Blogging about Fraternity & Sorority Merchandise

Technology has become such an important part of our lives, and has really helped connect different fraternities and sororities to each other. Could you imagine not being able to “friend” your own fraternity or sorority on Facebook, or not be able to get a feel of an organization’s personality by following them on Twitter? Technology, like the new Apple iPad, allows us to connect and share ideas, whether it’s across campus or across the country. Today we welcome guest blogger Spenser Tang-Smith, who will be sharing his insightful thoughts on the new Apple iPad.

Spenser is in charge of operations at WebGreek and writes for WebGreek’s blog, discussing issues in the Greek community.

The iPad and You, by Spenser Tang-Smith

By now, I’m sure you’ve all heard about the newest Apple device, a tablet computer called the iPad.  You probably also have heard or read the State of the Union speech, also last night, during which our president reiterated his commitment to jobs, as well as outlining a plan for reducing the burden of student loans.  I find it a little bit disturbing that the iPad announcement took 90 minutes, the same amount of time as Obama’s speech, and gained equal press coverage.  But then again, that could mean that the iPad is just as important.

First of all, this thing is way sweet.  Multi-touch is an awesome and intuitive way to interact with the internet, and make no mistake, the iPad is primarily a web surfing device.  Anyone with an iPhone or an iTouch already knows how to use it.  In addition, the app store, with its 140,000 apps, is available for download, and the iPhone apps you’re used to are compatible with the iPad.

Of course, the media immediately latched on to some jokes related to the name of the device, but beyond the hype and the immediate criticism, the iPad is potentially a very useful device for college students.  Weighing only a pound and a half and looking way cool as only an Apple device can, this thing is portable and will turn some heads.  Attractively priced at $499 for 18 gigs of storage, the computer is a great alternative to the netbooks, such as the Eee pc, that are currently dominating the cheap, mega-portable webtop computer market.  Unfortunately, you will have to cough up another $130 for a 3G model, but even if you don’t, you will be able to use the plentiful WiFi around campus.

There has been a lot of criticism, as if Apple was expected to unveil something out of Avatar.  People have yelped about the lack of Flash (meaning YouTube and most other embedded videos won’t work), the inability to multitask, no camera, and being beholden unto AT&T for 3G service.  First of all, if you have an iPhone, then you’re stuck with AT&T anyway.  No Flash means you won’t be able to view lots of music and gaming websites, but the YouTube app solves most video problems, and other apps will fill the other gaps (am I an iPoet?).

I will say that the absence of a camera is pretty dumb, but beyond Skype video chat, I don’t use the one on my laptop, and I certainly don’t plan on waving a big tablet around when I’m taking pictures.  Most college kids have been given a point and click digital for some birthday or holiday gift.  All in all, I don’t see what the big deal is regarding the lack of camera.  It’s not like the world needs more low-quality recordings of cute kittens.

Finally, with regard to multi-tasking, I find that I’m not so productive when I multi-task, so this may not be such a bad thing.  You will get to run a music player while you surf or type or whatever, just like the iPhone, and unless you’re running complex statistical software while writing a report and rendering an iMovie project at the same time, you should be able to be just as productive as with a clunky Dell or a pricey iMac.  I was a biology major, and most of the statistical stuff was done on software that was provided on the bio lab computers, and all the research and report writing was done on applications that the iPad supports.  With the ability to sync files using something like DropBox, I could certainly imagine using a tablet computer where I once used an iBook.

The iPad is not as futuristic as people had anticipated, but it’s remarkable in the technology that powers it and in the affordability of that technology.  I could see using it as my primary computer, though I would supplement it with a physical keyboard.  The size makes it competitive with paper notepads for taking notes in class, while the apps make it versatile.  You’ll have iWork on it, you can stream all the Will It Blend videos you want, you can email, and best of all, you can control it all with your fingers.  If I hadn’t just gotten a new MacBook to replace my extremely broken iBook, I would consider one.  And if I were in college, or had kids in college, it might be a great way to save some money while still being stylish and cutting edge.  All in all, it’s worth taking a look at.

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We recently had the pleasure of meeting Kingsley Grafft, Founder and National Director of Greeks Against Sexual Assault, and she wrote the following guest blog post for us. Sexual assault on college campuses is quickly becoming an epidemic, and with Kingsley’s passion and dedication to educating others about the issue, we can work to help prevent the growing number of sexual assault victims. Kingsley is an exemplary member of Kappa Alpha Theta, and we know her commitment to helping others will only further her future success!

Greeks Against Sexual Assault, by Kingsley Grafft

Becoming a member of the Greek community on your campus is an amazing opportunity. I know that my four years of college would have been far less exciting and entertaining without my sorority sisters, philanthropy events and fraternity parties. And certainly my wardrobe would have been much smaller without my letters, sweatpants, and t-shirts to accompany every event.

During my sophomore year I interned with University of California at Davis’ Campus Violence Prevention Program (CVPP). When I started, I was given one task: get Greeks involved and educate them about sexual assault and domestic violence.

So I began my research and was shocked at what I found.

• 1 out of 4 college women is sexually assaulted
• 50% of sorority women experience some form of sexual coercion
• 10.3% of college rapes happen in a fraternity house
• 90% of sorority women who are sexually assaulted know their assailants
Sources: Copenhaver & Grauerholz, 1991; Fisher, 2000; Warshaw, 1994.

I really believed that Greeks were simply unaware of these statistics; otherwise, they would be doing something to eliminate the problem and provide support to survivors. So in the spring of 2007 I founded Greeks Against Sexual Assault with the hope that I could pass along the information I had learned, and inspire others to make a difference on their own campuses.

The mission statement is this: Greeks Against Sexual Assault works towards increasing awareness, educating, and eliminating sexual assault and dating violence from the Greek community through peer education and activism amongst sororities and fraternities nationwide.

All it takes is a few Greeks to spread awareness and get their campus involved. I’ve been amazed by the programs Greeks have developed nationally and have seen the positive impact they can have. For more information visit us at www.gasanow.org or check out our blog at http://www.loveyounglove.blogspot.com.

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