funck+reading+responses+2

My Freshman Year 41-66
Nathan was exactly right about colleges in this chapter. She described how there is a lack of community in colleges these days. At the first hall meeting a few people showed up, but as the year went on less and less people showed up to the meetings. Her RA gave out surveys to help engage the floor in activities by passing out a survey. The students on the floor returned the survey with checked items that they would enjoy doing as a group during the year. The biggest response was to have a movie night. When it was time for movie night only a couple of students came to watch the movie. Another attempt to gather the hall was to make up rules for the hall. These were then placed on the wall for everyone to see, but were never enforced. Nathan started to wonder why colleges are now making suite style dorms instead of traditional dorm rooms. She didn't understand why students didn't want to live in a big community. She found that the lounges were usually empty in her dorm and the students did work in their rooms. When it was time to watch the Super Bowl there was a huge gathering in the building for everyone to watch. Only four people showed up, and then Nathan started wonder why no one was watching the game. She then started walking around the building and noticing that the game was on in many different rooms with small groups of people watching. I think this describes my freshman year very well. As the year went on there was less and less community meetings. A small group of us would get together and watch movies and big sports events in someones room. I never really thought that was weird until I read this chapter. As I am reading this I am taking a closer look at why I do the things I do.

Ethnography 27-47
I still did not really understand this chapter, but I understood it more then the first chapter. I found it interesting that ethnographers ask every question except "why." If it were me I would want to know why a group of people did the things they do. I also like how they only look at what is happening and they don't focus on what is different about the culture or society. I found it interesting when Shirley was watching the boys and how they arrived at the same time everyday. She must have felt so great when she finally found out why they all came at the exact same time and in the same order.