Student Mindset: the 2010 Version

Every year, Beloit College in Wisconsin releases a "student mindset" list regarding their incoming freshman class. The list is designed for staff in order to help them realize some things about the generation entered their hallowed halls.

This year's list is about the class of 2010. Here are a few highlights:

• The Soviet Union has never existed and therefore is about as scary as the student union.
• There has always been only one Germany.
• They have never had to distinguish between the St. Louis Cardinals baseball and football teams.
• "Google" has always been a verb.
• Phantom of the Opera has always been on Broadway.
• Computerized player pianos have always been tinkling in the lobby. (ed note: Get that piano some paper training!)
• They have no idea why we needed to ask "...can we all get along?"
• Public school officials have always had the right to censor school newspapers.
• Television stations have never concluded the broadcast day with the national anthem.
• Richard M. Daley has always been the Mayor of Chicago.

Most of these (and the others on the list) make me feel old(er). I keep asking myself, "Has it really been 18 years?"

Our kindergartners are the Class of 2018. Makes you wonder what will be on the list by that time.