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Show OPINIONS A5 Assembly-line education School was about learning; now it's about degrees. Welcome to the future of education By Cameron Simek Opinions Editor We have this agency that puts people in space, and is on the forefront of technology, and they are treated worse than the banks that thrust us into an economic crisis. camsimek@gmail.com We've talked about how the future of college could be online, through Massively Open Online Courses. This very well may be the case, but what could have caused this shift in the post-secondary dynamic? Let's take a look at our past to get a clue of what the future might hold. In the past, a college education was something special, reserved for the highest echelons of society. That education was the mark of a truely cultured individual. You knew that a college student was well on the path to becoming a well-rounded, intelligent gentleman. The student was provided with a education in Liberal Arts. Since most jobs at the time required a apprenticeship, rather than a degree, colleges existed to make the students better citizens. It prepared them to be effective members of society. Looking at college in that context, justifying the college ideal that exists today is pretty hard. Students take the shortest route to their degree, othen forgoing classes outside of their respective majors. I almost can't believe that we are getting charged to shuffle in and out of the halls of this institution to learn simply how to perform a task. We go through four years of education to be able to do one thing, in case I needed to put that in simpler terms. This isn't what college should be. We shouldn't be treated like cars on an assembly line. Moved slowly down the track that was set for us when we walked through the door with a dream and a tuition check. We are students, we seek higher knowledge, we should not stand for this shocking mutation of the noble college tradition! And yet, we do. College has become so big in our country that most believe you need it in order to succeed. The truth of the matter is not so black and white. Smart people exist, and those people can excel without any further education after high school. Some need to be sat down and told how to succeed on whatever path they have chosen. We are all different. The thing we need to remember as we make it through our time in college is that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We should be willing to take our time and learn as much as we can, especially outside the path that we, or others, have chosen for us. We shouldn't just stand on the line and watch our lives get constructed around us. We should use our time here to learn as much as we can, and grow as citizens and people. A view of what scheitists have dubbed the "Pillars of Creation," one of the more beautiful images taken by the Hubble telescope. NASA was our view of the future, today. Now it's still around, but weaker, and slower, why? passion for space, and has a rare enthusiasm for everything on and off this planet. Previously commissioned as a member of the Implementation of the United States Space Exploration Policy, Tyson is occasionally called to testify before Congress on various space travel and exploration related issues. He believes that, though it began as a reaction to Russia launching a missile, NASA has become so much more. It stands as a beacon of hope for our country and inspires us to look up and out and see something that we could one day reach. Tyson's expertise and ability to translate the cosmos into tangible thought invoke my desire to share what I've learned. Well that, and the simple fact that space is ex- By Cameron Simek Opinions Editor camsimek@gmail.com LL fi "How much would you pay for the Universe?" A powerful question posed by one of the greatest minds of our time, Neil deGrasse Tyson. Earning a PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia, Tyson is now the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. He is a brilliant man who has a great quisitely beautiful. I find what goes on out there to be infinitely complex yet simply and quietly amazing. When we step outside and look up at the sky, we don't see much anymore. The lights and pollution of cities drown out the beauty of the night sky. I remember looking up and seeing the Milky Way as a child. It was one of the most beautiful things I had seen. I remember staying out late at night for meteor showers and eclipses. I stood in wonder at what happened in the sky, but somehow I lost that wonder. For some reason I ignored the sky and became obsessed with what happens here on Earth. I stopped taking the time to look up, and bask in true beauty. Looking back, that saddens me greatly. IN-FLU-DEMIC FACTS ABOUT COLLEGE 1 2 3 4 According to very extensive research detailed in a new book entitled "Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses", 45 percent of all U.S. college students exhibit "no significant gains in learning" after two years in college. PHOTO COURTESY OF HUBBLESIIECOM NASA gave America hope and a reason to look beyond our selves and up at the stars, a reason to dream about tomorrow. We made it to the moon in a relatively short period of time, with computers that had less processing power than the cell phone you use to text friends or play Angry Birds. More recently, NASA lowered a rover the size of a small SUV on to the surface of Mars, using a crane that hovered over the surface. Read that again, please. If that doesn't amaze you, then there may be something wrong with your sense of wonder. NASA has been under-funded as of late, getting less money in the entire history of the program, than the banks received during the bailouts. We have this agency Home-sick or school-sick or maybe just plain sick By Collin Lawrence Assistant Opinions Editor claw1116@gnnail.com The Center for Disease Control has upgraded seasonal influenza to epidemic status. In doing so, more vaccines are being made available to the public. Getting vaccinated is important to you and the community The less people spreading the virus, the less likely you are to contract it. "This is a situation we are following very closely as a university," said Chris Taylor, university spokesperson. Influenza is a major concern to students who may be uninsured and financially unprepared for a large medical bill. The 60% effectiveness of the shot should be enough motivation to pay the small fee. Some people still worry about the risks involved from the flu shot, but hopefully a small dose of education can go a long way. Vaccinations do not contain live strains of any of the three influenza viruses likely to be spreading this 66 When you are sick, stay home. Stay in touch with your professors. If students do feel sick, visit the Student Health Center or visit your doctor. L 50% of U.S. college students have never taken a class where they had to write more than 20 pages. - CHRIS TAYLOR, UNIVERSITY SPOKESPERSON U.S. college students spend 24% of their time sleeping, 51% of their time socializing and 7% of their time studying. pp that puts people in space, is on the forefront of technology, but is treated worse than the banks that thrust us into an economic crisis. With the proper funding, NASA could be well on its way to sending a manned mission to Mars in the next decade. Setting up a permanent outpost on another planet, possibly even discovering life on another planet, or more likely, another planet's moon. NASA shows us what our future could be, what we could be doing in five to ten years. We need NASA to push science and technology forward, to instill in us a sense of wonder again. We need one of those moments that brings us all together again: sitting around our HDTV's watching man take his first steps on Mars. season. The shot contains the antigens in a safe form that program your immune system to replicate antibodies to recognize and fight the strains of influenza targeted in the serum this year. The side effects you may have had in previous years are due to an accelerated energy-sapping process that strengthening your immune system. A strong immune system will help you stay healthier for classes. There are numerous reasons to stay in bed and skip that 8:00 a.m. class. Hangovers, endless freezing temperatures and disdain for lectures shouldn't keep the diligent student from attending. Illness however, respects no one. Coughing, sneezing and excessive fluid loss make even the most mundane tasks nearly impossible. Missing your History of Art class is the least of your concerns. "Dr. So-and-so" may have a rough attendance policy that up until now, you've complied with perfectly. Your grade is not as important as your health. So after you call your girlfriend, boyfriend, mother or home teachers to bring you some soup, email your teacher. Instructors have paid sick days. Students, many of whom work jobs themselves while attending school, often don't have paid sick days. There is no reason anyone should be punished for what may be one of the worst flu seasons in the past few decades. "When you are sick, stay home. Stay in touch with your professors. If students do feel sick, visit the Student Health Center or visit your doctor," Taylor said. There are many ways to treat flulike symptoms, Don't avoid going in for a visit to your doctor if your symptoms don't improve. Rest and fluids are two of the most important parts of recovery when you're sick. Prevention is no longer the main concern for you, but don't forget about for your fellow students. Make sure to use common preventative measures such as hand washing and limiting the amount of surfaces you touch, including your face. "The Student Health Center still has flu shots available," Taylor said. The typical U.S. college student spends less than 30 hours a week on academics. INFORMATION: HTIPJ/ENDOFTHEAMERICANDREAM.COM/ARCHIVES laiLi14..malkr , iik . I 4 J. • 1..11 Fi ■ 1 i .1 la 1. I ■ PHOTOS COURTESY OF CONNOR ALLEN Staying healthy during flu season can be a difficult task, especially when danger is waiting everywhere you go. |