Higher "Hire?" Education

Students, we have discussed two articles dealing with the main purpose of college: to get a good job with a comfortable starting salary/options for promotion. Is this the only reason to go to college? The authors of the articles suggest that there is much more to learning than money. Do you ever feel like that is the only reason you are in college or have chosen a career? Have you done anything on campus (aside from partying) simply for participating in an enriching experience? What kinds of things are out there to help you escape this one overwhelming reason for being in college, on our campus? How do you want to remember your college days?

Racism

Many of you are choosing for essay five to write about racism as an issue in America. While we came to consensus, it seemed, in class that racism and racist ideas still exist in American Society, we were at a loss as to how to deal with it finally - to eradicate it. Education seems to be an important step, in the many years since the civil rights movement, necessary in eliminating racism. But, let's localize things a bit more...Do you feel that our treatment and celebration of diversity on Cortland's campus has eradicated racism on this campus? Do you wonder if there are people who hate others for no valid reason in your immediate neighborhood (ie: your room, floor, dorm, classes)? Or, do you feel comfortable knowing that we all respect each other here at Cortland?

I think that it is unfair to judge a whole genera of music due to a handful of songs in the way that we saw in McLune's article. Hip-Hop artists such as Little Wayne, say ridiculous things in their songs that are hard to explain for example when he say "word to my wristwatch" (from his song Ice Cream Pain job...I think). Can we take these things seriously? I don't think we can. Instead, we should enjoy the rhythm and beats of Hip-Hop.

Question One

We are speaking in class right now about hip-hop. How do you feel about this genre of music? Do you love it? Hate it? Take it or leave it? Who is your favorite hip-hop artist and why? What do you feel hip-hop contributes to the culture of American Society?