SPRING

IS

AROUND

THE

CORNER!!!

Read the Job Description

I have discovered an interesting problem within the American system of higher education. There is an unflattering number of teachers/professors who do not understand or do not practice what it means to be a teacher. At first, I thought that perhaps this problem was simply a minute glitch. However, after speaking with multiple other students, it became evident that this glitch in the system was larger than I had originally concluded.

It appears to me that teachers are getting their job descriptions confused with those of speakers. A speaker's job is to inform or persuade the listener regarding the subject matter. A professor's job is to inform and educate. Teachers seem to comprehend the 'inform' part of their job descriptions. What many fail in doing is the education. There are some aspects of performance that can occasionally be inadequate in certain job positions. Education is not one that can slide when it comes to being a teacher. It is time that our educators re-evaluate what it is that they are accomplishing and what their goals are. Check the job description.

Time after time I sit through courses in which students beg for assistance with applying the information that is being thrown at them. Time after time I hear the professors decline their requests:

 "I don't really have time for that. We have to keep moving forward. Maybe I'll go over it some other time."

This statement would be perfectly acceptable if the professor would follow up with the students with questions at another time. Sadly, in the majority of cases that I have witnessed, this step is rarely taken. This lack of effort is unacceptable, but some students look past it. I will not be the one to do so. I do not pay thousands of dollars every year to be spoken to. I pay thousands of dollars each year to be educated. If I do not receive what I am paying for, I refuse to be the moron who lets it slide.

I am not saying that this applies to all educators. I am not even saying that this applies to a majority of educators. I am simply pointing out that there is a substantial amount of professors who do not do their jobs correctly and should perhaps rethink their careers. There is nothing wrong with being a speaker or informant, but there is a lot wrong with  leaving out the assistance part of education.

Dear Educators,


Do us a favor and check the job description... make sure you understand it clearly. If you can't manage its requirements, then do something more productive with your efforts. 


Thanks!

Sincerely,

Skylar Macrae

Concerned Student

Spring Break Saunter

I woke up at 7:30 am the day after Spring Break is over. Was I hung over from tons of partying? No. Was I completely exhausted from the lack of sleep that I had during the break? Absolutely... I, along with thousands of other college students, sauntered into class the morning after Spring Break and were completely worn out. WHY?! This is idiotic.

Spring Break is intended to be a period of relaxation for students hard at work throughout the school year. A whole week is given to us, no scholastic requirements (for the most part), no parental restrictions, no deadlines, and no alarm clocks. I'd be willing to bet, however, that the majority of college students who return from their Spring Break vacations do so more tired than when they left. This is a curious problem to me. What in the world are we thinking? What could we possibly be doing that could cause such an illogical result from our actions?

We leave for Spring Break thinking, "I'm going to get rested." Most people plan on sleeping longer than they would normally get to. At the same time, many people leave thinking, "I don't care, I'm going to do whatever it takes to have a good time. I've worked hard, and I deserve to have some fun of my own." This desire is a natural one. Many in students in college actually work very hard. We do deserve to take a break and have some fun. However the process by which we do so is occasionally flawed. It seems like poor time-management is one of the flaws that has tarnished what Spring Break can be for us.

See the problem arises when people try to combine the two desires that I mentioned earlier: sleep more, and go crazy having a good time. OK, so why is this problematic? It doesn't seem all that hard. Whenever people attempt to do this, they typically do one of two things. They either 1. sleep later in the day and stay out later at night, or 2. sleep until the afternoon every day and then sit around and do nothing. I'm not sure why this seems like a good idea. This behavior obviously creates an unnatural sleeping pattern.

Now that we have gotten somewhat used to this new pattern, we go back to school, have to wake up early, and do work all day. Surprise! You're tired, and you don't want to do anything, especially school work. Everyone seems to hate going back to school after Spring Break. I think a little annoyance is understandable, but the transition from vacation to education could be made much more easily.

If we could learn to balance the desire to sleep and the desire to go out and have fun, we could experience the benefits of a break more appropriately. This is a very simple thing to do... I know that it can be very easy to slip out of the 'controlled' aspect of everyday life for a college student, but gaining freedom and shoving off self-control is a dangerous combination. Have a good time people! That is what Spring Break is for. Just keep in mind that eventually you will be required to go back to the routines you left on campus. Whether you like it or not, controlling yourself and maintaining regular sleep patterns will pay off as soon as you hear that alarm on the first day back.

Revisiting the Past... Invigorating the Present

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Levere Memorial Temple of Sigma Alpha Epsilon on the campus of Northwestern University. This is the current headquarters of the fraternity of SAE. It not only  holds administrative offices, but also contains many of the artifacts and treasures of the fraternity.
I, being a Neophyte within the fraternity, had particular interest in seeing what all this memorial had to offer. I have been through pledging, I have read the Phoenix, and I have learned much of the history of Sigma Alpha Epsilon on my own time, but to see the history in front of my own two eyes seemed worthwhile.

(William Colin 'Billy' Levere)

The tour of the Temple began with the man after whom it is named: William Collin 'Billy' Levere. Billy Levere served as  Eminent Supreme Archon and Eminent Supreme Recorder. He also published multiple important documents regarding the history of SAE. From the moment you walk through the door to the moment you leave, you are reminded of all the amazing things that one man did to expand the efforts of a national organization. It is this reminder of individual potential that inspires both brothers and non-affiliates alike.

(First recorded minutes of Sigma Alpha Epsilon)

The entire memorial demonstrates a respect for the past and a heart for the future. One of the most interesting parts of the memorial was the library. Within this one area, there are numerous documents which retain the rich history of SAE. Adjacent to this large room lies the office of the current ESR, Steven K. Priepke. A combination of past and present that would seemingly clash is surprisingly a harmonious union of parts. Only with an understanding of the past can one truly move forward successfully. Naturally, it is sensible that the Eminent Supreme Recorder would be surrounded by the history of the organization that he wishes to advance.

My visit was a refreshing one. It rekindled the zeal with which I strive to serve my brothers and all who I come into contact with. Despite the fact that I am a part of the brotherhood that is Sigma Alpha Epsilon, I find it difficult to believe that a walk through this beautiful facility would not inspire all who walk through its lions. I know that it certainly did for me. I left the Levere Memorial Temple with the words of "The True Gentleman" echoing in my thoughts...
  

Chicagans? Chicaganites? Chicagonians?

 Today I had the opportunity to visit the city of Chicago, Illinois with some of my friends (one of which had never been to 'the North' before). To say the least, it was an interesting experience. I visited some of the traditional tourist attractions and saw others like me with their DSLRs and $1 disposables in hand ready to capture anything that screamed city life. I mixed with the locals and stepped in their shoes for a while. I saw happiness, sadness, extravagance, and poverty.













One of the things that struck me most about the city was a feeling of business which was not consumed by chaos. When others imagine big cities they often think of hectic splatters of commuters and no organization whatsoever. This was surprisingly not the case.

(Photo taken by B. Julian)

Yet another surprise was that, for the most part, the locals seemed unusually tranquil. Being a Monday, I expected to see people rushing everywhere they went. On the contrary, there was a good number of citizens leisurely strolling to their destinations.

For tourists who are looking forward to shopping in Chicago, I have good news for you. All my time spent in a store, even a clothing store just for women, was time well spent. My favorite find was a pipe/tobacco shop called Iwan Ries & Co. One of my hobbies is buying lighters from every major city that I visit. When I went into this store, I was surrounded by sophistication and pleasant conversation. Agreeable assistance immediately welcomed me and provided convenient service to locals and tourists alike. I made my purchase, leaving with a desire to stay and enjoy the company of everyone I encountered. Similar quality of service was available at all of the stores that I ventured into.

Overall, my trip to Chicago was a very pleasant one. I would recommend such a visit to anyone. Chicago has something for all personalities. Even if all you want to do is nothing, it provides plenty of venues for doing just that. I'll not list things to do... the Internet exists. I would almost be inclined to say that going without any planned events would be the most enjoyable way to experience Chicago. Take the trip, talk to the locals, ask them what is fun. I did that, and received suggestions from friendly encounters without hesitation. Grab your ticket and go.

Maiden Post

I wonder how many blogs are started due to boredom... Just a thought.
Well, this is my first post on Eyes and Ears. The purpose of this post is primarily to inform readers of what to expect from my blog. There will be no set standard of what can be included in posts. They could range from one-line ideas to photos linked to memories of moments past. This blog may serve as a convenient diary from time to time, or a method of venting because of daily frustrations. I can't and wont promise that every post on this blog will be enjoyable to read, but i can promise that everything that I say will be open, honest, and upfront. I have all intentions to make this as random as possible, because being random is part of who I am. It makes things more interesting. Please feel free to comment on any of the postings on this page. Try to keep it clean, honest, and intentional. Comments and questions are welcome... yes even snide remarks if they are witty enough. Please enjoy Eyes and Ears,  and if you find it impossible to do so, there are plenty more blogs out there that probably could.
Anywho... I don't intend to ramble. Thanks for listening!
-Skylar Macrae