Furman Magazine Volume 47 Article 1 Issue 3 Fall 2004 9-1-2004 Furman Magazine. Volume 47, Issue 3 - Full Issue Furman University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/furman-magazine Recommended Citation University, Furman (2004) "Furman Magazine. Volume 47, Issue 3 - Full Issue," Furman Magazine: Vol. 47 : Iss. 3 , Article 1. Available at: https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/furman-magazine/vol47/iss3/1 This Complete Volume is made available online by Journals, part of the Furman University Scholar Exchange (FUSE). It has been accepted for inclusion in Furman Magazine by an authorized FUSE administrator. For terms of use, please refer to the FUSE Institutional Repository Guidelines. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FALL 2004 Fall2004 FEATURES MEET THE MILLENNIALS 2 Today's college students: the most protected, structured and achievement-driven generation in American history. by Roger Casey EXTREME MAKEOVER 6 Wood paneling? A central skylight? Automatic window shades? Welcome to the redesigned James B. Duke Library. by Jim Stewart A SHIP OF ROYAL MAKE 14 The SS Furman Victory was a handsome, stately vessel that served its country well. by John Roberts POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE 18 Amanda Fowler, a 2004 graduate, sees the campus through a nontraditional but knowing lens. RJRMAN REPORTS 22 PHILANTHROPY 30 ATHLETICS 32 ALUMNI NEWS 34 THE LAST WORD 48 Printed on partially recycled paper ON THE COVER: A detail from the new-look James B. Duke Library. Photo by Charlie Register An examination of the influences and attitudes that have shaped today's college students. They're smart, high-achieving and confident. They're used to immediate gratification. They're tolerant. They value teamwork and pursue the approval of their elders. They're worldly - often wise beyond their years. At the same time they've lived sheltered, heavily regimented lives, overseen every step of the way by their "helicopter parents." They're today's college students. Call them the Millennials. They've also been referred to as the Echo Boomers and Generation Y, but they seem to prefer Millennials. When the CBS newsmagazine "60 Minutes" did an in-depth story about the Millennials in October, they were described as a group in which "rules seem to have replaced rebellion, convention is winning BY ROGER CASEY out over individualism, and values are very traditional." Why? What's different about today's young people? What distinguishes them from those that have come before? On the following pages, Roger Casey, a 1983 Furman graduate who serves as dean of the faculty at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., delves into the influences and attitudes that have defined the lives - and shaped the futures - of tomorrow's leaders. 2 interesting generational Contrast that scene with the educa­ can "see": "Have you seen Justin Aconfluence fills the halls tion of a Millennia!. First, there is the bike Timberlake's latest song? " Phones have between classes at itself: a European or Japanese import always been something you don't really America's colleges and universities that costs a little less than did the '72 "dial." And a television with 13 channels? these days. An aging, predominantly Malibu I bought as a freshman at Furman. Please - that's so 20th century! Baby Boom professoriate now finds their Next, Mom and Dad have probably read While no generation can be defined former Generation X students finishing Te aching Your Child to Bicycle Safely - with monolithic characteristics, several Ph.D.s and returning to college as faculty. or at least watched the DVD. Perhaps key themes dictate the overwhelming Occupying the current student role they've sent Junior to bike safety school majority of Millennia! childhoods. are the so-called Millennials - or Genera­ or hired a training consultant. tion Y, to some. The first Millennia! cohort On the appointed morning of initia­ • Millennials have been protected entered college four years ago after tion, Mom, Dad and little Millennia! set and warned of external dangers at every graduating as the high school class of off for the park, bike nestled on the roof crossroads, whether we're talking about 2000 (hence the name). Now that Millen­ rack of the SUV. The entire event is being bicycle safety equipment, CD ratings, nials dominate college student bodies, recorded by video camera. Before mount­ the V-chip, child molestation, date rape, Boomers and X-ers are taking notice. ing the bike, little Millie is encased in a the Amber Alert, or sunblock with an SPF Perhaps these collegians will become suit of plastic armor: helmet, knee pads, of 45. Yet, the Millennials have arguably "The Next Great Generation," as Neil shoulder pads, chin strap, gloves. Yet, grown up faster than any of their prede­ Howe and William Strauss subtitle like all of us, she falls. She cries because cessors. They've been sexualized from Millennials Rising, their best-selling text her arm hurts, so she gets a visit to the an early age through media images of on the children of the late Baby Boomers. hospital for an MRI because no one wants Britney, Internet sites, Abercrombie How do Millennials differ from their to ruin her chances of being a violinist and Fitch (which sells thongs for teens elders? Here's one example. Remember learning to ride a bicycle? For me, grow­ ing up in South Carolina in the 1960s, it was a red, pawn-shop special with pedal brakes. Dad ran behind with one hand on the plastic banana seat, letting go without my knowledge at some point. Of course, I fell and skinned my knee. "Get back on," he encouraged. (lessons at 6) or a softball pitcher emblazoned with the phrase "eye candy"), (practice at 3). and Congress investigating one president's As my story illustrates, sexual misadventures while his opponent Millennials are the most pro­ sells Viagra on television. tected, structured, watched-after, achievement-driven generation in • Millennials are sedentary and/or American history. They are, as one sedated. Though this is a generation Millennia! parent actually said to me, obsessed by X-Treme sports, most live "our little investment." the extreme vicariously through the Born in 1982 and after, their formative Internet or video games. Teen obesity years saw seemingly unbridled economic is rampant. Couch potatoes have been prosperity. They have never known a replaced by "surfers" who ride the virtual world without computers as a house­ wavelength in front of a computer screen. hold appliance. Information has always The children of those who lived through been a click away (a double-click for the drug culture of the 1960s have a really hard-to-find things). The latest pharmaceutical culture of their own - music has always been something you but this one is prescription-based. Those coping with attention-deficit disorders structure-free world they discover in themselves. I'm amused when parents may have been on Ritalin for years. Many college, where no one else takes responsi­ use the possessive "our" to refer to a are on anti-depressants. In fact, what bility for their time. But even in college, student's schedule, as in "We received used to be called "adolescence" may now many continue with lifestyles that leave our materials about fall term ...." be called "depression," and numerous little room for reflective space. Try Millennials seek medical relief from its scheduling a meeting with a group of Again, these descriptions are not pressures. college students and watch them pull meant to stereotype but rather to provide out their Palm Pilots and struggle to a sense of how today's college student • Millennials are heavily pressured find a common free moment. differs from her predecessors. Indeed, by "branding." Their world is bombarded she is more likely to be a she. Women with advertising texts and messages. • Millennials are tech-savvy and gadget­ are becoming the significant majority Brand consciousness is enormous. Pepsi rich. For them, the Mouse does not refer of college students. And this she is more and Coke vie for exclusive contracts in to Disney. Information is instantaneous likely to be non-white. The percentage certain school districts. Marketers pay - just a click away. PCs, Palm Pilots, of Millennials who are Asian or Hispanic to have brands like Nike or Gatorade digital phones, Googling, MP-3s, Wi-fi, is significantly higher than for the last mentioned in textbooks {from an algebra e-mail - they are "connected." Remark­ generation. text: "How many pints of Gatorade does ably, some college students e-mail or Understanding the Millennia! genera­ it take ..."). Millions are spent to convince cell-phone their parents four or five times tion is key to educating them. Colleges this generation to use its considerable a day. I remember wanting my parents must expend considerable effort to disposable income on certain products to set my things out of the station wagon create a technologically rich yet personally or to look a certain way. Many eating on move-in day at Furman, drive away focused learning environment conducive disorders emanate from such cultural quickly, and not return until graduation. to the needs of this next great generation. programming to look perfect. Which brings us to ... With their orientation toward achievement and the support of their elders, the Millen­ • Millennials' lives have been hyper­ • Millennials love their parents. Good nials have a tremendous future ahead. structured and programmed. They go news for Mom and Dad. Bad news for Our job as educators is to prepare them from school to soccer practice to violin independence. Some sociologists have for it. In our post 9/1 1 world, never has lessons to Boy Scouts to the church suggested that Baby Boomers are reliving the breadth and focus of a liberal arts choir, then return home to volumes of their teen and college years vicariously education been so in need.