Government Constructed Courses

Joel Kirby

The U.S. Houses of Representatives recently approved a provision to use half a billion dollars to develop college courses that will be free and offered online. The plan is for publishers and U.S. colleges to develop these online courses, and for colleges to accept them as college credit. This of course raises many issues associated with the U.S. government constructing college courses and offering them free of charge, while students currently pay to take online college courses. This would of course offer free education to individuals who cannot afford a college education, but at the same time undermine American higher education. The same goal could be achieved through other state funded projects that would not undermine American higher education.

Firstly, this plan could potentially raise issues concerning academic freedom. Federal Law protects intuitions’ teachings from state influence. Although the plan entails the government having third parties construct the online courses, government influence on curriculum is nonetheless something to be conscious of in this situation. Also, how will colleges and institutions fare when students can take a class outside of an institution that is free, and get college credit? College credit is certainly not something college officials hand out. Colleges make sure courses taken at another institution are adequate to receive credit at their school, and free online classes correlating to college credit by default may be against colleges’ wishes. In addition, free online classes would definitely affect the market for traditional online classes that cost money.

There are several approaches the government could take that would increase higher education among those who cannot feasibly afford it without compromising higher education. For instance, half a billion dollars could be invested in programs to raise revenue for financial aid. Although the government could simply give financial aid institutions half a billion dollars, investing in a national lottery that raises revenue over time would be more prudent. Also, instead of funding the development of its own online courses, the government could invest the money into the already developed online-course market. By using private companies’ already developed online curriculum, any perceived state-influenced bias would not be an issue.

New aspect of studying outside the classroom: Note sharing websites

Jinhyun Kim

Many of College students have experience in missing a lecture or struggling in class at least a few times. It is quite typical to see those students trying to borrow notes and getting help from others. Catching up with the notes that a fellow students has taken in class is a very good idea, but it doesn't always work or is tidious to find a good note. Focused on that matter, some bright entrepreneurs started note-sharing websites and made these tasks very easy for students. Those websites, such as GradeGuru, ShareNotes.com, and WiseCampus.com. These websites usually allow students to upload their lecture/class notes and share with any other students signed up on the website for free.

Since the notes on note sharing websites are online and free for everyone, which is an amazing thing about the Internet, any students who need extra help or notes can very easily find it. Also, the notes are from various students so they could provide different aspects of knowledge. Being online is a great advantage and has an extendability.

In contrast, since it is easy to get it, there could be some problems as well. It could promote students to have bad study habits. For example, some students might entirely depend on other students' note in their studying, which would not help the student in long run. Also, in the article "Taking Notes Beyond the Classroom" by Ben Eisen, external relations director for MIT Open Courseware, Steve Carson suggests that users should be able to distinguish between "sharing information from credentialed teachers at accredited institutions and sharing student notes that are not verified or fact-checked."

There are some both positive and negative effects along with the appearance of the note sharing websites. Despite of some drawbacks, these trend is expanding larger and more students are getting benefits from it. In addition, these trend could expand to much broader aspect of another study community outside the classroom. It could extend to a place that could have students discuss about their subject, school, or study aids, as Emily Sawtell, founder of GradeGuru describes in the same article.

Alcohol in college

Subin Lee


How does alcohol affect life in college? First of all, most freshman college students are not even twenty-one years old, which is the legal age for purchasing and drinking alcohol. Nevertheless, most freshman college students probably already have experience with alcohol, and imbibe alcohol during their freshman year. There are a variety of students among the college freshmen: nerdy studious students or ‘party party’ students. Yet the majority of the students experiment with alcohol.


As many say, college is where people experience all kinds of things. Among those experiences, alcohol is one of the most influential experiences that college freshmen go through. It isn’t just that drinking during first year in college is illegal, but also the after effects of drinking.Drinking itself in general affects the brain dramatically.



Drinking too much is a brain cell killer. Since college students need to go to class during the weekdays, most partying students heavily rely on their weekend with binge drinking. Binge drinking is proved to be a lot unhealthier than daily casual drinking. Many freshmen in college get literally trashed in frat parties, and have their memory of that night erased completely.

Each weekend significantly determines students’ health condition for the rest of the week. One heavy binge drinking party can pretty much annihilate one’s health for the rest of the week. This then critically affects the student’s body/brain performance negatively, and prevents them from going to classes or study with a fresh mind.


Though alcohol could be a useful, important social skill, the amount taken should be limited, and controlled wisely.

The Myth of the Benefits of Single-sex Education

Cherish Weiler

According to a report by the UCLA, female graduates of single-sex schooling are more likely to outperform their “coeducational counterparts.” The report claims that graduates from single-sex schools have greater confidence in their academic potential as they enter college and are more likely to become involved in college activities. While many assume a single-sex education is more beneficial than coeducational education, there is no proof to support these claims. In fact, single-sex education and coeducation are equally beneficial in their own way.

Supporters of single-sex education argue the benefits of such an education are more practical than anything else. Advocates of all-female education claim that women are less likely to be side-tracked by members of the opposite sex. This in turn allows students to focus on academics and become less preoccupied with dating. Many argue that there are biological differences in the way the two genders learn; that is females are evolutionary “wired” in a way that calls for a different type of learning than males. However, these claims lack sufficient evidence. Studies do not show that females do better in single-sex schools than males. Epstein reports that “there is no consensus among psychologists as to the existence of psychological or cognitive differences between the sexes.” The fact of the matter is there is no definitive data that supports the idea that single-sex education is more beneficial for women than coeducation.

While the attendance rates at women’s colleges have declined in recent years, women are still choosing to attend all-female colleges. The decision to experience a single-sex education is a personal one. Perhaps some students flourish more in the single-sex environment, while others thrive in a coed situation. However, students should understand the facts behind the claims made for the benefits of single-sex education before making their decision, namely that there is no definitive research supporting the so-called benefits.

The Cost of Sleep Deprivation

Cessie Ryder

Sleep deprivation is a common problem among college students. College freshman are now on their own without their parents telling them what to do or when to do it. They tend to take advantage of this freedom and go to bed whenever they want to, especially since they do not necessarily have to wake up early everyday. College consists of a new, unstructured schedule that is very different from the 8 am to 3 pm controlled schedule most people were used to in high school and elementary school. College students tend to stay up much later, maybe finishing up some homework or hanging out with friends, because their classes might not start until midday. The college social scene is also a breeding ground for sleep deprivation. On weekends, people usually do not go out until around 10 pm so they tend to stay out later, sometimes not getting home until 3 or 4 in the morning.

Sleep deprivation results in many negative short and long-term effects to one’s life. Lack of sleep causes one’s mind to have trouble focusing, therefore making it hard for one to study properly and effectively. Without effective study habits it is hard to maintain a high GPA in college. Not only can sleep deprivation affect one’s studies, it also affects one’s personality and health. Inadequate sleep results in mood swings or changes and weakens the immune system allowing for increased illness.

There is no alternative for sleep. Many college students tend to rely on caffeine from coffee or energy drinks to keep them awake when they are not getting enough sleep, but no matter how much caffeine one drinks it still does substitute for actual sleep. Naps are a good way to get some extra sleep in during the day and are easy to fit into one’s schedule in college because of the extra free time between classes. But, ultimately, college students need to realize the best solution for sleep deprivation is going to bed on time and getting enough sleep so they can get good grades and stay healthy.

Dress Codes

Ajit Vakharia

When students enter college, they enter a whole new world different from what they have been used to in high school. One main difference is the dress code. In many high schools, strict dress codes were mandatory for all students which include no low cut shirts, tank tops, shorts more than six inches above a lady’s knee, and no undergarments showing; while men were not allowed to “sag,” wear hats, shirts that relate to drugs, alcohol, or profanity. In college, students are allowed to wear whatever they want, as long as they have clothes on. There is no censorship, or certain amount of coverage a student needs when it comes to their clothes . Walk into any college classroom, a lot of girls will be wearing “daisy dukes” while a lot of guys will be wearing something offensive on their t-shirts. Should this be allowed? College students are seen as adults and capable of being allowed to wear whatever they may please, but it would not be a bad idea to implement a once a week “dress for success” day for upper level students as they begin to get ready for the work force in the “real world.” Dress for success includes wearing collared shirts and khakis for men and business clothes for women. This allows college students about to enter the workforce, become more motivated in their schoolwork and look good. Some argue that college is a center for higher education and should be treated with more respect such as an employee would do in the workplace, but college is also a home where students should not be forced to dress in a way they would not want to. College is also a time where students are still learning who they are and want to express themselves in different forms, and one way in doing so is through fashion. At Liberty University for instance, students to wear flip-flops, sandals, capri pants, and "neat" jeans to class and can also wear "modest" shorts in the dining hall and, after 4:30 pm. Dress codes need to be implemented on college campuses that are not as strict as most high school but enough to show respect to professors, classmates, and the school.

Are Colleges Responsible or Allowed to Protect Students Over the Internet?

Joel Kirby

In the digital world we live in, the internet has become an essential part of the education process for both college students and their professors. Email is a primary means of communication between teacher and student, and online books are common. The internet has also become a social outlet for many students, with networking sites like facebook and twitter becoming very popular. Unfortunately, gossip around campus is making its way on the internet, and personal attacks and defamatory remarks are not that uncommon on sites like “College Anonymous Confession Board” and “Campus Gossip”. Although students can post anonymously on such sites, many question whether college officials are “given the right” to censure such sites on their campus, or take action on reported cases of harassment. However, “online” defamatory remarks cannot be treated the same as “offline” defamatory remarks because the internet is accessible anywhere. Colleges should not try to referee or censor such online sites. Instead, Colleges should assist any student reporting harassment, and of course investigate into any physical threats made on such sites.

The issue colleges face nowadays in a cyber world is whether they have the same rights and responsibilities over students as a legal guardian does. The term “in loco parentis”, in regards to a college, refers to an institution basically assuming the role of a parent over its students. The nature of the governing relationship between college and student is, and has always been, debatable. The site “Juicy Campus”, arguably the most notorious “college gossip site”, was one of the first sites to present colleges with this predicament. While in operation, it allowed anyone to anonymously post comments on its site, had comments specific to particular institutions, and was a means of making personal attacks and liable comments about students. One of the first reactions of colleges was to restrict this site’s access. However, this was neither appropriate nor practical. Restricting access to a site may annoy students, but would not prevent students from accessing the site from their own apartment or the local Starbucks. Colleges cannot feasibly control students’ internet browsing, and should instead try to familiarize and educate students on the internet and its positive relationship with education.

A New Teaching Method: No Technology?

Jinhyun Kim

Technology has become very beneficial in education in aspect of both teaching and learning. The form and method have been changing over time, and they are getting better and better in purpose of making people's lives better. Nevertheless, some teachers are against this idea, and they suggest to remove technology in class. Not because of technology is harmful, but because it is not very effective in catching students' attention and keeping them interested. According to the article "When Computers Leave Classrooms, So Does Boredom" by Jeffrey R. Young in The Chronicle of Higher Education, a survey was conducted among college students, and they responded, PowerPoint presentation was "one of the dullest methods they saw". Also, they answered negatively in all computer-assisted activities, indicating less technology, less boredom in class.

However, I have a different point of view in this suggestion of no-tech teaching method. What if it is not the technology that bores students? What if teachers don't know how to utilize effectively to teach students? Technology develops faster and faster everyday. It is not easy to stay on top of all of the technology that come out new even for younger generation like current college students. Many college professors who have just been familiarized with technology might have some difficulty using the full power of new means in their teaching. If teachers use technology merely as a replacement of old method, there is not much of merit in using technology, and it will still bore the students. Teachers who are skilled in technology and using it effectively will see why people develop technology and use it in education.

As students are back to colleges, the swine flu enters the campus.

Subin Lee1

While the outbreak of swine flu or H1N1 virus is a serious concern in all over the world, the students are back to the campus. The huge population living in the campus is not easy for health administrations to take care of. The members of colleges are not only from the one specific region like that of high schools, but they are all from the different streets, cities, states, countries and even continents.

photo: Swine flu rises at US colleges as students return

According to the news article “Swine flu: H1N1 flu on rise on college campuses”, Georgia Institute of Technology has about 150 suspected students of swine flu. The school just started two weeks ago, and as the major characteristic of the swine flu show, the virus is spreading every minute throughout the campus. The University of Kansas is also having same problem, having 200 reported students for flulike symptoms.The problem does not stop here. The health administrators have sent emails to all faculties and students in the campus to inform the situation and sending guidelines to decrease the rise of swine flu. However, as the student in Georgia Tech, I do not want to miss classes for low fever or cough, because it is hard for me to catch up the classes again. It does not only refer to me, but also the most of the tech students.

“Centers of Disease Control and Prevention” published the guidance for Institutions of High Education. However I believe each health administrations of the Institutions should take more realistic, well-informed, and appropriate guidelines that fits to that particular institution. Because each institution have different situation such as facilities, characteristics of students, and purpose of the institution, the administrators should consider which way is the most effective for that institution. Ultimately, the school should take more decisive action to deal with swine flu.

A College Education: Is it really for everyone?

Cherish Weiler

America has always been considered the land of opportunity, a place where any person can receive an education and succeed. Today, society practically expects young adults to go to college. As Thomas Reeves reports, “Going to college has become a national fad, a rite of passage” that directly correlates to success in the real world. Many assume a college education is necessary and should be available to everyone. However, the reality is that not everyone should go to college. While education is important and everyone should be given the opportunity to attend an institute of higher learning, not everyone should attend college.

Several policy experts at the Urban Institute claim that everyone should go to college because “college [has been] redefined to mean postsecondary education and training in academics, a trade, or a set of skills that would make someone employable.” However, as the push for a college education increases, more experts are starting to criticize this popular notion. Economist Lerman explains that for many students the key to getting a job is training and experience and not necessarily the academic skills learned in college. Similarly, economic lecturer Michael Rizzo questions “whether securing more higher education… is the best way to achieve certain goals” such as increase economic output and efficiency.

An estimated 50% of students never graduate with a college diploma. The truth of the matter is there are people in college who should not be there. There are students who are not prepared for the academic and financial responsibilities of college, who are not motivated to succeed, and who are not suited to the style of learning college offers. Additionally, many students lack the maturity level required to be successful in college. While the opportunity to attend an institute of higher learning should be available to everyone, college attendance is a personal decision and should be decided on a case by case basis instead of being viewed as a necessity.

College: A Breeding Ground for Stress?

Cessie Ryder

For freshman, college is a place with all new things to be stressed out about because of the totally new environment it encompasses. Having a certain amount of stress can be good for you but chronic stress can affect you negatively. College freshman are thrown into coping with a completely different and more complicated academic schedule than high school along with a new social environment and all new people they have to meet and adjust to. Both of these aspects of college can cause freshman stress.

There are two types of stress, Eustress and Distress. Eustress is positive stress that challenges and motivates you to grow and perform well. Distress is negative stress that depletes energy and causes a decline in performance. Everybody needs some Eustress in their lives for the stimulation to be active, but Distress, on the other hand, is the kind of stress that we do not necessarily need or want. College students experience both types of stress.

Adjusting to a new environment, like college, can be a stressful experience, but this type of stress is good for you and creates positive results. In college you are away from your parents and have to learn to be independent when it comes to laundry, meals, time management, and other responsibilities. You now have to make decisions for yourself and hope they are the good, right decisions. Being on your own for the first time can be stressful, but it is a kind of Eustress that makes you a stronger, more self-sufficient person.

Not only do college students experience Eustress when adjusting to their new surroundings, but they are also exposed to large amounts of Distress. Distress is very common in college. It is usually associated with academics and stems from procrastination and poor time management skills when it comes to studying and completing tests, homework and projects. Chronic distress is very bad for you and takes a toll on you mentally and physically. Intervention, like better time management, more sleep, exercise, and relaxation, is needed to restore the mind and body if chronic stress occurs.

College Attendence

Ajit Vakharia

College is a time where students are introduced to an independent based around their own plans. Students can decide when they want to eat, when they want to go to sleep, when they want to wake up, and even when they want to go to class, but many classes are preventing the latter from happening because of required attendance towards students grades. When a student enters college, they are now independent individuals capable of making their own decisions such as whether if they want to attend class or not, and teachers should not mandate attendance for this reason. According to Mark Clayton, one in three college students will not graduate. The new attendance policies coming up all over colleges in America are hoping to bring this statistic up, but the fact of the matter is that college students are on the verge of being adults and should realize how important classes are, and if a student after the realization of the importance of classes still skips, hopefully they are doing something productive to get ahead in other classes. There are many students in college the pay their own bills and live by themselves, and no adult wants to be treated like an elementary school student and made to keep a set warm if they could do just as good if not better by not showing up to class. Professors are not parents and do not need to be looking after students to see if they are in class and participating; their job is to teach to the best of their ability and prepare today’s students who are motivated to become tomorrow’s leaders in whatever field they may pursue. On top of that, different students have different learning styles, and for some students lecture may not be the best way for that particular student to understand the material to the best of their ability, and when these students enter the work force in few years, roll is not going to be taken. They are going to be expected to show up and finish their work, and if they are not able to do that then they may be let go, and if students are not given the option now, they will never learn.

Colleges Go Green

Jinhyun Kim

According to the article "At Colleges, the Environment is Hot" by Elia Powers, many colleges have been giving a lot of efforts and thoughts on environmentally friendly buildings and sustainable landscapes on their campus. Each campus has different strategy to outstand in this unseen competition of going green. Such as, New York University plans to purchase 118 kilowatt hours of wind power. The University of California at Berkeley tries to reduce the greenhouse gas emission. Harvard University is putting in place toilet handles to conserve water, and some others are planning about making green roof of buildings which puts soil and vegetation on top of the buildings so it can reduce energy costs and waste of rain. Many of Georgia Tech students would be able to recall what was written on environmentally preferable paper towel dispenser in the restrooms and kitchens in residence halls, which says, “Paper without trees”.

In order for colleges to go green, they will need first, to collect project proposals. They will have to choose a best-fit for their colleges and spend a lot of money and time. It will cost a lot of money to change a whole structure of building or to build a new one with the new methods. It will also require a long time to plan, carry out, and see the outcome of eco-friendly efficiency. Since there are great amount of colleges with huge campuses like a city within a city, if going green becomes a trend, we will be able to see a big difference made by our generation, after some time.

Online courses

Subin Lee



While the criticism for online courses in higher education institution increases, researchers recognize online courses as an innovative form of schooling with a great potential. Particularly, online courses provide fair opportunities for everyone to be educated in any situation and by embracing with the technology present online courses are building the base for the future advanced online educational system.

Online or e-learning courses are growing rapidly; according to Billie Wahlstrom, a vice provost on technology issue the University of Minnesota-Twin cities, “In the five years, the acceleration has been amazing.”

Perhaps, the best reason for getting popularities by students would be the flexibility of online courses. Students can have class in anywhere and at anytime. It is often the case that students miss the lecture, quizzes, or tests due to inevitable situations. With online courses, students can easily access to class if they have internet.

Online courses allow professors to judge students fairly, because they usually make the class participation as a high percentage of the class grade. In opposition to the traditional classes, where only few students participate or dominate the class activities due to time constraints, online courses let shy students due to their physical presence to be active in text, since their face is unseen. Moreover, while traditional courses have limited number of students in one lecture, online courses can have as many students as the computer server can hold.

Lastly, according to Jane Hancock of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities’ continuing education program “It’s important for students to realize that lots of options are available.” This is just start of the possible future education program. Technology is developing rapidly, correspondingly online courses is expanding as well.

Motivation to Succeed: Paying your own way through college

Cherish Weiler

While many parents pay for their child’s college expenses, few recognize the benefits of allowing students to take on the financial responsibilities that come with a college education. Parents nowadays try to provide their child with a financial cushion, eliminating any financial stress and allowing the student to focus on school work. However, students who do not receive parental help and instead are forced to pay their way through college are more responsible and more motivated to succeed. The stress that comes with bearing the financial burden of college expenses can have a positive effect by encouraging students to succeed in school.

Many parents feel obligated to pay for their child’s higher education. Perhaps their college education was paid for in full and they want to do the same for their child. Or maybe parents worked and paid for their college education and feel their child should not burdened with loans and resulting debt. Regardless of the reason, parents are not obligated to pay for their child’s college education and are doing to them a disfavor by failing to prepare them for real-life responsibilities. When students receive a free ride in college, they are more likely to retake classes and not focus on their studies. As David Mitchell says, “Many people I have known failed to invest sufficient effort in their college educations because they have not had a stake in it.” He goes on to explain that the students who worked through college, holding jobs to pay for tuition and other expenses, performed better in their studies and were more successful upon graduation. Students who pay for college understand that every time they miss a class or fail a class, they are losing money they earned themselves. This alone motivates them to attend classes and earn top grades that can help them qualify for scholarships and other financial aid. While a free college education is a gift many students want, the reality is that holding a job through college drives students to succeed not only in their academics but in life after college. As Yuwanda Black summarizes, “A college degree is less about a degree than a sense of dedication, a drive, a purpose, a sense of achievement.”


College Academics:
Holding Down A Job In College

The Freshman 15

Cessie Ryder

Many freshman college students tend to gain weight in their first semester or year of college. The media has given this weight gain epidemic the title, “freshman 15.” Though it is somewhat of a myth and most students do not actually gain a full 15 pounds, many put on an average of 5 to 7 pounds. College involves many grand scale transitions and lifestyle changes that a new freshman must adapt to like decreased exercise, a wide variety of cafeteria food to choose from, staying up and eating late at night, and even excessive consumption of alcohol. Lifestyle changes such as these seem to be the main cause of the “freshman 15” in freshman college students.



The solution to the “freshman 15” seems simple enough, eat healthy and exercise, but in reality it is not so easy. I have only been in college for about a month and have found myself making unhealthy eating decisions because I have so much more freedom to make my own choices and I do not have my parents telling me what I should or should not eat. According to the lead researcher of the Eating Behaviors study, Sherrie Delinsky, “College is a critical time for people to create good or not good eating habits.” There are many ways for college students to create good eating habits and fight off the “freshman 15.” One way is to set certain times for meals and snacks so you do not eat too late at night. Make sure you eat fruits and vegetables with every meal and do not go back for seconds in the dining halls. An exercise plan is also a good way to stay fit and keep the pounds off. It takes some willpower and practice, but if you get into good habits early on in college, you can keep the “freshman 15” off and be on your way to a healthy life.

Using the SAT as a Standard for College Admissions

Ajit Vakharia

Since its introduction in 1901, the SAT was used as a test to level the playing field for students applying to college from all over America, whether that be from secondary schools in wealthy areas known for having excelling students or poor schools from the mid west now known for not having as many excelling students. Although the SAT was first implemented to give all students a fair chance when applying to colleges, today, the SAT test benefits wealthier people and does not help predict the success a student will have in a particular college.

The SAT was first used to help colleges decide if students that applied would be successful at their college, and the SAT at first did that such as helping Charles Murray from a small town in Iowa get into Harvard University in the 1970s. Today, the test only helps wealthier people more than the less fortunate which neglects everything the test was made for. First, the test costs forty dollars to take, and students are allowed to take the exam as many times as they want until they get a score they are pleased with. This allows wealthier people to take the test a lot more times a lot easier than people who have financial troubles and can only take the test a limited number of times giving wealthier students an advantage. If a students really wants to succeed on the SAT, they usually enlist in the help of a tutor to show them all the "tricks," and good tutors usually charge a lot of money; once again giving wealthier students and advantage over less wealthy people or even the middle class. According to Charles Murray, the SAT does not do a good job predicting a students success in college compared to secondary school GPA and coursework.

The SAT needs to be abolished not because it is a bad test but because it does not do what it was first intended to do: level the field for all students applying to college. Wealthier students gain a significant advantage over middle class and lower class students. If colleges just used GPA and coursework done in high school to determine whether students would be a good match for their college, they would have a more diverse student population of different economic levels and parts of the country.

The Over-Bearing Parent... How Should Professors View Them?

Joel Kirby

Many in the academic world, teachers and students alike, have probably at some point in time heard the term “Helicopter parent”. This term is somewhat of a stereotype and generally refers to a parent that is over-bearing or too involved in their child’s academic life. These types of parents exist in all levels of academia, including elementary schools, high schools, and universities. It is not that uncommon or alarming for parents to be over-bearing in elementary, middle, or even high schools to a degree, but at the college level, these types of parents are often negatively viewed by professors.

At the University level, this is of course understandable. Professors usually have a well respected degree, and the last thing they want is to be pestered by a student’s parent. In the eyes of many professors, the student is responsible for completing the work, and the parent should support the student, but not interfere with the professor’s teachings. However, as explored by Pamela R. Mathews in the “Inside Higher Education” publication, professors should reexamine the helicopter parent’s negative connotation, and realize the positive benefits that can come from a parent’s involvement in their child’s college education.

It is important to distinguish between the productive, helpful aspects of an involved parent and the unproductive actions of an over-bearing parent. In my opinion, parents should not pester professors in unhelpful ways. For example, if a student fails to complete homework assigned online for a particular class, when it was announced in the class syllabus, a parent should not demand that their student be given extra time or resources. However, professors should realize the benefits of a concerned parent keeping tabs on their child. For example, say a student is slacking off in a class, but is not telling his parents so. The parents could contact the professor and find out that the student is actually performing poorly. A more serious example would involve a student giving his parents signs that he’s mentally unstable. By the parents asking the professor if he or she has noticed anything with the student, the student could receive treatment as needed. Collegiate academia should recognize the good will of the concerned, involved parent, and not negatively regard such parents.

Are paperless e-books also hassle-less?

Jinhyun Kim

As technology develops, many things that we can see in everyday life change the way or shape in purpose of improving accuracy, price, and convenience. One of the examples current college students are experiencing is a paperless textbook, e-books. As in transitional period for e-books which we can see both traditional, hard-copy textbook and e-books around fairly easy, pros and cons of using e-books are suggested along the way.

According to the news article in The Chronicle “This Could Be the Year of E-Textbooks, if Students Accept Them” by Jeffrey R. Young, some of the students in the colleges “participating in a closely watched e-textbook experiment supported by Amazon” suggest the problems in using e-books instead of hard-copy textbook. The problems included difficulty with finding certain section or page and taking notes on e-book readers such as Amazon Kindle.

In contrast, there are many positive aspects on using e-books. Since books are stored in digital file, students don’t have to carry all the heavy textbooks around the campus. E-book readers are only thing they have to take care instead. E-book readers could be various devices. Any laptops, iPhones, Amazon Kindle, and Sony Reader Digital Books are popular ones. E-books can reduce the waste of paper for that would be thrown after new edition of old textbooks. Students don’t have to worry about books getting damaged or lost. Also, e-books cost less than paper textbooks.

Although there are some drawbacks in using e-books instead of hard-copy textbooks, they are not very significant and can be covered with other methods. Since many students are using laptops in college, taking notes on laptop is not very hard task. E-book readers’ developers are always going to try to improve their devices’ interface and other features better for users. After this transitional period of e-books, they will become absolutely fascinating thing in aspect of technology and our lives for college students.

Laptop in class

Subin Lee



Although many researchers have shown that laptop is a great learning tool for class note takings, some professors are banning in-class laptop usage. Specifically, in-class laptop use not only can disturb one from focusing the lecture, but also can cause negative effect on the classroom environments.

While in-class laptop use can help students to reorganize class notes neater and access the internet for quick research during the class, it also can distract student from concentrating on the lecture. Laptop allows students to access unlimited online resources such as instant messenger, games, blogs, and other mediums. According to David Cole, a law professor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., “Laptops are often an attractive nuisance." Students can access to the online resources in unrelated purpose to the lecture and mostly they are more interesting than the class lecture. Hence, laptop usage is not a good solution for individual students to take class notes during the lecture.

In class laptop use also disturbs the classroom atmosphere. Many professors feel that typing sounds create noise making hard for them to focus. Moreover if all the students are looking into the laptop screen and not focusing on the lecture, professors cannot be as enthusiastic in teaching as they were when all the students are watching the lecture. Because of some students using the laptop for inappropriate purpose during the lecture, the whole classroom atmosphere can be distracted and thus have negative effects on the other classmates.

Some professors control the in-class laptop uses. They know the advantages and disadvantages of the laptop use, so they can manage students to use laptop in class appropriately. For example, during the lecture they can ask students to shut down the laptop for the half of class while letting them to use it in group discussion when they actually have to participate in class activities.
The best way is to find which one works best for you. If one can use laptop and still focus on the lecture then this would not be the problem. However, if one is easily distracted by the laptop then paper note taking can be more effective.

Alcohol Consumption and Abuse

Cherish Weiler

The freedom college brings can be liberating for many new students. Being away from home, away from parents, and away from direct supervision means students can make decisions without fear of direct repercussions. Some of those decisions include the consumption of alcohol, especially for under-age students. With fraternity parties every weekend, students are often tempted to use partying as a way to socially interact as well as experiment with alcohol on a level they may not have been able to do before. Oftentimes, students feel invincible and drink without foresight, living completely in the present. However, the dangers of alcohol consumption and abuse are real and present, affecting every student who decides to drink.

With so many students deciding to drink, how serious is alcohol abuse on campuses nation-wide? According to a study conducted in 2005 by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, "1,825 college students ages 18 to 24 die annually because of alcohol-related unintentional injuries." The number of alcohol-related injuries as well as the number of drunk driving among college students has significantly increase in comparison to previous years. The results of the study came as a shock to some campus officials who have been implementing campus-wide programs to stem the amount of alcohol consumption and abuse. Some experts believe the lack of progress in reducing the number of alcohol-related deaths and injuries points to a flaw in the alcohol education programs campuses are using.

As parents, school officials, and students become more and more concerned about alcohol abuse on campus, colleges are reconsidering their prevention programs. According to a study published in the Cochrane Library 2009, scare tactics are not as effective as previously thought. Instead of scaring students with the negative consequences of alcohol abuse, informing students with real statistics appears to be more successful in reducing the amount of binge drinking among students. The reasoning behind this more successful tactic appears to be because students overestimate the amount of alcohol their peers drink, which in turn creates an environment where heavy drinking is seen as the norm. When real data is presented countering the misinformed notion, students are more likely to hold back on the alcohol. This method has much more potential to limit alcohol abuse on campus. While there is no way to control students' decisions to drink, informing them with real facts is an important step in reducing alcohol abuse.

Living with a total stranger: is college roommate contract necessary?

Subin Lee

New school, new rules, new environment, and new people just seem exciting. Especially, the independence from parents is the one that most high school students have dreamed of. Students usually think that they will meet awesome roommates whom they can share inner thoughts with just like they did with hometown best friends. However, the most concerns that I hear about college life is roommates.

According to Naomi Rockler-Gladen, “one smart thing you can do to minimize conflict is to write a roommate.” The term “roommate contract” between friends might sound cold. However, any community has rules to follow. If you think your room as a small community, it is justifiable to write down the rules that members of the community had all agreed on. This way the future possible conflicts between roommates will be reduced, since all of members had agreed on.

Living with a stranger is not an easy process. The conflicts usually occur not only because of one’s own fault such as stealing, but also because of the different living styles. From high school to college is a big transition. One cannot change one’s life style that had kept one for more than eighteen years in a single day. Living with my family also results tiny conflicts. Hence, several conflicts between roommates are more than normal. To reduce the present and potential conflicts, the roommate contract will be very useful.

The Use and Abuse of Analeptics

Cessie Ryder

In recent years there has been an alarming upsurge in the abuse of analeptics, such as Ritalin and Adderall, on college campuses. Studies show that abuse of analeptics tripled since 1992 and an average of 20% of university students illegally take these drugs. People with ADHD are prescribed Ritalin and Adderall to keep them alert and focused on schoolwork and other tasks because they are unable to stay fully attentive themselves. College is an extremely stressful time in one’s life with loads of things to study for and stay focused on like exams, papers, and other homework. So, the temptation of college students to abuse these prescription analeptics is evident.

Ritalin and Adderall are not illegal or nearly as harmful as other drugs like cocaine and heroine, but they are illegal if taken without a prescription. Surprisingly, college students do not have a hard time acquiring analeptics. Most colleges have black markets where students who take prescription Ritalin and Adderall because of their ADHD sell or trade it to other college students who want it to stay focused when studying for exams or finishing projects.

The problem with abuse of analeptics is not necessarily a health related problem but a problem having to do with justice. Students who take these drugs tend to do better in school and have higher GPA’s because they are able to stay completely focused on their schoolwork longer, without their minds wandering, than students who choose not to take them. In a way, taking Ritalin and Adderall without a prescription is a form of cheating because it gives those students an unfair advantage over the students who choose to do the right thing and rely solely on their knowledge and study skills.

They Didn’t Mention Co-ed rooming on the campus tour?!

Ajit Vakharia

College is a time where students gain their freedom. A time where students can decide what classes they want to take, what time they want to do homework, and what they want to eat for dinner, but recently it has also became a time for students to choose where they want to live and with who, whether that be someone of the same or opposite sex. As of August 2009, more than 40 campuses in American have adopted a new choice of dorming, co-ed rooms or gender neutral rooms. Simply put, these gender neutral rooms give college students the chance to dorm with members of the opposite sex. This new idea has caused quite a stir amongst students and parents. Is this new idea too revolutionary for the times we live in or is this just another step moving toward a more progressive future that has been waiting to take place? Whether or not college institutions are ready for this move, gender neutral rooms should be offered in the future because students are now also adults and are able to make their own decisions, and some students really do get along better with members of the opposite sex.


When students enter college, they are at a juncture in their lives going from adolescence to adulthood. These students are at a point where they can start making decisions on their own including who they may or may not want to live with. As suggested by Jacques Steinberg, gender neutral dorms give students a chance to be romantically involved with each other which may make them more inclined to have sex since it would be more difficult to enforce a curfew, but these students are now adults and can make decisions on whether they want to have sex and be romantically involved or just have a strictly platonic relationship. Whatever the circumstances may be, these students are now about to be adults and are able to make their own decisions. Also, some students develop better relationships with members of the opposite sex concluded by Roxanne Ranelli. She states many homosexuals get along better with members of the opposite sex then their own, and through gender neutral dorms, homosexuals get a chance to be more comfortable in their environment while promoting an idea of gender equality.


While gender neutral dorms is a completely new and revolutionary idea, many schools in the north east, including the Ivy Leagues, are giving this option during housing assignment. To not allow this option is only delaying the inevitable as college students progress for young maturing adolescents to respectable adults.

Public Enemy: Stress

Jinhyun Kim

Transition, new people, labs, papers to write, tests, all these big words can approach many college freshmen as huge stress. Why do we have to deal with this? Obviously, stress is a big negative to college students, especially freshmen going through a lot of changes and decisions. We already have a lot to take care, and stress is nothing but more burden.

Unfortunately, stress gives students more than just headache. It could be very harmful in other ways. The study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, cited in the article "Sleepwalking Students" of Inside Higher Ed, suggests that stress interferes students initiating sleep. Hopefully many people know how essential it is to regularly ha ve a good amount and quality of sleep. Also, sleeping well and maintaining good health help deal with stress.

There is no perfect solution to deal with stress that applies to everyone. Individuals have different method to get around. For example, being optimistic and not letting it overwhelm one is very good attitude. Physical activity is one of the positive ways to reduce emotional stress. As well, efficient time management can play a key role for college students. Avoiding to be pressed for time will decrease the amount of stress at the beginning. One of the alternate solutions could be something like using stress as a motivation and improving a skill.

It is quite hard to live without getting any stress. The point is how to deal with it so it won’t be overwhelming. It would be a shame to miss many bright things in college life because of stress.