I get pissed off every time I think about Voyager. I'm not pissed at the participants in it, but rather the university's preferential treatment towards them. So I didn't choose to join Voyager. Why does the university think that I'm entitled to less of an education? I pay the same money as a Voyager student. Why can't I get a decent professor like them? Why can't all the guys on my floor guarantee they'll have the same professors so we can study together? I'm just wondering if I'm alone in thinking like this. 'Cuz personally, I think it sucks.
I know I'm mad as hell about voyager! I'm a fraternity member, and was trying to set up a similar program with this year's pledge class. When trying to arrange schedules so students had the same instructor, I ran into problems and asked campus for help. No help was given, I was once told, "Well, they should have joined Voyager, not a Fraternity" Why should UMR screw over some people just because of where they choose to live. If other students who already together but outside of voyager want to set up a similar academic environment, UMR should help them, not hinder them. Just my $0.02 worth.
_________________ I'm a 'fucking fart loser' I bought all my friends. Yeah, right.
Joined: Thu 05-10-2001 7:23PM Posts: 826 Location: USS Santa Fe (SSN 763)
Source: TJ North
The story that they told us was that the Missouri board of curators mandated that the University create a learning community for the following year. This mandate came down in Janurary or Feburary if I remember correctly. That basicly left the university with a few months to create the program so that they could market it to incoming freshman. The result was something that wasn't particularly thought out. The basis for the program was a univeristy in Wisconson which isn't really anything like UMR. It certainly wasn't an engineering school (I apologize for not remember which one it was specificly) but I suspose they felt like it was the best they could do. It is difficult to argue with the results. As a group, they did score significantly better in their classes then did the rest of the freshman class and their attrition was half of the average.
After one year they promoted Voyager like it was the greatest thing ever. The people in charge of it (it's mostly James Sevile's baby) swear up and down that the Voyager particpants for the first year were not hand picked. There are people who were involved in the process to a lesser degree who have told me differently. I don't know what the truth was. From their published stats, their highschool GPAs and ACT scores were slightly, but not significantly higher then the average. I think something closer to the truth was that people who are more likely to do well are more likely to want to join a learning community. I bet the GPAs of people who live on quiet floors (by choice) is higher then those who don't. If you want to be a part of a learning community, I guess that's ok. However, the univeristy is being a little bit misleading when it is selling it to incomming freshman.
The biggest problem with Voyager is the way the university treats it. First of all, they can do no wrong. People in Voyager have been left off for doing things that would have cause normal residents in the dorms to have to do community service. The university just threw money at the program last year. I'm sure the student body would be more then happy to know that money that could have been used for things like university improvements or scholarships went towards things like Voyager picnics and a charter bus to a Cardinals game. Sure in the grand scheme of the university budget it isn't all that much, but at a point in time where the university is complaining about not having enough money and where they are decreasing scholarship packages, I find this to be inappropriate.
This message is already too long. I'll shut up now and let someone else rant.
me, baby. and believe me that I know exactly who you boys are. come see me sometime, and I'll prove to you that you'll never be half the man I am. ready when you are.
Joined: Thu 05-10-2001 7:23PM Posts: 826 Location: USS Santa Fe (SSN 763)
Source: Parker Hall
Quote:
The University had no part in selling it to the incoming freshman. The ex-Voyager students sold the program. They created a brochure (with zero help from their mentors) and attend the Preview sessions to promote the program.
Oh come now. I've been told to push the program and it sure wasn't from Voyager alum (does anyone else find that term amusing?).
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So what if they can do no wrong? Look at the "horrible" things they do. It's no worse than some other floors. They weren't the ones that tore the panels off the tunnels wall. This years group is too much of a wuss to even attempt to do anything.
I concede this years group is pathetic. The point was the got special treatment for the rules they broke. Not that they did or didn't do anything worse then anyone else. The general point of the whole thread is that they are resented for special treatment.
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Explain how a $30.00 picnic hurt anyone? And James Seville promised the students a trip of sorts if they exceeded his expectations. He only paid for at least two picnics and the bus. The rest of the activities were covered by floor funds, form the student's own pockets, or from the mentor's own pocket.
A $30 picnic doesn't hurt anyone.... Except it is another reason why no one likes Voyager. I have a feeling you could probably tell us what the bus cost, and I bet it is more then $30.
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