Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 15, No. 1, 1998, page 45
Perceived Current Involvement
Current awareness of student and staff cult involvement was reported at 18.2%, with only
11.7% reporting a staff member involved in a cult (see Table 3). Approximately 90% of
these staff members were part-time employees, such as resident assistants. Resident
involvement was reported higher, with 27.6% reporting awareness of a student involved in
cult activity. Staff currently dealing with students involved in cult activity was reported at
23.3%.
Staff Training
Only 50.3% of the respondents stated that their institution spends enough time on staff
training related to cults. This indicates a possible need to include cult awareness training
across the country to better prepare housing staff when they are confronted with students
or cult members on campus.
Perceived Probability of Future Cult Issues
Questions were asked related to future involvement in cult activity of students and staff. A
majority (62.7%) of CHOs believed that within the next 5 years a student in their residence
hall system would be involved in a cult (see Table 5). When asked about staff involvement,
20.6% responded that they believed a member of their staff would be involved in a cult.
Current student involvement was reported as “likely” to “probable” for 46.7% and current
staff involvement was reported as “likely” to “probable” for 11.6%.
Table 3
Student or Staff Involvement in Cult Activity N=414)
Question #Percentage
Yes No
5. Are you aware of student or staff on your
campus involved in a cult?
18.2 81.8
6. Has there ever been a staff member in
your department involved in a cult?
11.7 88.3
8. Do you have knowledge of residents in
your system being involved in cults?
27.6 72.4
9. Has any of the staff in your department
had to deal with cult members in the
resident hall?
23.3 76.7
Perceived Current Involvement
Current awareness of student and staff cult involvement was reported at 18.2%, with only
11.7% reporting a staff member involved in a cult (see Table 3). Approximately 90% of
these staff members were part-time employees, such as resident assistants. Resident
involvement was reported higher, with 27.6% reporting awareness of a student involved in
cult activity. Staff currently dealing with students involved in cult activity was reported at
23.3%.
Staff Training
Only 50.3% of the respondents stated that their institution spends enough time on staff
training related to cults. This indicates a possible need to include cult awareness training
across the country to better prepare housing staff when they are confronted with students
or cult members on campus.
Perceived Probability of Future Cult Issues
Questions were asked related to future involvement in cult activity of students and staff. A
majority (62.7%) of CHOs believed that within the next 5 years a student in their residence
hall system would be involved in a cult (see Table 5). When asked about staff involvement,
20.6% responded that they believed a member of their staff would be involved in a cult.
Current student involvement was reported as “likely” to “probable” for 46.7% and current
staff involvement was reported as “likely” to “probable” for 11.6%.
Table 3
Student or Staff Involvement in Cult Activity N=414)
Question #Percentage
Yes No
5. Are you aware of student or staff on your
campus involved in a cult?
18.2 81.8
6. Has there ever been a staff member in
your department involved in a cult?
11.7 88.3
8. Do you have knowledge of residents in
your system being involved in cults?
27.6 72.4
9. Has any of the staff in your department
had to deal with cult members in the
resident hall?
23.3 76.7
