Ivory Tower

Every higher institution of learning has their own set of myths and history. Some of them may be vaguely true and some may be highly influential. The history of the institution may have a negative effect on those who look to apply or be a part of the institution. The history of a place sets the epitome of future enrollees. Some of the ghosts that haunt any college may have an extremely negative impact on how they are viewed today. This negative perception of the university can lead to strong economic deficits. Throughout trying to combat negative concepts that are thrust upon an institution, they have resolved issues of ethics, violence and, to most importantly, boost cohesion and moral.

“Is College Doomed?” Reading Response In “Is College Doomed?” Wood describes the new and innovative university known as Minerva. He expresses the large and distinct differences that Minerva has when compared to the ubiquitous average American university and even universities around the world.

Frank Bruni’s article “How to measure a college’s value”(2015), analyzes the value of a college education based on a diversity of often unconsidered factors. Bruni supports his claim by questioning the unknown, constantly repeating the central argument in order to shift the audience away from preconceived notations, and through statistical facts to provide credibility. Bruni’s purpose is to educate society on what constitutes a college’s worth in order to demonstrate that the experience is truly based on an individual’s actions and not the school index value. Due to the factual nature of the article it is written to advise incoming students on how they can benefit from each college not just ones that are assumed to provide a defined path for

Filmmaker and documentarian Andrew Rossi has restated the hot-button issue nowadays through his movie, Ivory Tower. After watching his documentary, I have learnt about the realistic possibilities of becoming debtors of students after colleges. Consequently, a large range of students has stood up to demonstrate this idea. He offered the remarkable experience of Cooper Union as a case in point. The fact that the tuition fee of post-secondary institutions within 30 years rises rapidly up to 1120% startles everybody. This exploding statistic, however, is led by the intension between colleges to expand its facilities and programs. Also, the movie informs its audience

Professor X who is a part-time adjunct instructor of English in a community college wrote this journal to discuss a very controversial issue: Is that important or necessary for everyone to continue a high level education in college? The ideal of equal opportunity gives the access for all the students to pursue the college education in the United States. However, due to the lack of knowledge or skills, some of the students are not qualify to pass the college education somehow. For many of the students, “college was not a goal they spent years preparing for, but a place they landed in.” Professor X mentioned that some of his students are not interested in the writing class, and they took this class

He writes about how college was once a place to learn and educate yourself further. The audience can relate and agree with how college is now a place to help you get a good job and there is a bigger focus of getting a job after you graduate than it is on learning. Society also plays a big role in college as well. He explains that students are usually pushed toward a college classroom. These are all factors that put students who do not belong in college in college.

In The Basement of the Ivory Tower is a very illustrative and witty analysis that presents the idea that not everyone is suited for college. The author, who goes by the alias Professor X, presents himself as a man of scholar with the difficult task of teaching English to students he believes should not even be in college. He is an adjunct professor that teaches at two community colleges as a last resort. Throughout this article, he argues that there are too many unreachable students. During his efforts in exploring various strategies to help these students, he claims that they are deficient in ability to complete any college course—especially English. Overall, with a lack of statistics and research, Professor X utilizes his professional character by sharing multiple anecdotes that feebly argue higher education is simply not for everyone.

After watching the documentary film "Ivory Tower", I have learned many new information about post-secondary institutions. The most remarkable ones include the cause that probably led to exploding tuition costs for higher education, the facts and statistics about the current situation like that massive total student loan debt of over one trillion, ways many have used to alter it, and finally, how it all come back to the need of lower tuition for colleges and universities. First, the film mentions a race for ranking between institutions and how all that fees came back to student's fee or ultimately, the student loans. It also refers to President Reagan's ideas about education that led to policies cut down funds for education. Second, a graph

Having chosen the University of Southern California (USC) over the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) as the institution to continue my educational pathway has always brought up curious questions as to why I chose one over the other. Aside from the academic stance of both institutions there were always inevitable comments about how much better the area surrounding UCLA is compared to the sketchy area surrounding USC. Having attended Foshay Learning Center about two miles from USC gave me front insight of how beautiful that area actually is despite the dark allegations. I manage to respond to those stereotype influenced notions with my high school that is actually full of hardworking underprivileged minorities striving for further higher education.

In this interview with Texas Governor Greg Abbott on higher education, Abbott argues that the top ten percent rule, or for The University of Texas at Austin more specifically, the top eight percent, does not give the university enough latitude in deciding which students to admit. Abbott develops his argument with his audience, UT alumni, in mind. Abbott gives his audience reasons to feel by utilizing honorific language to

Have you ever had an extraordinary desire for something, only to have someone tell you it is out of your reach? Does that make you try harder, or completely give up? In Professor X’s essay, In the basement of Ivory Tower, (X) he goes into great detail stating how his students have the desire to maintain high academic standards in order to receive a promotion, to further their career, or because it is a job requirement. However, these same students cannot possibly pass their classes due to their lack of abilities. Initially, I found myself believing the author was hostile and unhappy in his career, although, the more I read this article I found myself shifting opinions, and I began to appreciate what a controversial topic college education truly is. Professor X discusses how some students are unfit for college. I believe that college isn’t for everyone. Furthermore, society has set expectations that everyone should attend college. As a society we have lost track of the value of apprentice programs.

Corwin mentions how affirmative action, the policy of favoring members of a group who suffers from discrimination, plays a role in the admissions of inner-city students to universities. Since most inner-city students are of minorities and lack stable economic conditions, many people accuse them of being more favored by administrators. However, a study suggests that “about 45 percent of the students who were accepted as a result of affirmative action, despite lower grades and test scores, were white.” They were chosen as a result of possessing “characteristics…other than race that were deemed important.” Furthermore, even after affirmative action ended, Pete Wilson, a presidential nominee at the time, ran his own affirmative action program that “benefitted the children of the rich and influential white people,” those he considered to “play by the rules.” Corwin also reveals that Wilson has used his position to gain UC admissions for his family and acquaintances; some of whom were chosen before more qualified

For our first essay, I selected the topic group “Is College the Best Option” from They Say, I Say. I chose the group for a few key reasons. I have read, streamed, listened, and watched many different forms of the discussion on higher education, hearing many compelling arguments from both sides on the issue. The education system in the United States of America is a topic that I continue I strive to learn about whenever the opportunity presents itself and it did just that with this assignment. Although I had never read any of the selections from the three authors that I chose, I had heard of the President of The University of Maryland, Freeman Hrabowski, but I had never read any of works or realized that he was a writer. It was an enriching experience to read more about the subject from new perspectives. I believe that the insights I gained from the readings have helped shape my views on the topic and will help me in the near future.

America’s higher education system has an interesting history. It has advanced substantially since it was established. Unfortunately, its beginnings were based on slavery and cultural genocide. Craig Steven Wilder’s book Ebony and Ivy gives insight into the intriguing beginning of America’s colleges. Wilder focuses mostly on the impact and treatment of both the Native Americans and African Americans within the beginnings of colonial universities, but within these statements, one can see how dramatically the American college system developed in these early years. The book has excellent reviews. In an article posted on December 1, 2014 the African American Review states, “Ebony and Ivy will change the way we think about knowledge-creation at America’s universities…Craig Wilder’s masterly work will stand the test of time and should be required reading for college students across America.” In a Washington Post article published in 2014, Carson Byrd says, “Ebony & Ivy is a meticulously argued work and a valuable resource for multiple disciplines. It strongly connects slavery, science, and higher education to explain how racism is built into the foundation of our colleges and universities. A few of these connections are described below.”

College students get to analyze other subjects that they may have not shown an interest in before; that will help them construct their career. Getting the necessary skills students need, will assure their success on anything they choose to do. “It is the education which gives a man a clear conscious view of his own opinions and judgments, a truth in developing them, and a force in urging them” (Newman, 54). Education gives students a better understanding their own opinions, and judgments; it creates anxiousness in developing them, a fluency in expressing them, and a power in urging them.