Newspapers / North Carolina School of … / Aug. 1, 2011, edition 1 / Page 7
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the stentorian | ncssm features august 2011 7 Facebook: a bridge between home and school By: Olivia Truax There is no doubt that Facebook has infiltrated almost all aspects of students’ lives at NCSSM. But why do NCSSM students need Facebook? Why do we need to be virtually connected, when ware literally together all the time - eating, studying, playing, and even sleeping? While day-to-day conve nience certainly does play into the popularity of Facebook, students maintain that Face- book takes on an added impor tance at NCSSM as a bridge between the world of home and the world of school. NCSSM students often refer to life at NCSSM as life “inside the bubble.” We can go days without stepping outside into the open air - let alone leaving campus. The NCSSM experience is all-consuming and completely unique, so sometimes staying close with friends from old schools can be a struggle. This struggle is made easier through the capabilities of Facebook. “When I thought that[the administration] had blocked Facebook last fall I almost had a panic attack” says senior Wynter Wolff. “It’s the way I stay in contact with my old friends. It is hard to keep up a friendship by email and texting.” Facebook also allows NCSSM students, who are scattered around the state during breaks, to keep up with each other. it is only a two-year school. “Though the friendships you make at NCSSM are keep up with friends from your old school. “You don’t feel as though Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life. , A Facebook homepage. “It’s saved me from being completely bored this summer... I would’ve been miserable if I didn’t have Facebook,” says Senior Jaret Dawson. Keeping up during the summer can feel especially important at NCSSM, because f&hl- ' ^ '' Ulhy ' Courtesy of facebook.com imique in their intensity, two months is a long time and, no matter how close you are, it can be hard [on friendships]” says senior Cori Lopazanski. Facebook can also help ease the transition to NCSSM for incoming juniors because, with Facebook, it is much easier to you are leaving your old fiiends behind as much,” says senior Wynter Wolff. Facebook also “allows juniors to get to know their senior counterparts [and to] get a sense of the school even before they arrive on campus” says Whitman Groves. This year, more than ever before, incoming juniors were able to talk to seniors via facebook. The NCSSM classes of 2012- 2013 group on facebook currently has over 350 members. But this knowledge about the school before arriving does have its drawbacks, according to senior Max Griffiths, “Facebook might be killing some of the NCSSM experience. It seems to be creating some preconceived notions about life at Smath that have the potential to spoil some things that should really only be experienced.” Whether you are for or against the ways in which Facebook has changed life at NCSSM for students, for alumni it is very positive. It has helped NCSSM alumni to stay in contact after graduation when they are not only scattered across the country. “I constantly use Facebook to talk to my friends from Smath,” says Elly Steel, class of2007. One of the major drawbacks of Facebook is that it is time- consuming and addictive. Many students struggle to keep up with their schoolwork because of the site. Although has its benefits in tenns of networking, it is important to manage your time well at NCSSM. The two week rule: why wait? By: Wynter Wolff In your first few weeks of NCSSM, prepare to be not mentioned in the School Handbook, but is common August 2011 “liiiiri 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 X 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 ; : ^^ component. At NCSSM, people change. People grow both intellectually, emotionally and socially, and by jumping into a relationship in the first two weeks, you really have no. idea what you are going to get or who you girl/ boyfriend will actually turn out to be,” says Huston Collins, a returning senior. This is the opinion shared by most students at NCSSM. Entering Science and Math can be scary at first, especially during those first few weeks of adjustment. If you’re starting a new relationship around the same time you’re trying to remember where the PFM is, and how to do a Web Assign, you may miss out on one of the most important parts of starting a new school, making friends. However, not everyone believes the Two Week Rule is something to live by. Mae Davis, a now-senior who broke the rule last year says it may work for some people, but isn’t detrimental when broken, “I don’t regret breaking it. I think it’s important to ‘try and get to know the person for a little while before you jump into a relationship, but you shouldn’t let other people judge your actions. If you really want to date them, then do it! SMath is for making mistakes. Mistakes can be fixed! Live a little!” Though the class of 2012 has already chosen a side, the class of 2013 will have to decide their fate as they begin their junior year. Courtesy of Ashley Jernigan The first “X” is when the juniors move in; the second “X” is when the two-week rule approve student dating. bombarded with about a million new experiences. New friends and hall mates, a new level of difficulty in classes, and of course, a new dating pool. Juniors (and even some forewarned seniors) will get caught up in that experience of meeting someone new, which can lead to wanting something more than just friendship. As these relationships emerge, you may be hearing whispers of something called the “Two Week Rule”, a bylaw knowledge among returning seniors and alumni. Basically, the rule states that new romantic relationships shouldn’t be started in the first two weeks of school. Some may find this uimecessary, but when polled, most of the senior class was in favor of the unofficial law. “Now I realize that there are some good reasons that make it a legitimate rule. Of course you get to see more people in two weeks rather than jumping in, but there is another the stentorian . the north Carolina school of science and mathematics 1219 broad street, durham, nc 27705 stentorian@ncssm.edu Editors-in-Chief: Caroline deSaussure, Ashley Jernigan, and Olivia Truax News Editor: Molly Bruce Features Editors: David Ojo and Noah Lieberman Opinion Editor: Steven Philips Sports Editor: Ahmed Zaeem Photo Editor: Samantha Hartsoe Writers: Jaret Dawson and Wynter Wolff Advisor: John Kirk
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Student Newspaper
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Aug. 1, 2011, edition 1
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