scheduling issues

My least favorite thing about Wittenberg would have to be scheduling.  It's hard enough being having two minors and a major to fit everything into four years, but then when I can't even get into the classes that I want to take it's even more frustrating.

I learned that if you email the professor ahead of time, they will either sign you into the class or they will reserve a spot for you, which is very good to know, but you have to know the professor well enough to ask them for a favor. I understand that it is smart to take your gen ed requirements your freshman and sophomore year, but if I don't even know what I want to do, then I want to be able to take classes that I choose and not that are chosen for me.  Like taking TWO science classes? I know for a fact that isn't what I want to do, so why should I spend the two years that I have set aside for deciding what I want to major in taking classes that I don't want to major in.

Especially being a comm major, it is so hard to get into the upper level courses because they only have spots open for about 10 people at the most. It is also like this with art courses, I have had to sign up early and was only accepted because I was a minor.  What do people do when they just have to take the courses for gen eds?

I'm not exactly sure about what to do with these compliants, I have never heard anyone say that they have had 100% success with the system, but I'm not sure what else we could do.

Age doesn't matter

When I first visited Witt, there was a single moment when I knew Witt was for me.  We were outside of the  alumni house and my tour guide was talking about how much she loves that as a student, you can be friends with people from all different grades. In high school, I was never close with anyone in my grade, but because of sports, I was always friends with people who were older and younger than me.  Hearing this from my tour guide is what made me decide, in that moment that Witt was the school for me.

My favorite thing about Witt is how close people from every class can be.  Some of my best friends here are older than me and I don't know what I would do if what year you are mattered.  And that, is my favorite part about Witt. 

It's kind of funny that this has nothing to do with the campus or anything and I could probably find it at another school.

Where is everyone going to live??!

Another thing that my friends and I have been talking a lot about is the crazy greek housing situation.  I know that in my house (DG), we are having issues because since 5 girls who were supposed to live in the house this year didn't, we thought that they might have to live in the house next year, so that almost half of us sophomores might not be able to live there next year, so we would have to our senior year instead.  Even now that we found out that those seniors don't have to live there, we still can't fit everyone in the house.  But it seems that every other house is having the opposite problem.  The Gamma Phi Beta girls and the Sigma Kappa's have to have seniors live in the house because the incoming junior classes aren't big enough to fit into the houses.  Everyone is already stressed out about roommates, where they are living and making commitments to their houses.

SpRiNg BrEaK 2011

So a big topic of conversation is what everyone is doing for spring break.  Usually people choose to go somewhere either cold for skiing or hot for relaxing and tanning.  But this year money seems like a bigger issue than usual.  I know that my friends and I were going to go to Florida, but it just isn't worth paying for EVERYTHING when we can have just as good of a time at a place that we don't have to pay for.  We decided we would go to my lake house in PA, where it won't exactly be hot, but it's cheaper to go there and get a tanning package than it is to go all the way to FL just for the tan.

Does the groundhog really think spring is coming?

So today is our third "ice" day... It is a little sad to say, but I sort of just wish we had school today.  I understand why we didn't have classes because the sidewalks are AWFUL, but seriously people were playing ice hockey on Alumni Way yesterday! I understand the whole physical plant thing, but come on.  Anyway, I'm a little surprised that I haven't heard of any big falls or anything since it is pretty dangerous.

I guess that Puxsetauny Phil didn't see his shadow which means that spring is coming soon. I HOPE SO. This weather just makes everyone look so down, I guess because a lot of people are pale, which makes everyone look sort of sick.  I just wish we could find out a little earlier than 7 am that classes are canceled.  I have studied for 3 tests that haven't happened! Now some people think we won't have school tomorrow too, but I would be shocked if we didn't. I was a little shocked that we didn't today.

My story

For my story, I interviewed Kristin Komar, who went on the trip to Florida.  I also interviewed the president of Distance for Dreams, Whitnee Dickson.  They both expressed how amazing the program at Disneyworld is for children with terminal illnesses. Give Kids the World is a huge village in Disneyworld that has EVERYTHING for these children.  They both had a tour of the facility and after researching it more for my story, I realized how great it is too and how many dreams come true there.

four simple words

Unfortunately, racism isn't just an issue at Witt.  I know that it has been less of an issue in recent generations, but that doesn't mean it isn't still an issue.  It is also unfortunate that four simple words have to be said for people to realize that it is still a prominent issue in our society.

Growing up I didn't even think of it as much of an issue, I went to private school and all of the African-American kids were considered "white" because they wanted to be treated that way.  The first time I realized that it was still a big issue was last year.  One of my really good friends was going to an initiation party for the lacrosse team.  They first made him dress like a girl and at the party made him drink excessively.  He understood it was part of becoming a member of the team, but then one player took it too far.  An upperclassman shoved a drink in his hand and said, "Drink this n****r."  I had NEVER seen him cry before, he was a tough guy, so when he called me sobbing, I was really concerned.  Of course, nothing came of the situation because the player didn't think anything of it and my friend would never have said anything bad about a teammate, but my friend ultimately ended up leaving Wittenberg because of it.

I have never had to deal with being the minority, but I consider my friends, my family and when they are upset it makes me upset.  So we shouldn't look at this situation as a crime towards a black person, we should look at it as a hate crime towards our friends and family.

Today's reflection on what happened left me VERY impressed with our campus.  Now I just can't wait to see what happens next and if people take the next step towards equality.