Extreme Disobedience in Law Abiding Citizen

As I was contemplating what to write for my last post, I was watching the movie 300 that features Gerard Butler. Rather than write about that movie, I found myself thinking about one of his others, which is Law Abiding Citizen. In the movie, Butler plays Clyde Shelton who witnesses the murder of his family and then watches the murderers go free because the prosecutor strike a deal with the criminals because he was unwilling to go to trial and risk his 96% conviction rate. As an ex special forces expert, Clyde sets out to exercise his version of civil disobedience – an extreme overhaul of the justice system through violence and manipulation.

The movie poster, which reads “The system must pay”

Work Hard, Play Hard

You’ll probably see these students at the library in 3 hours

It’s the Michigan motto, or so we say. In actuality, it’s the mentality virtually every college claims to have, whether it is Colgate University or MIT. The “work hard, play hard” lifestyle is clearly very prevalent in college and students should expect to do both in order to get the most out of their time here. From what I’ve seen, the experience of a typical U of M student is built on this understanding and falls in perfectly with Suits’ Death of the Grasshopper, as well as Giamatti’s  Take Time for Paradise.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

After recently reading some of John Stuart Mills On Liberty, I found that some of the concepts that he discussed are applicable to the everyday life of the American college student, which is interesting to me because I am one of these American college students. Particularly I’d like to focus on Mill’s ideas about conformity.

Conformity leads to a lack of individualism

According to Mill, conformity in itself isn’t a problem. However, once people start to conform without thinking about what they are conforming to and instead conform for the sake of custom, it is a problem. In Mill’s words they have no need for any faculties other than “the ape-like one of imitation”. This demonstrates Mill’s belief that people need to think about the choices they make, and make these choices based upon the conclusions that they come to themselves. They can use previous knowledge and experience in their decisions, however, the final decision has to come from their own judgement.

I have found that college students are especially vulnerable when it comes to conformity. Students have a tendency to do whatever they can in order to fit in and be cool. This predisposition towards conformity can lead to students trying new things that they have never tried before, in an effort to conform, such as drinking alcohol.

The University of Michigan: A Rousseauian Society

Our beautiful campus!

The University of Michigan is one of the greatest institutions for higher education on the entire planet; it is a place where individuals can explore their interests, build up their knowledge and their character, and join a great community of supportive peers.  In many ways, our great establishment creates an almost ideal world; in this great university which strives to support all of its members and see them succeed in reaching their goals, a shining example of a Rousseauian society is formed.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is one of the most famous philosophers in history; his thoughts in political philosophy were some of the driving forces behind the French Revolution and are still focussed on to this day.  So what does this dude, a dude who promoted freedom and peace and working together but whose writings led–indirectly–to the beheadings of several thousand people, have to do with the greatness that is the University of Michigan?

Government’s purpose is to curb the Selfish Man

I grew up in a small community where the teachings of general welfare and morality were preached by Rabbis every saturday morning. My Private Jewish Day school was rather conservative, and themes of morality consistently flooded the halls and the ears of my student body. Even high school was relatively sheltered to the cold wind of reality that beats my face every morning on the way back from Central Campus here at the University of Michigan. I am not speaking solely on the weather, although that too has been an extreme adjustment, but rather on the selfish tendencies of man in a state of Nature as described by Thomas Hobbes in Chapters XIII and XIV of the Leviathan.

More Than An Armrest: A View from 5’1 1/2″

I’m going to model this post after my stature: short and sweet.  We are not all born equal; everyone is born with an Achilles heel, something that makes it more difficult for him or her to forge on and become a functioning member of society. What’s mine? I’m inherently and forever short. For all you average height/ tall (hate you) people rolling your eyes, hear me out, because I’m sure you are just as tired at staring at the top of my head as I am at staring at your nose hairs. I’m here to tell you that it’s not easy being small.

Preach.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not a mutually beneficial arrangement when you decide to rest your bony, pointy elbow on the top of my head. While you’re relishing in all the conveniences that come with having your own portable armrest,

Tiny person or large building? A question for the ages.

 and enjoying a nice moment of relaxation and comfort, I’m down here losing brain cells by the second. PSA: if you do choose to rest your hefty body weight on my small frame, I will do everything in my power to ensure that you fall, preferably on a hard surface.

 

Additional Nugget Problems: I don’t like shopping in the youth and children’s sections to find clothes that fit (side note: judgmental mothers giving me side glares while shopping– quit staring or I’m going to sit on your child), it hurts when friends grab my ponytail so that they won’t lose me in a crowd, and I’m tired of my view being obstructed at every sporting event, concert, class, and really anything else that involves crowds and people being directly in front of me. I’m sick of not having my own seat on the bus because my friends insist I stand, or sit on their laps because “you don’t take up much room.”  Also, I’m really, really sick of straining my neck all day long just to hold a conversation or make eye contact with someone. You think it’s difficult tilting your head down? Think again, I don’t see you constantly needing to crack your neck for relief or ending the day with a heated neck pillow every night. 

Same

 

 

You want to ride a roller coaster? Wait until you’re 14 because the park has deemed you a liability. You want to take pictures with your friends? Either stand on your tiptoes and stretch your neck as long as possible or watch your friends sorority squat just so they can come down to your level. You want coffee? Bummer, that’s off limits unless you want to endure the wrath of a bitter and bored middle-aged soccer mom who will chastise you and condescendingly insist “perhaps that’s what stunted your growth.” I’m sorry, Mrs. Johnson, but my mother is 5 Foot 1 and my father is 5 Foot 9, please riddle me how this cup of coffee at age NINETEEN is contributing to my literal shortcomings.

Always trying to catch up

 

As LaVaque-Manty points out in Being a Woman and Other Disadvantages, “distributive justice isn’t only about the just distribution of goods: it can be about the just distribution of rights, opportunities, capabilities, and even recognition and respect.” I don’t see you precariously balancing on three textbooks on top of a storage box container that’s resting on a chair while you are wearing high heels just to change a lightbulb, so a little recognition and respect wouldn’t kill you. While I recognize that my situation doesn’t demand as much precedence or importance as those discussed in Being a Woman and Other Disadvantages, I’m not asking for much here people. There’s no need for legal action or legislation, (though, if you agree that this sounds reasonable, and you have some hookups in the State Department, get at me) just throw me a stool and we can call it a day. Or even a boost from someone would be great.

“People differ in needs, inclinations and talents,” yes I’m skilled at balancing on counters and finding ways to reach things but sometimes I just need a ladder or like eight more inches in stature. Adjusting my surroundings to my needs is at times easier than others. For example, while my home was tailored to my needs, my dorm and the rest of the world are not. In my dorm, there are no stools so I can’t reach the top of my closet, I can only see the top half of my face in my mirror, and I have to awkwardly hop into my bed. I constantly find myself using chairs, counters, or really anything that I can stand on to get to the snacks that my roommates (who are both 5’10”) conveniently keep out of my reach.

Sorry for the excess of Nicole Richie, she just gets me

What am I getting at? Being short is not just a different aesthetic, it is a physical difference that demands I make certain accommodations so to comfortably carry out simple tasks, after all according to Lm,“equality requires the acceptance of differences.” While I still hold out a little hope that I’ll hit my growth spurt soon, I’ve also accepted that at 19 that is highly unlikely and I forever blend in among a sea of 5th graders.

 

Admittedly, there are some perks that accompany the nugget life. I always get reduced ticket prices/ free admission at museums because people assume I’m under eighteen, and much to my disdain under 16 at times too. No one contests me when I order off the kids menu. Oh, and awkward run ins with people? Not a problem: just sink down like you’re descending underwater, and scurry away between the legs of the crowd like the chipmunk you were born to be. So short people remember, “neither nature nor accident denies anyone the capability to function.” And for tall people out there everywhere: stop asking me to tie your shoes, stop insisting I pick up your dropped pencil because I’m technically closer to the ground, and recognize that just because I look like I belong in It’s a Small World After All doesn’t mean I’m a joyous, singing doll for you to push around.

I’m just a Bruno Mars in a world of Taylor Swifts

Priority Check

As a freshman at the University of Michigan, I feel pressure to apply to the Ross School of Business. I find myself surrounded by thousands of freshman, all of whom–whether they admit it or not–are angling for admission to Ross.

I have visions of walking into the sleek orange and blue building that is Ross and feeling like I am a part of the #4 undergraduate business program in the nation. I can see myself ordering a morning cappuccino in the Starbucks in Ross’s lobby while hurrying to a lecture where everyone will be wearing a fancy suit and carrying a designer label suitcase. There’s only one problem with my dream of Ross acceptance…I’m not interested in studying business.

The B-School sure is quite a sight to behold.

I like studying history, writing, government, and the humanities. Those have been my favorite subjects  since the beginning of high school. It would make sense for me to want to major in political science, English or public policy among other subjects. Yet, I rarely consider these academic focuses as my first choice–I desire to gain acceptance to Ross. A degree from Ross in finance sounds successful.

See, I, like many others, equate acceptance into Ross with success. Success is defined as “the accomplishment of one’s goals”. Yet, if I’m not actually interested in studying and learning about business, why am I so attracted to Ross? There is a wide-spread social and cultural dilemma at the core of my affection for Ross.

An Upvote for Yik Yak

While Yik Yak can be deplorable, egregious, offensive and utterly tasteless, it is a vital outlet for college students. That is why my learned colleague jessxl, I beg to differ.

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                  So what is Yik Yak?

No, Yik Yak is not a dating website for the lovable Himalayan animals that its name suggests it is. Sorry to disappoint all you yak lovers out there.

See, Yik Yak is a popular mobile application that is currently an increasingly popular social media tool on college campuses across the country. Yik Yak allows users who download the app–which can be done easily with the click of a button on smartphones–to post comments on a live feed that all other users within a certain geographical radius can see and either upvote (similar to a like) or downvote (a dislike :( ). Posters have the option to post anonymously–this feature encourages users to speak their minds in a free-flowing manner without having to face the consequences of their statements being attributed to them. So as you could guess by now, it’s obvious as to why this app would be popular on college campuses where tens of thousands of immature and freshly anointed young adults are co-existing in the same area. Posts frequently somehow incorporate profanity, obscenity and vulgarity to create a perfect blend of crudity.

However, what is left out of the description of the app above are the merits of Yik Yak. Yik Yak contains tons upon tons of funny anecdotes, helpful tips and interesting tidbits. Yik Yak’s reputation has fallen due to the actions of the few, not the many. Not all users frequent the app in a disrespectful manner; many use it to enjoy a quick laugh on a tough day…and that is what bring us to the second part of our discussion of Yik Yak.

The high tuition affects the future of Japanese society

In the article “Live and Learn”, Menand reveals some reasons why students go to college.

Teikyo University, in Tokyo, Japan

Theory 1 states that students go to college because they need higher GPA and bachelor’s degree to get better job. Theory 3 maintains that students regard college as a vocational training service. Based on both ideas, more students attend universities without questioning the value of education. In the lecture, we also figure out that more students get bachelor’s degree, more tuition and fees they pay.

Those tendencies related to college education appear in Japan as well. The society urges students to attend universities because companies hire individuals with outstanding GPA . Almost all students in middle and high school study hard for entrance exams and enter universities. Besides, tuition and fees for colleges and cram schools in Japan have grown swiftly.

The high cost of education not only affects equality of opportunity, but also threatens the future of Japanese society; it leads the decline of birth rate.

College: Live, Learn, and actually…kind of like it?

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I remember what my older sister told me before I had started school at the University of Michigan. She said, “College is going to be the best years of your life. Enjoy it while you can.” Now I’ll admit, I was perplexed. After all, you go to college to learn and get a job, right? “School + learning = fun” was not on the list of equations that high school had taught me. But, now that I’m here, I’ve found that maybe, just maybe, my sister was right, college is pretty awesome: I can choose the classes I want, see my friends every time I step out my door, and most importantly, eat chipotle all day. I no longer think that the only reason I’m here is to get a job, having realized that there are multiple benefits of the college experience, shifting my view from Menand’s third theory to a combination of all three.