martin adamson martinsrv0emsedacuk times december 04 2002 university boom creates era sexual tolerance helen rumbelow boom university education led sea change britains tolerance homosexuality according report half people believe homosexuality always mostly wrong three quarters 15 years ago according british social attitudes survey regarded one best indicators popular opinion trend mirrored attitude towards ethnic minorities 75 per cent people saying racially prejudiced compared 60 per cent 1987 geoffrey evans politics professor oxford university decided focus caused britain become openminded report published today study national centre social research based interviews crosssection 3500 people young people much tolerant elders quarter twentysomethings believing homosexual sex always wrong compared two thirds pensioners key converting bigot send college graduates twice accepting homosexuals gcses third less racist transformation happened matter social class student came 41 per cent young people attending university powerful social effect professor evans said mr blairs famous mantra education education education seems far less consequential first announced 1997 britain struggles overburdened health service reality people get degrees degrees buy less less said growth higher education provide bulwark undermining liberal democracy intolerance added decided see whether tolerance conferred schooling political correctness testing many civil rights educated would give unattractive minority white supremacists people scored higher longer spent school university nearly two thirds graduates saying white supremacists right give television interviews stand elections three times many qualifications clear higher education tolerant report says adding may simply university students increased contact alternative points view professor evans also looked whether young may grow idealism found opposite true thirtysomethings twice likely say nothing wrong homosexuality early twenties said groups educated young people replaced older generation britain would become ever relaxed place soft drugs also grown widespread acceptability half country wanting cannabis legalised compared third seven years ago probably use cannabis widespread quarter surveyed saying tried third labour voters twice many conservatives tried drug young living london degree also increased chances one issue bucks trend hard drugs take strong position heroin got stronger past seven years proportion people believe heroin dealers always prosecuted crept 97 per cent views heroin show britain means becoming liberal freeforall alison park codirector study said people making quite clear distinction think right wrong matters survey indicates almost half questioned think social security budget goes unemployment benefits fact account 6 per cent union membership fallen fifth past 18 years third workers union half questioned oppose secondary school selection 1984 figure 40 per cent survey also indicates 19 per cent men aged 25 34 live parents twice many women unsubscribe group send email forteanaunsubscribeegroupscom use yahoo groups subject httpdocsyahoocominfoterms wed 4 dec 2002 103617 0000 zzzzteana university boom creates era sexual tolerance