
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 1, 1995                   TAG: 9503010028
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1 VIRGINIA   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE TECH CONNECTION

When political and business leaders call for stronger ties between the Roanoke Valley and Virginia Tech, they're talking mostly to themselves - well-to-do, college-educated white men. They're the ones most eager to yoke Tech to the valley; most other groups don't have an opinion on the subject.

Overall, the valley's views on Virginia Tech are divided. Not many people are against the idea, but a lot don't know what to think, or think things are fine the way they are.

What do you think about the relationship between Roanoke and Virginia Tech?

About right: 37%

Unsure 30%

Should be strengthened: 26%

Too strong 7%

A gender gap:

Men are more opinionated than women about the Tech connection, and those opinions generally are positive ones. The biggest group of women - 4 in 10 - say they don't have enough information to form an opinion.

Men:

About right: 42%

Should be strengthened: 31%

Unsure: 18%

Too strong: 9%

Women

Unsure: 38%

About right: 33%

Should be strengthened: 24%

Too strong: 5%

Who wants a stronger Tech connection?

The college-educated.

Those who have been to college are the ones most interested in strengthening the Tech-Roanoke relationship. Among those with only a high school diploma or less, 4 in 10 don't have an opinion.

EDUCATION

High school drop-outs: 15%

High school grads: 18%

Some college: 31%

College graduates: 42%

Advanced degrees: 44%

The affluent.

The more money someone makes, the more likely they are to want to see Roanoke's ties to Tech improved. Among those making less than $20,000, 4 in 10 don't have an opinion.

INCOME

Less than $10,000: 24%

$10,000-$19,999: 14%

$20,000-$29,999: 25%

$30,000-$39,999: 38%

$40,000 and up: 38%

GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFERENT?

Most of us think stronger ties with Virginia Tech would be a good thing. It's just tha many of us are ambivalent about how important it is to push for them.

Overall, what would we think the effect of stronger ties with Virginia Tech would be for the Roanoke Valley?

Postive: 64%

Negative: 7%

Unsure: 29%

Who says stronger ties would be a good thing?

72% of men, 58% of women.

67% of whites, 49% of blacks.

THE RIGHT STUFF?

Liberals and moderates feel strongest about pushing the Tech connection; conservatives are the most skeptical that it will amount to anything.

Who says Roanoke's ties with Tech should be strengthened?

Percentage of each group which answered yes:

Liberals 34%

Moderates 40%

Conservatives 23%

Would stronger ties be good or bad?

Among liberals:

83% positive

3% negative

14% unsure

Among moderates:

77% positive

5% negative

18% unsure

Among conservatives:

61% positive

9% negative

30% unsure

by CNB