I am cut & pasting into this post a portion of what i posted into “ranking/rigging” thread (that appears in the USC folder). I ask for your consideration as to (1) which discussions are appropriate, or not, within specific school’s folders, and (2) who the primary audience of specific school folders tends to be, and (3) what are the intended purpose of CC’s discussion threads.
This is a portion of my post in the USC thread:
*Look at all the many other threads in this “USC” folder. You have new students asking current students about housing, science and engineering programs, studying abroad, health services, greek organizations, food services, different academic programs, placement tests, specific classes, etc. My point is the aforementioned threads are what this USC folder is intended for. It provides a means for students (who are interested, who have applied, and in many cases have been accepted) an opportunity to ask current students for help. College life can be overwhelming to many students. I love CC, and all the benefits that it provides to students. It is better than “google” searches, because the questions and answers are typically real-time, and you can follow up to get additional details. We have received many many answers for qusetions we had about USC.
This thread about the ranking of USC, in my opinion, is hardly beneficial to students who are eagerly aniticipating their first day at USC. In my opinion, this thread should be moved to the “Paents” folder. I firmly believe that the topic is fine, and i have no problems with the discussion occurring. I just think that the discussion should take place in a different folder. Consider who the vast majority of people who are reading the posts in this folder (new and current USC students, and their parents).
When you choose to disparage USC, and diminish the “shine”, (in this USC folder) you are making those comments to thousands of 18 year old boys and girls. Yes, at 18, they are adults, but those of us who are parents know what i mean. At that age, they are leaving the nest for the first time, and they have many questions and concerns. They want to be adults, yet they still want and need our assistance. They want to have all the answers, but they will still come to us with many questions. Some of them have fears and doubts. In my opinion, the last thing that we (parents) want to do, is to create one more additional concern or doubt in their minds. (Again, please hear me, i have no problems with this discussion occurring. You are welcome to criticize USC all you want. I just think that it should be done in a different folder).*
** I have felt, since i joined CC, that there should be a separate folder hierarchy for the debate/argument threads (“my school vs your school”, or “your school sucks for the following reasons”, etc.). I believe that the individual school folders are used primarily by new students (newly accpeted, or newly attending) of the school. They have many questions, and they seek assistance from existing students.
Our family has asked many questions over the past 3 years. We have received many excellent and very helpful answers. The answers have provided details that have enabled us, in some cases, to modify our choices (academic and student life in general). **
One of the USC detracters recently posted the following (in response to my post)
*"I think it’s telling about you as a person that you think that 18-19 year olds are so impressionable that their world would be shattered at the first hint of impropriety at their school. Forgetting, of course the athletic scandals that were already all over the news. Do you think all college freshman are so fragile or just USC students? *
**I am not saying that new students are not mature enough to view the harsh debates. But, at a minimum, it is a distraction and is noise. And, in some cases, some students are more fragile than we realize, and can we say with confidence what added stress will or will not be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Unlike the “student” who replied to my post, I am a “parent”. And I know of students who have encountered problems within college (1) academic: changes in grade after starting college, (2) emotional: homesick, sadness, depression, etc, (3) social: difficulty fitting in, establishing new friendships, etc, (4) substance abuse: drugs, alcohol, etc. And there are far more problems than the short list that i mention. We have all heard the statistics of students who commit suicide, the ultimate form of crying out for help. Who knows what pressures that those students encountered, that pushed them over the edge.
Again, i am not saying that we need to treat them with kid gloves. Yet, on the other hand, why not provide them with college folders that are supportive of their new environment. Why not move the debate/argument threads to another hierarchy of folders.
Those are my opinions.
Thanks for listening.
**