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Campus Sub-Cultures, Part: 1
by Chuck Bomar
Sociologist Burton Clark described four different subcultures of college students that from my experience is accurate and helpful.1 The people you are working with will most likely fall into one of these categories. If not, there will at least be aspects that apply, so Clark’s theory will serve as a framework for this section. The four subcultures I will walk through are: the collegiate, the academic, the rebel, and the vocational.
The Collegiate
The collegiate subculture’s identity is centered in Greek life, parties, major, sporting events, and general campus life. This subculture will typically do enough school work to get by, but their reasons for being in college are more for the experience of “college life” rather than the education or future vocation. They are not necessarily interested in subject matters discussed in class and tend to live day to day, minute by minute, lacking goals for education, responsibility and discipline. They are interested in social aspects of college versus the intellectual ideals presented. And, in many ways, they will reject professor’s agendas of teaching as a matter of principal. Take the following comment from a college student as an example:
“College is amazing, you meet people from everywhere. Don’t let class get in your way when it comes to living life. By all means, go to parties, stay up late with friends, spend too much time on aim and other instant messengers instead of working. Enjoy college life for all its worth because the experiences are once in a lifetime. You don’t get a redo on the party you missed last weekend.”
Those attending commuter campuses will be a little different. These campuses have limited if any campus life, but nevertheless the freedoms college-age people are experiencing are the same. Students at community college’s often live with parents, but will still be given freedoms allowing them to dive into these areas with little if any accountability. Whether in a major university or a commuter school it’s the lifestyle and freedoms of the collegiate they enjoy. Social freedom is there and enjoyed regardless of the type of school they’re attending.
Meaning, although temporary, for this subculture is tied to the social freedoms now available. Friendships and fun provide meaning and taking these away from them would be detrimental. The collegiate, because they are highly social often come to church strictly for social aspects. They may even show up at the end of the night, just to see people. In my experience I have seen collegiates struggle with consistency with God because of their general lack of discipline. On one hand they may want to please God in their life, but their lack of consistency hinders that desire. They are seeking immediate pleasure and enjoying their freedom from parental control. They may not be diving into areas of temptation such as drinking, sexual interaction, etc., but social interaction can serve as a distraction from their spiritual pursuits.
The discipleship process with the collegiate requires at least four things of us as leaders:
(1) Help them think through consistency, discipline, and responsibility.
(2) Remember, with people in this mindset we must be prepared to spend a tremendous amount of time gently guiding thought.
(3) Leadership needs to pursue this individual. They will usually be more than willing to hang out, but the consistency of meetings will depend on the leader initiating these times.
(4) Leaders need to realize the potential. I have seen these people, once they settle and mature, be some of the most effective people in ministry. Instead of getting frustrated with them we have to focus on the potential they have in ministry through relationships.
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