Perspectives of democracy: A lens for analyzing students' experiences in apilot community standards program

In this qualitative study, researchers describe how 39 students (Id males, 22 females, 29 first year students, 9 sophomores) constructed their residen tial experiences during pilot implementation of the Community Standards Mod el (Piper, 1997). Three major themes were identified that relate to democra tic living: program purpose and structure, engagement and decision-making; and constructions of community. These intersecting themes were interpreted from the lens of two competing visions of democracy. agreements versus comm unity. Finally conditions were proposed to promote relational-based democra tic communities.