Cm. Engstrom et al., Perspectives of democracy: A lens for analyzing students' experiences in apilot community standards program, J COLL STUD, 41(3), 2000, pp. 265-278
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.