Laptops are not a distraction

I’m happy with my choice of coming to N.C. State for a college education. The University has granted me innumerable opportunities to succeed and I appreciate the efforts my professors have taken to guide me through tough material. However, I have developed an acute pet peeve of the policy of many professors. It struck me recently as I return for a fourth semester and listen to my professors ramble through their syllabuses.

Every one of my professors explicitly states that the use of laptop computers is prohibited in their class. Now I understand that for certain courses, such as math and the sciences, the use of laptops is impractical because you are typically drawing diagrams and writing out complex formulas. For courses in the humanities and social sciences, though, where your notes consist of dates, ideas, quotes and textual facts, the use of a laptop as a note-taking device is very practical. For most people typing allows one to capture much more content during a lecture and in a legible form. It also allows for you to edit your notes neatly and collaborate with your peers more efficiently. I know I am among the thousands of people who forked over hundreds of dollars for a laptop only to find that I can’t use it in the classroom. I feel that it has impaired my ability to fully capture the lectures that I am paying thousands of dollars for in tuition. Professors are concerned that people may not be on task while on a laptop and that it distracts their peers. That’s pathetic if you ask me. If you find yourself being distracted by someone’s laptop then you need to find a different seat. I am frustrated that professors are taking away my freedom to utilize a learning tool that I paid dearly for. Professors aren’t supposed to police the classroom; this isn’t high school. I’m paying for my education now; just let me learn!

Frank Mac Scott

sophomore, mechanical engineering

Park program is not a hassle

As three of the student-athletes featured in the article “Parks scholars compete away from the classroom” on Dec. 3, we would like to express our displeasure with certain aspects of the article.

To begin, the title incorrectly named the funding source for the Park Scholarships. Roy Park (not “Parks”), an N.C. State alumnus who was a champion of leadership and service, established the Park Foundation to support scholarships in higher education, quality media that heighten public awareness of critical issues and environmental protection. It is an honor to have our education supported by a foundation that bears his name.

The Park Scholarship program is in no way a hassle in the lives of the student-athlete, as could be interpreted from the article. To clarify and in reference to the line, “being a Park Scholar has interfered with the athletic life of soccer player Kelly Cox,” being a Park Scholar actually made it possible for Kelly to attend the University, let alone play on the soccer team. Kelly came first and foremost to NCSU to be a Park Scholar and student — soccer is just a bonus.

Additionally, it is hard as a Park Scholar and a student-athlete to do the “bare minimum” as is quoted in the article by Allison Hofmann. Allison takes a similar approach to Kelly in delegating her time in order to maximize the quality of her engagement in school activities — particularly in the areas of leadership and service

emphasized by the Park Scholarship. This touches on the misconstrued statement, “life is so much more than a GPA,” in that the Park Scholarship program expects academic excellence from its scholars, and more importantly, encourages community involvement, civic awareness and well-roundedness. The scholarship is not given with an exclusive focus on academic success; the article made it sound as though the Park program has unreasonable expectations in this area.

In regard to Caroline Ellington’s remark that “there are people who would really like to be where I am,” Caroline was merely trying to convey her gratefulness in response to receiving the Park Scholarship and having the opportunity to participate on a Varsity athletic team. She was not trying to boast or say that the position she is in is any more important or valuable than the positions of others, but instead, that she is humbled to have had the opportunities that she has.

We truly hope that this clears the air on our perspectives of the Park Scholarships and our roles as student-athletes.

Kelly Cox

sophomore, zoology

Allison Hofmann

sophomore, nutrition science

Caroline Ellington

sophomore, textile engineering