WesBlog '09
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Ahem
It is inevitable that sometime during your freshman year you will get sick. Some weeks disease dances around your friendship circles like a game of tag, while other weeks it hits you all like the plague. I had my own case of the death during my freshman year in which my cough didn't leave for over a month. I finally gave in to my anxious parents, sick of hearing me choke through phone conversations, and went to the health center. The health center is awesome. I heart it completely and would never advise against going. Somehow I ended up with one of the nicest, most charming doctors who sported a hip goatee and made me feel, well, special. He told me that my cough was caused by my previously undiagnosed asthma, gave me an inhaler and sent me on my puzzled way.
Within the next few weeks, I met 4 other students who had been given the same diagnosis. The conclusion we all reached is that this doctor has been handing out the asthma diagnosis' like candy. I don't know if he is still up to it or not. Still, I would strongly recommend seeing him, if not for a correct diagnosis, then for the opportunity to be told something other than the reality that you just need more sleep. ¶ 4:18 AM 0 comments
Within the next few weeks, I met 4 other students who had been given the same diagnosis. The conclusion we all reached is that this doctor has been handing out the asthma diagnosis' like candy. I don't know if he is still up to it or not. Still, I would strongly recommend seeing him, if not for a correct diagnosis, then for the opportunity to be told something other than the reality that you just need more sleep. ¶ 4:18 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Sometimes, people think professors aren't ever funny or hip. They are wrong. Professors can be pretty hilarious and cooler than we think...sometimes it is not their intention, other times it is. I cruised through the Daily Jolt for some funny and hip quotes by Wesleyan professors. Here, I shall share them. These aren't even the best.
"Wasn't Biggie wearing a monacle in the 'Life After Death' video?"
-- Noah Isenberg, Weimar Cinema, on the correlation between Weimar fashion and hip-hop
"Let's face it, when you drink you smell - good as far as I'm concerned..."
Professor David Titus: GOVT 299, talking about the British pub scene
"That Russell Crowe, whoo, he's an attractive guy. I would sleep with him...if I could get over this whole heterosexual thing."
-Professor Charles Lemert, Sociology
"there's something about her butt."
-Lemert, on J.Lo, SOC152
"So, you can find out what my test-giving practice is....before it DESTROYS you!!" - Scott Higgins (FILM 304)
On discussing the first test of the semester
"Nuns always scare me...that's the important thing"-Scott Higgins, FILM 304
discussing his inner fears with the class
"Don't put your hand there, you're not Michael Jackson."
-- Javanese Dance Teacher, while teaching students a new move
"If Mark knew what was coming down the pike he'd shit in his pants."
-Professor Cameron, Religion 212, New Testament, in reference to the Gospels of Mark and Matthew.
"I'm not gonna give you back your papers, I masturbated all over them."
Prof. Armstrong, English Department
What this means is that doggie-style was not allowed, so a lot of you would be in trouble. I might be in trouble.
-- Professor Demetrius Eudell (AFAM203), explaining sexual practices of the Middle Ages
"G.W. Bush, YEEEHAW. The man owned the Texas Rangers, he did coke. He's got a shit load of money. He's a republican. I guarantee that he likes to do it doggystyle. HE'S FROM TEXAS. TEXAS. I guarantee it."
Prof. Portnoy, History
"The whole movie industry is a race of tiny little people. They're like leprechauns."
Prof Bob Smith- History of World Cinema since 1945
"TO HAVE SEX WITH YOUR MOM!"
Prof. Tunk (art history) when asked what his new years resolutions would be this yr
"Well, at least it wasn't a body..."
-- Professor Cherie Steele, GOVT155: International Politics, responding to the sound of a dropped Nalgene water bottle hitting the floor
When I was at Wesleyan we had to wear a tie to dinner... So many of us came to dinner naked, with just a tie!
Prof. Elphick, History
"This was known as the 'pubic mustache'... although it's certainly not like anything I've ever seen."
-- Carla Antonccio, CCIV214: Survey of Greek Archaeology
"We look back at the Puritans and say, 'How could they eat people?!' Well, they were very hungry."
-- Professor Kirk Davis Swinehart, HIST237: Early America
"'Oh, shit!' She banged the table twice, then again. 'Oh, shit,' she said, and banged it again. 'Shit! Shit!' Bang. Bang."
-- Professor Rose, ENGL206, on how not to write a fictional scene
"Writing short, clear sentences is like taking all your clothes off."
Professor Greene
"The whole earth is contaminated with life."
Professor Joop Varekamp, Earth and Environmental Sciences
"So, what is Donne trying to say here? Basically, 'I'm a loser... so why don't you kill me?'"
-Professor McCann, on the first verse of John Donne's "The Canonization"
"Candy? CANDY?! You dare come in here with a name like CANDY???"
-- Professor Higoriani, MB&B 101: Nutrition
"Are there a lot of vegetarians in this class? ONE? Oh dear, I thought this was Wesleyan!"
-- Professor Hingorani, MB&B 101: Nutrition
I DO know what the fuck I'm talking about. I got a PhD."
-- John Finn, GOVT 203 Constitutional Law
"There's no crying in college!"
-- Professor John Finn, GOVT 203: American Constitutional Law, on the undergrad experience
"Now tenors...we don't want you to blow your wad all at once!"
-Professor Ron Ebrecht conducting the Wesleyan Singers
________________________________________________________
Oh, and if you want to read reviews of professors, check out esquid.
¶ 10:17 AM 1 comments
"Wasn't Biggie wearing a monacle in the 'Life After Death' video?"
-- Noah Isenberg, Weimar Cinema, on the correlation between Weimar fashion and hip-hop
"Let's face it, when you drink you smell - good as far as I'm concerned..."
Professor David Titus: GOVT 299, talking about the British pub scene
"That Russell Crowe, whoo, he's an attractive guy. I would sleep with him...if I could get over this whole heterosexual thing."
-Professor Charles Lemert, Sociology
"there's something about her butt."
-Lemert, on J.Lo, SOC152
"So, you can find out what my test-giving practice is....before it DESTROYS you!!" - Scott Higgins (FILM 304)
On discussing the first test of the semester
"Nuns always scare me...that's the important thing"-Scott Higgins, FILM 304
discussing his inner fears with the class
"Don't put your hand there, you're not Michael Jackson."
-- Javanese Dance Teacher, while teaching students a new move
"If Mark knew what was coming down the pike he'd shit in his pants."
-Professor Cameron, Religion 212, New Testament, in reference to the Gospels of Mark and Matthew.
"I'm not gonna give you back your papers, I masturbated all over them."
Prof. Armstrong, English Department
What this means is that doggie-style was not allowed, so a lot of you would be in trouble. I might be in trouble.
-- Professor Demetrius Eudell (AFAM203), explaining sexual practices of the Middle Ages
"G.W. Bush, YEEEHAW. The man owned the Texas Rangers, he did coke. He's got a shit load of money. He's a republican. I guarantee that he likes to do it doggystyle. HE'S FROM TEXAS. TEXAS. I guarantee it."
Prof. Portnoy, History
"The whole movie industry is a race of tiny little people. They're like leprechauns."
Prof Bob Smith- History of World Cinema since 1945
"TO HAVE SEX WITH YOUR MOM!"
Prof. Tunk (art history) when asked what his new years resolutions would be this yr
"Well, at least it wasn't a body..."
-- Professor Cherie Steele, GOVT155: International Politics, responding to the sound of a dropped Nalgene water bottle hitting the floor
When I was at Wesleyan we had to wear a tie to dinner... So many of us came to dinner naked, with just a tie!
Prof. Elphick, History
"This was known as the 'pubic mustache'... although it's certainly not like anything I've ever seen."
-- Carla Antonccio, CCIV214: Survey of Greek Archaeology
"We look back at the Puritans and say, 'How could they eat people?!' Well, they were very hungry."
-- Professor Kirk Davis Swinehart, HIST237: Early America
"'Oh, shit!' She banged the table twice, then again. 'Oh, shit,' she said, and banged it again. 'Shit! Shit!' Bang. Bang."
-- Professor Rose, ENGL206, on how not to write a fictional scene
"Writing short, clear sentences is like taking all your clothes off."
Professor Greene
"The whole earth is contaminated with life."
Professor Joop Varekamp, Earth and Environmental Sciences
"So, what is Donne trying to say here? Basically, 'I'm a loser... so why don't you kill me?'"
-Professor McCann, on the first verse of John Donne's "The Canonization"
"Candy? CANDY?! You dare come in here with a name like CANDY???"
-- Professor Higoriani, MB&B 101: Nutrition
"Are there a lot of vegetarians in this class? ONE? Oh dear, I thought this was Wesleyan!"
-- Professor Hingorani, MB&B 101: Nutrition
I DO know what the fuck I'm talking about. I got a PhD."
-- John Finn, GOVT 203 Constitutional Law
"There's no crying in college!"
-- Professor John Finn, GOVT 203: American Constitutional Law, on the undergrad experience
"Now tenors...we don't want you to blow your wad all at once!"
-Professor Ron Ebrecht conducting the Wesleyan Singers
________________________________________________________
Oh, and if you want to read reviews of professors, check out esquid.
¶ 10:17 AM 1 comments
Monday, June 20, 2005
For the ladies
Contrary to popular opinion, college can, at times, be very frustrating in the carnal sense. If you're of the sort who isn't creeped out by orgasms, buy a vibrator. They're cute. They're hip. They cost less than 20$, unless you get one of the fancy twisting pearl toned ones. Even better, wait until you start school so you can charge it to your own account (Nothing better than your parents asking, "Honey? What did you buy from Toys in Babeland?" after they get their credit card bill).
You may be asking, "But Xue, what else could I do with a vibrator?" The possibilites are endless. For one, name it. Make little clothes for it. Display it (some of them look like out of this world modern art, for serious). Give better back massages. Tenderize a veal escalope. And look at it this way: Having all your newfound buddies in the dorm stealing it and chasing each other around with it is a great bonding activity. Truly, an investment that pays for itself in happiness.
(And if you're not into other people touching your sex toys, they also make little hide-away pillows for you to safetly and covertly store your cache.)
((I bet you could hide an 8th in those pillows as well.)) ¶ 7:20 AM 0 comments
You may be asking, "But Xue, what else could I do with a vibrator?" The possibilites are endless. For one, name it. Make little clothes for it. Display it (some of them look like out of this world modern art, for serious). Give better back massages. Tenderize a veal escalope. And look at it this way: Having all your newfound buddies in the dorm stealing it and chasing each other around with it is a great bonding activity. Truly, an investment that pays for itself in happiness.
(And if you're not into other people touching your sex toys, they also make little hide-away pillows for you to safetly and covertly store your cache.)
((I bet you could hide an 8th in those pillows as well.)) ¶ 7:20 AM 0 comments
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Confession #3
I study the outside of all of my mailbox partner's letters and magazines for hints about her personality. So far the only substantial clue I've acquired is that her first name is "Emily." I thought her last name was "Post" for a while, but that just seems like something my subconscious threw in there because of the whole mailbox sharing thing.
¶ 7:01 AM 0 comments
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Confession # 1
Sometimes, over winter and spring breaks, I would crave the juicy scrumptiousness of a MoCon cheeseburger SO MUCH.
I'm not even kidding you. ¶ 6:32 PM 1 comments
I'm not even kidding you. ¶ 6:32 PM 1 comments
On Roommates
A good number of you will be living in doubles next year. As we all know, reslife doesn't do roommate preference surveys that go into any sort of meaningful depth, because frankly it doesn't matter much anyways in the long run. As someone who had a less than desirable living experience freshman year (which was no one's fault--it just happens sometimes), I figured I might as well take this one.
You may not be your roommate's best friend. In fact, you probably WON'T be your roommate's best friend. Hell, you don't even have to be friends at all. But please, communication is key. If something bothers you, tell hir. Set clear rules. Try to not piss anyone off. If worse comes to worse, you can always pack up and "unofficially" move into someone else's room, because the university is a bitch about that if you have to go through the administration. There always are a few select people who have doubles to themselves. Be their friend. A lot of people who end up in serious relationships freshman year basically live with their boy/girlfriends anyways.
And as soon as room selection rolls around in the spring, for the love of god, request a single. ¶ 12:15 PM 1 comments
You may not be your roommate's best friend. In fact, you probably WON'T be your roommate's best friend. Hell, you don't even have to be friends at all. But please, communication is key. If something bothers you, tell hir. Set clear rules. Try to not piss anyone off. If worse comes to worse, you can always pack up and "unofficially" move into someone else's room, because the university is a bitch about that if you have to go through the administration. There always are a few select people who have doubles to themselves. Be their friend. A lot of people who end up in serious relationships freshman year basically live with their boy/girlfriends anyways.
And as soon as room selection rolls around in the spring, for the love of god, request a single. ¶ 12:15 PM 1 comments
Hall Booty is Bad Booty
Well, I don't know if I'm the best person to talk about this, but I might as well be the one to lay this down.
Hall booty is bad booty. You will hear this many times at Wesleyan throughout your career as a freshman. You will spend huge wads of time with the people on your hall for the first couple of months as you cling to each other for social warmth. This is all well and good and we all do it, but a warning.
DO NOT BY ANY MEANS SEX UP YOUR NEIGHBOR!
You share a bathroom with them. Your friends are their friends. You will see them in the hall every day. Every day. No exceptions. When you break up, you will see who they're bringing home on Friday nights. They will see who you're bringing home on Friday nights. They will see you not bringing anyone home on Friday night and playing the Sims alone in your underwear.
It's just not a good idea. I've seen hallcest end badly, very, very badly and it ruins the entire hall for everyone.
Now, I guess, Dormcest should be addressed. Dormcest is not the same thing as Hallcest. I'm just going to say that and drop it. Thanks. Ok, bye. ¶ 11:54 AM 0 comments
Hall booty is bad booty. You will hear this many times at Wesleyan throughout your career as a freshman. You will spend huge wads of time with the people on your hall for the first couple of months as you cling to each other for social warmth. This is all well and good and we all do it, but a warning.
DO NOT BY ANY MEANS SEX UP YOUR NEIGHBOR!
You share a bathroom with them. Your friends are their friends. You will see them in the hall every day. Every day. No exceptions. When you break up, you will see who they're bringing home on Friday nights. They will see who you're bringing home on Friday nights. They will see you not bringing anyone home on Friday night and playing the Sims alone in your underwear.
It's just not a good idea. I've seen hallcest end badly, very, very badly and it ruins the entire hall for everyone.
Now, I guess, Dormcest should be addressed. Dormcest is not the same thing as Hallcest. I'm just going to say that and drop it. Thanks. Ok, bye. ¶ 11:54 AM 0 comments
Introduction Interruption
When I first met Cory and Paul, they were unpacking their video game machinery, crates of Power Aid (what kind of a beverage name is that, anywho?) and naked girly pictures. I greeted their pairs of parents with friendly handshakes, and they all responded with long island and boston accents. As I retreated to my new room, I said something that I will always regret:
"Okay! I am going to go start putting up posters now! We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other over the next year I'm sure! Later!"
I don't know if it was my excessive use of exclamation marks as we parted or just a cruel turn of fate, but we never actually got to know each other as my parting promised. After sharing a bathroom for a year, I still can't tell Paul from Cory, Long Island from Boston, or Has A Girlfriend from Plays Football.
Perhaps every hall comes standard with a mystery resident pair, or perhaps the high expectations of that parting can be blamed-- either way, I regret not staying in their room long enough to learn how to tell them apart. It is still very awkward when I have to cough out a muttered "paury" or "coral" into my guilty hands. ¶ 10:28 AM 0 comments
"Okay! I am going to go start putting up posters now! We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other over the next year I'm sure! Later!"
I don't know if it was my excessive use of exclamation marks as we parted or just a cruel turn of fate, but we never actually got to know each other as my parting promised. After sharing a bathroom for a year, I still can't tell Paul from Cory, Long Island from Boston, or Has A Girlfriend from Plays Football.
Perhaps every hall comes standard with a mystery resident pair, or perhaps the high expectations of that parting can be blamed-- either way, I regret not staying in their room long enough to learn how to tell them apart. It is still very awkward when I have to cough out a muttered "paury" or "coral" into my guilty hands. ¶ 10:28 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
On a less serious and lengthly note...here's a spoof of facebook from the Argus' December joke issue of last year.
¶ 9:24 AM 0 comments
Human Contact is Overrated...
I am attending a conference at UConn for their administrators. The conference is set up to educated the old folk about thefacebook.com and The Daily Jolt.
I know nothing of the daily jolt, so I am going to represent Wesleyan as a self-proclaimed facebook addict. Before the conference comes along, I have asked my fellow presenters (both UConn students) to give me an idea of what they plan to present on. What I got wasn't what I expected...
One person didn't respond, which kind of was expected. People are busy...they have no time to respond from e-mails from guys they've never met. That's not the point.
This one girl replied with her presentation attached as a document. I read the subject heading and almost FLIPPED OUT.
"Thefacebook.com: Got Real Friends?"
My anger led me to waiting until I got to work to read it. This is by no means a personal attack of the presenter, but I disagree entirely with a lot of the points she made or examples that she gave to explain why facebook is pointless/creepy. Bear with me. This is long.
1) Many "groups" are created to attack other people or even groups of people. For example, at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota an RA named Pete Naterson was personally attacked when a group was created called "I hate Pete Naterson".
---Groups that personally attack certain people or organizations are indicative of a bigger problem at a university. I read the article about Pete Naterson, which actually only had a paragraph about Pete Naterson. The article also mentioned Public Safety hate groups at their university. The article fails to mention whether the people involved were just being ignorant assholes or if their Public Safety actually sucks. Whatever the case may be, the problem was dealt with. While I agree that the way in which the problem was presented was immature, getting your feelings out into the open (even if it's via the internet) is important. Then there are cases at some universities that are different such as homophobic or racist groups. These groups aren't facebook's fault...but they are a bigger problem of society. At Wesleyan, groups such as "The Tech" are laughed at by techies and groups such as "A cappella Sucks" are responded to with groups like "A Cappella is Awesome"...which really should be named "The A in A Cappella stands for Awesome".
2) Personal profiles are unreliable. False information is given. Pictures are manipulated. Doesn't that defeat the entire purpose of sharing information?
---Um...no. Just because someone submits a fake picture, it doesn't mean that facebook is completely useless. Some people are just hesitant to put up all of their information out of paranoia or fear of who will see it. For example, after receiving IMs from many people she didn't know, my friend Nisha at Rutgers changed her screen name on facebook to "i hate stalkers". She said that at least three people contacted her to tell her that the screen name didn't work...all three people were not people she knew. One can not take life so seriously and believe what they read on the internet. False information in people's profiles is in some ways a means of self-expression.
3) Users have the compulsion to over represent their actual friends. People are connected to friends they never talk to, haven't seen in years, or may even never have met. Define the word friend. "Some claim they are using the Facebook to reestablish old friendships. But, except for rare exceptions, what kind of friendship was it if you so easily lost contact?" It shouldn't matter how many friends you can count, if you have friends you can count on.
---Don't even get me started on that last line. This is true to some degree. Some people do friend people they've never met. We can call them one of two things...a) friendly or b) friend slut. Friendly people are reaching out a hand to people they are acquainted to and saying, "Hi, I want to be your friend" while Friend Sluts have a hunger for showing people how many people they know and how popular they are. The group "Friend Sluts" on facebook is inaccurately described. While I may have created it, the title is really just a joke. A large amount of people in the group are just friendly. I will flat out say that I think the rest of this argument is stupid. Not everyone has the skills and immunity to social awkwardness to pick up the phone and call people they've lost touch with from high school. And yes. That happens. Just because you lost contact with someone, that doesn't mean that they're not your friend or that you still can't reconnect in some way. (WARNING: this may sound condescending, but I don't mean it that way) In most cases, when you're not attending a state school, it's less likely that you're going to be attending school with your former high school classmates. Am I wrong to say that? When you get caught up in the web of college interactions and life, it's hard to keep track of everyone you knew in high school. Dismissing them as "a lost friendship" is detached and cold. There is still hope for a fading friendship, and facebook can help!
4) Thefacebook.com is an extremely impersonal form of contact. By replacing activities like telephone calls or meeting friends, it is diminishing human social contact.
---Worst argument EVER. Facebook has by no means replaced telephone calls. In fact, I think it's done just about the opposite. No one communicates solely by poking and facebook messages. Most people will use facebook to look people's phone numbers or screen names up. I wonder if this girl uses AIM or e-mail? Because the argument she is using can very well be used to say that they are impersonal forms of contact. Impersonal or not...we use them. And it's a lot easier to say something in writing than it is to get up the guts to use your vocal chords and say it out loud. I can't argue that this is right, having been victim to break-up e-mails in the past (worst thing ever), but it is a way our generation chooses to communicate. The internet does not replace the telephone or actual social gatherings, but simply provides an alternative.
5) Studies at the University of Texas at Austin and Carnegie Mellon have found that as students spend more time online they exhibit feelings of isolation, mood disorder, and chemical imbalances. These parallel the American Psychological Association's report that found Internet use can lead to pathological addiction similar to gambling. While making it seem like they are more connected than ever, thefacebook.com is actually marginalizing some people further from society.
---OMG. I am so distant and detached from society. I don't have much to say about this. Citing examples of how the INTERNET IN GENERAL causes people to have psychological problems does not justify how facebook alone could do so. The studies she gives as examples aren't explained in detail. I am really interested in what these studies entailed. So interested that I looked them up. This website includes the information from Carnegie Mellon discussed by our lovely presenter. I'd strongly recommend looking at the "Critiques" section. The study is just FULL of flaws. The study from the University of Texas, mentioned in this article, is probably more respectable, but it only indicates that high internet use is harmful. Use of the facebook for a half hour or less every day will not all of a sudden cause a chemical imbalance within you.
6) If you want to keep in contact so bad with friends, why don't you compile an address/phone number book? Call someone up to see how they are doing and show that you really care instead of poking them online. Send a letter or even a card. Go out and be social.
---Thanks for the lesson on how to be social. I find that doing everything she mentioned is made a lot easier by facebook. If I so chose to send a letter or card to my friend, I could find their campus address on facebook! What's that? I could even find out their birthday! That way I'd know when to send said card. Unfortunately, I didn't plan on sending letters or cards to my friends even before facebook came about. Stationery isn't everyone's cup of tea. Also, I love being poked just as much as I love receiving letters.
7) Students sit in front of their computers for hours looking at people's profiles who aren't their friends. They have no intention of making contact with these people, and they just want to scrutinize others to make themselves feel better. I have personally watched my friend view the site only to insult the way someone looks and question the honesty of their profile.
---Quite simply, this isn't a problem of facebook, it's the individual person's problem. Facebook isn't hotornot.com...it's a website set up for completely useful reasons, not for people to judge or rate one another.
8) Member bios are simply compiled lists of movies, books, television shows, and quotations in order to convey a particular image. But what do these things really tell us about them? Is it really necessary to sell yourself online?
---Who said we're selling ourselves? Facebook isn't a resume for friendship, but it's a way to show who you are. The lists of movies, books, and music are all interactive. You can click on each of them and find other students who share your interests. This is a lot easier than shouting from the MoCon balcony, "DOES ANYONE ELSE LIKE DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE!?!?" And no. A facebook profile isn't going to tell you everything about people, but only provides a conversation topic by which to get to know these people.
I know nothing of the daily jolt, so I am going to represent Wesleyan as a self-proclaimed facebook addict. Before the conference comes along, I have asked my fellow presenters (both UConn students) to give me an idea of what they plan to present on. What I got wasn't what I expected...
One person didn't respond, which kind of was expected. People are busy...they have no time to respond from e-mails from guys they've never met. That's not the point.
This one girl replied with her presentation attached as a document. I read the subject heading and almost FLIPPED OUT.
"Thefacebook.com: Got Real Friends?"
My anger led me to waiting until I got to work to read it. This is by no means a personal attack of the presenter, but I disagree entirely with a lot of the points she made or examples that she gave to explain why facebook is pointless/creepy. Bear with me. This is long.
1) Many "groups" are created to attack other people or even groups of people. For example, at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota an RA named Pete Naterson was personally attacked when a group was created called "I hate Pete Naterson".
---Groups that personally attack certain people or organizations are indicative of a bigger problem at a university. I read the article about Pete Naterson, which actually only had a paragraph about Pete Naterson. The article also mentioned Public Safety hate groups at their university. The article fails to mention whether the people involved were just being ignorant assholes or if their Public Safety actually sucks. Whatever the case may be, the problem was dealt with. While I agree that the way in which the problem was presented was immature, getting your feelings out into the open (even if it's via the internet) is important. Then there are cases at some universities that are different such as homophobic or racist groups. These groups aren't facebook's fault...but they are a bigger problem of society. At Wesleyan, groups such as "The Tech" are laughed at by techies and groups such as "A cappella Sucks" are responded to with groups like "A Cappella is Awesome"...which really should be named "The A in A Cappella stands for Awesome".
2) Personal profiles are unreliable. False information is given. Pictures are manipulated. Doesn't that defeat the entire purpose of sharing information?
---Um...no. Just because someone submits a fake picture, it doesn't mean that facebook is completely useless. Some people are just hesitant to put up all of their information out of paranoia or fear of who will see it. For example, after receiving IMs from many people she didn't know, my friend Nisha at Rutgers changed her screen name on facebook to "i hate stalkers". She said that at least three people contacted her to tell her that the screen name didn't work...all three people were not people she knew. One can not take life so seriously and believe what they read on the internet. False information in people's profiles is in some ways a means of self-expression.
3) Users have the compulsion to over represent their actual friends. People are connected to friends they never talk to, haven't seen in years, or may even never have met. Define the word friend. "Some claim they are using the Facebook to reestablish old friendships. But, except for rare exceptions, what kind of friendship was it if you so easily lost contact?" It shouldn't matter how many friends you can count, if you have friends you can count on.
---Don't even get me started on that last line. This is true to some degree. Some people do friend people they've never met. We can call them one of two things...a) friendly or b) friend slut. Friendly people are reaching out a hand to people they are acquainted to and saying, "Hi, I want to be your friend" while Friend Sluts have a hunger for showing people how many people they know and how popular they are. The group "Friend Sluts" on facebook is inaccurately described. While I may have created it, the title is really just a joke. A large amount of people in the group are just friendly. I will flat out say that I think the rest of this argument is stupid. Not everyone has the skills and immunity to social awkwardness to pick up the phone and call people they've lost touch with from high school. And yes. That happens. Just because you lost contact with someone, that doesn't mean that they're not your friend or that you still can't reconnect in some way. (WARNING: this may sound condescending, but I don't mean it that way) In most cases, when you're not attending a state school, it's less likely that you're going to be attending school with your former high school classmates. Am I wrong to say that? When you get caught up in the web of college interactions and life, it's hard to keep track of everyone you knew in high school. Dismissing them as "a lost friendship" is detached and cold. There is still hope for a fading friendship, and facebook can help!
4) Thefacebook.com is an extremely impersonal form of contact. By replacing activities like telephone calls or meeting friends, it is diminishing human social contact.
---Worst argument EVER. Facebook has by no means replaced telephone calls. In fact, I think it's done just about the opposite. No one communicates solely by poking and facebook messages. Most people will use facebook to look people's phone numbers or screen names up. I wonder if this girl uses AIM or e-mail? Because the argument she is using can very well be used to say that they are impersonal forms of contact. Impersonal or not...we use them. And it's a lot easier to say something in writing than it is to get up the guts to use your vocal chords and say it out loud. I can't argue that this is right, having been victim to break-up e-mails in the past (worst thing ever), but it is a way our generation chooses to communicate. The internet does not replace the telephone or actual social gatherings, but simply provides an alternative.
5) Studies at the University of Texas at Austin and Carnegie Mellon have found that as students spend more time online they exhibit feelings of isolation, mood disorder, and chemical imbalances. These parallel the American Psychological Association's report that found Internet use can lead to pathological addiction similar to gambling. While making it seem like they are more connected than ever, thefacebook.com is actually marginalizing some people further from society.
---OMG. I am so distant and detached from society. I don't have much to say about this. Citing examples of how the INTERNET IN GENERAL causes people to have psychological problems does not justify how facebook alone could do so. The studies she gives as examples aren't explained in detail. I am really interested in what these studies entailed. So interested that I looked them up. This website includes the information from Carnegie Mellon discussed by our lovely presenter. I'd strongly recommend looking at the "Critiques" section. The study is just FULL of flaws. The study from the University of Texas, mentioned in this article, is probably more respectable, but it only indicates that high internet use is harmful. Use of the facebook for a half hour or less every day will not all of a sudden cause a chemical imbalance within you.
6) If you want to keep in contact so bad with friends, why don't you compile an address/phone number book? Call someone up to see how they are doing and show that you really care instead of poking them online. Send a letter or even a card. Go out and be social.
---Thanks for the lesson on how to be social. I find that doing everything she mentioned is made a lot easier by facebook. If I so chose to send a letter or card to my friend, I could find their campus address on facebook! What's that? I could even find out their birthday! That way I'd know when to send said card. Unfortunately, I didn't plan on sending letters or cards to my friends even before facebook came about. Stationery isn't everyone's cup of tea. Also, I love being poked just as much as I love receiving letters.
7) Students sit in front of their computers for hours looking at people's profiles who aren't their friends. They have no intention of making contact with these people, and they just want to scrutinize others to make themselves feel better. I have personally watched my friend view the site only to insult the way someone looks and question the honesty of their profile.
---Quite simply, this isn't a problem of facebook, it's the individual person's problem. Facebook isn't hotornot.com...it's a website set up for completely useful reasons, not for people to judge or rate one another.
8) Member bios are simply compiled lists of movies, books, television shows, and quotations in order to convey a particular image. But what do these things really tell us about them? Is it really necessary to sell yourself online?
---Who said we're selling ourselves? Facebook isn't a resume for friendship, but it's a way to show who you are. The lists of movies, books, and music are all interactive. You can click on each of them and find other students who share your interests. This is a lot easier than shouting from the MoCon balcony, "DOES ANYONE ELSE LIKE DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE!?!?" And no. A facebook profile isn't going to tell you everything about people, but only provides a conversation topic by which to get to know these people.
________________________________________________
So yeah, I feel as if I should send some constructive criticism to this girl.
¶ 5:33 AM 3 comments So yeah, I feel as if I should send some constructive criticism to this girl.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Food Cont'd
Amy, I'll take you up on that.
(p.s. One thing cool/lame about Summerfields is that you order by the elements. Water = fish, fire = meat, earth = vegetarian, and wind = vegan. So you get to go up to the ultra-nice cashier lady and say, "HI WENDY I'D LIKE FIRE 1 PLEASE" and get, I don't know, a ruben or something.)
Davenport:
Has a lot of different dining options on...I believe three floors. The top floor is the vegan cafe, which is apparently amazing. Then there's a grill/deli or something on the second floor (I've never been) and then a pretty varied carry-out cafeteria type thing on the first floor, with a frozen yogurt machine, pizza place, and gross ready-made salads. This is also your sushi hook-up, but it's the kind that you get in grocery stores, so if you're desperate for top quality sushi, I recommend Japanica, or maybe Japonica? Whatever it is. Anyways, Davenport only takes points and cash, but if you make friends with the cashiers sometimes they "forget" to ring you up. For freshmen, it's good for when you're really sick of Mocon, too lazy to walk to Summerfields, and too scared to steal more odwalla juice from Weshop. Which brings me to:
Weshop.
The grocery store located between Westco 1 and 2, if you're into cooking your own stuff or eating overpriced granola bars, this is the place to go. Also they have a large variety of !!!energy drinks!!!, which comes in real handy during finals and for 9 am classes. They also have a variety of personal products, usually organic, and whatever else you need for college life, such as cleaning supplies, trash bags, and deodorant (very important), etc. Unfortunately, they also only take points/cash, but for those desperate or cheap enough to try, it is notoriously easy to steal. No, the surveillance cameras don't work, or at least aren't checked. Invest in deep pockets, long sleeves, and tote bags, or rather, be a good person and don't steal at all, because of course, I wouldn't endorse that sort of behaviour.
Kosher Kitchen:
A tiny tiny place in the bottom of Butt A that always inexplicably smells like broccoli. I've never been inside but apparently the food is delicious, and as the name implies, kosher.
WesWings:
On High Street across the way from the Butts, apparently it's the best chicken on campus. Again I've never been there.
Star and Crescent:
The restaurant (or rather, "dining club") in Alpha Delt that actually has a chef, publishes their menu online, and serves steak. OMG STEAK. They also take points, and I've heard it is the best food available at Wes. Also the first few freshmen at lunch and dinner every day (can't remember what number is--Joe John? Some help?) get to eat free. Show up early.
Pi Cafe:
In the science center, this is a...well, cafe. It opens early and caters to all your fair trade coffee needs. Again, points/cash only.
Red and Black cafe:
I know nothing about this. Isn't it by Broad Street Books? Whatever, they take points and make good sandwiches, and it's way too far away for me to even consider.
Delivery:
Sign up at www.campusfood.com and you're set. It's really great for those of us who hate, uhm, talking to people in general. The two obvious choices are pizza and chinese food. Regarding the latter, personally I like fortune garden and new hunan better than fortune wok, but new hunan is in Cromwell and thus takes longer, plus there's a $2 delivery charge. However if you're chinese, the delivery guy will strike up a conversation with you and ask you where you're from, why your chinese is bad, how long you've been in the country...or maybe that was just me.
Off-campus/main street:
The only two restaurants I can speak for are Thai Gardens and La Boca, both of which are excellent. Huge portions, interesting dishes, nice servers, lots of vegetarian options. Watch out, though--at Thai Gardens, spicy means SPICY.
And by the way, don't bring silverware, plates, glassware (except for shotglasses), etc to school. Sneak them out of Mocon, use them, and then bring them back when they're dirty and put it in the tray return window. Repeat. Mocon doesn't lose any utensils, you don't have to do dishes. ¶ 7:29 AM 5 comments
(p.s. One thing cool/lame about Summerfields is that you order by the elements. Water = fish, fire = meat, earth = vegetarian, and wind = vegan. So you get to go up to the ultra-nice cashier lady and say, "HI WENDY I'D LIKE FIRE 1 PLEASE" and get, I don't know, a ruben or something.)
Davenport:
Has a lot of different dining options on...I believe three floors. The top floor is the vegan cafe, which is apparently amazing. Then there's a grill/deli or something on the second floor (I've never been) and then a pretty varied carry-out cafeteria type thing on the first floor, with a frozen yogurt machine, pizza place, and gross ready-made salads. This is also your sushi hook-up, but it's the kind that you get in grocery stores, so if you're desperate for top quality sushi, I recommend Japanica, or maybe Japonica? Whatever it is. Anyways, Davenport only takes points and cash, but if you make friends with the cashiers sometimes they "forget" to ring you up. For freshmen, it's good for when you're really sick of Mocon, too lazy to walk to Summerfields, and too scared to steal more odwalla juice from Weshop. Which brings me to:
Weshop.
The grocery store located between Westco 1 and 2, if you're into cooking your own stuff or eating overpriced granola bars, this is the place to go. Also they have a large variety of !!!energy drinks!!!, which comes in real handy during finals and for 9 am classes. They also have a variety of personal products, usually organic, and whatever else you need for college life, such as cleaning supplies, trash bags, and deodorant (very important), etc. Unfortunately, they also only take points/cash, but for those desperate or cheap enough to try, it is notoriously easy to steal. No, the surveillance cameras don't work, or at least aren't checked. Invest in deep pockets, long sleeves, and tote bags, or rather, be a good person and don't steal at all, because of course, I wouldn't endorse that sort of behaviour.
Kosher Kitchen:
A tiny tiny place in the bottom of Butt A that always inexplicably smells like broccoli. I've never been inside but apparently the food is delicious, and as the name implies, kosher.
WesWings:
On High Street across the way from the Butts, apparently it's the best chicken on campus. Again I've never been there.
Star and Crescent:
The restaurant (or rather, "dining club") in Alpha Delt that actually has a chef, publishes their menu online, and serves steak. OMG STEAK. They also take points, and I've heard it is the best food available at Wes. Also the first few freshmen at lunch and dinner every day (can't remember what number is--Joe John? Some help?) get to eat free. Show up early.
Pi Cafe:
In the science center, this is a...well, cafe. It opens early and caters to all your fair trade coffee needs. Again, points/cash only.
Red and Black cafe:
I know nothing about this. Isn't it by Broad Street Books? Whatever, they take points and make good sandwiches, and it's way too far away for me to even consider.
Delivery:
Sign up at www.campusfood.com and you're set. It's really great for those of us who hate, uhm, talking to people in general. The two obvious choices are pizza and chinese food. Regarding the latter, personally I like fortune garden and new hunan better than fortune wok, but new hunan is in Cromwell and thus takes longer, plus there's a $2 delivery charge. However if you're chinese, the delivery guy will strike up a conversation with you and ask you where you're from, why your chinese is bad, how long you've been in the country...or maybe that was just me.
Off-campus/main street:
The only two restaurants I can speak for are Thai Gardens and La Boca, both of which are excellent. Huge portions, interesting dishes, nice servers, lots of vegetarian options. Watch out, though--at Thai Gardens, spicy means SPICY.
And by the way, don't bring silverware, plates, glassware (except for shotglasses), etc to school. Sneak them out of Mocon, use them, and then bring them back when they're dirty and put it in the tray return window. Repeat. Mocon doesn't lose any utensils, you don't have to do dishes. ¶ 7:29 AM 5 comments
the tech
Because you are getting all your information about college from kids who spend their summers blogging on the internet instead of working at sports camp or something, you have probably already heard the phrase "techie" used. So I figured I'd give a little history lesson.
It all began, for the techies at least, with a joke wespeak (an kind of letter-to-the-editor in the Argus, the campus newspaper) for the joke issue of the Argus, written by Adam Freelander to a freshman named Emmanuel Freemark who, in the campus mail room, was inadvertently given Adam's package slip. When Emmanuel picked up Adam's CD, he assumed it was promotional garbage and threw it out. When Adam found this out, he was annoyed, and wrote a wespeak in the joke issue, which for all intents and purposes should not have been taken seriously.
Well, in the next issue Adam got a response wespeak-- a real one, to be taken seriously. Along with insulting Adam's height and sexual prowess, it included these choice lines (typos included)
"This letter symbolizes not just a man’s gripe over a stolen CD, but also the essence of the intra-campus war between you, the tech-ie, and me, the athlete. For seven months I watched you and the rest of the tech-ies as you prance around this campus, performing ancient tribal dances, having circle jerk ceremonies and giving speeches during mealtime, during which I never hesitate to drop as many cups as possible onto the MoConn floor."
So, basically, there you have it. There are kids who come to Wesleyan from every possible point of view, but in the end, some people take it upon themselves to divide campus between athletes and everyone else, which could range from the LARPers to activists, intramural frisbee players to Foss Hill hippies. And to be honest, there is something of a divide between hardcore athletes/Greek members/associated friends, but not a war as Mr. Freemark would like you to think. But the cup-dropping during speeches in MoCon is obnoxious as shit, and if I catch any of you doing it I won't friend you on facebook. BURN!
¶ 5:58 AM 4 comments
It all began, for the techies at least, with a joke wespeak (an kind of letter-to-the-editor in the Argus, the campus newspaper) for the joke issue of the Argus, written by Adam Freelander to a freshman named Emmanuel Freemark who, in the campus mail room, was inadvertently given Adam's package slip. When Emmanuel picked up Adam's CD, he assumed it was promotional garbage and threw it out. When Adam found this out, he was annoyed, and wrote a wespeak in the joke issue, which for all intents and purposes should not have been taken seriously.
Well, in the next issue Adam got a response wespeak-- a real one, to be taken seriously. Along with insulting Adam's height and sexual prowess, it included these choice lines (typos included)
"This letter symbolizes not just a man’s gripe over a stolen CD, but also the essence of the intra-campus war between you, the tech-ie, and me, the athlete. For seven months I watched you and the rest of the tech-ies as you prance around this campus, performing ancient tribal dances, having circle jerk ceremonies and giving speeches during mealtime, during which I never hesitate to drop as many cups as possible onto the MoConn floor."
So, basically, there you have it. There are kids who come to Wesleyan from every possible point of view, but in the end, some people take it upon themselves to divide campus between athletes and everyone else, which could range from the LARPers to activists, intramural frisbee players to Foss Hill hippies. And to be honest, there is something of a divide between hardcore athletes/Greek members/associated friends, but not a war as Mr. Freemark would like you to think. But the cup-dropping during speeches in MoCon is obnoxious as shit, and if I catch any of you doing it I won't friend you on facebook. BURN!
¶ 5:58 AM 4 comments
Monday, June 13, 2005
Food
So most of you realize that there will be a need to consume food while at Wesleyan. As freshmen, you will become bff (most likely enemies though) with these two main frosh dining places:
Mocon: All you can eat. This place accepts meals from your meal plan. Food is decent, but becomes very monotonous come mid-November. There are vegetarian and vegan options, but not to the extent that vegans/vegetarians are satisfied with. There is also meat, but being a meat eater myself, I was not impressed with the meat. Boo hiss Aramark. Mocon is where most freshmen go, and you'll sometimes find sophs, juniors and seniors there. The top of the balcony is where you go to make announcements regarding parties, sports events, dances, plays, bands, etc. They have fabulous brunches on the weekend, with lots and lots of delicious breakfast foods.
NOTE: As an evolving freshmen, you will learn to steal food from Mocon. This skill will be more useful after freshmen year because it will help you (possibly) conserve points. The trick is to bring lots of tupperware, a big bag, and sit far far away from where any person is working. Do not take the milk though, because it goes bad only after a day or so in your fridge. Believe me I'd know. :
Summerfields: Only open on the weekdays and late at night, Summerfields is different than Mocon because they offer about 5 different actual meals, and these change every week (and are different for lunch and dinner). You order one of the options, and this is given to you on a plate, and then you can treat yourself to the salad bar, soup, bread, dessert, etc.
NOTE: You can ask for meals to go, get your meal put in a container, and eat the soup, salad, bread, fruit, dessert as your actual meal and then eat the "leftover" food for dinner that night. This system also works better when you're on points as opposed to meals.
I really don't feel like elaborating on the rest. Maybe someone else can pick up where I left off... ¶ 6:34 PM 0 comments
Mocon: All you can eat. This place accepts meals from your meal plan. Food is decent, but becomes very monotonous come mid-November. There are vegetarian and vegan options, but not to the extent that vegans/vegetarians are satisfied with. There is also meat, but being a meat eater myself, I was not impressed with the meat. Boo hiss Aramark. Mocon is where most freshmen go, and you'll sometimes find sophs, juniors and seniors there. The top of the balcony is where you go to make announcements regarding parties, sports events, dances, plays, bands, etc. They have fabulous brunches on the weekend, with lots and lots of delicious breakfast foods.
NOTE: As an evolving freshmen, you will learn to steal food from Mocon. This skill will be more useful after freshmen year because it will help you (possibly) conserve points. The trick is to bring lots of tupperware, a big bag, and sit far far away from where any person is working. Do not take the milk though, because it goes bad only after a day or so in your fridge. Believe me I'd know. :
Summerfields: Only open on the weekdays and late at night, Summerfields is different than Mocon because they offer about 5 different actual meals, and these change every week (and are different for lunch and dinner). You order one of the options, and this is given to you on a plate, and then you can treat yourself to the salad bar, soup, bread, dessert, etc.
NOTE: You can ask for meals to go, get your meal put in a container, and eat the soup, salad, bread, fruit, dessert as your actual meal and then eat the "leftover" food for dinner that night. This system also works better when you're on points as opposed to meals.
I really don't feel like elaborating on the rest. Maybe someone else can pick up where I left off... ¶ 6:34 PM 0 comments
Regarding Camp Wesleyan
Alissa's post struck me as magnificent, and reminded me of something that I had nearly forgotten. Yes, college will feel like summer camp. Yes, you and your friends will continually remind yourselves that it is, in fact, a six month long summer camp. Yes, this fascination dies away shortly after orientation, which is, like Wesfest, Wesleyan^39824798327.
In the science center there is
1) a stuffed buffalo in an inpromptu museum on the fourth floor (regarding stuffed animals, in the second floor of Hall-Atwater there are rows and rows of stuffed birds in poor condition in glass cases)
2) a long open-air shaft that extends from the roof to the ground, but at the same time is enclosed so that no one can happen to wander into the bottom of the shaft from the outside. There is a place on the sixth floor (or, obviously, the roof, if you can manage to get access--I happened upon the door while it was open at 2 am one morning thanks to two seniors with a campus master key) where you can access this metal enclosure that stands directly over said shaft. Here you can drop old machines to their death as they plummet six stories and then explode at the bottom into a pile of already deceased computers. If you happen to go, look for an old console television in the pile--It was my work.
Also, if you have to get therapy at the office of behavioral health, ask for Dr. Russell. ¶ 7:14 AM 2 comments
In the science center there is
1) a stuffed buffalo in an inpromptu museum on the fourth floor (regarding stuffed animals, in the second floor of Hall-Atwater there are rows and rows of stuffed birds in poor condition in glass cases)
2) a long open-air shaft that extends from the roof to the ground, but at the same time is enclosed so that no one can happen to wander into the bottom of the shaft from the outside. There is a place on the sixth floor (or, obviously, the roof, if you can manage to get access--I happened upon the door while it was open at 2 am one morning thanks to two seniors with a campus master key) where you can access this metal enclosure that stands directly over said shaft. Here you can drop old machines to their death as they plummet six stories and then explode at the bottom into a pile of already deceased computers. If you happen to go, look for an old console television in the pile--It was my work.
Also, if you have to get therapy at the office of behavioral health, ask for Dr. Russell. ¶ 7:14 AM 2 comments
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Get Pumped
After all my boxes were unpacked in my first dorm room ever, my parents and I walked back to their car. This was the moment that they left so I could go make college friends. In closing words of wisdom, my father handed me a black bicycle pump from the back seat. He said, "Keep this under your bed, just in case you need a weapon."
I do not recommend packing a bike pump as a weapon. It does make a great musical instrument, clothing accessory and bike tire inflation device, though. ¶ 10:43 AM 0 comments
I do not recommend packing a bike pump as a weapon. It does make a great musical instrument, clothing accessory and bike tire inflation device, though. ¶ 10:43 AM 0 comments
Friday, June 10, 2005
Tips for Getting into Classes Add/Drop
Well, unfortunately, one of the biggest side effects of going to a small liberal arts school is that, well, it's small. With that said, you will *not* get into every class you want to take at Wesleyan because most likely the things you are interested in, 100 other people are, too. Yeah, see, no, you are not a special, unique snowflake here at Wesleyan. Forget all that shit you learned in elementary school.
Here you are your WesID.
Here you are how fast you can click.
Now, not all hope is lost, of course. The professors are not the creators of the machine that is Wesleyan Class Registration. They, for the most part, have some drops of mercy within their bones.
Some are even misguided enough to think you might just be a special, unique snowflake.
Appeal to that.
First, the *minute* you get out of registration, after adding desired classes you were too slow to get into onto your class wishlist, run, not walk, back to your dorm and email the professor. In said email, you should write honestly (or dishonestly, I suppose, if you're just taking the class because your crush is in it or you heard it was an easy A) the reasons you want to take the class. These reasons can range from anything from a deep, burning obsession in your loins for the poetry of Langston Hughes or giddy feeling you get when someone talks about cell division. Whatever. Just make it sound like any future hopes for breathing depend on you getting into that class. Believe it or not, desperation works like a charm.
Second, find out that professor's office hours and stalk. Ask if they got your email. Ask if they got the flowers you sent them...
Third, go to every class as if you were actually in the class. Do the work. Take notes. Hand in the papers. Gaze affectionately into the eyes of said professor each class period from the middle of the room (not the front, not the back, the dead middle, because this is where professors focus the maximum amount of eye contact on students).
Fourth, if you are not in the class at this point and the professor tells you that you're wasting your time, do not give up. Show up again the next class. Add/drop is only two or so weeks long. You can do it.
Lastly, in case you somehow find the darkest heart of Wesleyan Professors or the most popular class (say, Sociology 151), make sure you have an easy backup class with unlimited enrollment.
Good luck and Godspeed, spacemonkeys. ¶ 8:33 PM 1 comments
Here you are your WesID.
Here you are how fast you can click.
Now, not all hope is lost, of course. The professors are not the creators of the machine that is Wesleyan Class Registration. They, for the most part, have some drops of mercy within their bones.
Some are even misguided enough to think you might just be a special, unique snowflake.
Appeal to that.
First, the *minute* you get out of registration, after adding desired classes you were too slow to get into onto your class wishlist, run, not walk, back to your dorm and email the professor. In said email, you should write honestly (or dishonestly, I suppose, if you're just taking the class because your crush is in it or you heard it was an easy A) the reasons you want to take the class. These reasons can range from anything from a deep, burning obsession in your loins for the poetry of Langston Hughes or giddy feeling you get when someone talks about cell division. Whatever. Just make it sound like any future hopes for breathing depend on you getting into that class. Believe it or not, desperation works like a charm.
Second, find out that professor's office hours and stalk. Ask if they got your email. Ask if they got the flowers you sent them...
Third, go to every class as if you were actually in the class. Do the work. Take notes. Hand in the papers. Gaze affectionately into the eyes of said professor each class period from the middle of the room (not the front, not the back, the dead middle, because this is where professors focus the maximum amount of eye contact on students).
Fourth, if you are not in the class at this point and the professor tells you that you're wasting your time, do not give up. Show up again the next class. Add/drop is only two or so weeks long. You can do it.
Lastly, in case you somehow find the darkest heart of Wesleyan Professors or the most popular class (say, Sociology 151), make sure you have an easy backup class with unlimited enrollment.
Good luck and Godspeed, spacemonkeys. ¶ 8:33 PM 1 comments
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Stuff to Bring
Inevitably, you will get a list (probably from your mom) of "things to pack". It is likely that this list will leave out key things that you will need to bring to Wes. For instance, you will need a costume for the following parties:
Foss Cross
Sex Party
Halloween Party
Coming Out Day Party
Glamnesty (please, God, let there be another glamnesty...)
Naked Party (j/k!) (about the costume, not the nekkid)
Foss & SoFo Proms (Yeah, kids in the Butts don't get a prom)
Valentine's Day Party
Balls, what parties am I forgetting?
anyway, also: if you want to be a bio major, you don't have to take chem152. Don't let em tell you otherwise. ¶ 10:43 PM 2 comments
Foss Cross
Sex Party
Halloween Party
Coming Out Day Party
Glamnesty (please, God, let there be another glamnesty...)
Naked Party (j/k!) (about the costume, not the nekkid)
Foss & SoFo Proms (Yeah, kids in the Butts don't get a prom)
Valentine's Day Party
Balls, what parties am I forgetting?
anyway, also: if you want to be a bio major, you don't have to take chem152. Don't let em tell you otherwise. ¶ 10:43 PM 2 comments
"Be quiet. Jossus might hear you!"
Here's your daily dose of dork...
Joss Whedon, Creator/Director/Writer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly, went to Wesleyan. You may or may not be a fan of his shows, but aren't you kind of wondering what he's up to lately?
Having been out of the public eye for a short period of time since Angel was cancelled, Joss went straight to work on The Astonishing X-Men comic series. Fans of Buffy would find the series delightful, as Joss keeps up his tradition of strong and sassy female characters. Personally, I think it's a must have for Buffy or X-Men fans who are okay with embracing their inner comic book geek. The plot itself is a lot deeper than the X-Men movies in that it deals with a mutant "cure". The catch here is that a lot of mutants want to take it, to be freed from their powers and the persecution they deal with because of them. Read a review and description here...I think it's a worthwhile investment, or at least a worthwhile trip to the bookstore.
At the same time, Joss is working on Serenity, a big-screen movie based on the short-lived Firefly TV series. Check out the website. I don't know much about Firefly, so I'll leave that as it is.
Meanwhile, he's getting involved on a project that is sure to flop or blow up big. Given the large concentration of superhero movies on Hollywood's roster, it's hard to tell. My confidence in Mr. Whedon's abilities tells me that it's going to be awesome. What am I talking about? Wonder Woman. While the woman to wear the stars and stripes isn't confirmed (rumors involve Sarah Michelle Gellar, Eliza Dushku, Sandra Bullock, Kim Bassinger, Charisma Carpenter, Jessica Biel, and Michelle Rodriquez), one thing is confirmed...Joss Whedon is directing it.
Last year, Joss came to speak in the cinema. He was quite witty on the spot and a great public speaker. This same year, Pepe Ahn '04 directed a staged production of the musical episode of Buffy entitled "Once More...with Feeling!" There might be some DVDs of the production floating around campus still.
May Jossus be with you in your hearts. ¶ 6:34 AM 0 comments
Joss Whedon, Creator/Director/Writer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly, went to Wesleyan. You may or may not be a fan of his shows, but aren't you kind of wondering what he's up to lately?
Having been out of the public eye for a short period of time since Angel was cancelled, Joss went straight to work on The Astonishing X-Men comic series. Fans of Buffy would find the series delightful, as Joss keeps up his tradition of strong and sassy female characters. Personally, I think it's a must have for Buffy or X-Men fans who are okay with embracing their inner comic book geek. The plot itself is a lot deeper than the X-Men movies in that it deals with a mutant "cure". The catch here is that a lot of mutants want to take it, to be freed from their powers and the persecution they deal with because of them. Read a review and description here...I think it's a worthwhile investment, or at least a worthwhile trip to the bookstore.
At the same time, Joss is working on Serenity, a big-screen movie based on the short-lived Firefly TV series. Check out the website. I don't know much about Firefly, so I'll leave that as it is.
Meanwhile, he's getting involved on a project that is sure to flop or blow up big. Given the large concentration of superhero movies on Hollywood's roster, it's hard to tell. My confidence in Mr. Whedon's abilities tells me that it's going to be awesome. What am I talking about? Wonder Woman. While the woman to wear the stars and stripes isn't confirmed (rumors involve Sarah Michelle Gellar, Eliza Dushku, Sandra Bullock, Kim Bassinger, Charisma Carpenter, Jessica Biel, and Michelle Rodriquez), one thing is confirmed...Joss Whedon is directing it.
Last year, Joss came to speak in the cinema. He was quite witty on the spot and a great public speaker. This same year, Pepe Ahn '04 directed a staged production of the musical episode of Buffy entitled "Once More...with Feeling!" There might be some DVDs of the production floating around campus still.
May Jossus be with you in your hearts. ¶ 6:34 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
this is the most comforting thing i can think of right now
I know no one here is even thinking about actually graduating from Wesleyan. But trust me. In four years or so you will graduate, and I just want you to know that if you move to New York City, you will have no shortage of former classmates to hang out with. This place is crawling with them. Being able to move to a city with a pre-existing social life is beyond stunning.
¶ 6:58 PM 1 comments
You kids better be able to live up to this reputation...
A study at Cornell University determined the USA's 25 most sexually active college dormitories. I have no idea how they reached the statistics to make these rankings...so I'll leave that to your imagination. Ok, so you're probably wondering, what's the big deal?
Hewitt, on Foss Hill, is number 21.
See the full list. ¶ 9:05 AM 2 comments
Hewitt, on Foss Hill, is number 21.
See the full list. ¶ 9:05 AM 2 comments
I call the boring posts
Alan listed a bunch of names I had never heard of in a livejournal comment, and the only one I could recognize was deefhoof. Thus, my deerhoof experience during Spring Fling:
It was morning (well, college-time morning, probably it was more around noon) when I made my way down Foss Hill, which was throbbing more Ron Jeremy's member. There was a lot of beer and a lot of barbeque. On stage were a lot of people playing music that didn't make sense. In the middle was a small japanese girl with a guitar. I realized this was deerhoof. Then I ate some barbeque. Later I walked into Ceelo's dressing room and then climbed into the clocktower of memorial chapel. This changed my life. The clocktower, not Ceelo. Clocktower is also a scary game. I don't remember if it's one word or two. Anyways, welcome to Wesleyan, leave your pants at the door. ¶ 7:20 AM 0 comments
It was morning (well, college-time morning, probably it was more around noon) when I made my way down Foss Hill, which was throbbing more Ron Jeremy's member. There was a lot of beer and a lot of barbeque. On stage were a lot of people playing music that didn't make sense. In the middle was a small japanese girl with a guitar. I realized this was deerhoof. Then I ate some barbeque. Later I walked into Ceelo's dressing room and then climbed into the clocktower of memorial chapel. This changed my life. The clocktower, not Ceelo. Clocktower is also a scary game. I don't remember if it's one word or two. Anyways, welcome to Wesleyan, leave your pants at the door. ¶ 7:20 AM 0 comments
I Plan To Be Notorious For Short Posts
Before I left for Wesleyan, I often wrote hir love letters. They would look like this:
My Dearest Wesleyan,
These summer days past so slowly without you. I often dream of you and plan out our next several years together. At IKEA today, I bought a pink trash can that I will bring to you in the fall. Oh, how I long to be inside of you!
Love,
Andrea ¶ 2:34 AM 1 comments
My Dearest Wesleyan,
These summer days past so slowly without you. I often dream of you and plan out our next several years together. At IKEA today, I bought a pink trash can that I will bring to you in the fall. Oh, how I long to be inside of you!
Love,
Andrea ¶ 2:34 AM 1 comments
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
The Management, on tour with Of Montreal
The Management is a band composed of recent Wesleyan graduates. They made sweet sweet music that spoke to our hearts. Just when we thought they were out of our world, I got this message from them on MySpace...
"College is over for the management lads and what better way to celebrate than a 28 date national tour in the fall! You heard right...
Everyone's favorite fake karaoke pop band willl be opening for OF MONTREAL in August and September! The tour will take us up the east coast, into the great northern plains of Canada and back through the midwest to NYC. Check out the dates at KorkAgency.com under Of Montreal.
With your help, maybe we can be on the O.C. by early next spring! In the meantime look out for more new songs to be posted soon.
- the management"
In case you don't know, Of Montreal is a relatively popular indie band...and The Management are a more than relatively awesome band. This means that they're probably right about the O.C.
Go to their MySpace page and listen to "Kids"...if it doesn't change your life, you might want to transfer to another school. (j/k!) Yes, most of us don't understand the lyrics...but the music speaks for itself. Do you know what it's saying? "Boogie down until your body collapses in an orgasmic heap of groove" That's what it's saying.
Or, you could just download these songs (On PCs...Right Click, Save As)...
"College is over for the management lads and what better way to celebrate than a 28 date national tour in the fall! You heard right...
Everyone's favorite fake karaoke pop band willl be opening for OF MONTREAL in August and September! The tour will take us up the east coast, into the great northern plains of Canada and back through the midwest to NYC. Check out the dates at KorkAgency.com under Of Montreal.
With your help, maybe we can be on the O.C. by early next spring! In the meantime look out for more new songs to be posted soon.
- the management"
In case you don't know, Of Montreal is a relatively popular indie band...and The Management are a more than relatively awesome band. This means that they're probably right about the O.C.
Go to their MySpace page and listen to "Kids"...if it doesn't change your life, you might want to transfer to another school. (j/k!) Yes, most of us don't understand the lyrics...but the music speaks for itself. Do you know what it's saying? "Boogie down until your body collapses in an orgasmic heap of groove" That's what it's saying.
Or, you could just download these songs (On PCs...Right Click, Save As)...
The Management- We Care (my second fave song by them)
The Management- Everything is Happenin' So Fast
The Management- Just Becuz
The Management- Love Always Remains
¶ 10:52 PM 1 comments The Management- Everything is Happenin' So Fast
The Management- Just Becuz
The Management- Love Always Remains
BONUS: Some other tunes that some Wesleyan kids are sometimes jamming to. Those students namely being me, Joe John.
The Exploding Hearts- Sleeping Aides and Razorblades
(whole album here)
Gorillaz- Feel Good Inc.
(I know, I know...it's in iPod commercials, but it's still a good song!)
The Changes- When I Wake
(whole album here)
Gorillaz- Feel Good Inc.
(I know, I know...it's in iPod commercials, but it's still a good song!)
The Changes- When I Wake
Hellogoodbye- Call N Return
(A good amount of Alpha Delt kids, well at least two, love this band. I love this song.)
O-Zone- Dragostea Din Tei
(Romanian popstar outlaw picassos...ready to steal your heart and make you dance.)
The Walkmen- The Rat
A.C. Newman- Miracle Drug
M.I.A.- Galang
Joy Division- Love Will Tear Us Apart
(An oldie but a goodie. I will admit that I never even heard of Joy Division until I came to Wes.)
Smoosh- Massive Cure
Elkland- Apart
The Postal Service- Such Great Heights
The Postal Service- Be Still My Heart
(I didn't know who they were until Wes...none of my friends from other schools have heard of them.)
Sufjan Stevens- Come on Feel the Illinoise!
Architecture in Helsinki- The Owls Go
Doppelbanger- Requiem for Usher
(If you like Requiem for a Dream, you'll find this hilarious. Kids call them "mash-ups".)
Maximo Park- The Coast is Always Changing
Ted Leo- Since U Been Gone/Maps
The Arcade Fire- Rebellion (Lies)
(A good amount of Alpha Delt kids, well at least two, love this band. I love this song.)
O-Zone- Dragostea Din Tei
(Romanian popstar outlaw picassos...ready to steal your heart and make you dance.)
The Walkmen- The Rat
A.C. Newman- Miracle Drug
M.I.A.- Galang
Joy Division- Love Will Tear Us Apart
(An oldie but a goodie. I will admit that I never even heard of Joy Division until I came to Wes.)
Smoosh- Massive Cure
Elkland- Apart
The Postal Service- Such Great Heights
The Postal Service- Be Still My Heart
(I didn't know who they were until Wes...none of my friends from other schools have heard of them.)
Sufjan Stevens- Come on Feel the Illinoise!
Architecture in Helsinki- The Owls Go
Doppelbanger- Requiem for Usher
(If you like Requiem for a Dream, you'll find this hilarious. Kids call them "mash-ups".)
Maximo Park- The Coast is Always Changing
Ted Leo- Since U Been Gone/Maps
The Arcade Fire- Rebellion (Lies)
Reading ROCKS
¶ 10:37 PM 1 comments
If you head over to Barnes & Noble, you can pick up Wesleyan Class of '07 Chris Krovatin's debut novel, Heavy Metal and You. You may remember Chris as the mohawked director of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which you may or may not have seen at WesFest. I've heard a passage from it, I've heard him being excited about it...and I get a good vibe about it.
Here is the description from the publisher: Boy listens to lots of loud music and hangs with his friends. Boy meets girl. Boy falls dippy-happy-scared-as-hell in love with girl. Friends meet girl--and aren't impressed. Girl meets friends--and isn't impressed. Boy meets big dilemma. Boy plays music even louder. Big dilemma meets big, complicated resolution.With humor and heartfelt observations, debut author Christopher Krovatin strikes some very loud chords about life, love, sex, and friendship.
If it sounds like the type of book you'd be into, I'd recommend purchasing it. Then maybe the list of books other people have purchased who purchased this book will no longer be I Like It Like That (Gossip Girl #5), Teen Idol, Nobody Does it Better (Gossip Girl #7), and The Princess Diaries, Volume IV and a Half: Project Princess. The Princess Diaries are SO metal.
Here's a list of places people THINK you're going to...
A private, Free Methodist, Christian, liberal arts college in New York state.
Online application, admissions, academic programs, student life, athletics, ...
Welcome to the World's oldest college for women. Best 351 Colleges. Wesleyan
College • 4760 Forsyth Road, Macon, Georgia 31210 • (800) 447-6610.
You aren't going to school in any of these places. If you did, that would be quite funny because you'd move into the wrong school come August. I like Roberts Wesleyan College myself.
Illinois Wesleyan University
An independent, co-educational, undergraduate university founded in 1850.
Ohio Wesleyan University Online
Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges.
Founded in 1842 by the United Methodist Church, it is located in the city of ...
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University ... NWU Admissions. Wesleyan Advantage, Continuing
Education. The University, Athletics ...
Virginia Wesleyan College
The liberal arts at work in Hampton Roads: a college that truly integrates the
lessons of its teachers and of the extraordinary region that is its home.
Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University is a Christian institution with a listing of academic
programs, news items, upcoming events and prospective student information.
Texas Wesleyan University
A United Methodist institution integrating the liberal arts and sciences with
professional and career preparation at the undergraduate level and in selected ...
Welcome to North Carolina Wesleyan College
A private 4 year liberal arts college in eastern North Carolina with adult programs
in Raleigh, Durham, RTP, and Goldsboro.
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Liberal Arts college located in Buckhannon. Closely related to the United Methodist
Church.
A private, Free Methodist, Christian, liberal arts college in New York state.
Online application, admissions, academic programs, student life, athletics, ...
Welcome to the World's oldest college for women. Best 351 Colleges. Wesleyan
College • 4760 Forsyth Road, Macon, Georgia 31210 • (800) 447-6610.
Kansas Wesleyan University :: Salina, Kansas
A liberal arts institution. Contains information about the school, academics and
athletics.
Iowa Wesleyan College :: Learning in Community: An Academic Vision
A liberal arts institution with history, admissions requirements, academic
offerings and contacts.
Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell SD
Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell South Dakota.
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, career-oriented liberal arts college
located in Western Kentucky featuring academic opportunities in humanities and ...
The Wesleyan Church
The Ministry Site of The Wesleyan Church World Headquarters.
Southern Wesleyan University
A four-year liberal arts education, a Christian perspective.
Home Page | Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Christian, four-year liberal arts college. Also offers adult education classes.
Formerly called Bartlesville Wesleyan College.
Tennessee Wesleyan College :: Athens, TN
Methodist church-related liberal arts institution in Athens, Tennessee. Day and
evening programs.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY:
Welcome to Wellesley College
spacer, Wellesley College, top curve, The Wellesley Campaign, spacer. spacer, Departments ... Campus Places. Directions to Wellesley College. Friends Groups.
Post by: Amy
Welcome
Hey all! Welcome to my new baby! WesBlog '09 is for all you incoming froshies. Just for you. It is Paris Hilton-free and entirely different from totesumbrellas. I plan to recruit a few more Wesleyan students to provide short stories about their experience here. Some posts may be written essays, some may be a sentence, some may be poetry, and some may even include music by Wesleyan bands (if I can track it down). Maybe I'll delve slightly into the pop culture world by giving a shoutout to some of our famous alums. Basically, it's time to get CRAZY excited for Wes.
¶ 7:22 AM 1 comments
