OPINION
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7A
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4. 2008
COMMENTARY
Make a date with school tutoring this Valentine's
Feb. 14: A day that lives in infamy for some KU students.
Not because it is Valentine's Day and the possibility of being dateless looms, but because it is the last day for a 50 percent tuition refund, the last day to add classes and the day before credit/no credit starts.
It is kind of ironic that a day of love could evoke such resentful and nerve-wracking emotions. But before the highlighters and gel pens are broken out to mark this day of renown, there may be a solution.
Calculus I was my Everest, and I didn't know where to begin. I knew I needed a tutor, and a flier was the first place I looked. Paying as much as $12 an hour for a tutor seemed outlandish for help with a 100-level class, regardless of the guarantee the flier offered.
The cure for my class woes was KU's Academic Achievement and Access Center, which offers tutoring services for those classes that are prerequisites to move on to bigger and better classes at KU.
Then, low and behold, there was the center's poster.
I came to discover that the center offers tutoring for classes such as Biology 110, French and Spanish classes and Math 101, to name a few. For my other classes that the center wasn't offering, I found out that tutoring could be offered for a specific class if we enough students show interest. (From what I hear, the genetics class needs a study seminar.) The tutoring sessions cost a reasonable $60 per semester with three hours of tutoring per week. It was something I could not pass up.
I could be giving the impression that a little under the table action is going on between me and the AAAC, but let me ensure you, no one is twisting my arm.
The AAAC tutoring services met the needs of an average college student who needed to pass a class. I couldn't fathom spending $480 (16 weeks of tutoring at $10 per hour for three hours a week) in one semester for tutoring when I could spend $60 for the same amount of tutoring at $1.25 per hour.
I am not attempting to insult the intelligence of a tutor or a student who can afford tutoring at that price. I really do think that I could find much more fruitful expenditures for the $420 difference.
The credit/no credit option for classes is a great alternative for students who struggle in certain higher level classes, but in those 100-level classes that the administration thinks anyone can pass, I would rather have my effort be reflected in a "B" as opposed to a "CR."
Your university is here to help, so let them help you.
In the end, I got a "B" in Calculus I. It was an "A" in effort though, and that's what really counts, right?
Now, if I could only find a date for Valentine's Day.
Hirschfeld is an Augusta sophomore in journalism.
FROM THE DRAWING BOARD
Tyler Doehring
COMMENTARY
Free Willy from sonar
Navy's exemption from environmental laws angers young generation
I've always criticized Bush and his administration, and I've always disliked Bush when it came to the environment.
I knew even in 2000, the first year I could vote, to not vote for Bush.
I knew I would not agree with his policies especially when it came to the environment. So why am I surprised he voted to exempt the Navy from environmental laws in California?
I'm not surprised that he voted with the Navy. His decision was to let the Navy continue using sonar devices in order to detect foreign
submarines, which Bush stated was a matter of national security.
Instead of using the courts to reverse their previous ruling, Bush went above the courts and waived their rulings.
Even though Bush made this ruling, it was still up to the courts to decide what the Navy could and couldn't do. The court made a ruling that lifted some of the Navy's previous limitations on sonar training, but the court did not lift them all, as Bush would've done.
Many scientists believe that high-frequency sonar can cause hearing and brain damage in marine mammals. But there is also evidence that not all species of marine mammals are affected by the sonar. Whether the sonar hurts one animal or several seems unimportant because hurting just one species can cause enough damage to affect the world.
This is where the issue becomes personal. My generation cares
about the environment, and when I talk to my peers, I find this to be true, but they still aren't sure how to get involved.
By watching and learning from Bush and his administration's actions, we can learn how we don't want our government run and what we want our future government to do instead.
I believe my generation is full of environmentalists. We are animal-lovers, but we just aren't sure what to do about it.
This issue hits home for me because I had a favorite animal growing up, killer whales. "Free Willy" may have had some part in my obsession with them.
But this of course led to me loving other types of whales and of course, dolphins.
I love all animals. Even the slimy ones.
I own a four and a half year-old pug named Onyx, who has cost me a lot of money. But I've always
known I could never live without at least one animal in my life.
And my generation relates to this, which is why the whole Michael Vick thing became such major national news — because it upset my generation.
The best action we can take as a generation is to listen and to be informed, especially with upcoming elections.
The more knowledge we have of where each candidate stands in regard to the environment, then the easier it will be to make the right choice.
But should we choose wrongly, for we all know how deceptive politicians can be, then again the more knowledge we have of what our government is doing, the more we can hold them accountable, and possibly make a difference and save our environment.
Earles is an Olathe senior in journalism.
》 LETTER TO THE EDITOR
For Super Tuesday and beyond, fight non-voters' apathy
It astonishes me how apathetic people are about the party primaries.
Now is our only chance to do something about it. This is the first time since 1952 that neither party had an incumbent president or vice president running, and both the democrat and republican races are too close to call.
Hasn't anyone during a general presidential election ever thought, "We're picking one of these two? Seriously?"
Yet so many Americans, perhaps too used to watching
In Florida, for example (which really ought to know that every vote counts), less than 20 percent of the population voted in the primaries (check out www.cnn.com).
For those who saw The University Daily Kansan last Tuesday, Kansas' caucus system is admittedly weird.
Nothing says "party like it's 1799" like holding a caucus.
sports, seem to have forgotten that we have a say in the outcome.
much time, and the effect could be enormous.
But follow the directions, and you'll see it doesn't take that
Five elections in different states have been decided by 15,000 votes or fewer,which is significantly less than the student body population at KU.
For many young college students, this will be our first opportunity to vote in a presidential election.
Don't waste it.
@KANSAN.COM
Nathan Markham Lawrence junior in chemical engineering
Sincerelv.
See a map of the Democratic caucus locations at Kansan.com.
- Search "Oh, the places you'll vote" for a map of Lawrence locations and frequently asked questions.
I am excited for global warming because then we won't have to suffer through long Kansas winters anymore.
Visit Kansan.com and add the Facebook application, "University Daily Kansan," to start contributing.
>> FREE FOR ALL
--years before that?
I'm going to France tomorrow for four months. Yikes.
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That's not true. Global warming is a polar shift, meaning Kansas will get colder. Have you noticed how it's been colder and there has been more snow in Kansas in the past three years than there has been in the five
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Thank you crazy, blind homeless man in IHOP, for making the night for all of us.
I need to find a boy who's as obsessed with Pink Floyd as I am. Any takers?
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To the last comment about Pink Floyd, I'm your man. See you on the Dark Side of the
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My friend's 21st birthday was last night.
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I have to call some lady because I owe her $1,800. Hold me, Free For All. I'm scared.
It makes me wonder about the state of the world when "Meet the Spartans" is No.1 at the box office.
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Is it sad that the main portion of most of my meals consists of grocery store samples?
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"I made out with my ex-boyfriend's roommate. Beat that!" At Abe and Jakes? What a coincidence.
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I love these comments. Do you all realize the things you hate in other people or the things you hate about yourself?
I am excited for global warming because it is the first great challenge for our generation.
I hate it when friends don't call after they said they would.
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Safe Bus was the highlight of the night.
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I blame steroids.
@KANSAN.COM
Want more? Check out Free For All online.
TALK TO US
Darla Slipke, editor
864-8140 or dslipke@kansan.com
Matt Erickson, managing editor
864-8140 or merickson@kansan.com
Dianne Smith, managing editor
864-8140 or dsmith@kansan.com
Bryan Dykman, opinion editor
Lauren Keith, associate opinion editor 864-4924 or ikelth@kansan.com
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864-4358 or tbergquist@kansan.com
Bryan Dykman, opinion editor 864-4924 or dykman@kansan.com
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Malcis Gibson, general manager and news adviser
865-767-345 or malcolm.gibson.kan.com
CONTACT US
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THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Darla Slipke, Matt Erickson, Dianne Smith, Bryan Dykman, Lauren Keith and Zach White.