The 70 Most Conservative Colleges in America

The 70 Most Conservative Colleges in America SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you hold strong political beliefs, you may want to go to a college where the students, faculty, and administration share your values. You’ll be more likely to find student groups that are aligned with your interests and beliefs. The values of the college will be more likely to coincide with your own, and you’ll probably have a more enjoyable college experience. In this article, I’ll give you the names of some of the most conservative colleges in the United States. Furthermore, I’ll detail the traits of conservative colleges, explain the possible advantages and disadvantages of attending a conservative college, and advise you on how to find a conservative college that's a good fit for you. Traits of the Most Conservative Colleges Conservative colleges are politically right-wing. The students tend to favor conservative positions like outlawing abortion, reducing the size of government, and protecting gun rights. Christian colleges are often more conservative. Many Christian colleges adhere to more traditional social views and rules that attract conservative Christian students and faculty. Furthermore, conservative colleges are more strict and regimented than liberal colleges. Conservative religious colleges like BYU and the College of the Ozarks have strict rules that all students must follow. At BYU, male students can’t have beards or long hair. These colleges are much less tolerant of alcohol and drug use than liberal colleges. Also, the armed service academies are known for being conservative. They have many more rules than the average college regarding personal appearance and conduct. Finally, the most conservative colleges often reflect the political leanings of their locations. Many of the most conservative colleges are located in conservative states. Examples of conservative colleges in conservative locations include Clemson University (South Carolina), Utah State, and the University of Alabama. However, there are conservative colleges in liberal states. Pepperdine and Thomas Aquinas College are conservative colleges in California, but they’re both Christian colleges. Possible Advantages of Attending a Conservative College If you're a self-described conservative, you may be more comfortable and happy at a college with many other conservative students. At very liberal colleges, students are often not that accepting and think negatively of conservatives. If you attend a conservative college, you’re more likely to meet people who share your political and social views, and you won't be ostracized for your beliefs. Also, at a conservative college, the faculty and administration are more likely to accept or believe in conservative values.Studies have shown that college faculty tend to be much more liberal. If you’re a conservative student, you may not prefer having your opinions evaluated by a professor who is likely to hold very different beliefs. Additionally, conservative colleges are generally more accepting of religious Christian students. Many of the most conservative colleges are Christian colleges that profess Christian values and attract Christian students. Even conservative colleges that are not Christian colleges have a larger proportion of Christian students than liberal colleges. Lastly, conservative colleges are more likely to stress discipline. The service academies require students to follow many rules regarding conduct and appearance. While young people often abhor rules, the discipline of service academy graduates may facilitate their success. The US Naval Academy and the US Military Academy both finished in the top 10 in Payscale’s rankings of the best colleges and universities by salary potential. Similarly, The College of the Ozarks makes all students work, but it’s a tuition-free college. US Military Academy Possible Disadvantages of Attending a Conservative College Depending on your beliefs and your ideal college experience, conservative colleges may not be a good fit for you. On issues of sexuality, conservative colleges are less likely to have resources for and be accepting of LGBT students. Similarly, the students at conservative colleges are more likely to be opposed to gay marriage. If you are looking for a college where LGBT students are welcome, you may feel like a misfit at a conservative college. Conservative colleges tend to have more structure. If you prefer more freedom and independence to direct your education and social lives, then you may feel restricted by the discipline of conservative colleges. For instance, some colleges have harsh rules regarding when you can have visitors in your dorm, drinking, and drug use. Finally, if you want a college where a wide range of students attend and where you can have your beliefs more regularly challenged, conservative colleges may be too homogeneous for your tastes. Conservative colleges tend to attract primarily students of conservative leanings. If you want a more liberal environment or a wide representation of beliefs, conservative colleges may feel one-note for you. Lists of the Most Conservative Colleges Niche Niche is a website that provides reviews, rankings, and statistics about neighborhoods and schools. It provides many different college ranking lists from the overall best colleges to the top party schools to the most liberal colleges. The Niche rankings of the most conservative colleges are based on a political poll of 50,000 students from 747 colleges. A full 80% of the rankings is based on student survey responses regarding the students' personal political leanings. The remaining 20% is based on student survey responses regarding the political leanings of other students at the college. The List Here are the top 50 most conservative colleges according to Niche, with #1 being the most conservative. There is a high percentage of private Christian colleges on the list. Most of the public colleges,such as Utah State, the University of Mississippi, and the University of Arkansas, are located in conservative states. University of Mississippi (JR P/Flickr) School Location Acceptance Rate 1. Liberty University Lynchburg, VA 24% 2. Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, ID 24% 3.Brigham Young University Provo, UT 48% 4.Cedarville University Cedarville, OH 69% 5.Bob Jones University Greenville, SC 87% 6.Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OH 79% 7.Colorado Christian University Lakewood, CO 94% 8.Utah State University Logan, UT 90% 9.Maranatha Baptist University Watertown, WI 68% 10.Biola University La Mirada, CA 65% 11.Oral Roberts University Tulsa, OK 68% 12.LeTourneau University Longview, TX 44% 13.Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, AR 67% 14.Oklahoma Christian University Edmond, OK 61% 15.Samford University Birmingham, AL 91% 16.Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, MI 63% 17.Southwestern Assemblies of God University Waxahachie, TX 23% 18.Evangel University Springfield, MO 75% 19.University of Mississippi University, MS 78% 20.Weber State University Ogden, UT 100% 21.University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA 75% 22.Southeastern University Lakeland, FL 46% 23.Anderson University - South Carolina Anderson, SC 54% 24.Lee University Cleveland, TN 87% 25.Grove City College Grove City, PA 82% 26.Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach, FL 93% 27.Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX 50% 28.Crown College Saint Bonafacius, MN 54% 29.Oklahoma Baptist University Shawnee, OK 60% 30.Harding University Searcy, AR 70% 31.University of Northwestern - St. Paul Saint Paul, MN 87% 32.Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, WI 90% 33.Brigham Young University - Hawaii Laie, HI 27% 34.Dallas Baptist University Dallas, TX 43% 35.North Greenville University Tigerville, SC 59% 36.Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Prescott, AZ 76% 37.Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA 63% 38.Union University Jackson, TN 63% 39.South Dakota State University Brookings, SD 91% 40.Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL 78% 41.Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS 87% 42.University of Dallas Irving, TX 80% 43.South Dakota School of Mines Technology Rapid City, SD 85% 44.Ohio Christian University Circleville, OH 65% 45.Southern Utah University Cedar City, UT 72% 46.Campbell University Buies Creek, NC 81% 47.University of Saint Francis - Indiana Fort Wayne, IN 97% 48.Northwestern College - Iowa Orange City, IA 66% 49.Wheaton College Wheaton, IL 79% 50.Asbury University Wilmore, KY 70% Brigham Young University Princeton Review The Princeton Review rankings for the most conservative colleges are based on students' responses to the question "Politically, are you left-wing, Democrat, middle, Republican, right-wing?" The List All of the colleges that made the Princeton Review list for the top 20 most conservative colleges are religious, located in conservative states, or service academies. The schools that made both the Niche and Princeton Review lists are the University of Dallas, Brigham Young University, Grove City College, and Wheaton College. School Location Acceptance Rate 1.Grove City College Grove City, PA 93% 2.College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO 16% 3.Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI 36% 4. University of Dallas Irving, TX 47% 5.Hapden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VA 59% 6.Baylor University Waco, TX 39% 7.Wheaton College (IL) Wheaton, IL 85% 8. Auburn University Auburn, AL 84% 9.The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa, AL 59% 10.Iowa State University Ames, IA 89% 11.Mercer University Macon, GA 73% 12.Brigham Young University (UT) Provo, UT 52% 13.United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO 12% 14.United States Military Academy West Point, NY 10% 15.Kansas State University Manhattan, KS 95% 16.Ohio Northern University Ada, OH 69% 17.Wofford College Spartanburg, SC 69% 18.University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA 56% 19.Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX 41% 20. Berry College Mount Berry, GA 66% Texas AM Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, Texas AM/Flickr Student Reviews Niche also offers student reviews of colleges. Here are some comments written by students of some of the most conservative colleges in the United States. I tried to include positive and negative aspects of each school related to its very conservative environment. Texas AM I absolutely love my school. There is a strong love and passion for the university reflected every day on campus. Most importantly, the importance of being honest and having strong character is reinforced at Texas AM University. I would not have wanted to have attended any other university. After receiving my undergraduate degree in Agricultural Economics-Finance and Real Estate, I decided my time here was not over. I will now be attending graduate school to pursue my Masters of Real Estate. If I could do it all over again, I would not change a thing. Texas AM has to have the most ignorant, absurdly extremist right-wing culture I have ever encountered. I consider myself a conservative, but the sheer amount of bigotry and intolerance at this school is simply unacceptable for what is supposed to be an educated environment. I was always told that college was meant to expose you to a diverse group of people and help you prepare for a globalized world. AM does the opposite. It is a sheltered bubble for racist, homophobic, ethnocentrism coupled with extreme Christian and Republican views. Any sense of worldly knowledge, open-mindedness, or cultural exposure is met with disdain if not outright hostility. Brigham Young University I love attending Brigham Young University because it provides a learning environment that is compatible with my religious beliefs. The surrounding mountains are spectacular, and there are plenty of museums, theaters and libraries nearby. I hate the lack of diversity. I feel like although my classes are amazing, I'm not learning real life lessons because I'm in a Mormon bubble. However, there are a lot of cool opportunities. I love my professors and it's easy to get involved. US Military Academy Excellent options. You'll be making a lot of money. And people will want to hire you after the army. Drug tests are monthly, no civilians are allowed in cadet area, you cannot leave post hardly ever unless you are a senior, and you better drive the speed limit on post or you'll get pulled over. Grove City College My school has high academic, extracurricular and moral expectations. While others may dislike the high pressure to excel in multiple areas, Grove pushes us to do our best - to strive to reach our potential. In addition, Grove has a close-knit community. The school promotes and provides many opportunities for forming close connections with others. The campus is beautiful and the professors are superior. Grove City is a great college. Inter-visitation hours (where boys can go into girls dorms and vice versa) include Wednesdays from 7-10 PM, Fridays from 7PM-12 AM, Saturdays from 1PM-12AM, and Sundays from 1-10PM. While a boy/girl is your room, the door must be open 4 inches and a light other than the TV has to be on. You may think that those are just rules and people probably don't follow them. You would be wrong. Everyone follows them. If you have a boy in your room, you have to sign him in with your RA and then they go around during their shift to check to make sure your door is open and they can see a light. If they don't, they knock and come in to tell you to keep the door open or to turn the light on. Time limits are strict too; you gotta have them out right on time or the RA will kick them out. I'm not joking. This really happens. I've heard of people sneaking in on other days, but I've never seen it myself. There's no alcohol on campus and even if there is it's hidden away in someone's room who probably isn 't going to share. Grove City College How Should You Use These Lists of the Most Conservative Colleges? If you want to go to a very conservative college, you should research the colleges that interest you on the Niche and Princeton Review lists to determine if they’re schools you should apply to or attend. There are many factors to consider to determine if a college is a good fit for you including location, selectivity, support services, and the majors offered.Look at the school’s website, and use guidebooks, college finders, search websites, and other ranking lists to help you in the college selection process. If possible, consult with teachers, counselors, parents, current students, and alumni. What If You Want to Go to a Conservative College, but a School You're Considering Isn't on the Lists? Just because a school didn’t make either list doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not conservative. Look at the school’s website to see if there are student groups that are aligned with your political and social views. There may be student groups for Republicans, conservative politicians, or members of the NRA. Sometimes, there will be an organization contact listed on the website. If so, you can contact a representative of the organization and ask about the atmosphere on campus. Also, you can consult other sources that evaluate or grade how conservative a college is. On the Niche profile for each college, under "diversity" for each school's guide, there is a category called "political activity" that describes the political activity on campus. For example, this is how Duke's political activity is described: Duke, like most universities, has a strong liberal streak, but conservatives have made their voices heard, as well. There are a variety of political organizations on campus that are populated by a significant percentage of the student body. Students advocate for a wide range of political causes, and the University regularly schedules guest political speakers, which are usually very well attended. For example, in 2010, more than 1,000 tickets to see Al Gore lecture sold out in a matter of minutes. Also, on the College View college finder, you can select that you’re â€Å"only interested in schools with a very conservative climate† and search for colleges that fit that criteria, and there are 20 other search categories to help you narrow your college search. Finally, remember that the political leaning of a college is often reflective of the area where the college is located. For example, colleges in the Northeast tend to be more liberal, and colleges in the South tend to be more conservative. You can determine if a specific city or town is liberal by looking up the candidates it supported in the last election and its views on various political and social issues. Keep in mind that there are conservative cities in liberal states and vice versa. Also, Christian colleges and service academies are typically more conservative regardless of their locations. Based on the past four presidential elections, the red states are the most conservative. What's Next? Because Christian colleges tend to be conservative, you may be interested in checking out my post on the best Christian schools. If you're applying to college soon, learn everything you need to know about the college essay. Finally, if you need to raise your SAT score to get into the college of your dreams, check out our 15 SAT tips to improve your SAT score. If you're taking the ACT, here are our tips to improve your ACT score. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Turabian Style

Turabian Style Modern day language has been revolutionized by the use of Turabian style. From its roots in the Chicago Manual of Style, this guide has become standard use for students and professors today. With a hard slant towards academia, the Turabian style has become one of the most widely used methods of documentation. Perhaps one of the most important features of the Turabian Style is the Turabian manual itself. With its simple, straightforward language and comprehensive research paper guide, the manual is a universal resource for the modern writer. In fact, the Turabian manual guides the student through the entire process of writing, from start to finish. Critically Acclaimed Style Turabian style has also garnered acclaim as one of the best methods of documentation. Every solid academic paper needs sources, and Turabian style has one of the best methods of citation. In fact, the Turabian style has two alternatives for implementing documentation, to better suit the needs of the writer. If you are interested in learning more about Turabian style, you would benefit from purchasing Turabian style software. These computer programs and templates take the guesswork out of conforming to the Turabian method. You can begin learning as you perfectly format your papers, to one of the most widely used styles in academia.

The Crusades Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Crusades - Research Paper Example Islam from present day Pakistan to Morocco and from the base of Turkey down to East Africa. This made Islam a threat to Christianity since there was a chance that Muslim invaders will spread their Jihads into European lands that were considered Christian at that time.Carl Erdmann points out that 11th Century reforms in the Church were the main cause of the First Crusade sanctioned by the Catholic Church. This is because the reform sought to purify all elements of the European society including warriors and militants. He, therefore, explains the Crusades as an attempt by the Catholic Church to divert violence and military force towards 'sacred' activities. In March 1095, Pope Urban II sent troops to go the Eastern Church which had its headquarters at Byzantium to help them defend themselves against a Muslim invasion. In the Council of Clermont a few months after that, in November 1095, Pope Urban II called for Christian armies and warriors to be sent to Jerusalem to re-take the city o f Jerusalem and establish a Christian state there.From an analysis of the activities of the first Crusade sanctioned by Pope Urban II, it appears that there was the need for the Pope to defend the borders of Christian Europe. This seems to be a natural course of action any religious leader would have taken against the Muslim expansion. The Crusades were successful and the Christians took Jerusalem in July 1099. They set up the Syrian and Palestine Christian states and took the island of Cyprus as a security point.

Business Management and Personal Skills Assignment

Business Management and Personal Skills - Assignment Example Academic writing involves putting together information from literature, including journals, books, websites, periodicals, reports and other, in a synchronized and organized manner and offer originality of thought to support the thesis. Referencing these sources in the correct manner as per the required citation style (APA, Harvard, MLA, and Chicago etc.) is quintessential to support the argument being made. Counterarguments also need to be offered to ensure that the author is well aware of both sides of the argument which enhances the validity of these arguments.   However, mere paraphrasing of authors’ ideas and putting them together without synchronizing them will result in a ‘patchwork’ and not an essay or a report. It is, therefore, critical to link the ideas with each other to ensure a coherent meaning is conveyed. Although I had strong skills as far as finance and accounting were concerned, my creative writing skills needed refinement as was indicated by m y instructors in their feedback. I found it increasingly difficult to organize my free-flowing thoughts into a structure and develop a flow throughout my piece of writing. According to Barrass, after scanning through the index to check whether the book is relevant or not it is useful to skim through the text to gather the main ideas. Following this pattern, I took notes after my ‘second’ reading of the text and tried reconstructing outline for the topic. This allowed me to organize my thoughts in a better way.... cluding journals, books, websites, periodicals, reports and other, in a synchronized and organized manner and offer originality of thought to support the thesis. Referencing these sources in the correct manner as per the required citation style (APA, Harvard, MLA, and Chicago etc.) is quintessential to support the argument being made (Tissington et al., 2009). Counterarguments also need to be offered to ensure that the author is well aware of both sides of the argument which enhances the validity of these arguments (Neville, 2010) (Anderson, 2010). However, mere paraphrasing of authors’ ideas and putting them together without synchronizing them will result in a ‘patchwork’ and not an essay or a report (Bovee et al., 2008). It is, therefore, critical to link the ideas with each other to ensure a coherent meaning is conveyed. Although I had strong skills as far as finance and accounting were concerned, my creative writing skills needed refinement as was indicated by my instructors in their feedback. I found it increasingly difficult to organize my free flowing thoughts into a structure and develop a flow throughout my piece of writing. According to Barrass, after scanning through the index to check whether the book is relevant or not it is useful to skim through the text to gather the main ideas (Barrass, 1996). Following this pattern, I took notes after my ‘second’ reading of the text and tried reconstructing outline for the topic. This allowed me to organize my thoughts in a better way. During my study, however, I was exposed to the concept of group studies which is something that has been reinforced by my learning on team dynamics and team working in organisations. Theory suggests the significance of learning through teams (Hills, 2001). However, my

Daughter Essay Essay Example for Free

Daughter Essay Essay February 2013 A Mothers Story Have you ever considered how becoming a parent could affect your life? I never knew how much a child could change my life until I became a mother. Growing up I never really knew what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go in life. I liked to party and be rebellious. I felt like nobody cared about me, so I didn’t really care about myself or where my life went. When I turned 19, everything that I ever felt, thought, or did, became a major reconsideration when I gave birth to my beautiful daughter, Dalayshia Briana Harris. During my childhood, I felt like my mother wasn’t there for me, which led me to make a lot of negative decisions in my life. Becoming a mom has made me as my dad would say, â€Å"Wake up and smell the coffee†. The one thing that I’m sure about now that I’ve became a mother, is that, I do have a purpose, and I want to be the best role model I can be to my daughter. September 28, 2007 is a date that changed my life forever. Growing up I never really felt like I had a place in this world. My parents got married and had me at a young age. My mom wasn’t quite ready to be a mother, and my dad did the best he could. My parents divorced when I was twelve, and that day is when my world ended and I felt like no one cared about how the outcome of their decisions would affect me. I thought the anger, loneliness, and my battered emotions, was the way my life would be, so I accepted it. As a child, I tried to numb myself from the pain and move forward in my life. My teenage years were quite memorable, but unfortunately not as positive as I wish they could have been. When I turned sixteen, I felt like school was not important. I could never focus and my behavior left me getting into a lot of trouble. I chose to drop out of high school and see what else life had in store for me. I started hanging out with the wrong people, which led me to getting a false identification card that said I was twenty-one. Then I began going to adult clubs with these friends. As I entered the club life, it was like a new world to me. I started drinking and partying on a consistent basis. The club scene became so much a part of me that for the next couple of years of my teenage life, that’s all my life consisted of. I had no goals and no positive outlook on my life. The only thing I became to know and like to do was party and hang out with my friends. When I turned eighteen, little did I know I was in store for some life changing news. When I turned eighteen I officially became an adult. Little did I know that in becoming an actual adult I was about to be hit with the most shocking news ever. One morning I woke up, I just didn’t feel well at all. So the next day I went to the doctor to find out why I was feeling so under the weather. The doctor ran some test as I sat there and patiently waited for the results. Finally the doctor comes in and says, â€Å"Congratulations, you’re pregnant†! I didn’t quite understand, so I asked him to repeat his self once more, so I could make sure I heard right before I went into a complete state of shock. The doctor repeated himself with saying, â€Å"Congratulations, you’re pregnant†! My whole world started spinning. I didn’t know how to take the news. I was scared and confused. I didn’t really know how to take care of myself, better yet bring a child in this world. Before going to the doctor the only thing I had become immune to doing is partying and drinking. Now I had to reconsider my whole life. Being a mom I never really considered that lifestyle before. Now I was faced with a decision that was going to change the rest of my life. I didn’t really know what to do, however, all I knew is that I was pregnant. During my pregnancy I stop drinking, but continued to party. Partying was a path I continued down, because that was all I knew, and the friends I thought I had were the only people who I felt cared about me. I continued to go to the club until I was eight months pregnant. By this time, I was far enough to know that I was having a girl. I had put on enough weight, where being in the clubs became miserable. I just wanted to rest, something I had not done in a long time. As I became further along in my pregnancy, I started to think about what I was going to do and where I was going to be once I had my daughter. When I first became pregnant my mom told me she didn’t want anything to do with me, but as I got closer to my due date she became more accepting. I packed my stuff up and decided to go back home to my mom’s house, where I could be to myself and focus on my future until I delivered. I spent the remainder of my pregnancy at my mom’s house. I had nothing but time to rest and think about the future I was soon to be faced with me and my unborn child. As I thought about my future my mind was still everywhere, and uncertain about what I was going to do. I didn’t know how to be a mom or how I was going to take care of a child. My due date was set for September 22, and was getting closer and closer. It was September, 28 2007, and the weather was beautiful and warm. I was set to deliver my daughter on September 22, but my baby was running late, guess she was just not ready to come in the world yet. September 28, I was supposed to go to the hospital and be induced since my baby hadn’t been quite ready to come on the original due date. When I got to the hospital I ended up not getting induced, because I went straight into labor. After twelve hours of labor, the time had come for me to push. After my first three pushes I felt a major release of pressure. When I looked up, there she was, my beautiful baby girl! After spending two days in the hospital, I got to bring my daughter home. From that point I knew my life would change forever. When I looked at my daughter, everything I ever felt missing in my life as far as the love, neglect, and loneliness started to go away. All I knew was that I wanted to love and be the best mom I could be for my daughter. From that moment I brought my daughter home is when I realized that I was somebody in life. I wanted to change, so I could reflect, and be the most positive person that I could be for myself and child. Today in my life, if someone were to ask me if I ever considered being a parent and how it could affect my life, I could honestly say â€Å"Yes†, because now I am a parent and have truly adapted to the word sacrifice. Once I became a mom I wanted to be the best possible role model I could be for my daughter. I knew for me to be a good role model, I had to work on myself to set a good example for my child. Everything that wasn’t important to me when I was a teenager had become goals for me to accomplish as a mother. I went back to school and got my GED, and now I am a college student. I no longer go to the clubs or drink. I’ve realized that there is way more to life than what you settle for. Now I can say I am a great role model not only for myself, or my daughter, but for anyone.

Leaning Pine Arboretum Essays -- Place Essays

Leaning Pine Arboretum The Leaning Pine Arboretum, named for a tree which blew down during a storm several years ago, is a tranquil horticultural display garden on the outskirts of the Cal Poly campus. The main purpose of the five-acre arboretum is to educate students about different species of plants in their natural settings. This arboretum emphasizes Cal Poly’s motto of â€Å"Learn by doing.† Students in the Horticulture and Crop Science Department are the force behind the garden and keep it functioning year-round. The horticulture unit was built in the 1970’s when it only included a lawn and some trees. Two decades later, work was underway to create an arboretum showcasing plants from the five mediterranean regions of the world. These regions are: the Mediterranean basin, southwestern Australia, southwestern South Africa, much of California, and much of Chile. A mediterranean region is defined as a region with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Only two percent of the world’s landform can be characterized as mediterranean. The plants at the arboretum flourish in California’s central coast weather. The Leaning Pine Arboretum is entirely student-managed. Six student workers work at the arboretum ten hours per week and there is one garden manager. Each of the six students has their own garden to maintain. They water, weed, and plant in their garden as well as make decisions on what plants will be planted there next. This gives the students a sense of pride and ownership in the arboretum. The arboretum is located at the north end of campus, past the beef unit and across the street from the equine unit on Via Carta Road. It may be difficult to locate since a visitor needs... ...use the arboretum as their classroom. Several students choose to conduct their senior projects at the arboretum as well. Rock walls and benches, wooden decks, and the gazebo were all created by senior students. The Leaning Pine Arboretum remains one of Cal Poly’s best-keep secrets. It is an isolated, unique, and diverse oasis far away from the commotion of the main campus. It is an excellent place to learn about flora, conduct a school-sponsored activity, or simply to relax and stroll through the gardens admiring nature’s beauty. The horticulture and crop science students feel a huge sense of pride and accomplishment when they see others enjoying their student-run sanctuary. While the arboretum is just one distinctive element of Cal Poly land, it is one that can be enjoyed by every member of the community and it helps make Cal Poly a superb institution.

Enchanting a disenchanted world: Revolutionizing the means of consumption Essay

â€Å"Cathedrals of Consumption† concept was coined by George Ritzer and it means a site of consumption that is part of a, multinational corporation, and has international success of exceptionally high level (Ritzer, 1999). Ritzer (1999) explained that the corporation success and its Cathedrals of Consumption, is in a way that it displays of excess and abundance and gives rise to consumer cult. Besides providing different commodified services and goods at their different locations existing around the globe, Ritzer (2015) indicated that Cathedrals of Consumption often allows the consumers to do things themselves, and other strategies making consumers believe that their shopping attitude that is new found will change their lives forever. Cathedrals of Consumption are designed with an expectation that the consumers will develop the passion for getting goods and services gradually. They are places of excessive consumption, and this has led the consumers to hyper-consume than they need. Disney World and its other aspects are of interest to this paper because it represent a Cathedrals of Consumption in myriad ways. From the definition of Cathedrals of Consumption, as provided by Ritzer (2015), Disney World falls as one of the Cathedrals of Consumption. Disney World or Walt Disney World Resort is operated and owned by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, which is a branch of Walt Disney Company which is a corporation (Walt Disney World, n.d). This implies that Disney World is part of an international corporation, and it is just a site of consumption for the larger corporation. Ritzer (2015) further showed how Disney World is a Cathedral of Consumption. Disney World in a way displays of excess and abundance and gives rise to consumer cult, besides providing different commodified services and goods at their different locations existing around the globe. At Disney World, I have consumed many things such as a day at Walt Disney World, T-shirts, fast foods and other non-obvious things such as a day at the ballpark, medical service and a lecture. I have become a loyal consumer of Disney World’s many goods and services that I think I need and other essential goods and services. Additionally, Disney World has global presence through its several products, theme parks and many of its business enterprises such as the television shows (the Disney channel),movies (Walt Disney Studios), and cable television network (Walt Disney World, n.d). Lefkon & Safro (2013) pointed out that the CEO of Disney World claimed that over one billion people globally use Disney prod ucts monthly. Moreover, there are 229 Disney stores online and in innumerable stores, Radio Disney for children, Disney Mobile which are wireless phones that are very popular in Japan, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Publishing that is the largest publisher of children’s books globally, Disney Ownership of ESPN and ABC, Disney credit card, Disney catalogue, and Disney theatrical. Lefkon & Safro (2013) asserted that all these are synergistically employed to market one another in a system that is tightly integrated and this sells the brand of Disney and yields large profits, hence has created a consumer cult. How is this cathedral an example of re-enchantment in a disenchanted world? Give concrete and specific examples The Cathedrals of Consumption, such as Disney World, must be re-enchanted continually if they are to maintain their attracting ability of sufficient number of consumers. Disney World is an example of re-enchantment in a disenchanted world in many ways. Ritzer (1999) defined re-enchantment as a process of creating a spectacle through simulations and extravaganzas. Spectacles According to Ritzer (1999, p. 96) are astonishing shows such as the Mardi Gras, conventions, fairs and even the department stores. You must offer something extra for whatever you have to sell. Disney World re-enchanted by transforming the amusement parks, creating moral order compared to the early parks, cleaned them up and making them be accepted as family entertainment. Walt Disney World (n.d) pointed out that Disney offered controlled, self-contained environments free from different forms of problems that undermined earlier parks. Despite the fact that visitors who arrived in early parks felt danger and sense of looseness, the tourists arriving at the Disney World take comfort and know for a fact that within Disney World lies a world that is tightly regulated. How does it enchant and re-enchant? What mechanisms does it use to do this? Show this by using the following concepts from Ritzer, Chaps. 5 & 6: Spectacles, extravaganzas & simulations Disney World enchants and re-enchant using different mechanisms such as spectacles, extravaganzas and simulations. Spectacles These are astonishing shows such as the Mardi Gras, conventions, fairs and even the department stores (Ritzer, 1999 p. 96). The new consumption means in Disney World create spectacle in order to bring very many people to buy services and goods. A casino, a mall or a theme park that is half full or empty has a smaller population of selling and does not generate a similar excitement as a full house. Disney World uses spectacles since it understands well that sparsely populated consumption cathedrals generate less appeal and can fail. Many people are animated by presence of a large number of persons, and this translates to increased sale of services and goods. Extravaganzas These are different devices used in creating a spectacle (Ritzer, 1999 pp. 98). They are also intentional shows put to produce spectacles. In Disney World, they distinguish themselves by putting on spectacular shows than their competitors. Disney World uses variety of devices in creating their spectacular shows such as legendary stars, large orchestras, huge casts, potentially dangerous and live animals, elaborate production numbers, booming sounds, blinding light shows, breath-taking technology. Ostentatious sets, daring nudity, incredible costumes among others (Ritzer, 1999 pp.98) Simulations This is the process of creating an illusion of reality, where the real imitates the imitation now, and the unreal becomes the reality (Ritzer, 1999 pp.103-111). Some of the entertainment simulations at Disney World include the video and computer games that correctly simulate the environment. Film simulations are also popular in Disney World since they are controllable, of high quality. Moreover, theme park rides are simulators where the ride simulators feel like they are realistically moving according to the motion scripts pre-recorded. How does the Cathedral use science and rationality to create the magic of these spectacles? Be sure to give concrete examples The Cathedrals of Consumption uses rationality and science in creating magic of these spectacles in many ways. AS they attract more consumers of their products, their enchantment must be reproduced on demand over and over. In addition, branches of the enchanted settings that are successful are opened globally and across the nation with the result that the same magic essentially must be reproduced in many locations. To realize this, the magic is systemized in a way that it is recreated easily from one place or time to another. For example, use of wienies, the examples seen on DVDs (Ritzer, 2015) Is your cathedral a landscape of consumption? Using Ritzer’s definition explain why or why not Landscape of consumption encompasses a number of Cathedrals of Consumption r geographic areas encompassing two or even more Cathedrals of Consumption (Ritzer, 2015, pp. 103). Disney World is a landscape of consumption because it has a variety of Cathedrals of Consumption. Walt Disney created a revolutionary amusement park that is the theme park devoted to a particular motif. Others include Disneyland Park, Downtown Disney, Disney World in Florida, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Resort Paris. Moreover, magic kingdom is at the heart of the Disney World. According to Lefkon & Safro (2013), a trek through the Disney World begins and then ends on the main street of United States, an outdoor shopping mall. This leads to other six lands that are themed which includes Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, and Mickey’s Toontown Fair. More broadly, all of these theme parks as well as other consumption means are found in one geographic area or even adj acent to Disney word, making it landscape of consumption. Is your cathedral in devolution (Chap. 8, p. 189) or in some other postmodern transformation (p. 188)? Disney World is in postmodern transformation since recently it experienced setbacks and declines and there is a possibility that the declines could be transformed into devolutions that are long term where consumptions continue to retreat (Walt Disney World, n.d). How do you think the Great Recession has affected your cathedral? Be specific The great recession affected Disney World in many ways because before the great recession; Disney Wonderland had irrational exuberance, and this led to overbuilding of different structures and a great deal of excess capacities. After the recession, newer settings of consumption that were able to overcome the challenges and the weaknesses came up (Ritzer, 1999). Are there some social and political policies that have affected the development, growth, or devolution of Cathedrals of Consumption? There are some social and political policies that have affected the development, growth, or devolution of Cathedrals of Consumption. There are efforts through policies to find new uses for of the consumption cathedrals such as the big box stores, soon-to-be empty. Additionally, in some cases, I have seen true devolution as where contemporary consumption means are replaced by independently owned small shops. Moreover, I have seen in some malls especially the strip malls vacated by the chains being occupied by independent small entrepreneurs. All these changes are as a result of social and political policies. References Ritzer, G. (2015). Essentials of Sociology.Ritzer, G. (1999). Enchanting a disenchanted world: Revolutionizing the means of consumption. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Pine Forge Press. Walt Disney World. (n.d.). Retrieved February 11, 2015, from https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/Lefkon, W., & Safro, J. (2013). Walt Disney World 2014: Expert Advice from the inside source. New York: Disney Editions. Source document

Cross-Cultural Work Environments

Naeja Silar January 14, 2012 Leadership and Organizational Behavior Unit 1 Assignment Organizational Theory: Cross-Cultural Work Environments I will be researching a theory on the analysis of cross-cultural management style and structure. In researching this theory, it will help managers in a multinational company, or work environment, interact with employees of a diverse background. In understanding, and getting a better idea of how cultures interact in workplace environments, the manager can be more productive and avoid various types of confrontations that may ultimately hurt productivity. Analyzing the management styles and cultures of the world will enable managers to understand the ideas of different cultures. By understanding the reasoning behind each culture behavior, there will be less room for inaccurate generalizations, fewer generalizations will make sure managers, working in a diverse work environment have greater success. However, with the constant view of diversity in the workplace, all mangers should participate in a cross-cultural management training course, as well as employees. In researching this theory, the main focus is the business style of various cultures in the workplace environment. Examining different types of behavioral patterns will reveal the different cultural frames, and perceptions within a diverse work environment. Understanding the different perceptions of the different cultures will lead to close interpersonal relations, and productive communication. Cross-cultural management research is derived from the study of the behavior of people in diverse organizations. The United States has always been in the forefront of the development of management theory, practice, and research; because of the current internationalization of business in the United States, they should be leading the development of a cross-cultural perspective to management. (Adler, 1983) In the earlier studies of cross cultural management, the approach was to transfer advanced management practices, techniques, and methods. The field of cross-cultural studies on organizational functioning is a result of partial integration between the cross-cultural comparative management field and organization theory areas. The economic development approach to comparative management research is one of the early methods used for cross-cultural management study. It is found that managerial input plays an important role in achieving economic development, this approach focuses on the basic trends of managerial development, rather than the analysis of organizational practices. (Negandhi, 1983) The role of culture is said to be the most accurate approach to exploring and comparing management and organizational styles. One of the most basic issues in cross-cultural management research is to determine what extent culture impacts an individual’s behavior within the workplace. Various cultures emphasize dimensions differently, and these are demonstrated in contrastive managerial behaviors. Identifying the four aspects of culture that have specific implications for the workplace is a very important task, and these implications include power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, and masculinity. An example of each are as follows, power distance, leadership can be looked at as informal and loose, this is due to the fact that employees do not see their superiors as that far ahead of them on the social scale. Uncertainty avoidance measures the extent to which people in a organization tend to feel threatened by uncertain, ambiguous, risky, or undefined situations. The importance of individualism is the evidence suggesting that differences among this dimension of culture account for major differences in managerial assumptions and practices. On the dimension of masculinity, it is understood that the masculine cultures are defined as being assertive, valuing achievement, and loathing failure. On the opposite extreme, a feminine culture is characterized by the favoring of nurturing roles, interdependence between people and caring for others. In concluding this cross-cultural management research, its main focus is the description of organizational behavior within countries and cultures, and most importantly on the interaction of peoples from different countries working within the same organization or work environment. Increased multinational operations means increased diversity within the organization. In participating in this cross-cultural management research, and there would be a higher degree of interaction between employees and managers from different cultures. Reference Citations * Adler, Nancy J. â€Å"Cross-Cultural Management Research†, The Academy of Management Review, (April, 1983) * Hall, Edward T. â€Å"Understanding Cultural Differences† New York: Doubleday & Company (August, 1990) * Negandhi, Anant R. Cross-Cultural Management Research: Trend and Future Directions† Journal of International Business Studies, (August, 1983) * Kelley, Lane & Worthley, Reginald â€Å"The Role of Culture in Comparative Management: â€Å"A Cross-Cultural Perspective† The Academy of Management Journal, (March, 1981) * Hall, Edward T. â€Å"Beyond Culture† New York: Anchor Press, 1983 * Adler, Nancy J. â€Å"A Typology of Management Studies Involving Culture† Journa l of International Business Studies http://links. jstor. org

5 Reasons Why Summer Job Hunting Will Get You a Job

5 Reasons Why Summer Job Hunting Will Get You a Job You may think nothing happens in the summer. No one is really working or hiring, so you may as well take a break from your job search until Labor Day rolls around, right? Big mistake. The fact is there are still job offers to be found out there- even in the dog days. Remain at the top of the game, and hopefully one of those jobs will be yours for the taking. Here are 5 specific reasons why you should persevere in your hunt for the next great opportunity over the summer months.1. It’s the perfect time to take stockThis is particularly true if you’ve been looking for a new job for a few weeks or months. The summer is a good time marker. Take a step back and evaluate your progress. What has and hasn’t been working? Could you glam up your resume or LinkedIn profile a bit? Re-hone and rehearse your elevator pitch? Come up with a new strategy? The self-examining work you do now will pay off–not only over the summer, but throughout your career.2. You’ll ge t a leg up on the competitionWhile there are still jobs out there in the summer, there are far fewer applicants. Now that you’re in on the secret, you can be sure that your resume is circulating among far fewer resumes in the summer months. So while the other guys are at the beach, you’ll be making forward progress. Keep networking, keep applying. Keep your eye on the prize.3. Interviews are less complicated to scheduleYour workload has eased up a bit, and the same is probably true for recruiters. You’ll find it’s much easier to find a mutually convenient time to meet someone in the summer months. Plus, there’s often a more relaxed and casual feel in the office. And, if your boss is away, you won’t have to worry about lying to her when you duck out for an interview with a headhunter!4. Networking can be more casualJust like the office dress code, the professional networking scene eases up a bit in summer. Gone are the formal mixers and event s. You can try the â€Å"grab a burger and a beer† strategy, or perhaps join a league sports team. And when you’re relaxed? You probably appear more confident. There are many more opportunities for casual conversations. You can start with the weather or the Red Sox and end up with a job prospect.5. You’ll have time to reevaluateHow did your year go at your current job? How well were you compensated? How well did you meet your goals? If you have a dream job on the horizon, now’s a good time to take stock and figure out what skills and certifications you may need to acquire to get there. Confer with your time table and make sure you’re not straying too far from it.In short, use these slower months to kick your job searching butt into high gear! Your future fall self will thank you.

Howler Monkey Facts (Alouatta)

Howler Monkey Facts (Alouatta) Howler monkeys (genus Alouatta) are the largest New World monkeys. They are the loudest land animal, producing howls that can be heard up to three miles away. Fifteen species and seven subspecies of howler monkey are currently recognized. Fast Facts: Howler Monkey Scientific Name: AlouattaCommon Names: Howler monkey, New World baboonBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: Head and body: 22-36 inches; tail: 23-36 inchesWeight: 15-22 poundsLifespan: 15-20 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Central and South American forestsPopulation: DecreasingConservation Status: Least Concern to Endangered Description Like other New World monkeys, howler monkeys have wide side-set nostrils and furred prehensile tails with naked tips that help the primates grip tree branches. Howler monkeys have beards and long, thick hair in shades of black, brown, or red, depending on sex and species. The monkeys are sexually dimorphic, with males 3 to 5 pounds heavier than females. In some species, such as the black howler monkey, mature males and females have different coat colors. Howler monkeys are the largest New World monkeys, with head and body length averaging 22 to 36 inches. One characteristic of the species is its extremely long, thick tail. The average tail length is 23 to 36 inches, but there are howler monkeys with tails five times their body length. Adults weigh between 15 and 22 pounds. Like humans, but unlike other New World monkeys, howlers have trichromatic vision. Both male and female howler monkeys have an enlarged hyoid bone (Adams apple) that helps them make extremely loud calls. Males and females are different colors in some howler monkey species. Tier Und Naturfotografie J und C Sohns / Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Howler monkeys live in the tropical forests of Central and South America. They spend their lives in the tree canopy, only rarely descending to the ground. Howler monkey distribution. Miguelrangeljr IUCN / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License Diet The monkeys primarily forage tree leaves from the upper canopy, but also eat fruit, flowers, nuts, and buds. They sometimes supplement their diet with eggs. Like other mammals, howler monkeys cannot digest cellulose from leaves. Bacteria in the large intestine ferment cellulose and produce nutrient-rich gases which the animals use as an energy source. Behavior Obtaining energy from leaves is an inefficient process, so howler monkeys are generally slow-moving and live within relatively small home ranges (77 acres for 15 to 20 animals). Males vocalize at dawn and dusk to identify their position and communicate with other troops. This minimizes conflict over feeding and sleeping grounds. Troop ranges overlap, so howling lessens the need for males to patrol territories or fight. Each troop consists of six to 15 animals, usually containing one to three adult males. Mantled howler monkey troops are larger and contain more males. Howler monkeys rest in the trees about half of the day. Reproduction and Offspring Howler monkeys reach sexual maturity around 18 months of age and display sexual readiness by tongue-flicking. Mating and birth may occur at any time of the year. Mature females give birth every two years. Gestation is 180 days for the black howler monkey and results in a single offspring. At birth, both male and female black howler monkeys are blond, but males turn black at two and a half years of age. In other species the color of the young and adults is the same for both sexes. Adolescent males and females leave their parents troop to join unrelated troops. The average life expectancy of a howler monkey is 15 to 20 years. Conservation Status Howler monkey IUCN conservation status varies according to species, ranging from least concern to endangered. The population trend is unknown for some species and decreasing for all others. Howler monkeys are protected in parts of their range. Threats The species faces multiple threats. Like other New World monkeys, howlers are hunted for food. They face habitat loss and degradation from deforestation and land development for residential, commercial, and agricultural use. Howler monkeys also face competition from other species, such as spider monkeys and woolly monkeys. Howler Monkeys and Humans Howler monkeys are not aggressive toward humans and are sometimes kept as pets despite their loud vocalizations. Some Mayan tribes worshiped howler monkeys as gods. Sources Boubli, J., Di Fiore, A., Rylands, A.B. Mittermeier, R.A. Alouatta nigerrima. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T136332A17925825. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T136332A17925825.enGroves, C.P. Order Primates. In: D.E. Wilson and D.M. Reeder (eds), Mammal Species of the World, pp. 111-184. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 2005.Neville, M. K., Glander, K. E., Braza, F. and Rylands, A. B. The howling monkeys, genus Alouatta. In: R. A. Mittermeier, A. B. Rylands, A. F. Coimbra-Filho an G. A. B. da Fonseca (ed.), The Ecology and Behavior of Neotropical Primates, Vol. 2, pp. 349–453, 1988. World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, USA.Sussman, R. Primate Ecology and Social Structure, Vol. 2: New World Monkeys, Revised First Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall. pp. 142–145. July, 2003. ISBN 978-0-536-74364-0.

A Deconstruction of an episode of Sex and the City Essay

A Deconstruction of an episode of Sex and the City - Essay Example In a sense Sex and the City deconstructs some of the supposed passions and seriousness surrounding this issues. It thus makes sense to add a further layer of deconstruction by analyzing an episode of the comedy through the deconstructive lense.In the episode called "Woulda Shoulda Coulda" the subject of accidental pregnancy (and subsequent wish to have an abortion) is juxtaposed against a couple who desperately want to get pregnant, but who cannot because the woman's body is attacking her partner's sperm.The context of this episode is the ongoing battle over abortion, together with the great advances in reproductive medicine in general, including the ability to discern precisely "why" a couple cannot get pregnant, together with the possibility of artificial implantation.Thus this analysis will consider a particular episode of Sex in the City within the context of its "discipline",but also see what this discipline has been able to "dissimulate" and/or "forbid". The method will involve entering into the mindset of the series, with its attempted sophisticated portrayal of the postmodern condition.This condition has been well described by Jean Baudrillard in his analysis of what he calls "the schizo". He argues that all individuals in postmodern societies, especially those who are attempting to thrive in a large city, may be characterized in the following manner: This is a complex idea, but one suited to this study. ... He is himself obscene, the obscene play of the world's obscenity . . . he can no longer produce himself as a mirror. He is now only pure screen,a switching center for all the networks of influence. (Baudrillard, 1983) This is a complex idea, but one suited to this study. The individual, within Baudrillard's vision, is no longer the solid, three-dimensional object that he/she once was, but rather now exists as a kind of node on a two dimensional surface. The forces of modern society flow through these "nodes" without the individual having much influence upon them. Within the episode being considered here the random forces of nature: whether a woman gets pregnant or not, together with the pressures and opportunities of modern medicine, produce a kind of dance of the characters as they attempt to deal with the situation. The terrible ironies of the situation faced by these people will be couched within the exigencies of comedy, but the true seriousness of the situation often shines through. Irony can only go so far. 4. Discussion The episode starts with a view of a busy New York and two fo the main characters running along the street, clearly late. The main character states in a voice-over. "In life, sometimes we find ourselves at a crossroads. In New York that crossroads tends to be busy and very loud." As the last words are being spoken she nearly gets run over by a taxi as she crosses the road without really looking. The fact that she is literally at a crossroads, and that it is very loud, and perhaps even very dangerous makes the beginning of the show apparently very clichd. But in reality it can be seen that the writers are in fact putting the whole classic

Why it is starting to Seem like the Bad Guys are the Only Good Guys Essay

Why it is starting to Seem like the Bad Guys are the Only Good Guys - Essay Example In an episode that has recently been going round, â€Å"The office† the role of a bad guy who attracts the favour of the audience arises. A clueless boss referred to as Michael Scott dispatches his workplace rival by planting marijuana inside the desk of his nemesis so that police can find it. Although the action seems to be awfully mean, Michael admits that â€Å"the action is unpleasant but sometimes the end is justified by the means† (Newsweek Staff 1). Unfortunate for him, Michael does not realise that the marijuana he bought was a baggie that had been filled with basil caprese salad which leads to failure in his mission. The story seems funny to many audience and even a larger number would sympathise with Michael on his failed mission. This reveals that the role of characters in a program has been changing with time. A time when programs were only characterised with good guys or heroes who could not harm anyone in a movie have changed. The modern set of audience is diverse and people have developed a huge interest in areas where the bad guys thrives by believing in what they are doing as right even when it’s a malicious plan against an opponent. Michael would be celebrated by many guys if he succeeded in his malicious plan against his rival (Newsweek Staff 1). It could be argued that the political climate in the last ten years has influenced the audience to turn to antihero interest in various matters especially in viewing the bad guys in the movies as heroes. This could be as a result of rise in intelligence investigations, terrorism and other horrific events in lives of people.