Tangents & Tirades

by The Cowl Editor on September 26, 2019


Opinion


The Death of Cursive Writing

Cursive writing is a dying art. 

Formerly a widely practiced technique, cursive writing was designed to teach elementary school children how to write formally. Students often learn the basic alphabet first, and work their way towards being able to write full essays in this aesthetically pleasing font.

One of the more applicable aspects of learning cursive writing is the ability to cultivate a legible and professional signature, something that people often build upon once they learn the basics of the style. Unfortunately, with cursive becoming less and less common in elementary schools, children do not always know how to craft a classic signature.

It is not uncommon to accredit this unfortunate extinction of handwriting to a rise in technology. Whether through writing essays, letters, or even taking notes, the art of proper handwriting has become less necessary through the years.

To kill cursive is to take away from the individuality and creativity that accompanies this particular practice. Each student becomes accustomed to their own particular style and thus crafts a special signature unique to their hand. 

With computers, students are not given those same opportunities. And, as small as this may seem, computers hinder them from being as creative and hands-on as they have the potential to be.

To keep cursive from dying we must encourage students to take time away from the screen and give them the ability to refine and personalize their writing style in whatever way they choose. This personal touch makes the learning process much more entertaining and longer-lasting. 

—Julia McCoy ’22

 

AQ: A Commendable Second Choice

Every upperclassman knows the feeling of relief—and panic—once their housing decisions are made for sophomore year, since this is the first year that one has more freedom to choose about where to live. Of course, most people’s first choice is Suites Hall. But there are a lot more positives to living in Aquinas Hall than one might realize. 

Aquinas is considered a traditional dorm style building, as residents have one to two roommates and a shared bathroom with the floor. This living style is something that people take for granted. Passing other people on your floor, saying “hi,” and making small talk all helps with making friends and is probably the biggest part missing from living in Suites or apartments. 

Kenneth Fullerton ’22 said he felt rather lucky getting Aquinas because he knew a lot of people on his floor already. Fullerton says, “being able to walk outside of my room and see people that I already know and am friends with is probably the biggest plus.”

Fullerton said the lack of a kitchen and private bathroom was the biggest downfall in AQ: “I can’t really say too many negative things about living in Aquinas. I’m in a triple so I have a good amount of space, but I think the one thing I would really want that Suites has is my own bathroom and kitchen.”

While not getting Suites at the end of freshman year can be disappointing, just know that it is not as bad as you might think. Of course, the luxury of having your own bathroom and kitchen is indeed very nice, but there are still many positives to living in Aquinas. If sharing a floor with all of your friends or knowing you can make new ones by walking down the hall is not enough, just remember that you do not have to walk up the steps outside of Guzman and Accinno to get pretty much anywhere on campus. 

—Katie Belbusti ’22

 

Attend On-Campus Events

Bingo, bubble soccer, Black and White Ball—all of these events are put on at Providence College for students to enjoy.  

With such a wide variety of events and activities, students are sure to find something that interests them. PC students should take advantage of events on campus because they encourage a sense of community among the students and take away from the daily stressors of academics. 

By offering events that all students can attend, PC fosters a sense of community. School dances like Black and White Ball allow all students from all grades to join together for a night of dancing and socializing. 

“Going to events builds community, even if it’s just stopping by, because you never know what you might get out of that experience and who you might meet,” Kevin Rockwal ’22 said. 

Additionally, PC offers events that promote stress relief; Providence College Board of Programmers is offering a Late Night HIIT & Flow this coming weekend in order to encourage exercise as an effective stress reliever. Another popular activity at PC is late-night bingo on Thursdays, which allows students to hang out with their friends and forget the daily stresses of schoolwork. 

“Bingo is such a great way to unwind on a Thursday night after a long week and hang out with friends that are ‘regulars,’” Kate Donohue ‘22 said. “Plus, the free food and prizes make it a no-brainer!” 

PC feels like home because of fun events and activities that distract students from all the hard work college necessitates. Next time you see a poster for a PC or BOP event you are interested in, gather a group of friends and stop by!

—Emily Ball ’22