De Anza College Exempt from Moral Decline

CUPERTINO, CA -- Leaving the second floor of the library, an international De Anza College student is filled with excited relief as she is reunited with her smartphone.

Leona Xi Minhoa, 22, an international student and business major, lost her phone in the women’s bathroom by her debate class. However, the phone was returned an hour later.

“You are so incredibly awesome!” Minhoa said as she embraced the girl who found her phone.

Phones or personal belongings are constantly forgotten in public places. People often have little hope their items will ever be returned because they believe America’s morals are in the toilet.

American’s ratings of U.S. moral values has reached a new low point with 77% of people believing moral values are becoming worse, according to an annual poll published by Gallup. It suggested that although many Americans are happy with their life, few have a positive view about the nation’s state of moral values.

Poll and image provided by gallup.com (link to image and poll)

Poll and image provided by gallup.com (link to image and poll)

Vanessa Lopez, 19, an engineering major, said she defines morals as the principles that remain in the back of her mind and guide her to make decisions.

Image created by Iain Burke

“People have lost their sense of direction,” she said. She feels disheartened by the current state of morals in the country.

Lopez said she detests the racism and discrimination that she witnesses on the news and media.

But she felt encouraged when her English professor (who will remain unnamed due to lack of consent) taught the class to “keep the less fortunate in mind and help them when able.”

Lopez said her teacher “didn’t care how small her voice was” as long as one person heard her message there was a possibility it could cause a chain reaction. She said her classmates took this to heart.

“De Anza students are driven to do their best work for the most part,” she said. “I will get the occasional complaint from a friend who has a classmate who tries to copy their work.”

The poll also suggested that both moderates and liberals gave the country a “fair” or “poor” ratings.

An anonymous child development professor at De Anza believes this is related to the tension in the branches of the U.S. government.

“A lot of what we call our ‘moral compass’ develops at a young age through our environment,” she said. “People see our elected leaders degrade one another and act dishonestly so of course everyone feels lied to.”

The poll also suggested that people aged 34 or below, had a better view of the current moral state in the country.

Olivia Salazar, 22, a communications major, said she believes that De Anza College has been a “safe and positive” environment for her. She said,

De Anza has its faults – like parking – but people stick up for each other.

Having experienced various other community colleges such as San Jose City College and Evergreen College, she said she favors the atmosphere at De Anza.

Inside the De Anza Police Station, Joseph Mauss, police records specialist, was putting together the FHDA Annual Safety Report.

The average reported car accidents and theft have remained the same for the last 5 years.

“The accidents that are reported on campus, 66% of people will stop if they hit a car,” he said.

The few people who panic when they hit a car do not make a majority of De Anza drivers, he said.

The faculty, campus security, and students seem to agree that De Anza is a community with a greater sense of right and wrong.

“All it takes is one person to do the right thing and that causes a chain reaction,” Minhoa said with a skip in her step, her spirits lifted. “I don’t know what I would have done! It’s not like I have money for a new phone!”