|
|
| Purpose of Freshman Studies raise inquiries |
|
The only difference between a regular lecture class and a FRINQ class is that it’s smaller, and more awkward. If being a lost freshman isn’t confusing enough, we’re forced to take a class that doesn’t seem very meaningful.  “As of now, the class doesn’t have much substance,” said freshman Jacob Rathe, who is enrolled in the Portland FRINQ. “Our professor asked us if we thought Moscow had a different rhythm than Portland... Obviously.” According to FRINQ coordinator Michael Flower, the basic intent of the class is to approach inquiry in an interdisciplinary fashion, connect one student to a group of others, open up new ways for students to think about questions, and collaborate on a higher level of thinking. Professors are there to encourage and guide critical thinking outside of the box; which can kind of defeat the notion of thinking outside the box. Unfortunately, the majority of freshmen don’t even seem to care which inquiry class they sign up for. They have no passion for the posed questions, and have nothing to contribute to the discussion-based class. Mentor sessions are available to assist freshmen in their struggles, yet the biggest struggle is finding motivation to even attend class. These sessions only function as a place for students to daydream while the mentor reviews topics already discussed in the lecture class. The session’s ambiguity results in a small group of kids sitting around a table with nothing to talk about. This forced social scenario contains more pressure than trying to get along in a bad relationship. Supposedly the idea of a FRINQ class is to get freshmen interested in life. But shouldn’t we be able to think about our surroundings without the guidance of a teacher? Shouldn’t we be able to meet people without the assistance of a mentor? That’s my freshman inquiry.  |
Comments
Suck it up, and get the hell to class, freshie.
Don't make assumptions and learn how to spell before you take the time to rant, jackass.
As a 27 year old veteran, I know what I want to do with my life. I've already been an IT Manager for an international construction support company, a Marine, a strength coach, as well as a handful of other things. Yet because not all of my last universities credits transferred over to PSU, I was supposed to take a Soph. Inquiry...so do I not know what I want to do with my life? A majority of college to me IS bullshit that I have to sit through to get the information I need.
I don't need a grad student coaching myself and nine other people through half-assed guided discussions about what we've already discussed in lecture. I don't need a teacher trying to assign five to seven essays over the term to teach me how to "think".
I'll give PSU kudos for trying a new approach to general education, but honestly...for 90% of our student population...its bullshit filler that isn't needed. I'd rather be taking classes that directly influenced my major and helped me in that area of my future career.
Despite what you might think the real world doesn't operate the way you're taught in the classroom. Your boss seldom cares about the exact tenets of your morals....he/she doesn't care that you're well versed in world politics...he/she just wants you TO DO THE FUCKING JOB RIGHT. The other stuff is fluff.
As such I'm currently writing up my petition to have my SInq requirement waived due to life experience out in the world.
Oh and chippie, calling someone a "freshie" is a sure sign that you yourself have VERY little relevant life experience...as someone's place in the credit system hardly defines who they are or how far along life's path they are.
Being enrolled in inquiry makes it easy for me to deduce that a person is a) under the legal drinking age and not thinking rationally about where their money goes (as they haven't made the realization that they're needlessley spending their drinking money), or b) riding on some sort of grant system and not concerned about where the money goes. Otherwise they'd go to PCC and dodge the inquiry system.
For the rest of us who are taken to the brink with frinq and sinq, we bought into those hi-jinks by neglecting to think. The only small solace is that we can harass the incoming classes as they realize the hell they have just started to experience. Thus "freshie." Overgeneralizat ion only works while you're still in the military and everyone is still very much like you. Otherwise, it's best to avoid comparing reality to your own life experience as a single source of evidence. I'm old enough to be an asshole and mean it, and "freshie" is timelessly hilarious.