My expectation for campus life is living like an adult. To me, this means making my own decisions, being responsible for myself, meeting new people, having fun, and having the convenience of recourses available just a short walk away. This is the reason I have never lived on the Piedmont College campus.
Students who are required to live on campus at Piedmont College are students under the age of 21 who do not live with spouses, parents, grandparents, legal guardians, within the surrounding counties, and all athletes. These rules are similar to the rules at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega. At NGCSU it is students under the age of 23. Maybe Piedmont is not that bad.
Because I have lived on my own even before I began my college career in 2004 at the age of 19, I felt I could not comply with the rules and regulation of Piedmont College. Therefore, I chose to live off campus. Students who choose Piedmont for athletics, academics, or any other reason made their decision knowing about the rules. Piedmont is a small private college, rules and regulations are to be expected.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Time is Money…Making the Most of Both
With the understanding that the rich are getting richer, and the poor are barely getting by, there is another class of people, the “middle-class”, that is shrinking proportionally in America.
According to CBS correspondent Rita Braver, “The idea of a thriving middle-class has always been at the heart of the American dream. The concept really took off in the wake of World War II, when the GI Bill started helping everyday Americans pay for college or vocational education and take out loans to buy homes.”
But today those same ideals and principals that were once put into practice, which allowed the American economy to thrive, are being threatened like never before. Middle-class Americans are facing the challenges of making ends meet without being sucked under by over-burdening debt. The rising tuition rates of colleges and universities are just another part of the overwhelming struggle many in middle-class America are facing.
Jacob Hacker, a professor of political science at Yale University, told CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Rita Braver, “It seems as if health care, retirement security, being able to pay for kids’ college, being able to hold on to and afford a home are real sources of anxiety for middle-class Americans today.”
And he says it’s not because the middle-class American isn’t working harder. “I think the symbol is people who are not rich, who have to work hard, usually both parents are working, he said. “They probably have children, that’s sort of the image that we have. It’s a hard- working middle-class family with kids, making $60,000 to $80,000 a year and feeling really strained economically.”
So the idea that it is the poor college student who is struggling to get by is only a part of the problem. The one’s who administrate, teach, coach, cook and maintain the institutions of higher learning are also finding it difficult to live and work in a society where education is the door of opportunity, but money is the key to obtaining it.
Being a non-traditional student who has worked since the age of 15, I’ve seen the growing trend to have more over shadowing the values of what the middle-class population wants for their children. For many middle-class homes, the opportunity to go to college without accumulating any debt is impossible. Even those parents who begin college funds before or shortly after the birth of their first child, still find it difficult to afford college tuition over the four or six year period.
A CBS News poll conducted for Sunday Morning this past week finds that almost 60 percent of Americans think that life for the middle-class has gotten worse in the past ten years. Almost half of those who identified themselves as middle-class are concerned about having enough money to pay for major expenses like health care, tuition, buying a home and retirement. According to the poll, only 19 percent of middle-class Americans feel they are getting ahead in life.
The report goes on to say that a college degree is now seen as an important ticket for entering the middle class and average tuitions are increasing about 8 percent a year.
So what is a struggling college student to do when there doesn’t seem to be any indication that tuition rates will stop rising? I can think of three possible alternatives, 1) Investigate your options. Find schools that offer the course credits needed for your field of study that are the least expensive. 2) Maintain good grades and check into scholarship opportunities within your field of study. 3) If the realities of your financial situation won’t allow you to do one or two—take time off from school and work a job that will help pay for your college and go to night and weekend classes. There are many colleges and universities that now offer degrees for anyone wanting to complete their education at their own pace.
Bottom line...using time wisely to find a solution to any problem is a proactive way to keep from becoming a statistic on the negative side of the scales. Do I feel that higher tuitions are fair? Yes, because I feel that those who contribute to my education deserve to be given the same quality of life I want for myself. A person is worthy of his/her hire. That individual has dedicated his/herself to the betterment of my education and future endeavors. They also have to eat and take care of their families. A true life lesson …Nothing in life is free; somebody has to pay the bills.
According to CBS correspondent Rita Braver, “The idea of a thriving middle-class has always been at the heart of the American dream. The concept really took off in the wake of World War II, when the GI Bill started helping everyday Americans pay for college or vocational education and take out loans to buy homes.”
But today those same ideals and principals that were once put into practice, which allowed the American economy to thrive, are being threatened like never before. Middle-class Americans are facing the challenges of making ends meet without being sucked under by over-burdening debt. The rising tuition rates of colleges and universities are just another part of the overwhelming struggle many in middle-class America are facing.
Jacob Hacker, a professor of political science at Yale University, told CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Rita Braver, “It seems as if health care, retirement security, being able to pay for kids’ college, being able to hold on to and afford a home are real sources of anxiety for middle-class Americans today.”
And he says it’s not because the middle-class American isn’t working harder. “I think the symbol is people who are not rich, who have to work hard, usually both parents are working, he said. “They probably have children, that’s sort of the image that we have. It’s a hard- working middle-class family with kids, making $60,000 to $80,000 a year and feeling really strained economically.”
So the idea that it is the poor college student who is struggling to get by is only a part of the problem. The one’s who administrate, teach, coach, cook and maintain the institutions of higher learning are also finding it difficult to live and work in a society where education is the door of opportunity, but money is the key to obtaining it.
Being a non-traditional student who has worked since the age of 15, I’ve seen the growing trend to have more over shadowing the values of what the middle-class population wants for their children. For many middle-class homes, the opportunity to go to college without accumulating any debt is impossible. Even those parents who begin college funds before or shortly after the birth of their first child, still find it difficult to afford college tuition over the four or six year period.
A CBS News poll conducted for Sunday Morning this past week finds that almost 60 percent of Americans think that life for the middle-class has gotten worse in the past ten years. Almost half of those who identified themselves as middle-class are concerned about having enough money to pay for major expenses like health care, tuition, buying a home and retirement. According to the poll, only 19 percent of middle-class Americans feel they are getting ahead in life.
The report goes on to say that a college degree is now seen as an important ticket for entering the middle class and average tuitions are increasing about 8 percent a year.
So what is a struggling college student to do when there doesn’t seem to be any indication that tuition rates will stop rising? I can think of three possible alternatives, 1) Investigate your options. Find schools that offer the course credits needed for your field of study that are the least expensive. 2) Maintain good grades and check into scholarship opportunities within your field of study. 3) If the realities of your financial situation won’t allow you to do one or two—take time off from school and work a job that will help pay for your college and go to night and weekend classes. There are many colleges and universities that now offer degrees for anyone wanting to complete their education at their own pace.
Bottom line...using time wisely to find a solution to any problem is a proactive way to keep from becoming a statistic on the negative side of the scales. Do I feel that higher tuitions are fair? Yes, because I feel that those who contribute to my education deserve to be given the same quality of life I want for myself. A person is worthy of his/her hire. That individual has dedicated his/herself to the betterment of my education and future endeavors. They also have to eat and take care of their families. A true life lesson …Nothing in life is free; somebody has to pay the bills.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Look at it this way
Give us democracy!
The housing requirements for Piedmont College are absolutely rediculous and show that this college is not a democracy encouraging young adults to grow. The college takes great measures to see that every student gets the "college experience," but at a small school like Piedmont College, there is no such as thing as college life. Large schools that are located in what is considered to be college towns, such as the University of Georgia in Athens have a booming atmosphere with a wide variety of activities. However, many students have called the campus of Piedmont College a ghost town, claiming that at times it is very hard to find stuff to do. Students who live in Habersham, Banks, Hall, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, or White County are allowed to attend Piedmont as commuters; but if you live father then that premises, and are under 21 and single, you are required to live in the dorm. Last fall, I had a knee injury and required surgery, I had major complications with the surgery and it was a month before I could walk again. I asked the college if I could live at home in Gwinnett County and commute for remainder of the semester. But Piedmont College put their foot down and said I would not be able to get any kind of refund for my room and was required to keep it. This was an outrage being that I was very dependent on my mother to help me with every day things.
Another thing Piedmont College enforces with an iron fist is the meal plan for resident students. All students living on campus are required to have a meal plan which pays for 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. I myself am a very picky eater and do not like most of the food served in the cafeteria. I would prefer to buy my own food from the grocery store and keep it in my refrigerator rather then buying the meal plan. I also am constantly on the go, and many days my meals are just grab-and-go type things from my refrigerator. The meal plan at Piedmont College is very expensive, and the food is very cheap. Each meal covered on the meal plan is the equivelancy of a meal at Red Lobster. At the University of Georgia, students living on campus are allowed to choose from a variety of meal plans. Students can choose a plan which allows them to eat one meal a day, three meals a day, or no meal in the cafeteria. Piedmont College claims that they require students to have a full meal plan because they are worried students will not eat and may become mal-nurished. They say eating disorders become a huge problem for many college students; well, college is a time for a young adult to learn how to take care of his or herself, if a young adult doesn't realize that he or she needs to eat, he or she should not be at college. Piedmont College needs to offer more living arrangement options for students interested in attending the school, and it would draw the interest of many more students.
Another thing Piedmont College enforces with an iron fist is the meal plan for resident students. All students living on campus are required to have a meal plan which pays for 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. I myself am a very picky eater and do not like most of the food served in the cafeteria. I would prefer to buy my own food from the grocery store and keep it in my refrigerator rather then buying the meal plan. I also am constantly on the go, and many days my meals are just grab-and-go type things from my refrigerator. The meal plan at Piedmont College is very expensive, and the food is very cheap. Each meal covered on the meal plan is the equivelancy of a meal at Red Lobster. At the University of Georgia, students living on campus are allowed to choose from a variety of meal plans. Students can choose a plan which allows them to eat one meal a day, three meals a day, or no meal in the cafeteria. Piedmont College claims that they require students to have a full meal plan because they are worried students will not eat and may become mal-nurished. They say eating disorders become a huge problem for many college students; well, college is a time for a young adult to learn how to take care of his or herself, if a young adult doesn't realize that he or she needs to eat, he or she should not be at college. Piedmont College needs to offer more living arrangement options for students interested in attending the school, and it would draw the interest of many more students.
Friday, April 13, 2007
On-Campus Living
Blog Post #7 Due Wednesday, April 18
Look up Piedmont's rules about who must live on-campus and who may live off-campus. Discover the reasons behind these rules. Compare the rules to those of other institutions. In your blog, consider discussing some or all of the following: additional rules and restrictions placed on dorm residents, requirements regarding food service, changes in how students are assigned to dorms and to rooms, and rules for athletes regarding campus living. Before writing your blog, examine your expectations for reasonable rules regarding campus living. Be careful not to sound whiny, or you won't be taken seriously.
Look up Piedmont's rules about who must live on-campus and who may live off-campus. Discover the reasons behind these rules. Compare the rules to those of other institutions. In your blog, consider discussing some or all of the following: additional rules and restrictions placed on dorm residents, requirements regarding food service, changes in how students are assigned to dorms and to rooms, and rules for athletes regarding campus living. Before writing your blog, examine your expectations for reasonable rules regarding campus living. Be careful not to sound whiny, or you won't be taken seriously.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
we're dependent enough
A little bit of pot never hurt anyone right? Wrong. With every joint smoked an individual harms his lung to the equivalence of smoking seven cigarettes, and loses up to 300 brain cells depending of the poutiness of the marijuana. Doesn’t sound like something the government would approve of does it? Well once again you would be wrong, in Nevada legislation is considering letting up to an ounce of pot legally be bought, sold, and smoked.
Not only is pot unhealthy, but it is also a gateway drug. You very seldom turn on the television and see where someone has died form marijuana overdoes, you hear of cocaine, heroin, meth overdoses and acid related suicides. Now how does this relate to pot? See the thing is that when one starts marijuana- alls good, he gets high, laughs a lot, gets the munches, and then comes off his high all happy, but after a while pot just doesn’t do it any more. His high isn’t as long or as intense so he starts to explore new more powerful drugs to get that same high.
One of the big arguments for the legalization of pot is the fact that it doesn’t hurt anyone but yourself so why is it such a big deal. Well, as I said you don’t turn on the television and here of marijuana related accidents . . . yet. If pot is legalized and more people are smoking, more people are losing brain cells doesn’t it seem logical to assume it will become more abused thus more harmful to the society as a whole? Suppose that pot is legalized, kids smoke pot like the smoke cigarettes then an entire generation will be killing their brains. Test scores will drop, more kids will drop out of school because as a side effect pot doesn’t make you very motivated, fewer going to college all because another substance abuse issue in our country. Car wreck involving pot are very rare now but if a greater percentage of Americans become carefree stoners then it’s safe to say they might be a little more careless at the wheel, especially since the fear of getting busted would be eliminated.
Now I don’t know about you but I think America has enough dependences already. The legalization of marijuana is just one more reason for a father to forget about his kids, One more substance to blame for someone to not be able to hold a job, one more accuses for the drive that accidentally killed a family of four, one more thing for Americans to abuse.
Not only is pot unhealthy, but it is also a gateway drug. You very seldom turn on the television and see where someone has died form marijuana overdoes, you hear of cocaine, heroin, meth overdoses and acid related suicides. Now how does this relate to pot? See the thing is that when one starts marijuana- alls good, he gets high, laughs a lot, gets the munches, and then comes off his high all happy, but after a while pot just doesn’t do it any more. His high isn’t as long or as intense so he starts to explore new more powerful drugs to get that same high.
One of the big arguments for the legalization of pot is the fact that it doesn’t hurt anyone but yourself so why is it such a big deal. Well, as I said you don’t turn on the television and here of marijuana related accidents . . . yet. If pot is legalized and more people are smoking, more people are losing brain cells doesn’t it seem logical to assume it will become more abused thus more harmful to the society as a whole? Suppose that pot is legalized, kids smoke pot like the smoke cigarettes then an entire generation will be killing their brains. Test scores will drop, more kids will drop out of school because as a side effect pot doesn’t make you very motivated, fewer going to college all because another substance abuse issue in our country. Car wreck involving pot are very rare now but if a greater percentage of Americans become carefree stoners then it’s safe to say they might be a little more careless at the wheel, especially since the fear of getting busted would be eliminated.
Now I don’t know about you but I think America has enough dependences already. The legalization of marijuana is just one more reason for a father to forget about his kids, One more substance to blame for someone to not be able to hold a job, one more accuses for the drive that accidentally killed a family of four, one more thing for Americans to abuse.
Legalize it
“Legalize it – don’t criticize it
Legalize it and I will advertise it”
-From the song Legalize it by Peter Tosh
Once again we return to the controversial topic of the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana is demonized in the media eye as addictive, but alcohol and cigarettes are just as, if not more, addictive than marijuana with none of the health benefits.
“It’s good for the flu,
It’s good for asthma,
Good for tuberculosis,
Even umara composis”
-From the song Legalize it by Peter Tosh
Marijuana has been used to treat all of these things in the past and currently serves the medicinal purpose of treating AIDS and cancer patient. Despite the benefits that could be pasted along to the average consumer marijuana remains illegal in this country and alcohol and cigarettes are not. It is hard to believe that something, smoking a cigarette, which kills more than 400,000 Americans annually, is considered to be less dangerous than marijuana. While the only benefit that can be said for alcohol consumption is that a glass of red wine a day is good for your heart.
“Legalize it – don’t criticize it
Legalize it and I will advertise it”
-From the song Legalize it by Peter Tosh
When used in moderation, marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol or cigarettes. By legalizing marijuana we as a nation will also reap the other benefits from the hemp plant. The most surprising of which is hemp oil, which is very effective as fuel and could be used as an alternative energy source.
All I am saying is, legalize it – don’t criticize it.
Legalize it and I will advertise it”
-From the song Legalize it by Peter Tosh
Once again we return to the controversial topic of the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana is demonized in the media eye as addictive, but alcohol and cigarettes are just as, if not more, addictive than marijuana with none of the health benefits.
“It’s good for the flu,
It’s good for asthma,
Good for tuberculosis,
Even umara composis”
-From the song Legalize it by Peter Tosh
Marijuana has been used to treat all of these things in the past and currently serves the medicinal purpose of treating AIDS and cancer patient. Despite the benefits that could be pasted along to the average consumer marijuana remains illegal in this country and alcohol and cigarettes are not. It is hard to believe that something, smoking a cigarette, which kills more than 400,000 Americans annually, is considered to be less dangerous than marijuana. While the only benefit that can be said for alcohol consumption is that a glass of red wine a day is good for your heart.
“Legalize it – don’t criticize it
Legalize it and I will advertise it”
-From the song Legalize it by Peter Tosh
When used in moderation, marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol or cigarettes. By legalizing marijuana we as a nation will also reap the other benefits from the hemp plant. The most surprising of which is hemp oil, which is very effective as fuel and could be used as an alternative energy source.
All I am saying is, legalize it – don’t criticize it.
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