The Technology Transition

Anna Smoak

The world is becoming more and more technology based everyday. It is required in almost all colleges now that the students own laptops, and use them as the primary means of communication. And even more than that e-books are becoming more and more popular. While e-books may be more cost effective and easily accessible, they lack the ability to write on their margins or easily turn the pages. Specifically, they aren't hard texts.

Yes e-books are more cost effective, and more environmentally friendly. Mr. Humphrey, a Professor at Arizona State University argues: he is excited that the device will let students bring all 17 assigned texts to every class. That way they can look at all of the texts at once.No problem. That AND the e-books are more cost effective? Don't let these words fool you. E-books are more cost effective for the publisher. There is no cost difference, in most cases, for the consumer.

E-books are also argued to be more environmentally friendly. Not having to use hundreds of pages of paper for thousands of copies of a textbook. But this is not necessarily true since it takes power and energy for the laptops, or desktops to run while reading the e-book.

E-books simply cannot replace hard copies of textbooks. The constant focus on the screen can strain your vision, making reading take longer. It can prove difficult to find what page you are supposed to start reading from. And it can take longer and reduce the effectiveness of writing notes in the margins, or underlining. E-books shouldn't be a requirement for college courses for those of us that just function better with hard copies. And there aren't as many advantages to e-books as publishers would have you believe. Let the student choose what they want and they will learn the materials better and more effectively.

Is College Worth It During A Recession?

Vinh Nguyen

Everyone knows the economy is currently in a downturn and no one knows for sure how much longer this recession will last. Consequently, complications arise. During this time especially, one of the popular questions that people ponder upon is whether students should take out loans for their college tuitions and will they be able to pay back their loans and profit from doing so.

According to this article, Darla Horn, who graduated in 2005 with more than $80,000 in debt, had no problem paying off her loans until she lost her job as an information technology recruiter. For that reason, many prospective students are not going to their first-choice schools due to their financial status.

According to U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for college graduates increased up to 4.7% from 2.8% last year in July. Moreover the article from USA Today states that, "the employers expect to hire 22% fewer graduates from the class of 2009 than from the class of 2008 according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers." These statistics show how bad the recession has gotten and many prospective students will change their minds about going to colleges.

Nevertheless, one way to cope with the recession is going to community college. According to a survey done by Campus Computing Project, more than 90% of community college's enrollment increased from last year and 86% of community college reported an increase in full-time students. For example, Alyssa Griffin from Ohio, plans to spend her first two years at a Columbus State Community College and then transfers Capital University. By doing so, she will end up saving about $40,000.

So as I am about to publish this post, I am wondering to myself, "Am I making the right decision paying almost $40,000 per year for one of the most prestigious public universities?"

College Partying, Is it really as bad as they say?

http://alcoholism.about.com/od/college/a/casa070315.htm

Loud music, drinking, recreational drug use. Is it a good time at any average college or is it a terrible accident waiting to happen. According to a study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance abuse at Columbia University, the rates of binge drinking and substance abuse are up among college students. The study states that for college students, a surprisingly high 22.9 percent meet the requirements for dependence on either alcohol or other drugs. This compared to the general population which boasts only 8.9 percent of the reaching this level. The most alarming statistic however, is the amount of college students that participate in these activities has remained the same while the intensity of abuse has grown over the years. While the study does give us some valuable insight into what appears to be an epidemic at college campuses nationwide; I for one have seen little evidence or the degree of this degree of abuse. When I walk around campus on weekend nights I see college students having a good time with friends in those few days we get between classes.

Michael Sandt

Sports over Smarts: How much is too much?

Anna Smoak

Gender	Athlete Status	Count	Percentile rank of GPA	Difference in rank of GPA (athlete minus non-athlete)
Male	Non-athlete	11,227	47	--
	Recruited athlete	4,195	37	-10
	Non-recruited athlete	1,959	44	-3
Female	Non-athlete	17,323	55	--
	Recruited athlete	3,017	51	-4
	Non-recruited athlete	2,071	53	-2

A recent study done by the NCAA compares the GPA of athletes versus that of non-athletes at a select few division III schools. Not surprisingly the results showed that the male athlete's GPA was significantly lower than that of the non-athlete, and the woman's slightly so. Why is this? Has athletic pride now surpassed the academic pride we once held to so high a standard? While many people believe the typical "athlete" is a lower quality student, that is an unfair generalization... for now.

Thomas S. Dee conducted an experiment of his theory: stereotype threat. The results from his experiment indicate that when students identify themselves as an athlete, they are very aware of the fact that the general population expects them to not be academically competitive with the other students. This causes the athletes to "psych themselves out" and thus perform worse in the classroom.

Stereotype threat is just one theory, however. Could it be that universities are simply admitting a lower quality student when looking for an athlete to give them that competitve edge? While this is true for some universities, it is unfair to generalize this "dumb jock" perspective onto all student athletes. When I was applying to college I went to talk to the MIT women's basketball coach and she was sure to emphasize that I had to get into the school first, then I could be on the team.

So while there has been a downward trend in the land of college athletics, this is just the generalization of a few colleges results. For example, let's not forget the 45 University of Alabama student athletes named to the SEC honor roll in 2008 and 2009. For now most universities are in a stable state, but one push in the wrong direction could lead to a very slippery slope. Stay competitive: in the classroom and out.

College Curriculum: The Real Problem

Ryan Kerns

Higher education in the United States today is suffering greatly from a not so obvious problem: the curriculum. Over the past couple of decades, there has been a tremendous increase in how specific the curriculums of bachelorette degrees truly are. Instead of students learning a wide range of topics, they are focusing more on their current choice of major. This causes students to “neglect” other courses that are not needed for their study. While this does allow for students to become more focused on their major and to prepare themselves for the workforce in that very specific area, it leaves no room for other classes that may be essential later on in life. Many students change their major throughout their college experience and end up on the short end of the stick when it comes to catching back up in the curriculum required for their new field. Unfortunately, the problems do not end there. Many students will stick to their original major throughout college. However, when they encounter the real work force that their major includes, they find that they do not enjoy their career. So, they try to find another job only to find that they are seriously lacking the necessary skills required to become successful. This creates many unhappy or unemployed people. According to Deborah Dezure of State University Online, “Business and industry leaders decried the inadequate skills of graduates who were unable to problem-solve, communicate through writing and speaking, engage in ethical decision-making, work in teams, and interact effectively with diverse others.” All of these skills could have been obtained through a much broader curriculum as opposed to a very specific major based one. This is one of many curriculum debates that professionals have been discussing for years. For example, Dr. Frederick Rudolph explains in his scholar journal: Curriculum. A History of the American Undergraduate Course Study since 1636, that he has been comparing different curriculum strategies throughout history since 1636 and is yet to find the right answer. So, how do higher education professionals develop a diverse curriculum that better suites the needs of the students’ future instead of preparing them specifically for their major? And when will the professionals start to realize that they are hindering the students’ opportunities in the future?

Run Farther, Score Higher

Bo Andrews

Everyone goes to college in hopes to succeed; however, not everyone knows the easiest way to succeed. A recent study done by the California Department of Education display a positive correlation between younger age students' physical activity and "academic performance." In the experiment the CDE performed in 2002, 954,000 students were to take the SAT-9 assessment and then perform six fitness tests, such as cardiovascular endurance and upper body strength. The more physically active students are, the more likely they will perform well on tests.
To be easy enough, physical activity could include, walking, running, or swimming. All these physical activities lead to healthier positive vibes as seen through research done at the 2001 Society for Neuroscience Conference. "A trio of studies," as they researchers at the conference called it, explains that daily physical activity improves mind functions and benefits the health of neurons. Alongside, physical activity takes one's mind off academics, thus leading to greater attention span during actual school hours.
Also, in an undergraduate study conducted at Texas A&M, 40 women were selected randomly to participate in aerobic, "physical," activity. According to Martha Brennan, author of the study, "the main benefit from aerobic activity was that women who exercised regularly felt more positive about academics." Their research definitely makes one give physical activity a shot.



Throughout these results, it is obvious physical activity is good for a college student. Trying the graduate with honors, smart students should take the initiative to be physically active. Physical education does not have to be a requirement; however, physical activity could easily help one succeed.

The Amethyst Initiative

Brenden Duncombe-Smith

Almost everyone agrees that college drinking is a huge problem. An Associated Press study found that from 1999 to 2005 157 college students drank themselves to death. This, among many other statistics, paints a frightening picture of college drinking. Some believe that the problem may be a result of the 21 drinking age limit. The Amethyst Initiative is set on ending the debate. The Amethyst Initiative is a collection of around 100 chancellors and presidents of Universities dedicated to debating the 21 drinking age limit, however the underlying intent is to attempt to get the drinking age lowered to 18. Mothers Against Drunk Driving are worried that this would only lead to more alcohol related danger on campuses. George W. Dowdall, author of College Drinking: Reframing a Social Problem is "concerned that the movement places too much emphasis on the minimum drinking age, one factor among many shaping college drinking." . He is also worried that the Amethyst Initiative is disregarding studies and organizations that show that the drinking age works. However, no matter how the debates go or which side claims victory, the real question is whether or not the experiment is worth the risk. It is doubtful that any such conclusion to the debates will be decisive enough to prove that in no way will the safety of the newly legal drinkers be in jeopardy. It could, in fact, have an even worse effect and push binge drinking on kids under 18. Although the Amethyst Initiative's goal to make college safer by debating about the legal limit is noble, their efforts are misguided, and they should instead be focusing on other methods to end alcohol abuse on college campuses.