Unhealthy Publicity Culture

You call it Innovative  I call it- Unhealthy.

Trinity students have gotten innovative and the chalk marks all the way from Murchison Hall to Coates or Mabee Dining Hall testify to this claim. It is such an innovative form of publicity since anyone passing through that way(which every First year including several others do) cannot miss it.

But we need to ask ourselves one question, is that the kind of culture that we want to promote? I agree that publicity is important and when Trinity students are largely indifferent to several events and activities being hosted and organized, the organizers need to become innovative and market their event. But is this necessarily worth the increased attendance?

Personally, these colorful chalk marks do not disturb my mental balance or my introspective state severely as I am walking across these paths but come on, what about the aesthetic appeal of the university? What about the rules about publicity of the university? What values do we as an institution want to convey to the outsiders (parents, prospective students and possibly evaluators)? How much is too much?

Surprisingly, the publicity sites seem to be guided by viral multiplication if you see how the chalk marks have extended from merely stairs to outside Mabee Dining Hall, even ResLife entrance and its vicinity. And although these are somewhat easily erasable, we should not forget the chalk particles get stuck on our bottoms of shoes and slippers and are carried inside the Dining Hall and our Residence Halls.

Currently, I am unaware of the Trinity's policy even though I know Trinity maintains a pretty strict policy in sticking out flyers and posters on random public places for any event or activity. I honestly think that the concerned authorities have to step in at this moment before we send a wrong message and encourage cultivation of an unhealthy publicity culture.

Women are from Venus, where are Men from?

World View: Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.

Feminist View: Women are from Venus, Men are from Mars Hell.

        That's so precisely put. Feminists have evolved over time to become men-haters. The Women's revolution that started with an aim of empowering women and giving them fair roles in decision making has taken a different turn. Today we see, feminists not only advocating for women rights but highly critical of success of men. Maybe, I am stereotyping feminists but show me one feminist who believes that women should be empowered and is okay with mens' progress and I'll show you a liar.

        Now, why does it have to be this way? Does success of men automatically translate to subjugation of women? I don't necessarily believe that. Maybe also because I can't really put myself into their shoes despite my claims. Can a field be leveled by addition or is it always have to follow a subtraction method where materials from uphills are taken out for redestribution? Thomas Friedman has excitedly claimed that the world is flat and wrote a book on the same title in 2004 that won quite some rave reviews and accolades.

        This is essentially also the main theme of discussion over can everyone be made rich without making richer any poorer. Can developing nations become developed without developed nations having to give up their luxurious lifestyle? Can it be a win-win situation for all? I don't know.

(The readers are free to differ with my opinions and should be aware that despite the controversial nature of the content presented, it has no intention of hurting anyone's personal feelings or values.)

International Student Issues

More meetings. But I really enjoyed this meeting with international student advisors. I spoke more as an international student than an Association of Student Representatives (ASR) Senator even though that might not be the impression they got. I did voice many concerns but they weren't really intended to seek justification. Rather, they were like comments. They have been doing their best and we understand that. We, the committee were there to get their ideas across to the ASR.

I do not really know how much leverage we have over  budget issues even though they are crucial for organizing various events for international students. To me that seemed to be one of the central hurdles in extending student services to international students. The budget for conducting activities for international students has not increased in proportion to influx of a large international student body. Ironically, it has hardly increased at all.

Also, I was rather surprised to know that International Club is not recognized as a student organization and that it has been hitherto denied membership in Trinity Multicultural Network(TMN) which now has a fancier name, Trinity Diversity Committee(TDC). What this means is that, the International Club that is home to more than 200 members does not receive any funds out of student activity fee to conduct events and programs. It has to independently devise ways to raise money to organize any big events. You name it and I will bet that the International Club is the most diverse club of all existing clubs at Trinity University.

As a committee, it will be our mission to get the international club recognition it deserves.

Meetings, Meetings, Meetings!

I am least efficient when I am in a meeting with someone, face to face trying to get my ideas across. Why? Because I have never really been an outspoken or articulate kind of person. I try to stick to emails because that way my lack of spontaneity is not exposed nor is my semi-perfect fluency of spoken English. But this whole week, I have been in so many meetings, often times in which I had a central role. Stumbled few times but I guess I am improving.

On Tuesday, I had a meeting with the Dining Services Incharge of Aramark, Miguel to talk about the possibility of bringing Indian food at Trinity University for students. I had not done any homework for the meeting, no research and didn't really know what to expect. Also, I wasn't very sure if he would outright reject it on the grounds of increased work for dining staffs and managers. Moreover, it has hardly been a year since they introduced the Sushi Kitchen, which indeed must have required a lot of preparations and work on their part. But he was totally thrilled.

He said, "Let's do it. Why not? I am always open for possibilities."

That was easy, I thought. How wonderful to have a manager like that? Now we have to figure out what kind of cuisines, how spicy, and what flavors to bring. He requested for our inputs in trying to identify the possibilities and have an idea of what works best for test-buds of Trinity Students. In fact, Trinity University used to have an 'International Home Zone' where they used to serve food from all over the world. And this was only 4/5 years ago. According to him, there should not be any bureaucratic hurdles from his seniors, which is a very good news.

I suggested him bringing some naan, paneer, chicken curry and other cuisines as we go along. I am very much excited about this and believe it can be started as early as next semester if things work out well.

Controversy over Nobel Peace Prize 2009 to President Barack Obama

(Photo Taken from my cell-phone during Summer 2009)

Presidential elections are over but Obamania continues. Awarding Nobel Peace Prize 2009 to President Barack Hussain Obama has fed the political gurus food for their endless talks. Tune in to any television, and views and opinions are shed about this topic. Opinions vary when reporters approach pedestrians on the streets too. The big question is, "Did he deserve it?" If you are asking me, I would say yes. But, another question is, 'Is this going to help him or hurt him?'

President Obama is the third US President besides Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson to win Nobel Peace Prize while still in office. But no one beats him when it comes to the short interval between assuming office and being nominated for the prize, only two months. Obama admitted that even he did not know about his nomination until he knew he had won. Experts and common people alike ask ,"What has he done to win this prize?" And many republicans have passed down their statements that express their dissatisfaction. Obama in his opening speech at Rose Garden said, "I am deeply surprised and humbled...." And so are all the Americans and the world population at large.

What will President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize entail though? Will this recognition give him more legitimacy and credibility to tackle contentious global issues such as tensions with Iran, North Korea and other nations? Palestinian Hamas unit has expressed surprise stating he has not done anything to win this. American political analysts and people at large believe it might fuel to divert him from focusing on local issues as grave as ailing national economy and employment sector to other global issues. Is this Nobel Peace Prize 'A Call to Action', as President Obama claimed? In my view, this Peace Prize serves to recognize the hopes he has raised not only inside     (Photo taken by Digital Subway during Summer 2009)                                              
United States but also worldwide. There were celebrations all across the globe over his prize. It might have been too early to achieve any of those goals/objectives/missions he has promised and accordingly the peace prize to him could have waited another year or two but no one can deny that he has become a global figure, a beacon of hope for not only Americans but the world population at large.

The debates over his prize will continue and probably credibility over Norwegian Nobel Committee will also be raised but the Peace Prize will definitely add more charisma to his personality and probably more glitter to the 'White' walls of his White House.

Restructuring the Himalayan Nation of Nepal

It takes a lot of strategic planning to overthrow an autocratic regime rife with irregularities, corruption and lack of vision for any sort of long term planning and prosperity of a nation. And People's Army, the guerrila forces in Nepal known as Maoists (locally, Maobadis) organized disgruntled youths and launched a full fledged armed rebellion against the state's apathy towards the poor and marginalized minorities abundant in hilly and mountainous regions of Nepal. Now that the autocratic monarchial regime has been uprooted, Maoists have come under intense criticism from other parties and the ordinary population as a whole for adopting a violent method and killing its opponents mercilessly during its revolution. It has been condemned for not giving up its method yet and is accused of torture and physical abuse.

But, there's a larger picture to see. The state had to be restructured. The existing monarchical system favored the rich and the powerful. Poor would continue to be marginalized and would never be given a fair chance to battle its way off this 'treadmill of poverty'. The greater role of Maoists is not yet over. In places of scores of bridges that they burnt and hundreds of banks that they looted, they need to establish newer ones and restructure the state so that the system is more equitable, and thus gives a fair chance to everyone to evade this continued pauperization.

It is not easy to bring a revolution on the scale that Maoists did. They were full of energy. Now, it is time to channel that energy properly so that it can be used in the greater task of nation-building and prosperity based on newer models such as integrating national economy with international trade and embracing the globalization model in favor of older national development project models. Situated amid two neighbors whose economy are growing at an amazing rate can be strategically used to benefit the nation. If you were to look back, history is evident that manufacturing jobs keep moving towards a source where cheaper labor is available. It moved from the United States to Japan, then to Korea, Taiwan, Hongkong and also to Mexico. As labor in China proved to be cheaper than in Mexico or other four Asian Tigers(Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hongkong), jobs moved to China. As China will prosper and wages will go up, jobs might then go to Vietnam or Indonesia or other nations, part of which has already onset. If Nepal can prove to be politically stable then with its abundance of cheap labor, it can be a lucrative site for Foreign Direct Investment.

Quarreling among the political parties and blaming Maoists for what they did is simply not the solution, it is not the right way ahead to the prosperity of this Himalayan Nation. We have a common goal-prosperity of our nation and happiness among our countrymen and this is attainable only when we start seeing Maoists as positive force to move our nation forward.

Reptilian Attack in My Suite

Ok, this is going to be awkward. As I sat down to relieve myself, my eyes fell on this menacing green reptilian creature. I remembered my suite-mate saying that he saw a lizard in his room. But I laughed thinking this was a prank and that his comment served merely to set up the plot. As I watched it closely, still unsure of whether it was a prank, yet maintaining a safe distance, it moved, and my heart stopped.

I finished my business as quietly as I could without disturbing this menacing creature. As soon as I got out of the toilet, I ran into my suite with a terrified face. I didn't need to explain. My suite-mate has reptilophobia , if  such word exists, but you got the point anyway. So I was left on my own. I thought of calling up the Crisis Management Team but then decided it was probably better to call up the RA on our hall. But then decided against it too. I geared up for the battle, armed with the plastic cup that the 'Sushi Place' in Mabee dining Hall provides. I'm glad I had rice today that came with that same black cup.

This was not the most fun to do, obviously. I had a strange feeling inside. My suite-mate was feeling worse (yes, due to his reptilophobia). It was a successful battle though. I had to chase it from the toilet to the bathroom but then successfully trapped it with the black cup from Sushi Place of Mabee Dining Hall. I hope the poor creature does not starve overnight till we hand it over to the Physical Plant to release it in its rightful habitat, maybe Tiger's Den. I'm being sarcastic here, you know that. Some left-over rice will probably keep it alive over the night.

I am curious to know though where this reptile came from though. Actually, it was a chameleon since it changed its color from green to brown as it moved.

Miller Fountain Showers with Tide

Miller Fountain, one of the most prized assets of Trinity is showering with Tide today. The water is full of lathers as you can see. The water reminisces of the milky water that you see in fast flowing rivers, reminding me of the river that flowed by my high school in Nepal.

Someone must have thought of this 'brilliant' idea but it is a prank that was mistimed since today was part of the Fall Family Weekend when almost 300 parents visited the Trinity to have a tour and decide whether or not Trinity is a good fit for their children. Also, the deafening thunder and dazzling lighting bolts that struck San Antonio yesterday must have given a different impression of San Antonio to those parents.

What ASR Expects From The New University President

Association of Student Representatives(ASR) and representatives of faculty of Trinity University had a general meeting with the new president elect Dr. Dennis A Ahlburg on Friday, Oct 2. Lot of relevant issues were discussed and opinions were passed on about what the students and faculty expects from the new University president.

I attended the ASR meeting with the president elect who will be assuming office in January 2010 and was very impressed with his personality and openness. I have shaken hands with the outgoing president Dr. Brazil one time during the International Student Dinner Reception at his house. Besides that, I haven't really had any chance to interact with him. Lack of personal interaction between students and the University President has been an issue talked often in students circles and the student columns in the Trinitonian. Many ASR senators mentioned that they would like to see the University President become a part of their experience at Trinity.

Since it was a 'student-only' interaction, students poured out their expectations in response to what they expect from the new University President. Some wanted a pro-athletic president to facilitate increased recognition for student athletes while others wanted sustained financial aid and increased student services to international students. The expectations continued with students desiring to see a sustainability supporting president and a president who would be part of their experience and also conduct capital campaigns to finance the institutional infrastructures for a better qualitative education. Others desired a president who would make sure that the campus bookstore and the dining services are affordable. Student expectations did not end there, it just went on and on, disrupted only by end of the devised one hour period.

Clearly, his vision and decisions will profoundly affect the course Trinity University will take in the next decade or so. Amid these endless expectations, as an economist he knows better than all of us about the limitation of resources. If Trinity had infinite resources, it could fulfill all or most of the student expectations raised but sadly that is not the case. It has to prioritize to make optimum use of resources. But the question is, what is that optimum use of resources then?

If I were to answer it candidly, the most important goal/mission for him should be to guide Trinity to become a better institution, a better liberal arts college and 'push it to the front ranks of the nation'. This is a broad mission that would automatically incorporate many student expectations such as 'better athletic facilities/recognition, sustained support for international students, large endowment funds' and so on. The response of the ASR president summarized this in saying that she would like to see the new President conducting capital campaigns and increasing recognition of Trinity University across the nation. Both of these are linked to making Trinity University a better educational institution. This should be his top priority over all others.

Becoming an ASR Senator

After running an unsuccessful campaign in Spring 2009, I was disappointed but not discouraged so I applied again for a vacant position with encouragement from friends and others. And the candidates had to present their issues before the elected members who would cast their votes and the decision would be made based on that.

Now, this one was even harder if you think about it. During the actual campaign, you were not judged or voted upon according to your speech or issues. Few candidates didn't even turn up for the public speak-out and those who did, guess what? There were few spectators (listeners or public) than the number of speakers themselves! And also, many people didn't even have a clear set of agenda or issues that they would work upon being elected.

So, anyway, I did fill out a small questionaire but, on the day when the candidates were supposed to speak out, I had a Electric Circuits Exam. Game Over. There was no way people would vote for me if I didn't show up. But things did work out in the end. One of my friends and current ASR Senator, Ryan offered to speak behalf on me. Also, I finished my exam early(and I aced it when I got the paper back:D I love Electric Circuits) and showed up for few minutes which turned out to be in my favor.

I was not expecting to deliver a speech let alone answer to the questions and queries. I had no notes, no mental preparation but I was asked to speak. I didn't really give my best speech but the content was pretty sturdy or so I like to believe. And now, I am an ASR Senator. But this is just the beginning as I like to believe it. It would be a tremendous disaster if I would not be able to achieve much as ASR Senator. It's not easy though. I can hardly find any time for anything these days. My double major in Electrical Engineering and International Affairs takes up all the time, the former one taking the lion's share.

Tomorrow, I am going to meet the new University President, Dr. Dennis A. Ahlburg on behalf of the Trinity students. No Trinity student has met him before so it definitely makes us (ASR) feel special even though we may not have been able to secure a special niche in Trinity students' hearts.

Dept of Campus Security gives out popcorn as goodwill

As I was walking towards Halsell Computer Building to get my Linux Password for my Electric Circuits Lab, I was caught by a rather very interesting scene. I saw Trinity's Campus Security Officials giving out some kind of food. At first, I thought it was a temporary general food stall but as I gained closer, I was offered a bag of popcorn. I was amazed.

I asked them very frankly why they were giving out those pocorns. And they candidly replied, "It is to show that we are glad you students are here." Wow, what a sign of goodwill, I thought. I replied back, "We are also glad that you guys are here."

I had never seen so many campus security officials all at once at one place. I really appreciated the goodwill shown by them. After walking few steps away smiling out of amusement and still finding it hard to believe, I realized I had forgotten to take their picture. I was in a hurry. But when I came back the same way, it was over and sadly I could not take their picture. My gratitude to the DCS people at Trinity University. If this is an initiative by new DCS chief, then it is a very positive sign.