About the author ⁄ morganackley

Morgan has a never ending love for writing. Majoring in English Literature and minoring in Spanish Language, she hopes to one day publish a novel and interpret Spanish. Often she can be found daydreaming about traveling, mentally brainstorming ideas for her work-in-progress novel, and longboarding on chilly mornings.

Tuition Increase Pro

After finally coming to terms with the fact that college tuition is expensive, the last thing anyone wants to hear is it will take a shift upward. But before tossing in the towel, think for a minute about what that money buys. For Boise State, money will buy more full-time faculty, which means more classes for students. The bottleneck students are currently facing toward getting into upper-division classes will be reduced. The current issue is there simply is not enough staff to teach these courses due to lack of funds, so the tuition hike will address this issue. In response to the 6.9 percent tuition hike Boise State will expect to see in the upcoming year, Jace Whitaker, ASBSU secretary of external relations, said raising fees and tuition would be beneficial to all students But what about graduating seniors who will not be needing upper-division courses? According to Whitaker, not only will the tuition increase allow students to fulfill upper-division course requirements, but the degrees attained at Boise State will... ...

May 9, 2013 Posted by morganackley In Main Feature, News, Opinion, Opinion Main Feature Tagged Boise State, Student Life Comments 0

What is a University Education?

Too often students come to college with the mindset of, “I’m just here to get a degree.” But there is a problem with that. Even with a degree it is still tough to find a job in the real-world job market. So, basing the decision to attend college on just getting a degree seems a bit too limiting. What then does it mean to be university educated? Does it mean having a nice paper diploma to hang on the wall for later reference if anyone asks? Or could there be something embedded deeper into that piece of paper, something not quite visible, which truly shows what it means to be university educated? The new foundational studies curriculum Boise State has adopted would most likely agree with the latter. In a previous article, University Foundations (UF) professor Shelton Woods told Tabitha Bower in an email, “The learning outcomes of the UF courses include equipping students to think critically; clearly articulate their conclusions on a particular topic; learn to function effectively as... ...

Apr 1, 2013 Posted by morganackley In Opinion, Sub Feature Tagged Boise State, Student Life

Construction intrudes into classrooms

It is difficult not to notice construction signs, especially when they are just outside the classroom. The construction going on inside the Math and Geoscience Building is distracting. What is the big deal with the project anyway? Why could it not have been done when students are not in class trying to learn? But it seems this project is more important than meets the eye. From the outside, it seems as though this is a small project, but it is actually larger than it appears to be. What is being done on the inside involves expanding and remodeling. The construction will actually benefit students and staff who frequent the building. One of the key remodels of this project is to bring the inconveniently located Math Learning Center (MLC) into the Math and Geoscience Building. Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Suzanne Seigneur, explained how the center has brought about such a great success with students that the math department would like to incorporate the facility in the actual math building. It makes... ...

Mar 7, 2013 Posted by morganackley In Main Feature, Opinion, Opinion Main Feature Tagged Boise State, Student Life, Transportation

How much debt is too much?

It is rare that students pay for college out of pocket. It is almost laughable to think that it is even a possibility with the continual rise of college tuition. It comes as no surprise that 88 percent of students at Boise State are currently receiving some type of aid. This means more then half of the students here will likely leave school with debt to pay off. Even with the help of their degree, students face a challenge. Almost any student can receive some kind of federal aid, whether it is grants or loans, thanks to the FAFSA. The amount given to each student is based upon current need. What a student studies in school and how much they will earn when graduated is not figured to the mix. So, if a student winds up needing $50,000 throughout the course of his or her college career, despite the fact the student may only earn $30,000 or $40,000 a year once graduated, it is generously given to the student. “Students... ...

Feb 28, 2013 Posted by morganackley In Main Feature, Opinion, Opinion Main Feature Tagged Boise State, Student Life

Valentine’s Day is not just for girls

For the last couple of weeks stores and advertisements have made everyone aware of the quickly approaching Valentine’s Day. This holiday has many mixed feelings surrounding it, ranging from date nights, and celebrations to anti-valentine’s day parties, and Single Awareness Day. There are plenty of traditional items to get a woman for Valentine’s Day;—roses and chocolate are on sale, and are easy to find. But one problem many face is what to get a guy that he would equally enjoy. It seems perfectly acceptable for girls to expect to be surprised with gifts and date night plans. However, it is almost as if the fact that guys should also be a part of the gift-receiving has been completely forgotten. And most guys may not openly admit it, but they would enjoy something a little special too. “For Valentine’s Day, since it’s the day of love, I want something that we both can enjoy,” Sophomore Blake Schumacher, biology major said. This year Schumacher feels the pressure of perfecting the night for his girlfriend,... ...

Feb 14, 2013 Posted by morganackley In Main Feature, Opinion, Opinion Main Feature Tagged Boise State, Student Life

Is the future of mathematics right for everyone?

For some students, hearing the term math may spark an unpleasant memory; a night beating their heads against the textbook or allowing the dog to eat the homework. For others, math may not be a big deal or even sound fun. This may have something to do with being left-brained or right-brained. Maybe that is not exactly the case. Maybe partly the reason for math being such an irritant for some and a relief for others is the way math is taught. Boise State has adopted a less traditional and more technological approach to math learning with programs such as MyMathLab and Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS), which aim to provide a quick response to students’ abilities and a more individualistic mathematical learning experience. For example, MyMathLab instantly grades homework and quizzes so students can see what their problem areas are. With ALEKS, rather than being stuck on the same unit as the rest of the class, a student who is proficient in one topic can advance in... ...

Feb 7, 2013 Posted by morganackley In Opinion Tagged Boise State, Student Life