Thursday, November 19, 2009 opinions 5
Separate remedial courses waste time, resources
majority of high schools require a took my freshman year was inter- Even supposing my writing skills makes sense, given that many
speech course in their curriculum. esting, sure, but that was largely weren’t at a college level when I majors don’t involve trigonometry,
If we are going to persist in call- due to hearing the other students was accepted to Truman, a great statistical analysis, health concerns
ing Truman “the Harvard of the talk about various topics that number of the classes I’ve taken or physical exercise. However, all
Midwest,” it is more than reason- interested them, an experience I’ve here have endeavored to discuss students are exposed to critical
able to assume our students are had in many of my other classes the proper way to write for that writing through the writing en-
competent writers and speakers. while simultaneously learning field while simultaneously cover- hanced requirements, and public
Given the plight of the the- material that contribute toward ing three credit hours worth of speaking is unavoidable, both in
ater department, where faculty my major or specific areas of material. Dissecting arguments, class and out.
Tyler Retherford will be cut to barely cover the interest. As far as learning actual critically analyzing them and While removing the WACT and
needs of teaching courses abso- speaking techniques, I don’t recall responding with well thought-out COMM 170 requirements alto-
At a time when the very sur- lutely essential to the major (not having covered anything useful responses is part of nearly every gether would be the best solution,
vival of some departments is in to mention my own department of that I didn’t learn in speech class assignment in my anthropology combining them to make a single
question, it strikes me as some- sociology and anthropology, where during my sophomore year of high classes, and the first such assign- class does at least reduce the
what absurd that one of the largest there are three relatively distinct school. I can’t imagine a biology, ment in many of these classes number of credit hours students
debates over curriculum reform is fields lumped together with two math, English, history or anthro- gives a brief but sufficient lesson waste on relearning skills, and
not centered on whether to keep to three faculty members apiece), pology class re-teaching high on how to do so. Spending an en- consequently allows them to put
high school level skills classes, but the fact that there are 25 sections school level material for college tire semester on such basics is put- their tuition to better use. It also
instead on what format to use to of COMM 170 and 11 sections of credits, so why make an exception ting far too much time and effort will reduce waste of faculty time
reteach these skills to Truman stu- WACT this spring is absolutely for COMM 170? into solving what is essentially a and effort, which could then be
dents. Writing as Critical Thinking ridiculous. Consider also that there WACT also is exceptionally non-problem. better used teaching students the
and Public Speaking admittedly are only 17 sections of anthropolo- redundant. The vast majority of Other “essential skills” classes, advanced material found only in a
teach useful skills but, to be frank, gy and sociology courses total that my junior and senior years of high such as some lower level math, college education.
incoming college freshmen should same semester. This set of require- school were spent writing essays statistics and health classes, as-
have learned these skills long ments alone takes up as much fac- and critiques, so learning how sure that students are exposed
ago. The ability to write a strong ulty effort as an entire department, to write critically wasn’t some to the material and skills they
Tyler Retherford is a junior
essay is part of many universities’ but with few actual benefits. new, mysterious endeavor that cover, in keeping with the liberal anthropology major
admission requirements, and the The public speaking class I was sprung upon me in college. arts focus of the university. This from Springfield, Mo.
around the quad Service can take
What is your favorite
Thanksgiving dish? place anytime, place
buried within her rough hands.
“The desserts. “Homemade “What’s wrong?” I asked.
stuffing.” “I just want to make my first
Cherry pie.” sale,” she replied. “I’ve just got to
make my first sale.”
I didn’t know what to say to
Miranda Jones Brittany Backowski that, but I knew the appropriate
freshman junior response wasn’t so simple as to
buy a Jamaica shot glass from
Shawn Shinneman her and be on my way, so I began
to ask her about herself. I asked
Service is often thought of as a where she was from, what brought
“Grandma’s “Cheesy potatoes. ” her to Montego Bay, if she had
formal act.
cooking.” We set aside two hours per kids. Her initial shock at my
week to volunteer and think our questions faded to comfort, and
job begins and ends with those finally, a smile.
boundaries. However, it is often From time to time here in
Charlie Keller Luke Freeland Kirksville, I see some now-
freshman the small acts of service that gar-
junior ner the most profound results. familiar faces walking around,
Last summer, I was given the collecting beer cans from the
opportunity to travel to the heart yards of fraternity houses. Their
Holidays should return to of Jamaica on a mission trip. Our
mission revolved around three
days of building houses for the
clothes often look dirty and worn.
Occasionally, they will find a full
bag in a dumpster and load it up
in their carts, undoubtedly later
poor. It was a level of poverty I
a stress-free relaxing time had never come close to experi-
encing before. The magnitude far
outweighed that of the previous
exchanging the cans for money at
a local recycling center.
I’ve never had the chance to
If you’re like me, your holiday listening to stories from the olden mission trips I had attended here talk to any of these people, or at
social calendar is packed for a month days or playing with the ol’ pigskin in the U.S. least, I have never taken advan-
straight. From Thanksgiving to New in the backyard during a lazy holi- Although our trip to Jamaica tage of the opportunity. Nonethe-
Year’s, the parties, gatherings and day afternoon. Rushing from place focused on our tangible mission less, I wonder what a simple act
galas never stop. My two grandmas to place or event to event won’t — building the houses, donating could do for them. I wonder what
want me at their celebrations, my make happy memories. It’s more im- food and clothes — we quickly simply engaging in a friendly
friends want me around for their portant to actually enjoy ourselves learned that our greatest contribu- conversation could do for some-
gatherings and every relative in during the holidays than try to make tions came in the form of simple one who is blatantly watched and
between lays on the guilt as thick every single one of our loved ones interactions with the people. objectified by so many.
Brenna McDermott as figgy pudding to make it to every happy. Holidays are the time where The most notable instance for As winter approaches, so come
event. Whether they use the “you we are supposed to decide which me occurred at a flea market in the financial stresses of both
The British use the word “holi- don’t know how long I’ll be around loved ones are the most important Montego Bay a few hours before increased bills and holidays. Our
day” to describe vacations. Like, for sweetie” or the “well, you never to us. Sometimes it’s important to we departed. If you’ve never city is lucky enough to have orga-
“Oy, mate, I’m going to the loo, call, so I don’t know what’s going on sacrifice the “less important” people been to a flea market in a foreign nizations in place like Community
and then I’m leaving for Jamaica on in your life,” family seems to be the to truly enjoy a holiday with those country, it is quite the experience. Action and the Salvation Army
holiday.” Holidays are supposed to group least understanding of how un- we cherish most. The locals do everything short of that help ease those burdens. The
mean something relaxing, some- enjoyable a full, hectic schedule can The holidays have become this lassoing you into their shops and latter in particular is constantly
thing enjoyable, something spent on be — especially when it’s the only looming set of dates on the calendar force-feed stereotypes of their taking volunteers and donations.
a warm beach. But mostly holiday time most people get free of school I come to dread months ahead of country down your throat for less But I urge you to realize that
means something different than a or work stress. Time off must include time. I hate the stress, the expecta- than half the “original price.” For service opportunities are not
relaxing, enjoyable time. time to put your feet up and actually tion and the obligation. But the most instance, if you wanted to, you limited to formal organizations.
Holidays are hell. Bah humbug. enjoy some relaxation. Somewhere ridiculous expectations are the ones could have left this particular flea Service can take place anywhere
Those Brits have got it right with along the line we forgot how to relax we have of ourselves during the holi- market with at least 30 different and at any time. Our society has a
their use of the term, though. Holi- during the “most wonderful time of day months. So I’m giving up trying Bob Marley T-shirts. tendency to view the poor differ-
days should be a time for relaxing, the year.” to make everyone else happy. Maybe Anyway, as I escaped one shop ently from all other people.
for spending with loved ones. But regardless of how many peo- that means I’ll be on the naughty and decided on my next destina- You just never know what kind
But we’re all guilty of warping ple want you at their party, no matter list this year, but I don’t care. This tion, I noticed something I hadn’t of impact reaching out and break-
the “holiday” spirit from a time to how heavily Grandma lays on the winter, I’ll be giving up my job of seen all day — a lady sitting ing those boundaries can have.
enjoy ourselves and our families to a guilt, decisions like who you want obligatory visits, and I’ll be making inside her shop making no effort
time of stress, debt and drama. to spend your holidays with have to a real holiday of my holiday season. to attract customers. I walked
We aren’t actually enjoying our be your own. Running around from right in. To my surprise, she didn’t
holiday season. To actually enjoy house to house, sometimes even city Brenna McDermott is a junior jump up and offer me three items Shawn Shinneman is a junior
and savor the season to be jolly, to city, isn’t going to make lasting, for the price of one. In fact, she
we need to slow down and take a happy memories. The fond memories communication major barely moved. Her face, seeming- communication major
chill pill. come from card games after dinner, from St. Louis, Mo. ly worn from years of sun, stayed from St. Joseph, Mo.
Sex takes on new meaning from Christian view
In the Church today, sex is not that we would “save sex” for mar- here. Sex must be “confined” to one is a biological impossibility. Further,
some taboo activity that should be riage. We dated for almost five years, couple. Christian ethics forbid people God made men and women inter-
separated from religion, as many which tested our commitments. from copulating with anyone who is dependent on one another, in both
believe. I once heard a respected pas- There were several moments when not their spouse. In fact, Jesus says psyche and anatomy. In a way, each
tor in my denomination say, “Sex is I wondered why we had made such you shouldn’t even think about it. gender is incomplete — but sex is the
healthy. Have it early. Have it often. promises in the first place. Then, There’s no getting around it. This completion.
Have it inside marriage.” But if bibli- during the summer, we exchanged puts a boundary on sex. Just as fish I’ve done my best, in the last few
cal references and personal anecdotes rings, made vows to each other and should stay in water where it can hundred words, to lay out a Chris-
Zach Vicars aren’t enough, consider the socio- spent our first night together. It was grow, develop and play, so should tian understanding of sex. There’s
logical data: My grandmother is one the most powerful, emotional and sex stay in marriage. a good chance in the process I’ve
I know what you’re thinking: “A of 10 children, and I know of several physical experience of my life. I am Christian ethics also maintain that upset a few members of the Truman
Zach Vicars column about sex? Does families that boast a dozen children so thankful for the promises we made sex is meant to be shared between community, both Christian and non-
he even know what sex is? Anything or more. You can’t get numbers like and for God’s faithfulness to see us a man and a woman. There is no Christian.
he’d have to say about it would be that if you’re afraid of sex. through. Waiting for sex might have avoiding the fact that the Bible says But, I hope you all will take this
prude, detached and boring.” Further, I’d like to make it clear been the most difficult thing the two homosexuality is not what God had for what it is. It’s not me sitting in
I beg to differ. I think the Chris- that Christians are not only unafraid of us have ever done, but it’s also in mind when he gave humans the an ivory tower claiming to have all
tian viewpoint of sex is anything but when it comes to sex, I’d say that been the most rewarding. Our story gift of sex. In a post-modern world, the answers. In fact, I know I don’t.
boring. I hope, after you read this sex Christians place more meaning and is but one of thousands attesting to many people find this viewpoint You can reject what I’m saying. I just
column, you’ll agree. value in sex than the rest of the cul- the incomparable bliss of committed, offensive and unacceptable. Others want you to know what you’re reject-
First off, I need to dispel the myth ture. We might even enjoy sex more, passionate, marital sex. insist Christians only hold this belief ing. You’re rejecting a sexual life
that Christians are afraid of sex. This because we believe it is more than a So you can see that Christians do because “the Bible tells me so.” without shame, guilt and heartache.
notion is nothing but a secular reac- casual connection, more than a tool not fear sex, we value it immensely. Although this religious formula is You’re rejecting a pleasurable and
tion to the abstinence movement. The for power and more than an empty However, it would be a misrepre- enough for many believers, I would endless journey with one person.
Christian community does not shun pleasure. Christians understand sex sentation of the truth if I said the suggest that God has given this You’re rejecting the unbelievable sex
or look down on sex. Rather, sex is as the highest expression of love, Christian community feels the same commandment with good reason. you were designed to have.
celebrated as a gift from God. In the as the union of two bodies and two way about sex as everyone else. The biblical witness exclusively
Bible, Solomon proclaimed: “Your souls and as a holy act. Christians do make distinctions. We supports sexual relations between Zach Vicars is a sophomore
breasts [are] like clusters of fruit ... I I’ll use my own experience as an do have boundaries on sexuality. a man and a woman because that is philosophy/religion
will climb the palm tree; I will take example. Before my wife and I even The first boundary is marriage. the only means of natural reproduc-
hold of its fruit.” Clearly, intimacy met, we both made commitments to The old adage “sex should be kept tion. Two men or two women simply and linguistics major
isn’t a topic the Bible avoids. ourselves, to God and to each other in the confines of marriage” is useful cannot, on their own, create life. It from St. Charles, Mo.