gdp's Comments

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 00:13:57 +0000

What does State Paddy’s Day have to do with the Jerry Sandusky case? Our schools image has been undoubtedly tarnished. What I cannot understand is how a student run holiday in February can have any effect on that. Yes, State Paddy’s Day is no something the sheds us in the greatest light. People do not realized the trouble normally comes from our idiot friends who came in from other schools for the weekend. Nor should any of that matter because it takes place on our campus and does not make us as a student body look good nor does it represent who we really are. But would it really be that be if we continued on with our tradition at the end of February? I understand the shame the university and the students have gone through but cannot understand what canceling State Paddy’s day would do? I feel as though that it would be sacrificing for the sake of sacrificing. What would we being giving up and for what reason? It was eye opening to see the passion Sam spoke of this to us. He truly meant what he was saying and really believes that this holiday could really be damaging for us as students. Students and various groups will try and boycott it. But this “holiday” has grown to the point where people have come to expect it and it has gotten so big there is little chance in stopping it.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 00:13:37 +0000

I was shocked when Sam urged us to give up State Paddy’s Day in sacrifice for what goes on. Most importantly, I was surprised by the ramifications he insisted would ensue if the “holiday” happened. He seemed almost certain that it would totally ruin us as a school and student body. I was very confused by this? I would assume we are not the only school that has some sort of campus wide, daylong celebration of something. We get state media coverage of this every year. It is what it is. It comes and it goes. honestly cannot see a potential employer looking down on someone from Penn State because they heard about State Paddy’s Day. I just cannot see that happening. But Sam does have a valid point. We look at things here from an insider’s perspective. We know all the good that goes on here. Outsiders don’t see THON and all the other good we do as students. Yes, we do stupid things but we do a lot of good and there is a lot we are proud of. However, in today’s media world people do not see the good. They only see us rioting and binge drinking. But I am still confused as to what boycotting State Paddy’s Day would do.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:30:07 +0000

Many of us get upset when national media admits this but they are on the outside looking in. They do not live in the Joe Paterno shell where he can do no wrong and they admit he made a major mistake. Joe has done great for this university. We should all be thankful and like he said we should continue to pray for the victims. In the end, Penn State will withstand this and we will be back. WE ARE

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:29:53 +0000

Even with such a large student body we have all come together. We have defended our school against the national media and the misleading information that has been placed out there. We have shown the riots were a minority and not a majority. We have shown we do feel for the victims and want to see justice brought upon those responsible. We have been the butt of many jokes and it has been hard to see the school we adore in this light. But we have also learned something else. College football, no matter who or where, is a dirty game. It’s a multi-million dollar business. There is lying, cheating and other dirty tricks. Unfortunately, we fell into this and so did our beloved Joe Paterno. Has hard as it is to say, Coach Paterno messed up. He “legally” did the right thing but that is not what Joe Paterno is about. His entire career he preached doing more than was required and going the extra mile. Joe messed up.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:29:34 +0000

We have learned lessons on multi different levels the past few weeks. We have learned things about total strangers, our university, an iconic football coach and made us even think about ourselves as Penn State students. First off, we are all hurt, devastated, disgusted and saddened about the horrific acts that went on at our beloved campus and our hearts go out to the victim. Their innocence was taken from them in a horrifically disgusting way. I think most importantly we learned that sexual abuse is real and does go on. And it takes a lot of strength and courage to come forward. So many people are sexually abused and there are more than we will ever know. Another thing I learned was just the type of campus family we have in State College. It has been and will be for a while an us vs. the world mentality. We have truly come together as Penn Staters and it was never more evident than at the candlelight vigil and football game. We are a student body that truly loves are school and will come together and make sure we preserver.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:46:54 +0000

But at 10V pm on Wednesday evening the unthinkable happened. JOE PATERNO WAS FIRED VIA A TELEPHONE CALL. In the hour leading up to the announcement, word began to spread through twitter that Paterno would be “relived of his duties.” The campus knew before the announcement and bedlam did ensue. This week has shown the effects of social media. Even leading up to the game tomorrow there has been much set forth on social media. Social media affects the way we act and what we do. Without twitter we would all be in the dark Without Facebook the gathering may not of been as numerous or attracted so many people. Even with all the rumors that have spread through social media, it has affected, good and bad, the way we have reacted.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:46:23 +0000

Information was coming out by the hour and students were glued to their twitter feeds all day. Twitter was our main news source. Students began creating Facebook groups to organize gathering, protests, vigils and even riots. Social media allowed students to come together and organize what you wanted to do. All day Tuesday, event invitations flooded my Facebook. “Gather at Old Main.” “Gather at Paternos home.” “Riot in Beaver Canyon” “Wear blue to the game Saturday” They continued to come. And as the day went on there was a definite feeling of what was going to happen that night. This can partly be attribute to organization through social media. Students knew to go to Joe Paternos house, then move to Old Main, then to the Paterno statue and the night would be capped off with a “riot” in Beaver Canyon. All these things happened and to prove it people were tweeting out what exactly was going on. Even if you didn’t know the person you knew where everyone was congregating. It was known that if Paterno was fired bedlam would assume social media or not. Throughout the day Wednesday it came out that Paterno would retire at seasons end.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:46:01 +0000

Outrage. Passion. Confusion .Disgust. These are some of the things we have been feeling this week. It started last Friday when Jerry Sandusky was indicted. Most students did not think much of this. Then as we all rolled out of bed Saturday morning our lives, particularly our collegiate lives, changed forever. A missive cover up by the administration was discovered. Quickly Penn State was popping up all over social media. Students took to Facebook to post statuses about it. Penn State began “trending” on twitter worldwide. And so it began. By Sunday night we realized what a major story it would be. By Monday the entire national media invaded our small college town.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 16:04:03 +0000

I have no problem with undocumented workers taking these jobs. It has been shown that Americans cannot and will not do these jobs. So, they are not taking jobs away from American citizens. These jobs need to get down in order for us to get our farm products. What I do have a problem with is the way they are compensated. For the type of work they do, they should be paid a more fair price than what they are. I understand they are here illegally but in reality who are they really hurting? If nothing else, they are helping our country, paying taxes, and receiving no benefits from the government. The way we treat these people is embarrassing to our country because if we think back the majority of our parents came to this country looking for work. So why is this any different?

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 16:03:46 +0000

Although it is a stereotype, many times the people that do these physical labor jobs are Mexican immigrants. They are the ones you see pictures of working out in the fields picking crops. Why do they do this? They do it because they need to in order to support their families. They have no negotiating leverage in regards to what they are paid because they are undocumented workers. Therefore they are taken total advantage of when it comes to what they are paid compared to the work they do. They go to work and many times whatever small sum of money they do earn is wired home to their families. So, they are literally making NO money and many times are left to sleep on the street waiting for the sun to come up. People say undocumented workers are taking American’s jobs. Are they? Would Americans being working 12 hour days in the fields for wage you could not even attempt to live off of?

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 16:03:28 +0000

In our country, there are many jobs that Americans simply will not and even cannot do. These are the physical, manual labor jobs. Many times these jobs are farming jobs in involve long days in the field, working under the hot sun and for very little pay. Americans, for the most part, cannot and do not do these jobs. Physically most Americans are just not equipped to do so. No matter how bad an American needs money, they seem like the refuse to do manual labor in the field for such a low wage. Many Americans believe these jobs are “below” them regardless of if they are unemployed or not. There is a sense of entitlement that we have. That we are above these manual labor jobs. Bur someone needs to pick the crops from the fields.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:57:37 +0000

As long as they come here through the proper channels and do so illegally. Immigration has been a hot button political question for some time now. To me, there are two types of illegal immigrants, however. The first group does not bother me as much. They are the people that sneak into the country in order to better their family’s way of life. Many times, they do the jobs we as Americans do not want to do anyway. That is for the most part what our ancestors did by coming here. I do not know much about being granted a visa to this country but I would assume it is a rather lengthy process. So, I understand why people like that would want to come here by any means necessary. The second group of illegal immigrants is the group that i do not support. This group is made up of the drug lords and criminals that come here to bring trouble. These are the people we much continue to keep out.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:57:04 +0000

Enter text right here !http://wordpress.org/We are a country of immigrants. That is what we, as a country, were founded on and that is what we many times like to pride ourselves on. The only reason (unless we are indigenous Native Americans) any of us are here is because of immigration. Our grandparents and great-grandparents come from all over the world. Trace you family history back to prove it. You will be surprised if you do not know already to see where you family comes from. But this is what makes our country so great. We are all so diverse because America is one big “melting pot.“ We have people from every culture and part of the world here in this country. I know we have so many problems in this country but I still believe for many coming to America would be a dream. We have basic freedom and the opportunities in this country are endless. People dream of coming her to try and better their lives and the futures of their families. I am all all for immigration in America. If our families had the opportunity to immigrate here then who would we be to lock our countries doors?

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:57:28 +0000

Then, I came to Penn State, which to me is extremely diverse compared to where I have come from. People of all different races and cultures go here and that is something that makes this school so great. But I continued to associate with just white people. Why? I do not know and all I can tell myself is that it just how it has played out. I know many people down here that do not think twice about being a minority in the friend group. Man times, this is in part to where they come from and the diversity of their towns. If I were to come from an all black neighborhood, I can guarantee you I would be mainly friends with blacks. My reason is simple, “just because.” We are all products of our environment. But when I see that white guy hanging out with all the black guys I do not think of him as a poser. That is just who his friends are. We say it all the time but who cares what color peoples skin is? If you like hanging out with a group of people then do it.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:56:59 +0000

I do not think that if you are white and choose to hang out with a group of friends who are black that you should be considered a “poser.” We are all in college now and are supposedly “mature young adults.” We all can pick our friends and this is based off of many different factors. Maybe you have the same major, similar interests, from the same hometown or just simply enjoying hanging out with that particular group who happens to be of a different race. I think many times, who you are going to be friends with has a lot to do with where you are from. I am from a predominately white town in Pennsylvania. My high school was all white (seriously probably 98%) so that was who I hung out with and became friends with. I didn’t know many (or any really) people from other races growing up. I was not being racist against other cultures or not befriending people because of their race. It was just that I did not really know anyone from different races other than my own.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 7 Oct 2011 14:37:29 +0000

I probably would not expect my roommate to tell me they are gay on move in day either. Am I walking up to them and telling them that I like girls? No, so why should they have to tell me what they are into. If the living situation became uncomfortable I would seek a roommate change. It would just be weird for me. Even if we were getting along, able to just hangout and watch games together I may even seek a change. As I just typed that, I feel like such an idiot for say that. I would try and seek a roommate change from someone who I was getting along with just because they happened to be gay? How stupid is that? Actually, think that through I am kind of upset with myself. That would be so selfish of me to not even take into account. I apologize for my immature selfishness.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 7 Oct 2011 14:37:09 +0000

There are many people that we would never think are gay, however. Because in reality what does it mean to be gay? If it a lifestyle or simply just a sexual orientation. The answer varies based on the person. There are some people who act perfectly “straight” but they just like the same sex. Then there is the people who dress “gay” and act “gay.” I hope I am not offending anyone who is reading this because I know this is a touchy subject that affects many people.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 7 Oct 2011 14:36:46 +0000

In a perfect world, I would hope if I had a gay roommate it would not be a problem. That sexuality doesn’t matter and that I would be completely open to people doing whatever they want. Now, that is a in a perfect world and by saying that I am being naïve. If my roommate was gay I am not exactly sure how I would react. I don’t know that many (or any) gays. I would honestly and sadly probably try and get a new roommate. I feel awful saying that because of how awful and immature that sounds but I don’t think I would be able to get passed it. I like to think of myself as an “open-minded” but I obviously just made the case that I am not. Like we talked about in class, there are some people who are “gay” but may act like a perfectly straight person.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:55:53 +0000

I am in total agreement of the US assisting foreign countries whenever possible and as much as possible. We just need to find better ways to do this, however. Instead of simply throwing money at a country, we should try and improve a country’s economic stature and help their business grow. I think it is apparent many times the money is not getting to where it is intended to go and in turn not really helping. Another point that came up in our Haiti breakout group session this week was that many times these are hardworking people that they aid is being sent to. They do not necessarily want us to pity them and send free goods and money. These people may be poor but only because a lack of resources. If they had only some of the modern technology we have in the United States their business could be as profitable as any. The last thing hardworking entrepreneurs want are hand-outs and pity aid. To them, they are doing their best to earn a paycheck and support their family.

World In Conversation : Voices From The Classroom

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:54:13 +0000

The United States is put in a very difficult situation when it comes to giving out foreign aid. Because the United States is considered a “super-power” and a first world country, I fell many times it is expected that we give some type of aid to foreign countries. This is very tricky because our country does not necessarily have a whole lot of money to throw around but it is still expected we reach out with some type of aid. I am all for the United States reaching out to foreign countries with aid but I think it is important to ask what the aid is and where it is going. Many times simply throwing money at a country that is underdeveloped does not work. It sounds great in theory to say we are donating millions of dollars but where is the money really going and is it really helping solve a countries problem? Many times this money ends up in the hands of government officials and never finds where it was intended to go. Sometimes I think it is best if we send physical goods and even labor instead of sending a big check.