10 Fun Facts About Yale

Known as one of the top schools in the world, this Ivy League university offers more than just prestige and beautiful Gothic architecture. It is also home to some of the most notorious and mysterious secret societies and happens to be a feeder for the CIA. Here are ten traditions and fun facts about Yale University. 1. Originally named The Collegiate School, Yale University took on its new name in 1701 in honor of Elihu Yale, the governor of the East India Company, for his gifts to the school. Yes, THAT East India Company – the one tied to the Tea Act that led to the infamous Boston Tea Party boycott which was one of the major events that led to the American Revolution. 2. Being the third oldest university in the country means you can probably claim a bunch of â€Å"oldest ____† superlatives. Yale is home to the oldest collegiate daily newspaper still in existence. Printed five days a week since January 28, 1878, the Yale Daily News lives up to its moniker. Yale also claims the oldest and most well known a cappella group: the Wiffenpoofs have been singing on Monday nights since 1909. 3. One of the most exclusive and obscure college clubs has to be Yale’s secret society Skull Bones. Students tapped for membership tend to be campus leaders, such as team captains, newspaper editors and members of the political union. Only fifteen male and female juniors are chosen for admission each spring. The society’s most well known members include both George Bush senior and junior, William Howard Taft, and John Kerry. The group also allegedly stole the skull of Geronimo from his grave and keeps it encased in a glass display. 4. Yale University is organized into 12 self-governing residential colleges, each with its own dormitories, dining halls, library, and social events. Each also has its own proud traditions, including: jello wrestling, weekly group screams at 11:00, stripping down during the third quarter of football games. 5. Yale freshmen are treated to a formal holiday banquet each year akin to a Harry Potter-style Hogwarts feast. Picture: formal servers carrying around huge platters topped with food, holiday lights, ice sculptures, gingerbread houses, and elaborate swan-shaped pastries. 6. Nathan Hale, America’s oldest (and arguably worst) spy was a Yale graduate who famously uttered the phrase, â€Å"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.† In 1914, Yale commissioned a statue of the renowned patriot. Legend has it that the CIA later made an offer to buy the statue, and the university refused. CIA operatives were then sent in during the night to cast a mold of the statue to make a replica. Some stand by the claim that the statue was successfully swapped out and the original is the one now standing at CIA headquarters. 7. On the subject of the CIA, the nation’s spy network has historically proven to be a popular career choice for many Yale graduates – most notably former President George H.W. Bush ’48 and legendary operatives William Bundy ’39 and James Jesus Angleton ’41. Yale’s undergrad career services director Philip Jones attests that student interest in the CIA has remained consistently high. 8. Yale’s Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscripts Library boasts features fit for a spy lair. To protect its books, in the event of a fire, you have 30 seconds to get out before the library is flooded with lethal (but fire-suppressing) gas. In the case of any other threats to the books collection, that entire cube structure drops down into an underground vault that sucks all of the oxygen out of the air. 9. Some college dorms are built to be better than others. That’s an understatement when it comes to the Vanderbilt suite at Yale. Vanderbilt Hall was built by railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt as a memorial to his son, who sadly died from typhoid fever as a junior at Yale. The room above the building’s archway was built more lavishly than the rest. The suite (known as VC-22) features a chandelier, marble fireplace, and ornate molding and paneling. Rumor has it that the room is reserved for members of the Vanderbilt family while they’re attending Yale. The last Vanderbilt to stay in that room? Anderson Cooper, Class of ’89. 10. One Yale graduation tradition dating back over 140 years involves graduates receiving clay pipes along with a small packet of tobacco that you’re supposed to smoke and crush afterwards to symbolize the end of an eraa legendary 4-year era. Are you looking to apply to Yale? Make sure to search through profiles of students accepted to see essays, stats, and advice. See how they got in, and how you can too!

Language Management Relative to Gender, Cultural Background, and Goals of Interaction

Language Management Relative to Gender, Cultural Background, and Goals of Interaction Introduction Language is a channel of communication that exists to ensure that men and women are able to talk to each other. It allows people to express their thoughts and feelings and to be understood. Without language, whether verbal or non verbal, it may be practically impossible for people to live and work together.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Language Management Relative to Gender, Cultural Background, and Goals of Interaction specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A characteristic of language is the fact that it bonds individuals who have grown together and live within the same geographical area. In many ways, language is defined by the way of life of a group of people. Whereas some languages are almost universal others are very restricted and will only be spoken in a specific region or community. English for example, is one language that is used quite extensively in different parts of the world in education as w ell as in business matters. The importance of language can not be over emphasized and where people are not able to speak a language, they have the option of learning sign languages so as to be able to communicate. Some languages also have variations that may be spoken by an even smaller group of individuals in a subsection of a community. This paper examines language as it relates to gender, cultural background and the goal of interaction. Language and Gender According to Crawford (1995), we live and are linked to different sexes and the big question is always whether or not men and women across the globe use language differently. Although scientists have done enough studies to try and explain the differences, it is quite obvious that the way men communicate greatly differs from the way women convey their ideas and feelings (Crawford, 1995).Advertising Looking for essay on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Unlike men, women are much deeper in their talks and most of the time it is never easy for men to easily understand them. Generally, it has been observed that quite a number of women are polite and somehow cautious in their talks than men are. This has led some people to classify women as being weak. Men on the other hand are the complete opposite and usually they are more aggressive in their communications (Crawford, 1995). To try and explain this phenomenon, Crawford argues that a majority of women are not good communicators mainly because they are often controlled by beliefs that do not allow them to effectively express themselves (Crawford, 1995). The differences that exist between men and women are seen as being deeply rooted within individuals and to a large extent they dictate thought and action. Some researchers have gone to an extent considering the talk between men and women as being very similar to cross cultural communication but this view is regarded as being incomplet e by other scholars who strongly believe that there is so much that must be put in perspective whenever one attempts to study gender and how far it affects culture and by extension, language (Crawford, 1995). Sex Differences in Language Crawford (1995) argues that the differences in sex are very critical in understanding the relationship that exists between gender and language usage. There are numerous studies that have been carried out by different scholars to try and establish the associations between language and sex. This is, however, complicated by the fact that it is never that easy for one to comprehend these differences. Apparently, they have been noted to fluctuate from time to and in most of the time, they are never neutral when looked at from a social perspective.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Language Management Relative to Gender, Cultural Background, and Goals of Interaction specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The meanings given to sex difference are to a large extent negotiated from existing systems that are already biased and hence not quite reflective of the actual situation (Crawford, 1995). Crawford also explains that the whole idea about men and women being different becomes clearer when one reads books touching on gender topics also, when we get to watch talk shows facilitated by communication experts through televisions (Crawford, 1995). According to studies that have been done, gender related processes can greatly sway an individual’s behaviour, thought process and feelings (Crawford, 1995). Taking a community in Africa for example, and this also applies to other continents, one notes that children begin to learn the differences between members of the opposite sex from a very tender age mainly through the roles assigned to them and teachings they are subjected to. In a typical African set up, the boy child will be allocated certain tasks that are considered masculi ne in nature while the girl child automatically gets tasks that are more feminine. Boys and girls are also taught how to behave towards the opposite sex and in most cases girls and women in general are seen by most communities as second rate citizens. Shocking as it may be, some cultures will require women to always remain subordinate to men regardless of the status they hold in the society. Things they will do include kneeling or bending when addressing or serving men, remaining silent in various social functions where men are present, and carefully listening to men and following what they are told without questioning. Amazingly, most women seem to have given in and will therefore humbly obey the demands placed on them by the society.Advertising Looking for essay on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In some communities, it is not uncommon to find boys being treated in a more special way than the girls; whilst boys are required by all to attend school, this is regarded as a privilege and not a right when it comes to girls. Most girls will be required to remain at home and assist their mothers with different chores as they wait to be married off to partners normally chosen for them. The saddest thing about this kind of unfair treatment for the girl child is that they end up growing in a very timid way and end up not being bold enough to express themselves. Clearly, as these girls move on to maturity, the way they will use language will completely differ from how boys will when they eventually become of age. Crawford (1995) pointed out that it is not right for anyone to presuppose that all women are the same just because they are women. There are obviously some exceptions that may be noted. This being the case therefore, some women will grow up with strong virtues but unfortunatel y a majority will be characterized by poor communication skills and in most cases, they will settle for less than what they are worth. Language and Culture Generally, culture is concerned with the way people live and is mostly responsible for strengthening the relationships that are noticeable among men and women in a community or a certain region. Among many other things, culture also governs people’s way of thinking, how they live, eat, dress or even relate to one another. Those who are controlled by the same culture will usually act based on some principles regarded as being acceptable within the community. The effect of language and culture may be seen in various areas of life. Here, I will look at how language and culture affect operations at the work place. Culture and Language at Workplaces For any organization to move forward there has to be unity among all employees. The vision and mission that guides the organization must be clearly communicated to everyone. Without effectively communicating to everyone and ensuring that all are on the same page, the desired growth of the organization may be hindered. A language that does not make this communication possible will simply put the organization at risk and most of the time the communication may not be sent out and received the way it should. Given that culture determines to a very large extent how language is used in talks, it follows that communication may suffer greatly because of cultures that do not help to create language that make communication easy. A study done by Howes (2011) showed that in so many ways, controls the behaviour of individuals; how people work and relate with one another is a product of their cultural background. Some cultures are so strong and the languages associated with them are equally very strict and this tends to complicate the entire process of communication (Howes, 2011). There are times that people turn to the use of a foreign language simply because it is not pos sible to get words they can use to effectively express themselves in their own language. English is one language that has offered solutions for many who are challenged in this manner. Howes (2011) cites Thai as an example of a language that is based on a very strong culture to the extent that it makes it quite difficult for people to relate with one another in various circumstances. A language that is so full of formalities and often without a means of communicating important matters to employees may only lead to a complicated work environment where ineffective communication could be blamed for poor performance (Howes, 2011). Considering that the demands of running businesses in the present world are so high, many people are forced to adjust to new cultures so as to cope with demands at work. This may subject different people to varying stress levels based on their cultural backgrounds as they seek to discover the best way to communicate with colleagues (Howes, 2011). English is con sidered to be a very flexible language and seems to be offering a way for people to act in line with modern business requirements. Unlike many other languages spoken across the world, English does not have so many formalities and makes it possible for people to communicate in a more direct manner. Language and Goal of Interaction Life has so many demands and more often than not people get to interact with the intention of achieving certain goals. Reasons for interaction may include things like learning, teaching, politics etc. According to Francis and Hester (2004), the society is characterized by numerous activities that define that in one way or another make life possible. At the centre all these is language which plays the important role of promoting healthy social interactions that eventually enable men and women to meet their social goals (Francis Hester, 2004). In this section, I will look at language as used in the education system and in activism. Language and Education Unl ike in the olden days when education was seen as a privilege, today it is a standard requirement for everyone. To stay abreast with the changes taking place globally, one should at least attend school as a basic requirement. It has become practically impossible for people to live and interact in the present world without some level of education. As people pursue education, they will often be compelled to learn certain languages so as to benefit from the education system. Even though some countries have tried to reinforce the use of local languages in some areas of their education systems, English has remained the favorite language and hence widely used in most schools as a medium of communication. Language and Activism There are times that people have had to come out strongly to champion a course and to be heard by the relevant authorities. Many times when this happens, it is done to get the government to respond to a problem that may be affecting the public or a group of people. Th e leaders of these activities are usually faced with a big task of rallying a huge group of aggrieved people who also want to be heard. To attract followers, the leaders must use language in a persuasive way so as to lure people to action. In this case, language is basically used to ensure that one has a group of followers wishing to be heard. Conclusion It is very clear that language extensively determines a number of things in our lives. The success of our social interactions is very much dependent on how effectively we are able to make use of language. It is, however, important to note that the way we learn and use language is controlled to a greater extent by our cultural backgrounds and gender. Based on culture and gender, individuals are bound to think and act in a certain way when interacting with others. Gender is further understood well by analyzing sex and the processes that are associated with it not only impact the way we relate but also contribute in deciding how social institutions are organized (Crawford, 1995). Finally, language is also a very useful tool when it comes to accomplishing different things and in most cases, people will use language with specific goals in mind. References Crawford, M. E. (1995). Talking difference: on gender and language. London: Sage Publications Ltd. Francis, D. Hester, S. (2004). An Invitation to Ethnomethodology: Language, Society, and Social Interaction. London: Sage Publications Ltd. Howes, P. (2011). The Impact of Culture on Language. China: Soft is Hard. Web.

Harlem Hellfighters - The 369th In World War Ii Hawaii Essay

Harlem Hellfighters - The 369th In World War Ii Hawaii - Essay Example The case of Hawaii during World War II demonstrates racial discrimination that the African Americans were subjected to even as they strove to play a key role in the war. Even the United States president at the time questioned the ability of the African Americans to deliver at the battlefront. The article greatly contributes to the historical accounts of World War II and how it played a key role in advancing racism in the United States. THE MAKING OF DISNEYLAND BY GEORGE LIPSITZ According to the author, the Disneyland that forms a major entertainment hub in the United States was created in an effort to enable the American people to forget the negative evils that had transpired in the country such as poverty, racial discrimination, slavery and political struggles. Walt Disney wanted to come up with a place where the visitors would be blocked from the view of the outside world so that they could concentrate on the things that brought joy to them as well offered them a chance to live and feel accepted in the world The creators of Disneyland wanted the American society to be free of the past events and forge ahead as a happy nation (Lipsitz, 210-211).. Visitors at the park were greeted with fantasy and were told to dress accordingly or risk being sent away from the park. The people who visited the park by then according to the author were expected to forget about the worries of the world and personal challenges but instead concentrate on the things that brought them joy and delight.