Saturday, November 14, 2009
The Student Athlete: Too Priveleged?
Xavier Baisden
Student Athletes are some of the most privileged people on college campuses. They are typically given full ride scholarships that cover all costs associated with their education, free apparel for their school, priority in registering for classes, and generally breaks and opportunities not afforded to the average student. However, with the recent controversies regarding student athletes, the question that raises is: Are they afforded too many priveleges? And in turn does this lead to their recklessness in society or belief that they are above the law?
Recently, there have been multiple controversies involving college student athletes breaking rules, whether it be with the NCAA or the law. Most notably, three University of Tenessee were arrested and charged with attempted armed robbery after they attempted to rob people with a pellet gun at a local gas station. However, this was far from the first time that a student athlete has been implicated in a wrongdoing. Other prominent student athletes involved in wrong doings include Derrick Rose, Reggie Bush, and Dez Bryant. The constant involvement of student athletes in legal cases brings to the forefront the question: Do student athletes consider themselves above the law?
In order to keep the student athlete in line, more should be done to show them that they are not above the law. They should in fact have less privileges than the average student, due to them being essentially a paid representative of not only the program, but the university as a whole. They should be considered role models for others, and their actions should be representative of such.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Community Colleges Close Doors
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Morning Classes in Higher Education - Failed Cognitive System
People have their own moment of concentration. Some say they are night-timers, others say that they are a morning person. But when it comes to higher education everybody seems like night-timers. Morning sessions and lectures may ease out on afternoon hours of higher education students, due to most students’ failure to concentrate early in the morning, morning education seems inefficient.
Amount of concentration definitely corresponds to time we spend sleeping. According to the article “Morning Classes Fail to Facilitate Learning” written by staffs of The Pioneer, with the workloads and activities that college students are involved in, “it is impossible to get a necessary amount of sleep before an 8 am class.” Thus students find themselves in morning lectures trying to listen to what their professor is saying but it only result they get is input through one ear and output through the other. Due to these effects, said by staffs of The Pioneer, some colleges started abolishing 8:00am classes. But is this really necessary?
Morning classes seem like a waste of time for college students. With short amount of lecture time at college each classes should work towards being more efficient with amount of knowledge or skills they teach. However, getting rid of morning classes seems unreasonable as to fit large number of the students in the afternoon would also bring about lack of concentration. As a result, professors should manage morning classes as fun or active classes so that students find enthusiasm in their classes. Not only professors but also students should prepare themselves for morning classes rather than hanging out with friends the night before the morning classes.
P.S. Coffee and a short Jeopardy Quiz helps
Academic Freedom in Higher Education
Aimee Turner
Academic freedom is the right of the teacher and student to be free from external or institutional censorship or other forms of restriction in terms of the teaching, research and critique of the University's governance. This is assumed to be an essential characteristic of an institution of higher education. Academic freedom includes, for faculty and students, the right of faculty to full freedom in research and in the publication of results, freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects, and the right of faculty to be free from institutional censorship or discipline when they speak or write as citizens.
Although higher education institutions are thought of as places that exude academic freedom, the protection of academic freedom has been a key issue in higher education for centuries. There are many recent cases of the violation of academic freedom. A respected Egyptian sociologist was arrested for “defaming” Egypt and a prominent Iranian social scientist was sentenced to death for calling for democracy. International protests led to the Egyptian’s release and the lifting of the Iranian’s sentence in 2004; however, the immediate consequences of these professor’s actions did not honor the principle of academic freedom.
Universities cannot achieve their potential nor fully contribute to the emerging knowledge-based society without academic freedom. Even colleges and universities in western democracies face subtle but significant challenges from the privatization and commercialization of research and from the complexities of the information society. The goal of all higher education institutions is to research and discuss a wide spectrum issues that affect the human, world, and universal condition. From discussion of the beginning of life, war and peace, and the atomic structure of the atom, all of these subjects should be open to free discussion and research in order to better enlighten mankind.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Study Abroad...If You Can Afford It
Monday, November 9, 2009
Small Economy Means More Grad Students
Many have been talking of the effects the weak economy has had on the United States. The economy has effected many aspects of life, higher education being one of them. The economy's recession has marked a spiked increase in the number of graduate students in the United States. Could this due to the fact that employers are looking for the most qualified employees, and knowing this, employees are competitively earning higher degrees? Doubtful. Based on the general consensus of students, surveys have shown that students who finish undergraduate school go straight to graduate school because the job market is horrendous. The strength of the job market is directly proportional to the economy.
University of Illinois second year graduate student Andrew Stevens was one of the students surveyed and was further interviewed. He is currently studying aerospace engineering and graduated at a time with a relatively stable job market, but decided to get his masters anyways. He explains, "At the time (of my graduation), the job market was high. Shortly after, my friends started to get laid off," Stevens said. "So grad school was a smart economic decision for me." The University of Illinois recorded a record high 10,495 graduate students enrolled this semester, marking a 4.27 percent increase from last year's number of grad students.
This is not just a local Illinois issue. Acr0ss the nation, students are taking advantage of the weak economic times to earn higher degrees. Stewart Heiser, spokesman for the Council of Graduate Schools stated, "For this semester, applications to graduate schools for domestic students (from the U.S.) are up 8 percent." Either way, officials believe that it is a smart move for students to wait a while before joining the work force; furthering your education is a wise decision that will more than likely be beneficial in the future.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Take Your Time
Realistically, it takes about a year to adapt to what in a college environment. This time is where the habits that will stick around for the next 4, 5, or 6 years will be developed. It is much easier to slowly add more to your schedule than it is to be overloaded at the beginning and have to drop activities.
Many things about the "prototypical" college lifestyle can be delayed until one is comfortable. These things include relationships, pledging with a fraternity/sorority, joining different organizations in a leadership position, or just going out and partying. All of these things are integral to the college experience, however they should definitely be waited upon until one is ready to add these to their workloads.
Many people come into college planning on partying it up, and doing everything they have always envisioned when they thought about college as soon as possible. However, it is very important to take your time, and keep your grades up, to make your college experience the best it can be.