One December morning two years ago, I hastily checked e-mails, distracted by the thought of an upcoming final exam that was about to begin. I was preparing to take an eight-hour written test - which would decide my entire grade for a class.

Then, to make matters worse, it happened. I opened up the wrong e-mail. It was an e-mail I didn't expect, didn't want, didn't know how to deal with. A long-time friend unexpectedly revealed that he was gay. [Read article]

Rec Center doesn't need expansion

I read the articles and letters about the proposed Student Recreation Center expansion with a certain amount of apathy. However, upon further reflection, I have become somewhat dismayed at the apparent "need" for it. My main problem is with the notion that there are always lines at the Rec Center and that it is always full.

I agree that between the hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., it is quite packed with students. However, I must point out what should be an obvious fact: There are 12 other hours in the day in which the Rec Center is open. In fact, when the group I go with goes to the Rec Center when it opens, the place is virtually empty. [Read article]

Habitual readers of The New York Times may have been surprised over the weekend when a huge exposé about the weaknesses of large state universities featured the UA almost exclusively. The 6,000-word piece chronicled the problems of large classes, anonymity and the lack of advising through the tales of five students.

Although mostly noting that the UA's problems are symptomatic of all large state universities, it wasn't particularly complimentary. The writer accused students of avoiding hard classes, being "maze smart" and avoiding guidance. The piece also accused professors of being impersonal, and said teachers and students are engaged in a "mutual non-aggression pact," whereby teachers give good grades for minimal work in order to be able to focus on research, and in exchange, students give the teachers good evaluations despite bad teaching. [Read article]