The Real Danger in College: Campus Safety in the Laboratory

Ryan Kerns

Campus safety is something that concerns many people when deciding where to go to college especially when crimes are so rampant in a place like Georgia Tech. However, are crimes what campus safety is all about? What about safety in the actual school? More specifically, what about the safety in laboratories? What many people don’t realize is that college research laboratories account for hundreds of accidents over the course of a school year. For example, there was a chemical spill just last week here at Georgia Tech that resulted in three students going to Grady Memorial Hospital according to Kristi E. Swartz and Marcus K. Garner in their article for the AJC. This is just one of many similar accidents that happen year round all over the country. For example, in a study by Margaret A. Hellmann, Eldon P. Savage, and Thornas J. Keefe called Safety in the Chemical Laboratory, they claim that out of just 13 higher education institutions in Colorado alone, there was an astounding 574 reported accidents in chemical laboratories in only a twenty year span. If you carry over these numbers to the thousands of colleges across the United States that have research laboratories, it ends up being thousands of accidents that occur annually. This number is way too high considering the countless safety precautions that are in place in many institutions today. This is due, in part, to the ever increasing research that is being done to help advance our understanding of the world around us. Unfortunately, this usually creates the need for more and more dangerous experiments that need to be carried out. However, with the need for more dangerous experiments comes the need for more rigorous safety precautions that keeps students out of the hospital. What exactly can be done to help reduce this rapidly increasing number of accidents?

How to Prevent Illegal Sharing of Academic Journals

Bo Andrews

In today's modern colleges, students must read through tons of academic journals and articles to complete many projects in a variety of classes. Sites such as Google Scholar and EBSCOhost supply many articles and websites to research necessary topics; however, not all of these websites are free.

Recently, a study cited in the Internet Journal of Medical Informatics reveals thousands of students and professors illegally sharing academic journals. It states 5,500 articles are shared, costing $700,000 of multiple services' revenue. In order to prevent illegal sharing, academic journal servers must take a strong stance.

Similar to Napster many years ago, people are getting information that is not open to the public without paying a fee. Academic journal servers have two options. The first option is to employ a rental program that provides access to an article for a certain amount of time such as Deep Dyve.

The second option is to carefully tract the file sharers by having some an investigator go in and pretend to be a normal student looking for an article. The investigator may find certain illegally shared articles. If he does, he would need to contact a Internet service provider to make a claim about the sharer.

As more colleges use more technology in classes, there is an increase in the risk of copyright and plagiarism. With a more established regulation throughout Internet services, students can legally create original work.

Campus Email Addresses: A Thing of the Past?

Michael Sandt

A recent report, published by Educase, provides new information regarding the prevalence of campus provided email addresses. The report, which draws its information from over 900 universities nation wide, states that nearly 10 percent of the institutions polled are considering phasing out campus provided email addresses. When questioned, the institutes cited the use of personal email addresses as a primary reason for this course of action. This is startling considering that in 2004, a mere two percent of institutions would consider phasing out such email addresses. While I can understand the incentive to phase out such technology, the potential fiscal assets recouped would not be worth the sacrifice. Firstly, standardizing email addresses across campus allows students to use a separate email address specifically for educational purposes. Second, the standardized naming conventions prevents teachers from having to email students personally created addresses. While this may not be such an issue for most, a few will understand that when you give your teacher your email address, "drunkman45@gmail.com" isn't exactly the most shining representation of yourself. Third, and finally, use of campus email addresses creates a sense of responsibility for students. Students will be required to check their email to remain updated on class schedules and course materials. A skill that will become imperative in their future pursuits. So my response to this move to get rid of campus email addresses; keep them, but allow students the opportunity to port the campus email address to their own personal one for a simplified experience.

Large Lecture Classes

Brenden Duncombe-Smith

Everyone who has ever attended a college class is painfully aware of how large some of the introductory lecture classes can be. Unfortunately, these large classes have become necessary because of the large amount of students that are required to take those introductory classes. Some believe that these large lecture classes are a perfect opportunity to get well qualified professors speaking to a large group of students. However, most people believe that the large class sizes negatively affect a student's ability to learn. The main reason for this belief is the fact that large classes make for an environment with very little interaction between students and the professor. I have seen this first hand, during large lectures I notice that a large number of students are either doing other work, on Facebook, or sleeping. The reason that the problem of large class sizes still persists is because the solutions are just too expensive for the majority of colleges to successfully implement. The USA Today notes that Nobel laureate Carl Wieman is urging for reform in the teaching style of large lectures. Most notably is the use of personal response systems to instantly poll classes to see if the students are grasping the material in real time. Wieman believes that these and other tools that help students interact with the professor are the key to increasing a student's understanding of the material. Whatever the eventual solution may be, low cost solutions like the personal response system and other technological tools promise to be a key factor in solving the problem.

Study Abroad: Language Doesn't Matter.

Anna Smoak

Studying abroad is promoted greatly here at the Georgia Institute of Technology, but not for the reasons you might think. While study abroad can increase your language proficiency immensely, if you so choose you could learn absolutely nothing about another language. Keeping that in mind, study abroad is important for so many other reasons, most importantly, growing up and becoming yourself.

According to he Study Abroad Research Group (SARG), students studying abroad speak their first language more than their second language. Also, students showed a gain in speaking the language, but less of a gain in literacy, or the ability to read and write that language. However, overall students who study abroad do improve in their second language if they choose to do show. A good example of this is the comparison between study abroad and other contexts, done by SARG.

Even more important than learning a new language is truly being on your own for the first time. While you are in college you can still call your parents for whatever you may need, and have them ship you items if you need something. Also you know how the culture works, so if you come across a problem you are likely to be able to find help. But in an entirely different country you are truly on your own. It is much more expensive to call your parents or ship items. And sometimes you may not know who to turn to when you encounter a problem. This will make you grow up real fast. For some students who are living in a fantasy world of being 'grown up' without all the burdens this can be the best wake-up call.

It goes without saying that there are endless benefits to study abroad, but above all do it to realize who you are, and what you are capable of, before you find out the hard way when there are real (specifically money) consequences. It could potentially the best choice of your life.

Harmful Effects of Caffeine Products

Vinh Nguyen

Many students consume coffee to help them staying awake or staying up all night to either finish their homework that is due tomorrow or cram for the upcoming test. Although students might be able to stay alert during lectures or to get through the day by consuming caffeine products like coffee, there are some deleterious effects to drinking coffee in the long run such as decrease in the amount of calcium in the body according to this article. Moreover one of the effects of consuming caffeine products is that once the caffeine wears off, the consumers will be left with no stamina, resulting in body exhaustion. According to American Dietetic Association, the amount of caffeinated drinks consumed by teenagers has triple since 1970s; nevertheless, most students do not know the side effects of using too much coffee. Even though caffeine can keep students awake, studies have shown that caffeine can disrupt short-term memory, decreases productivity, and obstructs the ability to learn and absorb new information. Lastly, teenagers who consume caffeine regularly will have erratic sleep cycle, which leads to loss of behavioral control, negative mood, excessive aggression and impulsiveness. In closing, consuming too much caffeine can be dangerous and it is vital to remember that there is no substitute for a good night's sleep, which enhances students' alertness without harming them.

The Cost of College on the Couch: The Rising Cost of Online Education

Ryan Kerns

Online education is a much debated topic recently. Many arguments include whether or not it is harmful to have students learn on a computer rather than in a face-to-face format. Some scientists claim that students miss out on the social interaction that comes with a lecture and being around peers their age. For example, in Zane Berge’s article called Barriers to Online Teaching in Post-Secondary Institutions: Can Policy Changes Fix It?, he explains a few of the problems to include “faceless teaching, faculty culture, lack of technological assistance, and high cost of materials.” However, despite these problems, many people overlook the price of online education. More specifically, studies have shown that in many cases, online classes at certain colleges can cost even more than the same class on campus. For example, according to Marc Perry in his article called Online College Access Comes at a High Price for Students in the Chronicle of Higher Education, he claims that, “students may face bills that are ten percent or more than those in parallel face-to-face programs.” This means that students have to pay more money to stay at home and take a class on a couch than to go get personal time with a professor. This begs the question: what do students have to pay extra for? Perry goes on to say that, “universities may levy special fees on online students that traditional students don't have to pay. Almost one-fifth impose a one-time registration fee that averages $232, for example. Students may also get hit with extra fees for course materials, technology services, and individual courses.” These extra prices add up to make online education an expensive alternative to attending classes in person. Unfortunately, with the economy as low as it is, online classes are becoming harder and harder to afford. To make matters worse, many colleges have invested a lot of money into developing an online program to supplement their in-person lectures, and with people not being able to afford this new feature, many colleges are actually losing money. With all of the negatives adding up against online education and with the economy as bad as it is, why do the prices of an online degree keep rising?

Digitization in College Libraries

Bo Andrews

Library documents have been around since the scrolls at Alexandria. These documents have very simple formats: ink crafted on a canvas. Imagining elctronic files of books instead of countless shelves with books is a very hard concept to grasp. While New York University has begun to digitize its library, the concept of employing electronic readings as the main sources is necessary in order to preserve many oringinal documents.
College Libraries host many students and groups that are studying or conducting research. Having the capability to access many sources through library computers presents a substantial benefit by creating a greater variety with less actual space. With less space needed for bookshelves, more tables and computers can fill in the open space. According to McMillan Memorial Library, digitizing college libraries can not only provide more sources, but also preserve the original documents and allow for "far superior access."
According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, New York University is beginning to digiitze some sources its its main library. In order to provide global access for its students in Abu Dhabi, NYU has taken an influential leap into the employment of technology in higher education.
Digitizing college libraries has systemic effects. While more college libraries install digital sources, the more students will be able to use those resources through their own computers; consequently, more library tables will be open to study and work in groups. The digitization in college libraries is a win-win situation for every side.

College Drop-Out Rates

Brenden Duncombe-Smith

College drop-out rates are one of the most worrying problems with higher education today; however, it is one of the least understood problems. There are so many contributing factors that no one knows where to start the solution. With as few as fifty four percent of students graduating in six years it is easy to understand why a solution needs to be found. Even more disturbing the Associated Press notes that there are even larger discrepancies between drop-out rates among different races. With many schools reporting a twenty point lower graduation rate. Some blame students for not appreciating the sheer importance of a college education. Still others blame the colleges themselves for not implementing more programs to keep their students in school. Yet none of this truly matters because even if either of these were the problem they have no reasonable solution. The main solution would be for the government to offer incentives to schools based on their graduation rate. However, this would most likely to cause schools to just become even more selective, only accepting applicants who are most likely to graduate. The real victims in all of this are those students who do not graduate. They are promised an education that will get them a good job, and instead they don’t get a degree and end up with a huge debt. In most cases it would probably be better if those students hadn't even attended college because they would at least be free of student loans. The problem of the college drop-out rate is complex and hard to study a real solution won’t be able to be reached without much more study.

S.P.A.R.K.notes: So much Preexisting, Already thought-up, Reliable Knowledge notes

Anna Smoak

Everyone feels bad about cheating, and no one doesn't regret having damaged how they are viewed by their peers and teachers, not to mention cheating themselves out of a valuable education. Being dishonest is a reputation that is hard to overcome, so don't become a lesser person just to get a better grade.

The above paragraph is something many college professors are seeing this day. It is a reearangement or paraphrase of a talking point from a cheaters best friend: Sparknotes. (http://sparkcharts.sparknotes.com/study/distancelearning/section7.php) While ethics and honor codes on college campuses are becoming more and more strict due to the sudden surge of resources on the web, students are become lazy and looking for as many ways to get around the rules as they can. Specifically, students have become well versed in simply restating an authors thoughts, in a variety of ways, and using the "I didn't know" rule to wiggle their way out of tight spots.

G. Thomas Couser, a professor of english at Hofstra University, refers to specifically to plagiarism, and one of the greatest resources of plagiarism in the past decade, Sparknotes. "SparkNotes is a problem not only because it was unacknowledged but also because it entirely short-circuite[s] [the] thinking process". So, no matter how cheesy it sounds, when students cheat, they are merely cheating themselves. Couser also notes that, "Student plagiarists often claim that they thought documentation is only necessary for quotation."

So as more websites like Sparknotes begin to surface on the web, the more opportunities students have to avoid doing any work by using these sources as their 'thoughts'. This is promoting a laziness in our society never before scene, and without help, it will be very difficult for professors to get this 'cheating epidemic' under control.

How To Motivate Yourself?

Vinh Nguyen

Many students do poorly in school because they procrastinate and wait until the last minute or day to get started on their homework or project. As a matter of fact, 26 percent of Americans are procrastinators according to this article. So how can one motivate oneself to work more efficiently? There are 13 tricks or tips that can help one to increase his or her self-motivation according to this article. Some of the tricks that I personally find most useful are going back to "why", going for five, moving around, and getting a partner. Going back to "why" basically means that one needs to keep reminding him or her of why he or she is even doing the task in the first place. This strategy will help one focus on the assignments and enhance one's performance. Moreover, it will make the task more appealing. The next advice that I find helpful is going for five, meaning taking a one-minute break every five minutes of working and start increasing the working time gradually. Doing this will motivate one more because the break every five minutes mentality will make one think that the workload is less than it actually is. One thing that is important to keep in mind is that the break can't be longer than one minute; otherwise, it will ruin the purpose of this strategy. Some things one can do during the break is check his or her phone for text messages or computers for any instant messages. In addition to constantly reminding oneself of the whys and a short recess every five minutes of working, moving around such as stretching or standing up also improves ones concentration and focus since doing this will decrease the likelihood of falling asleep and getting tired while working on the assignment. Lastly, working with someone else is great to motivate oneself because that person will motivate you to work when you would normally just quit. There are 9 more tips but I will save them for another post, or readers can follow the article I hyperlinked earlier.

Downsizing the Freshman 15

Bo Andrews

The "Freshman 15" is an occurring issue across college campuses. Gaining weight through a stressful academic schedule, increased work load, and more inviting social life, freshmen have a tendency to finish the year with more weight than they start with. With a busy life, freshmen tend to eat more, and when there is a buffet line of food in a dining hall, there is no holding back.



The "Freshman 15" is all about how students manage their activities. According to CNN, in order to control one's social life and eating habits, freshmen must plan their days more effectively. Freshmen need to find time to exercise in the midst of high-stress situations. Also, freshmen should decide when they might eat out. By limiting the number of servings, freshmen can reduce the incremental weight gain as well. If fighting off the "Freshman 15" is important to each student, "keeping a record" of places one eats and how he or she feels after the meal. In turn, freshmen may be able to find what motivates poor eating habits. By employing a more fixed schedule to one's daily routine, may help maintain a healthier body.
Realistically, the "freshman 15" happens to many students; however, it is the students that learn to deal with their decisions that help them become a better person. Students have the potential to feel better about themselves after they work off the "freshman 15." Weight gain should not discourage young students, but rather motivate them to do better.

What Colleges are Really Looking For: Race in College Admissions

Ryan Kerns

With the increasing competition for college admissions, students have become well aware of what colleges are looking for in potential candidates. Most colleges usually look for good grades, rigor of the high school schedule, and extracurricular activity. However, why do colleges still consider race in their application process? What many people don’t know is that colleges usually have to have a “quota” of races to uphold. With the developments of integrating schools over the past couple of decades, schools have really pushed for trying to keep a balance of different races in their classrooms. Unfortunately, colleges don’t always realize that this can sometimes jeopardize their academic standards. More specifically, colleges will sometimes reject students who may be more qualified in order to keep a certain number of students of a particular race. Mark C. Long helps to prove this in his study in the Review of Economics and Statistics for MIT. He claims that, “the preferences given to minority applicants under affirmative action are large and that the minority share of admitted students in top-tier institutions would fall substantially after eliminating these preferences.” This becomes apparent in colleges like Georgia Tech where the majority of the students are Caucasian males. When a school is so dominated by a specific race, the school looks as if they are trying to reject minority students. As a result, many colleges set a small “quota” in order to look like they are not discriminating. However, progress has been made recently with a plan called Affirmative Action. This action basically makes it illegal to make race, gender, or religious affiliation a factor in the decision of acceptance into a college. Unfortunately, colleges still try to make it look like they are not trying to discriminate in their acceptances. According to Christopher Edley Jr. in his book, Chilling Admissions: The Affirmative Action Crisis and the Search for Alternatives, “institutions cannot be allowed to undermine their educational and social missions by excluding capable under-represented minorities.” This creates lot of grey area in between the two extremes making it very difficult for colleges to decide how they want to diversify their schools. Unfortunately, it usually comes at the cost of more than qualified students of the race they already have too much of. This begs the question, when will colleges take off the “What is your race” question off of their applications?

Ants: The New Way to Protect Yourself from Viruses

Michael Sandt

According to a recent Telegraph article, researchers at the University of Wake forest are conducting an advanced new way. Upon observation of a colony of ant behaved under threat, the developers created a program that used "swarming intelligence" to minimize virus threats in a computer. They technology is slated to use "digital ants" to patrol a computer looking for viruses, upon discover it would call a plethora of similar reinforcements. The new ant based system is believed to run faster than current security methods that have to be updated to recognize new threats. I think it is fascinating that universities are conducting these levels of advanced research with computers. As one of the fields in which new technology is advancing most rapidly, the fact that programmers can generate these programs in cooperation with universities world wide. I certainly hope that Georgia Tech is engaged in this kind of research as I'm seriously considering changing my major to computer science. If they are, I'm looking forward to seeing such research at the advanced level.

The Ever Rising Cost of Tuition

Brenden Duncombe-Smith

The rising cost of tuition may be an even bigger problem than people realize. Already tuition is taking up an even larger portion of the median family income. In low income families, the cost of education can be up to fifty percent of the total family income. However, one of the unforeseen consequences of this for America as a country is the state of education of the working class. According to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, America is one of a very few number of countries where workers age twenty five to thirty four are less educated than their older coworkers. Also, USA Today, states that the rise in the cost of education has many factors. The main factor is that colleges are losing funds from the state. State schools educate the majority of students, and those schools are quickly losing their funding which the schools in turn have to pass on to the students. While the loss of funding is one aspect the other is, in effect, advertising. Schools today have to compete to gain perspective students and they do this by spending large sums of money on brand new, state of the art dorms and athletic facilities. While this mainly happens at elite private schools , it still forces other schools with smaller budgets to try to compete as well. While the schools clearly see the need to gain the interests of more students ,it is understandable that students at Georgia Tech would be upset that a large amount of money is being spent on a brand new Undergraduate Learning Center while the cost of tuition steadily rises.

The Right to Bear Arms...in school.

Anna Smoak

On April 16, 2007 the use of guns on college campuses became a big issue after a Virginia Tech student shot 32 of his classmates dead, wounding many more. The question then arose whether or not allowing students to have guns on campus makes them safer from horrible tragedies such as this one. While some people argue that passing laws that support the right for students to bear arms on campus would increase the safety of students, they fail to take into account how unsafe guns are in untrained hands. Specifically, in the hands of students that are not of sound state of mind to the high rates of stress and alcohol found on college campuses these days.

Utah is currently the only state where it is illegal for schools to prohibit students from carrying weapons on campus. 23 States leave it up to the school to decide about student gun possession, and the in the remaining 26 states it is against the law to have guns on campus.

Guns are unsafe in untrained and mentally unstable hands, and as a college student, I don't trust most of my peers to have the maturity level and responsibility to safely handle a gun. As Missouri Legislator Chris Kelly says, "College boys love things that go boom, and there is a direct and geometric relationship between the amount of beer they’ve had and the amount they like boom. You give them a six pack and boom gets really attractive; that’s a problem."

In other words, kids that aren't legally allowed to consume alcohol or rent a car should not be allowed to "play" with firearms. While there is some chance that school shooting might end differently if the shooter just so happens to wander across a kid that also has a gun. The chances of that are slim compared to the likelihood of accidents happening because of kids being kids. Only people who have shown they are responsible and mentally sound have the right to bear arms.

Skipping Classes Hurts!

Vinh Nguyen

Most people especially college students know skipping classes can hurt your grades substantially in instances such as pop quizzes. In addition to affecting students' performances, students who skip classes are wasting their money. According to this article, skipping class costs a full-time resident student almost $30 per day. However, for an out-of-state full-time student, the cost of skipping classes increases drastically, almost $73 per day! Then why many students are skipping classes regardless knowing the consequences? Larry Booker, a 20-year-old student who majors in business, thinks f skipping classes as a mean of alternative education. He explained, "I'm skipping class to finish my homework. Once the homework's done, I'm going to class to turn it in. Sometimes student learn better alone with a book in front of them instead of an instructor." Some students like Erika Yazzie however, puts the blame on the professors for making classes boring. She said, "Teachers often make the classroom an uncomfortable environment. If more teachers made their coursework more exciting fewer students would skip their classes." On the other hand, some believe skipping classes is a freshman thing while it rarely happens to upperclassmen. Nevertheless, the main reason that many students skip classes is because they are still intoxicated from the night before. As I am closing this post, here is a funny picture showing a student's apology email to his or her professor for her absences.

TItle IX

Brenden Duncombe-Smith

Title IX has caused a lot of uproar in the college community. It was created with the intention of creating more equality for women in all aspects of the education process. However, it is mostly known for the affect this law has had on the athletics aspect of education. Title IX requires that colleges offer the same number of sports opportunities to women as they do to men. For example, if a college has a guy to girl ratio of 40 percent to 60 percent then there must be the same ratio in the participation of athletics. For years, there have been efforts to get football excluded from the proportionality rule but these efforts have been fruitless. The argument for excluding football mainly stems from the fact that football has a very large roster and brings in a lot of money for the schools. These two points often make it hard for schools to comply with the proportionality rule. In fact, almost 80 percent of colleges are not in compliance with Title IX. The Women's Sports Foundation has noted that the law has been met with some success. There has been a significant increase to the participation in women's collegiate athletics teams. Men's sports supporters also argue that because there is not a large roster football equivalency for women then the more minor men's sports teams end up being cut. However, supporters for Title IX continue to stand by the statement that it is an unfortunate situation, but schools should focus instead on trying to expand the women's athletic department.

The Danger of Freedom

Anna Smoak

College education has changed a great deal with the different thoughts and ideas of society. In ancient greece through the 19th century students rarely had any choice in the classes they took. And nearly everyone took the same classes too. Is it important for all students to have the same base of knowledge? Even for different professions? While many experts believe that for all students to take the same set of core courses, even for completely different majors, is ridiculous, they neglect to look at the fact that these "core" courses provide a basis of learning that the student can use throughout their lives.

Philip C. Candy cnducted a study on undergraduate education, and found that "to produce lifelong learners, an undergraduate degree program should ideally provide a systematic and integrated introduction to the field of study." The study later points out that students should have the freedom to choose their own courses, but that this could possibly lead away from the aforementioned introduction to the field of study. As in all things, there are many shades of gray to curriculum in higher education. I am not saying here that freedom is terrible and we should regulate students from start to finish. But everyone in college should have the same base of knowledge from which they can establish a foundation for learning throughout the rest of their career. I know that it could benefit everyone to take my psychology course, and I'm certain I would benefit from taking a course or two I'm not required to take for my major.

As with everything, moderation is the key. While students should be able to choose many of their courses, this should happen after they have taken a set of courses required by their university, if not by all universities. To establish a solid foundation upon which they can rely if all else should fail.

Sleeping Disorders In College

Vinh Nguyen


As students cram for their upcoming midterm exams using caffeine products, they are prone to staying up all night, resulting in sleep deprivation. As a matter of fact, 63% of college students don't get enough sleep according to this article. Sleeping disorders have become common in college students. It is a shame because sleep deprivation can lead to sleep apnea, which is a chronic condition that disrupts one's sleep 3 or more nights in a week causing poor sleep quality according to this article. Although sleep apnea looks harmless, on the long run however, sleep apnea can be life-threatening. Not only sleep apnea can increase the risk for high blood pressure, heart attacks, and obesity but it can increase the probability of having a work-related or driving accidents. "A major reason students do not get enough sleep is for extra study time, but the more sleep you get, the more efficient your study time will be," said Dr. Carl Hunt from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
In addition to sleep apnea, a more serious problem aroused from sleep deprivation is insomnia, which is not that common in college students. Nonetheless, it can be quite troublesome. Take the case of Ryan Harris for instance. According to this article, Ryan Harris was a freshman at Princeton University when he was not able to sleep after a few bad nights of sleep. It is not just at Princeton where sleeping disorders are prevalent, but the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois recently found that at least two thirds of college students have occasional sleep disorders and one third of those have severe sleep difficulties.
Sleeping deprivation can be very serious. So whether it be cramming for upcoming tests or hanging out with friends late, remember that one needs at least 7 hours of sleep every night. Otherwise, you might be the next Ryan Harris.
P.s Sorry for posting irregularly or not posting at all for the past 2-3 weeks. I have been really busy and catching up on sleep after my first rounds of tests. But I'm hoping to post every Mondays from now on.

Pick a Card, any Card

Gambling is a dangerous addiction that is seen through many circumstances like card playing, die rolling, and sports betting. As more and more college students feel the urge to beat the dealer in cards, more universities are searching to limit and restrict gambling capabilities.

In a study done by the Division of Addictions at Harvard Medical School, health supporters feel that universities need to address gambling like drinking. The study shows that of the 119 colleges tested, 26 colleges already have strict rules and regulations about such gambling. With only a small chunk of colleges that have regulations, it is easy to see why researchers at Harvard Medical School are concerned about the fact that 3 in 11 students have a gambling problem. Inside Higher Ed finds that multiple sources acknowledge this fact, and this situation can easily result in decrease in academic performances, increase in mental issues, or financial problems.

Obviously, gambling is a real problem on college campuses, and committees and panels are pushing for regulation and control. The vice chancellor for student affairs at Indiana university, George S. McClellan, believes that these findings are "spot on"; however, colleges need to help students and provide support for students who are really suffering from an addiction to gambling. If colleges treat gambling like many other addictions, the turnover rate for rehab students has a great chance to increase.

As colleges begin to establish disciplinary committees for gambling, colleges should consider counseling panels as well. The concept of a secret counselor who students can trust, will provide essential support and guidance for students who are suffering from an addiction to gambling. If colleges play their cards right, gambling problems can be solved and regulated by using considerate guidance.

Federal Research Dollars: Are We Getting Less Than Most Think?

Michael Sandt

On Thursday, data released by the National Science Foundation reported government spending on academic research rose by $1.2 Billion dollars to $31.2 billion. This is up from the $30.0 billion received last year. The troubling part of the study is that percent of spending for which the government accounted has shrunk from 64 percent in 2005 to 60 percent in 2008. Institutions however increased their budget on research by 7 percent, to $2.9 billion. The survey included data from 690 colleges that grant degrees in science or engineering, Georgia Tech was ranked thirtieth. I find this article somewhat strange, as coming to Georgia Tech I always thought it was a top ten school in terms of dollars received by the Federal Government. Perhaps it gave me the wrong impression or maybe I am underestimating the power of Federal research dollars. Stay tuned.

College Athletics: Wholesome Fun or Scandal?

Ryan Kerns

Colleges have almost always had certain standards for incoming students in order to maintain a decent scholarly reputation. However, over the past couple of decades, a movement towards accepting kids based on their athletic abilities instead of for their academics has become increasingly predominant. Ever since intercollegiate football started in the (quote book), colleges have been using football, among many other sports, to obtain publicity and eventually money from having an entertaining sports program. According to Murray Sperber, in his introduction to the book, Beer and Circus: How Big Time College Sports Is Crippling Undergraduate Education, “[colleges] spend increasing amounts of money on their athletic departments, and use big-time college sports-commercial entertainment around which many undergraduates organize their hyperactive social lives-to keep their students happy and distracted and the tuition dollars rolling in.” This basically means that colleges use their sports to just distract other students while they pay outrageous tuition costs to keep the program going. However, what college admissions administrators don’t realize is that they are seriously jeopardizing the integrity of their academics. More specifically, colleges are making room for these often sub standard athletes by rejecting the kids with well a very impressive academic history. This has increasingly become a problem recently with the ever increasing competition that accompanies applying for colleges. It has become the social norm for kids to attend college right after high school and with so many scholarships available like the HOPE scholarship, hundreds of thousands of high school students apply for colleges annually. According to the USA Today, in its article, College Acceptance Rates: How Many Get In?, almost 5,000,000 kids applied to colleges in 2006 and according to the Georgia Tech Admissions page, approximately 11,500 students applied to Georgia Tech this year alone. This creates huge amounts of competition leading kids to work harder and harder every year in high school to put them on the right academic when it comes to applying for their favorite colleges. However, these high school athletes sometimes get first pick over those kids that have worked vigorously for four years and have earned the right to attend the college of their dreams. Why should these athletes get precedence over the kids that have worked so hard to get where they are? Is it really worth a few more seats occupied during the weekly football games? What is academic integrity worth to college admissions these days?