LINCOLN — Parents and many others in Nebraska might oppose gay marriage, but their college-age children appear to embrace the idea.
Students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln also overwhelmingly support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, according to a political survey by UNL students.
About 58 percent of the 2,500 students who responded to the e-mail survey said they supported gay marriage. By comparison, about 48 percent of likely voters nationwide said they supported same-sex marriage in an October Pew Research Center poll.
Even more UNL students — 73 percent — said they supported the idea of giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. By comparison, 63 percent of likely voters in a national Pew poll in April said they supported providing illegal immigrants with a way to earn citizenship.
The student survey was conducted in early November by a second-year elections class taught by professor Michael Wagner. It was the first survey of its kind undertaken at UNL by a political science class, he said.
The students surveyed were not randomly selected, which is the procedure used in professional political polls to ensure a representative sample. Instead, students chose whether to respond to a campus-wide e-mail survey request.
The idea was to learn more about students’ political opinions and their attitudes toward issues facing the nation and the state, Wagner said.
About 10 percent of the student body — graduate and undergraduate students — responded to the survey.
Sophomore Riley Johnson, 20, of Ellsworth, Wis., helped conduct the survey. He said he found the results on gay marriage and immigration “surprising.” He also said he thinks many students are attuned to both issues based on news coverage.
In Nebraska, Republicans and others have campaigned against policies that they say would grant amnesty to illegal immigrants. In addition, Fremont, Neb., voters have passed an ordinance — which is on hold — prohibiting property owners from renting to illegal immigrants.
The students’ opinions on immigration stand in sharp contrast to what others in Nebraska might be expected to think, Johnson said. “We’re in Nebraska, and immigration is obviously an issue that’s kind of hot right now.”
Not surprising in a GOP-leaning state, a majority of students identified themselves as Republicans — 37 percent.
Thirty-two percent identified themselves as Democrats, and 25 percent said they were independents. About 6 percent listed their affiliation as “other.”
Other findings in the survey:
>>About 58 percent of the students said they believed that the government was run by a few big interests. Seventeen percent said it was run to benefit all people.
>>Students identified health care, the economy, immigration, taxes and gay marriage as the top five issues facing the United States.
>>Students appeared to be divided on legalizing marijuana: 43 percent opposed it, 41 percent were in favor, and 15 percent were neutral.
>>A majority of students — 51 percent — opposed lowering the drinking age. Thirty-two percent favored the idea.
>>Christians, CNN newsman Anderson Cooper and President Barack Obama scored the highest in favorability ratings among the students surveyed. The lowest? TV and radio commentator Glenn Beck, GOP superstar Sarah Palin and reality television star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi.
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402-444-1309, robynn.tysver@owh.com
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