88 - New Student Edition - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 8, 1999 Matt Wimsatt A Look Back i 1tv Your education won tjust be handed to you, whicis OK EXPERIENCE Continued from Page 18 year chemistry class? Your GSI could be enrolled in the medical school. In addition to their academic qualifications, all GSIs in the college of Literature, Science and the Arts take a mandatory course to prepare them to teach at the undergraduate level. And often, throughout a course, your GSI will be monitored by a professor. The point here is clear; just because some of your teachers haven't earned the title of "professor" doesn't mean they aren't worthy or capable of expanding your horizons. In fact, many students relate to the GSIs better than to professors. Due either to a smaller age gap or lack of the fear commonly associated with approaching a professor, GSI-student relationships can be very positive experiences. Still, there is nothing like working with a profes- sor. Professors at the University bring a combina- tion of life experience and knowledge to the class- room that graduate students have not yet attained. That said, as first-year students, you will have no shortage of professors in your academic lives. Another advantage of attending a large research- based university is that, if properly applied, faculty teaching can be excellent. And at the University, with the help of some relatively new programs, this is becoming the case. By offering courses like "Introduction to Global Change," and research opportunities like the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), the University is positively applying grad- uate resources to help improve undergraduate study. During the 1998 budget proposal to the board of regents, Provost Nancy Cantor spoke about the Global Change course, calling it "an example of the kind of course that only a large research university can provide." By being involved in courses in which you are taught by top professors from a variety of top grad- uate programs, you will be getting an education that is not available at many other schools. Of course, this does not mean that undergraduate education at the University is perfect. Despite the likely excellence of your professors, GSIs and research opportunities, you will receive less personal attention than some other smaller col- leges might offer. But perhaps you should look on the bright side of this situation. A big university makes you take the first step. Ultimately, your undergraduate experience will be up to you. If you seek to find it, the University can offer it to you, whether you are looking for higher-level research with a professor, or more attention from a GSI. While you may have to work a little harder in the beginning, when four years have gone by, your experience will have been much more rewarding. 0 Opinions at 'U' defy nearly all forms of measurement No matter how well-thought out or not, everyone has plenty By Jeffrey Kosseff Daily Editorial Page Editor They are more numerous at the University than freshmen studying their campus maps in the rain. They are larger than a Blimpy Burger quint with onions and cheese. They are often more confused and out-of-touch than a sociology profes- sor. As you enter the University, you will encounter a plethora of opinions -,in all shapes, sizes and flavors. As an institution that thrives on fresh ideas and loud debate, the University hosts millions - nay, tril- lions - of opinions. Some of them come in the form of passingcomments. "Hey, baby, nice (any body part between the neck and knees)," the white-capped meathead yells to a woman from his Jeep. In non-primitive English, that means that he recognizes that she is a breathing woman and he hasn't got- ten anything but the latest issue of Hustler for a while. .More lengthy opinions are issued in undergraduate social sciences classes. "Like, I mean, it's just that, what I was going to say, is that it's like so wrong that they were oppressed by the white male society. And, you know what I'm saying, with the media and everything?" the chick with the nose ring attempts to communicate. Many harsh opinions are issued in red ink by professors on term papers, starting out positively but somehow ending with a C-. "Well-thought-out. It looks as if you put a lot of research into this. But it would have been bet- ter if you actually followed the assignment, which had nothing to do with a Darwinian analysis of 'Happy Days' and 'Laverne and Shirley."' There is even a special club for people who think their opinions are so brilliant that everyone should hear them. You pay more than $10 a year for Michigan Student Assembly enthusiasts to dish out their own brand of trivial politics. "It is absurd that you would actu- ally consider joining the Burgundy Party. Everyone knows that the dumb frat boy vote is with the Tequiza Party." But don't worry, most MSA members don't really believe in their opinions - they just want to get into law school. You might even come across a neo-fascist "opinion" journal. But don't take those thoughts too seri- ously. They are just opinions of peo- ple who write so poorly that they would never cut it at a real campus newspaper. To compensate for their inadequacies, they resort to third- grade potty humor. Of course, there are the Diag preachers. As you walk to class, you have the privilege of learning ten dif- ferent reasons why you are going to hell. From government cover-ups to genital herpes, these fellows have opinions on everything. I caution Don't allow someone to defend their ridiculous comments by simply stating that it is their opinion. you not to speak to them. They are louder and more obnoxious than sec- ond-year Law students. There are even people who wear their opinions. Look, over by the Cube, there's a Goth girl with black blush and a Batman cape. She's trying to tell you that you need to spend more money on Marilyn Manson records. And who is that high school kid over there by the corner of State Street and William Street? His pants are so loose that they're around his toes - oh, he must be a skater. His opinion is that more people must be conform to being nonconformist, like himself. Look at that studious fellow in the UGLi, wearing a "Harvard: Michigan of the East" T-shirt. He is trying to say that even though his entire family went to ivy league schools, he really doesn't care. If only his SATs were 10 points higher. But Michigan is considered a public ivy. It's just as good, if not better. Really. What, you don't believe him? It is important for you, the future of the University, to express your opinions. But do them directly, with as little annoying sugar coating as possible. Most importantly, don't allow someone to defend their ridiculous comments by simply stat- ing that it is their opinion. That is like a murderer saying he kills peo- ple because he is a murderer. Challenge opinions with fact, and they'll go away quicker than a one- night stand. - Jeffrey Kosseff can be reached via e-mail atjkosseff@umich.edu. .1 0 L 0 the office of MARGARET MYERS/Daly And you think there are a lot of fans In this Rose Bowl photo? Imagine how many opinions each student in the stadium has. 23®oo THE DAILY. The Office of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Affairs, a division of Stu- dent Affairs, is the campus resource for ANN ARBOR'S ONLINE GROCERY STORE AND DELIVERY SERVICE EVERYTHING YOu CAN (FT AT T Fn (;R( v ' MASS MEETINGS: TUES. SEPT. 14 7:30 II U U a I