Day, Melissa: Hook Up Culture

            Martin A. Monto believes the hookup discussion from The New York Times reveals “that young people are having more no-strings-attached sex than their predecessors.” However, a new study shows “no evidence of substantial changes in sexual behavior that would support the proposition that there is a new or pervasive ‘hookup culture’ among contemporary college students.” I fully agree with this new study. I do not believe that students are hooking up more now than they did before. However, I do believe that students are more open about it than they were in the past.

            Mr. Monto conducted two surveys, one from 1988 to 1996 and another from 2002 to 2010. These showed “that today’s young people are not having sex more often or with more partners. They do not report having sex with more people over the past year than earlier students did.” From what I have seen on campus, I agree with this statement. I have not observed much “hooking up.” I am not saying that it is not happening, but I do not believe that it happens as often as some people believe. When interviewed, Mr. Monto said that “in many generations, there’s a sense that sexual behavior is changing or becoming more liberal. Or we’re in some brave new era.” To me, this is 100% true. Students now are more open about hooking up or having sex than they were in the past. Students were not as comfortable expressing it then as they are now.

            When it comes down to it, students are not hooking up more often. Mr. Monto says, “fewer students today are dating,” but the expression “dating is dead” is not true. Even though students do not date as much, that does not mean that they hookup more often. I strongly believe that because today’s society is more open about hooking up, this leads people to believe that it happens more often. We might be more open now, but that does not mean it happens more often.

Deaton, Heather: Hook Up Culture

            As the values of the American people appear to weaken with respect to pop culture, some assume that the sex lives of college students are increasingly becoming more careless and more “hookup” focused. Statistics in the article show that sex is not becoming more frequent, but sex is talked about more frequently. This information leads me to the conclusion that students are not becoming more careless in their physical actions but more careless by word of mouth.

            “Hooking up” can be anything from making out to going “all the way” (sex, that is). This term is not new to the college environment, but it is becoming used more in mainstream culture. American values have also become much more relaxed over time, which makes talking about these sexual encounters much less taboo. The mistake of this hookup culture is the assumption that because sex is being discussed more openly now than ever before, sex is being had now more than ever before.  

            The environment at Southern Arkansas University validates my point. “Hooking up” is not uncommon on our campus. I have little to no first hand experience, but I can speak of this truth because the college culture is an open environment where people converse about these encounters freely.  In college, only a few people are probably having any more or less sex than usual. What is different is the amount that these encounters are more apt to be shared, whether willingly or unwillingly.

            Contemporary students are not having more sex. The sex that they are having (or not having) is just much less private than in previous generations.

Wilson, Taylyn: Hook Up Culture

    After reading, “Study Casts Skeptical Light on Campus 'Hookup Culture'” by Mark Parry I got the impression that there is no way to know for sure about the change in the amount of hookups by college students. The amount may not have changed but the openness about the subject has changed.

    I have heard older generations discuss this subject. They claim that people did hookup but it was usually on a date or with the same partner in a committed relationship. If a person did have multiple partners it was done discreetly.

    From growing up in this generation I can see that things have changed over the years. People from years past did not discuss their partners in public. In our generation, guys and even girls, talk openly about the events of the night before. The article stated that, “today's young people are also less likely to be married or have a regular sexual partner.”  In many conversations I have heard by my peers, I have never heard anything about a dinner or movie, just meeting, hooking up, and never talking to the person again. For some reason when people have multiple partners it is viewed as a status symbol, or so it appears.

     The views of each generation on this subject and the progression of openness about it is recorded in the media of each time period. The music and movies from my grandparents' era were more conservative than the music and movies now. In my parents' time the music and movies were moving away from conservative values. Now in my generation, almost every secular song mentions sexual  encounters in a vulgar way. In the society we live today, even  kids movies have hooking up references.

Reed, Karleigh: Hook Up Culture

            In his article “Study Casts Skeptical Light on Campus ‘Hookup Culture’,” Marc Perry presents research done on the sexual behavior of college students. He briefly covers a study done by sociology professor Martin A. Monto which indicates sexual activity has not increased over the last few decades, contrary to popular belief. While the sexual activity of students probably hasn’t changed much, I believe the attitude towards “hooking up” has.

            To start with, students today are more open to discussing their sexual activities in common place conversations. The topic of sex is not as taboo as it was perhaps thirty or so years ago. Not only are male students discussing this topic, but females as well. As the acceptance of women’s sexuality increases, women are becoming more vocal about their sexual behavior, losing their fear of condemnation. The prevalence of sex in conversation may appear to some as an increase of “hooking up” among students when, in reality, it is just talked about more.

In addition, the idea of “hooking up” is taken more lightly than before. In the past, sex on the first date or any premarital sex was scorned, but rising acceptance with each generation has lifted such acts into a societal norm. This acceptance has produced an almost casual air to “hooking up”, creating a “no big deal” attitude within a vast majority of younger generations. The impression this attitude gives off to older generations is that of looser morals. 

The research covered by Mac Perry is more than likely correct in indicating the sexual activity of college students has not increased, but the acceptance of “hooking up” by younger generations has increased.

Davis, Amy: Hook Up Culture

            In this article from the Chronicle of Higher Education, the results of a study challenge the idea that “young people are having more no-strings-attached sex than their predecessors.” While “hooking up” is rampant, it does not appear to be any worse than in the 1980s. According to the author of the study, the difference between then and now is that people are less likely date their sexual partners. Also, this issue has recently been explored in several other scholarly articles.

            As a current college student, it comes as a surprise that “hooking up” is not more common now than three decades ago. Older generations seem horrified at the lack of sexual morality they perceive in our generation, as if it is a recent problem. However, they may be seeing a reflection of their own college days in the current college generation. I notice how commonplace premarital sex is among my peers. It is unusual to encounter someone who has had only one sexual partner, and harder still to find someone who is not sexually active at all. The campus bookstore sells condoms and the waiting room of the nurse’s office has innumerable pamphlets about various STDs.

Of course, something has changed. I disagree with the article’s take on that aspect of this issue. “Hooking up” has become more widely acceptable in today’s society due to mass media and popular culture. On social media, I have witnessed people admitting to the intimate details of their sex lives. People freely confess that they have casual sex with multiple partners, and they have no shame.

The change in “hookup culture” is not in its existence, or even its extent, but how it is viewed and discussed. The subtlety that surrounded sex in the 1980s has been replaced with open awareness and tolerance.

Huffman, Jessica: Hook Up Culture

The general consensus in today's society among the older generation is that college students are participating more in sexual activities than ever. According to the facts, this assumption hits far off of the mark.
    According to a study done by Martin A. Monto that included a survey of people who went to college from 1988 to 1996 and from 2002 to 2010, there is “no evidence of substantial changes in sexual behavior that would support the proposition that there is a new or pervasive 'hookup culture' among contemporary college students.”
    The change is not in the amount of sex the students are having. It is in the attitude towards the subject and how people present the information. Many students talk about this subject in the open because discussing it has become the norm. It has become much more accepted so many students have no qualms with talking about their personal experiences in public. There have been countless occasions in which I have accidentally overheard people converse about their sex life without caring who heard. The difference between now and in previous generations is that they would have been more likely to be looked down upon if anybody knew. There are still college students who do not have sex just like there are college students that do because I have friends in both categories.
    Another change is who students are having sex with. It stated in the study that “young people are also less likely to be married or to have a regular sexual partner.” Students are having sex with a variety of people instead of a consistent partner.
    By being more open about participation in sexual activities it makes it seem like students are having more sex when in reality it is just more communication.
     

Wood, Lindsey: Hook Up Culture

            It is a well known stereotype that today’s generation is more sexually active. But is the stereotype all that accurate? According to a study performed by Dr. Martin A. Monto, the statistics between college students who went to school between 1988 to 1996 and the students who went to school between 2002 and 2010 show that today’s generation is not having any more sex than the generation that preceded us. Why then, does everyone seem to believe it is so?

            I believe that it’s because today’s generation is more open and tolerant of talking about sex. Growing up, I was taught that the word “sex” was considered a bad word, and that it was not to be talked about, like it was some kind of secret. But as I got older, I realized that everyone knew what it was, and that it definitely was not a secret by any means. After reading Marc Perry’s article, I’ve realized that the generation before us never talked about sex openly like our generation does. We have become much more tolerant and liberal towards the way that sex is perceived. It’s not that today’s generation is having more sex; it’s just that we talk about sex more often. According to Dr. Martin A. Monto’s study, the prior generation had just as much sex as the generation now. No one knew, however, because no one would speak about their sex lives. If you walk around campuses today, I’m sure you would hear several people talking about the last person they hooked-up with, or how many people they’ve hooked-up with, or even their personal hook-up likes and dislikes.

            In conclusion, the hook-up culture of college students hasn’t changed at all through the past 30 years, but rather, society has become more open-minded towards sex in general.

Armstrong, Caroline: Hook Up Culture

            "Hooking up" on college campuses - It is as prevalent as it once was? Is it, perhaps, becoming an even more accepted practice among today's youth? The Chronicle of Higher Education's article, Study Casts Skeptical Light on Campus 'Hookup Culture', introduces a study conducted by University of Portland psychology professor, Mr. Martin Monto. His study contradicted the assumption that today's youth have more sex, or are "hooking up" more than their predecessors. In fact, today's students are less likely to have sex once or more a week ("Study").

            According to Monto, although students today have no more sex in college than the previous generation, but there are changes between the generations. This article first explains that not only has hookup culture become more of a hot topic, the term "hookup" also tends to be used as a generalization to cover anything from kissing to actual intercourse. Another difference between today and yesterday's hookup culture  Monto was able to uncover in his study is that today's college students seem to report "hooking up" with friends or perhaps with casual dates. Similarly, today's young people are less likely to enter into a marriage or have a consistent sexual partner.

            This article goes on to show the viewpoint of Kathleen A. Bogle, author of the book Hooking Up: Sex, Dating, and Relationships on Campus. Bogle explains that Monto's evidence of no change between generations is not surprising, seeing how the term "hookup" has been used for generations across college campuses.

            The article closes with a statistic - "Fifty-nine percent say they have sex weekly or more often, and 32 percent say they’ve had sex with more than one person over the past year" ("Study"). It is evident to me through reading this article and also through observing my own peers that "hooking up" is a common occurrence. Nonetheless, I personally do not believe that makes it acceptable. Having been in the same relationship for the past three years, "hooking up" is not something that I have taken part in, nor would it be if I were single. To me, monogamy and abstinence are not principles that should be tossed be the wayside simply because times are changing.

Caldwell, Justin: Hook Up Culture

“Study Casts Skeptical Light on Campus ‘Hookup Culture’” by Marc Perry shows two contrasting arguments towards sexual exploration of the current college generation, with one side believing that we are currently more sexually active than people were decades ago in college and the other arguing that there is no increase in college sex. 

                  Martin Monto of the University of Portland believes that people from decades ago were just as sexual as this generation is, which is justified by his new study.  In that study, college students from 1988 to 1996 were compared to college students from 2002 to 2010, and the former students were shown to have no significant difference between the amounts of sex they had compared to students now.  The only difference shown was that the current generation is more open and verbal about the idea of exploring sexuality, with the term “hookup” showing up in 84 articles between 2007 and 2013 (a significantly larger amount than previous years).

Many other people, including Kathleen A. Bogle from La Salle University, contradict Mr. Monto’s argument with the idea that our generation is more supportive of having sex with several partners without attachment involved.  Ms. Bogle states that “hooking up has been widely used on college campuses since the mid-1980s,” which would mean that Mr. Monto’s argument is rendered invalid, as his study began with students from 1988.

I fully support Mr. Monto’s argument.  I believe that people were just as sexually active in previous generations as they are now, but the current generation has become more open about sexuality.  By being vocal about what is happening, this generation has shown bravery and boldness that was unmatched by former generations.  The current generation is unafraid of self-expression, which is how exactly how society should be. 

2013 Matriculation Class

Members of the SAU Honors College entering class of 2013 pose at D. W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center (Photo: Aaron Street)

The annual Honors College Matriculation Ceremony took place on Sunday, October 13, 2013. Dr. Trey Berry welcomed the students and their guests to SAU. Dr. Kardas introduced the speaker, Dr. Loretta McGregor, Chair of Psychology at Arkansas State University. McGregor is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University and did her graduate work at Emporia State University and Wichita State University. She also taught at Southern Arkansas University and Ouachita Baptist University before being called to her current position.

The title of her talk was: Success beyond the classroom and the role of mentors. In it, she related her life's journey and the role that many mentors had upon her along the way. She urged students to find mentors and to take advantage of the help and advice they can provide. A reception followed.

Dr. Loretta McGregor enjoys a light moment at the Honors College Matriculation Ceremony while Dr. Trey Berry serves cake to members of the class and their guests.

Trey Berry Visits

Dr. Trey Berry displays the original journal kept by Sir William Dunbar and the compass given to the expedition by Thomas Jefferson.

Dr. Trey Berry, historian, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, visited Honors Seminar today and told of the Dunbar-Hunter expedition up the Ouachita River in the winter of1804-1805. That expedition was a trial run for a longer one, never conducted (for fear of the Osage tribe), up the Red River.

The Dunbar-Hunter expedition went from Natchez to Hot Springs, Arkansas, following the course of the Ouachita River. The explorers spent three weeks in the Hot Springs area and were the first to describe it scientifically.

Berry told how unexpectedly difficult it was to plan, execute, and fund a documentary film about the expedition. What he had thought would be a one-month project lasted a full three years and cost over $100,000. The result, however, was a one-hour documentary film, The Forgotten Expedition, produced by AETN and other sponsors including Ouachita Baptist University and the University of Arkansas. That film can be viewed in its entirety by clicking HERE.

Berry and his group discovered, on the last day of filming in Natchez, that members of the Dunbar family still possessed artifacts from the expedition. One of those was the original journal kept by Dunbar. Thomas Jefferson received a transcribed copy of that original journal and it now resides at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. The original journal is kept at Ouachita Baptist University. Students and scholars may obtain free copies of it on digital media upon request.

The other item kept by the Dunbar family, also now at Ouachita Baptist University, was the compass given to the expedition by Thomas Jefferson. He gave a similar compass to the Lewis and Clark expedition as well.

At the end of his talk, students were able to look at the journal and to hold the compass. Many students took pictures of both with their smartphones.

Berry summarized by saying that students should always be open to exploring new opportunities to expand their knowledge and added that his own work on the film had opened many doors for him since.

Hollensworth Discusses Genetics

Honors student Lillian Hollensworth recently gave a talk to the Union County (AR) Genealogical Society. Her talk revolved around the use of information from 23andMe, a service that provides a kit for obtaining genetic information.

Rankin Visits Honors Seminar

President David Rankin visited the Honors Seminar classes on Wednesday, October 9, 2013.

Dr. David Rankin paid his annual visit to the Honors Seminar classes this week. He began by telling the students that he was a licensed pilot during his freshman year in college and that he had spent too much time in the air and not enough time in the classroom. He urged them not to follow his example. After graduating, he went to work for Eastman Kodak and soon discovered that employees there treated one of his co-workers, a man with a Master's degree, with deference. A deference that did not seem to be reflected in the man's performance or intelligence.

Nevertheless, Rankin decided that he too needed to earn a master's degree. He did so and while a graduate student discovered that he loved teaching. That was a profession he had never previously considered. He began to teach economics at Middle Tennessee State University. He left there to pursue a PhD at Ole Miss. Along the line, he met Louis Blanchard, who was working at Southern State College (now SAU). Blanchard nominated Rankin for a faculty position at Southern State.

Rankin told how he had decided to accept the position only if it paid at least $8,000 per year. So, when Imon Bruce, then president at Southern State called Rankin and offered him the job for $8040, Rankin immediately accepted. Back then, Rankin said he had never thought of being a dean or, much less, a president. But, he told the students that they, too, had to be aware of leadership opportunities and to accept them when then came along. Students, he noted, needed to begin building their resumes as quickly as possible. He said that a resume that only includes the dates of high school graduation and college graduation would not garner any interest from employers or graduate schools.

Rankin spoke about his duties as president. Most of his time, he said, involved dealing with people be they students, parents, faculty, or even US senators. He urged his audience to take advantage of his open door policy and to visit him at any time. One of the more important things he had done since assuming the presidency was the Blue and Gold Vision. That document outlines the future of Southern Arkansas University. He invited students to come see the plan as it stands in his office. This LINK will take you to SAU's Master Plan too.

Rankin wrapped up by talking about personnel. He stated that all of his top-level administrators needed to communicate with each other or the school would not function properly. He reminisced about an interview he had with a potential faculty member some time back. That would-be-professor wanted to schedule all of his classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. When Rankin asked why, the professor said so he could get all of his teaching out of the way and have more time to pursue his research. That professor was not hired. Professors, Rankin said, should know their material, love teaching, and love interacting with students. That recipe is a good one with which to run a university.

Thompson, Bryan: Bucket List

Some people say Alaska is a cold and dangerous place, that only a fool would ever want to go there. That statement for most people is right. But for an outdoorsman, it’s a true paradise. It has some of the best hunting and fishing in the entire nation, along with breathtaking views of nature. So, a trip to Alaska going elk hunting, fishing for iconnu, and enjoying the beauty of wilderness are at the top of my bucket list.

            I’ve also always been a daredevil. When I know my number is almost up, I’m going to do crazy things. One thing that I’ve always wanted to do is skydive. I love the feeling of falling on rollercoasters and want to feel what falling from the sky must feel like. That tingly feeling I get inside my stomach is amazing and that’s why I want to go skydiving.

            I’m also a person who likes a good joke and before I die I want make a joke no one will ever forget. I want to be in a hospital bed or in my own bed with the whole family gathered around. My last words to them would be, “I left all my money in bags buried next to the…” That is the funniest way I can think of to leave this world.

            No one ever wants to leave this world but when the time is near, people change their mindset. They remember the things they used to dream about and said they would do, but never got around to doing. The lack of money or the fear of doing things out of the norm doesn’t matter anymore because they realize this is the end. They don’t want to die with their dreams unfulfilled.

Honor College Report

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Honors College Report

October 2, 2014

Activities and News:

• The annual matriculation ceremony will be held in Foundation Hall on Sunday, October 13, 2013 at 2 pm. A reception will follow in Grand Hall. The speaker will be Dr. Loretta McGregor, Chair of the Psychology Department at Arkansas State University. McGregor is a former SAU faculty member.
• The 2013 Honors Seminar class consists of 55 students.
• Twenty three honors students attended the Rembrandt, Van Dyck, and Gainsborough exhibit at the Arkansas Arts Center on September 8, the last day of the exhibition.
• The annual Honors College pool party was held at the Magnolia Country Club on September 3, 2013. Food for the event was donated and catered by Marlar's Cafeteria. Twenty five students attended.
• On August 29, 2013 a meeting of all SAU Honors Students took place in Foundation Hall. (See photo below) David Wingfield called that gathering the largest meeting of SAU honors students in one place ever.
• At that meeting, Dr. Kardas announced an adopt an honors student program. That program, Honors College Adoption Program or HCAP, is now underway under the direction of Cheyenne Meyer. The idea is to create more communication between honors classes and to help new students more easily adapt to SAU and the Honors College.

• Honors College continues to search for a location for a late night study hall. Such a place would be open from midnight to 2 am and would serve any student looking for a quiet place to study during those hours.
• Dr. Trey Berry and Dr. Deborah Wilson have met with officials from South Arkansas Community College and Cossatot Community College about extending the Honors 2 + 2 program to those schools. The Honors College is hopeful that MOUs will be signed soon.

Gurung, Tashi: Bucket List

Honestly, the majority of my bucket list is no different than that of most people. I want to go on a world tour, look at the Northern Lights, visit the Grand Canyon, hike the stampede trail, bungee jump, and visit the Everest base camp, among others. Performing Tango and Salsa in front of a crowd, going to and confessing in a church, and praying in a mosque may be bit distinctive.  Like everyone else, I am enthusiastic about all of these amazing experiences. However, I want to underscore the objectives that are more important and unique to me.

The first thing on my bucket list is to intern and then work in Wall Street.  During my high school years, I listened to BBC World Service, an FM station, more than I listened to music. This exposed me to the world of finance.  Apparently, I am halfway towards my goal because I’m already in the United States. I want to spend a considerable amount of time in the United States and engage in extensive research especially on economies that have had astronomical economic growth in the past decade, such as China, India, South Korea and Chile. My next goal is to work in the Finance Ministry of Nepal and have my picture hung on its wall for my contribution to the system.

The last thing I want to do is to see the prefix ‘Dr.’ in my name. And I want my Mom to see it, along with all her friends.

Harder, Cassie: Bucket List

Life is short; make the best of the one life you are given. When you are at the end of your rope, you should be able to look back at what you have done and remember with a smile and not be full of regrets.

                  Listed “top priority” on my bucket list is having my dream job.  I want, more than anything, to be an Ophthalmologist. I decided I wanted to practice ophthalmology when I was a child. Eyes, their design, function, and how vision works, have held my fascination for as long as I can remember.

                  Second on my bucket list is to have a cookie cutter family, home, and neighborhood. Of course, I prefer for this to happen after I have acquired my medical license and I have started working. The image in the back of my mind has always been to have a chic, plush neighborhood to come home to. Perhaps have a few children to fill my home with laughter, noise, and love.

                  Before I “kick the can,” I would love to have a real vacation. I have never been on a vacation, be it a cruise, a trip or Disney Land or Six Flags. Before this life is over for me, I would like to have said I’ve done all three.

                  Fourth on my bucket list, I would like to be able to say that I was able to help someone less fortunate than me. Growing up wasn’t the easiest, but if I stay the course I’ve set for myself, I hope to be in a position to give aid to someone more deserving.

                  Last, but not least, I would like to say I had a happy life. Through every bump and twist in the road, I want to say I made it with a smile.

Wade, Kahlil: Bucket List

                  To complete my life, there are probably a million things that I would want to experience before I die. My bucket list could be described as the biggest bucket in  the world because there are so many little things I would love to do in my life, but to make my life  complete I only need to do three things, which are to eat a subway sandwich with every type of meat, cheese and sauce on it, climb to the top of a rock climbing wall on the easy setting, and buy some odd color striped zebra socks.

                  To eat a subway sandwich with every type of meat, cheese and sauce on it would be a dream for me. I’m a broke college student, so I can barely afford the $5 foot long sandwich, much less adding extra types of meat or cheese because the struggle is real in my life right now. When I get a 9 to 5 with my intended job, or get really drunk out of my mind to not care about the consequences it would have on my bucket list. I will probably go to Subway and ask for that dream sub of mine. I don’t even need any type of vegetables. Just a sub on Italian herbs and cheese bread, with all the meats and cheeses toasted to where the meat juices will excite my taste buds. I also want to climb a rock wall; I always sucked at it. But, to be able to press the red button on top will enhance my life greatly, because I never could do that before. Regarding the socks, I get jealous of people when I see them wearing their odd colored striped zebra socks because I could never find any and I want to get even with them by having a pair of my own.

 I’m a simple guy with a simple bucket list.