Generation 2001 concerned about environment

The first generation of Americans to graduate from college in the 21st century are focusing on business, family and preserving the environment, according to a recent study.

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company commissioned the report about the first graduating class of the new millennium, interviewing 2,001 college freshmen from 101 colleges.

"We realized that we have a new generation coming up and we wanted to see how they're different in regards to recruitment and their future needs and wants," said Lisa Rosso, an administrative assistant at Northwestern Mutual.

Almost 100 percent of the students surveyed believe they will get to where they want to be in life and almost two-thirds of the Gen2001 class say it is their responsibility to take care of their parents when they become elderly and unable to look after themselves.

Sixty-three percent strongly agree that preserving the environment is very important to them, and this issue ranks third among the topics government and society must address.

The trend in education for Gen2001 is business, followed by natural sciences, engineering, psychology and sociology. In this demographic, women slightly outnumber men 53 percent vs. 47 percent.

The survey also included social and political concerns of the students such as their willingness to fight for their country, their beliefs where the country is headed and importance of preserving the environment. Thirty percent of the students polled strongly said they would fight for their country.

Gen2001 plan to raise families -- 89 percent hope to have children someday. According to the survey, men are slightly more interested in having children than women. The average age they believe they will be married by is 26 and the average Gen2001 member wants three children, perhaps signaling another baby boom in the works like that of the 1950s.

The survey was conducted between November 1997 to January 12 and the complete results of the survey can be found on the Northwestern Mutual Web site at www.northwesternmutual.com/2001.