The Collegian Weekly: The opinion of The Collegian editorial staff
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Opinion
Few things enrich Hillsdale College students better than a Center for Constructive Alternatives seminar. It expands the scope of our liberal education beyond staples like, oh, Civil War history and Constitutional law to insightful subjects like TV westerns and rehashed '80s politics.
Granted: some CCAs, like the quantum physics one last year and most economics lectures, and some lectures at least attempt to expand weighty matters whose acquaintance marks the well-educated.
The chance for that is, thankfully, scattered at best. We might appreciate that if we could actually understand half the speakers. CCAs do nothing if not convince us that "liberal arts" really means, "a passing acquaintance with a random collection of subjects." At last - something about us that mimics every other university in the country.
Luckily, every lecture series includes that one bizarre or liberal - or bizarre and liberal - speaker to variegate our bland conservatism. "Women are sperm spittoons," anyone?
We would do better, however, to expand the idea so that CCA-like education forms the core curriculum. Forget stability, continuity, sense-those things are passe. CCA education is hip like the '80s! (Wait . . . isn't that when the program began? Hmmm . . . )
Though we know some people have failed the course, we don't really know how - it's the best grade-booster on campus. Writing CCA papers in an hour encourages critical, innovative thinking, since it requires repeating the speakers yet more coherently.
Plus, we get to hear brilliant, complex questions after every single lecture from only person who attends . . . every single lecture.
The delicious, catered and free food pales in comparison with an opportunity to mix with other age groups. It reminds us that you don't have to be young to enjoy alcohol. You just can't be young and enjoy the college's alcohol.
During a busy college week and a busy college life, we appreciate that our school has recognized the need for students to relax and nap, doodle or knit. Have administrators ever considered combining CCAs with exercise? They should. Intellectual and moral fitness at once - brilliant.
Aah, CCA week. It's the icing on the cake.
Granted: some CCAs, like the quantum physics one last year and most economics lectures, and some lectures at least attempt to expand weighty matters whose acquaintance marks the well-educated.
The chance for that is, thankfully, scattered at best. We might appreciate that if we could actually understand half the speakers. CCAs do nothing if not convince us that "liberal arts" really means, "a passing acquaintance with a random collection of subjects." At last - something about us that mimics every other university in the country.
Luckily, every lecture series includes that one bizarre or liberal - or bizarre and liberal - speaker to variegate our bland conservatism. "Women are sperm spittoons," anyone?
We would do better, however, to expand the idea so that CCA-like education forms the core curriculum. Forget stability, continuity, sense-those things are passe. CCA education is hip like the '80s! (Wait . . . isn't that when the program began? Hmmm . . . )
Though we know some people have failed the course, we don't really know how - it's the best grade-booster on campus. Writing CCA papers in an hour encourages critical, innovative thinking, since it requires repeating the speakers yet more coherently.
Plus, we get to hear brilliant, complex questions after every single lecture from only person who attends . . . every single lecture.
The delicious, catered and free food pales in comparison with an opportunity to mix with other age groups. It reminds us that you don't have to be young to enjoy alcohol. You just can't be young and enjoy the college's alcohol.
During a busy college week and a busy college life, we appreciate that our school has recognized the need for students to relax and nap, doodle or knit. Have administrators ever considered combining CCAs with exercise? They should. Intellectual and moral fitness at once - brilliant.
Aah, CCA week. It's the icing on the cake.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
freshman woe
posted 3/06/09 @ 4:16 PM EST
I really enjoyed the CCA on TV westerns. People should take CCAs that they are interested in, not that they have to take.
Unfortunatly, I took a CCA last semester and went to all of the lectures and write my paper a week before it was due and only got a B in the course. (Continued…)
Prospective
posted 3/07/09 @ 12:35 AM EST
I agree. Freshman should not be held to very high standards. Show up to a few lectures, turn in any random old paper, be a freshman-what more should I be expected reasonably to do to get an A?
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