a good job. those are most important to me," Dill said. According to the study, a high-paying job and religion were some of the least important priorities, each weighing in at 15 percent.
But compared to those 30 and older, the success and religion set the generations apart, with 21 percent of the older generation prioritizing religion and only 7 percent saying success is a priority.
Chris Crandall, a University sociology professor, said the varying importance of priorities between generations all comes back to age.
GRAPHIC BY KATIE KUTSKO
"There is the fact that the 30 plus people are simply older." Crandall said in an email. "Marriage matters more to a 35-year-old than to an 18-year-old. And so, I think a simple way to interpret the data is that millenials are mostly like other Americans, but that they are less concerned about leading a religious life."
our name is
— Edited by Stéphane Roque
HELLO
THE MILLENNIAL
AND WE ARE
SMART.
40 percent of us are in college
50 percent of those in college want a graduate degree or more
61 percent of us are White
86 percent of graduates say it's been a good investment
14 percent of us are Black
Of those without a degree and not in school (48 percent).
36 percent say they can't afford higher education and
35 percent say they don't have the time
19 percent of us are Hispanic
5 percent of us are Asian
66 percent voted for Obama in 2008
1 percent of us are defined as "other"
✩ ✪ RELIGIOUS.
(well, sort of ...)
41 percent satisfied with the way things are going
50 percent say Obama failed to change the way Washington works
We are the least religious generation.
One-in-four are unaffiliated.
BUT, we pray about as often as our elders.
UN QUE.
(or at least WE
think we are.)
This is how we find ourselves to be unique.
Technology use (24%)
Music/ Pop culture (11%)
Liberal/ tolerant (7%)
Smarter (6%)
Clothes (5%)
WHO EXACTLY IS A MILLENNEAL? The Millennial refers those born after 1980 - the first generation to come of age in the new millennium.
CAMPUS
Students dance to support Children's Miracle Network
Students dance to student band Down With Gravity as they played a set during last semester's KU Dance Marathon in the Ballroom of the Kansas Union to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network.
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
HANNAH BARLING
hbarling@kansan.com
From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. this Saturday, students have the opportunity to make a difference in the community.
The University will host its fifth Dance Marathon this Saturday in the Kansas Union Ballroom. Dance Marathon is a program under the Children's Miracle Network that raises money for children and their families at hospitals in the area. Students stand on their feet for 12 straight hours supporting the children who can't.
Twenty Miracle Children and their families have signed up for Saturday's event. While some are healthy and done with treatments, others are still fighting.
Kendall Kohnle, director of public relations for KU Dance Marathon, hopes to work with kids in need someday and said the Dance Marathon is a life-
The event kicks off with an opening ceremony, followed by a day full of music, food, games and dancing. "Around the World" is the theme for this
changing experience. She said seeing how strong the kids are is encouraging and an inspiration.
fall's Dance Marathon. A different country will be represented each hour with authentic food. A closing ceremony will conclude KUDM.
Holly Good, a sophomore from Shawnee, said being a part of KUDM puts a lot into perspective.
Even though it's a dance marathon, KUDM is centered around the kids. Students are encouraged to help in any way they can. KUDM participants can sign up in teams beforehand to fundraise and get their friends involved.
"Seeing how passionate the steering committee is makes me think about what a big difference you can make when you stand for something meaningful." Good said.
Participants can register until the day of the event for a $20 registration fee. At this point, 435 students have already registered.
The University hosted a Dance Marathon in February, raising $60,040.70. After this weekend, Kansas will become the second school in the country to have hosted two marathons in one year. Their fundraising goal for the year is $100,000.
Edited by Madison Schultz
CRYPTOQUIPS 6A
OPINION 4A
IN YOUR FACE
Index
SPORTS 1B
SUDOKU 6A
CLASSIFIEDS 4B
CROSSWORD 6A
PAT STRATHMAN/KANSAN
Don't forget
Senior forward Kevin Young gets a pie in the face while particiting in Alpha Epilison Pi Rock-A-Thon on Wescoe Beach on Wednesday.
SUA is screening "The Dark Knight Rises" tonight at 8 p.m. in the Union.
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Today's Weather
Sunny with W winds at 19 mph