I've Got a Golden Ticket

Well, not really. However, the nice young lady at the RebelCard office told me that, amongst other things, my RebelCard (UNLV Student ID) grants me a free ticket to UNLV sporting events. Free! Wow, what event do I want to go to first and how does the UNLV fight song go again? But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

I had spent the previous night making sure that I had all my paperwork together for my required meeting with my Academic Advisor. I had checked and re-checked my student account, activated my RebelMail, made copies of immunization records,

"...going to college and taking the classes isn't the hard part, the paperwork is."

class schedules for two colleges, put the finishing touches on my Department of English Degree Requirement Evaluation Sheet and highlighted Building number 34 on an 89 numbered building map. You know, going to college and taking the classes isn't the hard part, the paperwork is.

I wasn't too worried about getting there, it's an under half-hour commute through city traffic, until I woke up to this.

I know, I know, some of you are laughing and saying "Aw, that's nothing" but you don't know Vegas drivers! Hot & Sunny,  the Las Vegas weather motto, has spoiled us. More thought and expense goes into car air conditioning than serviceable wiper blades. I allowed an extra twenty minutes for the drive and extracted a warm winter coat with a hood from a forgotten corner in my closet. 

Traffic wasn't too bad. I only saw one fender bender and drivers were more cautious than annoying. I easily found metered parking with a two-hour limit right across from the bookstore. I knew parking wouldn't be this easy for long.

Now, to get my bearings.

 

 I guess the print is so small because the campus is so big!

Found it!

The Office was void of traffic and I got in early. "You have been admitted under Liberal-Arts General, but we can't make that your major" my Advisor told me. I showed her my Degree Worksheet with the English Major/German Minor and asked about the second fine arts requirement.

NSHE (Nevada System of Higher Education) requires three credit hours of fine arts. COLA (College of Liberal Arts) requires an additional three for its program. I found myself wondering if I could sandwich a Pilates class in between lectures to give my mind time to 'digest'.

The meeting only lasted about twenty minutes. I was given advice on summer sessions; three terms, the first being only five weeks, where to obtain my RebelCard, and how to find the online parking pass information. I tried to hand her my Honors College application and proof of residency paper work, but those had to go to separate offices.

"I went to the wrong building, not once, but twice!"

"It's easy to find", said my Advisor, as she walked me to the door. "Just go down this wide path to the SSBC building." Of course I walked into the wrong one. I went to the wrong building, not once, but twice! But that's OK. I thought of it as my own little private tour, plus there are some nice little paths on this campus with lovely desert landscaping.

Now you know this aspiring Librarian could not leave campus without a Library card. After dropping my Honors College application on the third floor, I returned to the circulation desk and asked "Do I need my Student ID before I can get my Library card?" 

I had a sneaking suspicion I did, and yes, I did, so out to find the RebelCard office in the Student Union Building. This was cool too, because as I came out of the Lied (pronounced Lead as in Take me to your Leader) Library, I had a view of both buildings at once for the classes I would be taking.

 

The Student Union has a coffee shop, food court, Wi-Fi, Help Desk and the RebelCard office. The extremely nice and helpful young lady at the Help Desk mapped out how to get to the Multi-Cultural lounge where ANTS (Alliance of Nontraditional Students) meets.

A few short steps from the Help Desk brought me into the small and empty RebelCard office. I made a mental note to take advantage of the Winter Break Ghost Campus. You know for a fact, that most any other time, there will be long lines and waits for services. "Are you a student here" and "Do you have a photo ID?" were the only questions I needed to answer to have my picture taken and my RebelCard generated. 

Card in hand, humming I've Got a Golden Ticket, of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory fame, I went back to the Library. 

"Did you get your ID?" the nice young man at the circulation desk asked. (I know, I have been using "nice" to describe everyone I encountered, but they all really were!) And what does he say when I hand him my card? "Oh, nice" I smiled at his polite comment. Photo ID's and me make a lousy pair.

"So, I can use this to access all of UNLV's online databases for research and book reservations now?" "You're all set" he answered, and added, "You will also need it to make copies and print from the computers or your laptop."

As I turned to leave, I looked out and up and marveled. I now have access to every knowledge-filled floor; five floors of books and media references and research and more. There's even an entire floor dedicated to the UNLV Special Collections. I guess I really do have a Golden Ticket after all.

UNLV Fight Song: "Win with the Rebels"

  
Lied Library
UNLV Main Campus Photo Gallery by UNLV Photo Services

It's Not What You Say, But How You Say It

Do you recognize this?


"The diminutive Oompa Loompas were prey and had little hope of survival.  A mammalian quadruped would breakfast on no less than ten of them. I extended an invitation to the Oompa Loompas to reside with me away from the various dangerous indigenous species."

Hmmm, sounds vaguely familiar, but I'll bet you know it better as this:


“And the poor little Oompa Loompas were so small and helpless, they would get gobbled up right and left. A Wangdoodle would eat ten of them for breakfast and think nothing of it. And so, I said, "Come and live with me in peace and safety, away from all the Wangdoodles, and Hornswogglers, and Snozzwangers, and rotten, Vermicious Knids" (Dahl/Wilder/IMBD).

This is, of course, from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I refer to the Original with Gene Wilder.  I just love that movie!

Growing up, my Oma (granny in German) always told me "the tone makes the music." Or, it's not what you say, but how you say it.  I believed all this time that she was stressing both manners and speaking politely to people. Although this may likely be true as well, I realize now that Oma may have been much wiser than I realized.

Communication, whether it be written, oral or signed, defines us. (There's non-verbal or body language also, but more on that later) The words we use to craft a writing or speech is telling of our intellect, or lack thereof. CMC or Computer Mediated Communication brings it's own set of rules to this playing field. I know I find myself referencing the Urban Dictionary more than Webster's here lately. How about you?


If we abbreviate or acronym our words, split our infinitives or dangle our participles, are we really less intelligent? The short answer: not necessarily. This is just the way we choose to express ourselves. I mean, you wouldn't read this blog if I wrote in the style of  the first paragraph, all uppity and white paperish. That would be boring. No, instead I write pretty much like I would  speak if you were right here with me.

With these thoughts, and many more,  not to mention the demise of  the Informatics Program, I have come to the tentative decision of a Major in Communications with a Minor in Environmental Sciences. I say tentative as I have yet to meet with my Academic Advisor for my transfer to UNLV. There may be other options. (UPDATE on Major)

Speaking of  Transfer. When I first embarked upon my college career, I was very unsure of myself. I wasn't sure if I could hack college after 25 years of being out of school and I didn't know if I could make the grade, so to speak.

I started small, taking only two classes, you know, just to get my feet wet. One of these classes was The History of Rock and Roll. I can't tell you how simultaneously thrilling and disturbing  it is to study musicians you have in your album collection. (yes, I said ALBUM ha ha)

But anyway, the point is I started at what was then a Community College. There are great advantages for the Adult Learner here. The class sizes are typically smaller and most importantly less expensive; a major factor to be sure. Yet if you wish to continue past either an Associates Degree or Vocational program, you must transfer to a Four Year Institution.

I have outlined these steps for you in a downloadable PDF on the wiki. There is also a video for you by Howcast. There may be more information added as I learn more, so check back often.



More

Why Go Back to School Now?

Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory ~ Film analysis for Communication Studies

The Perpetual Andragogy Wiki ~ Steps for Transfer to a Four Year Institution