Who Are We Now?
Dartmouth ‘78s Survey ResultsJune 14, 2013
Jim LattinMichael Whitcomb
Background
• Get a glimpse of– How we have changed– How we compare to other Americans on some issues
• Sources– “Who Are We Now” class survey– Basic class data from Alumni Office
• Caveat– 260 responses = limited sample, potential bias
Our class in 1974
32%
Our class in 2013
33%
15%11%
5%3%
10%16%
15%6%
20%30%4%2%
Class of ’78 has been on the move!
Source: Dartmouth Alumni Database
Changing of the (population) guard
State 1974
New York 15.5%
Massachusetts 15.0%
New Jersey 9.0%
Connecticut 8.1%
Pennsylvania 5.5%
New Hampshire 4.7%
California 4.3%
Illinois 3.3%
Ohio 3.1%
Michigan 2.3%
Minnesota 2.3%
Virginia 2.3%
State 2013
Massachusetts 11.7%
New York 11.2%
California 10.5%
New Hampshire 6.8%
Connecticut 5.3%
New Jersey 4.5%
Vermont 4.3%
Pennsylvania 4.1%
Maryland 3.8%
Virginia 3.0%
Maine 2.8%
Texas 2.7%
Source: Dartmouth Alumni Database
Marriage
69% of American adults 55-64 are married
84% of Dartmouth ‘78s are married or in a domestic partnership
Kids
• In America*– 52% of families have children– 1.84 kids per family with kids
• For Dartmouth ‘78s– 86% have kids – 2.14 kids per family – 93% of ‘78s are too young to
have grandchildren • But 7% do!
*2000 US Census
Graduate Degrees
• 693 (69%) got at least one graduate degree– 859 graduate degrees were earned by ‘78s
• Excludes MAs earned on route to PhD from same program
• Leading graduate degree categories:1. Law (161)2. MBA (160)3. MD (148)4. PhD (75)5. MA Engineering/Computer
Science (37)6. MA Education (17)7. MS/MA All Other (90)
Occupations
*790 reported an occupation
Occupation % ‘78s Reporting
Business 36%
Health Sciences 22%
Education 15%
Law 12%
Government/Military 5%
Arts & Entertainment 3%
Engineering 2%
Other 5%
Travel
• For Americans– 30% have a passport– 50% of all foreign travel = Mexico and Canada
• For Dartmouth ‘78s– 98.5% have traveled abroad– 78% have been to 6+ countries
• 21% have visited 20+ countries
– Favorite destinations are1. Italy 2. France3. New Zealand and Switzerland4. Czech Republic5. Canada, England, Germany, Australia
Social Media
US Adults 50-64 Dartmouth ‘78sSent a Tweet 10% 28%Used Facebook 52% 77%
But, for Facebook…
• Only 22% of users are regular users• 18% view it as a “necessary evil”• 60%+ are light or lapsed users
Politics
Dartmouth ‘78sUS Adults
20131978 2013
Democrat 47% 44% 49%Republican 42% 25% 23%Independent 11% 21% 23%Other NA 10% 5%Total 100% 100% 100%
Favorite Spectator Sports1978 2013
Football 34% 27%
Hockey 20% 13%
Baseball 14% 18%
Basketball 8% 8%
Soccer 2% 8%
Religion
Dartmouth ‘78s self-identify as:• 44% Christian • 40% agnostic or atheist (from 35% in 1978)• 7% Jewish• 8% Other (from 3% in 1978)
Have you lost your Mojo, Baby?
Current Feelings About Sex % Dartmouth ‘78sStill wired like a teenager 23%Love it but don’t need it as much as I used to 54%Once in a while is plenty 19%That train has left the station 4%
Satisfaction with Life
• For Americans: 84% of American adults very or somewhat satisfied
• For Dartmouth ‘78s:– 49% of ‘78s – “Extremely Satisfied”– 43% of ‘78s – “Satisfied”
• Who is even happier thanthe average ‘78?– Skiers– “Regular” Facebook users
(vs. reluctant Facebook users)– Those with relatively “active” lifestyle
92%
Personality
30% of ’78s feel more outgoing than they were in 1978
Only 7% feel more shy
Gay Marriage
53% of Americans support gay marriage.
Which number below is closest to the percent of '78s who support gay marriage?
a) 40%b) 50%c) 60%d) 70%e) 80%
79%(including 1
Republican senator?)
Gun Control
• 62% of Americans think there should be a ban on semi-automatic weapons*
• 76% of Dartmouth ‘78s think there should be a ban on semi-automatic weapons– 17% oppose such a ban– 6% not sure
*CNN Poll, December 2012
Abortion
• 56% of Americans support a woman’s right to choose*
• 88% of Dartmouth ‘78s support a woman’s right to choose– 8% oppose abortion– 4% not sure
*2013 survey of 4,465 adults nationwide by Public Religion Research Institute/Brookings Institution. "Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases, or illegal in all cases?"
American Dream
• 38% of Dartmouth ‘78s agree “The American Dream is alive and well”– But 42% disagree (split decision!)
• 41% of Americans say“American Dream has been lost”*
* Yahoo Finance survey, September 2011, 1500 respondents aged 18-64
Economic Priorities – Part 1
“What do you think is the most urgent economic priority for 2013?”
1. 46%: Stimulating economy to generate more jobs
2. 36%: Reducing the Federal deficit3. 5%: Reducing taxes
Doh!Grover Norquist
Economic Priorities – Part 2
Ranking of priorities from most important to least
1. Improve education2. Improve healthcare3. Improve infrastructure4. Maintain/Increase national defense5. Fight poverty6. Defend against cyber-terrorism7. Control immigration/defend borders8. Advance NASA and the sciences9. Support the arts
Priorities reveal two camps
1. Education2. Healthcare3. Infrastructure4. Defense5. Poverty6. Cyber-terrorism7. Immigration8. NASA/Science9. Arts
Larger Camp(mostly Democrats)
Smaller Camp (mostly Republicans) Sum of All Responses
1. Defense2. Immigration3. Cyber-terrorism
1. Education2. Healthcare3. Poverty4. Arts
Is Dartmouth a Better Place Today?
…and only 9% disagree
53% of ‘78s say YES
1. Defense2. Immigration3. Cyber-terrorism
Only 37% of this group agree
1. Education2. Healthcare3. Poverty4. Arts
But 66% of this group agree
Fraternities & Sororities
Are they a positive part of college life?
• Overall: – 36% say “yes” – 52% say “not sure”
• Former members of fraternities and sororities– 55% say “yes” – 38% say “not sure”Just half!
Finally, which class has…
• Three currently serving elected officials in the US Congress
• The highest number of current Dartmouth Trustees?• The record for 25th reunion giving?• A major life science facility named after it?• The highest turnout at a 35th reunion ever?• The most charm, sophistication, and good looks?
Class of 1978
