LeTters to the Editor

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Amen brother!

I just finished reading Jesse Beach’s article “Raise the Bar on Entrance Requirements”. Literally as I’m reading the article there are two first year students sitting across from me on the second floor of Elizabeth Dafoe library, needless to say they are chatting away and low and behold one of them picks up their cell phone and starts having a full out conversation. I was a first year student last year, to tell you the truth I’m still in U1, and to go even further I got into the university under the limited admissions program. I don’t believe that being an under achiever in high school has anything to do with being obnoxious, I think it has more do with being rude. Hate to get off topic here but another first year student at my table just picked up her phone and is having that full on conversation we keep complaining about. I don’t think that raising the bar on entrance requirements will quite solve our problem, I know some people who are the annoying library goers, they for the most part were A or B students in high school. Some of these people come to libraries/study areas without any books! What the hell are they doing in these places then there are lounges. I hate to put us back in time but someone has got to go around the study areas to tell these people to SHUT UP. I’m tempted to make a fake uniform

and pace the libraries and study areas doing just that, I know its not any library employees job but something has to be done, and if they don’t do it I’m going to start coming off as the rude asshole in the library.

Drew

If you’re hot, why would you wear a scarf?

Re: In response to your article on Cars, titled “Cars - for driv’n, not lik’n” by Matthew Abra.

Thank you for your wonderful article on cars.  I totally know the exact person you are describing!  But I think that your argument is slightly, dare I say, short sighted.  You have obviously never driven a scooter before.  Scooters are the best for several reasons:  they

are small and red and attract hoards of girls, plus they make a sweet high pitched droning sound that mimics the mating call of the elk. But that’s not all my friend!  Scooters come from Italy where guys are really hot and wear scarves.  I like to think of the scooter-people as A to B to C people; from home to school to that hot girls bedroom!

So, while I understand that people who are a little hooked on cars are a little ego happy, I can also appreciate how 49cc’s of raw two stroke combustion come together to change this world - for the better!

Sincerely,

Your friend Ryan.

Bababa dada I’m lovin’ it (school that is)

Re: “MAs are Becoming the New BAs” (Nov 14 2007)

There is a reason why an increasing number of BA grads are pursuing their MA degrees.  It’s because their BA is a worthless degree, which anyone breathing can easily attain (by breathing).   An arts degree can be a great stepping stone into law, a teaching degree or even graduate studies.  But for those pursuing a BA degree as a stand alone degree...wake up.

According to CNN a graduating Electrical Engineer (the faculty I’m part of) with an undergrad degree can expect a handsome $54,599 annually.  A hamburger flipping liberal arts student can expect a paltry $30,502.

Why such a disparity in pay?  It’s because as high as 2/3 of those who start off pursuing an engineering degree fail to complete it because they give up.  Engineering is HARD!  Engineering tests your mind, patience and time management skills.  It is a testament of hard work and dedication, not just being ‘smart’.  It is a degree which teaches a scientific method of thought, and a skill set which drives the world’s miracles of technology.

Go to university because it is difficult!  Don’t go to get a piece of paper which has taught you few marketable skills, and then wonder why your degree isn’t enough to “land...the perfect job”.  If your studies aren’t challenging, then they are probably not worth your investment.  It may be fun to take it easy in school, but in the end you’ll pay for your sloth, by slaving over a deep fryer for 12 hours a day, for 45 years making my french fries.  “Would you like fries with that?

Ian Naften