Campus Life – Teen Observer Archive

August 2, 2018August 2, 2018

International students attend Berkeley summer sessions

BERKELEY, Calif. — Every summer, UC Berkeley students leave campus to visit hometowns, travel and work summer jobs. As they leave, undergraduate and graduate students coming from all over the world take their places on campus to participate in summer study sessions administered by the university.

Berkeley Summer Sessions offer international students an opportunity to learn at a well-regarded educational institution — UC Berkeley was ranked the No. 1 public university in the country by US News in 2018 — alongside intelligent, like-minded people from every corner of the globe.

Morten Fels and Liu Peng are both participants in the political science session. Fels, a 25-year-old from Denmark working on his master’s at the University of Copenhagen, and Peng, a 23-year-old working on his master’s at Peking University in Beijing, have become good friends despite coming from completely different places.

“Even though you’re from China _ totally different political system than we have in Denmark — we still actually think very much the same way,” Fels said to Peng.

Hyeonjoo Seo is an international student from South Korea taking summer courses in psychology and statistics at Berkeley.

Berkeley summer sessions also allow students to pursue interests unrelated to their majors. Hyeonjoo Seo is a 19-year-old chemistry major studying at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea.

“My university doesn’t give us too many different fields, so I wanted to take different classes at UC Berkeley,” Seo said. “I’m a major in chemistry but I wanted to study statistics, mathematics, and biology or psychology.”

A high percentage of international students are Chinese, and almost every country imaginable is represented at the summer sessions. Seo has met people from China, Japan, France, Korea, Italy and more.

Gene Guo, a 20-year-old from China studying electrical engineering, appreciates the wide-ranging backgrounds of Berkeley summer students.

“Here you can make friends with people from all over the world,” he said.

Fels also enjoys how diverse students studying in summer sessions at Berkeley are.

“You really get to meet a lot of people from throughout the world. That’s amazing, that’s very unique,” he said.

From bottom left to top right: Bill Yuan, Samuel Tseng, Gene Guo

Though roughly 3,000 international students study at Berkeley in the summer, being given the opportunity to do so is not easy. International applicants have to demonstrate a proficiency in English, and their grades and test scores often have to meet certain requirements. Guo, Samuel Tseng and Bill Yuan, all of whom are from China, had to be in the top 20 percent of their classes to apply to their sessions.

Once students arrive at Berkeley, they have to get to work. While classes do not typically exceed three hours in length, many students attend multiple sessions, and the homework load can be heavy.

“Six weeks is not a lot, so it’s quite intensive,” Fels said. “We have a lot of stuff to do.”

Being a student in a foreign country can be a useful, formative and eye-opening experience, but it does not come without challenges. The language barrier, in particular, can be difficult to navigate. Peng and Seo agree that speaking English has been the toughest obstacle they have faced at Berkeley.

Other troubles include having to use different types of toilets than those at home and not having much to do at night in dorms. On the whole, however, the experiences of international students attending Berkeley summer sessions are positive and constructive.

Even though they have had varying experiences while staying at Berkeley, Fels, Peng, Guo, Tseng, Yuan and Seo all agree that coming to Berkeley to study during the summer was a good decision.

“It was worth it,” Seo said.

June 25, 2018

Coffee kicks the morning in gear for many at college

Adult caffeine drinkers at American University and in Tenleytown said that coffee is embedded in their daily routines and many know there are both benefits and risks associated with the popular beverage.

“I drink every morning, which isn’t great,” said Erika Heddesheimer, 20.

Most interviewed this week on American University’s campus said they take their coffee the same way: With milk.

While most people caffeinated earlier in the day some choose other times.

“I drink it whenever I get into work,” said Emma Reeves, 21, who works at Georgetown Cupcake. She continued saying, “I don’t need it when I wake up.”

Reeves might not need it right away, but studies show other people rely on caffeine to motivate in the morning.

A study from the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee found drinking coffee increases dopamine levels in the body. That can lead to a feeling of happiness and energy, but the site said “caffeine does not fulfill the criteria to be described as a drug of dependence.”

However, according to research published in 2016 in the Journal of Caffeine Research, a majority of students sampled drank coffee or espresso daily but were unaware of the caffeine content that offers many a boost in the morning, according to interviews.

Others interviewed at a Starbucks in Tenleytown, a neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., several said they don’t plan on giving up their caffeinated drink in the morning.

“I’ve being drinking coffee since I was a kid, since I was like 12,” said Liz Desio, 25. “And I work very early in the morning so I feel like it is necessary to get my day started.”

June 25, 2018June 27, 2018

Coffee second most consumed beverage in the world

Adults commented about the importance of coffee culture in society this month as studies addressed the question of whether the beverage has more disadvantages rather than advantages on the human body and well-being.

According to El Comidista.com, “coffee is the second most consumed beverage (after water), and the second most commercialized product (after petroleum).”

A young woman buys coffee at The Bridge cafe at American University in Washington, D.C. Photo by Valentina Romero.

While sitting in the corner of Dunkin’ Donuts with a mug that he brought from Argentina, Hector Risemberg, 50, said coffee “is really important. I am physically, psychologically, and culturally addicted.”

The U.S. National Library of Medicine has recognized, “caffeine dependence or abuse as a clinical syndrome, since some people are distressed by their caffeine use and feel they can not control or stop their problematic use.”

Nonetheless, some caffeine drinkers claim that the beneficial effects of coffee outweigh the disadvantages for their well-being.

Gregg Ivers, 56, said that coffee helps his focus, energy, and has “advantages with moderation.” It even is a habit that he mentioned his daughter is following.

Although coffee has been proven addictive for some, the majority of those interviewed in June still consume it daily; some drinking it up to three times a day.

Whether for its taste, beneficial psychological effects, or blank, “coffee is becoming a part of American culture,” Gregg Ivers, 56, said

while departing for a coffee shop on American University’s campus called The Bridge.

July 20, 2017July 20, 2017

More students opting for first two years at community college

Michaelyn Hoeres is unsure what she wants to study in college.

The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18-year-old, who graduated from Freedom High School in June, worried about paying thousands of dollars per credit for general education requirements.

So, she’s spending her first two years of higher education not on a sprawling University campus, but instead at Northampton Community College.

“I knew I could knock out many of my gen ed requirements and save money while at a community college,” Hoeres said. “It puts less pressure on my parents.”

Michaelyn Hoeres posing for her senior pictures. By Kevin Volpe

Hoeres is among an estimated 9.8 million undergraduates enrolling in a community college for the 2017-2018 school year, according to Teachers College, Columbia University.

The total cost of a four-year degree can be drastically reduced by spending the first two years at a community college.

The average cost of one year of private, four-year University is $35,074, according to Best Value Schools. According to College Board assuming you complete two years of required classes at a community college, you will save $12,000 to $66,000 compared to the same education given at a state or private school.

No matter which college someone attends or what your ideal major is, the first two years generally are comprised general education classes. Many students won’t get into courses that fulfill their majors until junior year.

Even with two years at community college, students who transfer their junior year to a more traditional campus earn a diploma with that school’s name on it.

Every first-year student is required to take core classes such as English 101, math, and science class in order to fulfill needed credits for graduation. There’s little difference in content between those classes from school to school, so some interviewed this week find it more economical to take them at community college.

The main reason behind attending a community college comes down to cost. Being able to earn a degree at the fraction of the price is a desirable want for many young individuals.

Students are better financially prepared for the costs of a four year university should they plan on transferring.

Hoeres is looking forward to getting started. Even though she admits, she knows she’s missing out on some aspects of a four-year college.

“I am excited to be beginning a new part of my life but it does hurt watching most of my friends leave to go hours away to Universities,” Hoeres said.

July 20, 2017July 20, 2017

Report: High-performing but low-income students left out

Jane Thomas’s daughter studies at Emory University where annual tuition nears $50,000.

Thomas identifies her income as “comfortable” but said this week her daughter will pay her own college debts.

“Whatever she didn’t pay off, she’ll have to work off, because we want her to have some responsibility,” Thomas said.

Thomas is one of millions of Americans facing rising tuition costs, especially at elite, private, and Ivy League universities. That means many low-income Americans are being forced out of an elite higher-education system that they can’t afford.

A study done by the National Bureau of Economic Resea rch found that “the vast majority of very high-achieving students who are low-income do not apply to any selective college or university.”

According to the study, this trend occurs when high-achieving students search for colleges in the range of their income, rather than of their achievement.

But, colleges have been trying to incorporate students from all backgrounds and economic statuses.

In 2004, the eight Ivy League universities underwent a financial makeover when schools such as Harvard, Princeton, and Yale decided to provide free tuition to those families that made under $60,000 a year.

But still, at five of the eight Ivy League’s there are more students from the top 1 percent of income ($630K+), than the bottom 60 percent (<$65K).

It seems that America might be one of the only countries putting students into crippling debt. Jane McTaggart from Brisbane, Australia recalled that when she went to college it was free.

Although annual tuition in Australia is now $20,000, students “don’t have to pay back their debts until they make a certain income,” McTaggart stated.

McTaggart also stated, “I find it quite disturbing that you have so much debt for young people.”

College costs in America are increasing as the average tuition for a private institution has racked up to $35,074 for four year schools.

These costs aren’t encouraging low-income students to choose elite universities and are another reason for less low-income, high-achieving students attending college.

Although Jane Thomas is able to pay for her daughter’s tuition at Emory University, she is still skeptical of the efforts being made by colleges to provide financial aid for low-income students.

She stated, “I don’t think they’re doing enough.”

July 14, 2017July 20, 2017

Architecture on college campuses influences atmosphere for students

WASHINGTON, D.C –Students and alumni say that both the architecture and atmosphere of their college campuses have enriched their educational experiences.

Most interviewed this week in Northwest Washington, D.C. said that traditional campus architecture–those schools with brick and stone buildings–has character and helps tell the story of the university’s history.

“You get a true sense of the institution,” said Philip Brown who had attended Howard university. “It had an inviting atmosphere with the interior design and structure of the buildings there, which provided a place for a more positive learning experience.”

They also believe that historic architecture can signal the university’s renowned academic status.

Campus atmosphere–including well-tended gardens and green space some called “homey”–was another significant factor to contribute to people’s desire to attend certain colleges.

A 2011 University of Rhode Island report of its Admissions Advisory Committee noted campus curb appeal matters to admissions decisions.

Rick Hesel, the Principal of the Arts and Sciences group at the University of Rhode Island, advises other institutions that it is very important to make a good first impression with the overall image and appearance of the campus.

Campus tour — Families on a campus tour of American University, Friday, July 14. By Elle Rosse.

“When I attended Towson University, there will new residential buildings that had been built. They were gorgeous and they really lead to a more organized, clean feel,” said Kim Kinner of Washington D.C.”

A beautiful and well – manicured campus can also attract more students despite possibly having a bad location.

Elizabeth Herzfeldt of Kalamath Oregon who attended Pacific Lutheran University, said “The campus was located in a bad part of town, so the well – groomed campus was very eye – catching.”

July 14, 2017

U.S. student debt tops $1.4 trillion

WASHINGTON, D.C.–American University students and Northwest District of Columbia residents said Wednesday that student loan debt which is above $1.4 trillion in the United States today is a serious issue facing those seeking higher education in America.

Nelson Jacobson discusses his experience with student loans. By Vicky Tan

“Interest rates are rising and I’m scared that I’ll still be paying of loans when I’m 35,” said Leila Ackerman, 18, who will start at American University this Fall.

Ackerman worries about expenses beyond just tuition and housing. She said the hidden costs are also going to add up. Not only is tuition becoming more and more expensive, but new students must be able to afford food, textbooks and other necessities to living away from home.

“I’m one of the lucky ones, I can’t even imagine what having loans breathing down your back would feel like,” said Janice Barlow, 20, an American University student. “You really can’t do anything. Every thing you do, anywhere you go, you have to be thinking about money.”

According to the Student Loan Debt Report, national student loan debt collectively currently totals $1.41 trillion.

According to the report, around 70 percent of college students in the United States now owe some soft of debt for education. However, even with almost a whole generation drowning in student loan debt, there is no guarantee of employment after they graduate.

There was a general consensus among both residents and students that government is not doing enough to help financially struggling students. With interest rates slowly rising, the nation has not made education as high a priority as others, they said.

“Government should try to make education more affordable, everyone should have the opportunity to go to get a better education if they want to. Money should not be a limiting factor,” Ackerman said.

July 14, 2017July 20, 2017

Switching college majors part of the process

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Many current and former college students interviewed this week in Northwest Washington, D.C. have changed their majors in college as they discovered their passions and interests on campus, while others fall in love with their major and stick with it in order to pursue a career in that field.

Sarah Menke-Fish, a professor of Film and Media Arts at American University, thought she would major in music and home economics when she enrolled in the University of Northern Iowa, but ended up changing her mind after two months when she discovered her passion for speech.

Idegbuwa Karba talks about why she chose to major in psychology at Howard University. By Courtney Cohn

“I thoroughly loved it and did really well in it,” Menke-Fish said.

Menke-Fish is not alone.

According to an April 2017 report from the University of Memphis, “About 40% of college students switch majors at least once, suggesting that major choice is a process rather than a single decision.”

Menke-Fish ended up majoring in speech theater teaching and radio television broadcasting, which led to many careers involving both teaching and acting. She also notices that many of her students switch majors in college like she did.

She acknowledges that people think they know what they’ll enjoy and want to study as they enter college, but may discover that they excel in a different area and want to find a career in that field instead.

Zerline Hughes discussed choosing to major in journalism at Howard University. By Courtney Cohn

However, Zerline Hughes, 40, a freelance writer, always knew she wanted to study journalism and kept that major at Howard University.

“I didn’t ever want to change,” said Hughes, who described herself as a freelance writer. “Howard University had a good journalism program and I thought it was the best fit for me and my goals.”

Like Hughes, Idegbuwa Karba, 19, has known what she wanted to major in since high school, and does not want to switch.

Karba majors in psychology at Howard University and said she doesn’t plan on changing.

Kim Kinner, now a second grade teacher, majored in mass communications and marketing in order to find a high-paying job in that field. She ended up switching to an education major in graduate school when she realized her passion for the field even though it might not come with the same paycheck.

“Money isn’t worth it,” Kinner said. “I wanted a career my heart was in.”

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017

Greek life popular but many worried about hazing

American college students are engaging in severely dangerous Greek Life rituals and traditions that are threatening the well-being of members, leaving students and adults alike questioning the practices of these social organizations and unsure of the future.

Many students and alumni interviewed this week about their understanding or experience in Greek Life said that the culture often gets a bad reputation, especially in the wake of high-profile deaths like that of Timothy Piazza at Pennsylvania State University in February.

When asked if he would consider taking part in Greek Life if he were to go to college in the future, 16-year-old Alex Sanchez from Guatemala said, “No, I wouldn’t. The traditions put my life at risk.”

According to a study conducted by Harvard University, Greek house residents are twice as likely to engage in reckless or irresponsible behavior such as driving under the influence, neglecting schoolwork, becoming involved in fights, or having unprotected sex. Additionally, The Addiction Center has reported that there have been approximately 24 Greek-related deaths in freshmen pledge classes nationwide since 2005, and at least 15 of these deaths were a direct result of hazing rituals or initiation traditions.

The Harvard study also compared the likelihood of alcohol-related dangers and problems of fraternity and sorority members. In every category, ranging from attending class with a hangover to damaging property, the numbers reported by sorority members were significantly lower than their male counterparts. The more severe issues seem to be rooted in fraternities.

Lamar Smith, a 20-year-old student at the University of Kentucky, discussed the differences between fraternity and sorority culture at his school.

Information for prospective students on Greek Life at an American University session in June. By Lauren Coppins.

He said that while sororities are often tight-knit communities that engage in philanthropic work, fraternities tend to be known for extreme parties and initiation rituals that “prey on the weaker minded individuals.” Smith told a story about a fraternity at UK that was banned from the campus because of harmful hazing practices.

Two sorority members interviewed this week from Virginia Tech and Penn State qualified Smith’s assertion that sororities build strong bonds of sisterhood and strive to benefit their surrounding communities.

Abigail Ryan, from Great Falls, Virginia, said that she’s extremely proud of her sorority for donating over $110,000 to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Ryan, 23, served as the philanthropy chairwoman for her Virginia Tech sorority.

Likewise, Cathryn Kessler, 19, from North Caldwell, New Jersey, said her sorority helped shape her.

“Being welcomed among a group of strong, young women helped shape my course to be the type of person that I’ve always strived to be,” Kessler said.

While both Kessler and Ryan hold their experiences in high regard, often fraternities face the public’s scrutiny and can cast a shadow on Greek life overall.

A controversy has emerged as to whether or not colleges should be able to harshly penalize students and ban fraternities or sororities as consequences for engaging in behavior that doesn’t exemplify school values or respect the law.

The North-American Interfraternity Conference says in its position statement that fraternities help students meet lifelong friends, develop leadership skills, gain exposure to career opportunities, and give back to the community. The NIC has also announced its support for strict anti-hazing legislation and vows to hold students accountable.

Jennifer Chapman, 51, from Washington, D.C., doesn’t think that harsher rules or eliminating Greek Life is sufficient for a long term solution.

“I think the need for people to be so aggressively exclusive and kind of doing these sort of rituals is probably the bigger problem,” Chapman said. “I don’t think eliminating is going to work because people are going to find ways to make exclusive groups.”

Others, like Smith, understand the importance of maintaining a positive image on campus and feel that it’s fair for schools to start cracking down on fraternities.

“I have people that go to my school from different countries, people from all different types of states, and you want to make the campus feel as safe and inclusive as possible,” Smith said.

“So with fraternities, especially at a big Division 1 campus like mine, that’s such a big deal. You can’t have that type of negative publicity or attention on the campus. It hurts.”

July 3, 2017

Study abroad offers new cultural experiences; lifelong memories

WASHINGTON, D.C.–American University students and alumni interviewed this week described their study abroad program as an opportunity for them to experience new cultures first hand and understand the dynamics and lifestyles of different groups of people.

Sara E. Dumont, executive director of AU’s study abroad program, stated that with over 130 programs available at the university, it’s ranked #2 for study abroad participation among research universities. And, she said, 70 percent of AU students will have a study abroad experience by the time they graduate.

Dumont said the office’s most important consideration is the academic side of the program but noted “most of our students will experience some level of culture shock – in fact, they should, and we tell them that if they don’t, they can’t really be trying to engage with another culture!”

Many students including Mikita Hill-Cashaw, who went to Brazil, said they sought a study abroad experience for the cultural exposure rather than the academic component.

“It’s like while you’re here we’re friends and we’re family, and you can depend on me and we can do things together, and I’ll do things for you and we can have like this nice mutual relationship, even though I had no idea who they were,” Hill-Cashaw said about Brazilians.

Not all experiences offered a huge culture shock, however.

Ambar Pardilla, 21, recently returned from a semester in London and said that although there were subtle differences and nuances in British culture, it wasn’t too much of a change, and she was able to adapt pretty quickly to the lifestyle.

In terms of preparing for the change in culture and lifestyle, students took different approaches.

Pardilla and 25-year-old Abby Osamwonyi said that students research the country they will be visiting often to avoid any culturally inappropriate actions.

AU itself also offers a series of resources that aims to prepare students for their experience.

Students reflect on study abroad. By Ana Salazar.

. Dumont said that the Study Abroad office has detailed brochures for each program they offer, in addition to general information sessions, one-one-one advising with AU Abroad advisors, a pre-departure orientation and an on-site orientation.

But Hill-Cashaw handled her preparation differently.

“I was kind of radical in that I didn’t, I just kind of went,” Hill-Cashaw remembered. “I didn’t want to do any kind of research, I didn’t wanna have any preconceived notions of what the country might be like.”

Many of the students interviewed said that one of the most valuable take-aways from study abroad was understanding that cultures and people aren’t as simple as a Google search or a travel guide and that they never would have been able to understand the culture without experiencing it first hand.

“All of my host families were different, and their dynamics were different, and the way they interacted with me and each other was very different, so it’s less about ‘These are Brazilians, Brazilians are one specific way. I’m an American, I’m this one specific way’ and it’s more about how are these people individually within their culture and within the broader spectrum of like humanity,” Hill-Cashaw said.

“It’s kind of cool.”