Beloit College's Mindset List for Class of 2012
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Beloit College's Mindset List for Class of 2012
Every year, Beloit College releases its Mindset List to give a snapshot of the world view of the incoming freshmen class. The list for the Class of 2012:
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Tuesday, August 19, 2008 --- 7:55 p.m.

UNDATED (AP) -- Every year, Beloit College releases its Mindset List to give a snapshot of the world view of the incoming freshmen class. The list for the Class of 2012:

Students entering college for the first time this fall were generally born in 1990. For these students, Sammy Davis Jr., Jim Henson, Ryan White, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Freddy Krueger have always been dead.

1. Harry Potter could be a classmate, playing on their Quidditch team.

2. Since they were in diapers, karaoke machines have been annoying people at parties.

3. They have always been looking for Carmen Sandiego.

4. GPS satellite navigation systems have always been available.

5. Coke and Pepsi have always used recycled plastic bottles.

6. Shampoo and conditioner have always been available in the same bottle.

7. Gas stations have never fixed flats, but most serve cappuccino.

8. Their parents may have dropped them in shock when they heard George Bush announce "tax revenue increases."

9. Electronic filing of tax returns has always been an option.

10. Girls in head scarves have always been part of the school fashion scene.

11. All have had a relative -- or known about a friend's relative -- who died comfortably at home with hospice.

12. As a precursor to "whatever," they have recognized that some people "just don't get it."

13. Universal Studios has always offered an alternative to Mickey in Orlando.

14. Grandma has always had wheels on her walker.

15. Martha Stewart Living has always been setting the style.

16. Haagen-Dazs ice cream has always come in quarts.

17. Club Med resorts have always been places to take the whole family.

18. WWW has never stood for World Wide Wrestling.

19. Films have never been X rated, only NC-17.

20. The Warsaw Pact is as hazy for them as the League of Nations was for their parents.

21. Students have always been "Rocking the Vote."

22. Clarence Thomas has always sat on the Supreme Court.

23. Schools have always been concerned about multiculturalism.

24. We have always known that "All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten."

25. There have always been gay rabbis.

26. Wayne Newton has never had a mustache.

27. College grads have always been able to Teach for America.

28. IBM has never made typewriters.

29. Roseanne Barr has never been invited to sing the National Anthem again.

30. McDonald's and Burger King have always used vegetable oil for cooking french fries.

31. They have never been able to color a tree using a raw umber Crayola.

32. There has always been Pearl Jam.

33. The Tonight Show has always been hosted by Jay Leno and started at 11:35 EST.

34. Pee-Wee has never been in his playhouse during the day.

35. They never tasted Benefit Cereal with psyllium.

36. They may have been given a Nintendo Game Boy to play with in the crib.

37. Authorities have always been building a wall across the Mexican border.

38. Lenin's name has never been on a major city in Russia.

39. Employers have always been able to do credit checks on employees.

40. Balsamic vinegar has always been available in the U.S.

41. Macaulay Culkin has always been "Home Alone."

42. Their parents may have watched "The American Gladiators" on TV the day they were born.

43. Personal privacy has always been threatened.

44. Caller ID has always been available on phones.

45. Living wills have always been asked for at hospital check-ins.

46. The Green Bay Packers (almost) always had the same starting quarterback.

47. They never heard an attendant ask "Want me to check under the hood?"

48. Iced tea has always come in cans and bottles.

49. Soft drink refills have always been free.

50. They have never known life without Seinfeld references from a show about "nothing."

51. Windows 3.0 operating system made IBM PCs user-friendly the year they were born.

52. Muscovites have always been able to buy Big Macs.

53. The Royal New Zealand Navy has never been permitted a daily ration of rum.

54. The Hubble Space Telescope has always been eavesdropping on the heavens.

55. 98.6 F or otherwise has always been confirmed in the ear.

56. Michael Milken has always been a philanthropist promoting prostate cancer research.

57. Offshore oil drilling in the United States has always been prohibited.

58. Radio stations have never been required to present both sides of public issues.

59. There have always been charter schools.

60. Students always had Goosebumps.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


Latest Comments

Posted by: Michelle Location: Kansas City on Aug 21, 2008 at 07:27 AM

Too bad they got their #1 entry completely wrong. How embarrassing for them. According to the Harry Potter books, Harry was born on July 31st, 1980. He would be 28 years old today, not 18, and certainly not part of this year's college freshmen class. Need proof? Second book: Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday cake is for his 500th deathday, and says that died Oct 31 1492. Harry was 12 years old in that book. If Harry was 12 in 1992 (1492 500, for the mathematically impaired), then he was born in 1980. Seventh Book: The date of the deaths of Lily and James Potter is read directly from their tombstone: October 31st, 1981. Harry was known to be just over a year old when his parents were killed. Finally, this timeline (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/timeline.html) has been accepted by Warner Bros. AND referenced by J.K. Rowling as the most accurate available timeline of events in the Harry Potter series. If this is indicative of academics at Beloit, I wouldn't want to go there.
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: jim on Aug 19, 2008 at 01:18 PM

Hey Jim!! What a positive outlook on life you have Jim! I'll be happy/healthy and alive well past 12-22-2012
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 19, 2008 at 11:08 AM

The Jay Leno one made me feel old! I grew up with Johnny Carson.
[ Report Abuse ]
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