2008 Woodie Awards
Intellectualism found dead on campus
James Osterhout--The Daily Vidette (Illinois State U.)
Issue date: 2/19/03 Section: Campus Life
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(U-WIRE) NORMAL, Ill. - The role of the on campus intellectual is apparently becoming extinct.
In a recent article published by The Christian Science Monitor, many professors, those notably at elite schools, noticed that intellectualism is a dying characteristic of university campuses.
Some believe popular athletics programs are to blame.
Others look to society and culture.
"I don't think there is a negative connotation to being smart," Sean Limon, an Illinois State University assistant professor of communication, said.
"In a lot of cases, many students don't want to do anything class related unless there is a grade involved. If it's not for a test grade, then they don't do it or they don't take it seriously."
It seems students tend to only take classes geared toward their majors, Limon said.
"People don't want to take general education credits," Limon added. "They aren't focused on learning for the sake of learning."
Communication lecturer Judy Peppers said she agrees that "intrinsic value is less than I'd like to see in the classroom," although she is not as sure as to "how it evolved."
"Teaching inner core, I would like students to learn for the sake of learning, and I am seeing less from students than I would like to see," Peppers said.
Professor of sociology and anthropology William Tolone said he believes the phenomenon is nothing new.
"Studies have been done in the 1960s about social subcultures and their constructions," Tolone said. "These subcultures have been here for a very long time."
"I was at a smaller campus, and it is almost the same. Perhaps we are redefining what it means to be intellectual," he added.
"This isn't something that just sprung up in the year 2003. This has been around for a while. These sentiments have been expressed by many generations," Tolone said.
Collegiate athletics is another factor that has changed the views of certain universities. "Big Ten" schools are often regarded for their athletic programs before contributing academic research.
In a recent article published by The Christian Science Monitor, many professors, those notably at elite schools, noticed that intellectualism is a dying characteristic of university campuses.
Some believe popular athletics programs are to blame.
Others look to society and culture.
"I don't think there is a negative connotation to being smart," Sean Limon, an Illinois State University assistant professor of communication, said.
"In a lot of cases, many students don't want to do anything class related unless there is a grade involved. If it's not for a test grade, then they don't do it or they don't take it seriously."
It seems students tend to only take classes geared toward their majors, Limon said.
"People don't want to take general education credits," Limon added. "They aren't focused on learning for the sake of learning."
Communication lecturer Judy Peppers said she agrees that "intrinsic value is less than I'd like to see in the classroom," although she is not as sure as to "how it evolved."
"Teaching inner core, I would like students to learn for the sake of learning, and I am seeing less from students than I would like to see," Peppers said.
Professor of sociology and anthropology William Tolone said he believes the phenomenon is nothing new.
"Studies have been done in the 1960s about social subcultures and their constructions," Tolone said. "These subcultures have been here for a very long time."
"I was at a smaller campus, and it is almost the same. Perhaps we are redefining what it means to be intellectual," he added.
"This isn't something that just sprung up in the year 2003. This has been around for a while. These sentiments have been expressed by many generations," Tolone said.
Collegiate athletics is another factor that has changed the views of certain universities. "Big Ten" schools are often regarded for their athletic programs before contributing academic research.