Today is the first day of classes in the new fall semester for me. To mark this occasion, here are some items from the annual Beloit College Mindset List for the class of 2014. This list is put together by Ron Nief and Tom McBride every year to help faculty members get a better understanding of cultural values and backgrounds of incoming freshman. Here are some of my favorites from this year, mostly the ones related to music.
- Few in the class know how to write in cursive.
- “Cop Killer” by rapper Ice-T has never been available on a recording.
- Fergie is a pop singer, not a princess.
- Nirvana is on the classic oldies station.
- Computers have never lacked a CD-ROM disk drive.
- Rock bands have always played at presidential inaugural parties.
- Beethoven has always been a good name for a dog.
- The artist formerly known as Snoop Doggy Dogg has always been rapping.
There’s a lot more in the complete list. Most of it is trivial in the bigger picture, but it does make for an interesting look at the class of 2014.
Anyone else feeling a little old right now?
