September 15, 2004

• TOPIC: THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION

  
  

  Welcome, all Wash U people who have made it to my site.  I hope you’re enjoying the good weather today.  By getting enough people together who are interested in taking a critical look at higher education, specifically the education you get here at Wash U., we stand a chance of making some important changes to this college.  My aim is to see changes in both the culture, as well as the programming of this school.

  
  

  Just to catch you up a bit.  I graduated in Aug. 2003 (I had to go to summer school because for the first time in my life, I failed a course in my last semester of college).  After, I went on a 45-day Outward Bound course in North Carolina.  Outward Bound is an outdoor and experiential education company, and this experienced really awakened me to what I had missed by being a student at Wash U. 

  
  

  As a student, I was there for a degree, as much as an education.  And by having the distraction of that degree, the distraction of grades, of schoolwork, of majors, of distributions, I realized that I was being distracted from educating myself in ways that the classroom couldn’t.

  
  

  For the last several months, I have been typing up my thoughts on education, life, and my ideas on how we can begin to improve higher education.  The first step is right here.  Getting students exposed to my ideas and experiences, and then for all of you guys and girls, to start sharing your experiences.  This movement I am trying to create is for you, to make your experience at college the best experience possible.  I am trying to create opportunities to you that the current administration is not thinking about.  I am trying to create a dialogue about student issues and frustrations that up till now, probably begin and end inside your dorm rooms or apartments. 

  
  

  Are you bored in class?  Not sure why you’re studying what you are?  Feel like you want to experience some of the world?  Realize you learn better outside of the classroom than in?  Wish you could take less classes?  Feel like you came to Wash U for one reason, but feel that what you’re getting isn’t exactly what you thought you would get?

  
  

  These are questions for you to answer.  And by speaking out, we may be able to create the buzz necessary to change certain policies.  Remember, you guys are the ones paying the tuition.  You guys are the ones with some of the bargaining power.  And the administration and faculty of this school are here to help you develop.  So, let’s let them know how they’re doing, so together, we can begin to create important innovative changes at Wash U., changes that will hopefully help you now, changes that will certainly help the future of this institution.

  
  

  And, for those of you who saw Arianna Huffington speak, what’d you think.  I think she hit some nails pretty squarely.

  
  

  Please leave comments, or e-mail me.

  
  

  Cheers,

  
  

  -Dan

  • 1:42 pm
  • 2 Comments