OPINION THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER
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EDITOR: SABA NASEEM MANAGING EDITOR: MATTIE QUINN
PAGE 4 MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2011
MCT Campus
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Jobs’ Message: ‘Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish’ Rocket Science
Religious Vandalizing On Campus Lately I have noticed that chalking campaigns from the Occams razor resident student organization have been routinely vandalized. While I hold no particular religious affiliation, I suppose I would fall under the moniker of “Secular Humanist” – with a respect for all others who claim to be from one religion or another. I find it more and more difficult, however, to accept Christians who claim to follow the word of their Prophet, Jesus Christ, when I see them disparage and vandalize other people’s beliefs in the name of their lord. I am no biblical scholar, nor do I usually spend any thought on their teachings. It strikes me, however, that they ignore their own spiritual leaders expressed wishes to treat others in a respectful manner. I admit that it took me some time to find a quote that bests express this issue, but I believe I have. In the book of Matthew (7:12), Jesus plainly states: ““Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” I can only assume, then, that you want individuals to destroy the multitude of Christian chalking strewn about campus. I will personally make it my mission to undo that which has been done in defiance of your own Lord’s word. His LAW. From this point forward, I will find no guilt, nor pleasure, in doing the same to those words that I, and many other students, find patently offensive. Every time I see an Occams Razor chalking vandalized, I will do what I now believe to be my civic duty, and punish the writers with “an eye for an eye” in order to set straight that which I believe is wrong. It is tacky, it is uncalled for, and it is just plain ignorant. Not everyone is a Christian, but you act as if the act of desecrating other messages that do not meet your own criteria is your duty. Thank you for giving me a duty. I am not a member of Occam’s Razor, but know this: I now plan on attending their meetings, and helping them chalk their message. This is their right, just as it is yours, no matter how repugnant I find it. If you have a problem with other religions, or anti-religions, re-enroll in a Christian academy. This is not meant as an offence against your one and true God. This is meant to appeal to the very words you claim to live by. ““Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” I can only assume it means you wish your messages to be erased by zealots. Something you have created in this person.
by Joe Kieklak Traveler Columnist
By now most of us have heard of Steve Jobs’ death. I’m not here to lament about the loss of Jobs or to give a cliché eulogy. It’s not my place. Instead, I want to discuss his message, which may be one of the most important pieces of advice I’ve ever heard. Everyone has a “message,” but not all are equal. The power of one’s mantra often depends on how powerful they are. I’m sure somebody said something along the lines of, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” before Edward Bulwer-Lytton, but his play, “Richelieu: or, The Conspiracy,” made it famous. Jobs’s 2005 Standford University graduation speech shares the same rank. “You have to trust in something — your gut, des-
Untraditional Way
by Emily Hilley-Sierzchula Traveler Columnist
EDITOR Saba Naseem MANAGING EDITOR Mattie Quinn OPINION EDITOR Jordain Carney ENTERPRISE EDITOR Samantha Williams CONTACT US The Arkansas Traveler welcomes letters to the editor from all interested readers. Letters should be at most 300 words and should include your name, student classification and major or title with the university and a day-time telephone number for verification. Letters should be sent to traveler@uark.edu.
to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it,” Jobs said. Don’t ever settle, we all owe it to ourselves to be selfish in creating our future. In paradox to the future, however, Jobs pointed out in that speech that all of our lives will come to an end, “death is the destination we all share. No one has every escaped it.” His position on death is perfect, “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.” This not only reinforces the beginning of his speech that we should chase the future we want, but also highlights the importance of our being here. “Death is very likely the single best invention of life. It is life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you,” Jobs said. The new is… us. Even though he was speaking to students at Stanford, the message is worldwide. The more than 23,000
students at UA are the future. We all have the opportunity to make change, yet, that’s not what all of us want to do. Some of us just want to make money and relax, some want to join the Armed Forces, some of us want to be politicians; the choices are endless. What works in our favor is that we’re some of the best-prepared students in the nation. We go to one of the best schools, have some of the most hard-working faculty, have thriving Greek life, committed student governments in Associated Student Government and Residents Interhall Congress, and an elite sports program. We are the University of Arkansas. And now the decision is up to us to let everybody know it. Jobs let nothing stand in his way while working at Apple while creating the technology that so many of us use every day. The next Steve Jobs is among us, the only things that can hold us back are ourselves. We must never let our ambition run dry no matter what we do, and always, “stay hungry, stay foolish.” Joe Kieklak is a columnist for The Traveler. His column runs every Monday.
Solutions For Students With Math Anxiety
-David “Zeek” Martin, journalism major KXUA station manager
EDITORIAL BOARD
tiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road, will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-worn path, and that will make all the difference,” Jobs said. His position on risk-taking is incredible. Far too often we all stick with what we know, and don’t go into the unknown. This applies in all aspects of life, but it should be remembered especially during the class advising period. During this time, we make decisions that just don’t demarcate our next semesters, but we’re deciding the tools that we aim to use for the rest of our life. We can’t base our class decisions off of what our friends or significant others are taking, or what our parents want us to take. It’s time to give up trying to make others happy, and make a life for us. Jobs reinforced this idea in his speech with a story telling of how dropping out of college led to the success of Apple. While I don’t suggest dropping out of college, ultimately, do what feels right, because it can lead to unparalleled success. “You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going
“Math makes me wanna break stuff,” said Crystal Kieffer, senior art major. Many students will understand such intense feelings, and many will not. Students who are fundamentally frustrated with math will be glad to know there is a name for the emotional and physical symptoms experienced: math anxiety. The problems surrounding math anxiety have “consistently ranked among the top 20 concerns for college students,” according to the University of Florida Division of Student Affairs. Research from the American Diploma Project “estimates that in 62 percent of American jobs over the next 10 years, entry-level workers will need to be proficient in algebra, geometry, data interpretation,
probability and statistics.” As many as 80 percent of U.S. students have experienced some degree of math anxiety, said Randy January, instructor and course coordinator in the Department of Mathematics. “There is a direct relationship between test-taking skills, especially in math, and student success,” January said. January defines math anxiety as signs of math-related stress in an otherwise intelligent person. “One thing I often hear from students is that they thought they were the only ones, when in reality, many people have experienced it. Even people well-versed in math have some anxiety with it at times,” January said. The difference between math anxiety and math anxiety disorder is stark. Math anxiety disorder is math anxiety gone wild. M.A.D. is characterized by complete paralysis in the face of even the most miniscule calculation. Luckily, most students do not experience this degree of math-inspired panic, which leads to an inability to complete assignments or take math tests. Most students can overcome their math anxiety with the right tools though. Math-anxious students battle emotions such as anger,
sadness, low self-esteem and anxiety. Physical symptoms of math anxiety include shaking, elevated heart rate, sweating, headaches and loss of sleep. Recent research showed that “simply suggesting to college students that they would be asked to take a math test triggered a stress response in the hypothalamus of students with high math anxiety,” according to a University of Chicago study. UA administration offers several programs designed to help students combat math anxiety and improve test-taking skills. The UA mathematics department offers seminars about math anxiety and math anxiety disorder. The UA education department is also offering a freshman seminar in math study skills in the fall. The mathematics department collaborated with the education department to design the eight-week course. The Math Resource and Teaching Center, on the second floor of the science and engineering building, is available to students who need additional tutoring. It is “surrounded by teaching assistant and instructor offices, and provides students with the support and services they need,”
according to the mathematics departmental newsletter. Students have access to advanced software that gives them “immediate feedback from electronic homework, quizzes and tests,” according to the newsletter. The Enhanced Learning Center, in Gregson Hall, offers general tutoring services, including math tutors for all ability levels. The UA introduced its math placement test in the fall 2010 semester. Considered in conjunction with ACT and SAT scores, the test is used to determine a student’s “strengths and weaknesses at the basic algebra and calculus readiness levels and places students into courses according to their abilities,” according to the spring 2010 UA mathematics department newsletter. If you hear Col. Kurtz’s maniacal voice whispering, “the horror, the horror,” when you are about to enter a math class-fear not. Instead of nibbling your nails to nubs and enduring sleepless nights, take advantage of the programs that you have already paid for with your student fees. Emily Hilley-Sierzchula is a columnist for The Traveler. Her column runs bimonthly, every other Monday.