Readers’ Forum Sept. 6

351

Cougar Inequality

I believe that BYU should eliminate the growing stereotypes behind the three sister schools and make all equal. For the students of BYU–Idaho, the stereotype is that they were not qualified enough to get into Provo. For the students who decide to attend BYU–Hawaii, they are seen as not wanting to work as hard as everyone else.

Instead of having top-tier BYU–Provo, all three schools should specialize in certain fields, making each school prestigious and special. For instance, BYU Provo could focus more of their funding and efforts on the Marriott School of Management and increase their business major. BYU Idaho could create and specialize in their pre-med program, and BYU Hawaii could set up a biology program. Each school is not limited to solely the programs listed above, but could specialize in several programs. If this was put into effect, we would be able to have three amazing schools instead of one highly competitive school that people are scratching to get into.

In order to start this change we must start bringing attention to this cause. Start talking to your friends, professors, and strangers about it. Instead of donating your money solely to BYU Provo, start sending some to the other two schools to increase their funding. By informing the people around you on this topic, awareness and the chances of change will soar.

— Fletcher Huish

Sammamish, Washington


The goal is synergy

Team strategies can be useful just before an in-class exam. In addition to encouraging your classmates, try to ask a few review questions. Don’t let them off easy on their answers either; push until they produce a clear explanation that you can easily remember. Test their memory strategies on yourself; if they fail to stick, ask them to come up with another one. Review their flashcards to be sure they have covered all the material.

Finally, as you eye the exam on your desk, you may wonder if team strategies ever cease to be useful. Despite all your service to others, you might still be feeling unprepared. Lonely and panicked thoughts can arise,

“How can I fill these bubbles in?” you lament, “How can I write the short essay answers? How can I even write my own name?” Working in isolation can be paralyzing, but there is still hope. For the following tactic to work, it will require your full commitment towards working as a team player. You must let go of your pride and lofty self-esteem. Miraculously, you happen to be sitting right next to the most prepared student in the class. Giving a subtle glance sideways, you wait until no one is looking. Then, with shameful-downcast eyes, you lean forward and whisper your request,

“Do you have an extra pencil I can borrow?”

— Grant Redden

Evanston, Wyoming

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