B6 Friday,News April 4, 2008
May 13, 2011 A3 News
TThhee PPhhiilllliippiiaann
State of the Academy: General Information General Information Analysis: School Split on Affirmative Acion STAFF REPORT The Phillipian announces the results of the State of the Academy survey, an annual inquiry into various aspects of life at Andover. Seven hundred forty seven students responded to the survey this year, respresenting 67% of the student body, an increase from 556 responses last year. Female students answered the survey with slightly higher frequency than male students, providing 53% of the responses compared to 47% from male students. The Class of 2013 had the highest response rate while the Class of 2011 had the lowest. Eighty-eight percent of lowers replied to the survey compared to 64% of seniors, 69% of juniors and 71% of uppers. The diversity statistics of the survey generally aligned with the makeup of the entire student body. 62% of students reported their race or ethnicity as a choice other than Caucasian. According to the Admissions Office, 60% of students this year are students of color. Students responded most frequently that they identify with Christianity, making up 41%, followed by atheism with 19%. The percentages for these and other religions did not show significant change from last year. Sexual orientation statistics also stayed fairly consistent with last year, varying within only 1%. Eighty-nine percent of students responded “straight” compared to
88%. Numbers for “bisexual” and “unsure” were equal again at 4% each, compared to 5% each last year. The percent responding “gay” grew from 2% to 3%. The structure of the question on political affiliation changed to eliminate the option of Indepen-
dent party, which seems to have caused a significant jump in students responding “undecided” from 26% to 37%. Democrats also represented 37% of responses, compared with 38% last year, followed by 16% Republican and 10% other. Spurred by Spike Lee’s re-
marks at last year’s MLK Jr. Day All School Meeting, the justification of affirmative action has been a pertinent topic of debate in many forums on campus. Students most frequently reported that they were undecided on whether they supported affirmative action, compos-
ing 38% of the responses. A close second of 35% reported they do not support affirmative action. 27% of students said they do support affirmative action.
Political Affiliation
Sexual Orientation
Do you support affirmative action?
Unsure 4% Bisexual 4%
Yes 27%
Gay 3%
Other 10% Democratic 37%
Undecided 38% Undecided 37%
Out of 696 Responses
Out of 747 Responses
No 35%
Straight 89%
Race and Ethnicity
What religion or belief do you identify with?
Where are we from?
Republican 16%
Out of 747 Responses
Caucasian
20
3
7
Northeastern US
82
10%
Southeastern US
42
Midwestern US
28
19%
Christianity Judaism Islam Hinduism Buddhism Agnosticism Atheism Other
42%
Northwestern US
57
Southwestern US
473
62
Discontinguous US Stat or Territory International
Out of 747 Responses
17% 3%
AfricanAmerican/African AsianAmerican/Asian Native American
63
3
1% 6% 2%
40 1
Hispanic 138
433
Pacific Islander Middle Eastern
42
South Asian
Out of 747 Responses
Out of 747 Responses
Other
State of the Academy: Student Council Student Council Analysis
Have you been to a Student Council meeting?
46
Did you vote in the recent Student Council presidential election?
No 23%
STAFF REPORT
Yes No
Out of 687 Responses 641
What do you think is the most important role of the student council president? Speeches 4% Initiating and Running StudentLife Improvement Projects Communicating Between the Students and the Administration Other
25% 42%
29%
Out of 687 Responses
Does Student Council effectively address the concerns of the student body?
Yes 31%
No 69%
Out of 687 Responses
The results of the 2011 State of the Academy survey indicate mixed satisfaction and involvement of the student body in Student Council, consistent with sentiments from last year. Though the majority of students, 77%, voted in the recent presidential election, only 7% have been to a Student Council meeting. Many students consider speeches to be an important part of the job of Student Council president. Students reported that their voting decisions this year were most influenced by All School Meeting speeches with 50% of responses. Forty-three percent of students consider delivering speeches to be the most important role of Student Council President over running student life improvement programs and communicating between students and the administration. Responses about factors that influence voting decision show that promotional items do not present a large problem in election fairness because they sway only 2% of students’ votes. After All School Meeting speeches, friendship, presidential platforms and other factors weigh into the decision over promotional items and campaign posters. Students’ satisfaction with Student Council has not changed significantly since last year. Sixty-nine percent of students answered that Student Council does not effectively address the concerns of the student body, compared to 70% last year.
Out of 687 Responses
Yes 77%
If you voted, what influenced your decision most?
74
ASM speeches Platforms on Panet or in Debate Campaign Posters
101 285 13
Promotional Items Friendship
11 88
Other Factors
Want to know which class is smartest? Go to B4 for more State of the Academy.