Well, I chose this week to work on the Honors Blog because I thought that it would be a great week. My birthday was Thursday, the big 19. Of course it was fun, but upon returning to school I was shocked with bad/good news. My finals start Monday. Looking at the calendar I was anticipating for two weeks to study and prepare, but I come to find out that, instead I have five days!
It would not be an understatement to say that I am surely the biggest procrastinator in the WORLD! I'm sure many people feel this way, and it's not only an honors program thing, but especially honors kids do it. We know we have time, and we know we can wait until the very last minute, and when we do wait our best work comes out, or so I've learned. I know the advisers do not want to know this, but it's true. And in this case, the week before finals, I have two papers and a lab due all within two days. And not to add on to the stress of this hectic week, my papers are for my honors classes so I'm trying to impress.
So far this semester, I have done pretty well. I'm expecting good grades, so far, and I've had a good time. These last few weeks have gone by so fast, it's hard to stay focused on all the work to be done still. I honestly did not realize until Monday that I had only one week until finals. But ,I know that I can do it, just as I have done it before. But I guess I should stop waiting until the last minute to do things, I figure that out in the Spring. =]
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Friday, November 9, 2007
It's easy to be green
My apologies for the lack of blogging the last few days, life has been pretty hectic. I decided that for my last blog I wanted to write about something that hopefully will lead to something good. Recycling.
I live in Fenn Tower with three other girls in my room. As college students, we drink a lot of soda and a lot more water. Usually we go through about 2 cases of water each week. As we started drinking this water we realized how quickly the number of water bottles would pile up. Some days I would come back from class and start cleaning the room only to find 10-15 water bottles in the living room. So, we did what any other board college students might do, we decided to start collecting the water bottles and taking them to a recycling center. About a week ago we had all these bottles in garbage bags sitting in our room and I decided that it would be a fun idea to make something out of them. (Procrastination techniques at their finest.) I discovered that we had saved close to 300 bottles since the beginning of school. So, with some effort, a lot of bottles falling over, and a lot more duct tape, I built a water bottle pyramid that is now being displayed in our front room.
As humorous as this may be, the reality behind the situation is very important. If you look at the statistics, you will understand how important it is that we recycle. According to a major Austrailian news source, packaging for water bottles worldwide used 2.7 million tons of plastic last year and 1.5 million barrels of crude oil in America alone. That is a lot of wasted material on something we pay for when we can get it for free out of a faucet. Now, I do understand that we live in Cleveland and that the water here isn't always the greatest, so there is something else we can do. Recycle. It's as easy as saving up the water bottles, pop cans, glass bottles, paper products, anything that you can...and recylcing them. Simple. Even though saving 300 bottles may not seem like enough, if you consider that 300 is not even the extent of the bottles of water that the 4 of us have consumed, we could have saved close to 500 bottles just in our first few months here at CSU.
All I have to ask of you is to make an effort. Throw away your pop bottles in the designated recycling bins around campus, take them to a recycling center, do something other than just throw it away. People say it's not always easy being green, it's not easy to save an environment that is already ruined. I say that people need to have a more optimistic outlook and start trying and hoping for the best.
I wish you all the best, have a great long weekend and thanks for reading.
Natalie
I live in Fenn Tower with three other girls in my room. As college students, we drink a lot of soda and a lot more water. Usually we go through about 2 cases of water each week. As we started drinking this water we realized how quickly the number of water bottles would pile up. Some days I would come back from class and start cleaning the room only to find 10-15 water bottles in the living room. So, we did what any other board college students might do, we decided to start collecting the water bottles and taking them to a recycling center. About a week ago we had all these bottles in garbage bags sitting in our room and I decided that it would be a fun idea to make something out of them. (Procrastination techniques at their finest.) I discovered that we had saved close to 300 bottles since the beginning of school. So, with some effort, a lot of bottles falling over, and a lot more duct tape, I built a water bottle pyramid that is now being displayed in our front room.
As humorous as this may be, the reality behind the situation is very important. If you look at the statistics, you will understand how important it is that we recycle. According to a major Austrailian news source, packaging for water bottles worldwide used 2.7 million tons of plastic last year and 1.5 million barrels of crude oil in America alone. That is a lot of wasted material on something we pay for when we can get it for free out of a faucet. Now, I do understand that we live in Cleveland and that the water here isn't always the greatest, so there is something else we can do. Recycle. It's as easy as saving up the water bottles, pop cans, glass bottles, paper products, anything that you can...and recylcing them. Simple. Even though saving 300 bottles may not seem like enough, if you consider that 300 is not even the extent of the bottles of water that the 4 of us have consumed, we could have saved close to 500 bottles just in our first few months here at CSU.
All I have to ask of you is to make an effort. Throw away your pop bottles in the designated recycling bins around campus, take them to a recycling center, do something other than just throw it away. People say it's not always easy being green, it's not easy to save an environment that is already ruined. I say that people need to have a more optimistic outlook and start trying and hoping for the best.
I wish you all the best, have a great long weekend and thanks for reading.
Natalie
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Habits and Opportunities
I’ve decided that for today’s blog I’ll write about something that’s a little less “in your face,” unlike the feminism rant that I had yesterday. Today I want to write about habits.
As humans, we are all creatures of habit. We like things to be constant and normal, with some variations here and there. We eat the same foods, drink the same drinks, follow sleep patterns, and we try, for the most part, to keep ourselves on a somewhat routine schedule. This is not necessarily a bad thing in most cases, having something constant makes the world seem safer and easier to all of us. I know that I enjoy having a schedule to follow when it comes to my classes and work, it just makes life seem a little bit simpler. (And as we all know, life is not usually a simple thing.) However, I’ve come to find that habit can also hurt us in a way. Habit takes away opportunities, and that is what I’ve chosen to talk about today.
Stop and think for a minute, think about how it is that you walk from class to class each day. Do you follow the same pattern? Do you take the same set of stairs, walk down the same hallways, and pass the same people? Most of us find the easiest path to take from place to place and then follow that path every time we have to go there. This makes sense, it is easy and habitual. Now stop and think again- if you were to break a simple habit, like walking from class to class, is it possible that you could gain new opportunities? Absolutely. Think about it, if we were to all take different paths to class, we would pass new people in the hallways, gaining new opportunities to meet new people. You might walk past a bulletin board with a flyer that you’ve never seen before, giving you yet another opportunity to meet people or do something new. Doing something as simple as changing the way you walk to class once in a while can open up an entire world of new opportunities.
Of course, walking to class isn’t the only example, doing something different like eating lunch at a different time or with a different group of people can give you more opportunities. Even the idea of eating a different food, something you’ve never tasted before, that is breaking the cycle of being a habitual person. Even doing something outside of your comfort level will give you opportunities. I am a pretty shy person, but I try to talk to people that I don’t know so that I can make new friends. This puts me outside my comfort level, but I’ve met lots of great friends in college because of it.
My challenge to all of you is to do something different today or tomorrow. Walk on a different path to class, make an effort to talk to someone new, eat something new at Viking Hall, go to the rec center at a different time…do something different. You never know how much your life might change from a single difference in one day. You could meet someone you never knew existed, but that could turn out to be your new best friend in a couple of weeks. Do something outside of your comfort zone, you never know what good could come from it.
As humans, we are all creatures of habit. We like things to be constant and normal, with some variations here and there. We eat the same foods, drink the same drinks, follow sleep patterns, and we try, for the most part, to keep ourselves on a somewhat routine schedule. This is not necessarily a bad thing in most cases, having something constant makes the world seem safer and easier to all of us. I know that I enjoy having a schedule to follow when it comes to my classes and work, it just makes life seem a little bit simpler. (And as we all know, life is not usually a simple thing.) However, I’ve come to find that habit can also hurt us in a way. Habit takes away opportunities, and that is what I’ve chosen to talk about today.
Stop and think for a minute, think about how it is that you walk from class to class each day. Do you follow the same pattern? Do you take the same set of stairs, walk down the same hallways, and pass the same people? Most of us find the easiest path to take from place to place and then follow that path every time we have to go there. This makes sense, it is easy and habitual. Now stop and think again- if you were to break a simple habit, like walking from class to class, is it possible that you could gain new opportunities? Absolutely. Think about it, if we were to all take different paths to class, we would pass new people in the hallways, gaining new opportunities to meet new people. You might walk past a bulletin board with a flyer that you’ve never seen before, giving you yet another opportunity to meet people or do something new. Doing something as simple as changing the way you walk to class once in a while can open up an entire world of new opportunities.
Of course, walking to class isn’t the only example, doing something different like eating lunch at a different time or with a different group of people can give you more opportunities. Even the idea of eating a different food, something you’ve never tasted before, that is breaking the cycle of being a habitual person. Even doing something outside of your comfort level will give you opportunities. I am a pretty shy person, but I try to talk to people that I don’t know so that I can make new friends. This puts me outside my comfort level, but I’ve met lots of great friends in college because of it.
My challenge to all of you is to do something different today or tomorrow. Walk on a different path to class, make an effort to talk to someone new, eat something new at Viking Hall, go to the rec center at a different time…do something different. You never know how much your life might change from a single difference in one day. You could meet someone you never knew existed, but that could turn out to be your new best friend in a couple of weeks. Do something outside of your comfort zone, you never know what good could come from it.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Feminism and Today's World
Before you all judge me and stop reading this you should know that I'm not just some crazy feminist who hates all men. However, today in my Race, Class, and Gender class we watched a movie about cultures where women are treated as property rather than as humans. It was called "Shackled Women" and it was extremely disturbing to me. I know that CSU is a very diverse school, and absolutely none of this is meant to offend anyone of different cultures, it is just how the movie portrayed these cultures that made me think. I realize that not all cultures are like America's and that this is normal for many people, but this is from a Westerner's perspective.
The movie discussed, for the most part, eastern women and their lives. It discussed things like bride burnings, rapes, and women killing their second born daughters because they would be such an economic burden, or as the movie called it, an economic impossibility. There was a woman who told the story of her three children. She had three children, now she has two. Her husband killed their second born because she was a girl. Not only did they never discuss what they would do if they had another girl before she was born, but he did not even tell his wife that he was going to kill their daughter until after he did so. Disgusting. I know that this is a cultural thing, but honestly, where is the compassion in the world? Just because a baby is born as a girl does not mean she deserves to die. Not only that, but the movie discussed rape and institutionalization. In Pakistan there is a law that states a woman is only raped if there are 4 males to bare witness to it. So she can report the rape, but it will only be considered rape if she has 4 men who will testify as witnesses. If she does not have these 4 men, she is then thrown in jail for having sex outside of her marriage. So women do not report rapes nearly as often as they should for fear of being prosecuted for a crime commited against them. Is there no justice? Honestly. Even with that, there is the problem of domestic violence, which is a constant in these countries. Bride burning is a phenomina that happens constantly. If a woman's family can not pay her dowry (which is illegal, and usually constitutes a family's entire life savings) or if she is not performing as she should, the man's entire family will burn her to death. My professor said something about families throwing acid on the faces of wives and blaming it on a kitchen fire just so the man can get a new wife and thus a new dowry. Obviously this is all a cultural thing, but this occurs in America as well. How often do we hear about domestic violence because a woman is not doing what she should? How often do we hear jokes about how women should be "barefoot and pregnant, standing in the kitchen"? We can make these jokes as often as we want, but it doesn't make them right. Women have come such a far way in Western society, but in Eastern society the cultures are 100 years behind the progress that we have made. I will never take for granted again the idea that I can marry whomever I want to marry. These girls are married off at 11 years old to a man that is much older than her and to a man she has never met before her wedding day. Girls are institutionalized for becoming upset over the idea of arranged marriages. On their wedding days they are forced to be completely quiet and helpless, as women should be in their marriages. They must act completely dependant on others to show that they will be the same way for their husbands. I've always considered myself to be a pretty strong willed person, I couldn't imagine having to submit myself to that kind of torture. It has always interested me as to the reason girls want to be skinny. Is it to attract men? Not to be healthy, not so that they have self confidence, in most cases (or so I've come to find) it's so that men will want them. Even in Western society it is all about pleasing the man. It would be hypocritical of me to say that I have never done this, because I have, but it doesn't make it better. The fact of the matter here is that the world as a whole seems to be largely patriarchal, this is never going to change. Women take on their husband's last names, they are expected to cook and clean for their husbands, perform the sexual duties of being a wife, but it is very rare to hear about a man doing the same. Granted, stay at home dads are becoming more and more common, but not common enough to say that it is making any sort of a difference. Think about the idea of prostitution, the entire idea is to please men. Women are sold into sexual slavery just so that a man can have the pleasure of owning a woman, whether it be for an hour or a lifetime. Little girls are taken from their homes or sold by their parents just so they can entire a lifetime of sexual abuse and slavery. This is a reality, not just something you see in the movies or you read about online- it's completely real. Every day thousands of girls are kidnapped, as young as 5 years old, just so that some perverted man can own a woman. You don't hear about this with women owning little boys (I'm sure this happens occasionally, but the bulk of it is the other way around.) One thing I have learned about throughout the last few years is that there are a lot of things that are going on in the world that most of us know about but we never really stop to consider. I have never stopped to consider the fact that women will kill their own babies because a culture is so unorthodox that it is considered normal instead of looked down upon. Girls, the next time you stop to think "Hmm, I wonder if my boyfriend would like this on me," or tell yourself that you need to be skinny in order to get a man, just remember that there are women all around the world who are so unfortunate that they actually have ceremonies if a girl survives to the age of 18 because it is so rare. And boys- don't take your girls for granted, love them for who they are, curves, imperfections and all. This is not a perfect world, but if we would all stop being so judgemental we would be much closer to perfect than we are now. Getting past these ideas is the first step.
The movie discussed, for the most part, eastern women and their lives. It discussed things like bride burnings, rapes, and women killing their second born daughters because they would be such an economic burden, or as the movie called it, an economic impossibility. There was a woman who told the story of her three children. She had three children, now she has two. Her husband killed their second born because she was a girl. Not only did they never discuss what they would do if they had another girl before she was born, but he did not even tell his wife that he was going to kill their daughter until after he did so. Disgusting. I know that this is a cultural thing, but honestly, where is the compassion in the world? Just because a baby is born as a girl does not mean she deserves to die. Not only that, but the movie discussed rape and institutionalization. In Pakistan there is a law that states a woman is only raped if there are 4 males to bare witness to it. So she can report the rape, but it will only be considered rape if she has 4 men who will testify as witnesses. If she does not have these 4 men, she is then thrown in jail for having sex outside of her marriage. So women do not report rapes nearly as often as they should for fear of being prosecuted for a crime commited against them. Is there no justice? Honestly. Even with that, there is the problem of domestic violence, which is a constant in these countries. Bride burning is a phenomina that happens constantly. If a woman's family can not pay her dowry (which is illegal, and usually constitutes a family's entire life savings) or if she is not performing as she should, the man's entire family will burn her to death. My professor said something about families throwing acid on the faces of wives and blaming it on a kitchen fire just so the man can get a new wife and thus a new dowry. Obviously this is all a cultural thing, but this occurs in America as well. How often do we hear about domestic violence because a woman is not doing what she should? How often do we hear jokes about how women should be "barefoot and pregnant, standing in the kitchen"? We can make these jokes as often as we want, but it doesn't make them right. Women have come such a far way in Western society, but in Eastern society the cultures are 100 years behind the progress that we have made. I will never take for granted again the idea that I can marry whomever I want to marry. These girls are married off at 11 years old to a man that is much older than her and to a man she has never met before her wedding day. Girls are institutionalized for becoming upset over the idea of arranged marriages. On their wedding days they are forced to be completely quiet and helpless, as women should be in their marriages. They must act completely dependant on others to show that they will be the same way for their husbands. I've always considered myself to be a pretty strong willed person, I couldn't imagine having to submit myself to that kind of torture. It has always interested me as to the reason girls want to be skinny. Is it to attract men? Not to be healthy, not so that they have self confidence, in most cases (or so I've come to find) it's so that men will want them. Even in Western society it is all about pleasing the man. It would be hypocritical of me to say that I have never done this, because I have, but it doesn't make it better. The fact of the matter here is that the world as a whole seems to be largely patriarchal, this is never going to change. Women take on their husband's last names, they are expected to cook and clean for their husbands, perform the sexual duties of being a wife, but it is very rare to hear about a man doing the same. Granted, stay at home dads are becoming more and more common, but not common enough to say that it is making any sort of a difference. Think about the idea of prostitution, the entire idea is to please men. Women are sold into sexual slavery just so that a man can have the pleasure of owning a woman, whether it be for an hour or a lifetime. Little girls are taken from their homes or sold by their parents just so they can entire a lifetime of sexual abuse and slavery. This is a reality, not just something you see in the movies or you read about online- it's completely real. Every day thousands of girls are kidnapped, as young as 5 years old, just so that some perverted man can own a woman. You don't hear about this with women owning little boys (I'm sure this happens occasionally, but the bulk of it is the other way around.) One thing I have learned about throughout the last few years is that there are a lot of things that are going on in the world that most of us know about but we never really stop to consider. I have never stopped to consider the fact that women will kill their own babies because a culture is so unorthodox that it is considered normal instead of looked down upon. Girls, the next time you stop to think "Hmm, I wonder if my boyfriend would like this on me," or tell yourself that you need to be skinny in order to get a man, just remember that there are women all around the world who are so unfortunate that they actually have ceremonies if a girl survives to the age of 18 because it is so rare. And boys- don't take your girls for granted, love them for who they are, curves, imperfections and all. This is not a perfect world, but if we would all stop being so judgemental we would be much closer to perfect than we are now. Getting past these ideas is the first step.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Back to Business
The trip to California ws all too short. Both of my children, Jack and Molly, have chosen to go to large schools; Ohio State and the University of California. We are great supporters of public universities and I believe that there are great academic offerings at the three that we are associated with (CSU, OSU, UCSB). my husband also completed his masters at CSU. The culture at all of them are different, the geography different, but college life, is college life. What I didn't explain in last nights blog about UCSB, is that the campus is on a peninsula along the Pacific coast, about 8 miles north of Santa Barbara, California. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Santa Inez Mountains on the east. The mornings are very often foggy, and by late morning the sun is shining. If you have ever seen the movie "Gorilla's in the Mist", that's what the fog on the mountains looks like. The other thing that is very different about UCSB is that just about everyone of the 18,000 students has a BT cruiser bicycle. It's a bicycle that has kind if high handle bars with a basket where you sit sort of straight up and they are all really vibrant colors. To see all the bikes parked, you would think you were dropped by a time machine into another world. It's kind of surreal. But everyone has one; the campus has traffic jams between classes and if you are not careful, you just might get run over. It's really something to watch a bicycle collision, it happens more often than you might think. The best sports team there is guys soccer and womens and mens basketball.
This is my last blog. I hope that everyone takes an opportunity to be a part of the honors blog. It's worth the time.
Have a great rest of the semester.
Barbara Reitman
This is my last blog. I hope that everyone takes an opportunity to be a part of the honors blog. It's worth the time.
Have a great rest of the semester.
Barbara Reitman
Hello from UCSB
From the west coast to the north coast, hello from California! I am visiting my daughter at the University of California in Santa Barbara. This happens to be family weekend here on campus. So the campus is a buzz with special acivities.
Molly is living on a theme floor, the Asian Pacific Island floor, because her major is Mandarin Chinese and she thought it would help her learn more about culture and have some built in language tutors. And she was right! Her roommate is Katy who is from Santa Ana. Her friends are great! A couple of her floor mates do speak Mandarine, including her RA, Anna.
We spent Friday night in Santa Barbara on the famous State Street, and today we had lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant, went shopping for normal college stuff (clothes and FOOD). Because California is so far, Molly will only be home at Thanksgiving, so I am glad I was able to come to visit for this weekend. It has also been a great break after having just finished the NASW conference. We are having a really great time and I will have to come back to Cleveland tomorrow morning. Have a great upcoming week.
Barbara Reitman
Molly is living on a theme floor, the Asian Pacific Island floor, because her major is Mandarin Chinese and she thought it would help her learn more about culture and have some built in language tutors. And she was right! Her roommate is Katy who is from Santa Ana. Her friends are great! A couple of her floor mates do speak Mandarine, including her RA, Anna.
We spent Friday night in Santa Barbara on the famous State Street, and today we had lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant, went shopping for normal college stuff (clothes and FOOD). Because California is so far, Molly will only be home at Thanksgiving, so I am glad I was able to come to visit for this weekend. It has also been a great break after having just finished the NASW conference. We are having a really great time and I will have to come back to Cleveland tomorrow morning. Have a great upcoming week.
Barbara Reitman
Friday, November 2, 2007
Thankful for November!
Octotober was a month that couldn't have passed fast enough. The last couple of weeks I have been furiously busy getting ready to present a paper at the Annual Ohio Conference for the National Association Of Social Workers. For all University Honors Students that are Social Work majors, this is required as part of our program. My presentation, "The Subtle Side of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome" highlighted how difficult it can be to accurately diagnose the disorder, how damanging drinking alcohol during pregnancy can be to the unborn child, how uneducated the general population is about the damaging effect alcohol has on the unborn child and that early interventions are nessary to help minimize the deficits children suffer as a result of this lifelong disability.Preparing for this presentation was a daunting task. But, if we never do anything outside our comfort zone, never challenge ourselves to go further, then we miss an opportunity to grow, academically, professionally and personally. I am glad I succeeded and feel very proud of what I was able to accomplish.Now that it is behind me, I can concentrate on something fun. Tomorrow I am on a plane to Santa Barbara, California to visit my daughter. She is studying Mandarine Chinese and Spanish. I am really looking forward to a weekend away; miles away from any power point program that might becon me.BTW...graduation does exist. I received my completed application for graduation in the mail, got signatures for all my final classes for next semester and am ready with schedule in hand for 11/5/2007 when I can register for my final semester in my undergraduate career at CSU. Just in time, because graduate applications are staring me in the face! Have a great Friday and I am planning to wriate again from Sunny California.
Barbara
Barbara
Thursday, September 27, 2007
I'm sorry for posting so late. At the present time I am at a Conference on Community Building in Switzerland. The city of Luzern is my location.
Being here is great!
The Conference has some key speakers and the rest of the time the participants present further information on the topic of the original paper in there allowed time frame with visual aids. These were submitted earlier.
So much for the facts.
The people are friendly but reserved; with this I am referring to the Conference hosts. All the attendees have divided themselves into the foreigners fro outside Europe and Europeans. An exception are 2 people from Spain.
That is a bit strange, but I enjoy all the various people I am meeting here.
Only 2 other people from the U.S.A. are here and they came late and are leaving tomorrow.
This morning I went with a few others on a cruise on the VIER WALDSTETTER SEE. a lake right in front of the Conference Center. I had a great time. On the North side of the lake are the higher mountains and the snow covered peaks look magnificent. These are always snow covered. I will try to take a cable car up to the skiing are before leaving.
Being here makes the whole world seem smaller. Everyone is from some place different. It is a good feeling. When in a setting like this it seems so simple to work out life issues and world issues. Most people are in the social work field and have an interest in improving situations for populations. Would it ever be possible to have social workers as presidents ect.? I know it won't happen, but provides an interesting daydream.
Everyone had to make their own hotel accommodations; the University hosting this event has no housing and we do not get to spend time with the students or visit the institution. This is a bit strange, but they do not want interruptions in their scheduled classes.
My hotel is in walking distance form the Conference and is in the old part of town. It is family owned and has 16 rooms, mine is on the 4th floor and I get to walk up 5 flights of stairs. Good exercise!
For the next month I will not complain about the cost of anything, since Switzerland is the most expensive country I have ever been in. It is not part of the European Union and therefore kept it's own currency, the Swiss Franc. For a cup, and this is a cup with no refills and not a mug, of coffee the cost is at least $4 and a small bottle of soda or water to go is between $3 and $4. Eating is outrageous, but wonderful. Before I came I was surprised that the Conference fee was over $500, but now I can see why. Meals are not included, but we do receive coffee and cake in the afternoon. Tonight s an optional dinner, but we have to pay $65 to attend.
I will go, because I am so far in the hole right now, that I will go to the only evening function organized through the conference.
Even though I will be in money trouble after this, I am glad I came. It is a once in a life time experience and I am expanding my views and opinions. That is after all why I came. Now I will return to a meeting, I am using a laptop of a professor from Ghana. To save money we bought lunch at a grocery store: bread, cheese and fruit. It was great. We had a fun time.
Being here is great!
The Conference has some key speakers and the rest of the time the participants present further information on the topic of the original paper in there allowed time frame with visual aids. These were submitted earlier.
So much for the facts.
The people are friendly but reserved; with this I am referring to the Conference hosts. All the attendees have divided themselves into the foreigners fro outside Europe and Europeans. An exception are 2 people from Spain.
That is a bit strange, but I enjoy all the various people I am meeting here.
Only 2 other people from the U.S.A. are here and they came late and are leaving tomorrow.
This morning I went with a few others on a cruise on the VIER WALDSTETTER SEE. a lake right in front of the Conference Center. I had a great time. On the North side of the lake are the higher mountains and the snow covered peaks look magnificent. These are always snow covered. I will try to take a cable car up to the skiing are before leaving.
Being here makes the whole world seem smaller. Everyone is from some place different. It is a good feeling. When in a setting like this it seems so simple to work out life issues and world issues. Most people are in the social work field and have an interest in improving situations for populations. Would it ever be possible to have social workers as presidents ect.? I know it won't happen, but provides an interesting daydream.
Everyone had to make their own hotel accommodations; the University hosting this event has no housing and we do not get to spend time with the students or visit the institution. This is a bit strange, but they do not want interruptions in their scheduled classes.
My hotel is in walking distance form the Conference and is in the old part of town. It is family owned and has 16 rooms, mine is on the 4th floor and I get to walk up 5 flights of stairs. Good exercise!
For the next month I will not complain about the cost of anything, since Switzerland is the most expensive country I have ever been in. It is not part of the European Union and therefore kept it's own currency, the Swiss Franc. For a cup, and this is a cup with no refills and not a mug, of coffee the cost is at least $4 and a small bottle of soda or water to go is between $3 and $4. Eating is outrageous, but wonderful. Before I came I was surprised that the Conference fee was over $500, but now I can see why. Meals are not included, but we do receive coffee and cake in the afternoon. Tonight s an optional dinner, but we have to pay $65 to attend.
I will go, because I am so far in the hole right now, that I will go to the only evening function organized through the conference.
Even though I will be in money trouble after this, I am glad I came. It is a once in a life time experience and I am expanding my views and opinions. That is after all why I came. Now I will return to a meeting, I am using a laptop of a professor from Ghana. To save money we bought lunch at a grocery store: bread, cheese and fruit. It was great. We had a fun time.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sorry But...
Hey sorry for not typing to ya'll yesterday I have been a bit under the weather. Which brings up another wonderful way to take a break from your classes. Get sick. Not really. But, I could not go to classes for two days because I was contagious. well any way I am rambling. Take care all of you AND DO NOT GET SICK. -- Posted Wed 9/12/07
So in the third week of classes excitement is winding down and we are longing to go some where any where to get away from CSU (I am of course referring to the people in the dorms). I would recommend taking a drive to Pennsylvania( if you drive of course) ,it is so beautiful there you don't even have to stop to take it all in. For those of you who do not drive take a walk, down Euclid that is, go towards the theatre district and keep going until you just are tired of walking you would be surprised about the things you notice when your not streaking past in a bus. And if you drive but do not want to leave the state just take a drive. the things you will discover when you just take a random road and take notice of the things around you. Well thats all for today. Come back again tomorrow when I discuss more things you can do to take a break from the stress of class.
Posted by CSU Honors Program at 6:06 PM 0 comments
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Posted by CSU Honors Program at 6:06 PM 0 comments
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Friday, July 27, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
What if...?
I was going to try and come up with a brand new idea, but after lunch today I decided against it. This is a little something that I posted on facebook almost two months ago, and I'm going to share it here too, because that's how important to me it is.
Basically this is where my life is right now, and thanks to some unexpected events, I find myself in a situation that I never want to walk away from. For those who don't know, the honors program at CSU has had a profound effect on my life. It was a last resort that I even applied because my top schools did not send me letters back (for reasons I care not to share at this moment). And aside from giving me an education that I feel rivals what I would have received at the other schools, it helped me find a very special person in my life, and for that I am the most grateful. And so here it is, the story of the past two years (approximately).
For most of our lives, most of us wind up asking what if…?
What if I don’t study for my test tomorrow?
What if the cheeseburger isn’t as good as you told me it was?
What if she says no?
You know, those questions. The little ones that always ask the right thing to make us second guess ourselves until the opportunity to find out really has passed us by. I used to ask those questions all the time. And then in the spring of 2006 that started to change. I met a girl, who, although she didn’t know it, changed the way I see everything. I found myself being more confident. I found myself constantly in a good mood. And I found myself feeling a way that I had never felt before.
At first, I didn’t know how to react. I couldn’t understand what it was. And when I figured it out, I started asking all the What if…? questions again.
What if she stops spending time with me for some reason?
What if there’s already someone else?
What if she doesn’t feel the same way about me?
But for some reason, instead of letting those questions nag at me until my opportunity passed, I shut them out and spoke out. I let her know how I felt, regardless of the answer. Many of have heard the saying “Well, the worst that can happen is that they say no” and it definitely applies.
And even though the answer I got back when I told her how I felt was not what I had expected or wanted, it didn’t hit me as much as it possibly could have. Sure, last summer wasn’t exactly the best summer of my life, but I felt that I had learned something through the whole experience. And I thought that when fall came again I would have another chance.
As it turns out, the fact that I told her allowed her to see what had been staring at her for the past 6 months or so. That fall semester both of us ended up on the same page, and I have to say that if I had listened to all of the what-if’s, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am two semesters away from graduating, and I will have spent the majority of my college years with the love of my life, even though it took her longer to realize it than it did me ( :) ). The beginning of September (Semtember 1 to be exact), will mark one year of our relationship, and I’ve never been happier. I love you Jess!
So don’t ask yourself what if…? Just go out there and take life as it comes. It works… trust me.
T. Majercik Jr.
Basically this is where my life is right now, and thanks to some unexpected events, I find myself in a situation that I never want to walk away from. For those who don't know, the honors program at CSU has had a profound effect on my life. It was a last resort that I even applied because my top schools did not send me letters back (for reasons I care not to share at this moment). And aside from giving me an education that I feel rivals what I would have received at the other schools, it helped me find a very special person in my life, and for that I am the most grateful. And so here it is, the story of the past two years (approximately).
For most of our lives, most of us wind up asking what if…?
What if I don’t study for my test tomorrow?
What if the cheeseburger isn’t as good as you told me it was?
What if she says no?
You know, those questions. The little ones that always ask the right thing to make us second guess ourselves until the opportunity to find out really has passed us by. I used to ask those questions all the time. And then in the spring of 2006 that started to change. I met a girl, who, although she didn’t know it, changed the way I see everything. I found myself being more confident. I found myself constantly in a good mood. And I found myself feeling a way that I had never felt before.
At first, I didn’t know how to react. I couldn’t understand what it was. And when I figured it out, I started asking all the What if…? questions again.
What if she stops spending time with me for some reason?
What if there’s already someone else?
What if she doesn’t feel the same way about me?
But for some reason, instead of letting those questions nag at me until my opportunity passed, I shut them out and spoke out. I let her know how I felt, regardless of the answer. Many of have heard the saying “Well, the worst that can happen is that they say no” and it definitely applies.
And even though the answer I got back when I told her how I felt was not what I had expected or wanted, it didn’t hit me as much as it possibly could have. Sure, last summer wasn’t exactly the best summer of my life, but I felt that I had learned something through the whole experience. And I thought that when fall came again I would have another chance.
As it turns out, the fact that I told her allowed her to see what had been staring at her for the past 6 months or so. That fall semester both of us ended up on the same page, and I have to say that if I had listened to all of the what-if’s, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am two semesters away from graduating, and I will have spent the majority of my college years with the love of my life, even though it took her longer to realize it than it did me ( :) ). The beginning of September (Semtember 1 to be exact), will mark one year of our relationship, and I’ve never been happier. I love you Jess!
So don’t ask yourself what if…? Just go out there and take life as it comes. It works… trust me.
T. Majercik Jr.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
World of My Dreams
Ok, this one was a little easier. Maybe because I took a step away from being uncharacteristically serious and stepped over into the not-quite-that-serious section. This almost seems like it should be a friday or end of the week entry, but oh well.
I don't know about anyone else, but I've often wondered what it would be like to live in a world that was just like a video game. I've though about it, dreamt about it, but never tried it (and it's probably a good thing I haven't). So today I thought I'd go through a couple of possible video game scenarios that wouldn't be such a good idea to try (or maybe they wouldn't even happen) in real life.
1. Have you ever gotten to the point where you've gotten so angry that you just want to kill something... or someone? Well, if life was a video game, you could do just that. Yep, that guy in the apartment above you who plays his music at earsplitting volumes until all hours of the morning. Just walk right up and BAM! You'd feel better almost immediately because you wouldn't have to deal with it anymore. And he'd be ok too because as soon as he "died" he'd have to wait between 5 and 10 seconds, and then he'd respawn in a different location, as if nothing had ever happened.
Why it wouldn't work in reality - Um, people die when you shoot them... it's true. In fact, statistics show that 100% of mortal wounds are fatal to those who receive them (yeah, and 80% of stats are made up too, I know). And I'm pretty sure. Yep, you will probably go to jail forever (at the least) if you do this. Life is not a video game. Don't kill anyone, please.
2. Throw your financial worries away! If life was a game, every person in the entire world would be rich! All you'd have to is grab your sword, whip, gun, nunchuks, or whatever and roam about in the forest for a few hours. For some reason, every type of woodland creature is monstrously overgrown (and therefore needs to be killed immediately) and usually has about 10 bucks on their "person" at all time (or Gil for those who know the lingo). If you do this for a few weeks, a few hours a day, you'd have all the money you could ever want! And if you start to run out, go right back into the forest and kill some more creatures. Extinction does not exist in video games. Strangely though, even though you're unbelievably rich, you wouldn't buy a car. In fact you'd still prefer just to walk everywhere for some reason. I don't know why, that's just the way it is.
Why it wouldn't work in reality - Well, firstly, woodland creatures are not ginormous. You don't go into the forest and see 20 foot long caterpillars and 8 foot tall wolves running freely through the wilderness. Second, animals don't carry money. At least none of the ones that I've ever seen did. And lastly, creatures do not spontaneously generate to make up for the ones that you just killed. So you couldn't do this forever, and I'm pretty sure hunting forest creatures is not a permanent profession anyways (and it costs money). As fun as it sounds, this is impossible.
3. Unfortunately, tragedy would befall you on just about every important occasion in your life. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc. You name it, and something bad is going to happen. Something like your boyfriend or girlfriend gets kidnapped, your village gets burned to the ground, or a giant monster shows up and eats all the cake. You know, real tragedies. And unsuspiciously, it will always turn out to be the work of some big, evil, multi-million dollar corporation (no, not Sony). Then you'd grab your 3 closest friends (or just 1 and hope you meet some people on the way) and grab your swords and charge headlong into the teeth of the big corporation and crush them and all of their guards with automatic weapons.
Why it wouldn't work in reality - Well first off, it would be pretty crappy if all of your important moments were ruined by giant robots with nuclear missile launchers or your house kept getting torched. Not to mention the money you'd have to continuously spend on repairs would be through the roof, and you couldn't just go into the forest and kill all the squirrels and take their wallets. And also, you can't run straight at guards with automatic weapons and expect to kill them with your swords and clubs without getting hit by a rain of bullets. It's not possible, even in the most illogical sense. Why would you try that?
4. Finally, sleep would be effectively eliminated from everyday life. Yep, in video games, it isn't necessary at all. You go to bed, lie down for about 3 seconds while some sort of cheesy lullaby song plays. And when you wake up (3 seconds later) it will be morning and you will be full of energy. As a bonus, any wounds that you may have taken beforehand (from fighting forest creatures of course) will be completely healed, and you won't even remember the confrontations. This is all true of course unless something important is supposed to happen in the middle of the "night". In which case you will sleep for slightly longer (maybe 5 seconds), and when you wake up it will still be dark, AND you will complain about being tired and grumbling about what could've possibly caused the ruckus that interrupted your sleep.
Why it wouldn't work in reality - Well, the nightlife in downtown areas lasts a little more than 3 seconds last time I checked, that in and of itself belies the notion that nighttime lasts all of 3 seconds (like it does in video games). And also, I don't know if it's even possible, but I don't think anyone who only got 3 seconds of sleep would be very refreshed and chipper. In fact, I'd wager that they'd be very, very irritable.
Well, I'm sure I could keep going forever, but this is just a taste of what popped into my head while I was writing this. It's a little off the serious track, but I think it's a good break... I still have 3 more days to go after today. You could probably think of more, and there are sure to be reasons why it won't work. So, even though it will never happen, I'm still going to keep thinking about it. A guy can dream right?
T. Majercik Jr.
I don't know about anyone else, but I've often wondered what it would be like to live in a world that was just like a video game. I've though about it, dreamt about it, but never tried it (and it's probably a good thing I haven't). So today I thought I'd go through a couple of possible video game scenarios that wouldn't be such a good idea to try (or maybe they wouldn't even happen) in real life.
1. Have you ever gotten to the point where you've gotten so angry that you just want to kill something... or someone? Well, if life was a video game, you could do just that. Yep, that guy in the apartment above you who plays his music at earsplitting volumes until all hours of the morning. Just walk right up and BAM! You'd feel better almost immediately because you wouldn't have to deal with it anymore. And he'd be ok too because as soon as he "died" he'd have to wait between 5 and 10 seconds, and then he'd respawn in a different location, as if nothing had ever happened.
Why it wouldn't work in reality - Um, people die when you shoot them... it's true. In fact, statistics show that 100% of mortal wounds are fatal to those who receive them (yeah, and 80% of stats are made up too, I know). And I'm pretty sure. Yep, you will probably go to jail forever (at the least) if you do this. Life is not a video game. Don't kill anyone, please.
2. Throw your financial worries away! If life was a game, every person in the entire world would be rich! All you'd have to is grab your sword, whip, gun, nunchuks, or whatever and roam about in the forest for a few hours. For some reason, every type of woodland creature is monstrously overgrown (and therefore needs to be killed immediately) and usually has about 10 bucks on their "person" at all time (or Gil for those who know the lingo). If you do this for a few weeks, a few hours a day, you'd have all the money you could ever want! And if you start to run out, go right back into the forest and kill some more creatures. Extinction does not exist in video games. Strangely though, even though you're unbelievably rich, you wouldn't buy a car. In fact you'd still prefer just to walk everywhere for some reason. I don't know why, that's just the way it is.
Why it wouldn't work in reality - Well, firstly, woodland creatures are not ginormous. You don't go into the forest and see 20 foot long caterpillars and 8 foot tall wolves running freely through the wilderness. Second, animals don't carry money. At least none of the ones that I've ever seen did. And lastly, creatures do not spontaneously generate to make up for the ones that you just killed. So you couldn't do this forever, and I'm pretty sure hunting forest creatures is not a permanent profession anyways (and it costs money). As fun as it sounds, this is impossible.
3. Unfortunately, tragedy would befall you on just about every important occasion in your life. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc. You name it, and something bad is going to happen. Something like your boyfriend or girlfriend gets kidnapped, your village gets burned to the ground, or a giant monster shows up and eats all the cake. You know, real tragedies. And unsuspiciously, it will always turn out to be the work of some big, evil, multi-million dollar corporation (no, not Sony). Then you'd grab your 3 closest friends (or just 1 and hope you meet some people on the way) and grab your swords and charge headlong into the teeth of the big corporation and crush them and all of their guards with automatic weapons.
Why it wouldn't work in reality - Well first off, it would be pretty crappy if all of your important moments were ruined by giant robots with nuclear missile launchers or your house kept getting torched. Not to mention the money you'd have to continuously spend on repairs would be through the roof, and you couldn't just go into the forest and kill all the squirrels and take their wallets. And also, you can't run straight at guards with automatic weapons and expect to kill them with your swords and clubs without getting hit by a rain of bullets. It's not possible, even in the most illogical sense. Why would you try that?
4. Finally, sleep would be effectively eliminated from everyday life. Yep, in video games, it isn't necessary at all. You go to bed, lie down for about 3 seconds while some sort of cheesy lullaby song plays. And when you wake up (3 seconds later) it will be morning and you will be full of energy. As a bonus, any wounds that you may have taken beforehand (from fighting forest creatures of course) will be completely healed, and you won't even remember the confrontations. This is all true of course unless something important is supposed to happen in the middle of the "night". In which case you will sleep for slightly longer (maybe 5 seconds), and when you wake up it will still be dark, AND you will complain about being tired and grumbling about what could've possibly caused the ruckus that interrupted your sleep.
Why it wouldn't work in reality - Well, the nightlife in downtown areas lasts a little more than 3 seconds last time I checked, that in and of itself belies the notion that nighttime lasts all of 3 seconds (like it does in video games). And also, I don't know if it's even possible, but I don't think anyone who only got 3 seconds of sleep would be very refreshed and chipper. In fact, I'd wager that they'd be very, very irritable.
Well, I'm sure I could keep going forever, but this is just a taste of what popped into my head while I was writing this. It's a little off the serious track, but I think it's a good break... I still have 3 more days to go after today. You could probably think of more, and there are sure to be reasons why it won't work. So, even though it will never happen, I'm still going to keep thinking about it. A guy can dream right?
T. Majercik Jr.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
More Than Meets the Eye
Ok, so updating this blog daily is going to be harder than I thought, but I said I would so I'm going to stick to it. This entry actually has two parts, but I'm going to put them together so it's really like a two-parted single post? The first is about a summer blockbuster and the second about not putting people into a stereotype.
Ok, so, movie. In my honest opinion, Transformers is one of the best movies I've ever seen and among movies I've seen already this year (since January 2007) I would place it second (behind Ghost Rider because that movie was perfect). The story was great, original, and yet stuck to the foundation laid in the cartoon 20 years ago. The fight scenes were incredible. It's not everyday you get to see a giant robot stabbed in the neck by another giant robot (only like every other day). And aside from one thing I didn't like in the cast (the Sector 7 guy wasn't that great) it was done perfectly. Shia LeBeouf played his role brilliantly and hearing the voice of Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime again was icing on the cake. Also all of the transforming sequences were seamless. They were so good, you could almost think that they actually built all of the Transformers prior to the making of the movie. Overall I give it a 9.2 out of 10, 4.5 stars out of 5, and probably 12 thumbs up too.
Now, for this next part, take a look at my picture over there and just try to put me into a stereotype. You're probably thinking either nice guy or video game nerd or something along those lines. Well, I'm kinda in both. And I'm also in the athlete category too. And I guarantee, if you don't already know, that you couldn't guess what kind of music I listen to (and yes, I do listen to music... just try and pick all of the genres though, it'll be fun :P). Basically what I'm trying to say is that people aren't always what they seem, but stereotypes do have a purpose. There are very few people who fit into just one singular stereotype, but if we didn't have these types of stereos, classifying people (like oh so many of us love to do) would be impossible. I for example am a video game playing nerd athlete, in the broadest sense. That description doesn't even take into account my musical taste. And just basing it on musical tastes, my father would be an old school metal head cool guy (70s, metal, and pop music).
So you see, even though we all love to judge people based on their looks it's not that easy, and it's better if you get to know someone before you throw them into a singular category. Because the next time you're making fun of an apparently helpless looking kid, he/she may turn out to be a black belt.
Oh, and keep a close eye on anything automated. It could just be a futuristic robot from a distant planet with world domination plans, and it's just cooking your toast until the time is right.
T. Majercik Jr.
Ok, so, movie. In my honest opinion, Transformers is one of the best movies I've ever seen and among movies I've seen already this year (since January 2007) I would place it second (behind Ghost Rider because that movie was perfect). The story was great, original, and yet stuck to the foundation laid in the cartoon 20 years ago. The fight scenes were incredible. It's not everyday you get to see a giant robot stabbed in the neck by another giant robot (only like every other day). And aside from one thing I didn't like in the cast (the Sector 7 guy wasn't that great) it was done perfectly. Shia LeBeouf played his role brilliantly and hearing the voice of Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime again was icing on the cake. Also all of the transforming sequences were seamless. They were so good, you could almost think that they actually built all of the Transformers prior to the making of the movie. Overall I give it a 9.2 out of 10, 4.5 stars out of 5, and probably 12 thumbs up too.
Now, for this next part, take a look at my picture over there and just try to put me into a stereotype. You're probably thinking either nice guy or video game nerd or something along those lines. Well, I'm kinda in both. And I'm also in the athlete category too. And I guarantee, if you don't already know, that you couldn't guess what kind of music I listen to (and yes, I do listen to music... just try and pick all of the genres though, it'll be fun :P). Basically what I'm trying to say is that people aren't always what they seem, but stereotypes do have a purpose. There are very few people who fit into just one singular stereotype, but if we didn't have these types of stereos, classifying people (like oh so many of us love to do) would be impossible. I for example am a video game playing nerd athlete, in the broadest sense. That description doesn't even take into account my musical taste. And just basing it on musical tastes, my father would be an old school metal head cool guy (70s, metal, and pop music).
So you see, even though we all love to judge people based on their looks it's not that easy, and it's better if you get to know someone before you throw them into a singular category. Because the next time you're making fun of an apparently helpless looking kid, he/she may turn out to be a black belt.
Oh, and keep a close eye on anything automated. It could just be a futuristic robot from a distant planet with world domination plans, and it's just cooking your toast until the time is right.
T. Majercik Jr.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Living in Virtual Reality
I get off the bus from work, grab a Pepsi from the fridge, sit down in the living room and turn on... the Nintendo? Yep, no sense sitting around watching TV when there are video games to be played. Actually, I'm fairly active and enjoy running, playing sports, and even just going for a walk outside. But I enjoy being virtually active too, and I don't agree with what some people say that, "video games are a waste of time and bad for your health." Now I'm not going to say you should play video games all the time forever, because exercise is important too. But I don't believe that they are a waste of time, and they can improve certain characteristics.
1. Coordination. Yes video games can help your hand-eye (or foot-eye) coordination. Sure maybe not as much as playing catch might, but it can help. Especially rhythm games like Guitar Hero and DDR, where you have to keep in time with the song. Nothing like moving your feet/hands to hit multicolored arrows and buttons without giving a second glance to them and watching nothing but the scrolling colors on the screen. Try them out for a few weeks (or months) and you will see an improvement.
2. Reaction Time. This is where mostly sports games come into play. After a few at bats in All-Star baseball where you swing wildly and miss repeatedly, you'll soon find yourself hitting that 90 mph fastball into the right-field gap for a single. This shows that your brain, once slow and sluggish from not needing to react quickly to anything, has become the supercomputer it was made to be. And since the games are so realistic now, you actually only have a second to see the hole between the tackles for your RB to run through, or you only have less than half a second (.43 to be approximately exact) to see where that fastball is going and then swing at it. And this skill can translate in the classroom during a timed exam say, or it can help you in your other video gaming endeavors (Guitar Hero and DDR come to mind again).
3. Vision. Bring on the FPSs (first-person shooters). If you want to improve your vision without spending thousands of dollars on laser surgery, these games are your best bet. Constantly trying to hit that last enemy soldier in the tower 1000 yards away can significantly improve what you see. And once you can get him in a single shot with a sniper rifle, try doing it without a scoped weapon, and your vision will improve more. You'll see everything much better, not just small objects either.
4. Concentration/Focus. Yes, of all the things video games can improve, this is probably the most obvious one... although it may not seem like it. I can say that I have thrown my share of controllers when someone has broken my focus during a boss fight or with two outs down by one in the last inning. When you play any game, you're constantly focused. Trying to follow that baseball, find an open receiver, keep a beat, or find the last enemy in a level. And if you get distracted? You lose your concentration, and usually a life or you strike out. Being able to keep focus amid chaos is probably the most important tool for a student to have. Like when taking a test, and the person who finished first is making all sorts of noise getting his/her stuff put away. If you train yourself to block out any other distractions, you'll find that test taking is easier, paying attention in class is easier, and school in general is easier.
And if I still haven't convinced you to pick up a controller, try watching someone else (it helps if they're at least a little bit good, or you won't get anything out of it) and try following what they're doing at the same time. It will help.
There you have it, video games can improve coordination, reaction time, vision, and focus. And you could probably throw in critical thinking too (strategy games and RPGs help with that). So, now that we all know video games can assist us in the classroom, anyone want to push for HON201: Honors Video Games Appreciation? Just kidding!
...Or am I?
T. Majercik Jr.
One more note - I'm going to try and post everyday so those of you who check this daily/weekly have something to read. And maybe those who blog after me will follow in my new tradition.
1. Coordination. Yes video games can help your hand-eye (or foot-eye) coordination. Sure maybe not as much as playing catch might, but it can help. Especially rhythm games like Guitar Hero and DDR, where you have to keep in time with the song. Nothing like moving your feet/hands to hit multicolored arrows and buttons without giving a second glance to them and watching nothing but the scrolling colors on the screen. Try them out for a few weeks (or months) and you will see an improvement.
2. Reaction Time. This is where mostly sports games come into play. After a few at bats in All-Star baseball where you swing wildly and miss repeatedly, you'll soon find yourself hitting that 90 mph fastball into the right-field gap for a single. This shows that your brain, once slow and sluggish from not needing to react quickly to anything, has become the supercomputer it was made to be. And since the games are so realistic now, you actually only have a second to see the hole between the tackles for your RB to run through, or you only have less than half a second (.43 to be approximately exact) to see where that fastball is going and then swing at it. And this skill can translate in the classroom during a timed exam say, or it can help you in your other video gaming endeavors (Guitar Hero and DDR come to mind again).
3. Vision. Bring on the FPSs (first-person shooters). If you want to improve your vision without spending thousands of dollars on laser surgery, these games are your best bet. Constantly trying to hit that last enemy soldier in the tower 1000 yards away can significantly improve what you see. And once you can get him in a single shot with a sniper rifle, try doing it without a scoped weapon, and your vision will improve more. You'll see everything much better, not just small objects either.
4. Concentration/Focus. Yes, of all the things video games can improve, this is probably the most obvious one... although it may not seem like it. I can say that I have thrown my share of controllers when someone has broken my focus during a boss fight or with two outs down by one in the last inning. When you play any game, you're constantly focused. Trying to follow that baseball, find an open receiver, keep a beat, or find the last enemy in a level. And if you get distracted? You lose your concentration, and usually a life or you strike out. Being able to keep focus amid chaos is probably the most important tool for a student to have. Like when taking a test, and the person who finished first is making all sorts of noise getting his/her stuff put away. If you train yourself to block out any other distractions, you'll find that test taking is easier, paying attention in class is easier, and school in general is easier.
And if I still haven't convinced you to pick up a controller, try watching someone else (it helps if they're at least a little bit good, or you won't get anything out of it) and try following what they're doing at the same time. It will help.
There you have it, video games can improve coordination, reaction time, vision, and focus. And you could probably throw in critical thinking too (strategy games and RPGs help with that). So, now that we all know video games can assist us in the classroom, anyone want to push for HON201: Honors Video Games Appreciation? Just kidding!
...Or am I?
T. Majercik Jr.
One more note - I'm going to try and post everyday so those of you who check this daily/weekly have something to read. And maybe those who blog after me will follow in my new tradition.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Honors...Team?
Despite never having done blogging or anything like it before, I'm surprised to say that it didn't take me long to come up with a topic for this first post (or a theme for my future posts?)
For those who know me, I'm a little bit of a sports fanatic. I'm not over the top crazy, like I need to get season tickets each year for every Cleveland sports team. And I was one of the few (maybe the only one) who wasn't like "OMG, the Cavs are in the NBA finals!!!" But I enjoy playing sports, watching sports, and especially playing the free fantasy sports games online.
But my fondness of athletic competition is not the topic of choice today. And since I think that I should mention the honors program in at least one of these posts, I'll make a comparison between our very own CSU honors program and the world of professional sports.
Like all other college students, we are... students (what? since when?). But really we're more that that. Among undergraduates, we are professionals. Not in the physical, "I can throw a baseball 200 mph and kick a football 700 yards," but we are the professional intellectuals. We know how to learn, and we are good at it. Basically, if there were a fantasy undergraduate student draft held by the teachers, we would be first round picks.
Also, look at any pro sports team, any team, and look at each individual player. There isn't any team where each player is from the same place and is good at the same thing. No, they come from all over and use their skills in complement to those of their teammates to spur their team on to bigger and better things.
And that's what we are. We come from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and even across the ocean from Africa. And we're all not good at the same thing either. We are math majors, chemical engineers, computer programmers, education majors, etc. The list goes on and on. We're not just another part of an organization just using the group to fulfill our own needs (even though we all know 'Honors Program' looks really good on a resume). No, we are the foundation for a still young honors society at Cleveland State, bringing our varied skills to the table in order to further our career and continue to improve CSU's honors program every year.
So step aside honors program... make way for the honors team!
T. Majercik Jr.
For those who know me, I'm a little bit of a sports fanatic. I'm not over the top crazy, like I need to get season tickets each year for every Cleveland sports team. And I was one of the few (maybe the only one) who wasn't like "OMG, the Cavs are in the NBA finals!!!" But I enjoy playing sports, watching sports, and especially playing the free fantasy sports games online.
But my fondness of athletic competition is not the topic of choice today. And since I think that I should mention the honors program in at least one of these posts, I'll make a comparison between our very own CSU honors program and the world of professional sports.
Like all other college students, we are... students (what? since when?). But really we're more that that. Among undergraduates, we are professionals. Not in the physical, "I can throw a baseball 200 mph and kick a football 700 yards," but we are the professional intellectuals. We know how to learn, and we are good at it. Basically, if there were a fantasy undergraduate student draft held by the teachers, we would be first round picks.
Also, look at any pro sports team, any team, and look at each individual player. There isn't any team where each player is from the same place and is good at the same thing. No, they come from all over and use their skills in complement to those of their teammates to spur their team on to bigger and better things.
And that's what we are. We come from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and even across the ocean from Africa. And we're all not good at the same thing either. We are math majors, chemical engineers, computer programmers, education majors, etc. The list goes on and on. We're not just another part of an organization just using the group to fulfill our own needs (even though we all know 'Honors Program' looks really good on a resume). No, we are the foundation for a still young honors society at Cleveland State, bringing our varied skills to the table in order to further our career and continue to improve CSU's honors program every year.
So step aside honors program... make way for the honors team!
T. Majercik Jr.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
A Mother's Love
The bond between a mother and daughter is something that is irreplaceable. A mother is there to love, comfort and to teach her daughter how to grow into a beautiful well rounded young woman. Since I can remember, my mother has always showered me with love and support. She will sit and listen to me cry, complain and rant about everything in the world for hours. Even if she doesn’t agree with what I’m upset about, she is still there to listen. My mom does everything for me, but most importantly she acts as my role model on how important it is to be a strong woman in today’s society.
Jessie S.
Although she hasn’t always considered herself a feminist, when she heard the words "It's a girl!" she quickly became one in earnest. Like all mothers, she wanted her little girl to know a perfect world; a world that didn't exist when she was growing up. Despite society's disapproval, my mother is satisfied with her life in loving and caring for her family. Defying much feminist theory, she has actually become her own individual by not thinking of herself, but of others.
Until recently you would find her spending most of her free time at Lake Med Nursing Home, where she would take care of my sick grandparents. My grandparents, who were usually quite demanding of my mom, would constantly challenge her Italian temper, yet because of the strong loving woman that she is, she never allowed herself to give up. Those years at the nursing home were the toughest years for my mom because now she had three children to take care of; my grandparents and me. Although I desperately miss my grandparents, I am thankful for the memories I was able to share at the nursing home with my mom. By watching her care for my grandma and grandpa, it allowed me to gain a sense of what unconditional love is, and she showed me how faith in God can go a long way.
Faith in God did go along way in our family, it allowed my mom to have me (after undergoing a previous miscarriage), and it cured my mom of ovarian cancer when I was a young girl. But most importantly faith in God is what has kept my family so close over all these years. If there is one lesson my mother has tried to pass down to me it would be without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.
It took me nineteen years to realize what an extraordinary influence my mother has been on my life. She has enriched my life with her passion for learning, and changed it with her devotion to humanity. In her endless love of everything and everyone she is touched by, I have seen a hope and life that is truly exceptional.
So bloggers, I would like to dedicate this blog to all mother figures, including my own, who have taught us to dare to be different, to be a leader, and most importantly, to be the kind of person who in the face of adversity continue to embrace life and walk fearlessly towards any challenge.
Until recently you would find her spending most of her free time at Lake Med Nursing Home, where she would take care of my sick grandparents. My grandparents, who were usually quite demanding of my mom, would constantly challenge her Italian temper, yet because of the strong loving woman that she is, she never allowed herself to give up. Those years at the nursing home were the toughest years for my mom because now she had three children to take care of; my grandparents and me. Although I desperately miss my grandparents, I am thankful for the memories I was able to share at the nursing home with my mom. By watching her care for my grandma and grandpa, it allowed me to gain a sense of what unconditional love is, and she showed me how faith in God can go a long way.
Faith in God did go along way in our family, it allowed my mom to have me (after undergoing a previous miscarriage), and it cured my mom of ovarian cancer when I was a young girl. But most importantly faith in God is what has kept my family so close over all these years. If there is one lesson my mother has tried to pass down to me it would be without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.
It took me nineteen years to realize what an extraordinary influence my mother has been on my life. She has enriched my life with her passion for learning, and changed it with her devotion to humanity. In her endless love of everything and everyone she is touched by, I have seen a hope and life that is truly exceptional.
So bloggers, I would like to dedicate this blog to all mother figures, including my own, who have taught us to dare to be different, to be a leader, and most importantly, to be the kind of person who in the face of adversity continue to embrace life and walk fearlessly towards any challenge.
Jessie S.
Monday, July 9, 2007
My Career Story
When I enrolled as a PSEO student at Lakeland Community College my junior year of high school, I did not have a clue what I would major in or what to do upon graduation. At the time I was only 16, and the majority of my time was spent thinking about boys, getting my drivers license, and what I was going to wear to prom that year; not what I wanted to be when I grew up.
I continued with my education at Lakeland all the way up through my senior year of high school, where I then seriously began re-evaluating my future and career goals. I was now 18 and still as indecisive about my career plans as I was 2 yrs before. Throughout junior high and high school I was very much involved in community theatre, choir, and was a member of Mentors Top 25 Show Choir. I loved the performing arts and even debated whether that was a career path I could see myself pursuing.
After graduating from Mentor High I decided it was important to stay at Lakeland one more year and explore different areas of studies, hoping that something would grab my attention. No longer in high school I really needed to buckle down and take classes that would help better my future and aid me in deciding what career path I should follow. Thus, as fate would have it, I decided to enroll in a career assessment class, in hopes that it would lead me in the right direction. By the end of the semester I found the material from the class to be so helpful and applicable to my life that it ultimately helped me declare my major in Middle Childhood Education.
Knowing that you have had an impact on someone and ending the day feeling like you changed just one life could be the best job in the world. To me those feelings and thoughts can only come from one profession, teaching. I have chosen the route to be a Middle Childhood teacher because I feel that this is going to be the best way to have that feeling and emotion of inspiring someone else’s life each and everyday.
Teaching is a performance, a journey, and its rewards are often not obtained until years later. I know that with the field I am pursuing it is often hard to find a job right away within the district of your choice. Whether in future years I am teaching in Ohio or in Verona Italy, I want to make sure I am in a district where education is valued, and it’s a place where I feel like I belong and am needed. Many times, when a person chooses a career, they select one in which they will make the most money, have the best benefits, or bring the most prestige. Years later, they find that they have made the wrong decision and search for a more fulfilling career. I feel that I am one of the lucky few who have found a truly fulfilling career and one that fits my personality perfectly.
I realize that even though teachers do not get a lot of respect, or money, they have the greatest job anyone could ever hope for. I want to be that teacher who makes a difference in a child’s life and the teacher who was truly able to bring the classroom to life!
Jessie : )
I continued with my education at Lakeland all the way up through my senior year of high school, where I then seriously began re-evaluating my future and career goals. I was now 18 and still as indecisive about my career plans as I was 2 yrs before. Throughout junior high and high school I was very much involved in community theatre, choir, and was a member of Mentors Top 25 Show Choir. I loved the performing arts and even debated whether that was a career path I could see myself pursuing.
After graduating from Mentor High I decided it was important to stay at Lakeland one more year and explore different areas of studies, hoping that something would grab my attention. No longer in high school I really needed to buckle down and take classes that would help better my future and aid me in deciding what career path I should follow. Thus, as fate would have it, I decided to enroll in a career assessment class, in hopes that it would lead me in the right direction. By the end of the semester I found the material from the class to be so helpful and applicable to my life that it ultimately helped me declare my major in Middle Childhood Education.
Knowing that you have had an impact on someone and ending the day feeling like you changed just one life could be the best job in the world. To me those feelings and thoughts can only come from one profession, teaching. I have chosen the route to be a Middle Childhood teacher because I feel that this is going to be the best way to have that feeling and emotion of inspiring someone else’s life each and everyday.
Teaching is a performance, a journey, and its rewards are often not obtained until years later. I know that with the field I am pursuing it is often hard to find a job right away within the district of your choice. Whether in future years I am teaching in Ohio or in Verona Italy, I want to make sure I am in a district where education is valued, and it’s a place where I feel like I belong and am needed. Many times, when a person chooses a career, they select one in which they will make the most money, have the best benefits, or bring the most prestige. Years later, they find that they have made the wrong decision and search for a more fulfilling career. I feel that I am one of the lucky few who have found a truly fulfilling career and one that fits my personality perfectly.
I realize that even though teachers do not get a lot of respect, or money, they have the greatest job anyone could ever hope for. I want to be that teacher who makes a difference in a child’s life and the teacher who was truly able to bring the classroom to life!
Jessie : )
Friday, July 6, 2007
Yea! Graduation!!! ... Now What?
It's so close, you can just about taste it. Four (and a half) years in the making, finally, the white sheet is about to be snatched away to reveal the new you. You're excited about it. Your parents are VERY excited about it. Grandma is... let's call her "ecstatic" and your Professors can't help but smile when you pass them by in the corridors that you once thought were "big" and confusingly arranged.
But, now you, a SENIOR, have conquered! No longer are you the freshman walking (alone) to ENG 101H with a backpack neatly lined with assorted colors of pocket folders and notebooks, a spare copy of your schedule clinched in your almost visibly trembling hand, while nervously scanning the 3-digits etched above what seems to be an endless row of classroom doors. Now, you've gotten so good at college life, you can visualize a classroom as soon as you hear the room number. Not only that, you know the fastest way to (cut through the construction to) get there so you won't have to forfeit precious minutes of beauty rest, ahem, "mind relaxation" to be on time.
But are you REALLY ready to leave the campus that has been your home, of sorts, for the past several years? The campus on which it seems everybody knows your name? The campus you've become accustomed to and know so well? Before you answer, consider this.
Graduating from college marks the beginning of a new life with new rules. Yes, you will have to start "the process" all over again. You will become that freshman who just interrupted your pizza break to ask for directions to his ENG 101 class when (hopefully) you find employment after graduation.
This post is not to scare anyone into becoming professional college students who never graduate. Not at all. It is to help those who may be nearing graduation to have a healthy outlook on it. You may be a *rockstar* on campus now, but once your name echoes through the Wolstein Center at commencement, it's back to step one on the rungs of life's ladder. You'll be the newbie once again.
Below this post, there's a link that tells how many comments have been posted by readers like you. Here's what I ask of you, dear reader: Click that link and then post a comment that gives your advice to graduating seniors (like me)! Or, if you prefer, give some advice to the perplexed freshmen who are still trying to figure out what their CampusNet password is {LOL}. If nothing else, post a comment that lets the weekly blogger know they aren't talking (or is it typing?) to themselves {LOL}.
Matt K.
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE HONORS BLOG! COMMENT! READ PREVIOUS ENTRIES TOO.
But, now you, a SENIOR, have conquered! No longer are you the freshman walking (alone) to ENG 101H with a backpack neatly lined with assorted colors of pocket folders and notebooks, a spare copy of your schedule clinched in your almost visibly trembling hand, while nervously scanning the 3-digits etched above what seems to be an endless row of classroom doors. Now, you've gotten so good at college life, you can visualize a classroom as soon as you hear the room number. Not only that, you know the fastest way to (cut through the construction to) get there so you won't have to forfeit precious minutes of beauty rest, ahem, "mind relaxation" to be on time.
But are you REALLY ready to leave the campus that has been your home, of sorts, for the past several years? The campus on which it seems everybody knows your name? The campus you've become accustomed to and know so well? Before you answer, consider this.
Graduating from college marks the beginning of a new life with new rules. Yes, you will have to start "the process" all over again. You will become that freshman who just interrupted your pizza break to ask for directions to his ENG 101 class when (hopefully) you find employment after graduation.
This post is not to scare anyone into becoming professional college students who never graduate. Not at all. It is to help those who may be nearing graduation to have a healthy outlook on it. You may be a *rockstar* on campus now, but once your name echoes through the Wolstein Center at commencement, it's back to step one on the rungs of life's ladder. You'll be the newbie once again.
Below this post, there's a link that tells how many comments have been posted by readers like you. Here's what I ask of you, dear reader: Click that link and then post a comment that gives your advice to graduating seniors (like me)! Or, if you prefer, give some advice to the perplexed freshmen who are still trying to figure out what their CampusNet password is {LOL}. If nothing else, post a comment that lets the weekly blogger know they aren't talking (or is it typing?) to themselves {LOL}.
Matt K.
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE HONORS BLOG! COMMENT! READ PREVIOUS ENTRIES TOO.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
There is fire in the works...
The United States of America declared it's independence 231 years ago. Every Independence Day is brought in from coast-to-coast with backyard barbecues, parades and, of course, fireworks.
There's something about fire. Maybe it's the color that draws us--a color one is hard pressed to reproduce by any other means. Maybe it's the allure of the idea that we can harness such a powerful force in the palm of our hands (e.g., matches and lighters).
Yes, there is something about fire--we don't want it too close to home (especially when we are powerless against it). Amid all the spectacular fireworks displays throughout the nation, wildfires out west continue to ravage homes, businesses and entire communities. The most recent claiming at least 3 civilian lives in a rural area of Utah. Firefighters have been working hard to tame the fire, but haven't been able to as of this writing.
But, on the heels of this year's fourth day in July, wildfires aren't as big a threat to the nation as fireworks injuries. The following link has useful information on how to stay safe during the "fireworks holidays" like Independence Day and New Year's:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fworks.htm
I am sure we all will be hearing the "bombs bursting in air" for at least a few more days. Remember: Safety First!
Matt K.
There's something about fire. Maybe it's the color that draws us--a color one is hard pressed to reproduce by any other means. Maybe it's the allure of the idea that we can harness such a powerful force in the palm of our hands (e.g., matches and lighters).
Yes, there is something about fire--we don't want it too close to home (especially when we are powerless against it). Amid all the spectacular fireworks displays throughout the nation, wildfires out west continue to ravage homes, businesses and entire communities. The most recent claiming at least 3 civilian lives in a rural area of Utah. Firefighters have been working hard to tame the fire, but haven't been able to as of this writing.
But, on the heels of this year's fourth day in July, wildfires aren't as big a threat to the nation as fireworks injuries. The following link has useful information on how to stay safe during the "fireworks holidays" like Independence Day and New Year's:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fworks.htm
I am sure we all will be hearing the "bombs bursting in air" for at least a few more days. Remember: Safety First!
Matt K.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
What would you do if your life suddenly changed?
When I started thinking about a topic for my blog, I wanted it to be something happy or exciting, but instead I chose to write about something that's been on my mind for awhile. After all, that's what a blog should be. Sadly it isn't happy or exciting.
This summer I decided to purchase a Cedar Point / Geauga Lake season pass. I am now apprehensive for the safety of myself and others.
As you have probably heard about in the news, last week a terrible incident happened at Six Flags in Kentucky. Apparently a 13 year old girl was riding the Tower of Power ride when a cable snapped and somehow severed her feet above the ankles. Both feet, completely gone. Just a day before this happened, I myself had been at Geauga Lake, enjoying the summer weather in a leisurely way.
For all the things I worry about, I can say that I hadn't even thought about something that serious going wrong on a ride. Waiting in line for roller coasters, I look at the cars and cables and hope that whoever does the inspections knows what they are doing. Then I tell myself that I am crazy and I try not to worry about it.
When I heard the news about this girl, I was shocked, and upset. Accidents happen, but in my opinion, Six Flags has robbed someone of their future. How could they allow even an accident that serious to happen? What does she do now, what does the future hold for her?
What if she was a soccer star and planning on getting a scholarship for college?
Will she be able to get her drivers license when she turns 16 like the rest of her friends?
What if her family had plans for a nice vacation this summer?
Who's going to care for her until she heals?
How much stress and agony has this caused for the family?
How could you ever be compensated for a loss like this?
What would it be like, to climb onto a ride, and just minutes later when you arrive back on the ground your life as you know it is suddenly completely different.
I hope that all of the necessary precautions are being taken at Six Flags, Cedar Fair amusement parks, and all other amusement parks around the globe so that no one else will ever have to experience what this family has suffered.
- OLWEN CONANT
This summer I decided to purchase a Cedar Point / Geauga Lake season pass. I am now apprehensive for the safety of myself and others.
As you have probably heard about in the news, last week a terrible incident happened at Six Flags in Kentucky. Apparently a 13 year old girl was riding the Tower of Power ride when a cable snapped and somehow severed her feet above the ankles. Both feet, completely gone. Just a day before this happened, I myself had been at Geauga Lake, enjoying the summer weather in a leisurely way.
For all the things I worry about, I can say that I hadn't even thought about something that serious going wrong on a ride. Waiting in line for roller coasters, I look at the cars and cables and hope that whoever does the inspections knows what they are doing. Then I tell myself that I am crazy and I try not to worry about it.
When I heard the news about this girl, I was shocked, and upset. Accidents happen, but in my opinion, Six Flags has robbed someone of their future. How could they allow even an accident that serious to happen? What does she do now, what does the future hold for her?
What if she was a soccer star and planning on getting a scholarship for college?
Will she be able to get her drivers license when she turns 16 like the rest of her friends?
What if her family had plans for a nice vacation this summer?
Who's going to care for her until she heals?
How much stress and agony has this caused for the family?
How could you ever be compensated for a loss like this?
What would it be like, to climb onto a ride, and just minutes later when you arrive back on the ground your life as you know it is suddenly completely different.
I hope that all of the necessary precautions are being taken at Six Flags, Cedar Fair amusement parks, and all other amusement parks around the globe so that no one else will ever have to experience what this family has suffered.
- OLWEN CONANT
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Maybe its not you, maybe its the Test.
For the past few weeks I have been researching what I think will become a very important psychological study. Before I present my ideas I just want to say that I have not yet proved anything, and I still have much, much more research to come. Everyone has heard of good test takers, bad test takers, the genetically smart, and those who must really work hard to get a grasp on the material they learn.
This research does not apply to those who do not study or strive for academic excellence, this applies only to those who seriously attempt their work. I would like to look mainly in the area of testing, and this excludes testing in mathematics. Only because numbers are not subject to change in fonts and formats.
It is my firm belief that some people have a problem processing different fonts and formats on tests. Since their brains do not properly process these fonts and formats they do poorly on tests. Not because they do not prepare for tests, but because their brains do not process the information properly. When you think about it this is rather logical, the text book you study from has a certain format and font. Then, if you take notes thats a completely different format and font altogether. By the time you finally take the test your brain has had to process all of these different fonts and formats. Oh, and I forgot to mention the test is also in a completely different font and format, than you have studied and taken notes in. I don't believe your brain has enough time to process all of this. And thusly causes poor performance on some tests.
Hopefully in the future I will have the chance to conduct some tests to help strengthen my argument even more. But my main goal is to find what I call a "universal format" for testing. This will be simple for the brain to process and will hopefully boost test scores, and help students perform better on tests. For as long as I can remember the standard font and format has been Times New Roman. I think that it is just not working for everyone, maybe the answer can be found in Arial, or some other font or format.
I realize there also can be other factors such as anxiety, or other things, but I think this is a very valid point. I think that it will be beneficial to many people. It will cause some people to finally prove that maybe it really wasn't them, maybe it was the test!!
Robert Tufts
This research does not apply to those who do not study or strive for academic excellence, this applies only to those who seriously attempt their work. I would like to look mainly in the area of testing, and this excludes testing in mathematics. Only because numbers are not subject to change in fonts and formats.
It is my firm belief that some people have a problem processing different fonts and formats on tests. Since their brains do not properly process these fonts and formats they do poorly on tests. Not because they do not prepare for tests, but because their brains do not process the information properly. When you think about it this is rather logical, the text book you study from has a certain format and font. Then, if you take notes thats a completely different format and font altogether. By the time you finally take the test your brain has had to process all of these different fonts and formats. Oh, and I forgot to mention the test is also in a completely different font and format, than you have studied and taken notes in. I don't believe your brain has enough time to process all of this. And thusly causes poor performance on some tests.
Hopefully in the future I will have the chance to conduct some tests to help strengthen my argument even more. But my main goal is to find what I call a "universal format" for testing. This will be simple for the brain to process and will hopefully boost test scores, and help students perform better on tests. For as long as I can remember the standard font and format has been Times New Roman. I think that it is just not working for everyone, maybe the answer can be found in Arial, or some other font or format.
I realize there also can be other factors such as anxiety, or other things, but I think this is a very valid point. I think that it will be beneficial to many people. It will cause some people to finally prove that maybe it really wasn't them, maybe it was the test!!
Robert Tufts
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Honors Courses
I was racking my brain for the longest trying to figure out what I would write for my first post. Everything from the Cleveland Cavs, to Cleveland State. Then this morning the perfect idea came to me. Why not write about the Honors Program? After all this is the Honors Blog. In particular I want to speak about my experiences here.
I believe we are all grateful for the many things the honors program does for each of us. From having an enlightening conversation with Dr. Margolius, to entering the office and speaking with Mrs. Gribble and Erica. Then you have to mention the best advising staff at CSU, with Ronnette Johnson, Frank Feola, Lauren Davis, and Dr. Ball. These are just a few of the things and people you may overlook when thinking about the honors program. But they are all great contributors to our success.
Aside from all of this I specifically want to talk about my experiences in Honors Courses. Each honors course that I have taken has made me a better student, and broadened my knowledge of whatever area I was studying. I went into each honors course with a desire to learn. Although I thought a few courses were difficult at first, they finished out being some of my favorite courses and professors.
The first class that I have to mention was my summer scholars class, and Calculus with professor Alex Bezjak. I had lost all enthusiasm for math in general, until I met professor Bezjak. His math classes motivated me, and filled in the material I didn't understand from previous courses. He always said " you are all capable of doing this" . By the end of both of his courses I truly believed that and was way more confident in my knowledge of mathematics. But not confident enough to go beyond Calculus 2.
My other Favorite class was with Dr. Robichaud. This class was philosophy 213H. I went into this class terrified. But after the first few weeks, this class proved to be my favorite last semester. I learned not only philosophical ideas, but how to apply them to the way we treat the environment. Also the danger the environment is in if we do not protect it. I have a new found respect for preservation of the environment. One could say I am a semi-environmentalist. Remember, recycle,and reuse.
So I am grateful for everything in the Honors program. Most of all I am grateful for the knowledge that has been passed to me. It has helped me to grow as an individual, and a member of society as a whole. I thought perhaps other students would like to share some of their favorite honors classes. Let the professors know what a good job they did, or share something positive about the honors office, or staff. Whats your favorite course or memories? Have a good Day!!
Robert Tufts
I believe we are all grateful for the many things the honors program does for each of us. From having an enlightening conversation with Dr. Margolius, to entering the office and speaking with Mrs. Gribble and Erica. Then you have to mention the best advising staff at CSU, with Ronnette Johnson, Frank Feola, Lauren Davis, and Dr. Ball. These are just a few of the things and people you may overlook when thinking about the honors program. But they are all great contributors to our success.
Aside from all of this I specifically want to talk about my experiences in Honors Courses. Each honors course that I have taken has made me a better student, and broadened my knowledge of whatever area I was studying. I went into each honors course with a desire to learn. Although I thought a few courses were difficult at first, they finished out being some of my favorite courses and professors.
The first class that I have to mention was my summer scholars class, and Calculus with professor Alex Bezjak. I had lost all enthusiasm for math in general, until I met professor Bezjak. His math classes motivated me, and filled in the material I didn't understand from previous courses. He always said " you are all capable of doing this" . By the end of both of his courses I truly believed that and was way more confident in my knowledge of mathematics. But not confident enough to go beyond Calculus 2.
My other Favorite class was with Dr. Robichaud. This class was philosophy 213H. I went into this class terrified. But after the first few weeks, this class proved to be my favorite last semester. I learned not only philosophical ideas, but how to apply them to the way we treat the environment. Also the danger the environment is in if we do not protect it. I have a new found respect for preservation of the environment. One could say I am a semi-environmentalist. Remember, recycle,and reuse.
So I am grateful for everything in the Honors program. Most of all I am grateful for the knowledge that has been passed to me. It has helped me to grow as an individual, and a member of society as a whole. I thought perhaps other students would like to share some of their favorite honors classes. Let the professors know what a good job they did, or share something positive about the honors office, or staff. Whats your favorite course or memories? Have a good Day!!
Robert Tufts
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Socialization
Today as I rummaged through my old notes, I found scribblings about categorization of people in a society into groups based on their socio-economic status. I think they are quiet interesting so I will share some of it with you. People that belong to either Poverty, Middle Class or Wealthy have different sets of norms assigned to them in terms of Decision Making, Possession, World, Conflict Solution, Food is valued for their _______, and Other rules.
1- Decision Making:
* The Poor: To satisfy social needs and suvival needs, like getting food/shelter, money to afford their children's school payments, and entertainment
* The Middle Class: To achieve promotion at work, better education, better job, improve their house
* The Wealthy: To exploit political connection, to improve social status, decide what restaurant to go to.
2- Possession:
* The Poor: Family and Relationship, a used car, small house/estate, low wage job...
* The Middle Class: Bigger House with good Unitility, Decent Car, Comfort (more materialistic)...
* The Wealthy: Something unique, one of a kind, Limo and well-decorated house
3- World:
* The Poor: neighborhood (hardly get out)
* The Middle Class: Nationally
* The Wealthy: Internationally
4- Conflict Resolution:
* The Poor: Talk to each other in "casual registry" for lacking of education, fight
* The Middle Class: Verbally, more formal than not
* The Wealthy: Sue people (!)
5- Food is valued for its ________:
* The Poor: Quantity
* The Middle Class: Quality (nutrious)
* The Wealthy: Presentation (how it looks)
6- Other rules:
* The Poor: fight hard for their possession
* The Middle Class: Education is most valued, Discipline- learning manner, changing behavious, well-to-do
* The Wealthy: When to make connectin with other wealthy people...
This is very interesting as I realized a lot of unwritten concepts in a society. I can say that these set of norms are relatively constant across different societies. It's been enlightening to me to re-learn them. Hope it brings you some thoughts also.
See you next time!
~Huong Nguyen
1- Decision Making:
* The Poor: To satisfy social needs and suvival needs, like getting food/shelter, money to afford their children's school payments, and entertainment
* The Middle Class: To achieve promotion at work, better education, better job, improve their house
* The Wealthy: To exploit political connection, to improve social status, decide what restaurant to go to.
2- Possession:
* The Poor: Family and Relationship, a used car, small house/estate, low wage job...
* The Middle Class: Bigger House with good Unitility, Decent Car, Comfort (more materialistic)...
* The Wealthy: Something unique, one of a kind, Limo and well-decorated house
3- World:
* The Poor: neighborhood (hardly get out)
* The Middle Class: Nationally
* The Wealthy: Internationally
4- Conflict Resolution:
* The Poor: Talk to each other in "casual registry" for lacking of education, fight
* The Middle Class: Verbally, more formal than not
* The Wealthy: Sue people (!)
5- Food is valued for its ________:
* The Poor: Quantity
* The Middle Class: Quality (nutrious)
* The Wealthy: Presentation (how it looks)
6- Other rules:
* The Poor: fight hard for their possession
* The Middle Class: Education is most valued, Discipline- learning manner, changing behavious, well-to-do
* The Wealthy: When to make connectin with other wealthy people...
This is very interesting as I realized a lot of unwritten concepts in a society. I can say that these set of norms are relatively constant across different societies. It's been enlightening to me to re-learn them. Hope it brings you some thoughts also.
See you next time!
~Huong Nguyen
Friday, June 8, 2007
"What are you doing on the Fourth of July?"
“What are you doing on the Fourth of July?”
“Ha, I’ll be in Spain.”
“Oh yea, I hate you.”
I have to start with saying I am one of those lucky students who have studied or will be studying abroad. I have taken the joy of cultural learning, please refer to my previous thread, to another level by managing to participate in the CSU in Spain Faculty-led program over the course of one month. Adventures have freshly commenced and I look forward to this beautiful challenge wholeheartedly because I know deep down challenge can turn into golden opportunity as long as I am ready for it.
At the orientation for the trip, I learned some crucial knowledge about lifestyle of the Spaniards and can relate to that culture more closely than to American culture. The Spaniards don’t prefer seeing bare feet and you will probably get a frown if you walk about the house without footwear or at least a slipper. And if you have on flip-flop and happen to place a foot on the other knee, you bet the Spaniards around you will be upset of how disgusting it looks to them. At this point I can’t help laughing aloud as I reconcile vividly from a random conversation with a kid in the dining hall after his leisure trip to England. “What’s with not brushing your teeth and wearing braces man? Those English have smelly breath I can’t stand them.” This subsequently leads me to think about different sets of norms and expectations each culture has used to distinguish themselves from another. It is therefore so important for a traveler to be conscious of those distinctions so as to become culture savvy. After my trip, I can ensure to share with you more on my own experience and stories on cultural encounter that there is.
Besides the Spain program, our International Services Office also offers other trips to England, China, Mexico, Germany, and India this summer. I heard some Honors students are also going to Israel and France which are organized independently from the International Services Office and by department in stead. So good luck to those who will fly out of state this summer and I hope to hear stories.
And what about you, what are you doing on the Fourth of July?
~Huong Nguyen
I should dedicate this post to Heidi Vielhaber, my fellow Honors student and dorm mate. Thanks to her random, yet great question, which I quote as the title name for the thread, I was inspired to write this post while watching the Cavs game with her and Heather Nguyen last night. By the way, they lost by a sheer 9 points, but both teams made a fantastic game.
“Ha, I’ll be in Spain.”
“Oh yea, I hate you.”
I have to start with saying I am one of those lucky students who have studied or will be studying abroad. I have taken the joy of cultural learning, please refer to my previous thread, to another level by managing to participate in the CSU in Spain Faculty-led program over the course of one month. Adventures have freshly commenced and I look forward to this beautiful challenge wholeheartedly because I know deep down challenge can turn into golden opportunity as long as I am ready for it.
At the orientation for the trip, I learned some crucial knowledge about lifestyle of the Spaniards and can relate to that culture more closely than to American culture. The Spaniards don’t prefer seeing bare feet and you will probably get a frown if you walk about the house without footwear or at least a slipper. And if you have on flip-flop and happen to place a foot on the other knee, you bet the Spaniards around you will be upset of how disgusting it looks to them. At this point I can’t help laughing aloud as I reconcile vividly from a random conversation with a kid in the dining hall after his leisure trip to England. “What’s with not brushing your teeth and wearing braces man? Those English have smelly breath I can’t stand them.” This subsequently leads me to think about different sets of norms and expectations each culture has used to distinguish themselves from another. It is therefore so important for a traveler to be conscious of those distinctions so as to become culture savvy. After my trip, I can ensure to share with you more on my own experience and stories on cultural encounter that there is.
Besides the Spain program, our International Services Office also offers other trips to England, China, Mexico, Germany, and India this summer. I heard some Honors students are also going to Israel and France which are organized independently from the International Services Office and by department in stead. So good luck to those who will fly out of state this summer and I hope to hear stories.
And what about you, what are you doing on the Fourth of July?
~Huong Nguyen
I should dedicate this post to Heidi Vielhaber, my fellow Honors student and dorm mate. Thanks to her random, yet great question, which I quote as the title name for the thread, I was inspired to write this post while watching the Cavs game with her and Heather Nguyen last night. By the way, they lost by a sheer 9 points, but both teams made a fantastic game.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
I Survive Culture Shock
One day I decided to step out of my comfort zone and into a new world, bigger and very distinctive than where I come from. Three years ago, I made a trip that infinitely changes the course of my life. After extensive search from a variety of educational programs for the one that best fits my objective, I was mesmerized by the benefit and learning experience that I would receive from the high school cultural exchange program. Although the idea of letting me stay for a year in America independently did not entertain my parents at first, they understood that the strife for cultural perceptiveness and adventures were merely what I needed at that age.
Despite a little fear and mild anxiety, I flew out of The Noi Bai International Airport of Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, knowing things would not be the same anymore: the people, the food, pastime pleasures, the streets, the perpetual spirit for soccer and the family. Change of culture allows me to become open-minded to what I see and hear and to be well-adapted to the conditions that I am put into. The Picker family took me in, shared the love that I can always relate to my Vietnamese family and taught me to be a part of an American community. I went to a baseball game watching Indians fans yell passionately for the team, visited the Botanical Garden meticulously and eagerly looking up to the butterflies fluttering about, or participated in a fun barbeque cook-off by our family. The municipal Home Day marching has also been positive community experience.
For the first time, I learned that American lifestyle in actuality was more complex that the fast-paced lifestyle that is famously portrayed in many theatrical productions. My imagination of America totally lost its grip. I realize what makes up this society are the real people who also want the same thing as we do in life that is happiness; people who also have problems, issues and conflicts; people who do their best in tasks they are assigned with; people who keep slacking…
In Vietnam, we had multifarious perceptions about America, mostly pop culture stereotypes, the rich, the famous, the movie stars and the democracy. Vietnamese youth at times find themselves knowing the biography of Britney Spears and Brad Pitt so well. From my confession, you have to be truly living in a city to not only sense all the dynamic interactions and its vibrancy but also see the problems that lie underneath the surface. However, many young minds in Vietnam are also inspired by Bill Gates’ example of following your true passion and making things happen. A lot of students possess sleepless zeal to study abroad and deepen their perspectives about the global changes that are taking place. America is one of the hot destinations.
They say America is a melting pot because there are subcultures and cultural enclaves in co-existence. While ethnical diversity is a blessing, it is also treated as a nuisance. One of the most compelling benefits for the cultural exchange program that I partook in was to be able to learn about a few new cultures even though I only physically stay in Cleveland, like the Latinos, the Chinese, the Slovenian and so many more. What characterizes America in my mind is the diversity of distinctive neighborhoods.
I will eventually go back to Vietnam with the cultural lessons I have accumulated here. The American part of my life will always remind me of interesting interactions with a culture that alleged to be one of the most diverse and pluralistic and bring it along with me on my continuous cultural adventures to compare, to contrast and to seek utmost pleasure of learning more than one manner of doing normal things.
Thank you for your time and you are welcome to share your own experience of cultural interaction with people of different ethnicity than yours.
~Huong Nguyen
Despite a little fear and mild anxiety, I flew out of The Noi Bai International Airport of Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, knowing things would not be the same anymore: the people, the food, pastime pleasures, the streets, the perpetual spirit for soccer and the family. Change of culture allows me to become open-minded to what I see and hear and to be well-adapted to the conditions that I am put into. The Picker family took me in, shared the love that I can always relate to my Vietnamese family and taught me to be a part of an American community. I went to a baseball game watching Indians fans yell passionately for the team, visited the Botanical Garden meticulously and eagerly looking up to the butterflies fluttering about, or participated in a fun barbeque cook-off by our family. The municipal Home Day marching has also been positive community experience.
For the first time, I learned that American lifestyle in actuality was more complex that the fast-paced lifestyle that is famously portrayed in many theatrical productions. My imagination of America totally lost its grip. I realize what makes up this society are the real people who also want the same thing as we do in life that is happiness; people who also have problems, issues and conflicts; people who do their best in tasks they are assigned with; people who keep slacking…
In Vietnam, we had multifarious perceptions about America, mostly pop culture stereotypes, the rich, the famous, the movie stars and the democracy. Vietnamese youth at times find themselves knowing the biography of Britney Spears and Brad Pitt so well. From my confession, you have to be truly living in a city to not only sense all the dynamic interactions and its vibrancy but also see the problems that lie underneath the surface. However, many young minds in Vietnam are also inspired by Bill Gates’ example of following your true passion and making things happen. A lot of students possess sleepless zeal to study abroad and deepen their perspectives about the global changes that are taking place. America is one of the hot destinations.
They say America is a melting pot because there are subcultures and cultural enclaves in co-existence. While ethnical diversity is a blessing, it is also treated as a nuisance. One of the most compelling benefits for the cultural exchange program that I partook in was to be able to learn about a few new cultures even though I only physically stay in Cleveland, like the Latinos, the Chinese, the Slovenian and so many more. What characterizes America in my mind is the diversity of distinctive neighborhoods.
I will eventually go back to Vietnam with the cultural lessons I have accumulated here. The American part of my life will always remind me of interesting interactions with a culture that alleged to be one of the most diverse and pluralistic and bring it along with me on my continuous cultural adventures to compare, to contrast and to seek utmost pleasure of learning more than one manner of doing normal things.
Thank you for your time and you are welcome to share your own experience of cultural interaction with people of different ethnicity than yours.
~Huong Nguyen
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
My first blog... and other random-ness!
hey!
so this is my first honors program blog!! how exciting! now all I need is something to write about!
I could go philosophical, or I could gloat about the awesome double strike I got yesterday when I went bowling with some friends. I could talk about the amazing benefits of the honors program, or I could talk about how glad I am that winter finally seems to have left Cleveland...
I really don't know where to begin... so I'll talk about all of them!!
Philosophical:
Should we look at life as being one fall from cradle to grave? Even if we do, why not have fun with the time we're falling and make some of those pretty skydiving shapes like circles or flowers? LIVE!!!
Gloat:
I started out with a 7 going into the third frame... yeah, the last time I bowled it was the ninties and there were bumpers in the gutters! Before the last frame of the game I had a 56, and after my oh, so sweet double strike, I had a 83. WOOHOO!!
Honors Program:
Just plain awesome... they give financial support for students who do what they should be striving for (getting a high GPA). Students get to work with some of the best teachers on campus in a small classroom setting. I "spent" almost $200 for a book for a single introductory course, but with the honors program book scholarship I don't need to worry about working extra time to pay off the credit card bill!
Weather:
NO MORE SNOW!!!! I'm keeping my winter coat on campus, but I was able to pack my sweaters away and bring out the flip flops!!!
yeah... if you think this blog was scattered... you really should have been in my head while I was writing it!!!
You never know when someone's looking, make life a show!
Alma Pitchford
so this is my first honors program blog!! how exciting! now all I need is something to write about!
I could go philosophical, or I could gloat about the awesome double strike I got yesterday when I went bowling with some friends. I could talk about the amazing benefits of the honors program, or I could talk about how glad I am that winter finally seems to have left Cleveland...
I really don't know where to begin... so I'll talk about all of them!!
Philosophical:
Should we look at life as being one fall from cradle to grave? Even if we do, why not have fun with the time we're falling and make some of those pretty skydiving shapes like circles or flowers? LIVE!!!
Gloat:
I started out with a 7 going into the third frame... yeah, the last time I bowled it was the ninties and there were bumpers in the gutters! Before the last frame of the game I had a 56, and after my oh, so sweet double strike, I had a 83. WOOHOO!!
Honors Program:
Just plain awesome... they give financial support for students who do what they should be striving for (getting a high GPA). Students get to work with some of the best teachers on campus in a small classroom setting. I "spent" almost $200 for a book for a single introductory course, but with the honors program book scholarship I don't need to worry about working extra time to pay off the credit card bill!
Weather:
NO MORE SNOW!!!! I'm keeping my winter coat on campus, but I was able to pack my sweaters away and bring out the flip flops!!!
yeah... if you think this blog was scattered... you really should have been in my head while I was writing it!!!
You never know when someone's looking, make life a show!
Alma Pitchford
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
honors project research
Sorry for the late start blogging this week, I had a lot of paper work to kick off the summer session and needed some time to gather my thoughts.
Congratulations to everyone for making it to summer break and my condolences to anyone that is taking summer courses. I'm not taking any classes this summer (thank God), however I'm doing research for the University. For many of us students majoring in technical fields a requirement for the honors diploma is completing research and presenting an honors thesis. It's a great oppurtunity to get work published before graduate school, but I'm sure it sounds intimidating to students that have not started work on it yet. I know I was fairly apprehensive about doing it, so I thought it would be a good topic to address in the blog.
First, I'll outline the research I have been doing. I started last summer and worked around 10-15 hours a week. I would have worked full time, but I was also taking Organic Chemistry and there was no way I could work full time at the same time. My research has been under the guidance of Professor Nolan Holland, for the department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.
I'll admit that when I got the background material for the research I would be doing I was quickly overwhelmed. Dr. Holland explained the work to me personally, doing his best to explain it in a way a sophomore undergraduate student could understand. He also provided me with helpful papers on the subject to read up on before starting my work. Although the material was helpful, it really didn't prepare me for the work I'd be doing in the lab. For the actual procedures and techniques used in the lab the graduate students also working for Dr. Holland helped me immeasureably, and continue to help me. Even when they were busy with their own research they were always willing to come over and help me with what I was doing, no matter how stupid I felt my problems were. Although I was flying by the seat of my pants the first week or so, I quickly became familiar with the lab and the procedures I would be using to pursue my line of research.
After last summer I took a break from the research to focus on my junior year classes. Frank, my room mate and fellow chemical engineer, continued his lab work during the fall and spring semesters. He did the work at his own chosen pace though, so as not to completely overwhelm himself with work. It's also worth mentioning that all three honors students doing full time research this summer for the department of chemical and biomedical engineering are being compensated for our work through the Provost's office. It's definitely a huge bonus that we are getting paid for work that we have to do for our major anyway!
I haven't started work on my honors thesis, or a written scientific paper on my research yet, but I feel as if the work I've done already has set me up nicely for both. Frank has started work on his paper for Dr. Gatica and he has estimated it will end up being between 25 and 30 pages, but it won't be difficult for him to write that much because of the large amount he has to write about.
I'd like to mention to any students interested in the research being done by honors students this summer that the provost's office will be hosting meetings every Friday for each student to talk about their research. I'm not sure when or where these meetings are, but if anyone knows please tell me and I'll post that info in a later post.
All in all, the research has been very rewarding to me. I've never felt that the work has been overwhelming, or has added an insurmountable requirement for me. I thoroughly enjoy the work, and it has given me a great insight into what graduate work is like. I strongly recommend that anyone who has this requirement start on it sooner rather than later! I wouldn't want to be in the position of just starting my research senior year. If anyone has any questions about the research requirement, or wants more detail about what I've been doing, feel free to ask!
And have a great summer vacation.
- James Hayes
Congratulations to everyone for making it to summer break and my condolences to anyone that is taking summer courses. I'm not taking any classes this summer (thank God), however I'm doing research for the University. For many of us students majoring in technical fields a requirement for the honors diploma is completing research and presenting an honors thesis. It's a great oppurtunity to get work published before graduate school, but I'm sure it sounds intimidating to students that have not started work on it yet. I know I was fairly apprehensive about doing it, so I thought it would be a good topic to address in the blog.
First, I'll outline the research I have been doing. I started last summer and worked around 10-15 hours a week. I would have worked full time, but I was also taking Organic Chemistry and there was no way I could work full time at the same time. My research has been under the guidance of Professor Nolan Holland, for the department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.
I'll admit that when I got the background material for the research I would be doing I was quickly overwhelmed. Dr. Holland explained the work to me personally, doing his best to explain it in a way a sophomore undergraduate student could understand. He also provided me with helpful papers on the subject to read up on before starting my work. Although the material was helpful, it really didn't prepare me for the work I'd be doing in the lab. For the actual procedures and techniques used in the lab the graduate students also working for Dr. Holland helped me immeasureably, and continue to help me. Even when they were busy with their own research they were always willing to come over and help me with what I was doing, no matter how stupid I felt my problems were. Although I was flying by the seat of my pants the first week or so, I quickly became familiar with the lab and the procedures I would be using to pursue my line of research.
After last summer I took a break from the research to focus on my junior year classes. Frank, my room mate and fellow chemical engineer, continued his lab work during the fall and spring semesters. He did the work at his own chosen pace though, so as not to completely overwhelm himself with work. It's also worth mentioning that all three honors students doing full time research this summer for the department of chemical and biomedical engineering are being compensated for our work through the Provost's office. It's definitely a huge bonus that we are getting paid for work that we have to do for our major anyway!
I haven't started work on my honors thesis, or a written scientific paper on my research yet, but I feel as if the work I've done already has set me up nicely for both. Frank has started work on his paper for Dr. Gatica and he has estimated it will end up being between 25 and 30 pages, but it won't be difficult for him to write that much because of the large amount he has to write about.
I'd like to mention to any students interested in the research being done by honors students this summer that the provost's office will be hosting meetings every Friday for each student to talk about their research. I'm not sure when or where these meetings are, but if anyone knows please tell me and I'll post that info in a later post.
All in all, the research has been very rewarding to me. I've never felt that the work has been overwhelming, or has added an insurmountable requirement for me. I thoroughly enjoy the work, and it has given me a great insight into what graduate work is like. I strongly recommend that anyone who has this requirement start on it sooner rather than later! I wouldn't want to be in the position of just starting my research senior year. If anyone has any questions about the research requirement, or wants more detail about what I've been doing, feel free to ask!
And have a great summer vacation.
- James Hayes
Friday, May 18, 2007
Non-traditional student - and proud of it, man!
Last week I was super super busy trying to finish finals and etc. around the demanding schedule of my two-month old baby, so I didn't have time for leisure activities. This past week I was able to do a little light reading, and it came to my attention that there are people out there who don't think that non-traditional students "belong" at CSU. Well, I have to say that I was floored. It seems to me that anyone with the drive and intellect to achieve a degree from any university should be allowed to do so. What a ridiculous comment.
I want to preface this next part by saying that I have nothing but respect for people who come out of high school at 18 and slog right on through to get their college degree. One of my greatest regrets has always been that I did not do that. I wanted to, but I made other choices. I have even more respect for those who do it and manage to graduate with honors. However, I venture to say that the average traditional college student has very few real distractions from attaining that degree. I am not in any way belittling the achievement - I respect the achievement - it's just generally easier. Generally! I know many 18-24's who struggle with the same problems as my age group (don't ask!!!), but I think that non-traditional students on the average tend to deal with much more. I am very proud to have graduated summa cum laude. I take even more pride in the fact that I did it in three years while working part time and raising my stepdaughter. When I had my own child via C-section over spring break this past semester I was back in class three weeks later and walked away with a 3.6 semester GPA. If I am able to do all of this, how can anyone say that I don't belong on campus? That I am not deserving of the same quality of degree as someone else just because they're younger? That smacks of age discrimination, and I think any university worth their salt is smart enough not to have discrminatory policies which beg a class action lawsuit! Clearly the people who run CSU have a few more brains, and a lot more business savvy than people who only speculate on how easy it is to run a university.
To me, my degree means much more since I earned it under the circumstances that I did as opposed to if I had earned it a few years ago. I worked in both the corporate banking world and the acting world and built myself a substantial reputation in both. I brought my professionalism, acumen, and intense motivation with me, and it was these things that allowed me to complete my degree in three years and graduate with highest honors. While raising children! If there is anyone with a legitimate reason of why I don't "belong" on a university campus, let me know. Maybe I'll consider their comments as I obtain my PhD at UConn.
I want to preface this next part by saying that I have nothing but respect for people who come out of high school at 18 and slog right on through to get their college degree. One of my greatest regrets has always been that I did not do that. I wanted to, but I made other choices. I have even more respect for those who do it and manage to graduate with honors. However, I venture to say that the average traditional college student has very few real distractions from attaining that degree. I am not in any way belittling the achievement - I respect the achievement - it's just generally easier. Generally! I know many 18-24's who struggle with the same problems as my age group (don't ask!!!), but I think that non-traditional students on the average tend to deal with much more. I am very proud to have graduated summa cum laude. I take even more pride in the fact that I did it in three years while working part time and raising my stepdaughter. When I had my own child via C-section over spring break this past semester I was back in class three weeks later and walked away with a 3.6 semester GPA. If I am able to do all of this, how can anyone say that I don't belong on campus? That I am not deserving of the same quality of degree as someone else just because they're younger? That smacks of age discrimination, and I think any university worth their salt is smart enough not to have discrminatory policies which beg a class action lawsuit! Clearly the people who run CSU have a few more brains, and a lot more business savvy than people who only speculate on how easy it is to run a university.
To me, my degree means much more since I earned it under the circumstances that I did as opposed to if I had earned it a few years ago. I worked in both the corporate banking world and the acting world and built myself a substantial reputation in both. I brought my professionalism, acumen, and intense motivation with me, and it was these things that allowed me to complete my degree in three years and graduate with highest honors. While raising children! If there is anyone with a legitimate reason of why I don't "belong" on a university campus, let me know. Maybe I'll consider their comments as I obtain my PhD at UConn.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Just wondering
So, does anyone else think it's weird that you get to graduate at CSU before your final grades are in? What happens if you walk on Saturday and then look on Campusnet on Tuesday and find out that you didn't really graduate? How weird must that be? And how totally and completely awful would it be as well? I was just thinking - what an odd policy.
Hello, everybody. I just graduated!
Hi, everyone. I'm not really sure what I should post about, so I'm just going to start typing until something comes! I hope I don't bore y'all too much in the process. Oh, can I just take a moment (here's my topic. Yes!) to say how great it is to have graduated at last? This is fantastic! Friday I had a take-home essay final due and a presentation of my senior project before the bulk of the Sociology faculty, and afterward I was like - wow, I'm really graduating. It's so weird, but so great at the same time. I am now a woman of leisure. Kind of. At least more so than I have been for a long time. I still have two children to raise and loads of theater jobs this summer, but compared to my usual schedule it'll be a light load. I feel so oddly relaxed. I was talking to my baby brother who graduates from Penn State Saturday with his BS in electrical engineering and he's like - I don't have anything to do. I'm so confused. I'm like, yeah. I think we should sacrifice and relax. Try to do that. I think he's making the effort.
Anyway, Saturday at the ceremony I was alternating between smiles and tears. I turned to my friend Alli and I said "We're not CSU students anymore!" and I'm all crying and she's like "No, we're alumni!" and then I was thrilled again. Such a weird feeling.
Even though I know what I'm going to do next it still feels weird and scary. I love CSU, I was tempted to stay longer and get a double major, but it was definitely time to move on. I'm going to UConn to get my PhD in Sociology. That should be different, moving to a state where my little family will be the diversity. Just kidding.
Anyway, if I think of anything else to post, I'll be back boring everyone again. Look forward to it!
Anyway, Saturday at the ceremony I was alternating between smiles and tears. I turned to my friend Alli and I said "We're not CSU students anymore!" and I'm all crying and she's like "No, we're alumni!" and then I was thrilled again. Such a weird feeling.
Even though I know what I'm going to do next it still feels weird and scary. I love CSU, I was tempted to stay longer and get a double major, but it was definitely time to move on. I'm going to UConn to get my PhD in Sociology. That should be different, moving to a state where my little family will be the diversity. Just kidding.
Anyway, if I think of anything else to post, I'll be back boring everyone again. Look forward to it!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Repondez s'il vous plait / More campus improvement Ideas
It seems that my previous posting did its duty in provoking thought, and I would like to take this opportunity to respond to some of the responses.
Robert T. questioned my research, however if he had in fact read the entirety of my entry he would see that I am fully aware of the average age of CSU students, in fact he was somewhat mistaken, according to the 2006 Book of Trends the average age of a CSU student is 29.5 years old, up by nearly 1 year from last year. The college with the lowest average is the school of Engineering with an average age of 26.6 and the college with the highest average is the college of Urban Affairs, with an average age of 34.1. I am well aware of this fact, however it seems to be the self-serving belief of the population not only of CSU but of our country that as long as you are being well served, simple knowledge is sometimes more than sufficient. Of course CSU has an older student body, this is precisely the problem I am addressing.
If you read the full text of my article you may be notice that I said " The harsh truth is that 53% of CSU students don't belong here." And based on the new data from the most recent Book of Trends, I can safely raise that percentage to 58%. I'm sorry if this comes off as cold, heartless, or the ramblings of an intellectual elitist, all of which may be and probably are true, however the demographics of CSU are more reminiscent of those of a Community College. The majority of the student body at CSU is a Community College student body. This must be changed if the city of Cleveland is to succeed, a Community College cannot feed a city with the intellectually and academically equipped personnel needed to run a city.
The goal of Cleveland State should not be to serve these non-traditional students, but rather to change the demographic to those considered normal for a respectable University. Therefore I would propose instituting a University partnership program with Tri-C and LCCC which requires mandatory transfer of non-traditional students, to the considerably less expensive Community Colleges (16 credit hours at LCCC costs $1,444.95 per semester, Tri-C costs $1703.68 per semester, and CSU costs $3,960 per semester) thereby allowing these students greater financial freedom, while in an environment better equipped to deal with their unique needs. Through a partnership program this 58% of the CSU campus could save $2000 per semester and still earn a 4 year degree with Cleveland State University printed across the top.
Meanwhile the actual University could place its focus on University Students and lower the average student age to somewhere in the normative range of 20-22 years old.
I certainly have seen the master plan however it is important to realize a few things, first the master plan does not call for the construction of another residential building for another 10 years, at which point that building will replace Viking Hall which will be demolished, thereby doing nothing to increase residential capacity. Funding for "varsity village" is not even on the spectrum for at least 20 years, and the University will continue to flounder until that point if the master plan is followed. Also, the master plan still allows for decrepit privately owned buildings and businesses to exist within the boundaries of campus, particularly in the vicinity of the Wolstein Center. The master plan is good start but it presumptuous to assume its implementation will complete and timely.
However in the meantime, I do have a variety of propositions to provide a realistic and immediately implementable, if only partial solution to the campus dilemma. There are two large capacity residential buildings within the boundaries of the CSU campus: The Heritage Suites Apartments at E.22nd and Prospect and the Comfort Inn at E.18th and Euclid. These facilities could be purchased for immediate implementation as dormitory buildings on campus and further increase the residential capacity, in addition the Norton Furniture building could be renovated for use as a dormitory for approximately the same cost and time as the Fenn Tower renovation. This process would increase the bed capacity of the University to approximately 2000+ which would be sufficient to implement a mandatory first year residency requirement, thereby planting the beginnings of a true University atmosphere.
Additionally beneficial to the growth of the University is the current plan for the innerbelt redesign, which calls for the prospect road ramp to I-90 to be removed and filled in, this, in conjunction with the future destruction of the CSU bookstore would create an area which could be renovated into a village for small housing units, ideal for greek letter student organizations in the vicinity of Fenn Tower and the Rec Center at the Eastern Gate of the campus. The Eastern Gate could be further beautified by demolishing the Science Building and Re-locating all of the laboratories and offices in that building to the University owned Doan Electric building, which coincidentally has an almost identical floor plan. This move would allow the greenspace area on Euclid to be extended to offer attractive lines of sight from main classroom to the Fenn Tower entrance as well as an attractive point of view from the newly constructed Parker-Hanifin Buildings looking out over a greenspace quad containing Fenn Tower on the right, Main Classroom on the left, and the Science Research Building and Stillwell hall lining the back.
Also of importance for greenspace is the demolition of the Chester Building and Chester Building annex, the offices housed therein could be moved into the 3rd District Police station at the north west corner of campus, which is scheduled to be abandoned by the end of this month and would be available for purchase and use with minimal renovation. This building could also house the athletic department since it has close access to Krenzler field and the Malaga tennis center and would be in place for the potential future development of athletic fields on the north side of campus.
With the Art and Theater Arts Building scheduled for relocation to a new building at the site of the Corlette Building, the land currently housing the Art Buildings could be the site of new science research facilities and the greenspace across the street, afforded by demolishing the Chester Building and Annex, would become a quad for science and engineering students, and could house the smart energy spire that was designed by our own engineering department and would create neighboring quads of science, residence, and general education (that being between the student center and Rhodes Tower).
As for the issues of the plant services building, I understand its usefulness however such a building is a peripheral commodity and as the campus grows that property will find itself in the middle of campus. Therefore the equipment, offices, and warehouse space in that building could be moved, if not to the Camp building, to the much larger Ohio Boxboard Company Building at 1400 E.30th, a building which is abandoned and eligible for listing on the national register of historic places, which means, eligible for no-strings attached federal funding for renovation.
Of course I understand the immense costs of such an undertaking, however with an aggressive administrative push, it can be done. In fact I have been contemplating a very simple plan capable of generating an immediate profit well in excess of $20 million with practically no financial effort, which I would be more than happy to exchange with those parties capable of enacting such a plan.
As in all my prior statements I know I've broached several intriguing and controversial topics, and I encourage comments.
-Jonathan Simon
Robert T. questioned my research, however if he had in fact read the entirety of my entry he would see that I am fully aware of the average age of CSU students, in fact he was somewhat mistaken, according to the 2006 Book of Trends the average age of a CSU student is 29.5 years old, up by nearly 1 year from last year. The college with the lowest average is the school of Engineering with an average age of 26.6 and the college with the highest average is the college of Urban Affairs, with an average age of 34.1. I am well aware of this fact, however it seems to be the self-serving belief of the population not only of CSU but of our country that as long as you are being well served, simple knowledge is sometimes more than sufficient. Of course CSU has an older student body, this is precisely the problem I am addressing.
If you read the full text of my article you may be notice that I said " The harsh truth is that 53% of CSU students don't belong here." And based on the new data from the most recent Book of Trends, I can safely raise that percentage to 58%. I'm sorry if this comes off as cold, heartless, or the ramblings of an intellectual elitist, all of which may be and probably are true, however the demographics of CSU are more reminiscent of those of a Community College. The majority of the student body at CSU is a Community College student body. This must be changed if the city of Cleveland is to succeed, a Community College cannot feed a city with the intellectually and academically equipped personnel needed to run a city.
The goal of Cleveland State should not be to serve these non-traditional students, but rather to change the demographic to those considered normal for a respectable University. Therefore I would propose instituting a University partnership program with Tri-C and LCCC which requires mandatory transfer of non-traditional students, to the considerably less expensive Community Colleges (16 credit hours at LCCC costs $1,444.95 per semester, Tri-C costs $1703.68 per semester, and CSU costs $3,960 per semester) thereby allowing these students greater financial freedom, while in an environment better equipped to deal with their unique needs. Through a partnership program this 58% of the CSU campus could save $2000 per semester and still earn a 4 year degree with Cleveland State University printed across the top.
Meanwhile the actual University could place its focus on University Students and lower the average student age to somewhere in the normative range of 20-22 years old.
I certainly have seen the master plan however it is important to realize a few things, first the master plan does not call for the construction of another residential building for another 10 years, at which point that building will replace Viking Hall which will be demolished, thereby doing nothing to increase residential capacity. Funding for "varsity village" is not even on the spectrum for at least 20 years, and the University will continue to flounder until that point if the master plan is followed. Also, the master plan still allows for decrepit privately owned buildings and businesses to exist within the boundaries of campus, particularly in the vicinity of the Wolstein Center. The master plan is good start but it presumptuous to assume its implementation will complete and timely.
However in the meantime, I do have a variety of propositions to provide a realistic and immediately implementable, if only partial solution to the campus dilemma. There are two large capacity residential buildings within the boundaries of the CSU campus: The Heritage Suites Apartments at E.22nd and Prospect and the Comfort Inn at E.18th and Euclid. These facilities could be purchased for immediate implementation as dormitory buildings on campus and further increase the residential capacity, in addition the Norton Furniture building could be renovated for use as a dormitory for approximately the same cost and time as the Fenn Tower renovation. This process would increase the bed capacity of the University to approximately 2000+ which would be sufficient to implement a mandatory first year residency requirement, thereby planting the beginnings of a true University atmosphere.
Additionally beneficial to the growth of the University is the current plan for the innerbelt redesign, which calls for the prospect road ramp to I-90 to be removed and filled in, this, in conjunction with the future destruction of the CSU bookstore would create an area which could be renovated into a village for small housing units, ideal for greek letter student organizations in the vicinity of Fenn Tower and the Rec Center at the Eastern Gate of the campus. The Eastern Gate could be further beautified by demolishing the Science Building and Re-locating all of the laboratories and offices in that building to the University owned Doan Electric building, which coincidentally has an almost identical floor plan. This move would allow the greenspace area on Euclid to be extended to offer attractive lines of sight from main classroom to the Fenn Tower entrance as well as an attractive point of view from the newly constructed Parker-Hanifin Buildings looking out over a greenspace quad containing Fenn Tower on the right, Main Classroom on the left, and the Science Research Building and Stillwell hall lining the back.
Also of importance for greenspace is the demolition of the Chester Building and Chester Building annex, the offices housed therein could be moved into the 3rd District Police station at the north west corner of campus, which is scheduled to be abandoned by the end of this month and would be available for purchase and use with minimal renovation. This building could also house the athletic department since it has close access to Krenzler field and the Malaga tennis center and would be in place for the potential future development of athletic fields on the north side of campus.
With the Art and Theater Arts Building scheduled for relocation to a new building at the site of the Corlette Building, the land currently housing the Art Buildings could be the site of new science research facilities and the greenspace across the street, afforded by demolishing the Chester Building and Annex, would become a quad for science and engineering students, and could house the smart energy spire that was designed by our own engineering department and would create neighboring quads of science, residence, and general education (that being between the student center and Rhodes Tower).
As for the issues of the plant services building, I understand its usefulness however such a building is a peripheral commodity and as the campus grows that property will find itself in the middle of campus. Therefore the equipment, offices, and warehouse space in that building could be moved, if not to the Camp building, to the much larger Ohio Boxboard Company Building at 1400 E.30th, a building which is abandoned and eligible for listing on the national register of historic places, which means, eligible for no-strings attached federal funding for renovation.
Of course I understand the immense costs of such an undertaking, however with an aggressive administrative push, it can be done. In fact I have been contemplating a very simple plan capable of generating an immediate profit well in excess of $20 million with practically no financial effort, which I would be more than happy to exchange with those parties capable of enacting such a plan.
As in all my prior statements I know I've broached several intriguing and controversial topics, and I encourage comments.
-Jonathan Simon
On a different note
As a student who has transferred here from Case Western and been on the campuses of many other Universities, I have certainly noticed quite a few disparities between the CSU environment and that of a traditional University.
First and foremost is CSU's firm belief that this is a commuter campus. NO SUCCESSFUL UNIVERSITY IN THE UNITED STATES IS A COMMUTER CAMPUS! There are quite a few Universities with satellite campuses that are either primarily or entirely commuter, however no main campus within the scope of my knowledge has had the sheer gall to commit itself to forcing its students to travel miles to fight for parking only to push them away after 5PM. How can a University expect to build a campus life if the students all vacate the property after their last class? Sure "the city is our campus" but what city? If you ask one student it might be Willoughby, for another it might be Westlake, or Parma, or Strongsville.
As I said before, I'm a problem solver so here's my suggestion:
The school doesn't have a lot of property as it stands, but there is a great deal of misuse of the property we have, over half of the acreage of the campus is parking lots, and the second largest building on campus is practically abandoned. What building is this? Located at 1802 E.25th St., a former warehouse is currently in use as the plant services building which houses "Physical Plant, University Architect, Office of Capital Planning, and Shipping, Receiving and Property Control offices" all very useful services however not worthy of such a large, imposing, and sturdy building. This building, if renovated, could potentially house in excess 800 students. The offices currently located in the plant services building could be moved next door to a smaller, yet more than sufficient ex-warehouse, which is currently under lease by CSU to the non-affiliated CAMP Program.
This brings me to the second problem with the campus:
There is no coherent campus core. When viewing a map of campus buildings, we see the Wolstein Center in the southwest corner, and 4 blocks north Krenzler Field in the northwest corner. 6 blocks east is the plant annex building marking the northeast corner and only 2 blocks south is the bookstore, marking the southeast corner of campus. These 4 points are the outline of the campus, however within the boundaries of this outline are a hotel, several abandoned storefronts, a homeless shelter, a furniture store, a home for battered women, two abandoned gas stations, and an independently owned night club. On what other 'campus' can you find this eclectic mixture of deplorable cohabitants? The university must acquire, renovate and/or destroy and rebuild, all of these establishments and solidify the boundary of the campus. The city is our campus might be a good slogan in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Boston but this is Cleveland, one of the poorest, most dangerous cities in the country, if you want to build a strong University you must separate yourself from the city's unattractive elements, and right now the business sector is a very unattractive element. Maintaining a strong relationship with playhouse square is clearly a key to success, but the other non-affiliated buildings and businesses in and around the vicinity must be acquired at any and all cost in order to isolate the campus from the depravity of the city and build its own shining jewel, as Case, the Cleveland Clinic, and University Hospitals has done in University Circle.
The third and final gripe that I have today ties in strongly with, and explains the deep underlying reason for the previous problems. Cleveland State does not see itself as a true University. Now some may ask, what does this mean? All throughout Europe and Canada students make a distinction in their choice of post-secondary education, if you ask an averagely educated Canadian if he went to college, he will proudly respond, of course not, I went to university. In America, even if we don't realize it, we accept the hierarchy of higher education:
the lowest rung on the ladder is a Technical Schools and Certification Programs
next is Community College
then Junior College
then Colleges
Finally at the pinnacle of higher education is the University.
Each of these categories has their specific target demographic:
A Tech. School is for people who have a desire to only learn the skills they need for a specific job, and this is available to anyone who wants to learn a skill, regardless of age, intellect, or prior education. These schools have small, usually one or two building campuses, and no residential students.
A Community College is for people seeking a two-year associates degree, certification, or through associated programs a four-year degree from colleges and universities, these institutions are established for people without sufficient funds, or without the proper academic qualifications for a University or College education. A Community College also is intended to give individuals who may have postponed their higher education and decide to go back to school to improve their earning power. A Community College will have a large multi-building campus but traditionally little or no residential capacity and is intended to be a commuter campus.
A Junior College is for students in the 18-30 year old bracket who don't have the academic qualifications to be accepted at a College or University but wish to further education and raise their qualifications over the course of a two-year associates program in order to gain admission into a College or University. These schools attempt to imitate the College and University atmosphere, usually having larger campuses with abundant residence halls, and is primarily a residential campus.
Finally moving into the big leagues, A College offers an almost exclusively liberal arts education, with minimal focus on the sciences. It is geared for students directly out of high school and offers a four year program, admissions standards are traditionally slightly lower than most, but not all Universities, and is intended for students in the 18-25 year old range. Of course in the same vein as a College is the Institute of Technology, not to be confused with the technological institute (the latter being akin to a Technical/Trade School), an Institute of Technology is practically identical to a College with the exception that the curriculum focuses on the sciences and neglects the liberal arts. Both Colleges and Institutes of Technology are almost exclusively residential and offer large sprawling campuses.
And the pinnacle of modern higher education is a University education, a strong balanced mixture of liberal arts and sciences geared in traditionally 4 or 5 year programs. The University education targets students straight out of high school and offers an almost exclusively residential environment, in fact most universities have at least a freshman residency requirement, and some require a two or three year on campus living experience.
By this definition Cleveland State is much more a Community College than anything else. According to the most recent data available online, in fall 2004 CSU's part-time students making up 1/3 of the student body with the 18-24 year old bracket making up only 43% of the University population, while students 25 and over made up 53%. In the same report an analysis of students entering CSU in 1997 was presented regarding graduation rates. In 4 years only 7% of students graduated, in 5 years that percentage raised to 19%, however even after 7 years the graduation rate was only at 32% (source: 2005 CSU Book of Trends).
Why is this happening? Because CSU is torn between being a University and Community College, it must offer a course schedule and degree program pursuant of a University standard, while still maintaining the educational, admissions, and administrative thought process of a Community College. The harsh truth is that 53% of CSU students don't belong here. I'm sorry to say it, but they missed the boat on a real University education, however lucky for them there are schools like Lorain and Cuyahoga County Community Colleges which offer lucrative 2 year programs, as well as partnerships with numerous Universities throughout the state where they can, on their own busy schedule, complete a four year degree and have the same earning power as someone who actually attended a University. In order for CSU to truly earn the 'U' in its title, it needs to crack down and start telling its students, "Listen, I'm sorry but this just isn't working out, Tri-C is two blocks that way, good luck."
Non-traditional students are fine for a Community College and Tech. School, but CSU has a responsibility not only to itself and its students, but also to the city of Cleveland. If CSU can build itself to be a respectable University that attracts a diverse population of majors amongst a young and enthusiastic student body, Cleveland State can feed the city in much the
same way that Ohio State has fed and continues to feed the growth of Columbus. All three ideas I have related are interconnected in that all must be corrected for one to be: University students want to live on campus amongst other university students, for this to occur, there must be more dormitories and less non-traditional students. University students want to immerse themselves in the University experience, for this to happen there must be a coherent campus, which means securing a boundary between the city and the school.
Through exacting those changes the University can change its image from a commuter school quantified by its number of parking spaces, to a strong residential campus represented by the strength of the students living in and feeding the heart of a city with the potential for incredible growth.
Thank you, and good night
-Jonathan Simon
First and foremost is CSU's firm belief that this is a commuter campus. NO SUCCESSFUL UNIVERSITY IN THE UNITED STATES IS A COMMUTER CAMPUS! There are quite a few Universities with satellite campuses that are either primarily or entirely commuter, however no main campus within the scope of my knowledge has had the sheer gall to commit itself to forcing its students to travel miles to fight for parking only to push them away after 5PM. How can a University expect to build a campus life if the students all vacate the property after their last class? Sure "the city is our campus" but what city? If you ask one student it might be Willoughby, for another it might be Westlake, or Parma, or Strongsville.
As I said before, I'm a problem solver so here's my suggestion:
The school doesn't have a lot of property as it stands, but there is a great deal of misuse of the property we have, over half of the acreage of the campus is parking lots, and the second largest building on campus is practically abandoned. What building is this? Located at 1802 E.25th St., a former warehouse is currently in use as the plant services building which houses "Physical Plant, University Architect, Office of Capital Planning, and Shipping, Receiving and Property Control offices" all very useful services however not worthy of such a large, imposing, and sturdy building. This building, if renovated, could potentially house in excess 800 students. The offices currently located in the plant services building could be moved next door to a smaller, yet more than sufficient ex-warehouse, which is currently under lease by CSU to the non-affiliated CAMP Program.
This brings me to the second problem with the campus:
There is no coherent campus core. When viewing a map of campus buildings, we see the Wolstein Center in the southwest corner, and 4 blocks north Krenzler Field in the northwest corner. 6 blocks east is the plant annex building marking the northeast corner and only 2 blocks south is the bookstore, marking the southeast corner of campus. These 4 points are the outline of the campus, however within the boundaries of this outline are a hotel, several abandoned storefronts, a homeless shelter, a furniture store, a home for battered women, two abandoned gas stations, and an independently owned night club. On what other 'campus' can you find this eclectic mixture of deplorable cohabitants? The university must acquire, renovate and/or destroy and rebuild, all of these establishments and solidify the boundary of the campus. The city is our campus might be a good slogan in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Boston but this is Cleveland, one of the poorest, most dangerous cities in the country, if you want to build a strong University you must separate yourself from the city's unattractive elements, and right now the business sector is a very unattractive element. Maintaining a strong relationship with playhouse square is clearly a key to success, but the other non-affiliated buildings and businesses in and around the vicinity must be acquired at any and all cost in order to isolate the campus from the depravity of the city and build its own shining jewel, as Case, the Cleveland Clinic, and University Hospitals has done in University Circle.
The third and final gripe that I have today ties in strongly with, and explains the deep underlying reason for the previous problems. Cleveland State does not see itself as a true University. Now some may ask, what does this mean? All throughout Europe and Canada students make a distinction in their choice of post-secondary education, if you ask an averagely educated Canadian if he went to college, he will proudly respond, of course not, I went to university. In America, even if we don't realize it, we accept the hierarchy of higher education:
the lowest rung on the ladder is a Technical Schools and Certification Programs
next is Community College
then Junior College
then Colleges
Finally at the pinnacle of higher education is the University.
Each of these categories has their specific target demographic:
A Tech. School is for people who have a desire to only learn the skills they need for a specific job, and this is available to anyone who wants to learn a skill, regardless of age, intellect, or prior education. These schools have small, usually one or two building campuses, and no residential students.
A Community College is for people seeking a two-year associates degree, certification, or through associated programs a four-year degree from colleges and universities, these institutions are established for people without sufficient funds, or without the proper academic qualifications for a University or College education. A Community College also is intended to give individuals who may have postponed their higher education and decide to go back to school to improve their earning power. A Community College will have a large multi-building campus but traditionally little or no residential capacity and is intended to be a commuter campus.
A Junior College is for students in the 18-30 year old bracket who don't have the academic qualifications to be accepted at a College or University but wish to further education and raise their qualifications over the course of a two-year associates program in order to gain admission into a College or University. These schools attempt to imitate the College and University atmosphere, usually having larger campuses with abundant residence halls, and is primarily a residential campus.
Finally moving into the big leagues, A College offers an almost exclusively liberal arts education, with minimal focus on the sciences. It is geared for students directly out of high school and offers a four year program, admissions standards are traditionally slightly lower than most, but not all Universities, and is intended for students in the 18-25 year old range. Of course in the same vein as a College is the Institute of Technology, not to be confused with the technological institute (the latter being akin to a Technical/Trade School), an Institute of Technology is practically identical to a College with the exception that the curriculum focuses on the sciences and neglects the liberal arts. Both Colleges and Institutes of Technology are almost exclusively residential and offer large sprawling campuses.
And the pinnacle of modern higher education is a University education, a strong balanced mixture of liberal arts and sciences geared in traditionally 4 or 5 year programs. The University education targets students straight out of high school and offers an almost exclusively residential environment, in fact most universities have at least a freshman residency requirement, and some require a two or three year on campus living experience.
By this definition Cleveland State is much more a Community College than anything else. According to the most recent data available online, in fall 2004 CSU's part-time students making up 1/3 of the student body with the 18-24 year old bracket making up only 43% of the University population, while students 25 and over made up 53%. In the same report an analysis of students entering CSU in 1997 was presented regarding graduation rates. In 4 years only 7% of students graduated, in 5 years that percentage raised to 19%, however even after 7 years the graduation rate was only at 32% (source: 2005 CSU Book of Trends).
Why is this happening? Because CSU is torn between being a University and Community College, it must offer a course schedule and degree program pursuant of a University standard, while still maintaining the educational, admissions, and administrative thought process of a Community College. The harsh truth is that 53% of CSU students don't belong here. I'm sorry to say it, but they missed the boat on a real University education, however lucky for them there are schools like Lorain and Cuyahoga County Community Colleges which offer lucrative 2 year programs, as well as partnerships with numerous Universities throughout the state where they can, on their own busy schedule, complete a four year degree and have the same earning power as someone who actually attended a University. In order for CSU to truly earn the 'U' in its title, it needs to crack down and start telling its students, "Listen, I'm sorry but this just isn't working out, Tri-C is two blocks that way, good luck."
Non-traditional students are fine for a Community College and Tech. School, but CSU has a responsibility not only to itself and its students, but also to the city of Cleveland. If CSU can build itself to be a respectable University that attracts a diverse population of majors amongst a young and enthusiastic student body, Cleveland State can feed the city in much the
same way that Ohio State has fed and continues to feed the growth of Columbus. All three ideas I have related are interconnected in that all must be corrected for one to be: University students want to live on campus amongst other university students, for this to occur, there must be more dormitories and less non-traditional students. University students want to immerse themselves in the University experience, for this to happen there must be a coherent campus, which means securing a boundary between the city and the school.
Through exacting those changes the University can change its image from a commuter school quantified by its number of parking spaces, to a strong residential campus represented by the strength of the students living in and feeding the heart of a city with the potential for incredible growth.
Thank you, and good night
-Jonathan Simon
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