Guardsman - Opinions

Volume 137, Issue 8

Opinions

The Smart Way

STAFF EDITORIAL

JOSEPH SHARKEY / SPECIAL TO THEGUARDSMAN

American scholars have always attempted to determine whether intelligence dictates success. Contro-versial Stanford professor Louis Terman coined the term intelligence quotient (IQ) in 1916. Since then, experts have debated its relevance and how it applies to the notion of success.

How success is measured is debatable. Even more debatable is the idea that the smartest people — those with an IQ above 140 — will be the most successful.

A recent Stanford article by Mitchell Leslie suggests that human intelligence is too complex to assume the smartest will be the most successful. With hard work, success should be within reach of the average person.

David A. Gershaw of Guelph University, who has a doctorate in psychology, maintains Terman’s theory that “overall, when compared to the average population, gifted children lead more fulfilling and productive lives.”

But many geniuses, or above average individuals, often find themselves in the same predicament as those who lack the smarts of, say, Einstein. Under-utilized ability and the idea that all it takes is brains to excel plagues some, and prompts the rest of the population to label them as elitists.

Perhaps the simple idea that success is equated with personal happiness can one day eliminate such stereotypes.

As Leslie said, “In other words, intelligence alone doesn’t guarantee achievement. But then, you don’t have to be a genius to figure that out.”

e-mail: editorial@theguardsman.com

INTOXICATING AIRWAVES

BY STEVE MOWLES
Editor

COURTESY / KRT CAMPUS

My greasy fingers glide from the chips to the remote as I watch another drug addict dragged out of his house on “Cops.” I’ve got two papers due tomorrow but they will have to wait until I find out who made the cut on “American Idol.”

What is it about TV that has such a hold on us? It’s not the content but the media itself that draws us in. A combined study conducted in 1986 at Stanford and the University of Missouri showed that frequent cuts, edits and zooms seen on television trigger involuntary responses that focus our attention on the screen. A research team at Indiana University discovered our heart rate decreases for four to six seconds after viewing these same stimuli. Like a sedative, television makes us feel relaxed and gives us a brief reprieve from the troubles of the day. As soon as the set is turned off we return to the harsh reality of midterms and quick bites from the catering truck.

Would you rather watch “Survivor” than go out on a date with that special someone from your linear algebra class? You may have a problem, but there are ways to fight back. Avoid surfing aimlessly through the channels while lounging in your favorite chair. Be intentional about your time in front of the tube. Find out when the program you want to see is on, watch the program, and then turn off the set. Better still, record
the program and fast forward through all the commercials. Judge Judy would be proud of you.

e-mail: editorial@theguardsman.com

COMING IN

Faculty Poll

In January of this year Harvard President Lawrence Summers provoked participants at an academic conference for women and minorities by citing research suggesting that women do not have the same “innate ability” that men have in some fields.

Do you find that students are adequately prepared for college?

Yes: 0% (0 out of 10)

No: 50% (5 out of 10)

Not all: 50% (5 out of 10)

“Yes, in all subjects.”
Emily Glines, Americorps

“The preparation of students that enter City College varies so much … some are prepared, some are definitely not. But after they leave, all the students that I have talked to agree that their City College education prepared them for transfer.”
Diana Markham, physics

ON THE RECORD

Do you have a phobia about anything?

Koustautin Komarou