Millions of college freshmen around the country are starting classes and they're starting with a frame of reference that's far different from their professors.
For the last 11 years, Beloit College in Wisconsin has published the Beloit College Mindset List. It's a look at the cultural touchstones that touched the lives of college freshmen.
Most of today's freshmen were born in 1990. While Harry Potter may seem like a recent phenomenon, he could be their classmate. GPS satellite navigation systems have always been available. Coke and Pepsi have always used recycled plastic bottles, not glass bottles that were returned to the grocery for recycling.
For today's freshmen, Jay Leno has always been the host of The Tonight Show. When asked if he knew who Johnny Carson was, USC freshman Tyler Flowers said, "Uh, no. I've heard the name. I'm sure if I thought about it for a second I could figure out who he was, but not off the top of my head."
In these students' minds, IBM has always been a computer company, not one that made typewriters. When asked if she's ever used a typewriter, USC freshman Danielle Richardson said, "I've seen one. Haven't ever used one, though."
Flowers actually had tried one out. "Oh, it just...it seemed like this...like...I'm sure at the time it was great, but compared to a computer it was...obsolete."
The way today's college student communicates is also far different. They've grown up with email and text messaging. Freshman Harry Bradford says, "My parents have a land-line phone. I don't think it's that useful. I live in an apartment and I don't have a land-line phone and I don't plan on getting one. I have a cellphone and that works for me."
Traci Evans agrees. "I remember the cord phones, tripping up on cords. I like the wireless better," she says.
There are some similarities between now and the year they were born. A president named Bush was sending more troops to the Middle East. The Big Three car companies had declining sales and profits and rising fuel costs were causing airlines to cut staff and flight schedules.
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