Debate over majors lacks respect, reason
In response to Jonathan Alexanders’ Letter to the Editor: “Engineering majors are superior” For being able to put together such a solid argument, you come off as an egotistical boor; however, I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are a truly pleasant person who has simply been offended. To address your argument, yes, as an electrical engineering major you will most likely make more money than me, a lowly lover of history and the arts.And yes, you are quite right, not all of us care about the money; I appreciate your encouraging words. However, this argument is not about the money you or I will make or even about the number of students who abandon scientific pursuits and adopt a humanities course of study. This is about respect.It is about the fact that we are here studying at the same university, both with the determination to one day walk across a stage in cap and gown and be handed a diploma confirming our academic achievement. It is about the fact we both understand the concept of pass or fail and just what level of dedication it takes to pass. This is about the fact that I, a humanities major who has been belittled and made to seem insignificant by many, respect you and all students who work hard to do well. Its not that Matthew Albright was trying to prove he was better than you, as I see it, he was presenting a defense for belittled persons.Yes, I unabashedly admit my brain has to work very hard to understand Calculus, but that doesn’t make me less of a person nor does it mean my brain is inferior. This should be about appreciation for one another and what the other has to offer. This is not a competition; this seems to be the inability to understand each other. Just because I’m not running math equations doesn’t mean I’m not also giving my brain an exercise. Just as you apply “every math and science course you’ve ever taken” to your work, so I apply knowledge of every decade of history to papers I write.Your fellow students deserve respect despite what their majors are simply because they have decided they desire a higher education and have set out to get one. You do not know what their studies are like or what challenges their lives may bring. I do not intend to sound offensive, but Mr. Alexander, you have no right to call Matthew Albright’s opinion “biased and ignorant,” because as he lacks knowledge of your curriculum, so you lack knowledge of his and I lack insight into both of yours.
I don’t desire to push numbers until my fingers bleed and you may not wish to read two dozen books a semester with fifteen papers. So really, who gets to decide who is “better” or “right” or harder working? And honestly, who really cares?Thirty years from now will people care what we studied in college or instead what we’ve decided to do with our education and our lives? And please, don’t assume that someone’s knowledge of political science, history, art, psychology or what have you won’t be significant in your future.
From what I’ve learned, society evolves together by means of scientific innovations, new ideas, and political movements (among many other things). Each is dependent on the other, and none can advance without the other. Would you like the example of the Beatles or the Chinese Cultural Revolution? With my history degree I can certainly offer you some “logical responses” (and not just a rewording of something someone else has already compiled) if these two simply don’t suffice.Sarah Ripplehistory and art history senior—-Contact The Daily Reveille’s Opinion Staff at [email protected]