Spring Break
Letter: Student says people have wrong idea about URI 101 class, defends program
Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
12/03/08 - To the Cigar,
It has often been spoken among University of Rhode Island freshmen that URI 101 is a pointless class.
It's simply a class that you mindlessly sit through to achieve the one credit for the course that you need to graduate.
During my 11 weeks at school, I have discovered that this general consensus is not accurate. My URI 101 class took place every Thursday afternoon and consisted of mostly political science majors with Seth Steinman as our mentor, and Jesse Friedman as our teaching assistant.
I always looked forward to going to that class. I never dreaded it. This was because to me, and many of the other students in my class, it was more than just URI 101.
Over time these people had become my friends, a friendly face to wave to on campus and people who were passionate about the same things that I was.
Our class was proof that URI 101 had achieved exactly what it was designed to do.
Our class learned about the campus, which made it easier for us to find our way around.
We discussed in length and detail important issues such as the election, hunger and our current economic crisis. We went to the Women's Center, attended Diversity Week and organized a canned food drive.
In some cases the class even inspired people, a kid who had been quiet and shy, discovered his leadership skills and was important to the class. Above all, we were comfortable enough to talk about personal issues we were having adjusting to the new situation we had all been thrust into.
I personally had trouble adjusting to URI.
Coming from a small high school and a small town in upstate New York, the transition to a school with roughly 11,000 students was an overwhelming one.
Being in a learning community and going to URI 101 enriched my experience and eased my transition woes.
I felt comfortable among the students, and we all became familiar with each other. Our mentor and TA made themselves accessible to us and treated us as peers and friends.
Since our class consisted of mostly political science majors, it was great to be in an environment where a group of liberals and conservatives could come together and feel comfortable discussing our opinions and articulating them intelligently along with our TA and mentor.
When our last class came around, instead of being relieved and rid of the burden of URI 101, most of the students in my class were sad. Friedman and Steinman, who had bonded with the students were also sad.
We discussed what we had learned in URI 101 over ice cream cake, and everyone had something to contribute and share.
My URI 101 class can attest to the misconception that surrounds this class. I will always remember those first weeks as a freshman, and the people who made my experience a positive one through this class.
Christine Moriello
It has often been spoken among University of Rhode Island freshmen that URI 101 is a pointless class.
It's simply a class that you mindlessly sit through to achieve the one credit for the course that you need to graduate.
During my 11 weeks at school, I have discovered that this general consensus is not accurate. My URI 101 class took place every Thursday afternoon and consisted of mostly political science majors with Seth Steinman as our mentor, and Jesse Friedman as our teaching assistant.
I always looked forward to going to that class. I never dreaded it. This was because to me, and many of the other students in my class, it was more than just URI 101.
Over time these people had become my friends, a friendly face to wave to on campus and people who were passionate about the same things that I was.
Our class was proof that URI 101 had achieved exactly what it was designed to do.
Our class learned about the campus, which made it easier for us to find our way around.
We discussed in length and detail important issues such as the election, hunger and our current economic crisis. We went to the Women's Center, attended Diversity Week and organized a canned food drive.
In some cases the class even inspired people, a kid who had been quiet and shy, discovered his leadership skills and was important to the class. Above all, we were comfortable enough to talk about personal issues we were having adjusting to the new situation we had all been thrust into.
I personally had trouble adjusting to URI.
Coming from a small high school and a small town in upstate New York, the transition to a school with roughly 11,000 students was an overwhelming one.
Being in a learning community and going to URI 101 enriched my experience and eased my transition woes.
I felt comfortable among the students, and we all became familiar with each other. Our mentor and TA made themselves accessible to us and treated us as peers and friends.
Since our class consisted of mostly political science majors, it was great to be in an environment where a group of liberals and conservatives could come together and feel comfortable discussing our opinions and articulating them intelligently along with our TA and mentor.
When our last class came around, instead of being relieved and rid of the burden of URI 101, most of the students in my class were sad. Friedman and Steinman, who had bonded with the students were also sad.
We discussed what we had learned in URI 101 over ice cream cake, and everyone had something to contribute and share.
My URI 101 class can attest to the misconception that surrounds this class. I will always remember those first weeks as a freshman, and the people who made my experience a positive one through this class.
Christine Moriello
