"I deem this the happiest movement for the University that has ever been made. I have no doubt that a large proportion of the students, if not all, will eventually join." Professor William Barton Rogers, 1842. I know what you're thinking.
T he University prides itself on its diversity. It is wonderful to be able to learn with and learn from students with different backgrounds, beliefs and lifestyles.
It is especially this time of year that we start to moan and complain about being University students, about how much easier life would be if we could just quit school and escape to some exotic locale, depending solely on our skills in basket weaving. Yet, how often do we forget how amazing it is that we actually are students here?
We talk about him all the time; we know him as "Mr. Jefferson," "TJ" or sometimes, "Tom." Yet, how much do we really know about the founder of our University? There are many generalizations that people associate with the third president of our nation, but they are exactly that -- generalizations. In order to truly get to know Thomas Jefferson, we should try to get to know him on a deeper, more personal level. So let's take a closer look at our founder in a form that displays who he really is -- a résumé. Thomas Jefferson Marital Status: Married to Martha Wayles Skelton.
Tradition has always been one of the most defining characteistics of our University. When talking about our school, we reinforce the idea that we have a "living history" -- that the principles Jefferson used to found the University are the same today as they were in 1819.
There is something inescapably fascinat-ing about celebrity gossip. "Jessica Simpson dates John Mayer!" "Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson wed!" But gossip is really fascinating when it involves one of the original creators of the University. Stanford White was a pretty popular guy back in the day.
It is the beginning of the school year, and we are already starting to feel overwhelmed. From classes to meetings, to seeing friends that we haven't seen all summer, our schedules are jam-packed with things to do. You are probably expecting me to tell you to stop, take a deep breath and just relax.
As humans, and especially as students, we have this nagging voice that encourages us to want to find out more about things that are taboo.
Every generation has its cause. Though it is easy to remain indifferent in an environment as sheltered as a college campus, there are those rare issues that break through the routine of daily living that fire students into caring.
There are a few things in life that you either love or hate: hot dogs, tomatoes and, also, history.
