Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Aug. 27, 1984, edition 1 / Page 16
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2CThe Daily Tar HeelMonday, August 27, 1984 J-frosh shares HPl. ne volve A reasons ' for 'grad men t By TOM CONLON "They don't root for Carolina in sports, they don't vote in campus elections, they donl read The Daily Tar Heel ..." such are words sometimes uttered by under graduates about graduate students. Up until last May, I was a Carolina undergraduate and sometimes shared the above perspective. But this past summer I did a public service internship in Salinas, Calif., where 1 had an opportunity to room with a former UNC graduate student and find out what I was in for. While traveling back east on Amtrak across the Nevada desert, I began thinking about the adjustment I'd be making. Matt Friedman, a 1983 graduate of UNCV Department of City and Regional Planning, said that erratic and. busy academic schedules prevented him and other graduate students from getting fully involved in campus life but that he made as much effort as possible to stay informed. I had the general feeling that many grad students came to UNC for a par ticular program of study and that their particular program happened to be at Carolina," he said. "Their interest in the school ended at the door to their depart ment, as did their knowledge of the university." "An incident that comes to mind is when a grad student asked me who Dean Smith was," he said. "1 told her he was the head basketball coach and asked her why she was curious. She responded that she had been over at (N.C.) State and that a student there asked what she thought of Dean Smith and she responded. 'What department is he Dean of?' She was curious why the State student looked at her as if she were retarded." I may have the advantage of familiarity with UNC, but Friedman came to UNC from Macalester College in ( Minnesota and from his home in Burlingame, Calif. He had to make that little effort to fit in, which, he said, made his graduate years at Carolina very rewarding, socially as well as academically. Friedman said he avoided "graduate alienation" by participating in school activities when possible and maintaining friendships with both undergrads as well Graduate departments are generally smaller than their undergraduate counterparts, and graduate students know everyone in their department. For this reason, graduate students tend to socialize among themselves within their departments. 1 Clip this coupon for a free T-Shirt tyjr J i i with the purchase of a Futon w9 .J""" i J (while supply lasts) f VH 7 Cf779j , i SS I ; oiuanim ill tl I t?i t h4 1 1 ttuml H o j i ; : l as graduate students. "I had . to make an effort to both be involved outside the classroom while maintaining a high academic perfor mance," he said. "I think I did both successfully. In the final analysis I learned a lot and had a good time enroute for the most part. It refreshed my mind periodically so I could function well." So far I am seeing the other side of the coin. Graduate departments are generally smaller than their undergradu ate counterparts, and graduate students know everyone in their department. For this reason, graduate students tend to socialize among themselves within their department. As an undergraduate among larger classes and different faces, I found my social life more often among clubs, dorms or campus organizations. During my recent two-day orientation QseooeQeeesaoeeoeQoeeooocft 4 1 for the master of public administration program, I found out how much more challenging my academic load will be. It will limit me from activities I previously took advantage of as an undergraduate. The problem is trying to balance graduate academic commitments with staying informed of life at the University. Friedman was active in Macalester College's pipe band, school paper, track team and numerous organizations.. He couldn't continue them at Carolina. "At the outset, though I had a double major as an undergrad, I found graduate level courses to be more time-consuming, though not necessarily more difficult," he said. "There were many times I had to miss activities due to class work I had to finish. "Another problem was the inability to set a consistent schedule -r- as I grad S student, many assignments and comple tion schedules were not always set in advance. I found that my schedule was very inconsistent and I could not take part in as many activities at Carolina as I would have liked. While I was involved in some campus activities, I would have liked to have done more." For most undergraduates, the only contact with graduate students is through a class taught by a graduate teaching assistant. Graduate students, as authority figures in the classroom, are viewed as different from the typical student and thus in a different world. The effort must come from both undergraduate and graduate students. While the graduate student has greater time and academic strains, he must strive to stay informed and involved to make the most of the Carolina experience. Undergraduates must be aware of the differences between their graduate coun terparts and strive for greater tolerance and understanding between the two groups. All students should remember that they are here for a common goal at this point in their lives and should make the most of their Carolina experience Tom Conlon, a first-year graduate student in public administration from St. Paul, Minn., is a staff writer for The Daily Tar Heel. natural home tK)k tor the nr"V & white awning, at ross from McDonald's, on W I ranklin St . C ha pel Hill 9 1 1-2222 TTIk (Slci Finest Quality Best-Priced 14K Italian Gold and Sterling Silver Chains Charms Earrings OFEMIMG MONDAY AUGUST 27 FRANKLIN CENTRE . 128 E. Franklin St. (Right behind Subway and Johnny T-Shirt) 'The Gold Hotline" M-th 10-5 Fri. 10-9 Sat. 12-9 Jack Tomkovick, Owner HH 9 The New Kid. L 11323 l Us J v. J in Model T's Extra Extra Pizza Mountain Subs & Sandwiches Deluxe Burgers Italian Delights 30 Item Salad Bar Willow Creek Shopping Center, Carrboro Carr Modem S Mai Of Mali X Franklin St Jones Ferry "y Road Old Well Apt. FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE ONLY Pizza Bargain $3 Off Lg. at Reg. Price $2 Off Md. at Reg. Price $1 Off Sm at Reg. Price With Coupon Expires Sept. 15, 1984 (MODEL FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE ONLY Treat A Friend To Dinner Buy 1 Lasagna Dinner for $3.99 Get 1 Free With Coupon Expires Sept. 1$, 1984 E3S21 a I Call 929-6593 for take out FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE ONLY Lunch Special 11 am 4 pm Buy 1 6" Pizza Get 1 Free With Coupon Expires Sept. 15, 1984 MODEL ((MODEL FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE ONLY Lunch Special 1 1 am 4 pm 30 Item Salad Bar All You Can Eat . S1.50 ; With Coupon Expires Sept. 15, 1984 (MODEL Please support the urn n m wMM n a rMmgryjfyni,, , lWMMTWWBIMWMlTMWMlMMWiWWMWWBMIIWWIWWWawJ 77 O I It's A Hi-Fi Stand J JE ii Ml g An iii" i A It's A TV. Stand I'lfe""""' 'f- Carroll County Crates are here! Nail holes are predrlllea for easy assembly. We also have special sized crates for cassette tapes and 45 records. Greensboro St. Carrboro 942-3153 experience By TIM CRQTHERS Before saying anything else, let me admit that IVe never participated in a Carolina orientation. This fact may appear to discredit a column decscribing those first dreaded days a student spends outside the comfortable home town high school womb, but actually I am more than qualified for the task. After all my first few days in Chapel Hill came straight from the "you think you had it bad" chapter in the lengthy book of Carolina orienta tion horror stories. I was labeled a J-frosh. If you're a little fuzzy on this term, please don't feel naive, I'm afraid there are a few people in the administration who aren't too familiar with it either. I wouldn't want to imply that the J-frosh is a completely forgotten breed, let's just say we're not pampered. For those who don't know, a J-frosh is a freshman who begins school in January rather than the customary August. In my case, I arrived at the university, sight unseen, on a cold day in January 1982 only to find a campus full of locked doors. Orientation (for J froshes) was the following day, but nobody was back from Christmas vaca tion to roll out the red carpet. The next morning somebody did show up long enough to hand out the endless string of little cards everybody, even seniors, have to fill out for class registration and a campus map with Woollen Gym circled. Upon arrival at the gym, I quickly learned to block out the screams of anguish over that lost Econ 10 course. I decided to take classes that I could get without anxiety and then escape from what can be a rather overwhelming circus. I guess that is the best lesson I can pass on. Mom was right for a change when she told you not to worry and that it would all work out, eventually. It will. Take it from a battle-hardened J-frosh; freshman naivete is one of the healthiest forms of ignorance. There's always time for Intro to Econ. Tim Crothers is a junior English major from New ' York City. i Support March of Dimes THIS SPACE CONTRIBUTED BY THE PUBLISHER Bgfgsssa HfSil wbmbw BSS33I kLjb nBB m Mm tQQSSB mamma Himiyp iw Hff E52SB Em ii i f j U U LiLu 3 S.Sl)ULM 3 n3 v-o fej 3 UlnJ n !' 1 The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) is more than a college program. It s a . tradition. For 163 years, k ROTC has been . training people to do a job that's also a tradition. The job of an Army officer. . In 1819, " Captain Alden Partridge, a former superintendent at West Point, started what we know today as Army ROTC. He felt our country needed more "citizen sol diers." So he established the first private school to offer military instruction. It didn't take long for his idea to spread. By the turn of the century 105 colleges and universities across the country were offering military instruction on their campuses. Today, with Army ROTC available at over 1,400 colleges and universities, the program is stronger than ever. f I J And last year alone, over 10,000 students participated. Some were interested in the leadership and management training. Others enrolled on full-tuition scholarships. And the financial assistance up to $1,000 a year during the last two years of ROTC attracted still others. But all of them had one thing in common: the desire to begin their future as Army officers. Why don't you do the same? You'll graduate to a position of real responsibility. Exercise leadership and management skills. Build a secure future for yourself. And enjoy the travel, adventure and prestige of being a second lieuten ant in today's Army. rmy rw i v. it s as much of a tradition as the job it trains you for. Find out how to enroll today. .. r For more infor-( mation contact the I Army ROTC Pro- fessor of Military Science on your campus. j6T ..s, "to. ( f r- Li Call (collect) Major Joe Sebes (919) 684-5895
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Aug. 27, 1984, edition 1
16
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