Well…is it? We all know someone who has cheated. If we’re honest, it may even be us. But who cares? College is tough. Getting into graduate school or professional school can be even tougher. And no one really checks those details on your resume, right? Besides…it’s only a little white lie…if my competition is cheating, why shouldn’t I? (Thank you, Alex Rodriguez, for proving this point).
As college students evolve more sophisticated methods of cheating (read: more technology), colleges/universities are working harder to detect and catch those cheaters. Here are some interesting reads on the topic:
The Psychology Behind Students Who Don’t Cheat:
Cheating Fact Sheet (a little dated, but still applicable):
Cell phones:
This one’s just too ironic:

AU’s policy (as found in the Tiger Cub):

Bottom line…cheating is wrong. Whether it’s on your homework, LSAT, SGA campaigning, resume, or significant other. It’s also risky. Your academic career could quickly be over. And for what? The long term risks on your character are far greater than short-term rewards of cheating. If you cannot be trusted with little, you cannot be trusted with much.

“If a man will steal an egg, he will steal a chicken.�
(Don’t remember where I heard that, so I can’t properly cite it…ironic?)

Decisions, decisions, decisions… 

Just how many desserts should I have?  For me, the holiday season always presents major dilemmas: my three plates of turkey & dressing, ham, macaroni & cheese, green bean casserole, fruit salad, Grannie’s dumplins, sweet potatoes (which I’m sure will be inducted into the Smithsonian for their pure decadence) and dinner rolls, usually leave little room for dessert.  BUT…with the smorgasbord of confectionery concoctions placed before me only on seasonal occasions, it would be foolish to pass them by.  So…just how many desserts should I have?  Should I eat two pieces of Aunt Cindy’s Coca-Cola Cake (that’s the official title…look it up) with my meringue-heavy chocolate pie covered with the crunchy sugar crystals…or only one piece?  Ooh…do those cookies have almonds???

Maybe I’m asking the wrong questions.  Maybe I should be asking for substitutes to my traditional favorites…substitutes that would be easier on the waistline.  There is a diligent surge of healthy eating options on college campuses across the nation.  And this time of year may cause us all to look into those just a little more.  Check this out from UCLA.  Pretty useful:  http://www.dining.ucla.edu/housing_site/dining/SNAC_pdf/GiftOfGoodHealth.pdf

Unless you are living under a rock or have just chosen to ignore the obvious, you know there is a presidential election coming up on November 4.  Some say this is one of the most important presidential elections in our country’s history, and almost certainly one of the most important ones you and I have ever seen.  Who will win?  Do you care?  Will you vote, and, if so, why will you vote for your selected candidate?  Check out this link to see what other college students are saying.  They ask such questions like: Do you think America is ready to elect a black president?  Why do you think McCain selected Sarah Palin as he running mate?  Interesting stuff.

http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i10/10a02801.htm (You can click to the right of this set of data and read more details about the research – for example, which students they polled).

Regardless of your candidate, by all means, go vote!  Figure out the issues that are most important to you, investigate where the candidates stand on them, and make your decision.  I know who I am voting for and why…do you?

Haley Center Concourse is closed, but for how long and why?  

The Auburn University Facilities Division will close Haley Center Concourse in its entirety starting at noon Sunday, Oct. 12. It will reopen by noon Friday, Nov. 7, before the AUSC Grand Opening Ceremony (http://www.auburn.edu/deanofstudents/grandopening.html).

The Haley Center Concourse is closed so that it can get a facelift.  It will get all new concrete and brick work, and possible underground pipe work.

If you want to know “shape� AU will be taking in the future, check out this site: http://www.auburn.edu/administration/campus_planning/documents/masterplan_documents/2002cmpexecutivesummary.pdf .  BTW, this is a 28-page document with lots of numbers and potential construction projects.  Don’t be alarmed that the date on this document is 2002 b/c this is the current working document.

There is a movement by the Amethyst Institute to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to 18.  The Amethyst Institute was launched in July 2008 and is made up of chancellors and presidents of universities and colleges across the United States.  You can read all the details here: http://www.amethystinitiative.org. 

For reasons that would not surprise you, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is strongly opposed to this.  You can see their rebuttal here: http://www.madd.org/Article-Archive/2008/August/Article—Amethyst-Initiative-Underage-Drinking-Re.aspx.

I want to know what you think.   What would happen here at AU if the legal drinking age was lowered from 21 to 18?  Would it encourage or discourage binge drinking?  Since a fake ID would not be necessary for a vast majority of our students, would it ease the load on the local police/judicial system, or would it make it worse since almost everyone is now legal?  What other issues would surface?

Leave us a post and tell us what you think.

What if I said you could get paid to attend SGA meetings and UPC concerts, to work with Camp War Eagle and SOS, to oversee intramurals, or to talk to strangers about Auburn?  You can do just that and more by choosing a career in Student Affairs.  Don’t be misled because there is a lot of work that goes into it…it’s not just free pizza and an endless supply of t-shirts (although those are nice perks).

October is National Careers in Student Affairs month.  What is Student Affairs?  What do student affairs professionals do?  Glad you asked!  Generally, we work with college students to help you gain all you can from your college experience.  That includes things such as event planning, resume help, leading a meeting, learning how to interview and be interviewed, and challenging you to think beyond your experience.  To see more about what we do here in the Student Development Programs Office, go here: http://www.auburn.edu/deanofstudents/student_programs/about.html.

Here are some other links that offer more information on Student Affairs.  http://www.vpsa.txstate.edu/common/articles/description-of-careers-in-student-affairs.html To get an idea of career paths available, go here: http://jobs.studentaffairs.com/. 

If you want to learn more about this field, please talk with any of us here in SDP.  We will be having an event very soon to highlight Careers in Student Affairs month, so keep your eyes open for more info!