Suffering for a diploma

News piece task

01/11/2012

By Margarita Glinskaya

Get ready to take icicles off your hair if you are an ordinary diligent student who attends all University lessons. Nowadays you can feel winter’s coming not only being outside but inside studying buildings too.

Today incredible cold stroke Tula citizens. All Tula Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University students hardly managed to reach their place of destination without becoming a piece of ice. They had never wanted to start their lessons in wonderful and warm lecture rooms as today. But in fact their expectations and dreams did not come true. All rooms in the University of the Twenty first century were amazingly fresh and the wind was as strong as the voice of the teacher who was forced to start the lesson in the conditions they had.

“This is the Tula State Pedagogical University named after Lev Tolstoy, - declares Larisa Postnikova, Senior lecturer, Department of English Language, - we can give lessons without light, any technical equipment and hot water”

We can only guess whether the conditions will get better or students will feel all the disadvantages of famous Russian severe winters. We will keep you informed. 

“Russians sometimes have their very own way of social behavior and humor”

Interview by Margarita Glinskaya

I have always been deeply interested in what foreigners think about my native country. “They drink vodka and have bears as pets”, - the most popular international joke about Russian people. Does everyone outside Russia think so or it is just a funny stereotype?

Two nice girls – Hannah and Dynalee – from absolutely different parts of the world share their opinion about inhabitants of the biggest country in the world.

- Hello, girls! What is the first word that comes to your mind when you hear “Russia”?

- Vodka. I think it’s because media has influenced us on the fact that vodka is something Russian, the way it envied the message and at times the way they perform English-Russian accent, I love it, - says Dynalee, a 19 year-old student from Malta.

- What do you know about political and economic situation in Russia?

- The political situation in Russia is very controversial and full of conflicts. I think that Putin has the situation under his control and can do whatever he wants. I saw on the news that people in Russia get arrested for the slightest form of protests (e.g. cooking soup in public as an act of protest). I think people get suppressed a lot and have to fear what they say out loud, - declares Hannah, my friend from Germany.

- And now passing over our small political discussion, tell me, girls, what do you think about Russian climate?

-  I think it is very very very cold! It could advertise itself as the ideal winter wonderland I must say! A destination for Christmas, - dreams exited Dynalee.

- Of course in the summer time, I guess the sun can be hot in Russia, - Hannah is smiling, - But the winters, as far as I know, are very cold too. Maybe it depends a lot on where exactly you are in Russia.

- Some creative work for you now. Describe a typical Russian man.

- A hard question. Maybe a craftsman, who is working hard during the day and drinking vodka in the evening, - laughing Hannah, - But this is just a stereotype, really.

- What’s your attitude to Russians?

- I have experienced the Russians. I got to know them as really nice and funny people. Though I think Russians sometimes have their very own way of social behavior and humor. I think sometimes they behave a little rough but don‘t mean bad, it‘s just how people are in Russia maybe (this opinion is also formed by the behavior of my Russian teacher at university – she is really nice but also very strict and sometimes makes me afraid), - tells Hannah.

-  I have a few Russian friends, I think they are easy to get along with and speak their own mind a lot especially amongst those who may disagree with their thoughts, - adds Dynalee.

- Thank you, girls, it was so interesting to talk to you, maybe you have some personal experience or secret stories connected with Russians that you can also share with us?

- I think it‘s funny that you have an adjective for “drinking tea and eating the sugar cubes”.

- Which one do you mean? There are so many adjectives in Russian!

- it is ‘вприкуску’!

Now I can definitely say that I am proud of my country. Russians are proved to be open, funny and easy to get along with. People – this is what Russia is all about. Our government is not the best and probably the worst one ever, but Russians will always be special and memorable. Should we thank Putin for it? 

Visual Writing Task

by Andrew Nadezhdin

White capsules are going up and down. Chewing mouth. Noise. Unfamiliar voices blended with mechanical whispers. Metal rays over my head. Dusty green looking like artificial ones. Glimpses. Sick yellow. Clock hands are ending up their round.

Sweet cake tastes bitter in dry mouth, coffee burns my throat. Minutes pass, capsules still go back and forth, but with different unpredictable pattern.

They carry people, tired from buying, acquiring, purchasing, getting, consuming and devouring. I carry myself, doing the same.

How to solve a movie

Interview and feature by Andrew Nadezhdin

Who said mathematicians aren't into good movies?

This week a group of nerds from TSPU department of mathematics & physics proved these people wrong.

You could see all kinds of nerds down there: specs-wiping-, never-cut-my-fingernails-, I've-just-finished-"Oblivion"-for-the-5th-time- boys and, what's even more frightening, girls.

What brought these outstanding and talanted people together?

Art. And this time, more particularly, a movie.

But not just a regular movie, something more than that. Some even say that it's  not a movie at all, nothing but a set of unconnected & meaningless scenes. Some, on the other hand, consider it the best US movie of all time. And, luckily, our students belong to the second group.

The movie we're speaking about is Jim Jarmush's all-time classics "Down by Law", featuring some great actors, such as experimental music legends Tom Waits and John Lurie and famous Italian director and actor Roberto Benigni.

Below: Tom Waits as Zack

This film show has opened a series of such events, that will gather all kinds of people, possibly from every faculty.

I've had a chance to speak to project's coordinator, Polina Bashkina. I'd actually call it a great luck, considering the amount of work that she has to do (hence the lack of free time), being one of the best students of the  faculty.

Me:Hi! How are you doing?

Po:Not bad! How are you?

Me:Nothing to worry about! Great to see you! So, let's start. And my first question is: How did this idea occur to you? You know, the guys from the third floor are rarely associated with such kind of activity.

Po:You see, people are as good as you think of them. I've been watching this movie every now and then since I was 14. I just like it so much! The performance, the way it's directed, everything. I really dig this movie. Once we had a conversation between the students of our department, considering our movie taste. When I mentioned "Down by Law", nobody gave any reaction. So my mind really boggled at the idea of somebody not knowing this picture.

Me:And this is when you first felt a responsibility to show it to your faculty-mates?

Po:Exactly!

Me:Was it difficult to get permission for holding such an event?

Po:Well, not really. Our dean had nothing against it and head of subdepartment of Computer Science, Alexey Valerievich Yakushin, provided us with some multimedia equipment. In some way, it all became possible thanks to him.

Me:And did your friends enjoy the movie?

Po:As far as I see, yes. They've been talking about it for quite some time now. My greatest fear was that somebody might get bored, but now I can proudly state, that the whole thing was a success.

Me:Can I hope that it's not the last time our students get familiar with world cinema classics? Do you have any future plans?

Po:Yes, of course! Ideally, I'd like to do it every week. There's more than enough great movies out there, you know.

Me:And just enough great students to watch them. Thank you for your time, Polina! I'm looking forward to seeing you next time in our little cinema-club.

Po:Yes, I'm looking forward to it too. And bring your friends, everyone is invited!

Everyone, indeed. Every one of you, readers, is strongly adviced to join this little friendly community, at least for a single time. But I bet your first time won't be the last.

Let it be another great movie show.

BEGGARS OR BURGLARS?

By Alexander Burukin

“… Truly, it is annoying to give to them and annoying not to give to them.” (Friedrich Nietzsche)

For sure, every person living in this world has at least once in their life met a beggar. Of course, everyone has different reaction: some people give them some change, others give the go-by. But for me it’s not a usual thing, as every time I see a beggar I feel some sort of hesitation. May be I am ungenerous, but I would rather not say so. The problem comes to give or not to give.

Probably and evidently begging appeared when people began to live in groups, as they got an opportunity to ask for food being unable to obtain it themselves. And that was natural because everyone tried to survive. But through centuries that phenomenon has metamorphosed.

"Give a beggar a dime and he'll bless you. Give him a dollar and he'll curse you for withholding the rest of your fortune. Poverty is a bag with a hole at the bottom." (Anzia Yezierska)

What can we see on the streets nowdays? Today in every city and town you can observe beggars in different places: underground stations, underpasses, near churches, in every crowdy place in one word. But why are there so many of them? Answering this question we should take into account the classification of people in need.

“Is an artist much more than a beggar?” (Clara Schumann)

Erving Goffman, famous American sociologist and writer, studied this problem in the second part of the 20^th century. In his works he described different types of beggars, who were acting according to a chosen role, for example, “disabled soldier”, “an old woman” or “a woman with baby”. Every “actor” in this play selects certain attributes, like dark modest wearing or crutches to show the absence of the leg. All these things are to help to differentiate a beggar from the ordinary folks, cause their aim is to make people feel pity and guilty for their well-being. Then an action starts, in which all passers-by play their own roles by giving alms or going by.

“There are people who can never forgive a beggar for their not having given him anything” (Karl Kraus)

Of course one should admit that some people are really unable to make their living and the govemental support doesn’t make much difference. But in present days the situation has become so complicated that it is impossible to find the distinction between a real beggar and a fake one. However, I’m sure that the majority of alms-asking people are either swindlers or fallen into criminal’s hands victims. In Russia it seems that the second ones are dominating. More and more various internet sources write about professional beggars, who are “owned” to certain “beggar-managers”, who take the least necessary care of their people and beggars’ earnings. That’s why I tempt myself to consider a person vigorously yearning for my money to be a tactical burglar, who swimmingly and without breaking the law succeeds in misappropriating one’s change, which one kept to pay a fare. By the way, the average income of a professional beggar is about 40,000 rubbles per month – the normal salary of the subway driver, once reported “Vesti-Moscow”. Isn’t that a good point one should thoroughly think over before giving alms to another beggar?

“Beggars should be entirely abolished!” (Friedrich Nietzsche)

So, the matter is that something should be done with this actual problem and the sooner the better, because leaving things as they run now ruins our aesthetic and moral aspects of living. I insist on the fact, that people in need’s troubles should be solved by governmental or social structures and not by those who make fortunes by controlling beggar points.

Seven reasons not to skip boring lessons

Column by Natasha Safina

My average Wednesday and Friday mornings begin with the alarm clock shouting “bara-bara-bara-bere-bere-bere”, but I just turn it off and go on sleeping. Then I suddenly wake up. I open my right eye and my attention is grabbed not by the time, but by the words on my blanket. “Seni seviyourum,” it says in Turkish. Good morning to you, typical Student of Foreign Languages Faculty. You don’t even think you’ve missed the first period again, only the Turkish phrase denoting “I love you” attracts your half-asleep mind.

I’m not a truant. I don’t skip English grammar or Journalism course or other practical subjects. But when it comes to useless ones... like audiovisual technologies (ATO). Fancy that, the ATO’s area of study tells you about things not used for 40 years! Yeah, when I grow up and earn my first million of dollars, I’ll definitely collect that kind of the highest art. Now there is no purpose to go there. Are you sure?  You’ll see.

Actually, the stereotype that a university should give students all-round education crashed in my mind not so long ago. To prove it, let’s point out a linguistic fact: the derivation of the Latin word “universitas” means totality. So it is multisectoral educational institution, where people are prepared in different fields, which states the variety of faculties teaching their own specialists of particular area. But Russian Ministry of Science and Education doesn’t approve of that idea. That’s why about 65% of my curriculum is filled by subjects where outdated material is taught in a dull way.

I daresay every student has the same problem. During these long 2 months of skipped ATO I found out there are about seven usual excuses “to wave a kiss” to the university in the morning. Here are they:

1.     You will get bored anyway.

Erm, dear, how can you think of that, if you don’t even know what may suddenly come to you?!  That’s why here is the first tip: get ready for surprise, as every day brings something new. Possibly, you just need to look at it with your wide eyes open or from a different angle.

2.  Oh, I’d better have a nice sleep. Hey, pillow, I love you!
Alarm! You might have had a heavy overstrain. Tomorrow you go to bed 2 hours earlier, to compensate today’s 7200 overslept seconds.

3.  Audiovisual technologies? What?! I don’t care.

Actually, you should, otherwise you might be expelled. Do you want to hear a sad story about the student of Foreign Languages Faculty not having received the degree because of the most awesome discipline?  If this thought is not helpful, remember that nice spiteful gaze you received while discussing your attendance.

4. Hey, I gave New Year Resolution to stop skipping ATO.
You make me laugh really. With your character the best way is to give resolution that you’ll never break New Year’s resolution. Therefore, try to find some kind of punishment for yourself. I mean literally, no bad thoughts here. For example, you make yourself do more at that subject you’ve missed. Or compensate ATO with physical training you don’t like.

For example, I did squatting. 50 times I did and shouted out some ATO facts. When mother saw it, she thought I had gone mad. Actually, I don’t think you are as masochistic as I am in this way.

Your logic might be: “Don’t you go to  ATO? Go by sweets to and fro! ”

5.  There is always a better way to spend the time.
Just kidding! And you can do it at the university, combining your presence at ATO classes and reading that brilliant novel by Erich Marie Remark or doing English home task for tomorrow.

6. I know everything about it.

How could I miss the day you became a know-all? Poor me! This mission is really impossible, even for James Bond. Don’t stop! Broaden your horizons with the help of Google. There are always some questions left, that you don’t take in and surely you’ll need to ask the teacher.

7. That awkward moment, I feel like doing nothing.
Congratulations! You are a representative coach potato! Every minute of your life is a treasure that is not to be spoiled, while others develop themselves. I hold the opinion that laziness is not the feature of the character, but a bad habit. Try to remain motionless for about 3-5 minutes.  Right now! Stand in the middle of the room, don’t listen to music, don’t think, just breathe in and out. And then you’ll feel strong desire to take action.

All in all, as some clever man stated centuries ago, the long way to Fuji starts with the first step. In your case it is a long road to the university. My list is an example of how I have overcome all this prejudices and pretexts. You can break the habit too! Remember! An attempt is no sin - if you try you may win ;)

Survey: Youth prefers Europe

By Olga Boronina

It’s known that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. This saying is also topical in the sphere of education. 70% of young Russian people say that they want to get the education abroad and 30% say that they want firstly to get the primary education in Russia.

   The bad news is that the students don’t even mention Russia in the list of countries which have the most prestigious universities. The most popular answer is England, but the USA, Germany and India are favourable options as well. The majority of the correspondents say that the corruption is the main problem of Russian education. Some young people point out that there are a lot of subjects in Russia which are useless in the future profession and there are some difficulties with getting a job after university.