As a person who loves science but really struggles with math, your ideal university really impacted me. With your major, I hope that you are able to have that hands-on experience outside of class that you desire! Make sure to check the GMU Career Center for great internship opportunities! I loved your CD ideas, especially the one about narcotic legalization.

The Unexpected Part 1

Attending GMU this year has surprised me in many ways, both good and bad. These experiences have helped me develop what I think my ideal university would be. Firstly, I would modify the math placement exams students are required to take. For many of us, math was a struggle in high school but we powered through it to make it this far. Telling us we did or didn't remember it sufficiently enough is a hard hit on one's ego. Perhaps excluding math majors, certain students shouldn't be forced into Calculus I and II... is that really used in the real world apart from the teachers and professors that teach it? Just students excel one subject doesn't by default mean they succeed in another, example being science majors. Many people think math and science always go hand in hand, or that the various subjects of the humanities and liberal arts go hand in hand. This is not always true. Students have interests, and what interests us in one field does not mean we hold any interest in another; students are going to succeed in what holds their interest and keeps them thinking. And what if a student can just simply not pass the class? Professors have various methods of teaching; I have professors who simply lecture and give papers, some who give frequent quizzes, some who give no homework, and some who give me enough homework that takes a significant hit on sleep and social life. Perhaps if taught in a different method the student would succeed? I think the effort a student puts forth is sometimes a better gauge than a number or letter. Furthermore, the individual progress a student makes throughout a course is a better measure of a grade. Because afterall, we are all striving for progress, it is just that we are all starting it at different levels.
Not only should personal preferences and progress be assessed, but so should personal lives. As a full time student and part time employee, there are days when I feel like I just can't satisfy all the requirements needed fromme that day (or that week). The high-cost of tuition, housing, books, and other expenses can be hard hit on many families and it is up to the student to ensure they make it through all 4 years of college. How else can we compensate for the tuition loans don't cover and the $400 books we need (which we may only end up using twice the whole semester)? It is our professors jobs to provide us with the best education but we don't always have time or energy to satisfy all that is demanded from us. Exhausted students will not absorb the material at 3 am and oftentimes students begin to resent the professors that demand so much out of them. Of course not all students work and therefore can spend the extra time studying, but professors cannot count on this. We want to do well too! But we need to do it to the best of our abilities, not someone elses.
My ideal class would start at about 10:30am and would be no longer than 75 minutes, 2x a week. I'm majoring in Global and Environmental Change and aspire to go into work dealing with conservationism. This class would of course deal with that subject, and would involve field excursions so that students could experience it first hand rather than reading about it in a textbook. White cement walls and locked windows don't really do it for me!

Jesus is my Homeboy

1. As a christian religious apparel such as 'Jesus is my homeboy' shirts do not offend me. I think slogans like these are targeted toward a younger generation, perhaps teenagers to 20-somethings. This is often a period in which people are struggling with self consciousness while trying to stay faithful. I believe these slogans could be a mockery if one sees them as such, but I think it puts a modern spin on an important belief. Some of the slogans are funny too, and I do not think that is a bad thing. How many priests, pastors, or ministers make a joke during mass or service? Putting a positive spin on a serious subject lightens the mood, and is probably likely to leave a positive lasting impression than a doom-and-gloom lecture.
2. A quote that I feel refutes Paul Mitchell's argument is when he states "How could I best demonstrate my devotion to Christ?" Emphasis on the my devotion. People should express their beliefs in a way that they feel comfortable expressing them, whether it be obvious or ambiguous.
3. I actually think I would like the shirts better if they were text-only. Sometimes I think images support a statement, but other times the statement has a larger impact if exposed alone. I'm not really fond of the images of Jesus in a hoodie but I am not offended by them. I think it can be positively interpreted in the sense that Jesus is "with all of us." I think its just a personal preference ... I rarely wear shirts with images on them anyways.
4. I believe the image on the left conveys a slightly more serious tone as opposed to the to the right-hand image. The colors are gray and black and Jesus is not smiling, frowning, or showing any other emotions. The words are almost expelling from his body which makes me believe he supports the statement; its almost as if he is the one putting the message out there. Furthermore, his hands are beneath the words, supporting them.
The image on the left takes on a cartoon feel. Jesus is dressed in plain clothes: a hoodie, jeans, and sneakers. He is even giving the "peace" sign. I thnk this sends the message that Christianity can be a modern thing, and that Jesus is "with us" even when wewe don't think about it. The bright colors evoke a positive feeling and give the image a cheery look.

Jammin' for a Topic

Song Title: "Runnin' Out"
Genre: Country
Explanation: This song addresses the issues faced with renewable energy. It discusses various different methods such as solar and wind power. It briefly mentions the battle over the cost of implementation, but concludes that at this point, cost cannot be an issue when we are facing an energy crisis several years from now.

Song Title: "We're Workin'"
Genre: Hip Hop
Explanation: This song is sung by an all-women hip hop group. It addresses the issues many women face when entering the workforce. It discusses the issues women have had to overcome (Suffrage, female income compared to male income) and concludes that women have benefited the workforce, offering new perspectives and fresh ideas. It supports the claim that women, like men, deserve the right to choose whether to work or not, and need to be paid comparatively.

Song Title: "One Stupid Night"
Genre: Country
Explanation: This song addresses the issue of driving while intoxicated. Rather than just explaining facts, this song will tell a story. It would have sound bytes of screeching tires, and at the end, a crash.

Song Title: "A Family Torn Apart"

Genre: Rock

Explanation: This song addresses the negative side of narcotic legalization. It is a story told from a child's point of view, and the negative affects narcotics have had on their family.


Song Title: "My Hero"
Genre: Rock
Explanation: This song addresses the topic of sports and drugs, particularly steriods. It explores the notion that athletes are looked up to by children. Unfortunately children hear about incidents in which an athlete is exposed as using performance enhancing drugs. This song takes the stance that athletes, when in the public eye, need to consider their young audience and the affects of their choices.

Song Lyrics for "My Hero":
"I was a young boy watching
my future life in front of me
On a plasma tv screen
When the cops busted him
My future looked too bleak
How was I expected to compete
Against men like him?

Album Title: Issues of the 21^st Century

Cover: Because the album covers a multitude of issues, the cover art will not be associated with any one subject. It will be abstract art, one side black and white and the other colorful. The art will be one piece, but the colors will flow effortlessly without any harsh lines depicting a divide between the sides. This represents how oftentimes, people are uninformed about some matters. The shapes of the art represent society and the hidden issues are only distinguished by the difference in colors.

Are you being "ripped off"?

1. After watching the video "Truth About Steriods", I feel as if until further evidence is proven, anabolic steroid use has no reason to banned. Not that I don't believe injecting one's body with synthetic drugs could prove to be harmful, however, smoking is still legal in the U.S. despite the proven effects it has on the body. I believe when outlawing certain substances, it should be "clear across the board".
2. I do believe steriod use compromises the integrity of sports. In my opinion, sports challenge the human body to furthest possible extent, without the advantage of of unnatural substances. The human body doesn't produce these hormones in excess for a reason, whether or not that reason is clear yet. I do not think there is any difference between high school, college, or professional athletes when speaking of steroids. However, I do believe high school and college athletes admire professional athletes, and when more and more are found guilty of using performance enhancing drugs younger athletes slowly become desensitized to it. Combining this with the increasing competitiveness of sports, young athletes are susceptible to steroid use. Similarly, I believe there should be no exceptions based upon an athlete's sport.
Furthermore, societal pressures about physical appearances and success drive these players to resort to steroids to "get the edge".

Partying on Campus ... or Not

Georgetown students are agitated over new policies the University is enforcing regarding on-campus parties (Kinzie B01). It is natural for students to feel as if their rights are being taken away; part of the allure of college life is the opportunity to assert one's independence. College students don't want to be burdened with a babysitter, which is what the University is becoming. Currently, there cannot be more than 25-50 partygoers (depending on where the party is being held) in addition to the strictly enforced one keg per party rule (Kinzie). According to 2nd District Cmdr. Andy Solberg, "We would prefer that the college kids control their own actions . . . but if they can't or they won't, we'll lock them up," (qtd. in Kinzie). However, Solberg admits that perhaps the police force could be spending its time more wisely, "everyone in the community wants cops out here patrolling for real criminal behavior" (Kinzie).

Paraphrasing

James D. Lester contends that students have a habit of overusing direct quotations when writing research papers, and suggests limiting the quantity of direct quotes in note taking to refrain from using them in a final draft. This should allow only 10% of a final paper to be directly quoted (Lester).