Spring Break
Potential of academic orgs eclipsed by student apathy
Saad Rizvi
Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: Commentary
The general UConn populace does not realize the importance of these academic-related clubs. These student organizations, which host numerous speakers and provide a sneak-peek into the future careers of students; sometimes, these organizations even provide networking opportunities for future jobs. Most importantly, these organizations provide a venue of new potential friends who can contribute positively to one's life without getting drunk. Yet students fail to realize the potential of the student organizations.
The general indifference toward scholarly organizations is also shown in the previous funding trends from USG, wherein club sports get a large chunk of the funding and other student organizations, those committed to raising awareness or improving professional capabilities, receive less funding, if any at all. Some would argue that Haggerty defeated Ortiz because of the latter candidate's outspoken attitude against the sports clubs.
It is very doubtful that UConn will ever reach the intellectual level where the students will produce anything similar to Free Speech Movement or Students for Democratic Society. However, does UConn have the potential to do it? Most certainly. UConn has to stop taking pride in the fact that it is the highest-ranking public university in New England; we are a big fish in a small pond, with no legitimate competition from other New England universities. Instead, UConn should step up its game and bring itself on par with better public institutions like University of California-Berkeley or University of Michigan. We have the potential to do it.
The general indifference toward scholarly organizations is also shown in the previous funding trends from USG, wherein club sports get a large chunk of the funding and other student organizations, those committed to raising awareness or improving professional capabilities, receive less funding, if any at all. Some would argue that Haggerty defeated Ortiz because of the latter candidate's outspoken attitude against the sports clubs.
It is very doubtful that UConn will ever reach the intellectual level where the students will produce anything similar to Free Speech Movement or Students for Democratic Society. However, does UConn have the potential to do it? Most certainly. UConn has to stop taking pride in the fact that it is the highest-ranking public university in New England; we are a big fish in a small pond, with no legitimate competition from other New England universities. Instead, UConn should step up its game and bring itself on par with better public institutions like University of California-Berkeley or University of Michigan. We have the potential to do it.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
John
posted 4/28/09 @ 12:13 PM EST
i wouldnt go so far as to equate political activism to intelligence. Many campuses that are big into political activism lose so much contact with the outside world it is quite sad to live there because the propaganda and brainwashing are widespread (insert any small liberal arts college in the northeast). (Continued…)
Jason Ortiz
posted 4/28/09 @ 2:36 PM EST
Saad, I believe this article is a bit misinformed. I think if you look at the history of the groups i'm in involved in I think you'll see that we've brought many great speakers and events to campus. (Continued…)
Jason Ortiz
posted 4/28/09 @ 2:50 PM EST
And i'm sorry i'm high and I forgot to add a clarification on your comment regarding the possibility of changing campus marijuana penalties. It is absolutely possible to convince the administration to change the punishments levied by Community standards and other administrative bodies. (Continued…)
charlie murphy
posted 4/28/09 @ 4:46 PM EST
Saad,
clearly you don't really have any idea how USG works, or any student organization for that matter. Maybe you should put all that money you get paid to write garbage like this to good use, and actually do some research. (Continued…)
Post a Comment