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Campus Sub-Cultures, Part: 2
By: Chuck Bomar
The Academic
The academic subculture is almost exactly opposite from the collegiate. They identify almost solely with the education side of the college experience. These students engage in the ideals presented by professors and have frequent conversations with them about the concepts presented in class. This type of person enjoys thinking through implications of topics presented and typically completes all work required in classes. Professors typically enjoy these students most and tend to have a relationship with them outside of the classroom.
This subculture has a sense identity in thinking and in knowledge, which can of course be dangerous (1Corinthians 8:1). But there can also be tendencies of extreme idealism - and of being conformists. Academics are fun to walk with because they can really think through concepts, allowing identity (as well as many others) from a biblical perspective to be one of those. This desire to think through concepts and ideals must be capitalized on. If our connection with the collegiate is based on informal times of sharing our lives, the approach with the academic is much more of an intellectual or philosophical relational connection. Once there is this connection the informal life-sharing can begin.
Here are two things I’ve found effective with the Academic:
(1) Challenge the things they say. Much of “their” thoughts they share won’t actually be theirs - this is the conformist side of them. Their tendency is to accept things because people teach them (which is kind of nice at times), but not truly have a personal reason for the hope they have (which is the danger). This tendency to accept whatever anyone in authority says often results in easily being swayed in their beliefs (Hebrews 10:23).
(2) Ask direct questions. The thought process of these people needs to be expanded to a personal level, through consistent challenging conversations. Questions like, “Why do you think that?” or playing devil’s advocate will help them think for themselves. The tendency to be a conformist comes from a lack of introspection on their own heart, and relying solely on what others say intellectually. Asking them where that thought comes from and challenging them on whether or not they have ideas themselves is a great way to get them to process deeper than intellect.
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