College Clips
Published Nov. 28, 2006
Nude models say work not sexual
Student Liz Caldwell said getting naked isn't always about sex.
Caldwell modeled for the University of New Mexico art classes for four years and now models for artists and studios around town.
Finding artistic models can be difficult, because they are paid significantly less at UNM than any other institution or studio in the city, said Molly Whipple, model coordinator at the university. Models receive $8 per hour at UNM. Whipple said most modeling jobs pay $10 to $45 per hour. Models are used in painting, drawing and sculpture classes, Whipple said. Most of the models are nude. Whipple said it's important to keep a nonsexual atmosphere in the classroom.
"People are looking at you as an object —a figure — not as an object of desire," she said. "You're in a professional environment, and you are not shaking your ass for money. Realizing that helps the nervousness definitely reside."
— Daily Lobo (University of New Mexico)
Ohio State U. shares Thanksgiving tradition
More than 1,000 people poured into the Ohio State University Union for the 15th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Ohio State on Thursday. A free turkey dinner with all the fixings, including sweet potatoes, corn bread and stuffing, was offered to anyone who was on campus.
Campus Dining Services and Keaton's Catering II worked to prepare and serve the food, which included 850 pounds of turkey, said Larry Williamson, director of the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. The food was donated by U.S. Foodservice, one of the largest foodservice distributors in the country. He said more than 100 people volunteered to help with the event.
For An Zhang, a doctoral student in chemical engineering, and his girlfriend, Haiying Zhou, it was the first time they have had a traditional American-style Thanksgiving dinner.
"Last year we went to a Chinese restaurant with friends," Zhou said.
— The Lantern (Ohio State University)
New Zealand students use 'text-speak' on exams
OMG, txt spk is OK.
Students in New Zealand can now use "text-speak" on national exams, according to a ruling by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. That means phrases and spellings associated with text messaging and Internet chat — such as "lol" instead of "laugh out loud," "2" instead of "to/too," and "4" instead of "for" — are as acceptable on tests as an actual word or spelling.
"It's frightening," said Lyn Freymiller, a Pennsylvania State University communications arts and sciences professor. "There aren't too many places left for proper spelling and grammar, and they seem to be diminishing as a result. I definitely think academics should be reserved as a bastion of proper English."
Not everybody feels that allowing text-speak on exams is necessarily a bad thing. Several students and teachers said the change could be beneficial.
"Text-speak gets to the point and saves time," Dirk Mateer, a Penn State economics professor, said. "I would never penalize a student for the use of text-speak on an exam."
— Daily Collegian (Pennsylvania State University)