College students green, scared, and lonely???
As I sit in front of the keyboard trying to key on one topic to write about for my first ever blog, my mind drifts but eventually locks onto the generalization found in Kenneth Bruffee’s article on why a freshman in college joins a fraternity or sorority. After reading the article, titled, “Binge Drinking as a Substitute for a ’Community of Learning”, I was deeply affected by the author’s stereotypical views on incoming freshman. When I read that most all incoming freshman are “green, scared, and lonely,” I can’t help but think that this whole argument may be coming from his own experiences and not a great deal of research. Frankly, I don’t know any freshman who is going to admit to someone that they are scared about anything, particularly about fitting in. You might as well generalize everything else, while you’re at it. Fat people are lazy, kids that make bad grades are stupid, etc.. You can’t write an article that only addresses one side of an issue and expect it to be objective, that’s ludicrous. His entire argument might be true in isolated cases, but it certainly does not hold true for everyone.
As a quick side note, you do have to appreciate the way Bruffee writes to his audience. He includes every possible “hot button” topic that he realizes will affect professors and administrators. In my mind this is a brilliant example of knowing who your target audience is, and feeding them ammunition that supports their argument. The article is even written in such a way as to not be easily seen for what it is, a propaganda piece on the dangers of joining a Greek house.
13 comments:
I agree with you AJ, the statements that he made were very stereotypical. Just because that happened to him doesn't mean that is the case for all incoming freshman. I agree with your other references to stereotypes. When you put it in that perspective it does make that article sound ridiculous.
I understand from your point of view and agree. A person cannot categorize everyone, including freshman in college. In college people are coming from all sorts of backgrounds. You must do more research to prove your point.
I agree with you on that Bruffee's argument does not hold true for everyone. At bigger schools it might be harder to fit in at such large campuses. At some of the smaller colleges students with the same majors will be in a lot of the same classes. Students will be with the same people and it will be easy to make friends who have the same interests as they do. Yes, it might be hard to fit in at first but getting involved in campus life helps you to fit in really easily. I disagree with Bruffee’s stand on Greek life and how they are only about partying and drinking. Fraternities and Sororities are a wonderful thing to be involved in. Your brothers or sisters become your second family and are some of your closest friends throughout college and the rest of your life. Most Greeks to be in good standing with their chapter have to keep up a certain grade point average. It is hard to keep up your grades if all you do is party and drink.
It seems to be the popular opinion that Bruffee stereotypes the frats and sororities, including my own. AJ makes a good point about how he uses such a stereotypical opinion for the audience that is concerned about the subject matter more than most.
I must also agree with AJ. Those statements were very stereotypical. Going to college, whether you join a sorority or not, is hard. Its hard to fit in and to make friends as well. It seemed like Bruffee's point-of-view was more from a personal standpoint than from a broad standpoint. Joining a sorority or a fraternity can help you make friends faster. Its not always about partying and drinking. Its about knowing that you have someone that is always there for you. Nobody can make you drink. Everyone has self-control over themselves, so it doesn't matter who may want you to do something you don't want to do. Having self-control is the key.
I agree and disagree with AJ, because being a freshmen I didn't arrived to college feeling like a "Green, scared, lonely person".I feel as though all freshmens are not just going to settle for less. Just because Bruffee had it rough when he was a freshmen. That doesn't mean every one else would be in the same boat.Then I agree also with Bruffee, because he talks about how freshmens should focus more on there academics other then join groups on campus that really don't help academically.
I agree with you on the point that Bruffee does seem to stereotype college freshmen and Greek life. Not all college freshmen cry out in the night for Mommy. Not all Sororities and Fraternities are all about drinking and partying.
However, Bruffee is trying to appeal to school faculty and people who probably think in terms of these stereotypes. When taken in the context of his audience, it makes sense for him to use these stereotypes to make his point to these people, whether or not they are absolutely true.
This is not to say that he is right to use this method of manipulation to further his point, but the audience would be more likely to agree with him if he reinforced their own schemas.
I don't quite agree with you, sure its a stereo type, but then again, we live in a nation compiled from them. You admitted that freshman can be scared when they come into college, not admitting it is something else entirely. Thats part of the problem, we all experience anxiety as we enter a new situation, but refuse to admit to it in an attempt to appear comfortable. Sure Bruffee generalizes, but then again he has a very general audience. I do agree on the point that he knows how to target an audience, however, as he certainly does. The fact of the matter though, is that frat houses and sororities do target incoming students who want to belong. That isn't necessarily bad, but its definitely a major part of their recruiting criteria. They are just as good at finding who they want as he is.
While I agree with you that Bruffee's essay doesnt hold true for everyone, I cannot agree with you in the sense that you can't say that no college kids would say that they weren't scared of anything. I know when I first came to Lander, I was scared out of my mind. I didn't know what to do, and I'll admit to you firsthand that I quite possibly could have been that most scared person on this campus. I do think that nyou are right when he says that he stereotyped these people but I don't agree with some of your other statements
I agree as well. I joined a fraternity not because i was afraid and didn't have friends. I joined because i wanted to be apart of the biggest organisation in the nation. I think that Brufee just had a bad experience in college and should check his research.
I agree with you as well, one thing I would like people to get away from is stereotypes. I don't think just because it happened to one specific person that it'll effect everyone else. It all depends on that particular person and their set of mind.
I agree that college students are scared and don't have many friends as incoming freshman so the join fraternities and sororities. They don't join because of binge drinking, but to make friends. Bruffee should not categorize people until he has researched both sides of his argument.
I agree on it being a stereotype about freshmen joining fraternities or sororities make friends and get noticed freshmen year, but its kind of true. If you are an outgoing person you are going to experiment and try new things to get your foot in the door of being known on campus. Even shy people take certain oppertunities to get noticed, wheather its a club that goes with there hobby.
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