HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: ajackson@csr.UVic.CA (Ann  Jackson)
Subject: Re: Any Humanities Grads out there?
Reply-To: ajackson@csr.UVic.CA (Ann  Jackson)
Organization: University of Victoria
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 92 22:21:40 GMT

In article <1992Apr15.193323.36534@yuma.acns.colostate.edu>, peterson@CS.ColoState.EDU (james peterson) writes:
>In article <1992Apr14.213429.11240@eng.umd.edu> clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles Lin) writes:
>>   I personally wouldn't use the word easier.  Maybe more certain.  One
>>advantage and drawback of LA courses is that there is no right answer.
> [snip]
>While it may not have been intended, this observation leads to the
>erroneous relativistic notion that all answers in the humanities are
>of equal value because, as you put it, "there is no right answer."  
>This is far too simplistic:  there are answers that are better,
>and answers that are worse. Many students of technology come to be
>convinced that any subject matter whose questions cannot be answered finally,
>and with certainty, are valueless; but this is mere prejudice. [snip]

I agree with Mr. Peterson, however it seems that present-day humanities teachers
often appear to treat all answers about equally. For example, a friend pursuing
an M.A. in English was taking a course in mediaeval romantic poetry last term.
A seminar presentation by one member of the class seemed to my reporter to be
completely concerned with present-day thinking about violence against women and
to reflect no attempt at understanding attitudes toward women in the period in
question, let alone to have any substantial connection with the content of the
texts studied. This seemed to be fine so far as the prof was concerned. Now,
I don't want to fire up a flame war about "political correctness" here. (My
unhappy friend is female, by the way). It's just hard not to suspect that any
literate person of reasonable intelligence could pass that course, with
reasonable effort. Not so with a grad course in math, chemistry, engineering etc.
On that basis, despite the ultimately limited nature of much of the subject
matter in the scientific disciplines, they seem to be more difficult to "master."

Ann Jackson
Computer Science, U. of Victoria
From: SSAMPSON%PVCS.decnet@PHYSICS.RICE.EDU ("PVCS::SSAMPSON")
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
Subject: CS Grad School E-mail list
Date: 14 Apr 92 23:05:00 GMT

Hi folks,
	Could some kind soul email me the list of CS grad school E-mail 
addresses ? Thanks in advance.

			SAm..

P.S	My email address is 
                Internet: ssampson@pvcs.pvamu.edu
		DECnet:   PVCS::ssampson



Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
Organization: Arizona State University
Date: Tuesday, 14 Apr 1992 14:34:39 MST
From: <AZVXR@ASUACAD.BITNET>
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad,soc.college.gradinfo,soc.culture.indian
Subject: FOR TEXAS A&I UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Hi there

I am joining you guys at Texas A&I this summer. I am coming for the summer to
do my M.S in Chemical Engineering. I would like somebody out there to contact
me. I am looking forward for your mails..

Vasanth Kumar Ramasami
From: gt0963d@prism.gatech.EDU (Deeptendu Majumder)
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
Subject: Re: Engineering.
Date: 17 Apr 92 15:53:16 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Dream Chasers Syndicate

Yeah..Life sucks..

started attending a 3 level science fiction literature class..

a breath of fresh air..

d.
a tenured grad student..

-- 
------
"Like a harsh neon streaking  through the velvet darkness 
the whetted knife of Life tore its path through her Dreams"
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
From: kyee@bnlux1.bnl.gov (kenton yee)
Subject: Re: Any Humanities Grads out there?
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1992 01:40:12 GMT

In article <1992Apr8.134425.11158@mercury.unt.edu> ac05@sol.acs.unt.edu (Bhattacharya Sumangala) writes:
>True, but I also know many humanities students and professors claim -- with
>a touch of pride -- that they know nothing about computers or other mechanical
>objects and that they were poor in mathematics as children (especially if they
>are women).  
>This is prejudice from the Humanities side.  What about prejudice from the
>science side?

  While a large segment of the scientific/technical population are
not as "liberally" educated as they should be, I don't think too
many techies would boast to being ignorant of lit or the arts.  So
it seems the prejudice from the humanities is not returned.
From: gt4997b@prism.gatech.EDU (hamza benamar)
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
Subject: Engineering.
Date: 17 Apr 92 14:43:06 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology


	Majoring in Mechanical Engineering, I wish the world was different
  to allow me to fulfill my dreams, that is major in philosophy. However,
  Life was not meant to be fair. Being pragmatic, I had to insure a steady
  income before indulging in satisfying my love for humanities.
	I certainly do not conceive a world in which there is no room for
  liberal arts. While Science remains the vehicle of progress, Humanities
  provide us with a mean to seek and achieve a balance every mature and
  responsible human being would long for.
	Hence, the satisfaction I find in reading classics outweights, 
  and by far, the one I experience in solving engineering problems.
	I sincerely think that humanities majors display a passive
  creativity, which in fact is far more gratifying than any active one,
  the former being subtle, the latter nearly mechanical.

	In a country such as the USA, I would expect people to capitalize
  on differences, rather than seek a homogeneous school of thought,
  suppressing ideas, and minimizing others' endeavor.

	As far as Design is concerned, I would urged those who claim to
  have precise answers and solutions to problems to get a job in the real
  world, where constraints are yet to be determined, and simplifications
  the main creation of universities.
	Moreover, if you think that the Calculus taught in the best
  engineering universities is in itself a source of pride, then let me
  inform you that in other countries, such as Morocco, my country of    
  origin, Calculus is covered by the age of 18.
	
	Besides all, I think advocating simplicity, modesty, and mutual
  understanding is a better course.

  	Engineering is not about pompous claims. Humanities do not embody
  useless concepts, ackward methods, nor false claims. Both must go hand
  in hand.

	As far as I am concerned, I am eager to complete my doctorate in
  ME in order to fulfill another goal, that is major in philosophy.
	                                   
	Hamza

-- 
Hamza Benamar		Woodruff school of Mechanical Engineering, GIT.
Phone : 404-352-8748	gt4997b@prism.gatech.edu	Atlanta, Ga.
From: cctimar@athena.cas.vanderbilt.edu (Cary Timar)
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
Subject: Re: Any Humanities Grads out there?
Summary: Ambi-capable students tend to go tech.
Date: 16 Apr 92 01:04:12 GMT
Organization: Vanderbilt U. Math Grad Student

In article <1992Apr15.220559.28711@eng.umd.edu> clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles Lin) writes:
> 
>     I have heard several engineers and related majors interested
> in philosophy, acting, Shakespeare, etc., but the number of
> humanities majors interested in computing or electronics seems
> much smaller.

There are a number of people who are good in two fields, and at some point
need to choose between them.  Most decide that, all else being equal, they
will pursue the subject that is more likely to provide a secure job and a
higher income.  This is normally the more technical/applied of the two
fields.

This argument (which I can support only by anecdotal evidence) would
explain why there are more people in technical fields with interests and
skills in humanities, than there are people in humanities with interests
and skills in technical fields.  (Now, if the people entering humanities
are those who are skilled in those, but not highly skilled in math and
science, would this not tend to cause their subjects to shy away from
mathematical methods to a greater degree than otherwise?)
-- 
	-- Cary Timar, Mathematics Department, Vanderbilt University
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
From: mpv@ecl.psu.edu (Mike Rivkind)
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
Subject: Re: Any Humanities Grads out there?
Date: 14 Apr 92 04:58:14 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Lab, Pennsylvania State University

In article <1992Apr14.015327.8923@gn.ecn.purdue.edu>, zika@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (Michael Zika) writes:
> In article <1992Apr13.213346.4511@ra.msstate.edu> wkl1@Ra.MsState.Edu (Wing-Keong Loke                                               the consummate chronic prevaricator) writes:
>>In article <1992Apr13.171003.18664@blaze.cs.jhu.edu> callahan@biffvm.cs.jhu.edu (Paul Callahan) writes:
>>
>>	Which may be true in your case, but my friends sort of tell me
>>all the time how difficult the humanities are compared to the sciences.
> 
> My personal feeling is that, in principle, all are equal in difficulty.
> However, different approaches and thought patterns are required for
> each discipline, e.g. an english literature major and a nuclear
> engineer.

I'm reading a fascinating book by Gary Zukav, "The Dancing Wu Li Masters:
An Overview of the New Physics".  It is a completely nonmathematical
description of twentieth century physics for the laymen.  Anyway, he goes
into great detail about how the thought processes involved in understanding
the universe have shifted from the right half of the brain to the left.

I bring this up because of the earlier comments about liberal arts majors
being proud of their ignorance of technical subjects (e.g., computers).
If you're not proud of your ignorance -- but hate wading through the
mathematics and logic necessary to understand technical subjects -- 
I recommend Gary Zukav's book for you.  You may not believe me now, but
you will enjoy reading this book.  You will be amazed when you understand
(and enjoy) the answers to the following subjects:  
  "Why was Einstein so warped?" (pun)
  "Who are quantum mechanics and what weight oil do they recommend for
     a 1970 Buick?" (another pun)
  "What would happen if you turned on the headlights of that same 1970 Buick
     while you were travelling the speed of light? (trick question)"

Sorry to get off the subject of the current thread.  Now, back to your
regularly scheduled flame war... ;-)

-- 

Mike Rivkind
mpv@ecl.psu.edu
Aerospace Engineering
Penn State University

"Quantum mechanics is stranger than science fiction." -- Gary Zukav
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
From: wkl1@Ra.MsState.Edu (Wing-Keong Loke                                               the consummate chronic prevaricator)
Subject: Re: Any Humanities Grads out there?
Organization: Mississippi State University
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 20:06:56 GMT

In article <1992Apr16.165347.15729@colorado.edu> ejh@khonshu.colorado.edu (Edward J. Hartnett) writes:
>
>I never said that teaching the humanities was not good. (Why do I 
>have to keep repeating this point?) I'm not attacking your profession;
>it's a valuable and important one. I was just responding to the often-heard
>(at least by me) charge that engineers are in it for the money.

	Right.  Like the often-heard charge that the humanities
discipline don't contribute as much as the sciences.  What do you
expect?  I'd think that I'd be at least a tad crazy if I don't
have my prejudices.  There are many engineers who are in it for
the money as there are many humanities majors who are in it for
the money.
	I think it would be better if we started talking about why
many people say engineers are in it for the money instead of
trying to refute the charge, because I really don't think many
engineers or humanities are in their profession because they
have this great, big idea that they're contributing to society
in a very meaningful way that'd lead to thousand of lives saved
from illiteracy or even hunger.  The factory workers who assemble
the tractors that help harvest grain fields which help quell
hunger isn't necessarily hung up about how their daily efforts
are helping to feed people.  I think it'd be unrealistic.

Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
From: dwv@cs.brown.edu (David W. Vorbrich)
Subject: Re: Any Humanities Grads out there?
Organization: Brown Computer Science Dept.
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 04:31:15 GMT

In article <1992Apr14.032047.27956@eng.umd.edu>, clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles Lin) writes:
|> 
|>    Let me go out on a limb and say that I tend to believe that engineering
|> courses or those courses of a technical matter tend to be easier than
|> liberal arts courses.  Why do I think that?  Try attending a senior
|> level course in an engineering course and a liberal arts course.
|> Chances are (unless you select some philosophy course) you'll be able
|> to understand about halh of what's going on in a liberal arts course
|> and none of what's going on in an engineering course.
|> 
[much deleted, including big .sig]

Is it just a natural tendency to begin claims on this group with a
contradictory statement?  Charles' first statement basically claims
TECHNICAL is easier than LIBERAL ARTS, but then the entire rest of
the post supports the opposite opinion.  Perhaps this was just a slip
of logic (or a mental typo) but I recall someone just recently doing
the same thing... make one claim, then support the other.

I basically agree with Charles' reasoning (being a CS major), but just
this weren't so damn ironic.  An engineer (I assume) is trying to explain
why technical courses are harder than LA courses, and gets his wording
and logic twisted!  Oh the justice of it all... :-}

-David V.
 dwv@cs.tufts.edu
 dwv@cs.brown.edu
Xref: sparky soc.college.grad:972 soc.college.gradinfo:673
From: jpxu1@fnalo.fnal.gov
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad,soc.college.gradinfo
Subject: Re: CS Grad School E-mail list
Date: 15 Apr 92 12:07:43 GMT
Article-I.D.: fnalo.1992Apr15.060743.1
Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Lab

In article <9204142219.AA05441@mammoth.Berkeley.EDU>, SSAMPSON%PVCS.decnet@PHYSICS.RICE.EDU ("PVCS::SSAMPSON") writes:
> Hi folks,
> 	Could some kind soul email me the list of CS grad school E-mail 
> addresses ? Thanks in advance.
> 
> 			SAm..
> 
> P.S	My email address is 
>                 Internet: ssampson@pvcs.pvamu.edu
> 		DECnet:   PVCS::ssampson
> 
> 
> 

I know a while ago, there was a long list of e-mail addresses,  but I could
not find my copy now.  If someone still have it, or another list,  I would
very glad to get a copy too.  Thanks.   
 
my address is jpxu1@fnal.fnal.gov
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
From: martinas@isc.umr.edu
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
Subject: Electrical Eng. Grad Schools
Date: 15 Apr 92 19:52:21 GMT
Reply-To: martinas@isc.umr.edu ()
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Missouri - Rolla
Originator: martinas@mcs213k.cs.umr.edu

A friend of mine from Germany is interested in coming to the States to get his
M.S. in Electrical Engineering. His actual field is communications. Since I'm
a Compsci major I won't be able to really help him pick a school.

I'm looking for suggestions for a state school (relatively low tuition)
with a good MS and PhD program in EE that offers a variety of courses in
communications, such as dig. sig. processing, antennas, microwave stuff
or even optical communication.

Your help is appreciated :)

Tina

P.S. If there is any interest I'd be willing to compile a list of EE depts
     (and e-mail adresses if possible) to post later on.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Martina Schollmeyer          | "Smile, it makes people wonder what you
University of Missouri-Rolla |  are thinking... "
                             | "In every man is the key to heaven; this same 
martinas@cs.umr.edu          |  key also opens the gates to hell"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
From: LOTFALI@ricevm1.rice.edu (LOTFALI)
Subject: housing/Berkeley/S.F
Organization: Rice University, Houston, TX
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 21:53:25 GMT

Hi,
I need a house-sitting or room to rent situation for the summer.
I will be in the Bay Area for the summer, if you know of such housing
possibility please send me an e-mail at the address below.
I am an anthro. graduate student at Rice U. how lived in the Bay Area
for a long time.
LOtfali@ricevm1.ric       Thanks
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
From: CT.A81@forsythe.stanford.edu (LFRibeiro)
Subject: USC vs. UCLA Critical Studies
Organization: Stanford University, California, USA
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 00:14:37 GMT

I'm about to begin grad school in fall in Film and Television -
CRITICAL STUDIES.  Can anyone give me a good comparison between the
programs at UCLA and USC?  There's always too much said about
production... but no one seems to have anything to say about
Crit.studies... My interests lie in cultural studies.  Reply.
to comly@acropolis.su.edu Thanks, Luisa F. Ribeiro
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
From: Liz Johnson <ejohnson@copper.ucs.indiana.edu>
Subject: competition or cooperation
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 92 17:33:51 GMT

Looks like a new subject might be refreshing. So here's one:
I recently attended a meeting with grad students from other
disciplines (I'm in Computer Science). Those who were from
biology and physics described the atmosphere among grad students
as fiercely competitive, to the point of being cut-throat.  My
own experience has been that grad students in my department tend
to cooperate more than compete.  This is not to say that we don't
work hard, but the atmosphere thus far has been very comfortable
for me. When I need help, I talk to my classmates; when they need
help, they talk to me.  This help doesn't cross the line into
cheating, but is mainly in the area of clarifying what a certain
assignment requires or on general concepts in the course.

So my question is: what is your department like? Is each department
unique or can patterns be seen? For example, maybe tight job markets
in certain disciplines lead to more competition.  I tend to think the
students in my department are influenced by faculty-to-faculty
relations here. They (at least on the surface) are also cooperative. I
think these attitudes affect the grad students.

Liz Johnson
Indiana University

Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
From: wkl1@Ra.MsState.Edu (Wing-Keong Loke                                               the consummate chronic prevaricator)
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
Subject: Re: Any Humanities Grads out there?
Date: 15 Apr 92 23:11:11 GMT
Organization: Mississippi State University

In article <1992Apr15.220559.28711@eng.umd.edu> clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles Lin) writes:
>
>In article <1992Apr15.193323.36534@yuma.acns.colostate.edu>, peterson@CS.ColoState.EDU (james peterson) writes:
>>In article <1992Apr14.213429.11240@eng.umd.edu> clin@eng.umd.edu (Charles Lin) writes:
>>>
>
>    It's interesting to see that some of those responding in favor
>of humanities (and I'm not exactly opposed, just trying to liven
>stuff up on the other side of the debate) are in the sciences
>and engineering.   Personally, I think that while the numbers
>of those in engineering and science who support the ideas of
>liberal arts are small, these numbers are larger than the
>numbers of humanities majors who feel that science and
>engineering are worthwhile to learn (for themselves).
>
>    I have heard several engineers and related majors interested
>in philosophy, acting, Shakespeare, etc., but the number of
>humanities majors interested in computing or electronics seems
>much smaller.
>
>    Charles Lin
		Heh, heh.  Let's open another can of worms shall we?
Maybe sci students are more interested in the liberal arts because
they've been doing a better job of explaining what they know to the
public.
From: millerj@lambda.ecn.purdue.edu (Snide Pucker)
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad
Subject: Re: Any Humanities Grads out there?
Date: 15 Apr 92 10:12:01 GMT
Organization: Purdue Univ. School of Nuclear Engineering

In article <1992Apr15.001719.3921@ecl.psu.edu> mpv@ecl.psu.edu (Mike Rivkind) writes:
#>>   Engineers seem to take a sick pride in having a firm grasp on terminology
#>>   that no one else can understand.  The flagrant abuse of techno-jargon
#>>   means that the rest of the "ignorant world" can blunder in the dark while
#>>   engineers spout such combobulations as
#>>
#>I don't know about the person who wrote the quote above, but it makes perfect
#>sense to me.  As hard as I try, I can't think of a better way to say it.
#>Sorry if my sarcasm got the best of me, but do you actually believe that the
#>author of that quote wrote those words out of "sick pride"?!  

   While there is definitely a necessity to explaining things with conciseness
   and clarity, there is also an equivalent need to filter these ideas to
   those not "in the know."  When engineers (and everyone else) must rely on
   cryptic language to explain a relatively simple idea, there is a problem,
   and yes, I have seen situations where engineers couldn't explain something
   as simple as a laser to a layperson.  That's pretty bad.


#>When I describe my work to my family, I use explanations like my quote
#>interpretation above.  They understand it.  Obviously, I would never write 
#>like that in a technical paper.  It is very nebulous.  No one would know
#>exactly what I was talking about.  I would be dismissed as being unable to
#>convey my ideas.  This is all obvious.  But how, may I ask you, would you
#>have written the quote so as not to offend anyone with your "sick pride"?

   There is always a time and a place for specific wording, i.e. techno-jargon.
   The "sick pride" I referred to was the irascible insistence on adherring
   slavishly to hard-core terminology at all times to all people.  Those
   unfamiliar with the buzzwords are deemed idiots, or at least completely
   ignorant of their field.  The terminology becomes the standard fodder 
   doled out to maintain job security and the ideal that there is some higher
   level of intelligence associated with understanding the catch phrases.
   I think people sometimes lose the concept that eventually one must explain
   this great idea to someone who hasn't taken the time to memorize grandiose,
   scientific terms.  I guess that's what think tanks are for....

--
   Jerry W. Miller                   #   "Opinions?  Of course they
   millerj@gn.ecn.purdue.edu         #    are mine, do YOU want them?"
   Purdue University School of Nuclear Engineering
Newsgroups: soc.college.grad