<p>I think Gamma is referring to that "discussion" session we had on diversity at Cal. Not Calso as a whole. I actually kinda agree, not that I have anything against diversity. :)</p>
<p>Yeah, but I certainly didn't like the Time Warp either. I just had the sense I was going to BERKELEY. Already I feel as though these external ideologies are being impressed upon me, regardless of their "correctness" (though I should resist relativistic terms). Instead of a haven for free thought, I get the sense of entering some homogenizing armature of society.</p>
<p>...nobody does the Time Warp. That was a huge waste of time.</p>
<p>oh god i hated that discussion thing..."how many ways can you restate the concept of diversity at cal?"...ugh total bs for an entire hour.</p>
<p>I liked the Time Warp.</p>
<p>I didn't pay a single bit of attention to it, just clicked through while playing a MMORPG (dual monitors for the win).</p>
<p>75% on the pre-exam
80% on the final exam</p>
<p>Not hard, common sense, the only trouble you may have is with the percentages.</p>
<p>1) Sarcasm about my statement about Time Warp. Sarcasm is lost on the internet (sigh).</p>
<p>2) The "Stand if" and "Discussion" sections were macabre; and it seemed as if the campus had an agenda. It was disturbing. (Our group got into an affirmative action debate).</p>
<p>^^ and now you (not just you, Eiffel) are beginning to see the many numbers of criticisms I have against the university. At least it is now getting a bit more en vogue to "question" the values and purposes of these types of seminars and attitudes. </p>
<p>When I first got here in 2002, if you even PEEPED anything criticizing, questioning, or critiquing Affirmative Action or the "Diversity", you were a racist, a bigot, ignorant, and/or a "Republican" and a lot of people would not talk to you after that, even if your point was completely right or well-argued. I had a class my first semester where this type of stuff was the topic and when I expressed one of my viewpoints that special priveledges were not the way to go, I suddenly could not please the teacher to save my life. </p>
<p>I grew up supporting the ADL/Children of the Dream program (I specialized in tolerance/acceptance mentoring in inner city schools. It makes me sad to this day, that in LA, some of the schools we went to are now having black on latino race fights after we worked hard to diffuse some of those tensions, oftentimes with some success! But a new generation of kids, a new set of problems.) and I had experience that "special priveledges" were NOT the way to go. They only served to make people angry and bitter. Note: I do think some limited measure of affirmaitve action might be fair for highly qualified minorities. But we shouldn't let everyone in just because they are of a certain skin color or economic status.</p>
<p>The attitudes expressed in these CalSO sessions, and you'll get them again your welcome week, gave me the feeling that Berkeley was sort of stuck in the 70s in terms of the Civil Rights Movement and the distinct feeling that I had to be constantly apologizing for being affluent and white, because I got "everything handed to me." Not to mention there seemed to be "accepted bigotry" against certain groups when I got on Campus in the fall. And let's face it -- if you wanna look at race as purely as a measure for diversity, which a lot of people do -- Berkeley isn't that diverse. It's pretty much Asian and White. Okay, my rant about that is done -- next point I have:</p>
<p>Another thing that disturbed me at my CalSO were the 2-minute Stanford Hates my group did after each activity. I never got into the Cal-Stanford rivalry, except during the Football Games, because</p>
<ol>
<li>I never applied, nor did I ever want to go to Stanford.</li>
<li>I think how violently visceral people get over it is absolutely ridiculous. You got rejected or deferred, who cares?! You're going to CAL!</li>
</ol>
<p>The "Stand if" activity was purposely meant to isolate people with different beliefs; instead of using Cal's diversity as a way to unity, the activity used diversity to divide. </p>
<p>By stance agains racial affirmative action put me on a sore spot with many in my group, some of whom refused to speak to me after the debate (basically the cordial, who are you? what's your major? etc.). It immediately seemed that I was against civil rights and what not. That I found quite disturbing.</p>
<p>As for the Cal-Stanford rivalry, it's fun when for athletics. No need to obsess with hating Stanford 24-7; just for as long as the football game lasts.</p>
<p>LOL thats Hilarious!!! That timewarp thing is gay. When they were doing the retard dance I decided to step out get something to eat and go back later.</p>
<p>you guys are all such elitists. you disgust me. im a rich, white, young male and i hate myself for it. white people need to pay up for all the horrible things we've done to this world and if i end up at berkeley when the time comes, im gonna love anything to do with diversity. there is nothing wrong in the grand scheme of things with someone just as qualified as myself (or less, but oviously not abysmally less) who comes from a working class or minority background taking my spot at a prestigious college. ive had more opportunities and college admissions for racial and economic minorities should be determined by relative success against their background, NOT success as compared to the mainstream applicant. PERIOD.</p>
<p>Um . . . okay. Can't we all just get along?</p>
<p>well that depends on how empathetic we're all willing to be don't it :mad:</p>
<p>empathetic is way to long a word for me :)</p>
<p>Just kidding . . . when it isn't 4 in the morning, anyway.</p>
<p>yeah yeah diversity is good yes it's understood. i just don't need it shoved down my throat for an hour.</p>
<p>although if we are going to go into an aa debate then i'm all for it based on income, not race.</p>