K2 3: Student Perspectives

Home For the Holidays

2009-11-14T19:56:00.001-08:00

by Amber Lee

As the semester comes to a close I, like any other college student, am anxious about finals and look forward to the break of the holidays. At Georgia Tech the students get Thanksgiving and the following Friday off. Then there are finals and the semester ends after the second week of December.

The policy at Georgia Tech, and other institutions with a similar policy, can be confusing and frustrating – specifically with Thanksgiving. Unofficially, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is an off day and whether classes are held t is up to the professors. I normally have three lectures and a recitation on Wednesdays and all but one class has been canceled. I have quiz that day in the class that is not canceled so attendance is mandatory. This makes it very difficult to get home before the holidays because as an out-of-state student I have a long distance to travel home. On the other hand, students whose professors have canceled their classes get an extra day off without penalty.

Complaints such as mine are certainly not uncommon and because of student complaints policies among colleges vary. Some colleges have addressed the problem by giving the entire week off since many were leaving early anyway.

Winter break policies are varied also. For example, until recently Harvard held it’s finals after the winter break. Personally, I would find it hard to study and enjoy the holidays with my family, but there are some students who would rather have their finals after the break. When all is said and done, students want to maximize on their vacations as much as possible. Whether that be by study, spending time with their family, or partying is dependent on the student.

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Procrastination is Not So Sweet

2009-11-13T09:37:00.000-08:00

Scott Zadig

Many students, along with myself, have probably exhibited some form or another of the notorious habit known as procrastination. Procrastination is not exactly a friend of any college student and it is usually their reason for their downfall. Some people try their best to overcome the urge of putting off work at the last minute, but they end up falling victim to it once again for the next assignment they need to complete. What most people do not know is that procrastination is not only bad in a sense that it develops poor time management skills, but it also has a direct correlation to some other negative effects that end up hurting a student in many different aspects.

According to David Glenn from the University of Ohio state, avoidant styles and habits that come from procrastination lead to higher rates of smoking, drinking, and the tendency to ignore serious health issues. Students who procrastinate also have increased chances of digestive ailments, insomnia, and cold/flu symptoms. Most students do not realize the more serious effects that result from procrastination and they do not make a big enough effort to fix it. David Glenn brings up an interesting and important fact that studies have been done on. People think that simply improving their time management is the easy fix to their procrastination, but studies have shown that it is not effective. Encouraging someone to get over procrastination cannot be done simply by pushing someone to become more efficient with there time. Experts consider procrastination as a type of syndrome and there has not been a true “cure” for it. Students having awareness of procrastination and knowing of its seriousness is the first start to developing a solution. Students need to first realize they have a problem that could be damaging to their health and know that they need to do more than just manage their time more wisely to break the habit.

Adderall Abuse

2009-11-12T19:32:00.000-08:00

Kevin Corley

As academic rigor increases at universities, students must find ways to cope with the increased workload. While the true solution is the devotion of more studying time, many students turn to illegal ways of coping with school work. The abuse of Adderall to help study is becoming more prevalent in today’s college society. Adderall is a drug used to help people with ADHD focus. However, many students in college illegally use Adderall to help them focus on their studies and schoolwork. According to an article referencing the Washington post, Adderall sales have increased by 3100 percent between 2002 and 2005. At Georgia Tech, the academic rigor is so great that it is not uncommon to hear of people taking Adderall to get their studies done. Personally, having been here for only a semester, I have heard many students talking about using Adderall to help them with their work.

In an article about Adderall abuse, Lucy Blair states, “It’s cheating. It’s cutting corners. It’s kind of like the easy way out”. Students who are prescribed Adderall take it because they need it to focus. Students who do not have ADHD and take it have an unfair advantage over other students. It is a form of cheating that helps give students an edge over others. While it not directly cheating by providing them information for a test, it is altering their mental state. Similar to steroid abuse in sports, Adderall abuse is a form of cheating that is not only dangerous to the health of those abusing the drug but unfair to those that are completing their work and taking tests without abusing drugs. Abuse of such a drug undermines the grading systems in schools and undermines the true value of an education to students. Students who get better grades because they are utilizing Adderall make the integrity all students grades and degrees questionable. Unless colleges do something, people with integrity are being hurt while cheaters are being rewarded.

Video Game Addictions on Campus

2009-11-10T19:31:00.000-08:00

by Gregory Micek

Video games have become more prevalent in the college environment over the past decade. With the influx of video games in college dorms, addictions to video games have also become more common and are a growing concern for university staff, students, and parents alike.

According to Time Magazine, during his “’hardcore’ gaming streaks” Jon Essenburg, a freshman at Princeton, would drink two energy drinks in the evening to stay awake gaming until noon the following day, and then he would “crash, snoozing through his classes and waking up only for dinner and more playing time.” For many gamers, combining the freedom of college with a gamer’s love for video games results in a growing addiction that, left unchecked, can have serious effects on that person’s academics and health. Staying up all night can negatively influence a person’s sleep patterns, making that person feel tired for days after an all-nighter. Therefore, college gamers should be wary of the amount of time they allow themselves to play video games.

Also, Essenburg mentions that he missed classes simply to catch up on the sleep he missed while gaming. According to Time Magazine, a study by the Pew Research Center reported that 48% of college gamers in 2003 claimed that “video games kept them from studying ‘some’ or ‘a lot,’ and 32% confessed to playing in class.” Playing too many video games can prevent a student from studying, doing homework, or even attending class. Excessive video game playing can prevent a college student from performing to that’s student’s full potential and can lower that student’s grades. As a result, college students should prevent themselves from developing addicting habits to video games that inhibit their academic pursuits in college.

New GI Bill Website

2009-11-09T20:24:00.000-08:00

By Rohan Gupta

Congress approved the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2009 in order to allocate additional benefits to the original GI Bill or Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. The original bill provided college education for returning WWII veterans and a year of unemployment compensation. The newly amended bill provides additional benefits for servicemen who served in the military since September 11, 2009. These new benefits include full coverage of tuition, allowances, and other adjustment benefits.

The Council on Education recently created a website to help military veterans choose colleges and obtain education benefits designated by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The council opened the website today and hopes to encourage many veterans to take advantage of the opportunities their website offers. Apparently, many veterans neither know how to obtain the benefits designated by the bill nor know how to use them for a college education. The website provides information concerning benefits and eligibility, college and career advice, and anecdotes about veterans who completed a college education.

Unfortunately, the website does not provide any information on an issue that I discussed in one of my older posts. The issue is concerned with the allocation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill's funds to veterans. So many veterans applied for the bill's benefits that the Department of Veterans Affairs faces a backlog that may take several months to clear. The veterans who did not receive the bill's benefits appealed to the Department of Veterans Affairs and thus created another problem for the department. Hopefully, the department can fix these issues soon and provide the necessary financial aid to the veterans.

Apart from what the website may not cover, it is still a very helpful source for veterans looking to pursue higher education. Information that was not properly conveyed to these veterans earlier is now explicitly available on the council's website.

No Coffee for You!: Ridding the Campus of Its Coffee Stands

2009-11-08T08:25:00.000-08:00

By Shane Le Master

Many people say that the innumerable coffee shops and coffee stands scattered around Georgia Tech’s campus are a very nice touch and that their presence makes getting coffee very convenient. However, many young adults are using coffee now as a means of neglecting sleep. Instead of being responsible and practicing good time management to get to bed a decent hour, many students are pulling “all-nighters” and then drinking coffee to keep themselves awake. Students, as being growing young adults and as individuals who extensively use their minds, need to be sure that they are getting adequate sleep every night. In order to better facilitate these healthy habits, Georgia Tech needs to remove all the coffee enterprises on campus. This way, more students will find it more inconvenient to supplement little sleep with caffeine. Instead, they will develop more prudent and sustainable sleep patterns.

College statistics show a strong correlation between coffee consumption and poor sleep among students. According to a study by Texas A&M University, 93% of students do not get enough sleep. A report in the Villanova University newspaper shows that on average, 90% of young people consume coffee on a regular basis. It is doubtless that there is a strong relation between students who do not sleep adequately and students who regularly consume coffee. The school needs to identify this correlation and make the necessary changes in order to promote the well-being of its students. A removal of all the coffee shops and coffee stands on campus would make students less likely to use caffeine as a fall back when they imprudently fail to make time for adequate sleep. The final result would be a more responsible, more rested, and more productive student body. On Facebook, hopefully we will be able to see an end to the “I love coffee” and the “Pulling an all-nighter again” status updates and instead be able to see more things like “I love sleep” and “Looks like I’m going to get my 8 hours again.” While such an occurrence seems impossible now, it can surely happen if the school takes the necessary steps to tone down the presence of coffee on campus..

File Sharing

2009-11-07T21:53:00.000-08:00

by Amber Lee

During orientation we are bombarded with much advice and many warnings about how to succeed in college and stay out of trouble. One caveat that I’m sure all colleges have given regards file sharing.

All college students have at least heard about illegal file sharing and participate in it at some point while they are in college. However, new research is showing that many students may be doing so unknowingly. For example, the entire campus at Georgia Tech is wireless. When I first connected to the network I soon found that many students’ music libraries showed up when I started iTunes. There is a way to make your computer undiscoverable even though you are a part of a network, which I promptly did, but not everyone may know how to do this.

It is also somewhat unclear as to what is and is not okay to share online. For example, one student was threatened with expulsion for posting the answers to past assignments online. This caused his greatly professor to be complain and attempt to get the student expelled. Although ultimately the student’s actions weren’t against the rules and no action was taken against him, the professor’s anger is understandable. Many professors recycle their assignments if a student posts the answers online they run the risk of future students finding the answers and cheating.

But the most notorious form of file sharing is the illegal sharing of songs. The music industry has been combating the piracy of songs for about ten years now and one of their biggest targets has been college students. But it is impossible for the RIAA to track down a specific student on a college’s network they have been using the help of the colleges themselves to prevent file sharing and issue subpoenas if necessary. Suing various individuals has done little to slow down the pirating, which is why it is finally being acknowledged that another approach has to be taken.
Most agree that the best solution seems to be having a blanket licensing fee. Meaning paying one flat fee for “unlimited” downloads. They are running a trial program at a few colleges with some success. The only problem I have is that the company offering the music may not have the songs that I want. Even now I sometimes have to shop around for the music of an artist who isn’t in the mainstream.

Ultimately, I think multiple actions have to be taken. Young people feel they are invincible, but their actions are rarely done anonymously. They need to be educated as to what exactly is wrong and illegal to do. And finally, the music industry needs to be proactive in developing an easier way to download music that is also legal.

Laptops in Lectures

2009-11-05T17:56:00.001-08:00

Kevin Corley

Given the large lecture classes utilized to teach mass amounts of students, it is easy for students to go unnoticed and become distracted. Most lecture classes allow the use of laptops during class as they can be useful for note taking and viewing supplementary material. However, a study mentioned in The Chronicle found that students taking laptops to class admitted that note-taking wasn’t the highest priority. Eight-one percent admitted to checking their email during class and sixty eight percent admitted to keeping instant message applications open. The truth is that while laptops can be a useful note taking tool in class, in reality they are more of a distraction than anything. Laptops are harmful to student’s grades because they are too distracting.

A professor, Cynthia M. Frisby, found that by no longer allowing the use of laptops in her class, the grades of her students increased. Personally, I feel that most classes would benefit from not allowing the use of laptops in class. In my own experience, it is easy to become distracted by a computer and lose track of what the professor is teaching. When looking around a lecture hall of students, it is not uncommon to find most other people on Facebook or various other sites. In most circumstances, laptops in lecture halls do more harm than good. They provide too much opportunity for distraction to students. Many students and professors would benefit from a stricter laptop policy in lecture halls. At the very least, schools should make it possible to turn off wifi access in lecture halls. The internet is the most distracting part of having laptops in lecture halls. If professors can control when internet access is on and when it is not, students could be more likely to utilize their computers for note taking. Internet access typically is not necessary for most classes. Overall, schools should enforce a stricter laptop policy in lecture halls, whether it be restricting laptop use entirely or simply access to the internet.

Georgia Tech and the Water Wars

2009-11-05T17:29:00.001-08:00

Scott Zadig

In recent news, the three states of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama have been having “water wars” concerning the rights to use Lake Lanier as a source of water. The states of Florida and Alabama have been having issues with the amount of water they receive specifically from the Chattahoochee River. They do not receive enough water to meet their needs and they took the issue to Supreme Court. In the court ruling, a federal judge ruled that Georgia has been illegally tapping water from Lake Lanier and using water that should have gone to Florida and Alabama. Paul Magnuson, the federal judge that made this ruling, ordered that if Atlanta’s allocation of water does not return to what they were in 1970’s within the next three years, then Atlanta’s water will be significantly restricted.

If a solution is not found and the court ruling takes its affect, the city of Atlanta will suffer major consequences. There would be a deficit of approximately 302 million gallons a day and that the deficit would increase to 497 million gallons per day by the year 2035. Not only would this have a significant impact on the city of Atlanta, but also it would greatly affect the Georgia Institute of Technology. Georgia Tech is home to 9,700 students, which is approximately 54% of the student body. The water shortages would make Georgia Tech a difficult place to attend school, specifically to students who are from out of state and have to live on campus in order to attend classes. This fact alone would turn away potential undergraduate students if they do not have the option to live on campus and have a legitimate source of water. Reduction in the student body would most likely result from this court ruling and would in turn hurt the university as a whole. It would not only reduce the number of students, but the diversity of the student population would decrease as well because students from other states and countries are not going to attend a university that is inhabitable. Georgia Tech and its students make significant contributions to the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and the world. A solution needs to be implemented before a ruling of such substantial impact takes place.

Caffeine Abuse: A Growing Addiction

2009-11-03T19:37:00.000-08:00

Gregory Micek

Caffeine is a drug that plays a large role in the everyday life of an extremely large number of people. According to Time Magazine, the Journal of the American Diabetic Association notes that about “90% of adults ingest caffeine every day,” and National Geographic “has described caffeine as the world’s most popular psychoactive drug.” Caffeine is an extremely prevalent drug on which anyone can develop a dependency.

The role of caffeine in the college environment is such that it has become a necessity for many students. Students often use caffeine to avoid sleep, to stay awake longer, and to be more alert at night when cramming for exams or rushing late assignments. Time Magazine notes Michael Wood, a senior at Princeton University, who stated that “during reading period and finals week, caffeine becomes [his] lifeline.” Michael Wood also said that a couple of Red Bulls can make “you feel much more comfortable about leaving your semester-long research project for the last weekend before it’s due.” College students use caffeine to cram projects and assignments into all-nighters, rather than taking the necessary amount of time for a few weeks to prepare the project or assignment at a leisurely pace.

Caffeine abuse can lead to withdrawal and dependency. According to Time Magazine, “[a] 2006 study at Northwestern University found that 265 caffeine abuse cases were reported to a local U.S. regional poison control center from 2001 through 2004” and the average age was twenty-one, or an average senior in college. Caffeine withdrawal can cause individuals to feel “headache, fatigue and irritability,” and caffeine can also inhibit study by increasing anxiety rather than increasing alertness.

Gender Bias Awareness in Higher Education

2009-11-02T09:37:00.000-08:00

By Rohan Gupta

Throughout the history of higher education in America, the capabilities of women were frequently undermined. In academe, the quality and priority of education for women was secondary to that of men and the acceptance of female professors was met with suspicion and reluctance. Though such times have changed, new stereotypes concerning the capabilities of women are emerging and becoming a major issue facing higher education. Because many members of academe believe that the motherhood of female professors hinders their competence, groups opposed to such criticism are now speaking out to stop such an attitude.

Contemporary critics assert that female professors compromise their judgement and abilities when they have children and believe such professors must not be given major academic duties. The center for WorkLife Law at the University of California's Hastings College developed an online bingo-type game to create awareness about gender bias and help recognize it in academe. The goal of the game is for female or sometimes even male professors with children to identify three types of gender biases in the work place and declare "bingo." The winner of the game receives a free t-shirt by mail. The center hopes that university administrators and other head bureaucrats will visit the website with the game and see the importance of the issue.

The game website also has material that should help female professors survive gender bias. The material includes scenarios, four patterns of bias, and an economic argument for administrators to stop such criticism. Hopefully these efforts by the center for WorkLife can eliminate such discrimination facing female professors and provide them with a more conducive atmosphere at work.

Beer Bottles and Smashed Pumpkins: Frat Parties on Tech's Campus

2009-10-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

By Shane Le Master

En route to many of my classes, I often pass by many of the fraternity houses. Frequently, I walk by frat houses with yards littered with trash, beer cans, and broken glass beer bottles. Last week, just in time for Halloween, I saw one frat house yard absolutely covered with smashed, rotting pumpkins in addition to the usual beer cans. This sight, one of utter waste and irresponsibility, would be shameful to see anywhere. But, it is even more shameful to see on a college like Georgia Tech’s campus, an area supposedly dedicated to higher learning, research, and other areas of maturity. Thus comes my question: Are fraternity houses appropriate on Georgia Tech’s campus?

Anybody who knows about college knows what a frat party looks like. They have become the infamous subject of many movies and songs, and they have become associated with the very image of college life. However, no institution needs to carry the image of being a host to wild behavior and excessive drinking (usually by minors). The Idaho State school newspaper even published an article saying that only three of the country’s top ten liberal arts schools even have fraternities. Their lack of fraternities definitely could have played a role in their becoming the top schools in the country. At Alfred University in New York, a student was even found dead after attending a frat party. Fraternities have come to fill a niche for partying on campus that is better left unfilled. If they can absolutely eliminate the crazy, destructive parties and the drinking, then there should be no reason why fraternities should not to be allowed to exist. But if they can’t stop the partying and drinking, then fraternities are not contributing to the high quality learning and research environment of Georgia Tech and consequently should not be allowed to exist on campus. It would be nice to not have to witness anymore lawns trashed with mashed pumpkins and empty alcohol containers.

Zombies: Invading a Campus Near You

2009-10-31T17:07:00.000-07:00

by Amber Lee

Everyone is taking advantage of the renewed paranormal obsession that has begun to affect the younger population. This is most evident in the slew of paranormal books, movies, and television shows that have hit the shelves. And one of the biggest consumer groups of these products is found on every campus in America.

With the epic success of Twilight it is no surprise that everyone is giving their products a paranormal twist. For example, we recently had a blood drive on campus and the slogan was “Starve a vampire. Give Blood.” But it's not vampires that seem to be making headlines lately, but zombies. More and more students are organizing "Humans vs Zombies" games on campus with much success.

As one student said, “it’s a great way to meet new people.” The entire ordeal is basically a more complicated game of tag. In a place where maturity growth seems to come to screeching halt.

And some students have even found a way to tie these activities to their studies. A few students, with the help of their quirky professor, have even created a mathematical model of how the world would fare against an actual zombie attack. Models such as this have also been used to determine how to handle real pandemics such as H1N1.

The students here at Georgia Tech are even attempting to have their own zombie invasion this coming February.

Going Home On The Weekends

2009-10-30T15:03:00.001-07:00

Scott Zadig

Thousands of students who choose to attend a university close to home go home quite often on the weekends for a number of reasons. Many of these students want to go home to sleep in their own bed, bathe in their own shower, see their family, and eat a home cooked meal after a long without those privileges. Some students suffer from homesickness because they cannot deal with the stresses of having to live on their own, even though they spent month’s looking forward to moving out of the house before college. Another reason why is simply because their parents miss them and want to see them on a regular basis. There is usually nothing wrong with going home every once in a while to get away from your everyday life in college to recharge your batteries and catch up on your home life. However, if a student makes a habit of going home every single weekend, it could end up setting that student back in a couple of aspects.

Students that go home every weekend are holding themselves back from getting involved on campus and developing their social lives as a college student. The weekends are a time to relax, to meet new people, to hang out with friends, to attend on or off campus events, or to finish up studying and homework assignments. For the students that go home every weekend, they isolate themselves from an entire aspect of college life that helps to shape a person in a more well-rounded and balanced human being. They miss out on prime opportunities to get involved in their new community and connect with other college students. From an academic standpoint, students do not have access to specific resources they may need to do their assignments. Also, the home setting may be more distracting for some students to do homework, thus they put it off until they get back to school and this can create more stress. It is very important for students who have the option of going home to find a balance between their college life and home life so they do not hold themselves back from new life opportunities presented to them.

Skipping Class

2009-10-29T17:49:00.001-07:00

Kevin Corley

Many students entering college are tempted to skip class given their newfoudn freedom. There are no parents hounding them to go to school so it is easy for them to skip a class when their only motivation to attend is from themselves. Many students do not realize the importance of attending class and according to the Herald, live by the motto “Class is optional”. From personal experience, many students do not attend certain lectures at all because they do not feel their professor effectively teaches the material. While it is understandable that some professors may not be excellent teachers, it is important to understand that they usually make the test and anything that someone gets out of class can be beneficial.

Even if students do not get much out of class, they can surely get something if they are at least present. At the very least they should attend class and bring work to do. If a student skips class to do other work, they should consider bringing it to class and doing it there. By being present, students can pick up on important topics that may be on tests and learning very little is better than learning nothing. Pete Mendez mentions in an article that skipping class is typically a freshmen thing and that most upperclassmen see the value in attending class. Students need to understand that getting through college isn’t only about getting good grades. It is supposed to prepare them for the future by increasing their knowledge. Students are paying for knowledge not just a piece of paper that says they've earned a degree. Each class is an opportunity for students to learn something new that will better prepare them for their future career. It is important that students see the value in each class and understand that attending class isn’t only about grades but more about the opportunity for knowledge. When students realize this, it is easy for them to be motivated and eager to attend class.

Co-Ed Dorm Rooms Are Not a Big Deal

2009-10-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Shane Le Master

Before coming to college, Ialways had dreams of being able to share a dorm with a good friend and be able to share in my freshman experiences with them. However, as it turns out, my only friends that ended up coming to Tech with me were girls. I honestly see nothing wrong about rooming with a girl. However, through looking at the options posted on their housing website, Georgia Tech obviously doesn’t see eye to eye with me on that. They offer no co-ed rooms anywhere on campus. The best the school offers are resident halls that are co-ed by floor. The school needs to open their minds and realize that students are responsible enough to room with the opposite sex and that a lot of the time the relationship between such students is no more than innocent friendship. Letting boys and girls share a room together will do nothing to inhibit learning nor will it encourage them to take part in any elicit activities.

Many of the more reputable schools in the country, such as Stanford, NYU, and The University of Chicago have already begun implementing a gender –neutral room policies in recent years and/or a co-ed dorm room option. A gender-neutral housing policy entails not even looking at the gender of the students when assigning rooms in many of their dorm buildings. And by looking at blogs and at this USA Today article, many students say it is really no big deal at all. An already good school like Tech ought to look to these other great institutions as an example. These schools are centers of academics in America and they have shown through experience that coed-rooms, when it comes down to it, have done nothing to tarnish the schools’ reputations or the performance of their students.

Letting boys and girls room together will not cause the whole school to erupt in flames and spell imminent destruction for the institution. I would have really enjoyed being able to room with a close friend this year instead of some random person who I still have been unable to make a connection with. Being with a friend, especially in the same major as me, would have helped me to perform better academically and make me more socially active on campus. However, because my friends are girls and because the school is still stuck in an old-fashioned and rather ignorant mind set, I was unable to have the dorm experience I had hoped for.

Eat, Sleep, or Study: Redefining Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for the College Student

2009-10-27T20:23:00.000-07:00

Gregory Micek

As college freshmen begin their lives away from home, they learn to live on their own. They learn to deal with academic pressures in their own ways, while at the same time they are exposed to many distractions that prevent them from being efficient with their schoolwork. According to USA Today, “all-nighters have become a habit in higher education.” Students spend all night working on academic work because they try to fit in both time for social events during the evening while still finishing all their work at night. In doing so, they sacrifice the amount of sleep they obtain, in some cases staying awake all night to work.

According to Janet A. Simons, et al., from the University of Hawaii, Abraham Maslow was a humanistic psychologist that created a theory of personality that set up a hierarchy of the “five levels of basic [human] needs.” The first level of the hierarchy is physiological needs, which includes eating, sleeping, breathing, and necessary bodily functions like those. After the first level is achieved, an individual seeks the second level, which is safety of a person’s body. The third is the need of love, affection, and belongingness, the fourth is the need for self-esteem and the need for others, and the fifth is the need for self-actualization, such as achieving what that person was “born-to-do.”

College students that pull all-nighters neglect sleep because they consider their social lives and academic work more important. Thus, they deem academics and social lives as more important than sleep and, in some cases, eating well. This level of priorities goes against Maslow’s hierarchic theory of needs, and therefore students who pull all-nighters are acting abnormally in reference to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. These students seek academic needs and social needs before they seek certain basic physiological needs such as enough sleep.

Therefore, students that pull all-nighters act against basic human needs according to Maslow. By acting against the basic hierarchy of needs, students suffer consequences such as not working efficiently, lower immune levels, and emotional issues. Overall, students need to sleep the required amount of time, not pull all-nighters, eat appropriately, and keep in mind that their physiological needs are a greater priority than other parts of their lives.

Financal Issues facing Full-Time Professors

2009-10-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

By Rohan Gupta

In undergraduate education, some full-time professors are responsible for teaching introductory courses with large groups of students. These individuals are most likely junior members of college faculty and probably have very little tenure. They are among, if not the most, hard working members of the college faculty and the current recession severely increased the inequality between the amount of hours they invest into academics and their income and benefits. Though one would expect universities to provide these professors with reasonable earnings that reflect their hard work and education, the amount of aid that they receive is so little that they are reconsidering their future.

In contrast to full-time faculty members, part-time college professors or adjuncts usually do not receive the same salary and benefits and also do not work for building credentials or tenure like them. The current recession has brought the two groups on the same financial level. Usually part-time individuals have to suffice with low pay, no security, and the mere fact that they do not have a full time job. Many full-time professors now cope with similar problems even though they are not in their situation.

Professors who teach freshman English Composition at the University of Illinois in Chicago are currently notorious for their large efforts and little compensation. They are suffering from these problems and are trying to find better options to survive in the current economic climate. Such professors may go back to school and earn a different or more specialized degree in English in order to obtain a better lifestyle. The new education may be doctorate level training or a different type of degree that mandates teaching English to non-native speakers. It will not be surprising if full-time professors in other fields who are in similar financial turmoil resort to these measures in order make decent earnings. Such a shift in education may create a new level of training that is required to live well; degrees that were thought to provide an individual with a basis to survive will now only be stepping stones to a higher level of training.

Mascots

2009-10-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

by Amber Lee

The roster for college teams changes every year as players are admitted to and graduate from college. But at every college there is one team player that never leaves and is loved by all. The Mascot.

Although mascots can range from historical figures to inanimate objects, many of them are usually some sort of predatory animal. But even though there are seemingly so many types of mascots to choose from, with thousands of colleges in the United States it is sometimes hard to find an original mascot. For example, Georgia Tech, West Virginia State, Wisconsin–Superior, and at least eight other colleges have a yellow jacket as their mascot. But some schools attempt to break up the monotony with by using odd animal like those at University of California-Santa Cruz and Evergreen State College.

But mascots are more important than they at first seem. Because mascots are essentially the face of the school, it is important that they send the right message. A lot of colleges that use Native Americans as their mascot are being asked to change them by the NAACP. One school decided to change its mascot that resembled a plantation owner though they say it was because they wanted their mascot to be more athletic.

What a mascot does is also a reflection upon the school and though they seem to be able to get away with anything during ball games, there are limits. For example, one mascot was in trouble for mocking an opposing player who was praying. Ultimately, once you attend a college you represent the school in whatever you do - whether lovable, furry, and can dance around during half-time shows or not.

Skipping Class

2009-10-23T10:21:00.001-07:00

Scott Zadig

To some students, skipping class once in a while is no big deal to them when they are in college, but others take it seriously. The new found freedom that college gives students allows them to make their own decision concerning their schedule, how long they sleep, and whether or not they want to go to school one day or not. All students have their different reasons for skipping class or making sure they never skip class. Some students may skip class just because they are too lazy to get out of bed because of the crazy night they had before they went to bed. Some students like Larry Booker skip class in a studious approach. Booker states, “I'm skipping class to finish my homework." He claims that skipping class can be another way to educate yourself if you spend your time wisely during the classes you skip. A student named Pete Mendez finds no excuse for skipping class. He says, "It's not really about the grades. Every time I step into a classroom, I see it as an opportunity for knowledge." He goes further to say that it is a sign of immaturity to skip class as well.

Those were just two opinions out of the thousands of college students that toy with the decision to skip class one morning to sleep in or gut it out to make sure they don’t miss anything. Whether they are skipping to be lazy or get extra work done, there still exists a problem when students skip class and example of this problem exists in the state of Missouri. Recently, tuition for students to attend college increased in the state of the Missouri. When a in-state student or out-of-state student skips a class, they waste $30 and $70 per day respectively. This upsets taxpayers and parents who are providing financial support to these students who in the end take advantage of the money. Upsetting the taxpayers and financial providers for these students could lead to some repercussions for those students. If the issue becomes big enough of a problem for the public, students that skip could end up losing their financial support and struggle to stay in college.

Greek Life and Student Happiness

2009-10-22T19:43:00.001-07:00

Kevin Corley

Many students attending Georgia Tech and various other high status schools can easily become overwhelmed by academics. It is important that students have a healthy balance between academics and social life to maintain happiness and reduce stress. Students who spend all of their time studying and little time in recreational activities are bound to be dissatisfied with their college experience. According to a survey at Colgate, students in Greek organizations are, as a group, more satisfied with their experience. Greek life is an excellent way for students to balance their social and academic needs. It provides a social environment for students which will inevitably make them happier.

Personally, upon entering college at Georgia Tech, I made joining a fraternity a top priority. It is no secret that many students are Georgia Tech are overwhelmed by schoolwork and miserable. I did not want to be one of these students so I set off to immediately prevent it. Greek life has helped me to make new friends, keep my grades up, and provide me with a way to relax when not doing schoolwork. Students who are in a Greek organization statistically have higher grades than non-Greek students. Of course being in a highly social environment can make it more difficult to focus on schoolwork. However, many Greek organizations have GPA requirements for members that creates a healthy pressure to keep grades up.

The expectations and opportunities of Greek life can at times be vast and overwhelming but they do not go without reward. Students looking to have an enjoyable college experience should certainly look into joining a Greek organization. They are bound to be happier as they can easily balance social activities and academics.

Freshman Weight Gain: The Freshman 15

2009-10-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

Gregory Micek

The “Freshman 15” refers to the supposed fifteen pounds that a college freshman gains in his or her first year. Family members and friends alike warn the incoming college freshmen that they are likely to gain weight as they begin their lives away from home. There are a number of factors that contribute to the weight gain that many freshmen experience, as well as a number of consequences that negatively affect freshmen.

The thought of the infamous Freshman 15 may not come into the minds of undergraduate freshmen until they start to gain weight, and there are many causes for their increase in weight. The first cause for increased weight is, according to The Washington Post, “unlimited cafeteria food, late-night pizza binges and snacking that comes with irregular student schedules.” Students realize that they can suddenly eat as much as they want in cafeterias where they have already paid for an unlimited meal plan. Many students admit to going to the dining hall more than three times a day, while some have even claimed to go six times in one day. Another factor that contributes to the increased weight of college freshmen is the fact that many students participated in a number of sports and outdoor activities in high school, but may not continue those sports in college. The reduced physical activity also contributes to a common increase in weight. Finally, the change in environment may make some students anxious or nervous. They may increase their intake of food to cope with any feelings of anxiety. The all-you-can-eat buffets in the dining halls, the decreased physical activity, and becoming situated in a new environment all contribute to weight gain in college freshmen.

There are a number of problems with the weight freshmen often gain in their first year at college. The first issue is that an increased weight may negatively affect students’ views of themselves and in turn may affect their self-confidence or self-assurance. Lower self-confidence could affect their academics as they lose motivation to do well in school. Similarly, a decrease in physical activity could make students anxious and make focusing during class and study hours more difficult. Overall, the Freshmen 15 is an issue that affects many college freshmen as they change their lifestyles, and students must take care to prevent themselves from gaining too much weight or allowing any weight to negatively affect their academics.

Problems with the Post-9/11 GI Bill

2009-10-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

By Rohan Gupta

The original GI Bill or Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 provided college education for returning WWII veterans and a year of unemployment compensation. Over time, the bill was amended to accommodate economic and political changes. Most recently in 2008, Congress approved additional benefits for servicemen who had been in the military since September 11, 2009 and renamed the bill to the "Post-9/11 GI Bill." These benefits include: full coverage of tuition, allowances, and other "perks." Though veterans were keen to reap the benefits of the newly amended bill, there have been major issues during the 2009 fall semester concerning the allocation of the bill's benefits.

Since May, about 275,000 veterans applied for benefits and roughly 213,000 were eligible. Of those 213,000 veterans, roughly 82,500 actually enrolled in courses for the fall semester and only 52,500 received the bill's benefits. The veterans that did not receive payments appealed to the Veterans Affairs department which is responsible for the allocation of the benefits. The department states that there were several delays in getting help out to those that did not receive the benefits.

The department claims that it expected many veterans who applied for benefits to enroll at a college this fall and believes that publicity forced the veterans to apply for the bill's benefits even though they did not intend to enroll. The department states that another reason for the delay is the failure of colleges and universities to reveal tuition costs in a timely manner, but it affirms that its main reason is actually technological issues. The department claims that it has to process each appeal or claim by the veterans individually and therefore is overburdened with processing the thousands of claims.

This bill is a major source of aid if not the only source of aid that servicemen use to pay for school and many individuals join the military to receive an economical college education. These problems must be solved quickly in order to avoid allegations from veterans and other groups for not properly distributing funds.

College...and Football?

2009-10-18T08:09:00.000-07:00

Shane Le Master

College football has gotten to the point where nobody even questions its invasive presence on campus. Everyone discusses every aspect of the football team except for the most fundamental question of all: Is it really THAT important? Whenever I have brought up the question in the past, I am usually confronted by many offended people who always end up naming off the benefits of football, the ever most common one being that it generates a lot of revenue for the school. While there is truth in that, does that still justify an academic institution focusing so much attention and resources on an activity that does not relate in the least to its true focus of educating students and undertaking research? Colleges should consider the toning down, disenfranchisement, or elimination of their NCAA athletic teams in favor of a return to a focus on academic purposes.

There is no doubt that college football, with all of its commercialism and hype, has been blown way out of proportions by colleges. However, so ingrained is its benefits in the minds of the students and administration that even writer Robert Zemsky had to say in an article about higher education reform that one thing that reformists should not touch is college athletics. The monetary benefits are to great in the minds of the school board that Zemsky even goes on to say that the elimination of college football is probably impossible. But, if the financial gains of football are so important to the school that they are willing to let it take up so much of their attention, why not do other money-making activities like opening up factories and industrial sweatshops? Those, too, will make money for the school and they probably have more to do with education than football does. In no way am I saying that the school should open up factories. It is another way of representing the principles of big-time college football: a distracting and totally un-school-related ploy to earn the institution money.

People need to look beyond the current norms of their campus life and question college football and what it has to do with their education and the direction that the school is taking. While football does have its benefits, are those benefits, such as money and publicity, really what the school wants? Colleges are for learning and for research and is dubious just how football and its associated activities fit into that picture.

Working for an Education

2009-10-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

by Amber Lee

Because of the recession, it might be expected that more students are working while attending school full time. While this is true, it may come to a surprise to you that the students are very little of the money earned on tuition.

According to a new study more students are spending their money on food, beer, and recreation than their education. At two year institutions, this is due to parents only being able to cover tuition whereas before they could cover tuition and contribute to a student other expenses. At four year institutions the increase in tuition did not seem to faze those planning to attend because the cost of college before the recession was not that small to begin. The students, or more likely the parents, already expected to pay a lot for college and planned on using scholarships and loans to cover much of the cost anyway. Though I’m not shocked by this I am surprised that students would risk getting lower grades because of working for “fun money.” But apparently, this is also a myth.

Students who have many recreational activities do not necessarily do worse in school because of being over worked. Being engaged in other activities as actually very beneficial to the student, especially if they are working at a job related to their field of study.

The Downside To Curves

2009-10-16T17:59:00.000-07:00

Scott Zadig

There are many students across the nation that rely on the concept of test curving in order to pass a class they may be struggling in. Test curves could mean a passing grade for a student who actually failed a final exam, or a perfect score for a student who was five points shy of acing a test. And for those who are not so lucky, the extra points given to them could still lead them to a failing grade. Teachers use this method of grading as a way to motivate their students because it is said to create competition. Since there are not very many A’s given out in this method of grading, the pressure on students to get one of the very few good grades inspires students to work harder and take classes more seriously.

Test curving on the other hand seems like it would have negative affects on students’ motivation to learn, in my opinion. For instance, if a student has prior knowledge that a professor is going to curve the test, then that student will most likely not study as hard as they would for a test without a curve. Students who have this mindset could then get in the habit of relying on the curve to bump up their test grades and sail through college without thoroughly learning important concepts they may need in the future. Not all students have the determination to get A’s on a test either. Some are very much satisfied with receiving a B or C as long as it means they can pass the class before the semester is over. With that said, test curving could possibly lower the motivation level of students since they realize that they do not have to work as hard or learn as much to get by in a class.

Large College Lecture Halls: An Opportunity to Learn or Simply a Place to Sleep?

2009-10-13T15:48:00.000-07:00

Gregory Micek

Lectures play a major role in the education of modern college students. Students learn the majority of their material in large lecture halls where college professors present approximately fifty to ninety minute lectures over the material in their course. Although students attend these lectures, they do not always pay attention. Some students come to classes because the professors keep attendance but spend the majority of their time in class on their laptops surfing the Internet or on Facebook. Other students fall asleep or end up doodling on their notes.

Students do not always pay attention in lectures because they lack stimuli to encourage them to focus. Other than using “clickers,” or handheld personal response systems that use infrared or radio waves, students rarely interact with the professors or with each other. The lectures are just a long period of time in which a large group of students listens to a qualified individual’s rendition of math, science, history, or any other academic subject. The students do not always pay attention to the professor, and they do not always retain the information.

According to the Washington Post, “[o]nce, all professors spent entire classes talking nearly nonstop while students furiously scribbled notes.” The Washington Post also notes that “a growing number of professors are abandoning that tradition” because “there are better ways to keep students focused and learning.” The same source mentions a professor named Edward F. Redish who memorized the names and faces of the 192 students in his class, actively calls on them during his lectures, and may also do an experiment or show a portion of a movie during class.

Overall, professors have been teaching college students in large lecture halls for a long time. These large lecture halls do not help students to learn the material through class participation, and many students do not focus in class and do not retain the information presented to them. Some professors have begun to help students participate in class and more easily learn the material by implementing teaching methods which are more focused on the individual and less on simply speaking to a faceless crowd.

Is Going to College Worth the Price?

2009-10-12T17:48:00.000-07:00

By Rohan Gupta

Although few would argue that investing for college is a poor investment, the recession is diminishing the value of that investment. The current downturn in the economy makes the future of many college students seem grim and these students now ask themselves whether paying the high costs for college is worth the price.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "In July, the unemployment rate for college graduates was 4.7%, up from 2.8% a year earlier." Also, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, "employers expect to hire 22% fewer graduates from the class of 2009 than the class of 2008." A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research stated in 2006 that, "those who graduate during a recession tend to start at smaller and lower paying companies or firms, forcing them to change jobs more frequently than those who graduate during better times." The study also found that "college students who graduate during a recession suffer an average 9% reduction in annual earnings initially, and that the discrepancies do not disappear until about 10 years after graduation."

Though this seems to be very disheartening news, University administrators cannot let these frightening statistics force students to abandon their education goals. They must find ways for students to receive a useful education at a practical price and provide tools to help the students survive in the modern career market. Shane discussed in his latest post about the possibility of state-run higher education in America. If there is a possibility of having free colleges in America, then there must be a possibility of significantly reducing college costs. If the federal government can spend billions of dollars on businesses, then it can surely spend that capital on higher education.

Europe is Definitely on to Something: Free University for all American Students

2009-10-11T16:39:00.000-07:00

Shane Le Master

People are always discussing the options of having the government and the schools offer students more financial aid to help them pay for college. However, I never hear of anyone talking about another viable option where the government provides all students with absolutely free university. Seeing all the other things the government throws money at, there is no reason they shouldn’t be supporting a solid program such as this where any student can receive a college education without money stopping them from achieving their dreams.

The idea that the government should provide free education is no novel concept. In fact, it has been proven to work for many years in many countries throughout Europe. I have friends from Germany and they always talk about how in East Germany, universities do not charge students any fees upon being accepted into the institution. These free universities also provide some of the highest quality education in Europe. One such university the Freie Universität in Berlin is one of the top schools in all of Europe. Furthermore, the taxes in Germany are really not much higher than the taxes in the United States and they have no issue paying for this high quality education for their students. So there is no excuse to say that such a program would be too expensive to initiate in the United States.

I myself had to say no to a lot of great schools because my family and I could not afford the costs of attending. Considering how students are the future of the country, it seems a pity to have to see so many bright minds be turned down from an education because of their families’ low incomes. For a country such the United States that says it cares for the well-being of its citizens, the proposition of providing free education to University students must be seriously considered.

Time Managment

2009-10-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

Kevin Corley

One of the greatest difficulties for students entering college is learning to manage their time. Moving on from high school to college creates a lot more opportunities for students but also a need for a lot more responsibility. Cree Walker states that students are unable to cope with all the activities in college. College presents students with clubs, fraternities, sororities, and various other organizations. Trying to handle school work in addition to all of these things can be quite a challenge for students entering a new environment with freedoms they have never had before.

Cree Walker believes that as students become more comfortable with their surroundings they become worse at managing their times. This is not the case. Students enter college with an inability to manage time. As time progresses, students understand how long it takes to get assignment done and what they have the time to do or not to do. Because students do not know initially how to manage their time, colleges should be doing a better time of teaching students time management skills. Before students figure this out, they can be faced with a great deal of stress that can be harmful to their academics and health.

With all the freedom present in college, it is easy for students to fall into traps. Students are presented with temptations to skip class and go to parties. If students are not given advice on time management it is easy for them to follow the trends of other students not doing work or going to class. Colleges need to stress the importance of managing time wisely so that students set aside the proper time to do homework and that they are attending class when they should. This would surely increase the grades of freshmen and likely increase the freshmen retention rate.

Studying Abroad

2009-10-03T13:45:00.000-07:00

by Amber Lee

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, online courses help to connect students who are unable to take the courses in a traditional setting. Study abroad programs attempt to connect students globally and still give them a traditional setting. However, though the idea of study abroad programs makes sense in our “internationally integrated world,” they run the same risk as online programs: lack of credibility.

The popularity of study abroad programs is inarguable. Even amid a global recession, many of such programs have sustained and some are steadily growing. Having multiple campuses is obviously going to cost a university, but it is cheaper to open a branch college in another country than in the United States. This is mostly due to the fact that many colleges build their satellite schools in less developed countries.

The criticism for study abroad comes from the soundness of the programs. In theory, study abroad programs greatly coincide with our increasingly global community. But the reality is that many abroad schools are less strict and prestigious than their home schools. The quality of teachers is a key factor in why the programs are not very effective. Surprisingly, professors are not very keen on uprooting their families to teach in a foreign country with little compensation. They may offer instructs a bit more in pay, but normally they aren’t often tenure because no abroad school is guaranteed to last. Obviously, such job uncertainty does not attract many professors.

Many colleges encourage students to experience other cultures by having study and work abroad programs. Some larger universities even have branch colleges in other countries that offer many of the same courses as the home college. But even though the idea of a global university may appeal to some, the lack of tenured professors makes the institution more casual and lack integrity.

Recylcing On Georgia Tech

2009-10-03T10:39:00.001-07:00

Scott Zadig

The recy cling program implemented by Georgia Tech in order to make the campus a “greener” one has been very successful over the past decade. There have been campus wide efforts to create a recycling program that would exceed those of other college campuses across the United States. Just recently, the Georgia Tech Office of Solid Waste and Recycling received the National Recycling Coalition's Outstanding College or University Program award. This award was a great success for Georgia Tech’s program and they continue to hold the best record for university recycling programs across the nation.

Despite the national recognition in which Georgia Tech received for their successful program, I believe that as one of their students they could do an even better job. In 1997, Tech implemented their first recycling program specifically for the residential and housing facilities that reached approximately 60% of all facilities. Then a year later after the program was a huge success, the program expanded to every student on campus. With the program’s expansion, each suite and room on campus contained a blue recycling container to encourage residents to recycle. With this new system in place comes another problem: where do students take their overflowing recycle containers when they need to be emptied? After many weeks of not being able to easily find a place to dispose my recycled goods, I have sadly had to throw out recyclable goods in the dumpster. There is so much potential for increasing the amount of recycling on Georgia Tech’s campus, but the convenience for students to recycle is not available.

I did some research on a Georgia Tech's website concerning the recycling program and found that there are several sites campus where students can recycle used goods. The problem is these sites are not all convenient for students in dorms that are further away from the recycling sites. If there were more convenient recycling sites, I believe more students would be willing to make the extra effort to recycle. Unfortunately, not everyone is conscious or aware about the consequences of not recycling on the environment. If it is difficult to even recycle on campus, then it is only going to deter the cause. Students could increase the amount recycling of used goods if there were more convenient options available to the students.

College Cheating

2009-10-03T10:27:00.001-07:00

Kevin Corley

With large lecture hall being common for test taking and rapidly advancing technology, cheating is becoming a severe issue. Realistically, colleges cannot monitor every single student to prevent cheating. Because of this, students easily give into cheating to make the grades that they need. Mentioned in an article about college cheating, a survey of 5331 undergraduate students, 56% of business students 47% of non-business students admitted to cheating within the past year.

The real issue with college cheating is that it undermines the accomplishment of earning a degree. The article above raises question as to whether a degree is an honest representation of academic accomplishment if a student who cheats earns the same degree as an honest student. This is definitely a concern. If such a large portion of students are cheating, than a degree’s value can be compromised. Ideally, cheating cannot be eliminated because enforcing it can be extremely costly. The article above states that the “price” to enforce cheating is significant and as a result, administrative action in fighting cheating is minimal. While I do believe that enforcing cheating can be costly, it is something worth paying for. If colleges do nothing about people cheating, then they are treating it like a joke. Cheating is a very serious act. Colleges should treat it as such. Many colleges make it sound like cheating is such a big deal yet there is still such a large portion of students that are cheating. This means that while colleges recognize that there is a cheating problem, they are doing nothing about it. By doing nothing, they are only making the problem much more severe that it could be if they put a little bit of enforcement into place.

2009-09-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

All You Can Eat or All You Should Eat?: The Dining Halls as a Source of Campus Obesity

2009-09-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Shane Le Master

One can walk into the dining halls on Georgia Tech’s campus and see a smorgasbord of things like a pasta bar, a pizza bar, an ice cream bar, and even a dessert corner complete with an ice cream machine. For the sake of wetting people’s appetites and retaining business (i.e. keeping students on the meal plan), the school has created dining halls with a menu consisting of all the yummy sugary, fatty, and carbohydrate-filled foods that one could ever want. However, in this pursuit, they forgot that the health of the students is more of a concern than their taste-buds. As a good parent would never sustain their baby on a diet of Twinkies and Pop-tarts, the school, too, needs to realize there are problems with its current dining hall menu and that they do more harm than good by serving up foods that taste good as opposed to foods that do good.

So widespread is the occurrence of weight gain by college students, the “freshman 15” (referring to how students often report gaining 15 pounds their freshman year) has now become ubiquitous in most minds with college life. Article after article, including this one by CNN, associate the primary cause of this unhealthy weight gain with the all-you-can eat, carbohydrate filled foods found in campus dining halls. While personal discipline does play a major part in managing health, it is often not enough. For many students where Georgia Tech meal plans are the only affordable and convenient food option, they should not have to walk into a dining hall filled with so many irresistible and fattening options. And though some healthy choices are offered, stress and time constraints can push even the best of us to reach for a greasy piece of pizza. And as according to a University of New Hampshire study where at least a third of college students are obese, it is unbecoming to see the university ignoring these alarming facts and continuing its current practices in the dining halls. Getting rid of the myriad of unhealthy foods would be the best thing the school could do for its students.

The college’s goal is to prepare its students for the next stage in their lives by giving them a good education as well as opportunities to learn how to handle independence and personal responsibility. However, it seems to be forgetting the importance of the students’ health by giving them the chance to develop sickening eating habits. The unhealthy foods that fill the dining halls can be seen as a tacit approval by the school of unhealthy eating. Instead of focusing on what will increase meal plan customers, the school should return to the basics and look after the genuine wellbeing of its students. In the future, instead of seeing the common picture of an obese student walking out with ice cream cones, it would be nice to see healthy students walking out of the dining hall eating carrot sticks.

The Costs and Benefits of Using Laptops in a College Class

2009-09-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

Gregory Micek

Laptops present both advantages and disadvantages for education in the college classroom. Laptops allow students to take more organized notes faster, as many students can type faster than they can write. Wireless technology allows students to use their laptops to access the Internet in class. Thus, students are able to transfer files easily between their peers, and professors can instantaneously transfer a handout to a large lecture hall without taking the time to pass out a sheet of paper to each individual. Students can quickly search the Internet for answers to simple questions, look up words or concepts in dictionaries and encyclopedias online, follow PowerPoint presentations on their own laptops so that they are easier to read, and can even follow along with online textbooks. The benefits of having a laptop are apparent in the fact that students have access to the vast resources of the Internet in class, and they can easily obtain and share files and documents.

However, access to the Internet also means that students have access to a nearly infinite number of distractions, including social network sites such as Facebook, online games, online shopping, and any other online activity. These distractions can prevent students from paying attention in class. According to Jeffrey Young’s article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, one student stated, “‘[i]f it’s material that I know, most of the time I will surf the Internet a little bit.’” The article also mentions that sometimes she “uses the wireless Internet access in the college’s classrooms to do some online shopping or chat using instant messenger.” Therefore, students that have wireless Internet access in college classrooms can easily do other things besides listen to and take notes on the class, which detracts from their overall ability to learn.

David Cole presents another issue with laptops in the college classroom. His article in the Washington Post mentions that “[n]ote-taking on a laptop encourages verbatim transcription” and “[t]he note-taker … no longer processes information in a way that is conducive to the give and take of classroom discussion.” He also mentions that students that take notes by hand have to actually “listen, think and prioritize the most important themes.” Thus, Cole believes that beside the distractions laptops present, taking notes by hand forces students to think and learn more during the actual class lecture than if they were sitting behind a computer screen.

Overall, laptops in the college classroom allow students to access the immense number of resources on the Internet and to transfer files and handouts easily between their peers and professors, but they can also be a source of distraction and can inhibit students from processing information and participating in class in the same manner that they would if they were taking notes by hand.

The Troubles of Student Loans

2009-09-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

By Rohan Gupta

One of the most prevalent ways that students themselves have and continue to produce the thousands of dollars for tuition is by getting student loans. The current recession has made these loans very easy to get, but by no means easy to pay back. The amount of debt that student accumulate while at college due to interest and the length of the loan makes paying the loan to be formidable challenge.

Fortunately, there are many loan forgiveness programs throughout the United States that ease the process of paying back loans. However, because loan forgiveness is federally operated, the recession has significantly dwindled the aid that the program could have provided. Though the program is controlled by the federal government, it is operated by the state governments; this means that the effects of the recession on the program will differ from state to state. Unfortunately, the tremendous state budget cuts in Georgia this year will not allow for the program to offer much aid to college students living in the state.

For undergraduate students who did borrow this year, the median loan debt was $ 19,999 which is up five percent from four years ago. Ninety-eight percent of those who went to a private two year college had an education loan. Fortunately, only thirty-eight percent of individuals who went to public two year college were in debt. For the 2007-2008 school year, the median loan debt for students attending a private college was up five percent from four years earlier and with the failing forgiveness programs, college students cannot expect much compensation. Student are now forced to carry this loan for many years after they graduate. Hopefully the economy will improve in the coming years and decrease the current price tag on higher education.

The Issue of Hazing

2009-09-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Scott Zadig

The hazing that takes place upon college campuses nationwide is a very serious issue. Hazing, by definition, means subjecting a person or group of people to anything that endangers or mistreats them in order for that person or group of people to be accepted into their collective group. Hazing occurs during the initiation process when new initiates or “pledges” are trying to gain acceptance by their fellow brothers or sisters in the Greek organization they committed themselves to. Hazing is a serious issue that is not taken lightly, but sometimes it seems authorities and the public considers the smallest things to be hazing.

I have recently accepted a bid to a fraternity of my choice and have had good experiences that have not been tainted by hazing. My fraternity does not partake in activities that I would consider to be hazing. As a pledge in my fraternity, we have the job of cleaning up the house to make it look nice before game days and social events. When I tell my friends about that, they consider it to be hazing for some reason. I see it as a duty that I have as a new potential brother in the fraternity. The brother’s also have their own duties related to the house’s upkeep, so it is not a valid to argue that the pledges’ cleaning requirement is hazing if the brothers have their own cleaning duties as well. There are other related examples that the general population considers to be hazing. If anything, activities such as those teach responsibility within the fraternity. I had to do similar activities such as cleaning when I was a part of a Boy Scout troop. Before one jumps to conclusions about whether an activity is “hazing” or not, one should think about whether harm is being done or if maybe something beneficial is taking place.

Online Courses: Inevitable Mediocrity?

2009-09-26T13:33:00.000-07:00

by Amber Lee

With the rise of online schools, virtual classes are becoming a norm in higher education. And not only in online schools. Many traditional colleges are now offering some of their courses online. But should colleges try to compete with these online schools?

Online schools primarily attract adults with full-time jobs and families. The students are able to “attend” a school without having to leave home and they can work classes around their busy schedules. Traditional colleges attempt to attract the same demographic by offering some of their courses online too. By doing this, colleges get more tuition money from students who want to attend their school, but live hundreds of miles away, or students with too busy schedules to attend class every day. However, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, it cost a lot of money to get an online course up, running, and maintained. The tuition does not always compensate the cost of running the course and some schools have had to abandon their online programs. But because online classes are so popular among students it is doubtful that they will fade out completely, despite the issues with cost.

However, online classes are not popular among professors. According to Elayne Clift, professors are not compensated for the extra work they must put in to teach an online course. She also claims that the courses in general are grossly ineffective. The inability to give instant feedback makes it difficult for instructors to be clear in their meaning and expectations. The students, in turn, drown their professor in e-mails asking for clarity, advice, and help and sometimes misinterpreting the response they receive. This often leads to students submitting subpar work, but receiving high grades for them.

There is no doubt that the online classes will continue to be available and students will want to take advantage of them when they can. But nothing can replace face-to-face interaction between students and professors.

Cheating Problem in College Continues Escalating

2009-09-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

By Gregory Micek

Cheating in college is an issue of great concern. According to the Washington Post, “[r]ecent studies have shown that a steadily growing number of students cheat or plagiarize in college” and that number “will continue to rise.” The same source also mentioned that a study by “Don McCabe of Rutgers University showed that 74 percent of high school students admitted to” cheating one or more times on tests.

As technology improves, it becomes easier for students to cheat in college courses. Whereas students years ago had to search through the saved papers at greek houses, or contact a firm to fax a paper to them, in today’s society it is easy for a student to find a paper online the night before s/he must turn it in. After paying a fee, the student instantly has a paper that someone else wrote (Washington Post).

Similarly, the advent of cell phones has made it easier for students to cheat during exams. With a large number of students in an exam room, students may be able to text their friends for help during the exam. As more technologically advanced cell phones come into consumers’ hands, students may even be able to search the web or Wikipedia for answers during a test.

According to the New York Times, Duke University punished 34 MBA students for cheating on a take-home, open-book final exam in March of 2007. Similarities in the students’ answers alerted the professor of the cheating that had taken place. Fifteen of the students “were suspended for a year” and received a failing grade in the course, nine students received a failing grade in the course, and one received a failing grade on the exam.

Overall, cheating is an issue of great importance that continues to grow in the college environment. As technology improves, students find cheating easier, and the repercussions of cheating can vary from a zero received on the exam to expulsion from the university.

2009-09-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

Understanding One's Classmates Through Studying a Foreign Language

2009-09-23T08:56:00.001-07:00

Shane Le Master

It is commonly drilled into our minds via the media, teachers, and every other part of society that it is very useful to learn a foreign language. Learning a foreign language, such a Spanish or Chinese, can open the doors for great opportunities and success in the business and diplomatic worlds. As the world continues to globalize, more and more students are scrambling to buy programs like Rosetta Stone in order to teach themselves a foreign language(s) and get in on the action. However, the benefits of teaching oneself a foreign language extend far beyond the realms of personal gain. By teaching oneself a foreign language, a student opens up his or her mind and heart to the struggles and issues that the countless immigrants in our diverse country face. It is by teaching oneself a different tongue that he or she throws off the rose-colored glasses of having the ease and of speaking English and gets into the shoes of those people struggling everyday to make it a land where the language used is one other than their own.

I taught myself Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. To date, I have mastered all three, but am still always learning and immersing myself in the cultures. With each language, I constantly had to struggle to get in the very mindset of that language. When learning a foreign language, one has to get his or herself in the mindset of that language, understand how the people of that culture think. Only then can one fully understand the innate essence of that language and those who speak it. When I teach myself a language, I aim for the full immersion. I go to neighborhoods where the language is spoken and try to speak people in that language. It is always a challenge trying to express myself and be understood. The other party has to show a lot of patience and they also must try hard to keep from discouraging my earnest efforts. From being in the position as the non-native speaker trying to make it in an area where my own language is not predominant, at school I am able to understand my classmates who are from other parts of the world and who have yet to master English. When I speak to those classmates and work with them on projects, I don’t look down on them and I am patient and understanding as they try to communicate. Teaching myself foreign languages put me in the same shoes as those classmates who are struggling to study in an English language institution. I always remember in my mind that we are all on the same level and we all deserve respect.

Having learned understanding like that on my own over the years, it never ran through my mind that other people could be having the same experience. That was until recently when I came across an article in the Chronicles of Higher Education that brought light to the story of a teacher in New York whose experiences and failures in teaching himself Russian brings him ever closer to his students who come from all over the world. From his own struggles with learning Russian, he understands the shame and difficulty his students have when they are struggling with English. He knows, more than someone who has never been in the situation of trying to learn a foreign language, how to help these students without being either too tough or too easy on them. Just from teaching himself a foreign language, this New Yorker understands his diverse students so much better and he knows just how and where to assist them.

American university campuses are undeniably diverse with students from across the globe coming together to learn. Consequently, everyone is going to have to work with and build relationships with students who are still trying to improve their English. Many get frustrated with their classmates who cannot speak English well and they go so far as to ignore their ideas. The language barrier has the power to cause people to forget that we are all humans and we all have equally valuable ideas to share. By teaching themselves a foreign language and by struggling in learning it, all students can develop a much deeper understanding for their foreign classmates and make their relationships with them so much more effective and meaningful.

2009-09-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

Professor Ratings

2009-09-22T17:13:00.000-07:00

Kevin Corley
Amber brought up an interesting topic in her post about the ratings of professors that are available on the internet. Statistics are made available by Georgia Tech to students here about the grades given by professors. Some professors give very few A’s while others give primarily A’s in the same course. According to the Ubyssey, www.ratemyprofessors.com only lists ratings about professors who give consent. Data about professors, however, is extremely important to both students and universities. It is helpful that Georgia Tech makes these statistics available on its own website. All colleges should require that these statistics be made available to students.

Ratings about professors raises an interesting issue as to the enormous spread in average grades given by professors. Some students are able to slide by easily in one professor’s class while others struggle to just barely get by in a different professor's class. This is not fair to students and it is evident of poorly educating all students at an equal level. If two students are are taking the same class, but with different professors, and one class averages a C while the other average an A the students are not being educated at the same level. Making data about professors available is helpful to students but it does not solve the problem.

While making data about professors available is important, something should be done about leveling the playing field. The data clearly shows that there is an issue with the way certain professors are grading or teaching. Some sort of standard should be put in place to ensure that professors are teaching properly. Professors should be evaluated upon the performance of their students and if their grade are sub-par, then some sort of action should be taken to facilitate a correction. While all the grades given by all professors may have a normal average, this is of little importance. If the grades are skewed based upon professors, there is a problem with certain professors' teachings. Each professor should be giving approximately the same number of A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s, and F’s as other professors and approximately the same GPA. This would help to ensure that students get the best education possible and that everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed in a class.

Are Advanced Placement Teachers truly Qualified?

2009-09-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

By Rohan Gupta

I'm sure many college students are familiar with the the "Advanced Placement" system offered by the College Board. It is a system that allows high school students to take college level classes in high school and it provides the students with an opportunity to exempt the actual introductory college classes when they go to school. In order for students to receive college credit for the classes, they must perform very well on the examinations that are held at the end of the courses in high school. College students who took the advanced placement (AP) exams in high school know that they are by no means easy and they also know that many students who take them do not perform very well. One reason that I noticed for the poor performance by many students, specifically at my high school, was not that they did not wish to properly learn the material, but because they were not taught the material properly.

I went to high school in a small town south of Atlanta called La Grange, Georgia. The high school just like almost all of the high schools in Georgia offered the AP courses, but there were some interesting aspects of the courses taught at the school that I observed. I also took many of the courses that were offered. I noticed that many students performed poorly on the AP exams on all those courses with the exception of about three. The reason that there were high exam scores in those few courses was because the teachers had been teaching those courses for about twenty years and they were very old; all of the other AP teachers did not have such tenure. Could tenure of the teacher be correlated with exam scores?

I always pondered on that question, but I found a more precise answer to the question by coming to Georgia Tech. On the first day of classes at Georgia Tech, all of professors showed their credentials and I noticed that all of the teachers had completed bachelors, masters and doctoral levels of education, but were not very old. After a few weeks of classes, I saw that the professors all knew how to teach their subjects very well. In comparison, my high school teachers had only completed a bachelors degree and were teaching college level classes and taught rather poorly. Though the teachers were qualified by the College Board to teach AP classes, it was apparent that they did not have nearly enough education to teach college level courses in comparison to professors who actually taught college courses.

After making these observations, it became clear to me why the students performed so poorly. The teachers did not know how to teach the material properly and did not know how to properly prepare the students to perform well on the AP exams. Teachers who wish to teach college level courses in high school must experience the similar rigor that professors have had to experience in order to teach actual college courses. Granted, that the high school teachers will eventually gain the experience to teach their AP courses well, but it should not be at the students' expense. High school students who wish to gain college credit and opt out of introductory classes should be taught by educators who truly have mastery over the material that they will teach and know how to teach it properly.

Student Evaluations

2009-09-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

By Amber Lee

In the beginning of the school year, a high school junior I “friended” on Facebook posted that he would be taking AP Language & Composition with Mrs. Smith and asked if she was a good teacher or not. I replied that I also had her my junior year and that though it was not an easy class and a lot of effort was required, I felt it was justified. One of the benefits of having upperclassmen as friends, in high school as well as college, is the advice they can give on teachers and what kind of work you can expect to do in class. With social networking sites it is even easier to acquire this advice from friends and even strangers.

Ratemyprofessors.com (RMP) is one of the most popular sites for student evaluations. It allows you to rate based on easiness, clarity, helpfulness, and rater interest of the professor. You can even say whether you think he/she is hot or not, although the site does not consider that criteria when determining the quality of the professor. The anonymity of the sites gives the raters freedom to evaluate truthfully – and sometimes caustically. Though the site is moderated, some students use it to vent their particularly strong dislike of a professor. But is it because the quality of the professor was poor or that the class just wasn’t what the student wanted? For example, many people commented on my Facebook friend’s post and most agreed with me that Mrs. Smith was a good teacher. However, one or two felt that she was the hardest teacher they ever had and her grading policy made it difficult to receive a good grade. But knowing those students personally, I can say that they were more than likely looking for an easy ‘A’ that she wasn’t willing to give. Of course, they did not include this in there comment just like few of the comments at RPM are likely to fully explain why they gave the professor a particular rating.

Because sites such as RMP have such a strong following, students are given a certain power over their professors. However, it is also up to the students to be objective and in turn be able to discern an objective criticism from a biased one.

Is Cramming Really All That Bad?

2009-09-18T20:08:00.001-07:00

Scott Zadig

The night before a midterm exam usually ensures that the college campus library is going to be occupied by many students hoping to cram the last bit of information into their brains. Cramming is a popular form of last resort studying that students choose to take part in because they usually have no other choice with time constraints they brought upon themselves. The effects that result from this technique of learning seem like they would not lead to much success in the long run. Studies show that this fact is true, but there could possibly be some benefit from trying to work under pressure with a short deadline.

Cramming, as stated previously, is an ineffective way of retaining knowledge at the last minute. Many students put themselves in a situation where they have no other choice but to cram. Cramming is usually a result of overcommitted schedules and other obligations they may have, which leads to poor time management related to their studies. The pressure a student has to deal with in those kinds of situations could end up being a good skill to develop though. Even if students were not able to get the best grade they could possibly get, they experienced situations working under pressure and having a short deadline to meet. Students will inevitably face difficult situations in future careers where many things are going at once and they put important deadlines aside until the last minute. Teachers and scientist do not recommend the idea of waiting until the last minute to study, but if students can learn to work under pressure, then maybe there is some benefit to cramming in the long run.

College Costs

2009-09-18T13:16:00.000-07:00

Kevin Corley

Those who receive college degrees are often highly respected and considered to have a greater opportunity to be successful in life. However, with the current college costs, unemployment rates, and a recession, is the cost of college really worth? According to a CBS article, students leave college with a nationwide average debt of $22,000. Some people argue that the debt is not worth it, while others see an education as a potential for their future. Tyler Kemper, according to the CBS article, believes that a college is not worth it as he already has the skills necessary to rebuild engines and can do so on the side. If an individual begins working immediately upon graduating high school, they begin making money right away. These people can begin making money immediately upon graduation.

On the contrary, Don Bobbit states that while initially a college education may cost more, in the end, a college education is worth about 2.1 million dollars over a lifetime. A college degree opens so many doors to a a graduating individual. Those who do not have an education will never have the same opportunities as those who do. Considering a college education is worth about 2.1 million dollars over a lifetime, it is certainly a good long term investment.

All factors considered, a college education is certainly worth the cost regardless of the current economic conditions. While some believe it incurs too much debt, they will never have the enormous opportunities that someone with a college education will have. Even if it take a few years to pay off loans, the long term opportunities are so great for an individual with a college degree. Once loans are paid off, people with college degrees will make more in their first few years working than most people can only dream of making without a college degree. While the current economic situation may be dismal and makes a obtaining college degree more risky, it is certainly a risk worth taking.

Adderall on Campus: Ending the Abuse

2009-09-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Shane Le Master

There exists out there a multitude of writings that detail the negative health effects and addictiveness of Adderall when it is abused as a test-taking drug. However, they do not discuss how this is a complete breech of the honor code, and that by taking Adderall to help concentrate on an exam, students are committing a very serious act of cheating. Yes, taking Adderall can be unhealthy if taken without a prescription, however, more serious is its affects on other students. Using Adderall in this matter gives the students taking it an unfair advantage over their classmates that obey the law and don’t illegally take the drug. Schools need to more actively set out to try to curb the use of the drug as a test aid and harshly punish those students that use it.

The Chronicle of Higher Education and the National Public Radio have articles that describe how many students go online to post ads requesting to both buy and sell Adderall, the “smart drug.” The web is unquestionably a major facilitator in the illegal trade of the drug. Therefore, an effective way for Universities to catch students using Adderall during exams would be to get itself more involved in monitoring sites that these students use such as Facebook and Craigslist. But in accordance with the principle that using Adderall to give one focus during an exam is a violation of the rules of cheating and honorable conduct, schools should not stop here. In the Olympics, officials administer drugs tests to the athletes before each competition. To a professor or a student, an exam is in much the same importance as an Olympic competition. Before all exams, students should be administered a drug test to test for Adderall. The school should promptly expel and even turn in to the police any students whose drug test results come back positive.

The methods suggested here to help curb the habit of university students illegally using Adderall during exams may be harsh, but harsh punishments are often the only way to quickly and surely stop such an illegal practice. Students who take Adderall as an academic enhancer need to know that what they are doing is falsifying the exam scores of both them and their classmates. In respect to all students working hard to perform well in school the honest way, universities need not hesitate in changing their current, lax attitudes and adopting a more gung ho approach in seeking out and punishing unlawful Adderall-using individuals.

Credit Card Debt Inhibits College Students and Graduates

2009-09-15T16:20:00.000-07:00

Gregory Micek

Credit card debt is an issue that affects a large number of college students. According to Sallie Mae, 60% of students have been surprised by their balances, and 40% of students have made a purchase knowing that they did not have enough money to pay the bill. Cardratings.com notes that some students have amounted over $7,000 in debt on their credit cards and that the effects of credit card debt can cause students to drop out of university to pay for their bills or to have very low credit ratings after graduating from college. This source also mentions that credit card debt can affect relationships “as a result of financial stress” and can have psychological effects on students. Red Tape Chronicles, a part of MSNBC, released an article about Hernan Castillo, a student that graduated with “$5,200 in credit card debt and $30,000 in student loans to pay off.” The article states that Hernan Castillo regrets going to college because, although he graduated with an accounting degree, he does not see any hope of leaving his warehouse job. His large amount of debt and poor credit ratings prevent him from getting a job as an accountant.

Credit card debt can have a larger effect on students than the older members of the population because, as students begin to live life on their own and away from their families, they may be less conscientious of the rate at which they spend money in comparison to their older selves later in life. Students are also susceptible to credit card rates that appear to be better deals than most other offers because of their low initial costs. However, the rates may have higher interest than students realize at first, and soon students may find themselves in a serious amount of debt.

Freshman 15 Statistics

2009-09-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

By Rohan Gupta

Scott made a post earlier on the "freshman 15" and how and why it affects college students. Most studies have stated that the phenomenon is prevalent but they have failed to examine the behavior changes that occur as students transition from high school to college that may contribute to this problem. I will elaborate more on the previous post by Scott and I will focus on recent studies and statistics that have been made on the issue.

A Another study conducted earlier followed 159 students enrolled at an average sized university during the fall of 2005. The study measured each of the students' weight at the beginning of the semester and measured it again at the end of the semester. The researchers found the weight to only be about 3.3 pounds which in fact is not very significant. There was in fact no significant difference between the amount of weight gained by the women and the men that participated in the study. Newer study during 2009 has shown that nearly one in four freshmen (precisely 23%) will gain at least five percent of their body weight during their first semester. The average weight is actually around ten pounds. This is an increase from the weight results found from the study conducted in 2005.

When looking at the behavior of the students, one can find the reason for the notorious weight gain. Those individuals who gained at least five percent of their body weight performed less physical activity during their first semester at college than they performed in high school. They also ate and slept more than in high school. Classes during later times of the day and more frequent meals at buffet style dining facilities probably also played a major part of the weight gain.

These results should convince students to make better choices about what they eat and force them to exercise more frequently. Hopefully these students will eat less, keep away from fatty dishes, and lead an overall more regimented life.

The Cost of Community College

2009-09-12T13:24:00.000-07:00

by Amber Lee

Many of the recent high school graduates who are attending a community college this year are doing so because they want a cost effective education. But are they missing vital opportunities in an effort to save money?

The recession has sent more high school students to community colleges because it can be economical with little to no loss in the quality of education. The average tuition of community colleges is about $2,000. That’s about $4,000 less than tuition at a public four-year college and almost $22,000 less than a private or out-of-state college. And not only does community college cost less, but you can also receive a quality education. For example, the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), a community college near my hometown, has partnered with many four-year colleges, such as the University of Maryland College Park (UMD). Partnerships such as this allow students to easily transfer their credits and receive a degree from the larger school with or without actually attending.

By attending a community college you may, however, miss out on participating in sports, Greek life, clubs and organizations, and other opportunities to meet new and interesting people. Because most community colleges do not provide housing, many students must live with their parents for the first year or two. Many of my classmates were born and raised in the same town, planned on going to CSM and then transferring to UMD – which is less than an hour away, and would probably end up working and living in a town close to home. Had they gone to a four-year college farther from home they would have been forced to mature (at least a little), interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and depend on themselves.

Some of the most important lessons in college are learned when you are forced to rely on yourself, but it is difficult to be taught this while living at home with Mom and Dad. While I understand that finance is a very important deciding factor in what college a student attends, one should not disregard the merits of a full college experience.

Think You Have the Freshman 15 Under Control?

2009-09-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

Scott Zadig

Students all over the country enter college with the idea of the notorious freshman 15 looming in the back of their minds as they begin their new life. With their newfound freedom, most people think that they will have it all under control, but just the opposite happens. Stress from school and new social surroundings changes everything for the average freshman in college, and without any sort of guidance, things start to take a turn.

There are many factors that lead to the increase of weight gained by students that the majority of them did not consider before entering college. One of the most significant factors that affect students is not living with their families anymore. Students had everything planned out for them by their parents, and as they enter college they are free to eat whatever they want in the “all you can eat” style dining halls on the majority of college campuses. Then there are also the effects of stress from college workloads that influence eating habits of students. Many students unconsciously eat to sooth their stresses and worries created by their new lives. As for the social aspect of college, there is a significant amount of peer pressure for students to go party on the weekends and drink alcohol. Alcoholic beverages tend to be high in calories and slow down students’ metabolisms, which in turn contributes to weight gain.

Fifteen or so pounds may not be a big deal to some people, but this a huge health issue for all students. Students do not have the guidance to make healthy eating habits because they are on their own now. Universities need to step in to encourage their students to make healthier choices to reduce the chances of gaining the freshman 15, whether its creating stricter meal plans or requiring more physical activity in the students life to work off the unneeded weight.

Put down the booze, Pick up the books, and work for your grades

2009-09-10T21:31:00.001-07:00

Kevin Corley
In an earlier post, I mentioned a survey revealing that many students in college spend more time drinking than they do studying. This survey, mentioned here, consisted of 30,000 first year students on 76 campuses and suggested that over half of freshmen that drink spend more time drinking than they do studying. This is a serious issue. If students can spend more time drinking than studying, then are they really getting the best education they can?

Amy Wolaver believes that heavy drinking can negatively affect grades and performance. While this is clearly irrefutable, the issue is much more complex. This drinking problem can be tied in with the grade inflation issue discussed in earlier posts. It is very likely that students drink more than they study not simply because they do not care about school, but because they can do so without facing consequences. Grade inflation means that colleges are giving out A’s and B’s easier and easier. This means that students need to do very little to get good grades and comparatively, nothing, if all they care about is passing. This type of scenario creates a breeding ground for students to partake in excessive drinking habits.

Realistically, many people will only do what they need to get by. Students study as much as they need to and then need something to fill their excess time when they aren’t studying. Drinking is the solution to them. Students need a motivation to work harder. Colleges should increase standards and workloads. Those that continue to drink more than they study clearly do not value their education. However, with an increased workload, many students will work harder and spend less time drinking. Students do not spend more time drinking because they don’t care about school but because they can since schools make it so easy for them. Solve the grade inflation problem, solve the drinking problem.

The Recession and Its Effects on Students Paying for College

2009-09-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

Shane Le Master

Group member Rohan Gupta posted a blog recently about the rising costs of college. In his post, there is a graph that depicts that the cost of college rose nearly 500% since 1982, while the median family income only rose 150%. This means that, more than ever, many students and their families must be dependent on some source of financial aid to help pay for the costs of education which are so much higher than the income they are bringing in. Furthermore, in the recent period of economic downtown, the government and private institutions markedly reduced funding to college institutions. To the average student, this means less financial aid being awarded as compared to previous years. This year, in the face of being awarded low financial aid, my family and I struggled to come up with the necessary college fees. I have felt the effect of the cuts in student loans hard. To what magnitude are the rising college costs and the decreasing aid granted affecting college students and their pursuit of financial aid in light of the current recession?

In the past, the state and federal governments created programs that would help students pursuing careers in nursing and teaching to pay for their schooling and to pay off debts after graduating. According to NPR, in the face of the current recession, students can plan on seeing the government substantially cut financial assistance with such programs in the near future. Reuters reported on data that shows that in 2009, the private student loans sector is exhibiting tightened lending practices in correspondence with the worsening economy. It goes without question that the effects of the current recession will be strongly felt across campuses nationwide. With the government cutting student loan programs and with private sources lending less, well more than half of the students on college campuses that are reliant on financial aid will definitely be having a tough year making ends meet in a time when a college education is at its priciest.

Sleep Deprivation: A College Student's Nightmare

2009-09-08T23:51:00.000-07:00

Gregory Micek

Many college students suffer from sleep deprivation. According to sleep-deprivation.com, “most people need six to eight hours of sleep each night to function properly,” and about 20 percent of college students have sleeping disorders. According to stateuniversity.com, “15% of college students admit that they fall asleep in class,” and a study by the National Sleep Foundation found that 63% of college students do not get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can negatively affect students’ academics as well as their general health.

Causes of sleep deprivation in college students vary. Sleep deprivation can be an effect of dealing with the environmental transition from life at home to life in a dorm, or it might be the result of an unusual schedule for school and extracurricular activities. More causes of sleep deprivation in college students include staying up late to study or to party. According to sleep-deprivation.com, excessive partying can also cause sleep deprivation “as alcohol can disturb sleeping patterns.” Finally, ingesting caffeine before bed can also cause sleep deprivation by preventing students from sleeping as deeply as they would without caffeine.

Effects of sleep deprivation in college students can include poorer academic performance as well as poorer overall health. For example, stateuniversity.com notes that sleep deprivation can lead to slow thinking and reaction times, forgetfulness, poor attentiveness, and moodiness. These effects can alter a students performance in the classroom and ability to retain information. Also, sleep-deprivation.com mentions that “seizure, stroke, and heart attacks” can also be consequences of sleep deprivation.

Overall, sleep deprivation affects students by inhibiting their academic performance and can have a negative effect on their overall health. Sleep deprivation can decrease students’ ability to retain information and to concentrate, making studying even harder. Sleep deprivation can also cause harmful physical effects such as seizure, strokes, and heart attacks. Exercising regularly can help to improve upon sleep deprivation by aiding students to sleep better at night. Sleep deprivation can harm students’ academic performance, and therefore college students should be wary of their schedules and sleep patterns to prevent the harmful effects of lack of sleep.

The Fiscal Crisis Facing State Universities

2009-09-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

Rohan Gupta

Although most media networks have stated how ubiquitous the economic downturn has become since last year, they have failed to discuss how deleteriously the slump has effected state fiscal budgets; specifically concerning state universities. The most obvious effects of this deficit on state universities have been the soaring prices of tuition and an increase in overall college costs, but what state shortfalls could have caused this to happen?

At least 48 states have addressed or still face shortfalls in their budgets for fiscal year 2010 totaling $168 billion or 24% of state budgets. The state of Georgia is currently under by $900 million in its budget. The economic slowdown has reduced local and state tax revenues at the same time that public services such as state universities need them the most. And at the same time, state revenues have failed to keep up with inflation. Majority of state universities rely on the Pell Grant for financial aid but can no longer reap in the helpful benefits that were available a few years ago. The grant that covered a significant amount of tuition for low income students suffered a $2 billion shortfall this year. Congress' postponement of appropriations for the grant has caused this shortage in capital. President Obama has recently said to put funding for education as his first priority but all we Americans can do is watch and see how true he is to his word.

Apart from emptying students' pockets, the fiscal crisis has also began to empty the pockets of educators. Professors and teachers have been forced to take pay cuts and furlough days that make these individuals unable to perform their jobs and remain at home. Educators who were once thought to be exempt from these measures are now experiencing the full blow of today's hardships.