The Week At Wofford

Wofford podcast -- November 29, 2007

Here are highlights from the radio broadcast on ESPN-1400 of Wofford's football victory over the Montana Grizzlies last Saturday. Also: comments from math professor and arch Terrier fan Lee Hagglund, who made the trip to the game.

Thanksgiving with the Lees

Being obviously Chinese, I always like to hear how other people celebrate traditional American holidays, and the one I'm particularly curious about is Thanksgiving. It seems like a lot of hoo hah for just a meal on a regular old Thursday -- being forced to spend time with family members you don't particularly care for, like fat cousin Gilbert who plays your Wii all afternoon, or ones you've conveniently forgotten your relation to 364 days out of the year (Aunt Mary who likes to double fist bottles of wine). I've always had a very romanticized image of what I imagine these American family gatherings must be like. There's a table full of children with their plates held up for second helpings of turkey and dressing, their grandparents smiling on. (Gilbert and the aunt being stowed away in the basement, of course.) The father at the head carving a twenty pound ham, the mother arguing with her sister about whose recipe for apple pie required the most hand picked apples and freshly churned butter, the golden retriever curled up on the hearth rug snoring softly in the firelight...okay so basically I've watched too many family Christmas movies.

Thanksgiving at my house is very different, first of all, because we don't really celebrate it, second of all, because we all hate each other and don't try to hide it, thirdly because we're all atheists, fourthly...well the list goes on. This year, it was just my parents, grandmother, brother, and recently immigrated from China cousin who sat down for what always promises to be an entertaining evening in which everyone's feelings gets hurt and at least one person storms away from the dining room in tears, or falls out of his chair drunk. Since none of us really care for American food (my grandmother still doesn't understand the concept of salad), we made hot pot. And If you don't know what hot pot is, then you're seriously deprived and woefully ignorant.

There was lamb, rice noodles, tofu, shrimp, chicken liver, seaweed, beef, pig intestine, and bok choy. We all dug in, and everyone had a Chinese beer (except my brother who is 16--we may be Chinese but we still have to obey the same laws you do). My parents both had a glass full of Remy Martin for their annual whose face can get the reddest competition. Everyone grumbled and complained; my mom about the restaurant business and my father (he gambles too much), my father about my student loans and my mother (she's cheating on him), and my grandmother about Social Security and my brother (he may or may not shoot down his school). My cousin didn't say much, but that's because he lives in the fear of being exploited into working for the toy sweatshop we happen to run on the side. Me? I usually try to eat as quickly as possible before everyone finishes their general complaining and turns to their favorite past time during family meals: making me miserable. Usually it starts off fairly innocent, "So, daughter, how is school going?" Then it quickly spirals into "Your major is useless", "Why don't you stop dating losers", and "Your entire existence is futile." Yes, it is I who usually storms off from the table, and my father who loses the whiskey drinking contest. He slumps down in the chair, face the color of an eggplant. My mother goes to her room for a whispered phone call with her lover, and my grandmother slowly eats all the leftovers.This is Thanksgiving at my house. Cheers!

the scoop behind the marsh meeting

Okay, I really can't resist the opportunity to burn off a little steam about the mandatory meeting that Marsh Hall residents attended a couple weeks ago. The article I wrote for the latest edition of the paper discussed how the students were gathered together by college officials because the dorm's vandalism hit an all-time high, the most recent case being anti-Semitic graffiti throughout the fourth floor.

Coming into the meeting, I was already appalled by there being that kind of graffiti in the first place. I couldn't really get a clear answer from people on what exactly the graffiti was -- a couple people mentioned that it might be a few swastikas were drawn on flyers and door decorations, and others said they heard that it was just phrases like "Jews suck." Either way, I didn't expect that anything along those lines would end up in a dorm at Wofford.

Once I was at the meeting, I found out that this wasn't the only problem in the dorm. In addition to numerous cases of vandalism on the walls and doorways, there had been an instance of defection in one of the shower stalls, as well as a bed loft thrown from a fourth floor window. And I assure you, the list goes on.

It happens to get worse. Even more disturbing than all these things happening in the place where at least 150 students live, the residents' attitudes at the meeting were ridiculous. Pouncing on Dean Bigger's inquiry of what the college can do for the students, many students answered they would take better care of the dorm if it was nicer. Quickly, the meeting shifted from a forum about dealing with an offensive occurance to a list of maintenance requests.

Students complained about the carpeting, the need for bathroom doors instead of shower curtains, and the prison-like design of Marsh in general, among other things. With each request, the more I wanted to get up and walk out of the meeting. I was almost embarrassed to listen to the 20 some-odd students that complained.

True, Marsh is definitely not the most desired dorm on campus. As a former resident of the fourth floor of Marsh, I know that living conditions aren't spectacular. The very first night I got into my bed, I laid my head on my pillow and found a spider right beside me. I can't say that at that moment I didn't think that I'd rather be at home in my clean, bug-free room. But really, it's not horrible and it definitely didn't deserve 15 minutes of complaints when there were much more important and relevant topics to discuss. I don't think any of the current or past residents of Marsh would say it's unbearable to live in.

Thankfully, there were a couple of Marsh residents that felt just as disgusted as me about the complaints. One guy stood up and asked why should the students expect the college to improve Marsh if students are tearing it apart as it is? A good question.

Overall, the meeting left me a little jaded about Wofford's newest class. Being friends with quite a few of its members, I know that a few people's behavior shouldn't and doesn't reflect the overall class. However, I really hope that Marsh residents realize that the problem won't go away by fixing the dorm; it's only gone when the people who destroy it leave or get their act together.

Wofford podcast -- November 19

Wofford's football players and coaches learned on Sunday that they will travel to play the University of Montana in the first round of NCAA playoffs. This podcast features interviews with players and with Coach Mike Ayers.

Joke of the Day

I've decided that the Wofford main page is nothing sort of Communist propaganda. When it's not stretching the truth, then it's flat out lying. Take what's been on the last few days. It's headlined, "Wofford Recyclers with a couple of typical Wofford students riding the new "green" bikes up Campus Drive with that glorious fountain spraying up good will and hope and studiousness. Underneath the headline is

"Wofford Recyclers try out the new campus bicycles, aimed at encouraging more exercise and reducing gasoline consumption. The bike program is just one element of the college's green initiatives that include renewed emphasis on recycling and lowering energy use."

Well. Where to start? Let me pick up my pen of wrath and take it sentence by sentence. First of all, it makes the assumption if A, then B. Bike riding (A) obviously leads to recycling (B), if you are a Wofford student. I doubt half of those people in that picture have ever recycled anything in their lives.

I thoroughly and absolutely support environmental awareness and going green, but I think Wofford administration needs a little reality check. These new bikes are certainly not encouraging more exercise. MOST students use them so they can get up just a little bit later and bike to class to save time, while plowing over on-time, conscientious walkers like myself. It is a vehicle to aid in laziness. Secondly, what is this "reducing" gasoline consumption? I don't think any students have ever drove their car from Olin to Old Main before these bikes came. Our campus is simply too small to really utilize them to their fullest. Walking from one end of the campus takes only about five minutes at a brisk pace. Here, walking would probably be more strenuous exercise than 30 seconds of bike riding down a hill. Students still drive their cars from their dorm to the bookstore or downtown.

So, where is this renewed emphasis on recycling and lowering energy use? There's been more recycling bins, yes, at the urging of a select few. The Wofford Planeteers have been working and planning, but that group only has about 15 members. I haven't received any notices from Wofford College that encourage students to turn off their lights when they leave the room, or take shorter showers to conserve water. Simple things that could have been done earlier are bogged down by bureaucrats trying to figure out what body part to scratch next. Quit lying to yourself, Wofford. If you're a green campus then I am white. Wait, let me check in the mirror. Aww man. Still Chinese.

Sunrise, sunset...

"...you're either going or you just left, but you're always on your way." bright eyes.

Okay, so I'm a bit enthusiastic about quotes.  But this one spoke to me the other day when I was listening to my iPod on shuffle.  This sentence sums up my senior year thus far.  I'm writing an article about this for the next issue, but I'd like to elaborate more in this blog.  I mean, as if my classes and assignments aren't enough, they expect college seniors to fill out grad school applications and to study for and take the GRE.

Speaking of assignments, I've never understood this fascination with professors ignoring the fact that their students have other classes.  I mean when one professor gives you a lab report, preparation assignments for another lab, and a quiz in the same two day period, I think it's a little extreme.  Maybe it's just me.  But when you have other classes who all decide that they should be your only priority, it gets a bit overwhelming. 

Sometimes I just feel like college never lets you stop moving.  Classes, meetings, tests, projects, studying, extracurriculars, and then maybe some time to sleep.

And we wonder why coffee sales are so high?

Wofford podcast -- November 9, 2007

This week's podcast focuses on Wofford Theatre's production of "connect: (a memory play)," as well as the annual conference of the Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution Society.

Up All Night

When I have a big paper due, I generally stay up most of the night, so I load up on caffeine and go for it.  It's generally not enough to keep my eyes open.  Tonight, however, I loaded up on caffeine and finished my paper early.  And guess what.  Tonight, it is enough to keep my eyes open, so even though I have to get up in less than six hours, I'm wide-eyed.  Brilliant.

Not that it really matters.  My mind's pretty full anyway thanks to the WGA strike that's currently taking place.  All my favorite shows are shutting down production, and I'm more than a little crushed.  I won't comment on how I personally feel about why the writers are striking -- not now, at least, as I'm not actually sure how I feel -- but I'll say that this is a lose-lose situation for everyone, as people everywhere are out of the job, and people like me, people who haven't cared to develop a true social life since they were sixteen because it interferes with prime-time, are the most miserable of all. Maybe.

And finally, let's play a game.  I won't tell you if you're right, but it'd be nice to hear some guesses.

WHO AM I?

I'm a tenured professor who knows everything about every person, regardless of race, gender or age, and I'm not particularly well-versed in at least one course that I teach.  I hold very little credibility with students, but I play the game well enough that I remain hired. 

Any guesses?

I'm Sick of It...but then again, its not up to me

I'm sick of all the back and forth between Greeks and non-Greeks. Personally, I am a non-Greek but I did rush my sophomore year (both I and the sororities reached a mutual decision that we were not for each other). I will admit that I have made my share of anti-Greek comments during my years here at Wofford but usually they were about the stranglehold that Greek organizations seem to have on the social life here at Wofford (something which is not entirely their fault) rather than an attack on the group itself. I've caught alot of flack from both sides of the issue, not being pro-Greek enough for the Greeks or anti-Greek enough for some others. I have always said that I felt Greek life provides an important social outlet for a campus in a town with very little to do, however I also feel that alot of people take their Greek organization far to seriously. My point is this, I think you should do whatever you damn well please as long as it is exactly that, what YOU please. If you truly enjoy the things that sorority or fraternity life provides, please by all means, join one. If you do not, for god sakes don't. I think you should make an informed decision, and not be pressured by others. I think you should weigh your options and be true to yourself. But I think the same thing about all decisions. Don't join a sorority because you are afraid of being unpopular, dont join because your mom and your sister and every female member of your family all belonged to XYZ sorority when they were in school, dont join because your best friend does. However, don't not join a sorority if you want to just because some of your friends say its for rich kids or dumb girls, don't not join because you like to dress a particular way and you are afraid you wont be accepted (you might not but it's worth a shot). Basically, do what you want to do.

Sure, Greek life can get in the way of school, so that's something to think about when making your decision (one of the reasons I decided not to rush as a freshman) but so can lots of other things. Everyone has a hobby or an activity, some people scrapbook, some watch tv or surf the internet, some go to church or join organizations about recycling or human rights, some join Greek life. Ultimately these are all the same, some may seem more worthy than others but in the end they are all just pastimes, things we choose to fill our days and give us a sense of purpose and community in the world. College should be about alot of things, not a just a GPA or an organization or a reputation (though for some I am sure one of those things becomes their whole life). It should be a time of (as corny as it sounds) growth and exploration, so my only concern with anyone else's choices concerning Greek life or lack there of is whether or not their choices are going to allow them the maximum opportunity for choice and exploration that college could offer. But then again, that's for them to worry about, not me.

...Oh, and for heaven's sake, everyone quite bashing each other, Greek's trying to tout the importance of their organization as anything more than a hobby is ridiculous and nieve and non-Greeks talking bad about Greeks but drinking the free beer they provide at the row every weekend (while acting like you are too cool for the whole scene) is pretentious and pathetic. Mind your own business.   

South Carolina Student Legislature

Over 160 college students spent the past week at the South Carolina Student Legislature writing and debating legislation.  Six of us from Wofford traveled to the State House to participate.  We go twice a year and it’s something I really look forward to.  The first day of the session is spent in committees reviewing the bills, which if they pass, will make it to the House and Senate for debate.  It’s interesting to listen to everyone’s ideas since the group is a combination of people who are majoring in biology, or education, or criminal justice, and not only government.  It brings a fresh perspective to the legislation which is passed on to the South Carolina General Assembly if it passes through the system and earns our student governor’s signature.  Every few years one of our bills gets drafted into law!

I’ve made friends all over the state through SCSL. One person I met through the organization is now working for a North Carolina senator in DC and is helping me with summer plans. Another, who works for the Governor, is helping me form plans for after graduation.  I went with a group from SCSL to watch the Republican debate in Columbia last spring.  I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve been at some political event or another wondering who I was going to talk to for the next few hours when a SCSL member would walk in and save me!

The things we learn while at the State House are things that could never be taught in a classroom. We are able to have this experience because Wofford supports us. I am truly grateful to go to a school which realizes the importance of a well rounded education and makes opportunities for that available. 

Below is a picture of our delegation in the House Chamber.  Wofford delegates were Brent Troxell, Steven Fagan, Tonni Wickline, Nam Pham, Danielle Peoples and Paige Hallen.