Those Damn College Kids

damncollegekids @ 2008-09-02T02:05:00

2008-09-02T06:07:07Z

Hi guys, college is starting and my fiction blog is taking off. Since all of you are surely having exciting experiences, I would love any feedback/ideas/thoughts. :) My character is a girl from Alabama moving to Bailey, a fictional elite college in New York.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008
windows down as the night blows in

Classes finally begin tomorrow. I’m nervous, but I’m more than ready. No one really likes the orientation activities, as far as I can tell. So far we’ve had lots of “inspirational” speakers, an alcohol/safety lecture, a cookout, and a play. I don’t think this has any relation to what college will really be like, and I don’t know to what exactly this is orienting us, except to how much our theater program must suck. I guess some of the speakers were good, but hearing their accomplishments didn’t really cheer me up at all – just highlighted how worthless I am. Most people just text through half the events, or covertly listen to their iPods. I don’t know who plans orientation; they must know that it’s not that engaging. I guess our parents can be happy we’re having intellectual and cultural experiences, but most of the students seem more concerned with all the frat parties each night.

During one of the motivational speeches on Saturday, I spotted Jason across the auditorium. I tried to catch his eye for about ten minutes (well, looking at him was better than listening), but he never looked up from a small leather notebook he was writing in. I tried to accidentally run into him after the speech, but he left before I could get through the crowd.

I could Facebook him, I guess, but a part of me likes the distance, the untouched possibilities. I’m scared that if we actually spend more time together, that vibrancy he had in April might fade, and then I’ll be left with nothing. Paul and I have talked a little, but when I’m doubtful about him, it’s nice to have a dream to fall back on. Even if I know it’s all in my mind. READ MORE: http://charlotte-faulkner.blogspot.com/

Fear Less

2008-08-31T02:00:24Z

This is a draft of an essay i would so greatly appreciate any thoughts/feedback on. Thank you.

Years ago, I was out to dinner with my dads one night after swim team practice (I must have been in third or forth grade,) and I saw one of those “Go Card” postcard advertisements that are often set out in cases at the doors to different businesses that caught my eye. The card read FEAR LESS in bold pink block letters. The slogan struck me and so I grabbed the card, and even today it’s obtrusive letters still pronounce their assertion from a place on one of the walls of my room.

When I heard about the international cello festival in Israel this past fall, I knew instantly that it was something I wanted to do. It would be an amazing opportunity, both to improve upon my cello playing abilities and to see a part of the world I’d never seen before. It was a chance to experience something I hadn’t experienced, to work on being able to understand and appreciate different people, ideas, cultures. For me, understanding new things is to fear less of the world, and this was an exceptional and unparalleled chance to do it. Although the idea of the trip was scary for me for numerous reasons, all were shades and variations of my fear of something I did not know or understand, and a fear I wanted to work on erasing.

Before setting off, I had a picture of the country engrained in my mind, built from images from the news and from documentaries I had seen, ideas from conversations I had overheard: a picture of a place war-torn and barren and unsafe and full of anger; a very muddled and superficial representation of a country. I wouldn’t have said so out loud, but I struggled to honestly and truly understand why a person would want to live there. I didn't have a clear idea in my head of what it would be like to be there, and that petrified me. However, for a while the week lay way in the future, unreal, and safely out of the present. But then before I knew it, I was sitting, stiff and restless, on the plane, flying into my unknown, and flying there all alone. It was a terrifying and yet exhilarating feeling.

I had a terrible first day. After arriving at the kibbutz, there was nothing and no one to tell me where to go. Everyone knew each other, and everyone knew what to do. And I didn’t speak their language. I cursed myself for coming. Feeling upset and alone, I spent the evening walking aimlessly down foreign roads void of anything familiar, smoking a pack of cigarettes. The only living creature I passed was a camel.

But that night, I met my roommates, and little by little I got to make friends. One night, William and Tal and I lay on a grassy area in the kibbutz for hours in the darkness, drinking from a bottle of wine as Tal rolled drum. Tal and William spoke about Israel, in ways I had never heard it spoken about before. Hearing about Israel from home, its always in terms of politics and wars, but here it was about a community, Tal and William engaging in a good natured argument about whether Jerusalem or Tel Aviv was the superior place to be. Conversation moved on and we talked about life, exchanged secrets, told each other about our hopes for our futures. Although the night now seems almost like a dream, blurred by its unreal simplicity and perfection, I remember so clearly the moment when, seeing Tal so certain that music was where her life would take her, I thought of it for the first time as a conceivable possibility for me too.

Over the next few days, I had some amazing cello lessons. The input and compliments I was receiving from my teachers was showing me that if I put in the effort and the discipline and the practice, I could make something of my music. I had a chance to see exactly what it was I needed to do in order to get good (which was to practice), and I realized I wanted to concentrate on doing that, because music is and always has been the constant importance in my life. Seeing the masters, like Janos Starker and Larry Lesser, giving masterclasses was very moving and meaningful, and seeing the kids who were much further along than me was even more inspiring and amazing. I had always been afraid of committing my all to music because I was afraid I wasn’t good enough afraid of immersing myself in it and putting my all into it. It was the first time that the idea of music as a profession really seemed conceivable, the first time it stopped being a dream and became somewhat of a real idea for the future. Not yet a given, but something more than a fantasy: a real possibility.

The week I spent in Israel was life-altering for me. I don’t claim to understand Israel; to understand the conflict or to understand what it is to live there. But I do know that after my trip, I fear it a little bit less. I also don’t know where my life will take me, or what I’ll be interested in in the future, or what profession I’ll settle into, but I have become a little less afraid of trying music. I think I’m just the tiniest bit closer to being completely fearless.

Study Abroad

2008-08-24T08:12:43Z

Can someone give me some GOOD website links to study abroad? I'd like to get a masters in library and information sciences preferably in London. My Google Fu has died apparently and I am not finding any information.

Thanks!

Comedy Central Contest for College Students :)

2008-08-23T22:07:39Z

Hey guys! I hope y'all don't consider this as SPAM or anything! Basically this contest & this (ComCast) promo is being specially directed at college students, so I thought this would be a good place to get people to find out about it :)

So-- here it is!
I'm helping spread the word about Comedy Central's new "Virtual Podium" contest that went live just a few weeks ago! Basically you: create a short (30 seconds- 2min) video of yourself (or your cat, or your finger, or your sock puppet) laying out YOUR OWN presidential platform! Upload it to the site, & get your friends to vote on it a ton of times. The big prize is a trip to New York including exclusive party invites, spending cash, & more! And there is more than 1 trip being awarded!

So pleeeease click on the banner to go check out the site (or go to http://comcast.indecision2008.com)! It's a fun little contest, & if nothing else check out the gallery of videos & vote on your favorite(s)!! You can vote more than once, & you can also tell your friends to vote more than once for YOU!

Thanks for looking all :)

x-posted

This is how bad college kids are

2008-08-21T07:46:57Z

College Anonymous Confession board.
This is a growing movement in colleges around the country, and I was curious what you guys thought about it.

damncollegekids @ 2008-06-17T17:20:00

2008-06-17T21:22:35Z

The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition is pleased to announce the release of its 2008 GENIUS Survey in partnership with Ernst & Young. GenderPAC works to ensure that classrooms, communities and workplaces are safe for everyone to learn, grow and succeed.

The Gender Equality National Index for Universities & Schools (GENIUS), GenderPAC’s most recent effort to end discrimination and promote awareness, encourages colleges and universities to recognize the benefits of a GenderSAFE^tm campus - supportive equitable and protective for all students. Choosing to participate in GENUIS sends a strong public statement that bullying or discriminating based on the race, sex or gender of a student, faculty, or staff member is not tolerated at your institution

Fill out the survey at: www.gpac.org/GENIUS2008survey, and make sure that we have data for as many schools as possible. Your voice will help us continue to work towards a safe and welcoming environment for every student.

*While we greatly appreciate the interest taken in GENIUS by students, staff, and faculty at academic institutions outside of the United States, at this time GENIUS is only able to track schools based in the U.S.

Survey!

2008-06-15T15:16:33Z

Hi!

I'm spending the summer doing research on campus about gender and the internet. If any of you could find the time to take a quick survey on AIM screen names, it would be extremely helpful to me.

SURVEY

SURVEY

SURVEY

Thanks so much!

Degree?

2008-05-31T02:18:55Z

Dorm life at UVA?

2008-05-26T23:58:49Z

Hi all,

I'm from Australia. I've been accepted into a student exchange program for the Fall semester at the University of Virginia. I'm trying to sort out my accommodation from August to December, and am currently looking at two options:

On-campus
Off-campus

On-campus is more expensive, but I'm wondering if the extra $$$ is worth the dorm life experience; we don't really have anything like it in Australia. Do you know if the dorms at UVA are segregated by gender? Has privacy ever been an issue for you living on-campus? I want a list of pros and cons!

Help a girl out with her homework!

2008-04-29T06:13:17Z

Note: Mods, I hope this is alright. Feel free to delete if it's not.

Hello lovelies,

So I have a project for my Theories of Networks class where I have to connect my major (writing) with networks. I wracked my brain and came up with a choose-your-own-adventure approach, but online, and unlike the book version, you can add to the adventure! (All made easy thanks to a handy script I found.)

The point of this project is to see how people will network to add to the story, as well as what kind of traffic it attracts, so, the more writers that get involved, the more interesting the data will get.

Can you help a girl out? Just click here, follow the story line, and if you don't meet an untimely end, you'll be asked to write a new scene! It'll take 30 seconds.

Thanks, and please consider passing this on. :)

Lis

Student Presentations

2008-03-31T18:44:18Z

Student Presentations can be so boring depending on the subject. What have you seen your peers do in the past that you liked?

I ask this because I have Sports History presentation and the professor wants the class to evaluate everyone and turn it in to him. I really want to interact with the class besides doing a powerpoint with pictures. But there's not too much I can do to make the History of the Chicago Cubs not seem like a lecture.

damncollegekids @ 2008-03-01T22:08:00

2008-03-06T09:12:20Z

Americans are asking for Political Asylum...Why don't we hear about it?

There is no country in the world that understands propaganda more than the United States. Billions are spent at the Pentagon on what you hear and repeat. The mainstream news is a psychotronic parade as the democrats bumble and the reporters comment as though they are on the Bush administration payroll.

The truth is not reported. The public responds as a story of importance makes breaking news only to see it squashed in the next 72 hours. Americans are asking for political asylum and you are not hearing about it.

The government is torturing American citizens who are Whistleblowers- myspace Darren Gelbard, youtube Monarch Katherine Moore, and DIA Topoff to see electronic warfare torturing a U.S. citizen in 2007. Or, for those of you who think these victims are conspiracy theorists, there are the ADS military tests on youtube, 60 Minutes, and CNN. People being hit out of thin air by a ray beam. For real!

Weapons that can harm or kill you from a distance, without leaving marks if the operator so desires, are being used on people in their homes. There are interviews with U.S. citizens who are victims and with a Baghdad surgeon in which he states there are bodies in Iraq he and his team of ten Doctors have seen that are being killed by..."No bullets, no shots..arms cut straight off...we don't know what kind of weapon it is." A Baghdad Orchestra player also stated he saw bodies where..."Only the face was burned, no eyes..and the teeth. The rest of the body was untouched.

The Washington Post released an article called Mind Games in which the victims of psychotronics and V2K described what it was like to have someone mentally and physically torture you using communications and electronic warfare from a distance. And Russia is trying to ban Space weapons after Congress changed the bill that would have banned psychotronics years ago. This is the most dangerous game. Weapons that no individual can defend themselves against. Weapons that manipulate people and that torture and can kill you in your home with no warning from a distance.

Tags: 60 minutes, 9/11, cnn, darren gelbard, holocaust, human rights, immigration, politics, space weapons, torture, washington post, white house

Current Location: United States

news

2008-03-06T03:41:35Z

Americans are asking for Political Asylum...Why don't we hear about it?

There is no country in the world that understands propaganda more than the United States. Billions are spent at the Pentagon on what you hear and repeat. The mainstream news is a psychotronic parade as the democrats bumble and the reporters comment as though they are on the Bush administration payroll.

The truth is not reported. The public responds as a story of importance makes breaking news only to see it squahed in the next 72 hours. Americans are asking for political asylum and you are not hearing about it.

The government is torturing American citizens who are Whistleblowers- myspace Darren Gelbard, youtube Monarch Katherine Moore, and DIA Topoff to see electronic warfare torturing a U.S. citizen in 2007. Or, for those of you who think these victims are conspiracy theorists, there are the ADS military tests on youtube, 60 Minutes, and CNN. People being hit out of thin air by a ray beam. For real!

Weapons that can harm or kill you from a distance, without leaving marks if the operator so desires, are being used on people in their homes. There are interviews with U.S. citizens who are victims and with a Baghdad surgeon in which he states there are bodies in Iraq he and his team of ten Doctors have seen that are being killed by..."No bullets, no shots..arms cut straight off...we don't know what kind of weapon it is." A Baghdad Orchestra player also stated he saw bodies where..."Only the face was burned, no eyes..and the teeth. The rest of the body was untouched.

The Washington Post released an article called Mind Games in which the victims of psychotronics and V2K described what it was like to have someone mentally and physically torture you using communications and electronic warfare from a distance. And Russia is trying to ban Space weapons after Congress changed the bill that would have banned psychotronics years ago. This is the most dangerous game. Weapons that no individual can defend themselves against. Weapons that manipulate people.

Tags: 60 minutes, 9/11, cnn, darren gelbard, holocaust, human rights, immigration, politics, space weapons, torture, washington post, white house

damncollegekids @ 2008-02-18T14:41:00

2008-02-18T19:41:49Z

Out of curiosity, how many pages can you read in an hour? For textbooks, academic journals, academic book chapters, or any other readings you've been assigned for class?

Also, how about long does it take to write a page for a researched paper, double spaced or single spaced?

All the years I've been in college, I should be able to read and write much faster, but alas, no.

237 Reasons to have Sex SURVEY

2008-02-04T20:14:59Z

Hello,

I am from the University of Texas at Austin, and we are currently running a survey study on the reasons of why people have sex. This is a great study break and you have a chance to win some cash! Thanks,

LD

Complete an online survey and be entered to win $50! Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin are conducting a survey to understand reasons why people have sex. The survey takes 30-45 minutes. You must be 18 or over and sexually experienced in order to participate. If you are interested in participating in this study, or learning more about it, please click here https://www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=123287

damncollegekids @ 2007-09-28T16:04:00

2007-09-28T23:04:37Z

I’m writing a paper for a Political Science class and the instructor wants us to use Chicago Style. I know for MLA format there is easybib.com but for Chicago Style is there a website that formats the bibliography information for you, like easybib.com?

loan information

2007-08-10T21:57:21Z

I decided that during the next year or so I am going to take out a loan to pay for rent and other living expenses while I am away at school. I intend to take out this loan from astrive which i have seen advertised many times recently. I was wondering if anyone has taken out a loan from astrive or any similar company. Was it easy to do? Was it worth it? Would you reccommend the service to a friend? Anything you can tell me would be appreciated. Thanks.

Stand up against VAW! Get published!

2007-08-01T13:26:46Z

Hi there,

In this community, there are young 'uns who are into art, writing, design, editing, or are just concerned with the plague of violence against women, especially young women, in the United States, where more than three out of four women will become a victim of sexual violence at some point in their lives. I thought I'd post two projects I'm pulling together related to VAW and the arts, since I could use all the help, energy, and creativity you have to offer to pull both off!

Let me introduce myself. I'm Elisabeth Wilhelm, a 20-year-old youth advocate, rabid feminist, and freelance writer, published over 120 times online and in print. I've put together youth newspapers as far away as Barcelona and Kuala Lumpur and am a columnist for Voice of Youth Advocates magazine. I've edited for Moondance.org, an award-winning women's ezine, interned for Girl Scouts of America (yes, you can giggle), and in my spare time, bellydance will cool chicas at Pratt, where I'm a writing major.

In support of November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, a UNIFEM campaign, I'm launching two projects:

Literary Magazine Unlaced

A young women's e-lit mag dedicated to celebrating the power of the human spirit, particularly women who have done great things and those who will do g reat things. Special attention will be paid to publishing women-positive pieces, as well as combining statistics and factual information about VAW. The magazine will also include a toolkit, with an activist emphasis. We're open to publishing anyone under 25, male, female, or other.

Unlaced Writing Class

A girl-positive online writing workshop given to a group of fifteen young women co-taught by Elisabeth Wilhelm and a co-instructor, lasting four weeks and covering women's history, education on violence against women, and writing in a variety of forms and genres, culminating in a piece of writing to be published in the literary magazine.

But I can't pull this off by myself. Right now, I'm looking for writing class participants and lit magazine staff. We also have submission guidelines up! The website URL is http://unlaced.absynthemuse.com

Please pass it on to anyone you think might be interested. If you're interested or have questions, please post below or email me at elisabeth[at]sent[dot]com.

Thanks so much!

Lis

x-posted in a few places

Looking for a music program?

2007-07-06T18:24:38Z

Is anyone out there thinking about applying to college music programs? I'm a recruiter for SUNY - University at Buffalo and I'm here to answer any questions you might have about our program. We have a great mix of traditional and new music options and students are free to focus on any style that they please. We have programs from Bachelor's to PhD and lots of openings, as well as funding, particularly for graduate theory students.

If you're interested in learning more visit our website at http://www.music.buffalo.edu or leave a comment. You can also email me at sbailey4@buffalo.edu.

Hope to hear from you soon!

x-posted, sorry for duplicates

Choosing a major

2007-06-05T13:59:49Z

Today's post on differenceblog is about choosing a college major. Everybody seems to choose a major because they think the work will be interesting, but men seem to also consider status, whereas women seem to consider interpersonal factors more. What role does sexism or fear of sexism play in people's major choice? Comments, as always, are welcomed.

differenceblog is a daily feature on the study of gender differences.

damncollegekids @ 2007-05-22T21:28:00

2007-05-23T01:29:00Z

View Poll: Languages

Unprofessional photo costs student her degree!?

2007-04-29T15:54:55Z

I've heard some ridiculous things about people's photos on facebook and myspace or other sites causing them to lose a job they have or otherwise would have received. I've even heard of police and school administrators using the sites to track underage drinking, on-campus violations, etc.

But THIS is the first time I've heard of a college denying a student her degree over an "unprofessional" photo. (There's a picture posted there, and to be honest, compared to a lot of photos I've taken or even been in, that is reaaaally tame. You can't even tell she's drinking alcohol or that she's drunk, except for, apparently, a silly caption. She's also of legal drinking age.)

I just wanted to throw this out there as an open topic for discussion.

Do you think it's fair for schools or companies to use photos/entries they find online when deciding on a job or degree? Should they monitor it for violations of policies? Do you think it should be a consideration at all? In your mind is there a point where it's not OK to cross when posting these things?

PERSONALLY, I think it is more than fair for a company to use any means necessary to screen a candidate. Once you become an employee, for better or worse, you are representing that company. If you're projecting an image that they don't want to be associated with, then they're better off knowing before they take the time and spend the money to bring you on.

As for a college, I think it's absolutely ridiculous to judge a student based on their photos. And administrators are just being hypocrites for trying to ban students from using these sites or posting these photos. Whether or not they are posted or taken, colleges should and do know that students will drink and have parties. Forcing students to go underground isn't going to change that; it's just going to make it harder to enforce legitimate rules and push kids towards more dangerous behavior.

Show Support Wear Orange and Maroon

2007-04-20T17:46:35Z

Wear Orange and Maroon today to show support to the students, faculty, and families impacted by the VA Tech shootings. This is a simple way to show those impacted the support, love and simple kindness they need in these hard time. Let them see that we're all hokies today.

-Heather

In case you have not already heard...

2007-04-17T17:29:20Z

UPDATED DETAILS http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/virginia-tech-shooting/20070416102509990001

I think the thing that bothers me most is how everyone says "how could this happen?" Well, I know it could've easily happened at my alma mater and I'm sure if most us looked around at the "security" and "emergency procedures" of our (current/former) schools...we'd realize the same. Looking back on it now, I can easily say college is a pressure cooker environment and all too often people don't have access to or don't care to seek out any mental help services. It took a student committing suicide at my school for them to reinstate a "counseling center"...not that you can help those whom you don't know are troubled anyway.

My thoughts and prayers stay with the students of Virginia Tech on this Tuesday afternoon.

"Deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history"

2007-04-16T19:21:02Z

go here
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070416/ap_on_re_us/virginia_tech_shooting
wow
*shakes* wow
there will be a press confreence at 4:30
Wow all i can say wow these poor students
I can't believe I over look this story on yahoo not knowing what it was
"Deadliest Shooting rampage in U.S. history"
32 dead including gun man
29 hurt

Good god I hope none of u know people there and that if u do they are safe!