Tyler Clementi Story

     The story of Tyler Clementi's tragic death told in an article, from The Guardian, responds, "is the latest example of the damage that can be inflicted when the age-old habit of pranks between teenagers meets the huge social power of technology," is absolutely right. Pranks amongst teenagers have been altered by the use of technology faster than the consequences have been applied, or even understood. I do believe All whom were involved, including Tyler, his roommate, fellow students, all of their parents, and the school too, are responsible for the outcome of Tyler's decision to end his life. Parents should be responsible for teaching their children to respect others' rights to privacy, and that all schools should now have zero tolerance for cyber-bullying.

   The invasion of privacy act carried out by Clementi's roommate, Dharun Ravi, may have been prevented or maybe it was already too late. From the information I have gathered, via the World Wide Web, I would have to say that under the circumstances neither Clementi nor Ravi made the right decisions; after all they are and were young people not yet equipped to fully understand the consequences and effects of their actions on themselves and others. As for the other students involved I agree with Shayla Reed in an article, written by Kelly Rouba, for The Trenton Times, wherein she responds to students reactions to the incident, “they were surprised that something like this would happen, and I think that they didn’t think it would get turned into such a big deal and to be so serious," and also replies,“I think that most people would agree that (Ravi) was just messing around and it just got out of hand.” Reed also disagrees with the idea of the situation being referred to as a hate crime.
    
    As to how anti-bullying laws will impact cases similar to Clementi's will no doubt be through trial and error. The anti-bullying laws being put into place recently are all reflective of the misuse of  a form of communication that is more influential than most of us have been, or are, aware of. Maybe the new anti-bullying laws will raise awareness while creating some balance to what laws will be effective. At the same time I believe setting a bunch of laws may curb the amount of bullying, but at what point do we stop and recognize the core of the bullying problem and start by teaching civility, awareness, and individual rights.
     

http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/06/clementi_suicide_continues_to.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/30/tyler-clementi-gay-student-suicide

Student Grades

      In the article, Student Expectations Seen as Causing Grade Disputes, I do believe, Professor Grossman is not too far off the mark when he says, "I tell my classes that if they just do what they are supposed to do and meet the standard requirements, that they will earn a C;" he then says "that is the default grade. They see the default grade as an A."  First of all I have never viewed a C as an A; although a C is a passing grade, and for the most part, one can get by on a C grade by fulfilling the basic requirements to be considered a successful college student. I also believe that the C attitude is justified by a majority of students due to a number of different reasons. I, myself, have yet to receive a C grade in a course; if and when I do, because it could happen, it simply means I could have done better. Although my peers would disagree and say "C is for certificate," a phrase I hear often, and I think most agree with.

    

     Students who feel they are entitled to a good grade may be caused by several different factors. First, who set the grading standards, and why is it that students are even asked about what grade they expect to get? Second, we are all familiar with our parents saying "do what you are told," and that whatever we did was good enough. Lastly, I think parents are definitely the biggest factor influencing their children to believe that they are entitled as students to receive good grades. As a parent I feel it is my responsibility to teach my children that they get what they put into it.

     In my honest opinion the article was somewhat informative. I did not realize, prior to reading the article, that so many students feel a sense of entitlement when it comes to grades, or that so many students felt a C grade is as good as an A grade.  Grades should be earned based on the effort one puts into it. For example: I just took a computer exam and because I had made the choice to use my study time for party time before the exam I knew that I was going to have to sacrifice some part of the exam due to not having enough time to study everything. Therefore I did good in the area's I studied and spent time on and not so good in the area's I did not put the effort into. Plain and simple, I am responsible for my actions, no one else is to blame.

To view the article click on the link below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/education/18college.html