My Dog Ate My Homework. Seriously. Then He Shit on My Roommate's Shoes. Like, I Need an Extension.

Colleges warming up to the idea of pets in dorms to ease stress
By Dave Murray 
The Grand Rapids Press

One of my recent journalism students deeply missed her family's cat after moving to campus in the fall. Attempts at keeping fish in her dorm room proved fatal, but Amy's brother surprised her at Christmas with a furry friend who would comply with the regulations.

“Tibbins,” a squirrel who had an encounter with a taxidermist, because our class mascot of sorts. But some college leaders are now thinking that having some non-stuffed animals around might ease the sometimes difficult transition for college students.

Ryan Lytle wrote in U.S. News & World Report that students who are beginning college with no established friendship, the prospect of meeting new people can be nerve wracking.

“Students can bond over their pets, and I think that can be a way to meet some additional people on campus,” John Sullivan, dean of admission and financial aid at Eckerd College in Florida told Lytle. “It adds friendliness to a campus.”

Eckerd students are permitted to have cats and dogs under 40 pounds, as well as fish and snakes. The college even has a photo gallery of dorm pets on its website.

FULL ARTICLE.

A coming full circle perspective

If the dog ate your homework, read this

A community college English teacher tries to impart a life lesson to students who can, but don't, try hard enough.

Photo: MissFarah.com

We began the semester with 36 students. I predicted on the first day that I would probably wind up giving grades to half that many. Had I been more strict about dropping people whose attendance was erratic and whose assignments weren't coming in, I would have been right. But I let lots of students slide. I didn't drop people who weren't showing up, nor did I drop the people who weren't doing the work. That was no favor because now I'm forced to give grades that will narrow future options for people who might have gone further, had they only tried. If you were one of the students who missed more than five or six classes, or who failed to turn in most of the assignments, you need to ask yourself if you're making good use of your time. There are always excuses for not showing up, or not turning work in. I've heard them all. But lives built on excuses generally don't turn out well.

FULL ARTICLE LA Times

An interesting perspective from someone who stumbled early in his academic career but made the most of his second chance and then was on the front line of a "second chance" college for 30 years.