Syracuse University has caught the attention of national media not for its basketball team or academics, but for students' discontent over this year's commencement speaker, Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JP Morgan Chase.
Personally, I do not see anything wrong with the choice of commencement speaker but I am not overly ecstatic to hear him speak. Dimon certainly has a long list of accomplishments. In fact, he is the badass of Wall Street. During the financial crisis, JP Morgan reluctantly accepted TARP funding from the government, but paid it back. As CEO, Dimon oversaw the acquisition of Bank One and Washington Mutual and made JP Morgan into one of the leading banks in domestic assets. His personality can be defined by him accepting $1 as his yearly salary but a $16 million bonus, something he is not ashamed of. His bank has constantly been lobbying against government reforms and Dimon himself, has wrote a few op-ed articles on this issue. I am neither a supporter nor opponent of JP Morgan, but I am pretty impressed with what he has accomplished.
So why are SU students so worked up about this? Dimon may be the hero of Wall Street but a villain to humanity (or at least as regarded by students). Students overlook Dimon's achievements and become upset over what he represents. Because of our current state of economy, people do not want to see a figure of Corporate America, someone with so much, to be lecturing them. Also, JP Morgan Chase has a strong presence on campus. From its name plastered on the first floor of Lyman Hall to the creation of the GET program, it seems like Dimon "bought" his title to be this year's commencement speaker. As a result, students believe that they did not have a say in the choice in their speaker because it looked too easy. As a student liaison to the Board of Trustees, I can attest that it is not true. Syracuse University is one of the few schools that allows students to decide on their commencement speaker. A list of speaker is created by a student committee, which includes class marshals and Trustees representatives. Although I did not play a part in this process last year, I am fairly certain that Jamie Dimon was on their short list.
Commencement speakers are chosen based on the premises of innovation, humanitarianism, and honor and connection to the university. Jamie Dimon does embody those qualities but I wish that a less controversial speaker was selected, perhaps someone who isn't such a strong political figure for our state in time. I respect my fellow students' right to free speech and protest so those who don't want to hear him speak shouldn't have to. However, as a change agent of our time, I think his speech will be worthwhile.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Just Like in "The Deer Hunter" But for Hipsters
What I meant by the awkward title is the deadly game of chance known as "Russian Roulette," which was the center of the 1978 film The Deer Hunter. I remembered watching that movie when I was little with my dad, not knowing what the plot line was about nor the concept of the game. My dad had to explain what "Russian roulette" was to me and I was a bit horrified. Now 32 years since the film's release, a new spin on the classic game of roulette by a Russian teenager hits the internet known as Chatroulette.
Chatroulette is a game of interactional chance on your computer. All you need is a webcam, and it brings you face-to-face to a world of strangers and potential new friends. The attention that the site has gotten is incredible. Celebrities are using it. Reporters are using it for their "articles." Creepers use it to creep. And hipsters use it because they think that it is cool as it breaks the boundaries of social media. A chatroulette party took place in a Brooklyn bar as the website was projected onto a big screen as patrons sat in auditorium-style seating and watched. Ben Folds used it in a segment of his concert as he serenaded users with his audience cheering him on. So is this site all that it is hyped up to be? I gave it a spin myself.
For a long time, I was scared to use the site. So for my first time, I made a few of my friends to go on it with me. As we huddled over my macbook, we explored the wild west of the internet. Together, we saw awkward teenage boys, awkward middle-aged men, random college students like us, musicians, blank screens, imperative writing on paper, and a few inappropriate images. We had a few conversations with people but we didn't know how genuine the other end was because we made up fake names for ourselves. Although a warning pops up when you first go the site about being over 16 and no pornography, no one follows that rule, which makes it kind of funny. My first time on chatroulette was a bit traumatizing because I would never look up some of these things up. Yet, my intrigue trumped that trauma and I went on it a second time but by myself.
My second run with the service was a bit disappointing. There were less conversations but more awkward moments. For many of the people that I came across, our conversation only lasted about 10 seconds as they automatically deemed me boring and clicked off to the next person. At first, I was offended bur frankly, I did the same thing. I did not want to have a conversation with a strange man, cradling his laptop in bed. It was much less awkward and more fun with a group of friends because you do not have to take it as seriously and you have other people to work with. Thus, despite the accessibility of the site to people around the world, human nature trumps as many people do not want to be face to face alone with a stranger.
Chatroulette is a game of interactional chance on your computer. All you need is a webcam, and it brings you face-to-face to a world of strangers and potential new friends. The attention that the site has gotten is incredible. Celebrities are using it. Reporters are using it for their "articles." Creepers use it to creep. And hipsters use it because they think that it is cool as it breaks the boundaries of social media. A chatroulette party took place in a Brooklyn bar as the website was projected onto a big screen as patrons sat in auditorium-style seating and watched. Ben Folds used it in a segment of his concert as he serenaded users with his audience cheering him on. So is this site all that it is hyped up to be? I gave it a spin myself.
For a long time, I was scared to use the site. So for my first time, I made a few of my friends to go on it with me. As we huddled over my macbook, we explored the wild west of the internet. Together, we saw awkward teenage boys, awkward middle-aged men, random college students like us, musicians, blank screens, imperative writing on paper, and a few inappropriate images. We had a few conversations with people but we didn't know how genuine the other end was because we made up fake names for ourselves. Although a warning pops up when you first go the site about being over 16 and no pornography, no one follows that rule, which makes it kind of funny. My first time on chatroulette was a bit traumatizing because I would never look up some of these things up. Yet, my intrigue trumped that trauma and I went on it a second time but by myself.
My second run with the service was a bit disappointing. There were less conversations but more awkward moments. For many of the people that I came across, our conversation only lasted about 10 seconds as they automatically deemed me boring and clicked off to the next person. At first, I was offended bur frankly, I did the same thing. I did not want to have a conversation with a strange man, cradling his laptop in bed. It was much less awkward and more fun with a group of friends because you do not have to take it as seriously and you have other people to work with. Thus, despite the accessibility of the site to people around the world, human nature trumps as many people do not want to be face to face alone with a stranger.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
In Opposition to the Health Care Bill
Tonight history was made when the Health Care bill passed on the House Floor, 219-212. Call me a closet conservative but I am very against the bill and here's why:
1. The government doesn't have the money for it
With our national debt in the trillions, the United States government is in no shape in providing universal health care. Supporters of the bill cite that countries such as Holland and Australia have a similar system. However, the debt in these countries aren't as high as the US. In addition, these other countries do not face the same issues we do and not as extreme. Personally, I think this money (if it exists) can be put into better use like education reform, research, and technological innovations, moving our country forward.
2. Higher taxes
One of the greatest concerns of the bill is the higher taxes that people have to pay. These taxes will affect all people on the income spectrum. This bill only benefits a small percentage of Americans who are uninsured and hurting many hard working middle-class Americans with insurance. I am not calling anyone out as lazy but it is simply not fair for those who worked hard for their insurance. Nancy Pelosi in her closing remarks stated that this is groundbreaking change, similar to the Social Security Act. In my opinion, the Social Security Act led to detrimental consequences and the consequences of this bill are that of the Social Security Act on steroids.
3. Mandated insurance?
Health care is not an inalienable right and not everyone wants health care insurance in their lives. Thus, having the government mandating that you need health care is just wrong. Who is to say what you can and can not have? I am a staunch believer in individual choice and free society, as these ideologies promote able citizens. Supporters of the bill exemplifies a group of elitists deciding what is right for individuals, limiting citizens ability to choose.
4. People taking advantage of the system
As soon as the bill passed, I called my parents up letting them know the news. Their initial response was of outrage, mostly because of higher taxes. My mom went on ranting about how people in Chinatown clinics take advantage of Medicare and Medicaid without really needing it. As outlandish as her example may be, she proves a point. How do you determine who is really sick and who is taking advantage of the system? Although I would like to believe their are good people out there, people take advantage of what is free. As time progresses, corruption of the health system will take place, limiting its quality.
1. The government doesn't have the money for it
With our national debt in the trillions, the United States government is in no shape in providing universal health care. Supporters of the bill cite that countries such as Holland and Australia have a similar system. However, the debt in these countries aren't as high as the US. In addition, these other countries do not face the same issues we do and not as extreme. Personally, I think this money (if it exists) can be put into better use like education reform, research, and technological innovations, moving our country forward.
2. Higher taxes
One of the greatest concerns of the bill is the higher taxes that people have to pay. These taxes will affect all people on the income spectrum. This bill only benefits a small percentage of Americans who are uninsured and hurting many hard working middle-class Americans with insurance. I am not calling anyone out as lazy but it is simply not fair for those who worked hard for their insurance. Nancy Pelosi in her closing remarks stated that this is groundbreaking change, similar to the Social Security Act. In my opinion, the Social Security Act led to detrimental consequences and the consequences of this bill are that of the Social Security Act on steroids.
3. Mandated insurance?
Health care is not an inalienable right and not everyone wants health care insurance in their lives. Thus, having the government mandating that you need health care is just wrong. Who is to say what you can and can not have? I am a staunch believer in individual choice and free society, as these ideologies promote able citizens. Supporters of the bill exemplifies a group of elitists deciding what is right for individuals, limiting citizens ability to choose.
4. People taking advantage of the system
As soon as the bill passed, I called my parents up letting them know the news. Their initial response was of outrage, mostly because of higher taxes. My mom went on ranting about how people in Chinatown clinics take advantage of Medicare and Medicaid without really needing it. As outlandish as her example may be, she proves a point. How do you determine who is really sick and who is taking advantage of the system? Although I would like to believe their are good people out there, people take advantage of what is free. As time progresses, corruption of the health system will take place, limiting its quality.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Beware the Ides of March
Unless you go to one of few select universities, March is the longest month for many people, with no breaks or long weekends. Thus, the creation of many random holidays, including Pi Day and National Potato Chip Day last Sunday and St. Patrick's Day tomorrow. Yesterday was the Ides of March. No, it is not really a "holiday" but I feel a need to write about my night for it is the right amount of absurdity for a blog.
I met up with a friend to see "Next to Normal" on Broadway. We got there at the 6PM for the lottery only to face over 100 tourists and gay men as our competition for the 26 front two row seats that were available. We didn't win the lottery but we got partial view seats as "lottery losers," which we were very happy with because this was our third time trying to get tickets. The show was amazing despite Alice Ripley and Aaron Tveit's absence. I was tearing up throughout the entire second act but was comforted to hear so many people sniffling besides me.
After the show, we had dinner. My friend's parents gave us a call and said they were in the city and can pick us up in about half an hour. This was 11:15PM. Since the restaurant was closing, they were very much ready to kick us out but in a friendly way. We decided to wait at Parson's nearby Fashion Building, home of Project Runway. As we walked down the street, I witnessed stressed out men in suits walking disorderly down the street. Who were these men? Surely, accountants. In fact, that is exactly what my friend's parents were doing- trying to get their taxes in before 12AM deadline. As we waited in Parson's lounge, my friend received frantic phone calls from her parents about postage stamps because they apparently don't sell stamps at the post office after hours. When they finally picked us up at 12:15AM, they told us horrific stories of people at the post office. Picture hundreds of Manhattan businessmen trying to get their forms postmarked on time- it can get pretty scary.
March 15th is always a frantic day for New Yorkers. Whether you are trying to win lottery tickets for a Broadway musical or trying to get your taxes on time, chaos ensues. Well maybe it is just like any other day in the city.
I met up with a friend to see "Next to Normal" on Broadway. We got there at the 6PM for the lottery only to face over 100 tourists and gay men as our competition for the 26 front two row seats that were available. We didn't win the lottery but we got partial view seats as "lottery losers," which we were very happy with because this was our third time trying to get tickets. The show was amazing despite Alice Ripley and Aaron Tveit's absence. I was tearing up throughout the entire second act but was comforted to hear so many people sniffling besides me.
After the show, we had dinner. My friend's parents gave us a call and said they were in the city and can pick us up in about half an hour. This was 11:15PM. Since the restaurant was closing, they were very much ready to kick us out but in a friendly way. We decided to wait at Parson's nearby Fashion Building, home of Project Runway. As we walked down the street, I witnessed stressed out men in suits walking disorderly down the street. Who were these men? Surely, accountants. In fact, that is exactly what my friend's parents were doing- trying to get their taxes in before 12AM deadline. As we waited in Parson's lounge, my friend received frantic phone calls from her parents about postage stamps because they apparently don't sell stamps at the post office after hours. When they finally picked us up at 12:15AM, they told us horrific stories of people at the post office. Picture hundreds of Manhattan businessmen trying to get their forms postmarked on time- it can get pretty scary.
March 15th is always a frantic day for New Yorkers. Whether you are trying to win lottery tickets for a Broadway musical or trying to get your taxes on time, chaos ensues. Well maybe it is just like any other day in the city.
Friday, March 12, 2010
To Be An Orange Technite
So, I started writing about the Health Care Summit two weeks ago but got distracted by schoolwork, meetings, and bi-polar weather conditions. It is a bit irrelevant to continue and post it so instead, I am making better use of this post by writing about the start of my Spring Break (aka yesterday morning).
I flew down from Syracuse to NYC Wednesday night in for my Trustees meeting Thursday morning. This was the first time that I flew from 'Cuse to NYC. It was the shortest flight I have ever been on and I have never been on such a small plane. There were approximately 30 passengers and it was safe to say that none of them were convicts but many of the NY Times crossword puzzles bearing type.
I got up excruciatingly early in the morning to commute to the Upper East Side. On the subway, I ran into my high school music teacher. We have ran into each other on the train a few times in high school and our conversations were usually awkward. Conversations like what kind of toast I was having for breakfast or how my mallets are missing again. But I guess things change when you graduate where either I became more mature or there were less limitations on what I am able to know. During that 45-minutes ride from Coney Island to Atlantic Avenue, I learned the latest Brooklyn Tech gossip, how 80% of teachers never intended to be teachers, and how people think you are important if you are dressed up. When my teacher stepped off the train, I became immensely grateful to have had teachers that were so passionate with what they do and their devotion to their students. Things like this make me proud to be a Technite.
As I continued with my ride and eventually arriving at the Lubin House, I became aware of the things that make me proud to be Orange. I felt out of place with my attire but for a good reason. All the trustees and Chancellor's cabinet were wearing orange for the game against Georgetown at noon, prompting me to go want to go shopping for more orange business casual wear. They actually moved the meeting from 11AM to 8AM so they can make the game at noon. It makes me happy to see how alums are so proud of where they came from and how trustees are so enthusiastic about the decision-makings of the university. Despite the fact that many people do not agree with the decisions that are made, including I some times, trustees go out of their way to give back to the University the best they can.
Needless to say, I am incredibly proud of the schools I have attended for some really good people shaped my experiences. It is a bit nerdy to talk about school to kick off my spring break but I am looking forward to a busy week ahead.
I flew down from Syracuse to NYC Wednesday night in for my Trustees meeting Thursday morning. This was the first time that I flew from 'Cuse to NYC. It was the shortest flight I have ever been on and I have never been on such a small plane. There were approximately 30 passengers and it was safe to say that none of them were convicts but many of the NY Times crossword puzzles bearing type.
I got up excruciatingly early in the morning to commute to the Upper East Side. On the subway, I ran into my high school music teacher. We have ran into each other on the train a few times in high school and our conversations were usually awkward. Conversations like what kind of toast I was having for breakfast or how my mallets are missing again. But I guess things change when you graduate where either I became more mature or there were less limitations on what I am able to know. During that 45-minutes ride from Coney Island to Atlantic Avenue, I learned the latest Brooklyn Tech gossip, how 80% of teachers never intended to be teachers, and how people think you are important if you are dressed up. When my teacher stepped off the train, I became immensely grateful to have had teachers that were so passionate with what they do and their devotion to their students. Things like this make me proud to be a Technite.
As I continued with my ride and eventually arriving at the Lubin House, I became aware of the things that make me proud to be Orange. I felt out of place with my attire but for a good reason. All the trustees and Chancellor's cabinet were wearing orange for the game against Georgetown at noon, prompting me to go want to go shopping for more orange business casual wear. They actually moved the meeting from 11AM to 8AM so they can make the game at noon. It makes me happy to see how alums are so proud of where they came from and how trustees are so enthusiastic about the decision-makings of the university. Despite the fact that many people do not agree with the decisions that are made, including I some times, trustees go out of their way to give back to the University the best they can.
Needless to say, I am incredibly proud of the schools I have attended for some really good people shaped my experiences. It is a bit nerdy to talk about school to kick off my spring break but I am looking forward to a busy week ahead.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Greyhound Buses and Red Envelopes
Instead of my usually commentaries, I am writing about my trip home for Lunar New Year.
The two bus trips I made were the most intense/interesting rides I have taken in a while. For my outbound trip, my friend and I sat across from three recently released prisoners. At first glance, you would have a hard time knowing that they were prisoners. They had an all-beige uniform on instead the traditional orange and carried a mesh baggie with textbooks and school supplies. That's borderline Kindergarten or cult-status. I had an inkling but how did I know they just got out of prison for sure? They talked about it rather loudly the entire trip and exchanged witty banter with the bus driver (we were sitting in the back). I was not disturbed because of their presence but more annoyed that the bus was so rowdy. On the bus back to Cuse, I was supposed to meet up with the same friend to take the 7:15PM bus. However, my phone died when I got to the station and she didn't make the bus. It was an uncomfortable bus ride because I was freaking out over the fact that I abandoned someone at the bus station and the woman that sat next to me had a baby who was fussing the entire ride. My freaking out status got up to the point where I got off at the Scranton station to charge my phone next to the water fountain. When I got back to campus, I felt much better knowing that my friend missed the bus and was safely on the next one.
My Lunar New Year celebration was uneventful this year, as was my Valentine's day. I had reservations about going home because of other obligations but my parents eventually coerced me to do so. It felt like any usual weekend home. I had dinner, debated on current events issues with my parents, annoyed/motivated my brother about school, and did my homework. On top of all this, I was sick for the weekend but I received red envelopes to make up for it.
Needless to say, I did enjoy the time I spent with my family and my cold went away over the course of the weekend. I am definitely looking forward to the new lunar year because that means any resolutions I broke in the last six weeks, I can do that now. 新 年 快 乐！
Thursday, February 4, 2010
An Unnescessary Education
At what age did you start school? I began my schooling at the age of three at a private Catholic daycare and continued throughout my Kindergarten years. At the age of six, I began my (rather lengthy) public school career. So yes, I did received a "boost" in my education at an early age, and one that came with a price tag. However, in the 21st century, some parents are pushing their children to attend some of New York City's most selective elementary schools before they can even start walking.
This post is my reaction toward the cover article of this week's issue of New York Magazine. There are parents out there who have been pushing their children as early as age one to prepare them for the best preschool and elementary programs in the city, in hopes of putting their children on the right track fast. They spend hundreds of dollars for a private tutor to prepare their children for the ability examination that is required for gifted programs offered by both private and public schools. This examination consists of a booklet filled with multiple choice questions, similar to many of standardized tests you see today. Now, imagine being 4-years olds and taking an examination like that. Personally, I've been through a watered-down version of this. I remembered prior to attending my elementary school, I had to interview a woman who asked me some fundamental skills questions. I also remembered being smart-alecky throughout the process and not knowing why I was there. When she asked me what color roses are, I answered they can be many different colors. When asked why the children were wearing galoshes and rain coats, I answered because it is either raining outside or to match their outfits. No, my process is not as hard as the ones that many children endured today, but intense competition to get into a good school still remains.
Now, is all this really necessary for a successful life and career? I do not think such an intense preparation is necessary. The process is even harder for private schools, which includes observations, interviews, and examinations. When admitted, the tuition is around $20,000 a year, which is more expensive than some colleges. All this to buy your children a good education and bright future, which is not even guaranteed (just look at those NYC Prep kids). My advice to all the the parents out there is to send your kids to public schools- it builds character- and invest your money into something that your children are passionate about.
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