It's All Gray To Me
Working in higher education, you speak about generations, or groupings of students in generalities quite often. This current generation of students in our higher education system tends to need or want direct/specific direction, answers, or policies. They simply want to be told yes or no. They don't like "Gray" areas. This can be seen primarily in judicial cases or with university policies. Students today want specifics.
This is in stark contrast to their parents who were on the other end of the spectrum. This population was in college in the '70's primarily and they didn't want 'black' or 'white'. They wanted to "buck the system", "make love not war", "love the one you're with", "legalize marijuana". (Now really quick these are just generalizations and don't typify any one individual) The seventies were a time of unrest and pushing the societal envelope so to speak. What is funny now, is these same people are given the name "Helicopter Parents", and who are often more of a friend than a parent. I can't tell you how many times we, in student affairs, wish that the parents would act like that, parents. They often have not provided enough structure for their children and their 'anything goes' ideology simply has left students desiring for more structure.
Something about this generation of parents has been intriguing to me. Again, my parents, who fall into this category btw, don't really fit the mold I'm talking about here. However, the college students of the late '60's and '70's are now the ones who are in 'power' in our nation. More and more, the generation that partied their way through college, brought drugs and alcohol to the forefront at institutions, challenged morals, and embodied the term situational ethics are being found at the center of major controversies today.
Take a look at business. Enron is the big one, but many a business has been caught cooking the books this past decade, or cheating the system.
Take a look at religion. Christianity in the U.S. is really struggling right now with what it means to be in this world not of it. How many churches today simply assimilate with the culture and focus on comfortable over the gospel?
Sports are not immune either (and this is actually why I'm writing this blog today). The Seahawks got jobbed on Sunday. The officiating was HORRIBLE at best. I'm not a Seahawks fan but love sports, and I still couldn't believe some of the calls that were made. Also before everyone goes too hard on the NFL remember back to October and the daily criticism of blown calls in the MLB playoffs. What about many of the college bowl games (the Nebraska/Michigan game comes to mind) and how poorly they were officiated. Think back to the past 4 years and Mark Cuban and other owners blasting NBA officials. This generation of officials, more than any other, is criticized often.
There are many factors that contribute to this phenomenon in sports. One, instant replay is a huge factor to calls being scrutinized. Second, more games are now on television than used to be, which allows for more people to see mistakes. However, in the case of bowl games, superbowls or the world series, this should be the best of the best. I read that the #3 NFL crew officiated the Super Bowl? Why not #1?
This leads me back to my original point. This generation currently in power needs to do a better job. Given, they have huge shoes to fill following not long after what some have coined "The Greatest Generation". But honestly, across the board, no one is immune from scandal. We live in an age where information is published at alarmingly high speeds, so more than ever we must live beyond reproach. More often than not, the current powers that be don't! I don't know if it can be related to their formative educational years and how many may have 'missed' those, but either way, something has to improve. Maybe in a few years when the likes of Scott Strawn are officiating the Super Bowl, or Daniel Common are umpiring the World Series all will be well with the earth!
This is in stark contrast to their parents who were on the other end of the spectrum. This population was in college in the '70's primarily and they didn't want 'black' or 'white'. They wanted to "buck the system", "make love not war", "love the one you're with", "legalize marijuana". (Now really quick these are just generalizations and don't typify any one individual) The seventies were a time of unrest and pushing the societal envelope so to speak. What is funny now, is these same people are given the name "Helicopter Parents", and who are often more of a friend than a parent. I can't tell you how many times we, in student affairs, wish that the parents would act like that, parents. They often have not provided enough structure for their children and their 'anything goes' ideology simply has left students desiring for more structure.
Something about this generation of parents has been intriguing to me. Again, my parents, who fall into this category btw, don't really fit the mold I'm talking about here. However, the college students of the late '60's and '70's are now the ones who are in 'power' in our nation. More and more, the generation that partied their way through college, brought drugs and alcohol to the forefront at institutions, challenged morals, and embodied the term situational ethics are being found at the center of major controversies today.
Take a look at business. Enron is the big one, but many a business has been caught cooking the books this past decade, or cheating the system.
Take a look at religion. Christianity in the U.S. is really struggling right now with what it means to be in this world not of it. How many churches today simply assimilate with the culture and focus on comfortable over the gospel?
Sports are not immune either (and this is actually why I'm writing this blog today). The Seahawks got jobbed on Sunday. The officiating was HORRIBLE at best. I'm not a Seahawks fan but love sports, and I still couldn't believe some of the calls that were made. Also before everyone goes too hard on the NFL remember back to October and the daily criticism of blown calls in the MLB playoffs. What about many of the college bowl games (the Nebraska/Michigan game comes to mind) and how poorly they were officiated. Think back to the past 4 years and Mark Cuban and other owners blasting NBA officials. This generation of officials, more than any other, is criticized often.
There are many factors that contribute to this phenomenon in sports. One, instant replay is a huge factor to calls being scrutinized. Second, more games are now on television than used to be, which allows for more people to see mistakes. However, in the case of bowl games, superbowls or the world series, this should be the best of the best. I read that the #3 NFL crew officiated the Super Bowl? Why not #1?
This leads me back to my original point. This generation currently in power needs to do a better job. Given, they have huge shoes to fill following not long after what some have coined "The Greatest Generation". But honestly, across the board, no one is immune from scandal. We live in an age where information is published at alarmingly high speeds, so more than ever we must live beyond reproach. More often than not, the current powers that be don't! I don't know if it can be related to their formative educational years and how many may have 'missed' those, but either way, something has to improve. Maybe in a few years when the likes of Scott Strawn are officiating the Super Bowl, or Daniel Common are umpiring the World Series all will be well with the earth!
posted by Caleb | 1:32 PM
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