Chapters 2 & 3 Graphic Organizer Clare Koopmans

A community of students in college is determined by many different factors: diversity and ethnicity, sleeping and eating schedules, selected major, dorm assignments, class schedules, and organization involvement.  Groups of friends are formed based on these elements, and one student participating in this formed community can also be a part of another group based on different facts.  Few students are a part of only one group in college.  Nathan explores these factors in My Freshman Year when she analyzes the activity patterns and schedules of freshmen attending her university.

Chapters 2 & 3 Discussion Leader Derek N.

1. Why does the author think students believe "bad" RAs enforce the law and "good" RAs enforce the spirit of the law?

                Students may not be overly thrilled of having a "watch dog" overlooking them night and day. One of the main things many students enjoy about going to college is to move away from their parents and live life on their terms. "Good" RA's also will be easier to connect with, if students feel comfortable around them, then they may become a friend and not another authority figure. Overall, students view "bad" RA's as police and "good" RA's as a friend or fellow student.

2.  Why don't most students at AnyU interact or be social with many of the minorities on campus?

                This lack of social interaction could simply be a misunderstanding or miscommunication. Many times, people will stick with what they are familiar with. White people may gravitate towards other whites while minorities may go towards other minorities. Neither groups may be avoiding one another, there just might not be any similarities for them to connect with one another. The author also could have seen the rare cases where there was a form of mild segregation.

3. Why is it that students often elect for certain events/socials but then make an effort  to not attend them.

                We think it is a number of things, ranging from time and opportunity cost. If an RA requires his or her hall to vote for a specific event, no one is actually going to attend it. There is simply better things most people would rather be doing. Which leads into our other point of opportunity cost. If there is something better to do the time of the scheduled floor event, most students will simply chose which they value more. On page 46, the author explains how the floor voted for an even called movie night, which was setup by the RA. "The first Tuesday, two people showed, besides the RA. The second time nobody showed.. The program was cancelled."

4. Did the author's tone seem shocked or overly surprised in her findings of the racial diversity of the groups and lunch room?

                The author's tone was very surprised and shocked. We don't believe she thought it would be as divided racially as it was. Nathan realizes that AnyU is not a very diverse school when it comes to eating habits and friendship. She brings up the point that most minorities were found either eating by themselves or bringing their meal to their rooms and eating there. The author seemed to believe that students were less individualized and that the college, being 22% minority, would be quite diverse compared to what it truly is.

Chapters 2 & 3 Vocabulary Builder Liz Diede

Vocabulary Builder

Contiguous: (page 20). Being in actual contact; touching along a boundary or at a point.

Ubiquitous: (page 23). Existing or being everywhere at the same time. Constantly encountered

Akimbo: (page 27). Having the hand on the hip and elbow turned outward.

Irreverence: (page27). Lacking of proper respect or seriousness.

Lackluster: (page 28). Lacking brilliance or vitality: Dull, Mediocre.

Provosts: (page 29). A high-ranking university administrative officer.

Microcosm: (page 38). A community or other unity that is an epitome of a larger unity.

Colloquium: (page 43). An academic meeting at which specialists deliver addresses on a topic and then answer questions relating to them

Ambivalence: (page 50). Simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action.

Salience: (page 56) Standing out conspicuously: prominent. Of notable significance.

Chapters 2 & 3 Summarizer Sam S.

Nathan starts chapter two with general information about life in residence halls; for example, what kids bring for furniture, entertainment, pictures, door decorations and any other interesting findings she stumbles upon in student’s dorm rooms.  She took time to emphasize how pictures and themes on an individual’s door represent or defines who a person is and what they take interest in.  In her personal opinion she thinks all college kids are binging alcoholics, running around stripping, fantasizing about hot celebrities and people of the opposite sex.  She also mentions group activities set up by RA’s that students often avoid showing up at unless there’s food involved.  She finds herself, overwhelmingly, in a bit of a bind when she receives her course schedule, balancing her observations for her research, and realizes college life is stressful and ultimately time consuming challenge.

In chapter three she emphasizes on “community” involvement and diversity in the eyes of a student, not a teacher.  Nathan seems to think she sees a difference in college diversity between and student and a teacher at AnyU, where she previously taught college students.  Community, to students, was the typical group of people they associate with.  An interesting fact, based off that definition, is what students call “community rooms” where people of the same click hang out, genuinely not socializing with other students.  She concludes through observation that people who leave their door open are more likely to be sociable, but not to the extreme where students just pop in, sit on the couch, and start talking about any random subject.  Nathan shows different aspects of social networks on page 59 in a more statistical arrangement.  She thinks gender, ethnicity, race, and number affect where kids eat at tables in the cafeteria. 

Chapters 2 Life in the Dorms and Chapter 3 Community and Diversity

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 1 Discussion Leader Sam S.

What are some of the challenges Nathan faces thus far as a college first year student?

·         Students notice she is much older than them.

·         She is mistaken as a mother of a student, when she is in fact a student herself.

·         She has to learn to make some lifestyle changes: studying and staying up late, sleeping in, cafeteria food, adjusting to classes and homework and, learning the “language” to fit in.

Why are male and female college experiences so different?

·         Males and females are exposed to different situations.

·         Guys generally are interested the more “manly” careers such as welding, mechanics, or engineering versus women who go to school for cosmetology, nursing, or certain fields of art.

·         Girls are, by choice, sheltered a little more than guys.  For example, a guy riding a skateboard down a steep hill while drunk would find it funny, while a girl would see that idea as just plain stupid.

What do you think the author plans to observe as an undercover freshman?

·         Student roll of looking up at the teacher versus the teacher looking out at the class.

·         College trends, parties, language, studying habits.

·         Dorm life in general.

What rude awakenings could Nathan encounter in the future?

·         Learning that kids often cheat on tests, quizzes, and homework assignment.

·         Keeping friends.

·         Deciding what information is worth writing down for her research.

Chapter 1 Vocabulary Builder Clare Koopmans

1.  PEDAGOGY - the function or work of a teacher; teaching.

2. IMPETUS- a moving force; impulse; stimulus

3. SABBATICAL- any extended period of leave from one's customary work, especially for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.

4. ALBEIT- although; even if

5. CONTEXTUALIZE- to put (a linguistic element, an action, etc.) in a context, especially one that is characteristic or appropriate, as for purposes of study.

6. BRAVADO- a pretentious, swaggering display of courage

7. PLETHORA- overabundance; excess

8. BANTER- an exchange of light, playful, teasing remarks; good-natured raillery

9. PRESAGE- something that portends or foreshadows a future event; an omen, prognostic, or warning indication.

10. UPSHOT- the final issue, the conclusion, or the result