Archive for the ‘Commentary’ Category

The most common question people ask me is: Why didn’t you go to Mizzou? As a journalism major, you’d think that I would want to attend the best school in the nation that just so happens to be in my state.

Going to Western, you could say that I took the road less travelled. As much as I hate Cliché’s though, I feel like Robert Frost was a Griffon.

Sure, I could have gone to Mizzou, walk a mile to sit in a class with over 200 students and all the professor knows is my student ID number. If a college degree were a product, then would a degree from Mizzou be worth less in the real world.

I mean, there’s more of them floating around. But, everyone reading this knows that college isn’t about that piece of paper that Dr. Vartabedian is going to hand us. It’s about more, something that can’t be written on a piece of paper, even this one.

What I’m saying is that at Western, my education is unique. I have gotten more out of my first year here, than I would have at any other school. I certainly have achieved more, but it’s not because I’m an extraordinary student.

At Western, there’s just a lot of room to grow. I mean, the campus is literally surrounded by green pastures and as campus grows, so do the students.

Western is in a unique period of change, Pax Griffona you could call it. We are in such a peaceful and prosperous era that the campus is constantly changing. In my first year I’ve seen 3 buildings pop out the ground.

Now, for a journalist, this time is very exciting. Any period of change is a wonderful opportunity for us to examine and report. But it’s also exciting for all students.

At no other school could you not only take the road less travelled, but you have the freedom to make this education your own. Take what you want from your classes, because not at all schools could you do that.

Like all good things though, they must come to an end. I fear that on that day; western will have become another Mizzou. With slightly bigger class sizes, more dorms, and even more students, the best of both worlds closes to a finish.

What does this mean for The Griffon News and you, our readers? I can’t tell you that The Griffon News will do everything to help facilitate growth, or even hinder.

I can’t tell you that we won’t miss some of the details. I can promise though, that our front page may as well be a front row seat to the best show on campus. So, all I can ask is that you keep reading.
Have a wonderful semester.

It’s the beginning of the semester and the professor is reviewing the syllabus, your eyes run through all the major assignments only to see the two words that you dread the most “group project.” It’s like red ink on a financial report; you know it might be there but you’re optimistic that it didn’t make it on the syllabus.

If you’re like many students, group projects make you anxious and downright frustrated. Why do professors assign these dreaded projects? Well, I get why; they want us to learn what it is like to work in a group, like in the so called “real world.” It’s a great concept and if all team members had the same goal it wouldn’t be so bad but here is the biggest problem. All the professors have assigned them at the end of the semester! With your class schedule, work schedule and life schedule, who can meet around four to five other student’s schedules? It’s like trying to coral a bunch of three-year-old kids into a straight line; it just doesn’t work and if it does it can only last for a short moment.

Not to mention you always have that one person who just doesn’t seem to care about his/her grade, therefore you pick up the slack because you do.
Real world group projects are different than those in the classroom.

First of all, you’re getting paid. Don’t get me wrong, our education experience is our payment, trite but true.

Second, in the real world you are working with people who value their jobs and are skilled in what they do; making the team flow as a unit instead of as frantic students just trying to finish the semester.

Third, if you are working on a project through your job you can all usually find time to meet during business hours, so to not interrupt your already chaotic schedule.
Fourth, projects in the real world are not typically assigned by three or four different managers and due in the same week.

So, I know the “group project” is not going to go away but I just ask that professors consider not assigning all of them at the end of the semester, which can have an even greater outcome if they don’t. If you do your “group project” in the beginning, you can actually get to know the other students earlier in the semester; rather than when it is almost over.

Tell me, what is the social norm? All my life I have made conversation with people I don’t know. I go to the grocery store, or a convenience store, and strike up conversation with people.
It doesn’t seem to go as well as it used to. More and more people look at you like there is something wrong with it. The saying, “Mean people suck and nice people blow,” has no bearing anymore. Frankly, most people just suck.

Sure, I’m a nice guy and always willing to make a new friend, and yes, I just said most people suck, but it’s true. It’s like society is nothing but a giant popularity contest. Look at the social networking going on. Face book has a nicest person contest, how ironic.

Just a few minutes ago a couple of girls were talking. I don’t know them real well, but they are as familiar with me as I am them. It’s Monday, and one of them said, “I can’t wait for this week to be over.” I was trying to give thoughtful response by saying, “Hey, cheer up it just got started and something great is coming your way this week.” One of those girls gave me the dirtiest look ever and both of them walked away without even acknowledging me. WTF! On more than this one occasion I can think of numerous outcomes like this.

I’m not real sure what’s going on anymore, but I know the world would be a better place if people would lighten up a little bit. I’ve stopped trying to fit this “social norm” thing. As a matter of fact, I’ve denied it completely and gone out of my way to be the opposite.

No one has a better relationship than I do. My girlfriend and I live a life of self entertainment. We do things just to make others talk because it’s so much effing fun. For example, one day we went to the thrift store and I decided to walk with a cane I had in my car. I didn’t need the cane I was just being silly and she went along with me. I was limping on the cane around the store looking at stuff when she walked by me real fast and kicked the cane out from under me. I faked a fall to the floor and started muttering things like, “You damn kids have no respect anymore.” There was an older lady close by just looking on in disbelief, but my girlfriend and I never cracked a smile until we left the store. Then we laughed so hard we were crying.

That doesn’t compare much to the time I wrapped myself up in a garbage bag by the curb and jumped out of it when the garbage guys came to pick it up. Everyone should try stuff like this and stop being so serious all the time. I can guarantee a memorable relationship. We still have great conversations and laugh about things we did a long time ago.

So go ahead, keep living with your pants in a wad trying to fit in this so-called perfect world. While you talk about how stupid you think we are being, we will be laughing about how much fun we are having not worrying about what you think.

My last semester has been a strange coda to my college career. 17 hours of upper division classes, an internship and helping run a college newspaper.
Needless to say, I haven’t slept in a while.

There has been one great lesson that has stuck with me this semester. I took a special topics English course for my literature requirement. The theme was “People, Place and Power” which, unintentionally, made me focus on my remaining time here. The class focused on the relationship between the three ideals and it posed the question to me about my place here at Missouri Western.

I’ve been comfortable here. I’m known amongst the students. I’ve worked in so many different aspects here whether it be with my fraternity, SGA, the Griffon News or my photography work with the local music scene. I’ve carved out a niche that I am proud of.

My grades weren’t always there and there were times that I wavered, but I always remembered my place and the power that I’ve got from here. That was my motivation. I always wanted Missouri Western to be as proud of me as I am of her.

Fellow students and future alum, I leave you with the following words. Enjoy your time here. Get involved with things that YOU want to get involved with. Find your place here and make sure that you feel comfortable with it. This is your orientation for the rest of your life.