Published 2012-02-07T09:46:00Z”/>
Ben Hames
I was raised in an educational system different from most at Chico State, but that is expected when you attend school in another country. Since I have come to study in America, I have noticed many differences in our schools.
What would I improve about Chico State based on my experience with the British university system?
First of all, I would allow alcohol on campus. I know this is a contentious issue, and I understand that Chico State has had its problems with alcohol in the past. But now it’s like Chico State is the designated driver of the college system, having to go to parties and drink nothing but lemonade.
Much like in America, partying is pretty much the central force of college life in England, and alcohol is its lifeblood. My university back in England allows alcohol on campus, and there are numerous places from which you can purchase it. In fact, the university pretty much wants you to get drunk and spend your money, because the money spent on nights out is then used by the student union to set up other nights out in the future. It’s like an awesome version of recycling.
In the U.S. it is encouraged, nay expected, that students study outside of what is their intended field. The university system in the U.K. is different and cultivates us to be specialized in a particular subject, thus when we reach undergraduate study, we are expected to study solely within our chosen area.
In addition, I would like to change the extracurricular classes such as ballroom dancing and scuba diving. I like that they are there for students to undertake, but I don’t like that they are graded courses. If I told my friends back in England that I got an A in a ballroom dance class, they would laugh at me as I waltzed out the door. It just doesn’t make sense to me. I can understand that the university system here wants its students to become well-rounded people, comfortable in a range of different subjects, but I hardly think a job interviewer will hire you based on your flag football skills.
Back at my home university, we have a range of societies that deal with these extracurricular activities. The university gives each of them basic funding to help with the organizations, something in the region of a few thousand dollars. It’s good because the students get to run and deal with the finances of the clubs.
Students are then able to gain some real life management skills. Though, on second thought, I don’t think every single club gets a few thousand dollars. I hardly think the chess club will be able to do much with $5,000. Maybe they would dress up as giant chess pieces and battle to the death in order to please their respective kings and queens, but hey, I don’t know much about chess.
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<strong>Ben Hames can be reached at</strong>
<em>[email protected]</em>
