Who is Going to Win the World Cup?

Who is going to win

the World Cup?

 

 

 

While not a soccer pundit, Professor Madonna Kemp has the most experience with sport of football (fútbol, soccer) of all the orientation professors. And she has declared the next World Cup champions to be the United States Men's National Team (USMNT).

 

The World Cup is brought to you by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the organization that also publishes the rules of soccer: Laws of the Game.

The 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil, and USMNT (also known as "The Yanks") has already qualified: USA-Mexico: Yanks Beat Rivals 2-0 to Qualify for 2014 World Cup.  

Coming closest to a World Cup title in 1930 and 1999, when USMNT took third place, The Yanks are posed for World Cup glory in 2014, having already handily beaten the note-worthy Mexico National Team and having won the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

And looking at a picture of the next World Cup champions reminds us of another question that was asked:  Where's Waldo?

Go to 2:43 in this USMNT fan video and try to find him. He's there supporting The Yanks, of course, along with other American Outlaws--or USA super fans. Which leads us to another fun game called "Where is Professor Kemp?" See if you can spot her in this video snapshot of The American Outlaws from the last USWNT game in Nashville:

To watch the USMNT as they battle for their first World Cup title ever, check out the FIFA World Cup website.  And there is a Chattanooga chapter of The American Outlaws that meets at Jeffersons to view televised games together.

In parting, I share with you our 2014 World Cup battlecry: "Come on, you Yanks!"

Professor Repentista

Why Are People Racist?

Why are people racist?

 

Because people are taught to make negative associations with certain skin colors or accents or forms of dress.

 

 

Chances are we are all "racist" to some degree. And chances are we do not all understand what racism is. According to Oxford English Dictionary, which you can access through Lupton Library, racism is "the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. Hence: prejudice and antagonism towards people of other races, esp. those felt to be a threat to one's cultural or racial integrity or economic well-being; the expression of such prejudice in words or actions."

 

 

Recent studies have found a correlation between positive and negative images and racist thoughts; check out "Uncovering What Makes People Racist--and How to Cure It." As the article and its links point out, the way to stop racism is to stop our minds from making negative connections based purely on racial or cultural identifiers. Once you recognize the negative connections you have learned to make you can teach yourself to override negative associations with new positive associations.

 

Here's to learning new things that make the world a better place for all!

 

Professor Repentista

 

 

 



 



Have you ever thought about a different career path?

Have you ever thought about a different career path?






Nope.  When I was a baby, my first sentence was "I'm going to be a professor at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga."  Yeah, I was a really smart baby
with a mouth full of words, even then.


Jokes aside, of course, I have.  Many people have. Truthfully, most people attend college with the intentions of entering one profession, and by the time they graduate, either they've changed their minds and/or their majors several times or they happened upon a job they love that isn't in their major or they purposely seek a job unrelated to their major or any number of other situations.

When I was in undergrad, I planned on attending law school; life circumstances dictated otherwise.  I eventually made my way to graduate school, and upon graduation, teaching fell into my lap, and I haven't looked back since.  I didn't attend college with the intentions of becoming a teacher, but I'm thankful for that first opportunity to do so, for I love what I do. Sure, I was initially heartbroken about not becoming a lawyer, but in hindsight, I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

The overall lesson is this: start off on a path towards your dream career, but if life obstacles or circumstances shift you towards a different career, roll with it if it makes you happy.  And if you discover that one career doesn't make you as happy as you thought it would, never be afraid to try a new one.

Be well,

Prof. Chatterbox

What Steps Can I Take to Ensure I Will Not Get on Academic Probation?

It's 3 AM, you're still up, and you're thinking about the psychology exam you took that morning. Your pretty sure you bombed it. That, along with the math exam you have the next day, has you worried and asking yourself:

What Steps Can I Take to Ensure I Will Not Get on Academic Probation?

There are 34 steps from Heritage Plaza to the Library doors. There are 55 steps from the first floor of the Library to the third. There are 52 steps between the top and bottom of the beautifully reconstructed Cardiac Hill. Though it may seem like a million when you are slogging your way around campus, it's actually not so many. I hate to be glib, but these are the steps that will keep you out of academic trouble.

Take those steps on Cardiac Hill: you go up and down them on your way to class, to eat, to work out, and to be involved with social activities on campus. Undoubtedly, if you don't go to class, you will end up on Academic Probation. Fact. But those other reasons to walk those steps are just as vital to your success. You need to get connected. Studies have shown that the more connected you are to your University, the more success you will experience academically. You also need to eat well and get exercise. Seriously. I know I sound like your mom, but it's just true. You also need to get more sleep, but that's another conversation.

Those Cardiac Hill steps will also take you to your professor's office. If you are struggling, if you have missed some classes and aren't sure how to make it up, if you made a bad grade on a test or assignment and don't know how to improve it, GO SEE YOUR PROFESSOR! If the office hours listed on your syllabus don't match times when you are available, email your professor and ask politely for another time. Most of us really want to help. The rest of us are just jerks.

Finally, the library: aaaaaah, the library. It is a mecca of intellectual growth. It is a quiet place to study, a place to get a small group study room, a place to ASK FOR HELP. The library staff (conveniently located in the center of the first floor - straight ahead as you go in the doors) are possibly the most helpful and hip people on campus. If you have a paper or an assignment that requires research, just walk right up and ask for help. Or "Ask a Librarian" from your dorm room or home. Or sit down in the middle of the library and cry. They will help. I promise.

Take these steps, and you are so much more likely to see success that it's ridiculous. Ridiculous, I tell you!

Cheers,

Dr. Y

How can I make English 1010 easier?

How can I make English 1010 an easier class to handle since I am not the best at writing?

 

 

 

Just follow these three easy steps:

1) Be a worm.

2) Be like Gaga.

3) Give in to peer pressure.

 

 

Be a worm? Yes. Be a bookworm. 

“Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read!” —William Faulkner

You know that you learned to talk by listening. It should not surprise you that you learn most about writing by reading.

 

 

Be like Gaga? Yes. Love the process.

“I’m not as goal obsessed as I am process obsessed.” —Lady Gaga

Didn't see that one coming, did you? As Lady Gaga knows, writing is a process.

 

Follow the process. Don't take short-cuts. And remember that the process takes time, which is why your professor gives you 2 - 4 weeks to complete the process and not twenty-four hours.

 

 

 

Give in to peer pressure? Yes. Use peer review comments to better your paper.
“Everyone is doing it.” —Every kid in the world to his or her mother

 Lewis Carroll did it. J.R.R. Tolkein did it. Mary Shelley did it. There are no famous authors who have confessed being born with the innate ability to seemlessly craft the written word. And that is good news.

 

 

Yes, it is good news that no-one appears to have been born with the ability to write a best-selling novel on the first try with no previous training, with no process, with no outside assistance because that means you can write a praise-worthy five-page paper with a little training (reading), a little assistance (peer review), and a lot of process (the writing process).

 

And this all leads us to another question that was asked: When does the fun start? It starts with the pre-writing (or drafting) once you realize that you can be best at writing if you follow three easy steps.

Write on!

Professor Repentista

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Does college change you or do you change yourself?

Does college change you or do you change yourself?






Yep, college changes you alright. After the professors brainwash you into thinking exactly like they do, you become cloned automatons of the professors--only able to repeat what you learned in class and no longer capable of thinking for yourself.

Just kidding. :-)

All jokes aside. How much you do or don't change comes from the experiences you have in college. The life experience of going out into the world, shifting from high school to college, figuring things out on your own, making new friends, taking classes, navigating your place in the world, and experiencing completely new things can have a profound effect on a person's life. A wise student takes full advantage of all that college can offer and allows these things to change him/her for the better.

On the flip side, college can be rather boring if you only go to class and go to your room and never really take time to participate in campus life. Sure, you'll get your degree, but when you look back at your college years, will you have life long memories to carry with you forever?

As was often quoted to me by my older sibling, "college are the best four years of your life. Enjoy them." College is often a bit more than just four years nowadays, but the advice still rings true. Submerge yourself into the full experience of college: going to class, attending sporting events, joining clubs, studying hard, making new friends, and learning a lot.

So, take a class just because you want to.
Go to an event you wouldn't normally attend.
Meet a random person.
Learn a new language.
Try a new cuisine.  
Step outside of your comfort zone.
Take the road less travelled, and allow college to change you and you to change yourself for the better.

Be well,

Prof. Chatterbox

Why Do So Many Neglect to Stray from the Herd?

 

Though sheep are fascinating creatures, I'm gonna assume you are talking about people and their insatiable desire to conform when you ask

Why Do So Many Neglect to Stray from the Herd?

 You know this question is loaded, right? I mean, it's legitimate and right and true, but it reveals something as well. We'll get to that in a minute. Here's the deal: Dr. Brian O'Leary, head of the UTC Psychology Department, says this about conformity:

All people have a need for affiliation. It's a personality trait that we have in varying degrees - some are low-need; others are high-need. Our affiliations - our pack - provide our social identity and a sense of importance as a member of a group. It is a discriminator - creating an us against them mentality, where we think of us as better than them. It also provides social norms, serving as a guide and basis for behavior. Finally, we are attracted to people similar to ourselves, so we will naturally gravitate to those who are like us.

Dr. O'Leary also mentioned Groupthink, which about.com defines as "a psychological phenomenon in which people strive for consensus within a group." It can be a scary concept, especially if you find people putting aside individual reservations to participate in a group activity that otherwise would not be appealing. For instance, hazing activities can be one of those things where you might question the behavior on your own, but in the moment, you choose the harmony of the group over disrupting that harmony - even if it means someone gets hurt.

Now, back to the loaded question and what it reveals. The words you use and the tone they set make me think you disapprove of such conformity, that you are the classic rebel who just can't understand why everyone - EVERYONE - has to have Croakies and Chubbies or athletic shorts and huge t-shirts. And maybe I'm wrong, but if you identify as a non-conformist, that's cool and fine and beautiful, but it's not altogether different from the conformists. You rebels out there still have a need for affiliation, for that sense of purpose and identity, but you have chosen to affiliate with or identify with a different set of norms. They're still norms. They are just less popular.

Whether conforming or rebelling, though, there's one thing that's true: THESE SHEEP ARE AWESOME

Cheers, Dr. Y

What is the Name of the Tiny Monkey the Size of a Finger?

This weekend, when you should have been resting up or studying or going to a game or a hike or something, you were probably stressing out because we had not yet answered your most burning question:

What is the Name of the Tiny Monkey the Size of  Finger?

Though it's sometimes called a finger monkey, it is actually a Pygmy Marmoset. According to Wikipedia, it's about 5 inches long and weighs about 3.5 grams. That's crazy small, y'all. Found mostly in the South/Central American parts of the world, you can apparently buy one in the States if you want a pet. UTC totally allows pygmy monkeys in the dorms, so go for it! For those of you who might not be ready for full-time parenthood, here's a YouTube video for your enjoyment:


Cheers, Dr. Y

Inspiration: Your Role

What inspires you? Do you enjoy your job?

Several of you wanted to know how your instructors feel about their jobs, if they feel they made the right career and life decisions. And it makes sense that freshmen would wonder how others feel about  life decisions because you are being asked to commit four years (at least) of your life to a course of study. Spending four years learning how to do one particular thing, like become a nurse or an engineer, may seem confining and, frankly, a little scary at times. But the good news is that you can enjoy your job and find inspiration no matter what you do.

For instance, those of us who chose to become college professors often enjoy torturing you with reams of papers to read and write. Making you give a public presentation brings a maniacal gleam to our eyes. A final exam that reveals your acquired knowledge is enough to send us into fits of gleeful laughter. And forcing you to sweat out a B when you would have been happy with a C...well, we actually do get together and party when that happens.

I truly enjoy teaching rhetoric and composition, and I feel most inspired by the fact that I am teaching generations of people how to argue and persuade and communicate well. Many think of an English teacher as someone who teaches grammar or how to write a paper for school, but that is not what the English professors at UTC are teaching. We are teaching you how to present your thoughts and arguments in an impressive and logical manner so that you will be taken seriously and make an impact, no matter what you end up doing with your life. And the same can be said for all of your instructors.

 

That I can be the positive impact in your life is what inspires me. When I see my students thinking critically and creatively and learning to communicate in an impressive manner I find great joy in my job. Even though I did not originally go to college to become an English professor, even though my degree in Clown Science was never put to good use, I enjoy my job immensely because I am inspired by you.

Professor Repentista

Why Do I Still Have to Read This Book? :(

You remember the This I Believe book? The one we handed you at orientation? The one you were supposed to read this summer? The one with the chair on the cover?

Yeah, that one. Oh, yeah, and also the one you were referring to when you asked:

Why Do I Still Have to Read This Book?

Or maybe you asked, "What happens if I don't read this book?" or possibly, "Why did we get a book?" or conceivably even, "Do I have to read the whole book?" You also asked a BUNCH of questions about the essay required for Rhetoric & Composition, but I'm going to assume you got that worked out between you and your teacher,so..... moving on.

The First-Year Reading Experience (FYRE) program is responsible for getting you that book and the assignments that accompanied it. Here's why they say they do what they do:

• To provide a common experience for first-year learners to facilitate the transition into UTC’s academic community;
• To build an intellectual community among first-year learners, returning students, faculty, and staff;
• To help students make connections between classroom and out-of-classroom experiences;
• To engage students in discussions surrounding current societal issues.

One of the ways they make this happen is by incorporating the FYRE book into our annual Convocation address, which is - by the way - today. At 12:15 at Roland Hayes, you will have a chance to hear (in person or watch it on the live stream here) our very own Will Wade (CHAOS, BABY!) read his very own This I Believe essay. Chancellor Steve Angle has one too. Go read it. I'll wait.

photo credit: randomtimeisrandom

 

Did you get that? HE BELIEVES IN YOU! In fact, we all do, you sorry sacks of shit. So, quit complaining about how tired you are, and how late you stayed up, and how much you wish you were outside instead of in class. WE BELIEVE IN YOU! WE KNOW YOU WILL DO GREAT THINGS! 

Seriously. We really do. Despite the all-capsness of my message. 

 

Because we do, I have a challenge for you. I challenge you to answer one (or more) of these questions in the comments below or on twitter (use the hashtag #fyrechallenge).

1. If you went to (or watched) Convocation, what did you think?
2. What did you think of the FYRE book?
3. Did you even read the FYRE book?
4. Did any of those things listed above happen for you? Did the FYRE program get its wish?
5. What do you believe?

Cheers,

Dr. Y

PS: You totally didn't have to read the whole book. Suckers.

How many football games do we have?

How many football games do we have?











Football or American Football? 

 

 
We have 12 games of American Football this season.   And we have 18 Football games this season.  I'm guessing American football is what you meant because most folks call the two sports football (American football) and soccer (football.)  But when you think of it, "football" makes more sense for the sport called soccer considering that mainly the feet are used, but I digress...
All you need to know about UTC sports can be found on GoMocs.com.  Specifically, here's the link for this season's American football schedule, and here's the link for this season's Lady Mocs' football (soccer) schedule.

As of this writing, we're 1-1 for the season in American football and 2-2 in the Lady Mocs' football/soccer season. Last year was a winning season for the American football team, but our Lady Mocs football didn't do as well.  Let's see if we can help both teams have winning seasons this year!  So, make sure you get on over to Finley Stadium and cheer on the home team. 

Our next home game for the American football team is Sat., Sept. 14 versus Austin Peay.  Our next home game for the football team isn't until Fri., Sept. 27 versus Davidson.  Both teams play in Finley Stadium.

If you need help finding Finley, check out this post from 8-29.

No matter which sport you prefer, always remember to cheer for the home team...

GO MOCS!!

Be well,

Prof. Chatterbox

How do I Make 8 AM on a Monday Morning Even Possible?

You actually didn't ask this question, but c'mon. Sometimes, you just need a little pick me up to start the week off right. For that, I offer you this: 29 Cats That Forgot How to Cat. I'm still crying a little bit. Happy Monday!

Cheers,

Dr. Y

How am I going to make friends in this huge place?

 

How am I going to make friends in this huge place?

Many of you asked how you can make friends at college. Really, we do not know why you want to enrich your lives by making meaningful connections with others who will care about you. So we made a list of sure-fire ways to avoid making friends at college:





1) Look down and frown! When walking through campus make sure that you avoid eye contact
and look generally surly. Otherwise people will smile and say hello and try to talk to you, and that will certainly lead to getting to know you and, eventually, friendship.

2) Do NOT go to any social or athletic events on campus. There will be smiling happy people at those things, people who cheer and dance and sing. Those are the kind of people who encourage frivolity and friendship.

3) Avoid campus ministries. Those people like to encourage friendship and a sense of familial love. Before you know it you will have friends and brothers and sisters...

4) Most importantly, do NOT talk to classmates, especially when working together in groups or on projects. Don't fall for the whole "let's exchange numbers" or "let's eat lunch together" ploy. These activities frequently lead to smiling, laughing, and generally having a good time.

Of course, if you are intent on making friends, as we actually hope you are, you should smile and say hello as you walk through campus, go to social and athletic events, check out campus ministries, and take the time to chat with classmates. Here are some links that should help:

Campus Recreation

Campus Ministries                

UTC Athletics                 

 

And, if all else fails, remember that you are bound to bump into someone on the lazy river in the ARC, where people are found smiling shamelessly!

Professor Repentista

What the $#*& is a Moc and How Did it Become Our Mascot?

I know. Most people make their college decisions based on the school's mascot. I mean, really, how could you not go with UTC after learning it has the best. mascot. ever. - WE ARE THE MOCS! What? You say you don't know what that even means? You've been keeping yourself awake at night wondering

What the $#*& is a Moc?

 The "Self-Guided Walking Tour of UTC" says this:

Named after legendary football coach A.C. “Scrappy” Moore, Scrappy, the Chattanooga mascot, is a fixture for the Mocs. A re-design in 2008 puts Scrappy in the image of the State Bird of Tennessee, a Mockingbird. The mockingbird is known as a fierce protector of its nest and environment. Once described by “Late Night” host Jimmy Fallon as “a sledge-hammer wielding mock-ingbird with a heart of Blue & Gold,” Scrappy symbolizes that competitive passion.

Clearly, that is not the whole story. The history of the UTC mascot is an interesting one, so sit right down, and Dr. Y will tell you kids all about it. Once upon a time, there was a University in Chattanooga that had a mascot. That mascot was "Chief Moccanooga," and he was a fierce Native American in traditional (ie...Halloweenish, not culturally accurate, irrelevant to history) Indian garb, including, that's right, moccasins. In fact, the team nickname "Moccasins" likely came from the "Moccasin Bend" in the Tennessee river, but it's pretty hard to get a crowd fired up under the leadership of a shoe, so Chief Moccanooga was a better fit.

In the mid-nineties, the Tennessee Council on Indian Affairs and the Chattanooga InterTribal Association began to request the removal of the mascot on the grounds that it was offensive, one-dimensional, and dumb. Well, they made it sound smarter than that, but you get the point. There was A LOT of controversy over the issue, and you can go here to see a collection of the press clippings on it (photo credit goes to the linked site as well - darkfiber.com).

In July of 1996, the University made the difficult decision to honor the request of the CIA and discontinue our relationship with the Chief. In his place arose Scrappy, the fighting Mockingbird you see at games today. And lest you think a Mockingbird is something to be mocked, I offer you this:


That's one mean bird. #gomocs

Cheers,
Dr. Y

What is a conspiracy theory you believe in?

 

What is a conspiracy theory you believe in?

Tupac isn't really dead.
The moon landing was staged.
The U.S. government conducts alien experiments in Area 51.
There was a second gunman on the grassy knoll.
Big Brother really is watching us.
UTC has haunted buildings.

Conspiracy theories abound in many segments of society.  From a belief in other life forms visiting or inhabiting this planet to a disbelief in people we love being dead to a belief that someone or something is hiding something from us, and everything in between. Conspiracy theories are fun to sort of pay attention to, but really, most of us take them with a grain of salt whenever we hear conspiracy theories.  But it's always quite interesting when you realize that a theory that was once a conspiracy has been proven true.

It can also be a little unsettling if you discover a conspiracy theory is truthful, just as many Americans and world citizens discovered this summer, via articles published in The Guardian, that big brother really is watching virtually everything we do in our very electronically connected world since the USA PATRIOT Act gave the U.S. government the authority to do so via the NSA (National Security Agency).  Talk about a "holy crap, my theory isn't just a theory anymore" moment.

The other "holy crap, it's not just a theory" conspiracy theory is the idea that UTC has haunted buildings.  Allegedly, Hooper, Patten Chapel, and Brock Hall have "beings" that go bump in the night.
For more info on those alleged hauntings, check out this 2008 article from Chattanooga Times-Free Press Weekly Community News.

Conspiracy theories can be fun to indulge in for brief escapes from reality.  Just try not to get too sucked in, especially if you find yourself in the following places at night:

Brock

Hooper

Patten Chapel

Be well,

Prof. Chatterbox