Even better quote

"In a society that tries to standardize thinking,
individuality is not highly prized."
- Alex Grey

Quote (food for thought)

“The first step - especially for young people with energy and drive and talent, but not money - the first step to controlling your world is to control your culture. To model and demonstrate the kind of world you demand to live in. To write the books. Make the music. Shoot the films. Paint the art.”

-Chuck Palahniuk

Mental Masturbation

We've all done it...gotten in the mood, entertained it in our minds for a while, and gotten off...TRACK, that is. Most of us, yet some more than others are guilty of mentally masturbating.

What is mental masturbation you might ask?
Well, essentially, it's a fun term for "philosophizing". It refers to that method of thinking that starts out with something very pragmatic and substantial, but spirals into a chain of thoughts that are not conducive to the creation of anything applicable to reality. For example, there are many sub-conversations that could take place that attempt to ask the question of what the meaning of life is. This particular description causes me to think that the world's religions are representative of one big circle jerk.

Do you get where I'm going with this?

Anyway, aside from the fact that mental masturbation is exhausting to the mind, it raises another issue for me. It is completely underrated and not encouraged enough.

Like regular masturbation, mental masturbation is exercised in order to get in touch with a certain aspect of the self, and sometimes to perfect a skill. This said skill is thinking critically and deeply.

BUT SOCIETY DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT MY ABSTRACT THOUGHTS...(crickets chirping).

That's the problem. Society wants me to get into the most prestigious university, to rank the highest in all of my standardized testing, and then to make the most money. But what if I want to spend my life seeking, even if I never find the answers?

Nine times out of ten we are impressed by somebody's ability to discuss a given topic in depth. We are told to become better rounded by traveling and helping out in the community, and one would think that someone who has done things like that is a sophisticated person with a broader perspective.

The sad thing is that no matter how much society pushes us to partake in more abstract, "right-brained" activities, it doesn't take away from the fact that we still have a major fixation on standardized testing. That seems counter-intuitive to me.

Also, think about the confusion that surrounds most people's perception regarding what society's message to us is. We are responsible for decoded the encoded messages embedded in our media, some of which are implying the above statements about being a number. According to Hall (pg. 164), "if no meaning is taken, there can be no 'consumption'". The meaning of what the ideal candidate for university, graduate school, and life itself, is inconsistent, relative, and quite truthfully, unclear. 

I remember the state of mind I found myself in when I was a senior in high school; during the best time, too: applying to college! I remember asking so many questions about the quality of the reality I was experienced, and being able to do so from a very young age. Some of my teachers were actually impressed by this skill, yet I was unable to show that to a college admissions officer.

The truth is, aside from friends and a few professors perhaps (people who know me and appreciate me), no one is super impressed at a professional level with the fact that I speak four languages, have traveled to more countries outside of the US than states in the US, lived abroad for six months, and am constantly mentally masturbating. I use mysticism, psychology, philosophy, and sometimes art to explore my reality, and I also use emotions to question and guide me through most of my journey. However, taking both the SAT and ACT twice each and getting scores below the state average really put a damper on making me a competitive candidate for application to university. 

Abstract thinking is crucial for the development of the sense of self. It is what sets us all apart from one another, whereas our test scores and grades can be represented in numbers that are the same, or pretty close to the same. How does it make sense that in an individualistic society, where the sense of self is heavily relied upon, the need for abstract thinking is fickle? That said, if the goal is to be an independent, money-making machine, shouldn't it be obligatory that we build our senses of self, and therefore combine our marketable degrees with some time to "touch ourselves" to ensure optimum candidacy?

The Jewish Campus?

"It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, 

you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles." 

-Sun Tzu, The Art of War

 

Students Eating in The Berg at AJU

College is a flawed system, and yet, each of us are participating in it. It's probably because all Jews go to college. So, now that we're here, we should know what it is we're participating in. 

What kind of school do we go to? And who are we?

It may have “Jewish” in its title, but  The American Jewish University (AJU) is officially a non-denominational college. “American” precedes “Jewish,” and yet we fly an Israeli flag on this campus right alongside our American one. A recent survey went around that asked students whether they identify as “American Jews” or “Jewish Americans.”  A hot topic of conversation, both in and out of the classroom, is whatever’s going on in Israel and the surrounding areas, especially with the recent escalation in violence. Last week a class I attended asked each student to riff for three minutes on their “relationship with Israel, and how it changed at AJU.” 

What is our collective identity as students of the American Jewish University? How does being at a Jewish school affect our future job prospects? Is it an asset or a detriment?

AJU has a population that is 5% non-Jewish, a fact that was explored last week in an article by Sara Gold in “New Voices” an online Jewish publication. In it, minority students express both their joys in learning about Judaism, and their frustrations. Notably, Cameron Dean had this to say, of his experience getting oriented:

“We did so many Jewish traditions, and everyone there already knew most of the stuff or believed it heavily … It was odd being the only person thinking, ‘What is he talking about?’ I felt physically and religiously out of place, because I don’t think a lot of people understood me or why I was there.”

It’s notable that the sentiment Dean expresses is one of isolation—a feeling that many others have expressed on this campus as well. I’ve heard students express their frustrations with being Orthodox on a campus that they see as largely secular, and students who are secular express frustrations with the insider-attitude of camp Jews who all share the same rituals, and know the same melodies to songs. I’ve heard students who are staunch supporters of Israel talk about feeling like their state is disrespected by professors in class, and I personally have felt pressure to “stand with Israel,” when I’m not sure exactly where I stand. 

The universal feeling seems to be isolation, and the fact that this lonely emotion is shared by so many strikes me as very ironic, and very Jewish.

Read Sara's Article: "We are the 5%: Being Non-Jewish At American Jewish University" 

THE UNCOMFORTABLE FACTS.

"Tuition keeps rising, but so does the need 
for more graduates."
-TIME
Startling statistics about the rising cost of tuition and the need for an education in this economy.

By Time Magazine staff, October 18, 2012

http://nation.time.com/2012/10/18/degrees-of-difficulty/?pcd=teaser

Could online universities be the answer?

EDUCATION OF THE FUTURE: VIRTUAL CLASS ROOMS?
Time magazine explores the world of online college classes for students world wide.
http://nation.time.com/2012/10/18/college-is-dead-long-live-college/

Benefits:

• Cheaper tuition
• From the comfort of your own home
• Ideal for people with careers, jobs or families
• Take the class on your time

Potential Drawbacks:

• No teacher or assistant to consult
• Motivation: you must keep yourself in check
• Computer problems/accessibility
• No social atmosphere or collaboration

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WOULD YOU TAKE AN ONLINE COURSE?

The So-Called Liberal Arts

With the exception of perhaps Bioethics majors, our school by and large is arguably an institution not adequately priming young adults in accordance to the needs of today's labor market. The supply of those who have specialized liberal arts educations far outweighs the demand for the liberal arts-oriented people in the labor market.

In particular, the recession has caused the demand for such creative and professorial permutations of liberal arts occupations to nearly disappear due to a reduction or reprioritization in institutional funding; the likes of specialist literature professors have largely been deemed peripheral and nonessential. I would perhaps argue that there might not be a problem with this—there is a multitude of contemporary majors in American colleges that don't really have any practical application to a professional career like Comparative Literature (a slightly more specific English degree for people who feel that the name "English" is not highfalutin' enough) or Art History (sometimes known as the "I like being creative, but I really do not know what I want to do with my life" degree).

Also, as a liberal arts institution, our school is sorely lacking in the cultivation of well-rounded individuals. In a recent class specifically designed for upperclassmen, I observed a student profess to not know the difference the Protestant and Catholic churches—a difference that has had a very large effect on the past 600 years of history that ostensibly should have been beaten into minds during the countless history classes one takes through high school. Somehow, bafflingly, there are no required history classes of any permutation to graduate at AJU. Sure, we are a school of rather limited resources, but it is decisions like this that make it seem like AJU is largely engendering a sense of general naiveté to miss the proverbial forest for the trees. There does not seem to be a legitimate reason why all students aren't required to take the somewhat equivalent classes in our curriculum—like Introduction to Political Science or American Government—to ensure students have somewhat of a working understanding of the various forces that govern and play a role in our society.

I do sometimes feel like I experienced a broader array of views, perspectives, and knowledge in the curriculum at community college than I have at AJU. It is perhaps a bit alarming that I feel grateful that I attended community college (an experience often seen as far less academic rigorous than the traditional university) for my first two years instead of attending this school for my entire college career. AJU often feels like an ersatz college, a pseudo school. 

Even though the ostensible liberal arts education may very well leave a person with an amount of marketable skill that is disproportionate to the debt they hold, it is still crucial that a person becomes intellectually well-rounded during their collegiate experience. Aside from a particular major, a college education should be a little bit like an academic buffet with someone sampling experiences from a range of different fields—history, biology, political science, geography, english, art, etc. We need to make sure that our increasingly expensive academic institutions provide a skills parity in varied general professional aptitudes. However, we should push out students to things that are more relevant to employers—engineering, computer-related professions and such.

Jewniversity!

Stats from Hillel.org

Underdogma: Jews Aren't a Minority in Higher Education

Jews make up only 2.2 percent of the US Population, but they account for 30% of the student body at Colombia University. Ivy League schools on average have 22% Jewish students. Jews consistently make up more than 20% of those listed on the Forbes 400 Richest People list. 30% of Nobel Prize Winners in science are Jewish. Three out of the nine Supreme Court Justices are Jews.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan,both Jewish

These are facts, and yet, speaking of Jewish success is taboo. Case in point: there are plenty of photo ops where all of the female Supreme Court Justices pose together, but you'll never see a picture of the Jews on the court aligning themselves like that. The overrepresentation of Jews in film, education, and the business world often makes people exceptionally uncomfortable. There are worries that being outspoken about Jewish success breeds contempt, and that, like in Nazi Germany, when Jews are seen as having a disproportionate amount of resources, others will push back in drastic and dangerous ways. 

That’s complete bullshit. Jews embody the American Dream. They’re an immigrant population in America, who came here fleeing persecution. In spite of all the prejudice they faced, Jews “pulled themselves up by their bootstraps,” and achieved a great deal. Yes, there used to be quotas at major universities that limited the amount of Jews that could enroll, but those don’t exist anymore, and we’ve clearly more than made up for those limitations.

It’s time to stop talking about Jews like we’re a persecuted minority in America. We’re doing more than fine. 

I think arguments could be made that Jews are part of a new hegemony. Certainly here at AJU the over-represented main stream point of view is a Jewish one. In the media, too, some of the strongest voices are Jewish ones (Jon Stewart, anyone?) We try to have it both ways, and maintain a sort of minority elitism. We talk about discrimination against Jews, but as a community we actively discriminate. Whenever I mention that I’m dating someone new, on this campus, the response is always: “Is he Jewish?” 

There’s a vast, networked, Jewish community. Look at the success of Hillel at Universities across America. That community is a structure of power, one that I would argue is as strong or stronger than any other racial or religious group in the United States. This isn’t a bad thing. Success, power, and an appreciation for hard work and education are good things. I’m just arguing that it’s time to stop pretending that we’re underdogs: we’re not. 

College...Is it worth it?

WATCH THIS VIDEO

Welcome to our Blog. This is a raw and uncomfortable observation of the higher education system through our eyes.

To get a job, you need experience. To gain experience you need a job. And in most cases, to get a good job, you need an education. Sounds simple enough, right?

So we get an education---easy… Spend four years in an undergraduate institution… but wait, before you choose your school, how high is it ranked? What programs do they have? Do you even like the school? And how much does it cost?

 HOW MUCH? 

......O, well then I guess you should pull out loans….right? Well if your parents can write a check and call it a day, good for you, but if that’s not the case (as it isn't for most of us), get to work signing some papers, kiddo. 
So what, you can pay them off until you’re 80.

Fast-forward 4 years later to your college graduation. You walk across the raised stage with scholarly educators in fancy wizard outfits, you grab your diploma, look out to the audience to smile at Mom and Dad and then, your life begins. 

AWESOME, YOU’RE FREE.

But are you really?

Are you not just another kid with a Bachelors degree competing for a job to pay off your college debt? Did college really prepare you for the real world? Does your liberal arts degree stand a chance in a capitalistic world?

Personally, I am concerned with our higher educations system. The cost for college is way too high, leaving middle/lower class people victim to loan debt just to find a competitive marketplace awaiting them on the other side. 

According to the Department of Education survey in 2007-2008, about two-thirds of bachelor’s degree recipients borrow money to attend college, either from the government or private lenders (New York Times). For all borrowers, the average debt in 2011 was $23,300, with 10 percent owing more than $54,000 and 3 percent more than $100,000, states the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reports (New York Times). 

That’s a tremendous amount of financial pressure for an early twenty-something to have, don’t you think?

In addition, I fear that many students will exit college or university unequipped to navigate the technological and global world evolving around us. In my view, I believe that students need more experiential education,  more personal growth, before they emerge into the universe. But can we ever really be prepared? How can we be certain that the job we want will exist in 10 or 20 years? Our world is changing, our school’s are entertaining, but are we truly retaining? And how much will it cost us?

Whether we like it or not, we are all a part the higher education machine. But things didn’t used to this way. In the past, someone with a college degree, motivation and drive could work their way up and explore various avenues of the professional world. But today, a Bachelor's degree simply isn’t good enough and a Master’s degree is worth pursuing, but only if you can afford it and find a good job. 

These are the challenges of the educated young adult in America today. 

With the high price of education and fluctuating job market, what are we to do? 

What are we to demand? What are we to invent?

To put it radically, I feel exploited by the American educations system, and frankly, I’m not too pleased. I look at my friends in Europe who receive an equally meaningful, if not more, college education for nearly no cost. For many programs in the UK and Germany for example, students are required to spend a semester abroad or working on an honors thesis, a culminating work of their studies. Also, many countries encourage their recent high school graduates to take a gap-year and volunteer, travel or study abroad before their Bachelor studies. And did I mention, it’s free or remarkably less? 

WHAT HAPPENED, AMERICA?!

We acknowledge this system sucks for us, though we need the system just as much as it needs us. It’s stifling and forces us to do things that we necessarily wouldn’t want to do, but the fact is, an education matters. Knowledge is power, isn't it? I think we can all agree that having a degree is important, if not crucial and that’s why we take our place in the college machine.

It is up to us, fellow undergrad’s. 
We must take charge of our futures. We need to educate ourselves with the life skills that our professors can’t teach us. We must learn from our European friends and take an alternate route of education and experience different worlds before we dive into the collegiate circus. We must take it upon ourselves to seek out opportunities that could take us further than we thought possible, because you shouldn’t have to suffer being an intern after you graduate. And if you’re someone who’s not sure what in the world they want to do, here's a bit of advice: before jumping into another degree or getting a retail job while you figure it out, go do something different in a culturally dissimilar place--expand your mind, experience life, challenge yourself. 

We’re in this together. We’re studying, writing, analyzing and philosophizing FOR OURSELVES, no one else. At this time, I don’t have a ground-breaking answer to lowering tuition cost, but I will tell you TO SPEAK UP and find others who feel exploited too. Maybe we could really change something.... It’s not that we don’t want the education, we certainly do, but we believe that everyone has the right to receive the education without compromising their credit score.

JOIN US.

Read this article by the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/business/student-loans-weighing-down-a-generation-with-heavy-debt.html?pagewanted=all