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Show THE CAMPUS ALH activities end today Exchange students learn With a 'buddy' By MIN-HUI CHENG JOURNAL ST AFP WRITER " Would you like to be involved in our Buddy-Buddy program? We're having a patty." "What? A body-body program? Having a potty? " Carmen Alldredge, Multicultural Center adviser, says this was an actual conversation she had with an American student at SUU. Alldredge, a native of Spain, says she understands the frustration many exchange students feel when trying to communicate. That's why, she says, she is promoting the Buddy-Buddy program. The Buddy-Buddy program is designed to help students who are studying English as a second language by pairing them wirh an American student to practice the language and share cultural experiences, Alldredge says. "l did this because when I entered SUU, I had needed to communicate with American students and learn about American culture in order to be a success at school," Alldredge says. She staned the program fall quarter, w!th the strong promotion of Baris TopJuoglu, president of the International Club, and it now has 32 members. Thus far, the program has no funding, and A] Idredge says that SUUSA and the Multicultural Center are supporting most of the program's activities to raise future funds for the project. Members of the group meet every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Multicultural Center. Here they practice English skills and play games together, as well as schedule times to meet with their buddies to give the exchange students a better understanding of American culture. "It's a good program, because most Japanese students are shy, and they can't get American friends and it's a good chance to gee an American friend," says Mitsuko Mano, a freshman exchange student from Japan. displaying visual, vocal-and performance talents. Today wraps up emphasis week activities for the College of Arts, Letters, and Humanities. Events "We really appreciate all the talents that the began Tuesday with guest lecturer Ron·coleman's students of our college have. They did a fabulous job," said Durcan. presentation entitled "ls there no blessing for me? Jane E. James: a Mom1on African-American Throughout the week, a student art display has been exhibited in the Student Living Room of the Pioneer." Said SUUSA Sen. Jen Durcan (ALH), Sharwan Center. The show featured work from "The lecture went very well. There was an many of the college's top art students. excellent turn-out." The week's A "Meet Your activities will end Professor Night" with a production was hosted of "Spokesong," Wednesday evening in the in the Randall Jones Theatre at Sharwan Smith Center, which 7:30 p.m. The cost is $2 with a provided students student ID. a chance to visit Said Durcan, with their professors and ask "The other questions. "The senators and l have been really response was pleased at the great. There were tum-out at this about 50 students week's even ts. We and 20 professors there, and there hope that it's was a casual, _. provided the ~ students with informal atmosphere that ~something @worthwhile. We was wonderful," ;;; owe a lot to our said Durcan. Last night was ~ legislative aides, the "Student - -- ~ Noelle Busk and Showcase" held in ~ Claire Palfreyman. the Ballroom of They were really ~the driving force the Sharwan Brooke Schroeder, a sophomore psychology major from Holladay, behind this week, Center. The and it couldn't showcase featured Utah, tall<s with Bryan Ramboz, assistant professor of psychology, at 'Meet Your Professor Night,' one of many have happened a variety of activities held during Arts Letters and Humanities week. without them." student groups 5 z Take charge of thinking habits, speaker says By TIANA TEW OF TH.E JOURNAL STAfF "Think about your thinking." That was the challenge issued by yesterday's Convocation speaker, Richard W. Paul, the director of research of the Center for Critical Thinking. "It is human nature to think. You can't stop your thinking because your subconscious is always working. We are creatures of thought." Paul said that the dilemma we all face is to take charge of our thinking and not allow our thoughts to control us. He said life is a construction of our thoughts, but there is nothing that guarantees "deep, broad, reasonable, logical, significant, or relevant" thought. In fact, he said, many people are in the habit of "illogical, irrelevant, insignificant, shallow, narrow-minded" thinking habits, even those with college degrees. Most students, said Paul, are not concerned with learning, only with beating the system and getting good grades. "Many students rely upon the dominate mode of study-cramming. And most teachers rely on the dominate mode of teaching- lecture, lecture, lecture, quiz or final or paper. By doing this, you are sacrificing your intellectual integrity for success in the material world." Paul asked Convogoers to consider a series of questions, regarding their roles as students. He asked audience members tO reflect on their goals as students, their problems, where they .received information, the implications of study habits, and their point of view. "Sadly, " he said, "most students can' t answer these questions because they have never thought about them." Paul then examined the consequences of not "thinking about thinking." He said, "All of us do damage, inflict pain and suffering, not only on ourselves but to others, by not consciously thinking." Paul then considered thought patterns involved with current news stories. He examined the need for both political and ethic thought to be incorporated into such issues as the bombing of Iraq. Also essential to effective critical thinking, said Pau~, is to critically examine media sources. "We can't simply see the world through the media. We must make our own judgments and not allow them to be impose on us by the press." Th e key to achieving success in critical thinking, according to Paul, is to recognize the interrelationship skills, passions, habits, and attitudes. Without a passion, said Paul, the skills will not develop. Without the right attitude, they will not become habit. He provided the analogy of Michael Jordon's passion in his basketball playing. "You can take tennis, golf, even plumbing. What I want, is for you to become passionate about thinking." "The media says muscle and power are the onl y ways to solve anything. There are many 'win-win' messages, but not many 'be fair, think critically' messages," he said. Paul reviewed the stages of thought development, starting with unreflective thinkers; those who are unaware their thinking. Then he discussed the next stage, challenged thinkers. "lt is the responsibility of your professors to challenge you, and if they don't do it, challenge yourself." Paul said the best way to challenge oneself is to read widely and broadly, especially works by those who disagree with your current position. 2 ~ The stages progress through beginning, practicing, g and advanced, until one is finally a master thinker. t "I have found that the better th inker one is, the lower they assess themselves. Bad thinkers always ::1 think they're great." ~ "Force yourself to come co terms with your ~ thoughts," Paul concluded. "Think because you - value it yourself." 5 |