All of a sudden, it seems like everything I put on has a hint of purple in it, from the polo I’m wearing right now to the stitching on my backpack. I’ve become a Wildcat, and I couldn’t be happier.
What comes with being a Wildcat? I’m not quite sure yet, but I’ve been told that you must have a hunger to learn and a willingness to join an academic community.
I had thought that entering this community would be more demanding, but surprisingly it has been enjoyable. For instance, I’ve begun to learn about different aspects of film in Analyzing Media Texts. Later this year, we will also get a chance to stretch our directorial legs and make movies of our own, using what we have learned all year. What better way to be an academic?
The reading and speaking class I am in takes aim to tackle a lot of ethical issues worldwide. The professor has given us the choice of picking any ethical issue, and writing a research report on it. The list of topics varies: I’ve chosen to research the Toronto18, and the issues surrounding their arrest. Another classmate, Zaina, chose the issue of conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone. Asma chose to study the affect of nuclear weapons in the United States. Florent will write about racism in the UK. Lama chose honor killings. Two of the boys chose terrorism, but with different focuses: one will focus on how the media affects the views that people hold on terrorism, while the other is tackling the issue of al-Qaida itself.
Exploring Global Media offers us a chance to analyze how communication technology has evolved over time. It also allows us to critically think about where technology, specifically communication technology, is headed. The affects of globalization on economies, ecosystems, and even on a personal level are all topics that we can connect to.
My elective, Ethics of Free Speech, is a journalism course. It deals with the different hurdles that free speech has faced over the ages, and how developments in past centuries have helped us now. For example, how has John Locke contributed to the idea of free speech as we know it? It also shows us how to connect current affairs with history; for example, how the American Civil Liberties Union is fighting to undo laws which allow surveillance and phone tapping in the U.S.
Each course plays its part in helping us to learn a different skill. One may reinforce design techniques, while another helps to improve our critical writing and speaking skills.
Most of all, it’s the intense pleasure that I get from attending class that makes it worthwhile. I feel like I’m here for a reason, although I haven’t totally figured out yet.
But it’s this reason that has gotten me this far, and, hopefully, will take me even further.
