The iGeneration, Millennials, Generation Y, Echo Boomers, Generation Next -- the 18- to 25-year-old age bracket has been barraged with classifications, pressed for its vote and examined for insight into the way its members will shape the future.

Nationally, a growing body of academic and market research has shown that, due in large part to the Internet, this multi-named generation is more civic-minded and socially conscious. However, despite increased social awareness, the question still exists as to whether or not a high level of volunteerism will translate to increased political involvement.

At Penn State, students have also proven their commitment to social responsibility. The university is home to the largest student-run philanthropy in the nation, the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, which raised $4,214,748 last year for pediatric cancer research. Earlier this year, Penn State was also ranked third in the 2006 Washington Monthly College Rankings of National Colleges, a guide based on how much a university gives back to its country.

Bryan King, president of the Student United Way, said there are a lot of issues, both nationally and politically, that this generation can handle for themselves.

"There is the idea that there are some problems that we don't need the government to fix," he said. "We are perfectly capable of solving them on our own."

Reaching out

"The Berlin Wall fell and out we came
The post-Cold War kids laid claim to AIM.
We sat at our laptops and typed away,
and found that we each had something to say"
~ MC Lars "iGeneration"

Because of a sickness in her youth, Toni Lynn Gibson will never be able to donate blood.

However, because she thinks it's "the civic duty of everyone to donate blood if they are eligible," she still found a way to get involved as president of the Student Red Cross Club.

Tara Wheeler founded and became president of Positive Role Models Building Powerful Women, a group that focuses on building self-esteem and leadership skills in at-risk teen girls. Bob Moyer, whose sister has Down Syndrome, started the Montgomery County Association for Retarded Citizens and is now president of College Buddy, a program that sets up one-to-one friendships with students and citizens in the community with mental disabilities.

Nationally, volunteering among college-aged students increased by 20 percent from 2002 to 2005, according to a study by the Federal Corporation for National and Community Service. A survey by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California in Los Angeles found that 66 percent of college freshmen believe it's essential or very important to help others. It also found feelings of social and civic responsibility among entering freshmen to be at the highest level in 25 years.

At Penn State, there are 34 service groups and 21 political groups, ranging from the Political Science Association to Students for the Responsible Use of Animals, according to the Office of Student Affairs.

Many students who participate heavily in community service said they prefer to do so more than political involvement because they see more immediate results.

"With community service, you can focus all of your attention on helping others and you can see the results right away; see the positive impact you're making," Wheeler said. "It really puts things into perspective when you see that you can make a positive difference in someone's world and inspire others to do the same."

King, who leads the Student United Way, a group that works at food banks, organizes Trash to Treasure and takes underprivileged kids shopping through the Jeans for Teens program, said community service has a direct effect on the changing world.

"The greatest impact we can have is not going to the polls and punching a piece of paper, but rather using our hands to make a difference," he said.

Gibson said she is motivated by the other people who come to help -- people who prefer to be active in changing their community, rather than just observe it.

"There is something about a person who devotes a large chunk of their lives to community service ... they're all motivated by a common good of the community," she said. "There are no lazy people, and we aren't motivated by grades or some other push. We're motivated because it feels good to help others."

However, other student leaders believe social responsibility and political responsibility go hand in hand.

"We cannot perform our voluntary actions, in [our] country or abroad, without careful understanding of the politics or laws involved," Liz Francis, GlobeMed founder and executive board chairwoman, said. Francis said GlobeMed aims to raise between $25,000 and $50,000 for children in Honduras and educate people about health and human rights issues.

Daniel Michelson-Horowitz, media relations and outreach coordinator for voting-advocacy group Represent Penn State, said he thinks politics is a form of community service.

"We all have a responsibility to express our opinions on the issues that face our community and discuss the best ways to resolve the challenges that lie ahead," he said.

Horowitz also founded and served as president of the American Civil Liberties Union of Penn State.

Philip Yen, president of the South Halls Residence Association, said both community service and political involvement are necessary to be a responsible citizen since politics deals with the issues that our government should advocate and community service strengthens the bonds of a community.

"What better aid can you give your community than by becoming knowledgeable about legislation and ensuring that ethical and practical legislation is passed?" said Laura Burlingame, Penn State Libertarians president.

Speaking Up

"So we hit the net while the Trade Center fell
New York met Hollywood, we ran like hell
No Vietnam for us, yo, Iraq it's on"

Many studies have compared this generation to that of their parents, the baby boomers -- a generation of activists in the 1960s and 1970s known for its demonstrations for civil rights and women's equality, and protests against the Vietnam War.

However, Frank Clemente, sociology professor, said the 1960s to 1970s generation was politically active mainly because of the Vietnam War and fear of the draft.

"The current generation may be less interested in politics and what is essentially a screaming match in Washington," he said. "Who can blame them?"

While national tragedies such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina contribute to increased social involvement, political events such as the President Clinton/ Monica Lewinsky or Senator Foley scandals also shaped this generation's actions.

Burlingame called this generation's political situation a "Catch 22."

"Students are apathetic because they don't like the candidates. Candidates are so bad because no one votes," she said.

A survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press in collaboration with the Associated Press found that 40 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds are not registered to vote -- double the percentage of 30- to 49-year-olds who aren't registered, and nearly three times greater than those 50 or older. Only 22 percent of young voters are regular voters compared with 42 percent of older voters and 35 percent of those 30 to 49.

Eric Plutzer, political science professor, said most generations are more community-service oriented than politically so.

"Unless your nation or community is involved in civil strife, war, labor unrest, etc., most people will be more engaged with neighbors, religious groups, etc., than in politics," he said.

Even a presidential commission appointed by John F. Kennedy discovered that young citizens registered a disturbingly low turnout rate during the 1960 election.

"Young people in every nation at every time for which we have data have low voter turnout," Plutzer said.

However, while nationally this generation has been continuously pressed for the vote, Penn State students increased voter participation in the four on-campus precincts by 118 percent from 2002's midterm elections to 2004's. Turnout for mainly student downtown precincts increased 35.88 percent from 2002. Also, 3,216 students voted on campus in 2004's presidential election.

Plutzer said though a generation shows low political involvement at the beginning, it tends to show a higher voter turnout as time goes on.

"The more that the two major parties offer real choices, the more young people will vote. But I wouldn't lose sleep over [student apathy], because you'll grow out of it," he said.

What's in a name?

"The iMac, iPod, iGeneration
And I'm waiting for the day we can get out
The world is ours, that's the story no doubt
Want to be more than info super highway traffic
want to be more than a walking demographic!"

Sociology and demography professor Gordon De Jong said the many names given to the 18-to-25-year-old generation -- The iGeneration, Millenials, Generation Y, Echo Boomers, Generation Next -- is a marketing game, not a classification based on demographic science.

"Except for some obvious birth cohort size and timing, i.e. 'baby boom,' 'baby bust,' it is marketers and journalists who apply generation names," he said.

Duane Alwin, director of Penn State's Center on Population Health and Aging and a professor of sociology and human development, said scientifically oriented social scientists do not engage in naming arbitrarily defined groups as "generations."

"Generations stem from social movements and may not coincide with arbitrarily defined groups of birth cohorts," he said

For example, the members of the baby boom generation grew up in vastly different times. The older Boomers were young adults during the Vietnam War while the youngest baby boomers grew up in the era of former President Ronald Reagan. For this generation, the 25-year-olds watched Mr. Rogers when they were younger while the 18-year-olds were more familiar with Barney.

However, some students don't mind the names awarded to this generation and hold hope for it's future.

"I like the idea of Generation Next," King said. "Being civic-minded is very important, and I'd be proud to be part of a generation characterized by community service. I think we could become more politically involved, and I think that change will take place. College is really when you gain your identity, and in the next few elections I think our generation will really start to express ourselves."

Yen said the lack of a concrete title should motivate this generation to make its voices heard, and the biggest difference between our generation and previous ones is "our addiction to technology."

"Take away someone's computer or iPod for a week and they'll be bawling," he said.

Bernadette Nace, president of Collegiate 4-H, a group that volunteers with The Second Mile and collects quality of life items for U.S. troops in a service project called Boxes of Cheer, said she thinks this generation is resolved to making small differences that lead to a better world.

"I think we are more a generation that would like to solve the world's problems, but realizes the absolute vastness of those problems that seem to have been put aside by those generations before us," she said.

Clemente said, official title or not, this generation has nothing to apologize for.

"PSU has thousands upon thousands of wonderful kids who will contribute to society," he said. "I see them every day in my class -- decent, generous and caring."