I was not surprised when Sam talked about how business shapes immigration policies. Although I had learned specifically about HB1 visas in the technology industry, I did not understand to the full extent how much of an impact business’ have on all of our immigration. Through past internships working on Capitol Hill and for a multinational corporation’s government relations department I have seen the effects and purpose of lobbying. Large US corporations play such a role in the way all of our public policy is formed. They understand the power that they have over politicians and have the money and the resources to wield this power, while average Americans have a hard time coming together to utilize their power.
Through my past internships I had studied, and learned how HB1 visas are utilized, and needed by companies in order to fill jobs in the tech field in the United States. Some positions just go unfilled because the United States doesn’t possess enough qualified people. I think these visas are a positive thing for the United States and United State’s corporations, they allow US corporations to remain competitive in a globalized market. These visas are actually necessary, and prevent US companies from moving operations to other countries in order find people with technical skills necessary to expand their operations.
The part of immigration lobbying that I take issue with is when companies begin lobbying to prevent further immigration. Why do companies get to say this? They should have the opportunity to ask for more of the workers they need, but why do they get to request that others don’t get to take part in the American dream? Who are they to stand in the way of potential immigrants? Although this point was briefly discussed in class, I’m not sure if I completely understand these matters. But I find it extremely unethical for companies to turn against workers that they have hired. These companies have become confidants, and a place for these workers to turn. What kind of company turns against their workers? This company must not realize that their human capital is the most valuable asset that they own, and that these workers are people too. Calling La Migra simply because workers may not be acting the way they would like is extremely unethical. I hope that I will never have to work with a company that handles their issues this way.
Companies are in a very precarious situation when it comes to immigration policy. While finding workers, and finding appropriate workers are a major part of any company, companies do not have the right to cross the line. They need to realize these are people’s lives they are dealing in.

This lecture made me view nepotism in an entirely different light. While I had seen nepotism occur I had never thought of it in regards to a diversity issue. Maybe this is because I have directly benefited from nepotism, have accepted a job with a company that fully supports nepotism, and since the lecture has occurred I have called in a favor of nepotism.
After my freshman year of college I received an internship with the company my Dad works for. While I did go through the normal procedure with HR, I know that the reason I received the position was because my Dad was friends with a woman who liked to mentor younger females in business. While this connection helped me, and I was very young I was required to be extremely professional while at this company, more so then other young hires. For example my Dad required that I wore a suite every day while the majority did not. I know this was direct nepotism and appreciated the advantages it gave me. Because I had an internship after my freshman year other companies looked at me as a promising young hire, with many companies excited to have me as an employee.
I gained a slightly more negative impression of nepotism after this past summer. I worked in an internship program with a company that actually encourage nepotism. Of about 20 interns in my program I was the only one who received a job without having a direct relative or contact in the company, or that was part of a national program that intended to help minority students get internships. I had simply applied online, did a phone interview and was offered a position. When I realized this was the case I was shocked. After asking my mentor about this her explanation was that the company encouraged nepotism because they felt it improved employee morale and productive. They felt that you would be a more productive worker if you felt comfort knowing where your spouse/sibling/child etc. was working and how they were being treated instead of worrying about your family’s finances or job hunt. I don’t know how true this is but now that I am a full time employee there I appreciate it. I have a younger brother that I will surely help get an internship once he is old enough.
During the lecture I felt that the points made were very valid and made me think. But I’m not sure if the have changed my perspective at all. Earlier today I sent my Dad a friend’s resume who is in need of a job. I know that this nepotism but if I have the resources to help a friend, shouldn’t I use them?

I understand why Sam emphasized that this was going to be the best lecture of the year. The lecture had a very strong message, that he was trying to get out to as many students as possible. Emphasizing the message of this lecture is how he was trying to get a full lecture hall, and full class participation.
I agree that this was a powerful message, and that Americans should really thing about what is going on in Iraq, and what the Iraq war is. I think that it is great to take the opportunity to look at this war from an Iraqi civilian’s perspective. But I do not necessarily believe that this was the best or most important lecture of the semester. Sam has delivered many powerful and important lectures throughout the semester. I can’t say which lecture has been my favorite, but I feel that I gained a lot about the lecture discussing modern day slavery. The exercise done with chocolate especially stands out in my mind. The reason why I didn’t love Tuesday’s lecture was because I wasn’t thrilled about the way it was presented. I’m not sure if the right ideas and points made will stick out in everyone’s minds. The reason why I am concerned about this is Sam never refuted some of the misinformation, and videos that were shown. For example the video by David Horowitz was extremely powerful and graphic, the kind of video that will stick out in someone’s mind. After we watched this video about Islamic extremists taking over the world, Sam didn’t refute or put into context the information from the video. I really wish that he had.
I appreciated the points that Sam made during the lecture, and the idea that both Iraqi and American civilians may be misinformed about this war. When I walked into this lecture I fully understood that not every Iraqi was a terrorist, or supported terrorism. I hope that the majority of my peers in the class understood the same, and have had this point only driven further home. But it is my peers in the class who may have not had the same understanding or vision of Iraq and terrorism that I would be concerned about.
I don’t think it’s fair of Sam to say which are the most important classes of the year. Depending on each student’s current views of race, sexuality, gender roles, modern slavery, religion, or the war will determine which of the Soc 119 lectures they find the most important. I think for some of the girls in our class, myself included, the needy penis lecture was very enlightening talking about issues that girls face through college and the rest of their lives.

Up until about a year ago, yes I felt uncomfortable being around 2 or more people speaking a different language. What made me feel uncomfortable was not knowing what they were saying. Were they talking about me? What exactly were they saying? And why were they saying it another language? I distinctly remember feeling uncomfortable sitting in Math 110 freshman year and listening to a bunch of students speak loudly in Chinese. I have never had an issue with people not knowing English, I was just insecure in how they were viewing me. I feel to many Americans expect everyone around the world to speak English, and that sometimes Americans get upset when people around the world don’t speak as we do. Sure, it’s convenient that right now in the world English is the dominant language, and currently the language of business but we can’t expect everyone to speak English and ourselves be ignorant of other languages. We need to realize Mandarin and Spanish are becoming increasingly important in the world and respect this. Americans need to do our part in learning new languages, and emphasizing language education as early as possible.
When I was a kid my family and I lived in Singapore, where Mandarin Chinese is the mother tongue, but nearly everyone speaks in English. I went to the Singapore American School for the three years we lived in Singapore. Part of my educations was to take Mandarin classes. However I never learned very much beyond counting and formal greetings. Everyone in Singapore could tell that my family was American, and would generally speak English to us. In high school and the beginning of college I studied Spanish, but I never took the classes very seriously or felt the urge to master the language. Then last summer I studied abroad in Spain. I unexpectedly ended up in a language intensive program, living in a homestay with a woman who spoke absolutely no English. When I found myself in this situation, where I spoke the language very very poorly I yearned to become a better speaker. I was speaking Spanish through class everyday, at home with my Senora, and anytime I needed to interact with anyone in the city. Learning Spanish became exhausting, and when I was with my American friends we only wanted to speak English. It wasn’t that we were disrespecting those around us, it just felt more comfortable to speak English. We would never speak rudely of those around of us, the thing I always feared people were doing when they spoke a language I didn’t know. We were just being ourselves, and enjoying the opportunity not to struggle with our Spanish. Since I’ve had this experience, I no longer feel uncomfortable around those not speaking English, I actually am glad that they are having the opportunity to speak their mother tongue in the English dominated US.

In response to the question to the question about white girls dating black guys, as a white girl I would definitely date a black guy or an Asian, Native American, or any other race. I want to date people who I connect with, enjoy spending time with, and am attracted to. For me, race doesn’t factor into these qualities. Race just doesn’t matter in that circumstance. If we enjoy being together why does matter what color our skin is? What should matter is that we are happy. I would never date a person I didn’t enjoy just because they are white, and I wouldn’t limit myself from dating other people just because of their skin tone.
I know that it is easier to simply proclaim these ideals in a blog post then it is to make these choices in real life. I fully support interracial dating. While I understand that my point of view may seem naïve, but I don’t understand why interracial dating and marriage is an issue. We are all human beings, no one is better then the other so why does it matter? Maybe, this is because I don’t feel being white as a large part of my identity, and would never feel the need to have a “white family.” I actually think that in the (very very distant) it would be cool to have an interracial family, or simply a family that can blend in different cultures together.
I believe that judgment from family and friends, and the greater community would be the hardest part of being part of an interracial couple. I know that my immediate family would be open, and supportive of me dating someone from a different race as long as they felt he was a good guy, who made me happy, and I was in love with. While some of my more extended family may struggle with the issue, I feel that on the whole I would be supported. While some of my friends may not be necessarily understand, or be as open to interracial couples, I don’t believe any of them would want me to be anything else but happy, and couldn’t imagine myself being friends with anyone that petty.
In class, and our discussion group we discussed the animosity that black women sometimes feel when white women and black men date. I have yet to fully understand, or digest this animosity. Why is there a need for races to say segregated? Why is someone property of others in their race? I know that not all black women feel this way, but this idea seems to be floating out there in society. This pressure would probably be the hardest to handle, knowing that people were unwilling to judge me as a person and couldn’t see past my skin color.

Society will only become conscious of the scarcity of our resources when this scarcity impacts all levels and members of society. Currently the world is dealing with a scarcity of food, water, energy, and more but right now the upper tiers and powerful members of society aren’t forced to deal with this scarcity. Americans in general, particularly those in the middle and upper classes don’t feel this pain. They can afford food, water, and oil with very little hesitation. While jumps in oil prices may make news, and bring awareness to the need for alternative energies, when prices remain at lower and generally affordable prices it is not taken into consideration. When Americans feel the pinch they care. The same will occur with food and water. When food and water prices jump to the point where it begins affect Americans they will take attention and manage the scarcity of our natural resources. When Americans are starving to death due to food prices, or standing in line for water then the scarcity of these resources will be realized. Right now it is to easy for society to turn a blind eye to the scarcity of our resources. Dealing with scarce resources will be not be easy, it will be expensive, and will lead to rationing. It will take a conscious effort of the entire world population to deal with scarcity issue. Right now third world countries deal with these issues but the industrialized world is not grappling with these problems today.
The speaker in the video asks if we should deal with these problems by limiting birth rates, or age of mothers. This cannot be the solution and will only cause more hardship. The population control policies in China have caused chaos and assault against citizens. Due to the one birthing policy mothers have killed their own babies in fear, women have been held and forced to have mastectomies. The choices of if, when, and who should have children should not be held be the government. Giving any body the right over these decisions would be allowing it to have entirely way to much control. While family planning education could be utilized to help control population it cannot be forced. Instead society should focus on the use of technology to increase the quantity of, or better our use of natural resources. Through technology and careful conservation, we can solve our issue of scarcity. Desalination of ocean water, alternative energy, and bioengineering could act as a temporary solution to our scarce resource problems. I don’t know what the long term solution to these problems will be, as we will surely out grow today’s and tomorrow’s future technology. The human population may also naturally decline, as often occurs in other animal populations.

I think our age group is one of the times in life that white privilege could have some of the greatest affect on life. When referring to our age group I’m talking about 18-22 year olds. This is the time in our lives when we decide if and where we will go to college, how we will pay for college, and begin putting together professional resumes, or where we will work and what we will be doing. As we are making all of these steps, transitioning from being high school students, to professional adults I think this may be where white privilege may have the greatest affect.
College admissions are becoming increasingly competitive. When colleges are making a decision regarding a student they undoubtedly take into account the quality of the high school. Students coming from high schools with advanced placement classes, high graduation, and college attendance rates are at an advantage over their peers. Unfortunately these schools likely come from suburban or mostly white areas. These same students coming from higher quality schools are more likely coming from higher income families. Families that will be able to help them pay for college, or have the credit history to cosign loans. I think these factors definitely play a part in white privilege, students from suburban or wealthier areas have a much easier access to college, and as we’ve seen from class the students coming from those areas are more likely to be white.
Once in college students, especially those going into professional areas depend on internships to build a resume and become eligible for jobs after graduation. Employers are limited in the number of interns they take on, and are deciding between young adults who are all relatively inexperienced. If employers feel more comfortable hiring white students for these internships, students of color could be put severely at a disadvantage as they work their way through college, and make the transition to becoming professional working adults. If at any point in life white privilege helps one in finding a job, through college and finding a first job could be one of the most pivotal times in doing so.
Although not necessarily related to white privilege but, on campus life for students of color could be affected by segregation. If certain activities, clubs, groups, or organizations are segregated within a university it could limit students of colors’ ability to become involved on campus. If professional development organizations, volunteer opportunities, or leadership groups are formed of mostly white students it may be difficult or uncomfortable for students of color to break through the barrier to become comfortable in joining groups which will improve their time on campus, and add to their resumes. While this may not be directly white privilege but could gravely affect students in our age group.

Sitting in class the other day, when we talked about the impact of determinism, and free will, I really began to question how I’ve gotten to the point in my life. Where I am today is exactly where I want to be. I will graduate from Penn State with a degree in finance and a GPA I am extremely proud of. I have a job lined up, which gives me a minimum of 2 years job security, with a company that I am excited to work for. This year I have had the opportunity to spend time volunteering for a philanthropy I love, and give back to Penn State by volunteering as a tour guide. Last year I had the privilege of studying abroad.
I have worked really hard through out college. I have put long hours at the library. I worked full time internships every summer break, and spent a semester on co-op working a 40 hour week and taking 15 credits at nights. I have volunteered my time as a tour guide, and for philanthropy when I felt like I didn’t have time to give. I have worked hard, and I have done my best to give back to my community, while developing a professional resume, and doing well academically.
This is why Tuesday’s lecture got me thinking. I have assumed that I have done well at Penn State because I have tried hard, and made good decisions. I had never taken into account what advantages I have over other students. I am a white girl, with college-educated parents, coming from a suburb with excellent schools. I come from the type of area where people don’t ask high school seniors if they will be going to college, but just where they are applying. While I have worked throughout college to help pay my living expenses, my parents are paying my tuition, and have always been there as a safety net. These circumstances have no doubt made my life in college easier. I have not had the stress of working full time every semester; my high school had the resources to prepare me for college. I have been set up to excel in college
Before Tuesday’s class I had assumed I have done well in college because of my choices. But the more I think about it, the more I agree with Sam. Perhaps half of my success in college has been due to free will, but the other half due to determinism. There is no way I could have had the positive college experience I have had if I struggled to pay my bills, or needed to help support my family. No amount of effort, would give me the time in the day to do that. And just because I was given this opportunity doesn’t mean I needed to take advantage of it. I watch my classmates throw away their opportunities in college with drinking, and laziness. I hate to think that these opportunities were given to me by things, I didn’t determine, like where I cam from or my skin color. But I guess the right way to approach this is to learn about our culture, and work with others to make sure everyone has opportunities presented to them.

Racism, and racial prejudices have been present in society throughout history. It’s easy for individuals and society as a whole to turn to race, as an excuse to discriminate. Race is one of the first things that we notice about each other, it’s easy to see. Because of how easy it is to see race, and label people by their race that is why societies all over the world have history and problems of racial discrimination. Race along with sex, age, and disabilities are easy to see and identify, making them problems throughout history.
Although as a society we have made strides toward ending racism we still stereotype people depending on what we consider their race. We typify people, and expect them to act in ways consistent to our beliefs, or what we see in the media. Class this week was eye opening for me, because I never considered the blurriness in the racial groups. To me white was white, black was black, brown was brown, with some mixing in between. I think as a society we need to talk about this and realize this, we are all the same. It would take open, and frank discussion for future generations to not see people in these categories and instead people for who they are. I think once we have done this we could make giant steps forward in treating each other with respect, and realizing our similarities instead of differences.
With this said, I believe that we are still very far from this point. Partially due to laziness, partially due to ignorance, and I think partially due to human nature. Laziness because it is harder to question what you are told rather then living by what you have been told. Ignorance because some people don’t want to change their thoughts or beliefs, they are so convinced that they are right they will not have the grace or modesty to listen to other points of view or proof. I think it might be human nature to question those things that are different from us, and to seek power. When we see people who are different from us we question it, and if we are attempting to seek power or validation we could see race as a reason to judge or objectify another human being. Convincing people you are stronger, smarter, or closer to God than another person because of your race gives you enormous power.
In summary, I believe that it is difficult to move past discrimination based on race, however as a society we have the potential to do so. Although we have this potential we are far from this point due to laziness, ignorance, and possibly human nature. This is an extremely complicated issue, which I can only hope will only be part of history not the future, but I am not sure if that will ever happen.

I believe the girl in the video is correct, as humans we do tend to associate with people of the same ethnicity as ourselves. On campus, I find this particularly noticeable, sitting in the ground floor of the HUB around lunchtime students sit in very distinct and noticeable ethnic groups.
I think the reason that we almost self-segregate into different groups is because it’s easier and what we are used. Most of us grow up in single race households, and depending where students are from non-diverse areas. I personally lived for eleven years of my life in a small town that was 95% Caucasian. It seems not that self-segregation happens because we are being racist or prejudice always, but because it’s what we are used to. We come to college without friends, and for many of us is the first time we are living away from home, and are looking for new friends. It’s in these times that we look for people who are like us or friends and family back home. Once these social circles form they are hard to break, over time developing into the issue that we see at Penn State.
Unlike the girl in the video I believe that international students are slightly different however. While it would be optimal for all international students to blend perfectly into American culture, language, and social groups it’s just very difficult for that to happen, especially for students whose first language is not English. I feel that I understand the difficulty of this after studying abroad in Granada Spain last semester. Not knowing the language, city, and culture was extremely intimidating and disorienting. The friends that I made from my study abroad program were a great comfort to me. Speaking to them in English was a relief after struggling most of the day to speak and understand Spanish. Spending time with people who speak the same language, and are used to the same culture and customs is a comfort when adjusting to a new country. I think Penn State attempts to aid these students find friends and adjust by making international student housing an option. What is a concerning issue however is how American students treat international students. Are they welcomed? Accepted no matter their race, religion or customs?
I think that Penn State has taken some steps toward opening the discussion of race on campus. The Paul Robeson center seems to always be putting on cultural events, and classes like Soc 119 allow students to study and further examine issues of race on campus. I honestly can’t say whether or not this is enough. I personally haven’t dealt with the issue of race or racism on campus, and therefore don’t know the extent of resources available .