Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics (Week 4) Assignment

Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics (Week 4) - Assignment Example 8.) Figure 11.10 shows an undirected graph representing a section of a department store. The vertices indicate where cashiers are located; the edges denote unblocked aisles between cashiers. The department store wants to set up a security system where (plainclothes) guards are placed at certain cashier locations so that each cashier either has a guard at his or her location or is only one aisle away from a cashier who has a guard. What is the smallest number of guards needed? 15.) For the undirected graph in Fig. 11.12, find and solve a recurrence relation for the number of closed v-v walks of length n ≠¥ 1, if we allow such a walk, in this case, to contain or consist of one or more loops. 22.) For the graph in Fig. 11.37(b), what is the smallest number of bridges that must be removed so that the resulting subgraph has an Euler trail but not an Euler circuit? Which bridge(s) should we remove? You are an electrical engineer designing a new integrated circuit involving potentially millions of components. How would you use graph theory to organize how many layers your chip must have to handle all of the interconnections, for example? Which properties of graphs come into play in such a circumstance? If the likelihood of the edge (v1, v2) is 50%, then there are equal chances that that edge will not be a section of the edge set. Similarly, for all the pair of vertices we can say that there is equal probability of having or not having an edge between those two. So, if there are n vertices in the vertex set then there can be maximum n "single connected component" (in which no edge is there) of that graph or minimum one connected component in which all the vertices are connected to each

Good Deeds by Tyler Perry Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Good Deeds by Tyler Perry - Movie Review Example He has been pulled over in many instances by the police found driving under influence of alcohol. In the afternoon, he and his brother meets their mother, Wilimena (Phylicia Rashad) over lunch at a local restaurant to sort out family issues, she is not happy with what Walter is turning out to. The marriage arrangements continue with the mother heading to meet her daughter in law at a bridal shop, Wilimena suggestively asks Natalie to act as a bride already, by planning with her husband for future family size. However, things do not go as planned since Wesley and Natalie are not compatible, he is not happy in the union. The story is believable in some instances as there are cases of influential members of the society who despite their achievements, look into other areas for emotional fulfillment. Wesley is engaged to Natalie, who is just another symbol of their family business as she focuses on driving him to higher success levels, pushed on by their parents. Lindsay (Thandie Newton), a struggling single parent living in deplorable parts of the town, comes in to give Wesley a new experience. She is a janitor at Wesley’s corporation who heads home to find that her door will be locked by the landlord if she does not pay her rent soon. As she goes to her workplace to pick her cheque so she settles the bill, a confrontation with her boss over parking space gives her an opportunity to meet her boss over dinner a few days later, when he opted to quell their past differences over a meal (Baumgarten, 2012). In realistic terms, it is difficult to find a business executive sincerely dedicating part of his busy schedule to for less fortunate people unless it is a public relations gimmick. During this time, Wesley is introduced to the other side of life when he learns that Lindsay and her daughter Ariel (Jordenn Thompson) have nowhere to go after eviction from their rented house. She lives in area where families are torn, living in deplorable conditions. He gets emot ional when empathizing with the family for the state they are in; this created a bond between them. He helps Lindsay get back on her feet by renting for her and her daughter an apartment. This quality depicts Wesley as a family man who takes his time to listen to the less fortunate members of the community, and decides, within his ability to help out. A union that threatens his marriage gradually develops as he learns more about this interesting family. He and Natalie then realise they cannot make their marriage work and should stop pleasing their parents by calling it quits. In realistic instances, chances of a business executive marrying a janitor is almost negligent, the rich tends to associate at their level, and marry at family interests. It goes to extreme levels when Wesley, with his stature and business commitments, resigns from family business and places it under a new chief executive to travel abroad and live a low key life. Compassion and care is a central theme, Wesley, despite his brother’s frequent misbehavior, goes ahead to make sure he lives a fulfilling life. The family did not throw Walter to the dungeons due to his excessive drinking. He picks him daily as he heads to work; this is despite his tight schedule. He also recognizes him as an integral part of his family unit; this is seen in the way he is invited in family discussions and they intervene by advising him to change his ways. Wilimena urges him at a family lunch

Gentrification In New Chinese Urbanism Cultural Studies Essay

Gentrification In New Chinese Urbanism Cultural Studies Essay While the economic system in China reformed from centrally planned economy to market orientated economy, the Chinese urbanization also shifted from industrial urbanism to post-industrial urbanism, especially in large cities. And the emergence of gentrification as a new social phenomenon at the moment has indicated the trend in the next round of urban development. Beijing 798 Art Zone is a typical example reflecting the general scene of such change. Through sixty years time, its identity has transformed from an old industrial site to an active art district, and is now facing the reality to be further developed into a commercial zone gentrified by rich middle-class. There is no single element capable of explaining the entire and sophisticated picture of such process. The changing political economy and social conditions both contribute to the transformation of space over time. However, among all, culture and capital are always the most important driven factors in the gentrification process. Part 01: A Brief History of Beijing 798 Art Zone Part 02: A Comparison Study of SoHo, New York Part 03: Gentrification in Beijing 798 Art Zone Part 04: Conclusion Part 01: A Brief History of Beijing 798 Art Zone Exterior view, Beijing 798 Art Zone, 2008 Interior view, Beijing 798 Art Zone, 2008 The site of 798 Art Zone was originally one part of Beijing North China Wireless Joint Equipment Factory. It was also called 718 Joint Factory, taking a total land area up to 600,000 sqm in northwest Beijing. In 1950s the early time of the cold war, the newly formed Peoples Republic of China was eager to achieve the goal of national industrialization in order to establish its own economic system. The construction of large-scale factories at the time was to follow the first five year plan (1953-1957), aiming to transform China from a long-history agricultural country to an advanced industrial country based on the Soviet model of developing heavy industries. 718 Joint Factory was initially designed by the East German experts from an architectural institution in Dessau in 1952. Influenced by Bauhaus style, the design was aimed to meet the practical demands, bring the technical and aesthetic property of new material and new structure into effect, as well as retain simplicity and flexibility. The factory was then constructed from 1954 and put into production in 1957. Through the entire 50s, the 718 Joint Factory was regarded as the symbol of national industrialization in the Chinese capital city. In the following twenty years, China had suffered huge social and economic revolutions. Industrialization process was paused severely and even stopped for a period of time. From the failure of The Great Leap Forward in 1958 to the Reform and Opening up policy in 1979, China had shifted from centrally planned economy to market oriented economy, which resulted the fundamental changes of organization for many leftover factories from the 50s. In 1964, the supervisor units canceled the organizational system of 718. 706,707,718,797,798 and 751 started to operate separately as independent factories. Shortly afterwards in 1970s, the once state-owned factory was converted to non-state-owned factory. However the change of organizational system didnt actually bring the expected spring. Till the 1990s, most workers in the factories were so poor that they could no longer make a living here. The final bankruptcy of the factories turned this huge area into an abandoned land at the edge of Beijing city. In December 2000, the former six factories of 700, 706, 707, 718, 797, and 798 were reorganized and incorporated into Beijing Seven-star Science and Technology Co., LTD. The Seven Group rented out the empty plants on a short-term basis. Attracted by convenient traffic, extremely cheap price, unique style of Bauhaus architecture which was featured with high ceiling, massive open floor plan and big windows, many art organizations and individual artists came to rent the vacant factories and transformed them into their work and living space since 2001. Gradually, 798 became a district full of galleries, art studios and cultural companies. The name 798 Art Zone came into being. However just when 798 Art Zone was developing prosperously, the artists were facing evictions due to the pressure from both the government and the real estate developers. The government was proposing re-development project in 798 Art Zone and the surrounding areas for Zhong Guan Cun Science and Technology Electronic Park. And the real estate developers were investing more and more high-end residential projects around 798 areas for the rich middle-class, which had resulted an intensively besieging situation towards the art district. Also the rising reputation of 798 Art Zone had attracted large tourists visit the site everyday. Art atmosphere was overwhelmed by commercial activities in the area. The rise of land price caused the displacement of artists. Many people are predicting that eventually 798 Art Zone will be transformed into a commercial zone similar to the SoHo neighborhood in New York. One day only the luxury brand can afford the space and no artists will be able to stay. The pure art in the so-called art zone will be dead soon. Part 02: A Comparison Study of SoHo, New York The development process of SoHo in New York is the typical US example of urban landscape shaped by gentrification. SoHo is located by the southwest side of Manhattan and has been an industrial zone especially for textile firms since late nineteenth century. After the World War II, the modification in structure of advanced capitalist cities in the US with the shift from industrial to service-based economy had caused the decline of manufactories in the centre of the city. Many factories in SoHo started to move out, leaving large quantities of cast-iron-style buildings known as Loft in the district. While some of them were transformed to warehouses and printing plants, others were unoccupied or torn down to be replaced by gas stations, auto repair shops and parking lots and garages. By the 1950s, the area got the nickname called Hells Hundred Acres, an industrial wasteland full of sweatshops and small factories in the daytime, but empty like a ghost town at night. In the mid-1960s, many artists got interested in the area because of the industrial characters of the buildings: high ceiling, generous s pace and big windows providing natural light. And after all, the most important fact was the low rental price, which meant that the artists could actually occupy the whole floor or even the whole building. Many of these lofts were then redesigned and converted into dual functional studios combining living and working together. However at the time, it was actually not permitted to live in the loft by law. In a way, these artists were squatted illegally. At the time, living in a loft was not appreciated by middle-class. As Sharon Zukin wrote in his book Loft Living, it was considered neither chic nor comfortable if the possibility was considered at all. Making home in a factory district clearly contradicted the dominant middle-class ideas of home and factory, as well as the separate environments of family and work on which these ideas were based  [1]  . It was only the choiceless option of poor artists. In 1971, the amendment of Zoning Resolution had given permission for the artists to live where they worked. The area also received landmark designation as the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District in 1973, which had preserved the original architecture and avoided the area to be redeveloped. The change of policy and rising reputation of SoHo had attracted more and more artists to work and live here. Soon, SoHo became vibrant again as the center of art and design in New York City. The desirable cultural atmosphere created by art events, and the fluid loft space gradually formed a new lifestyle. People began to find the notion of living in a loft attractive  [2]  . An increasing number of middle-class people moved into certain cultural patterns, particularly an active appreciation of the arts and historic preservation, which had previously been upper-class domains. Their growing identification with fine arts production and fine old buildings let them first to try to protect space for artists and historic preservation and then to appropriate this space which was often in loft buildings for themselves. In this process, art and historic preservation took on a broader meaning. They became both more commercial and less elitist.  [3]   The altered view of loft living reflects the new life attitude among middle-class people between late 1970s to1980s. Most new middle-classes at the time were born after the wartime. In a trend toward a new lifestyle with fewer children, postponed marriages and a fast-rising divorce rate, they were eager to free themselves from the traditional idea of family. Unlike their parents, their desire and dreams were defined in urban rather then suburban terms.  [4]  Theyd prefer to stay in the city to enjoy life or pursuit their careers rather than live in countryside for a peaceful (boring) life. Also, according to Raphael Samuel, the new middle-classes are outward looking rather than inward looking. They have opened up their homes to visitors, and exposed them to the public gaze.  [5]  Also they have a different emotional economy from that of their pre-war predecessors. They go in for instant rather than deferred gratification, making a positive virtue of their expenditure, and tre ating the self-indulgent as an ostentatious display of good taste.  [6]   The character of SoHo did fulfill their new desires the unusual way of living in a loft; the freedom and passion of life from an artist neighbor; home as a place taking the rich history from the past in architecture termsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The wonderful cultural atmosphere full of art and adventure is no doubt one of the main reason that attracts the middle-class to gentrify SoHo. In this stage, culture showed its great importance to push gentrification process. The move-in of middle-classes is the concrete evidence. And very soon the fine art production started to absorb investment of commercial capitals. Sharon Zukin regarded this type of urban renaissance model as the Artistic Mode of Production The role of capital investment will then take over the cultural effect and push forward to the next stage of gentrification. And of course the intervention of investment capitals is not just the result of the cultural attractions. It also sat in the broader social economic modification happening in the country. First is the major suburbanization process across the US caused most middle-classes moved to live in the countryside while left the city unoccupied. The declined city with loads of abandoned spaces was then taken over by lower classes and homeless people. Such capital devalorization produced the rent gap, which referred to the disparity between the potential ground rent level and the actual ground rent capitalized under the present land use  [7]  . Potentially it provided great opportunities for developers to invest new projects and earn high profit. It had encouraged gentrification and urban renaissance in the US cities. Secondly, in order to alter the situation of declined city, the US government had proposed a series of urban renewal plans including the clearance of slums and encouraging real estate development. Many areas especially around central business districts (CBD) are been redeveloped into high-end apartments, commercial offices and cultural facilities, which had enlarged the CBD and improved the urban conditions of living. Thirdly, according to the law of market economy, production is always driven by consumption. Therefore, the investment of SoHo was driven by the fact that middle-classes had the strong will to purchase. Beside the cultural attraction, other points cannot be ignored neither such as, location advantage. The globalization process and the transformation of US cities from industrial to post-industrial economy had increased working opportunities in serviced-based industry. The white-collar middle-class is the product of such economic situation. The globalization made big cities become the networked pinpoints and the command center of global economic operation. Under such extreme competitive situation, time and distance meant money and efficiency. Many white-collar employees moved to live in the declined areas close to their offices in the central business district. For this reason, SoHo was a good choice. The development of luxury housing had also caused the boom of shop and catering businesses as well as tourism in SoHo. The increasing commercial atmosphere had pushed the land price dramatically. The gentrification process had forced many pioneering artists to move out due to the unaffordable price of housing. Most previous lofts are now trendy shops, pricy restaurants or expansive apartments. The Art SoHo neighborhood is steadily eroded from the street pattern by commercial landscapes. That is the development model of SoHo. Part 03: Gentrification in Beijing 798 Art Zone The gentrification phenomenon in China is rooted in the complex nesting of social, political, economic and cultural shifts. It is the result of multiple forces behind the surface. And again, culture and capital play the more significant role in the game. Culture in the 798 case can be divided into two parts. One is the existing cultural value the historical Bauhaus architecture, and the other is the cultivated cultural value gradually formed by the artists. However the cultivated culture had experienced a devaluation process through the commercialization of art products. And in the end turned culture value to commercial value. In 798 site, history and reality, industry and the arts perfectly meet. The cultural value went to its peak in the first a few years after the settle of artists. Art galleries, artist studios, salons and museums transformed this abandoned industrial site to a dreamland of art and design. The name 798 Art Zone came into being. Since this name was getting more and more famous, the actually art production and fine old industrial buildings had absorbed investment of commercial capitals. Shops and restaurants started to occupy the plots, and soon countless tourists rushed in from all over the world. 798 became one of the must-go spots in Beijings cultural tourism. The consequence is big galleries and commercial institutes remained but pioneering artists moved out due to rental price. Some third-rate artists moved in selling cheap works. You can still see paintings and sculptures everywhere in 798, however they have nothing to do with art but money. The strong smell of commercialized products had replaced the pure taste of art. It seems more like a 798 Commercial Zone instead of 798 Art Zone. This is the first round of absorbing capitals from its original cultural value, which happened within the art zone itself. The second round is occurring in the adjacent areas around 798 with capital investment both from the government and the developers. 798 Art Zone is located in the area called Wang Jing in northeast edge of Beijing in Zone 4. One major difference between Chinese and American urbanism is that, while in America, the development is going backwards to the city site from suburban; the Chinese model is to enlarge the city territory by expanding to suburban areas due to the saturation of land sources and the over-development of the city center. In planning outline of Beijing, Wang Jing, where 798 Art Zone laid is marked for the new CBD (Central Business District) and high-tech companies especially communication and Internet industries. The government had proposed to build Zhong Guan Cun Science and Technology Electronic Park in 798 and its surrounding areas in 2002. Originally, all tenants in 798 factories should be evacuated by the end of 2005 in order to start construction. Through a long fight between the government and the artists, 798 Art Zone had been temporarily reserved, however still faced the risk of been demolished at some point in the future. In the Chinese case, the national capital takes the fundamental effect in the process of urbanization. Different from the US system, in China, all land sources belong to the government. While the government only takes a guiding role in the US, the Chinese government actually takes direct actions by investing with national capitals to modify urban patterns. On the other hand, the city planning strategy and investment of national capital also caused further investment from private developers. Because of the urban set up of CBD and high-tech zone in the area, there are a lot of white-collar middle-classes living here, which makes Wang Jing as one of the main residential districts in Beijing. And this provides great opportunities for real estate developers. Another significant factor to draw the capital from developers is the consumption concept of these white-collar middle-classes in China. In general, they share very similar character and taste with the new middle-class of the US in 1970s/1980s. The Chinese middle-class is formulating their new lifestyle. They choose to live close to work in order to achieve the best efficiency. They appreciate the value of culture. It is the new fashion to live in a cultural district to express their special taste. The only difference compared with the US situation is that they prefer to live in suburban area with a reasonable distance away from the city center in order to gain more living space in an affordable price. Clearly, these consumption views have pushed the production of large residential projects by the developer in this area, where perfectly match the new Chinese middle-class preferred location and cultural requirements. Overall, the input of both national and private capitals and the move-in of rich middle-classes in 798 surrounding areas had formed a besieging situation towards the art zone itself. And together with the inner commercialization process that happened in 798 Art Zone, the rental price of the studio space became extremely high. The artist community as the original cultural generator is forced to leave. That is the unique gentrification process of the 798 case controlled by culture and capital in the Chinese urban context. Part 04: Conclusion The sixty years development of the 798 site reflects the Chinese social economic changes. The transformation of actual space represents the shifting urbanization patterns in Chinese cities. Artists, government, city planners, developers and the middle-class all play significant roles in the gentrification process controlled by culture and capital factors. Similar to the SoHo model in the US, the 798 site has experienced developing stages from an iconic industrial district to an abandoned declined area, and to a vibrant art district, then finally to a commercial zone. While cultural value works as the initial activator and intermediate transforming force, national and private capitals in this Chinese case are the termination factors leading the urban gentrification process of the 798 Art Zone. Eventually, the commercial value takes over the original cultural value. The art zone becomes the past.

Colombia Essay -- Economics Colombia Government Essays

Colombia History Colombia was one of the three original countries along with Ecuador and Venezuela that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830. Over the last 40 years, there has been a campaign to overthrow the government partially because of the drug trades throughout Colombia. The movement does however lack support from military and support from the necessary influences. In recent years, there have been challenges for control of the territories throughout Colombia and also for the drug trade. Economy The economy continues to improve despite the last couple of years, by having an increased number of government budgets, increases number of efforts to reduce the public debt levels, and an export oriented growth focus. Some of the negative aspects of the economic problems range from to changing the current pension system, reducing high unemployment and the need to fix the declining oil production. On the positive side, some of the changes being done are reducing the public deficit which is now below 2.5%. Also, coffee prices were at an all time low and have begun to raise again. Colombia makes most of their money from exports, some exports are coffee, petroleum, iron, steel, fruits and drugs. Drugs Throughout the 1980’s, Colombia earned the name as the major narcotic trafficking center. The country’s involvement with drugs did not stem in the 1980’s, it started with the first colonization, which had grown and chewed coca for thousands of years...

Hazing in Universities

Hazing in universities across the nation has become an increasingly dangerous ritual that is seemingly becoming more difficult to put an end to due to its development into an â€Å"underground† activity. Though a regular activity in the seventies, hazing, a possible dangerous act of initiation to a group, has now become an activity that is banned in thirty-nine states (Wagner 16). However, this ritual has not been stopped or become less severe. In fact it is becoming more dangerous. Since it has been banned, with many colleges imposing their own penalties against those participating in it, many fraternities and sororities have pursued this activity in an underground fashion. Since these groups have gone underground, some victims of these rituals have been injured and subsequently died. This is due to the â€Å"hazers† not seeking medical treatment for the victims, for fear that they may be fined or charged by police or campus authorities. One estimate states that at least sixty-five students have died between the years of 1978 and 1996 from beatings and stress inflicted during fraternity initiation rites (â€Å"Greek† 26). Hazing has been defined in the Pennsylvania Hazing Law as â€Å"any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical safety of a student or which destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, any organization operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by an institution of higher education. The term shall include, but not be limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance, or any forced physical activity which could adversely affect the physical health and safety of the individual, and shall include any activity which would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual†(â€Å"Pennsylvania Hazing Law† 1). The importance of this hazing situation is the fact that people are being injured, both physically and mentally, causing death or lifelong trauma. Though it may seem like an easy to control situation, the truth is that it is not easy at all. The only times that these groups, who subject individuals to hazing activities, are caught or penalized is after the damage done to an individual is so horrible as to result in death or hospitalization. The act of hazing may consist of something as subtle as a â€Å"pledge†, one who is trying to become a part of the group, having to answer phones at a fraternity house to extreme hazing such as being severely beat with paddles or even bricks. Since hazing takes many forms, it is hard for the public to realize that these â€Å"pledges† are actually being harmed. It is especially hard to see the mental abuse aspect of this situation. At times, â€Å"pledges† may be forced to wear humiliating items such as dog collars or diapers. It may look like an innocent prank, and may actually seem humorous, but stunts like this can deeply affect a person emotionally (Scleifer 42). Hazer†s in Greek societies have also been known to play the â€Å"buzz-saw† game in which a chainsaw is held inches away from a pledge until he/she screams in terror. This practice is used to instill respect, in the form of extreme fear, into the pledges (â€Å"The Persistent Madness of Greek Hazing† 14). Physical hazing, however, is where the most life threatening problems are occurring. With groups such as Omega Psi Phi of the University of Florida, who whacked its inductees in the heads with boards, beat them with fists, and hit them with bricks, one can only expect catastrophic results. For example, in 1993, the members of Omega Psi Phi beat Joseph J. Snell, a junior at the University of Maryland with such objects as a hammer, a horsehair whip, a broken chair leg, and a brush. Later, Snell was forced to place a space heater next to his face because the group said that his skin was not black enough. Snell was hospitalized due to the incident. He remained scared and despondent after his release. He had even called a suicide hotline because of the mental anguish that was caused (â€Å"Former Student Wins $375,000† 23). The hurt and confusion of a victim of mental and physical hazing can remain for years after the abuse. Yet, even after all the abuse, members of these organizations continue to feel that because they had to suffer through this act of initiation to get into the group, their successors must also be fall subject to these activities. Naturally, people want and need to be accepted. This is why an individual will go along with the hazing activities. Valerie Eastman, a behavioral science professor at Drury College in Springfield, MO, states â€Å"You know you†re a reasonable person and you just went through this nasty, unpleasant ritual, so you think the group must have been worth it. You try to justify it† (Wagner 16). Though some members in a fraternity or sorority may be against what is happening to these individuals, the codes of secrecy and brotherhood/sisterhood are so strong that they fear to break them and come forward to report these acts (Ruffins 18). Lydia Bradley, a strong advocate of anti-hazing laws and national speaker for placement of these laws, has interviewed students about the act of hazing in college. She reports, â€Å"I†m told that hazing unifies a group, that it is a rite-of-passage, that it builds brotherhood, that it is a tradition, or, the worst reason of all, that ‘I went through it†(Bradley 1). † It is this type of attitude that hinders the expulsion of the hazing activities. We, as the public, are limited, both in our knowledge of what truly happens in these groups and the ability to stop it, by not personally becoming a member of them. Though some of the fraternities that have been suspended for acting against these anti-hazing laws, they continue to operate underground and make no effort to change their behavior according to Stockton†s Director of Student Development, Tom O†Donnell (Kempert 12). As of yet, there are virtually no associations that actively monitor the actions of fraternities and sororities. They are trusted to act in a responsible manner. As stated in Hank Nuwer†s Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing, â€Å"What possibly could be expected from a group of adolescents when you leave them alone to govern their own activities (Nuwer 34). † One may parallel these activities to those expressed in William Golding†s Lord of the Flies to what may happen when such adolescents are left unsupervised to run a â€Å"members-only† organization. National Fraternities and sororities have neglected their parental responsibilities and have left pledging up to these adolescents. It is important that these actions are stopped by any reasonable means necessary. Since hazing has been a process that virtually all these members had been subject to, they will be reluctant to change. The idea of hazing has been placed in their heads as a test to foster unity, to instill a sense of membership, to promote scholarship, and to build awareness of the specific chapter†s history (Chenowith 20). Therefor, an alternative must be able to instill these exact qualities. Believers in the supposed benefits of hazing may be more likely to change their opinion if they can envision some alternatives. In many cases, those who are most vocal against eliminating hazing are those who are bitter and angry about the hazing that they themselves endured, but don†t want to eliminate this publicly. They expect others should be abused in order to gain â€Å"true† membership in the group. In this case, specific programs should be established to teach the devastating effects of hazing. A new sanction reduction policy has been established at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey to tackle some of the problems. The fraternities at this college that have been sanctioned for committing violations are now able to participate in a program that will possibly reduce their sanctions. This OPTIONS program offers students to take one of two four-credit elective courses: â€Å"The Psychology of Well Being,† which explores principles of physical and mental health, or â€Å"Alcohol 101,† which teachers the dangerous effects of alcohol, especially those involved in college situations. Along with this, they had established a Greek self-study committee, through which a Greek Council was formed (Kempert 12). This will educate students about the dangers they are placing on the pledges and change their ways while offering them the incentive of lowered sanctions at the same time. Incentives seem to be the best way to reach these organizations and hopefully it will subject them to the knowledge of what their actions may cause others. An alternative replacement to hazing activities would be another way to eliminate this problem. They could foster their unity in ways such as involving the whole group in a community charity. By asking the pledges to involve themselves in charities, or present the group with specific ideas for charitable work, would show the pledge†s sense of commitment to the group, along with helping to show the public the goodness that can become of these groups (Crothers 50). Instead of making the pledges do chores or excessive exercise, why not promote scholarship by designating study hours. What better way to prove an organization†s worthiness but by setting an example scholastically. These fraternities or sororities could invite leaders of the national groups or advisors to speak at a meeting instead of forcing these pledges to incessantly recite names or worthless facts about the group they are pledging to. Many alternatives are out there; one just has to have the strength to bring it to mention. Of course other solutions such as the undercover spies have been thought of. But, this would only seem to tear the organization apart and make them more careful in whom the choose as pledges, make them more dangerous and secretive in their activities, and less likely to help someone once they have been injured for fear of getting caught. A combination of incentives, alternatives, and a council to create a forum to discuss these alternatives to the hazing process is the most reasonable solution to this problem. Using otherwise â€Å"sneaky† tactics could only increase the problem and drive it further underground. As stated before, it can be hard to talk members into changes this tradition of the organization, but through time and education they will see its benefits. By performing such alternatives as previously mentioned, the dangerous hazing process will be eliminated and the â€Å"good-side† of these groups will become evident. Working together on a project, such as one that will help the local community, will bring a sense of accomplishments to the members and a sense of pride to both the community and the institution (Kempert 12). Of course the only way these solutions could come into effect is if the organizations and the institution work together. The school has to realize that, even if there has been no public incidences regarding hazing in their school, hazing probably does exist. It is this thought that should cause them to form some sort of incentive program of their own to counteract it. However, the members also have to take responsibility and go to the school for help in organizing the possible incentives and alternatives. Hazing in universities Hazing in universities across the nation has become an increasingly dangerous ritual that is seemingly becoming more difficult to put an end to due to its development into an â€Å"underground† activity. Though a regular activity in the seventies, hazing, a possible dangerous act of initiation to a group, has now become an activity that is banned in thirty-nine states (Wagner 16). However, this ritual has not been stopped or become less severe. In fact it is becoming more dangerous. Since it has been banned, with many colleges imposing their own penalties against those participating in it, many fraternities and sororities have pursued this activity in an underground fashion. Since these groups have gone underground, some victims of these rituals have been injured and subsequently died. This is due to the â€Å"hazers† not seeking medical treatment for the victims, for fear that they may be fined or charged by police or campus authorities. One estimate states that at least sixty-five students have died between the years of 1978 and 1996 from beatings and stress inflicted during fraternity initiation rites (â€Å"Greek† 26). Hazing has been defined in the Pennsylvania Hazing Law as â€Å"any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical safety of a student or which destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, any organization operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by an institution of higher education. The term shall include, but not be limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance, or any forced physical activity which could adversely affect the physical health and safety of the individual, and shall include any activity which would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual†(â€Å"Pennsylvania Hazing Law† 1). The importance of this hazing situation is the fact that people are being injured, both physically and mentally, causing death or lifelong trauma. Though it may seem like an easy to control situation, the truth is that it is not easy at all. The only times that these groups, who subject individuals to hazing activities, are caught or penalized is after the damage done to an individual is so horrible as to result in death or hospitalization. The act of hazing may consist of something as subtle as a â€Å"pledge†, one who is trying to become a part of the group, having to answer phones at a fraternity house to extreme hazing such as being severely beat with paddles or even bricks. Since hazing takes many forms, it is hard for the public to realize that these â€Å"pledges† are actually being harmed. It is especially hard to see the mental abuse aspect of this situation. At times, â€Å"pledges† may be forced to wear humiliating items such as dog collars or diapers. It may look like an innocent prank, and may actually seem humorous, but stunts like this can deeply affect a person emotionally (Scleifer 42). Hazer†s in Greek societies have also been known to play the â€Å"buzz-saw† game in which a chainsaw is held inches away from a pledge until he/she screams in terror. This practice is used to instill respect, in the form of extreme fear, into the pledges (â€Å"The Persistent Madness of Greek Hazing† 14). Physical hazing, however, is where the most life threatening problems are occurring. With groups such as Omega Psi Phi of the University of Florida, who whacked its inductees in the heads with boards, beat them with fists, and hit them with bricks, one can only expect catastrophic results. For example, in 1993, the members of Omega Psi Phi beat Joseph J. Snell, a junior at the University of Maryland with such objects as a hammer, a horsehair whip, a broken chair leg, and a brush. Later, Snell was forced to place a space heater next to his face because the group said that his skin was not black enough. Snell was hospitalized due to the incident. He remained scared and despondent after his release. He had even called a suicide hotline because of the mental anguish that was caused (â€Å"Former Student Wins $375,000† 23). The hurt and confusion of a victim of mental and physical hazing can remain for years after the abuse. Yet, even after all the abuse, members of these organizations continue to feel that because they had to suffer through this act of initiation to get into the group, their successors must also be fall subject to these activities. Naturally, people want and need to be accepted. This is why an individual will go along with the hazing activities. Valerie Eastman, a behavioral science professor at Drury College in Springfield, MO, states â€Å"You know you†re a reasonable person and you just went through this nasty, unpleasant ritual, so you think the group must have been worth it. You try to justify it† (Wagner 16). Though some members in a fraternity or sorority may be against what is happening to these individuals, the codes of secrecy and brotherhood/sisterhood are so strong that they fear to break them and come forward to report these acts (Ruffins 18). Lydia Bradley, a strong advocate of anti-hazing laws and national speaker for placement of these laws, has interviewed students about the act of hazing in college. She reports, â€Å"I†m told that hazing unifies a group, that it is a rite-of-passage, that it builds brotherhood, that it is a tradition, or, the worst reason of all, that ‘I went through it†(Bradley 1). † It is this type of attitude that hinders the expulsion of the hazing activities. We, as the public, are limited, both in our knowledge of what truly happens in these groups and the ability to stop it, by not personally becoming a member of them. Though some of the fraternities that have been suspended for acting against these anti-hazing laws, they continue to operate underground and make no effort to change their behavior according to Stockton†s Director of Student Development, Tom O†Donnell (Kempert 12). As of yet, there are virtually no associations that actively monitor the actions of fraternities and sororities. They are trusted to act in a responsible manner. As stated in Hank Nuwer†s Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing, â€Å"What possibly could be expected from a group of adolescents when you leave them alone to govern their own activities (Nuwer 34). † One may parallel these activities to those expressed in William Golding†s Lord of the Flies to what may happen when such adolescents are left unsupervised to run a â€Å"members-only† organization. National Fraternities and sororities have neglected their parental responsibilities and have left pledging up to these adolescents. It is important that these actions are stopped by any reasonable means necessary. Since hazing has been a process that virtually all these members had been subject to, they will be reluctant to change. The idea of hazing has been placed in their heads as a test to foster unity, to instill a sense of membership, to promote scholarship, and to build awareness of the specific chapter†s history (Chenowith 20). Therefor, an alternative must be able to instill these exact qualities. Believers in the supposed benefits of hazing may be more likely to change their opinion if they can envision some alternatives. In many cases, those who are most vocal against eliminating hazing are those who are bitter and angry about the hazing that they themselves endured, but don†t want to eliminate this publicly. They expect others should be abused in order to gain â€Å"true† membership in the group. In this case, specific programs should be established to teach the devastating effects of hazing. A new sanction reduction policy has been established at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey to tackle some of the problems. The fraternities at this college that have been sanctioned for committing violations are now able to participate in a program that will possibly reduce their sanctions. This OPTIONS program offers students to take one of two four-credit elective courses: â€Å"The Psychology of Well Being,† which explores principles of physical and mental health, or â€Å"Alcohol 101,† which teachers the dangerous effects of alcohol, especially those involved in college situations. Along with this, they had established a Greek self-study committee, through which a Greek Council was formed (Kempert 12). This will educate students about the dangers they are placing on the pledges and change their ways while offering them the incentive of lowered sanctions at the same time. Incentives seem to be the best way to reach these organizations and hopefully it will subject them to the knowledge of what their actions may cause others. An alternative replacement to hazing activities would be another way to eliminate this problem. They could foster their unity in ways such as involving the whole group in a community charity. By asking the pledges to involve themselves in charities, or present the group with specific ideas for charitable work, would show the pledge†s sense of commitment to the group, along with helping to show the public the goodness that can become of these groups (Crothers 50). Instead of making the pledges do chores or excessive exercise, why not promote scholarship by designating study hours. What better way to prove an organization†s worthiness but by setting an example scholastically. These fraternities or sororities could invite leaders of the national groups or advisors to speak at a meeting instead of forcing these pledges to incessantly recite names or worthless facts about the group they are pledging to. Many alternatives are out there; one just has to have the strength to bring it to mention. Of course other solutions such as the undercover spies have been thought of. But, this would only seem to tear the organization apart and make them more careful in whom the choose as pledges, make them more dangerous and secretive in their activities, and less likely to help someone once they have been injured for fear of getting caught. A combination of incentives, alternatives, and a council to create a forum to discuss these alternatives to the hazing process is the most reasonable solution to this problem. Using otherwise â€Å"sneaky† tactics could only increase the problem and drive it further underground. As stated before, it can be hard to talk members into changes this tradition of the organization, but through time and education they will see its benefits. By performing such alternatives as previously mentioned, the dangerous hazing process will be eliminated and the â€Å"good-side† of these groups will become evident. Working together on a project, such as one that will help the local community, will bring a sense of accomplishments to the members and a sense of pride to both the community and the institution (Kempert 12). Of course the only way these solutions could come into effect is if the organizations and the institution work together. The school has to realize that, even if there has been no public incidences regarding hazing in their school, hazing probably does exist. It is this thought that should cause them to form some sort of incentive program of their own to counteract it. However, the members also have to take responsibility and go to the school for help in organizing the possible incentives and alternatives.

The Man Who Loved Flowers – Short Essay

Describe the setting and atmosphere. The story takes place in May 1963. The summer Is Just around the corner and everybody is smiling to the man in the gray slut because he exudes, he Is hopeless in love with the girl Norma. After he bought the tea roses for Norma, the afternoon turns to evening and the bright atmosphere Is replaced by darkness and gloomy cityscape when he makes his way to he's loving Norma. 2. Characterize the young man HIS hair was dark and cut short. HIS complexion was fair, his eyes a light blue.Not an extraordinary face, but he was beautiful. When he takes his hammer from his coat pocket and stats smashing her, he see he's reel Identity, the series-killer from the radio. 3. What does the other characters think of the young man, and how do Owe learn about it? 4. What news are we told on the radio, and what effect does it have on Dust as readers? It poured out bad news, a hammer murderer was still on the sass. 5. Who is Norma? She is the woman the character buy fl owers. 6. How does King develop suspense in the story, and what element of ;surprise is here? 7. Give your interpretation of the statement â€Å"His name was love† 8.Theme and message? 9. Compare It to â€Å"The Bogeyman – can you find cellmates between the two stories? 10. Compare Stephen King's short stories to Edgar Allan Pope's â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart and consider how horror Is created In the two stories (are there differences)? The Man Who Loved Flowers – Short Essay By hinderer The story takes place in May 1963. The summer is Just around the corner and everybody is smiling to the man in the gray suit because he exudes, he is hopeless in urns to evening and the bright atmosphere is replaced by darkness and gloomy His hair was dark and cut short.His complexion was fair, his eyes a light blue. Not an pocket and stats smashing her, he see he's reel identity, the series-killer from the 4. What news are we told on the radio, and what effect does it have on U s as 6. How does King develop suspense in the story, and what element of Surprise is 9. Compare it to â€Å"The Bogeyman – can you find similarities between the two stories? And consider how horror is created in the two stories (are there differences)?