Newspapers / Brevard College Student Newspaper / Jan. 30, 2009, edition 1 / Page 2
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The Clarion | January 30, 2009 Page 2 ■ ■ Opinion — The Metaphors of McLarty-Goodson Classrooms^ clocks^ construction^ Camus^ and the College by Joseph Chilton Editor in Chief In my three years at Brevard College, I have almost every one of my classes in MG. And I have taken my cell phone to every class period. The reason for this is not that I enjoy texting during lectures or playing the occasional game of Snood if class gets a little dry (although I am guilty on both charges). The real reason is that I need the phone to tell time, since for for the last three years the clocks in MG have not worked. They aren't stopped, the hands just spin without ever accomplishing the task they were made to perform. At first it bothered me that the school has never fixed the malfunctioning clocks, until I looked around at other things that haven’t happened on cam pus. The pool is still a storage space, devoid of the weights and exercise equipment that were promised two years ago. And I recently found a Clarion article that I wrote in 2006 reporting on the forthcoming LED sign to be erected on cam pus. That would be the same sign that was erected over the Holidays this year I have now come to the con clusion that the hands of MG serve a greater purpose on the Brevard College campus, reminding us of the Sisyphean struggle towards progress that the College has embarked upon. For those of you who have not taken Dr Brin- gle’s course in Existen tial Literature, Sisyphus was condemned to a life of constantly pushing a rock up a mountain; always moving forward but never REALLY ac complishing anything. (And if you haven’t taken that class, which is one of the most popular offer ings each Spring, way to be a true existentialist and avoid the herd mentality- go you!) “I think the clocks are defi nitely a symbol for our condi tion,” Dr Bringle recently told me in an interview. The College is currently at tempting to make huge chang es. Our enrollment is supposed to grow by almost double in the next few years. Reportedly there will be maj or construction taking place on campus includ ing a new pool and football field. If, like me, you are wondering when the time will come for these changes to actually occur, just go to MG. The clocks will tell you what time it really is. Obama headed on the right track by Aubrey Woody Contributor Barack Obama became our nation's President on Jan. 20 after a campaign promising hundreds of new improvements to American policy and livelihood. Among these promises are some that can be linked to the interests of our student body. Obama has promised to make education more readily accessible by paying tuition for students going into the teaching field. Many Brevard students are here for the Teacher Licensure program and this would affect them in a highly positive way. Maggie Whitman, Sophomore comments on this plan: "I know that there is already at least one federal program that will give you up to four thousand dollars a year if you agree to teach four consecutive years in an inner city school within four years of graduating. It's really not much when you go to a school that is near thirty thousand a year I really would like to see more aid being given to potential teachers, especially since most will spend the next twenty years of their lives paying off loans, driving used cars and renting apartments because their salaries will always be significantly lower than many other professions. And teachers have perhaps one of the most challenging and important professions in this world: they are shaping the future." In light of renewable energy, we students are encouraged to pursue environmental sustainability, Obama has a plan that perpetuates this kind of thinking. By 2022, 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel are to be required in the fuel supply, with hopes that this could increase to 60 billion gallons by 2030. It's good to know that the things we care about as students are being presented on a national level. Another hot issue that has been a critical part of obama's campaign is the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq. Brevard College has seen some of its students bravely join the military, with at least one student currently enlisted. Hopefully, with the help of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, General David Petraeus, and others, Obama can ensure a responsible withdrawal form Iraq. The President has already met with these men during his first day in office to discuss such procedures. Obviously, everyone has their faults, and the new President can't keep all of his campaign promises, but it seems to early to tell which ones will come to fruition. In any case, it looks like Obama is headed in the right direction. Got an opinion about a current EVENT? See SOMETHING IN THE CLARION THAT RUBBED YOU THE WRONG WAY? LET US KNOW. WE WELCOME SUBMISSIONS. PLEASE SEND THEM TO CLARION(^BREVARD.EDU
Brevard College Student Newspaper
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