Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Dec. 1, 2005, edition 1 / Page 9
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The Pendulum I > A nf' OPINION Thursday, December 1, 2005 *Page 9 It's The Little Things Copenhagen. p. 10 OPINION Letters to the Editor Issues concerning the stu dent body, your peers. p. 11 With Lme, From Chile A weekly look at another country’s culture and customs: College Admission ■Qiarlie Remy Columnist Since the end of October, the subway stations have been full of billboards dis playing advertising for admissions in January to dozens of local universities. I have never seen so many ads for universities before in one place, except maybe at a college fair. The ads are not only limit ed to billboards ... there are ads on the steps in the Charlie subway stations, ads cov- Remy the entire subway cars and ads inside the subway cars. When I see all of this advertising, I have niixed feelings. While I know that univer- need to promote themselves in order *0 attract students, I feel that universities One of the last bastions free of capital ist influence, but alas they aren’t ... they offer business degrees, have contracts with companies to do research and are often run like businesses. After the only other person in my litera ture class besides myself (the class has 11 students) decided to leave a half hour early, I decided to ask my professor about the university system here. He explained to me that before the dictatorship, only public universities existed with the excep tion of a few private ones. It is interesting to notice that these public universities with profound histories are not the ones adver tising in the subways. According to my professor and other people I have talked to, private universities here essentially accept students who did not score high enough on the public uni- versities’ entrance exams. He thinks that many of the students at private schools don’t belong there and would be better served by going to techni cal schools and learning a trade. As in the U.S., attending a university brings prestige and status and can often be a “requirement” of being a part of the middle class. My pro fessor thinks that many of these private schools only want to make money by edu cating students that could not go to the more prestigious public universities. He said that the parents of students who are not very aca demically inclined are just setting their kids up for frustration. While it can be frustrating to go to a uni versity where students just don’t have the desire to be there or learn because they are not really interested in academics and dis comforting to see the capitalist profit mak ing side of private universities, I think that each person deserves an opportunity for a college education. I say this because not everyone can get into Universidad de Chile or Pontificia Universidad Catdlica de Chile whether it is their lack of ability or lack of effort. I think it’s important to give students the chance to learn analytical skills, history, literature and social sciences through attending a Students need to avoid depression at school -lti!je_Fogt Columnist ^e of the number one problems among allege age students is usually depression, especially for girls. It may be home-sickness, guy or girl trou- ®s, stress, money problems and others. We tend to get so bogged down with work We often forget to take care of ourselves. College students usually don’t eat right or Set enough sleep. I know I don’t and it seems “^possible to do. We are tired, cranky, stressed and poor and ^ "'alking around like a time bomb ready to explode at any moment. o be happy you have to be true to yourself, ou will always have stress and problems but . you are happy then they will not snowball •■ito others. the holiday season is arriving most of us ^ going home to see our family anksgiving and Christmas is the happiest of the year for families. During the breaks and around exams, take time to take care of yourself. If you’re a girl, go to the salon for a new haircut, go get your nails done, go to the spa or go shopping. If you’re a guy, go shopping for a new video game, take your girl out, have a guy’s night Just do something ftm and out of the ordi nary. If you really want to be happy you should try to do something like this once a week. Think back to the last time you went all out or you were really happy That is the best time in the world. College is supposed to be the best years of your life so enjoy it I always let the Uttle things get on my nerves and then I let them get me unhappy I am slowly learmng to let them go. Try to think about what makes you upset and try to fix it Realize how many good things you have. If weight is stressing you out as most of the fteshmen gained the extra 15 pounds we all know about, then go on a diet I highly recommend the G.I. Diet, which is the Glycaemic Index Diet university. I then asked my professor about the qual ity of the professors at private universities here. He said that there are many professors at private universities that are starting their professional academic careers. I have been told by others here that it’s hard to get a fac ulty position at any Chilean university in general, be it private or public. As you can see, the Chilean university system greatly differs from the U.S. system. In the U.S., private institutions (such as the Ivy League) are often considered to be more prestigious than public institutions, especial ly in the current climate of severe budget cuts at state universities. My professor said that in 20 to 30 years, the private institutions here will probably be more on par with the public institutions, as they continue to grow, develop, and attract better faculty and students. Contact Charlie Remy at opinions@elon.edu or 278-7247. It’s not that hard to do either. Try to make yourself happy and not let someone or some thing else take control of your Ufe. If you have ever had something that you really wanted to do or try, then go do it In relationships, think of the overall goal of what you want Too often we get unhappy because we get sUick in a rut and do the same thing every day. If this happens in a relationship then it gets old really quick. Tiy to do something special for friends and significant others. Relationships can either make you happy or not There is not an in between. If you are in an unhappy one then either make it happy and tell them about it or move on. I am happy in mine and my boyfiiend and ftiendships are what help get me through the crazy times and my repetitive schedule. Go out a live a littie and have fiin. You will be happy you did it later. Contaa Julie Fogt at opinions@elon.edu or 278-7247. Have something to say? Write for the opinion section. Send columns to opinions@elon.edu
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