No one likes to talk about it, but its important to get accurate tuition information COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

No one likes to talk about it, but its important to get accurate tuition information COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog SIPA, like most schools at Columbia, has its own Financial Aid Office to assist our students.   However, the office responsible for posting charges on student accounts, billing, collecting payments and issuing refunds, is Student Financial Services (SFS), a centralized office serving the entire University.   SIPA’s Financial Aid Office does not send you your tuition bills, collect payments, or the other procedures mentioned above. The SFS website can be found at http://sfs.columbia.edu/. Some important information related to your bill and your student account: SFS will send an email to your Columbia email address (your UNI) on or about August 11 with a link to a preliminary bill, which must be paid in full by September 12.   You can see the billing schedule at http://sfs.columbia.edu/files/sfs/content/statement_schedule_2014-2015.pdf. Accounts not paid in full by the due date are subject to late fees, which are assessed monthly. Interest-free monthly payment plans are available (see http://sfs.columbia.edu/billing/ways-to-pay#payment-plan). Financial aid that has been fully processed is credited to your account.   Please respond to all requests for documentation from the Financial Aid Office promptly, as failure to do so will prevent your aid from being credited to your account. The state of New York requires all full-time students to have health insurance.   Your bill will include a charge for health insurance, which can be waived if you have equivalent coverage.   For more information, visit http://www.health.columbia.edu/student-insurance/enroll-waive-student-health-insurance. If your aid in any semester exceeds your tuition and fees, you will receive a refund of that credit balance approximately one to two weeks into the semester.   Please plan your non-tuition expenses (rent, food, transportation, etc) accordingly. You can receive refunds payments for which you qualify by direct deposit (recommended, otherwise you’ll receive them by a hard copy check through the mail); go to Student Services Online (SSOL) at https://ssol.columbia.edu/ to set this up. SFS accepts electronic checks for payment via SSOL, but does not accept credit cards. If your bill is being paid by a sponsor or third party, please see http://sfs.columbia.edu/billing/sponsored-students for important instructions. See SFS’s website for mailing addresses if you are paying by mail. Remember that the federal government deducts fees from loan disbursements, 1.073% for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and 4.292% on the Graduate PLUS loan.

The Discussing Of Michael Porters Strategies Business Essay - Free Essay Example

Michael Porters article discusses strategies on competitive advantage and profitability to be used in the market. Market or else competitive environment and successful position in it requires competitive advantage. Basically what that means is for company being positioned in the marked faster than competitive companies and this also requires strategy. Value. Company must create value by activities as Porter identified as a value chain. Competitive advantage generates when company delivers benefits for its customers may be same as other companies but for example for lover cost or they deliver better advantages. This actually allows company to establish higher value for customers and higher profits for company. Regarding to operations of logistics the Pepsi and Coca Cola possess are similar or same. They have their own ingredients, which they purchase based on contracts and in their own facilities then they produce their own concentrate. As a follow on operation s they ship their concentrate to bottlers where they use bottling company. Bottling company after they receive the concentration, they add correct amount of sugar, carbonated water and mix it to the correct concentration and than they bottle it for sale. Commonly these companies have contracted as less as possible bottling companies. This was basically done in order for bottlers to meet the concentrate producers demand and also to decrease shipping prices, and better ability for delivery. There are two important reasons for this procedure. Protection of their well-kept secret and which is particular mix of ingredients and protect the secret from bottlers that what exactly goes into their product. This protects high value of it, which also supports the image of the product. For Pepsi and Coca Cola this also represents a sense of prestige to the other products with its excellent secrets. ÂÂ   Â Cash registers technology and its automation allow Pepsi and Coke and bottling company to know exactly what amount of their product each element possesses. This strategy also allows sellers to sell more products and makes easy delivery of it in smooth timely procedure. Rareness. The rareness of a specific resource depends describes combination of physical rareness/uniqueness in the market or the rareness of the value of the resource caused by firms particular resource combination. Coca cola used to be one of the top companies over other soft drinks and has come up with many different types of favor at the inception of the business that would include sport drinks, bottled water and teas. Now both Coca cola and Pepsi with the constant growing allow now other vendors to contact in and have some opportunities to be a part of the companies. In regard to rareness the only rare component is the syrup that is artificial by the main corporations, which is then sold to the rest of the vendors. Coca-Cola and Pepsi used numerous technologies in order to achiev e rise to the top of the soft drink industry, and they also defined new technologies and established paradigms that popped the status quo like a cap from a soda bottle. ÂÂ   Through technology, Coca-Cola and Pepsi both perfected their drinks as a beverage and spread it over the world. Today, the US industry of soft drink is organized based on this principle. The Coca-Cola and Pepsi are now the largest companies in the world with their soft drinks. Imitability. Imitability evaluates capacity of value of resource of competitive advantage and its extend. If other firms that face a cost disadvantage because they do not possess these resources in obtaining or developing the resources, then the resources are imitable. Imitability is decsribed in two ways: duplication and substitution. These two main players dominate carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) sector. Coke and Pepsi are dominant companies of the soft drink industry and they have a pride to hold most part of a global market share. Additionally to these major players, there are also smaller companies such as Cott Corporation and Royal Crown that hold remaining market share. Coke and Pepsi are the main players of this market. Over a century they struggle to conquer the number one position in the market, and in last few years they compete fiercely to follow each others strategic decisions. However there is something that seems to threaten the profitability of these two companies. One thing seems to be able to decrease their high margins and that is increasing share of non-carbonated soft drinks since they rule in the CSDs industry. In regard to this, what will the future of Coke and Pepsi be? How will bottlers and Concentrate Producers (CPs) face this new challenge? Organization. Organization evaluates the fact how the firm is organized in order to utilize its resources and capabilities. Evaluation also includes companys components, which are reporting structure, systems of management control s, informational management and compensation policies. . These companies both perform close monitoring of the organizational structure, physical resources employees routine and financial performance. With these, the organizational function is to correctly formulate their tasks, organization, and guideline. Their managers delegate duties and tasks to the rest of the holders around the world. The organizations provide positive concert and output of their human resource division since it is their most important source for always being on top of the competition by always reading through to see if there is large amount of capable and knowledgeable employees. Staff is the most important assets of the corporations. Accomplishing assignments offers opportunities for the staff to strengthen their abilities and creates agreement. HR operates in various means as tactical associateÂÂ  forÂÂ  coca-cola. The motto right people in right places allows them to meet up companys goals and objectives. Globally, it was not easy for the company to operate successfully. However role and operations of dedicated HR department made the tough job easier for them. For driving the company on their way to success it is always about the creative manpower their performances. Job analysis is the process where sort of person who will be appointing for it must be here selected for these tasks skills including the job. Job description and job specification are two criteria of job analysis. This analysis is recognized by HR department of Coca Cola where they try to gather information regarding workers behavior performance and their working standards. This information is used by HR department to recruit, to select, to train people and for developing relationship between them. Â Health and safety should be a big issue in terms of any organization, so coca-cola HR department very strictly follows this policy under continuous observation. Recommendation to coca cola man agement. Due to specific concentration of coca cola on older generations I would recommend to widen its portfolio and include the strategy where focus would be on entire spectrum of customers. Also I would recommend pursuing a multi-pronged marketing strategy, including growth into geographic regions like Russia, China, and Turkey. Another recommendation would be leverage of the Company assets by brand extension into water-based, slightly sweetened refreshment drinks to meet more health-conscious consumers. Furthermore, the fact that company purchases concentrates and syrups and its entire requirement from Coca-Cola Trademark Beverages (which involves 90% of its total sales volume), could cause adverse impact on the companys future operation if a conflict of interest between the two companies would have arise.

Personal Philosophy and Education Paper - 808 Words

Personal Philosophy of Education Paper Renee Brownlee Education 301 Instructor Tenika Richards -James July 23, 2012 Education is the key to the success of student’s in school today there are philosophies that structure the way an educator direct the class. Essentialism is one of the key concept focuses in school system first following the standard curriculum is important to implement on the journey for higher learning if it is achieved than the success rate will be greater. Teachers are designed to obtain knowledge from attending college, workshops and other resources by learning from these†¦show more content†¦Rewarding children for his or her accomplishment will give the class an incentive to do the best work in the studies. Lesson planning plays a major role in a classroom setting the steps I would follow for an effective plan is to have suitable objectives a list of materials and resources with direct instruction also practice exercises and study guide. A good teacher should be detailed to ensure the student’s the ability and skills also student’s come first in the class. If a student has a learning disability that should be immediately addressed by perhaps sending those students for one hour to a special need class at the school or getting permission from the parent to provide him or her with tutorial on certain days, if it is necessary this show that theShow MoreRelatedMy Personal Philosophy Of Nursing1081 Words   |  5 PagesRunning head: PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING 1 PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING 6 Personal Philosophy of Nursing Caroline Thiongo BSN V Millers College of Nursing Abstract This paper explores my personal nursing philosophy that I will convey in my career of nursing. It is my belief that nursing is a commitment to public service and a desire to help those in need. Nursing is a discipline of knowledge acquired both through formal education and through life experiences. 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Personal EducationalRead MoreDraft Of Personal Philosophy Statement1268 Words   |  6 Pages7-2 Final Project Milestone Three: Draft of Personal Philosophy Statement In the field of higher education, I will welcome with open arms, accept, affirm, and celebrate all students by creating an environment that is equal and inclusive for all people regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural background, religion, family structure, economic status, learning ability, linguistic ability, and/or learning style. I will create an environment that includes positive, challengingRead MoreMy Personal Statement For Teaching Reading772 Words   |  4 PagesAs I arrange this reflective analysis paper on topics that relate to a foundational course and specifically searching for the modules that have given me the most information, taught me something new or expanded my knowledge on a specific topic of reading, I have come to realize how far I have come since I began this adventure. I began these courses after graduating from Marshall with my bachelors. I chose this path because of my love for reading and teaching reading. I have come to realize that theseRead MoreEthics Philosophy : Ethics And Ethics Essay976 Words   |  4 PagesEthics Philosophy A personal ethics philosophy helps a person to maintain and employ good morals and values that are important in a one’s life. Understanding the importance of ethics is critical in order to consciously work to develop and effectively utilize ethics. Therefore, accepting the importance of one’s ethical philosophy will result in ethical decision-making, therefore developing the ability to put ethical theory into practice create ethical conditions albeit, personal and professionalRead MoreA Personal Philosophy Of Education Essay1164 Words   |  5 PagesA Personal Philosophy of Education Introduction â€Å"Being reflective involves thinking about what one is doing, and why, before, during, and after the act of doing it (Sweitzer, 2003 p.264). I believe self-knowledge of the professor is critical for meaningful learning to occur. Self-knowledge through reflection allows the professor to embrace teaching through the eyes of a scholar; thus providing a diverse learning environment supporting engagement and motivation of the learner. This paper describesRead MorePersonal Statement On Social Responsibility885 Words   |  4 Pagesmajority of time spent on my personal philosophy paper was spent in research. I wanted to make sure I had a clear understanding of my own thoughts and ideas. I also found the research to be the hardest part of my paper. I wanted be able to support my thoughts with scholarly research, and at times it seemed near impossible. I determined what theories to use based on my own personal beliefs and values as they pertain to my life. Since my whole life revolv es around my personal relationship with Jesus, IRead MorePersonal Philosophy Of The Author1165 Words   |  5 Pages My Personal Philosophy Trisha DeSouza MDC-Benjamin Leon School of Nursing 23 June 2015 Abstract This purpose of this paper is to explore the personal philosophy of the author presented Trisha DeSouza. The author’s concept of pain is what led her to an exploration of a nursing career with compassion to care for those who are in trouble times. Through the use of the nursing metaparadigm of person, health, environment and nursing, she elaborates on their importance to her in relationRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Nursing949 Words   |  4 PagesMy Personal Philosophy of Nursing My inspiration to pursue a career in Nursing began at a young age, after reading the biography of Florence Nightingale. I was in middle school, and intrigued at her courage, and dedication to care for the sick. As I entered college, and into a formal nursing education program, I still viewed nursing as, the care provided to another in need. Without my knowing, I was developing a philosophy of nursing for myself. As the years passed, I began to realize that nursingRead More Becoming a Teacher: My Philosophy on Education Essay1061 Words   |  5 PagesMy Philosophy on Education When did education start? Do we still need education to function as a society? How long will public education remain a kindergarten through twelfth grade curriculum? The answers to these questions will vary from person to person, but they will all have one common theme: education will and must go on! Education is the key to a progressing society. Education is the only way that knowledge is passed from generation to generation. In this paper I will

Team Work and Motivation - 1259 Words

Teamwork and Motivation Motivation is the internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in a person to be continually interested and committed to a job, role or subject, or to make an effort to attain a goal (Business Dictionary, 2013). The main priority of an organization should be its people. They are the ones who help maintain the mission and the vision of the organization as well as keeping the business flowing. This paper will provide a design of an organization motivation plan, identify two methods that motivate employees and propose three ways to motivate the minimum wage worker. Additionally, this paper will analyze the relevance of the individual work and finally provide design a individual work to team chart.†¦show more content†¦While it is difficult enough to motivate the experienced worker, many in management find themselves especially perplexed when it comes to encouraging production from minimum wage employees. Managers and supervisors expect and plan for high turn-o ver and tolerate whatever performance level they get, as long as the employee shows up for work and does not cause trouble. When employees dislike their jobs or are indifferent, the result can be poor customer service and low productivity (Train2GainUs, 2006). As manager, minimum wage employees would be motivated by allowing them to participate in decision-making. The people who actually do the work are often the best qualified to judge how it should be done. They will provide good suggestions, and at the same time, feel a part of the business. Another way to motivate is through positive reinforcement. When managers want employees to perform in a certain way, communicating to them explicitly, specifically, politely and firmly what it is you want them to do. It sounds simple, but there are many managers who spend all of their time trying to manage people by telling them what not to do: â€Å"Don’t do that!†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"Stop doing this!†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"Don’t ever do that!† (Train2GainUs, 2006). Lastly, using participative leadership. Managers should be effective motivators that demonstrate how to complete a task. They must also be willing to â€Å"roll up their sleeves† and join in as part of a team e ffort. Analyze the relevance of theShow MoreRelatedTeam Work and Motivation1718 Words   |  7 PagesTeamwork and Motivation In just a few years WooWoo manufacture has gained much success by becoming one of the world’s top producer of widgets. Recently sales have been high, but a new report was just released that exposed some defects with our product. This defect issue can quickly turn into a serious problem that will increased our costs and delay deliveries to our customers. During these critical times we must find a way to motivate the 50 employees in our sales, assembly, technology, and administrationRead MoreA Positive Motivation Plan1199 Words   |  5 PagesA Positive Team Motivation Plan Patrick Hall, Joyce Woodbury, William Leonardi LDR 531 July 09, 2012 Eric Heard A Positive Team Motivation Plan In today’s business world, each business organization has a diverse workforce and each worker has specific motivations and emotions. An effective manager understands the challenges involved in creating a workplace that combines the employees’ motivations, satisfactions, and performance into a cohesive and effective workforce. A manager must developRead MoreReflection On Organisational Behavior1446 Words   |  6 PagesAfter thirteen weeks taking the organizational behavior course, we came across many topics such as perception, personality, emotions, values, attitudes, motivation, groups and team work etc. There is no doubt the subject is very interesting but the concepts that are the most interesting for me are the personality, motivation, group and team work. Personality Personality is the stable pattern of behavior and consistent internal systems that determine how an individual reacts to and interacts withRead MoreHuman Resources Performance And Success1179 Words   |  5 Pagesliterature on motivation seeks to develop an understanding of the nature of motivation, how to increase motivation level in employees and improve employee performance; thus, in turn, improve overall performance of the organization. Motivation helps employees to feel encouraged to perform effectively and thus, contribute towards improved performance of the organization by linking the employees’ goals and objectives with the strategic goals and objectives of the organization. Motivation plays a significantRead MoreHow Motivation Helps Motivate Those Who They Lead Essay1291 Words   |  6 Pagesto getting results and productivity. Motivation is a substantial psychological aspect of everyday life, and when it comes to the working environment, the ability to understand a nd utilize motivation becomes even more consequential. In a broad sense, work motivation is a combination of internal and external forces that lead to a certain direction, attitude, and longevity, in reference to work related behavior and tasks. There is certainly an aspect of motivation that is self-implemented. Simply, ifRead MoreMotivation Employee Performance And Success1255 Words   |  6 Pagesliterature on motivation seeks to develop an understanding of the nature of motivation, how to increase motivation level in employees and improve employee performance; thus, in turn, improve overall performance of the organization. Motivation helps employees to feel encouraged to perform effectively and thus, contribute towards improved performance of the organization by linking the employees’ goals and objectives with the strategic goals and objectives of the organization. Motivation plays a significantRead MoreHow Teams And Teamwork Affect Individual Satisfaction And Motivation For Individual Performance1230 Words   |  5 Pagesfundamental concept of how teams and teamwork are used in everyone advantage, it is imperative to look at the individual characteristic first. As a manager in an organisation, manager has to know of how he or she can influence the performance of people who work for him or her. 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The experience has been described clearly, identifying knowledge acquired and how it can be applied to promote self-motivation as well as the motivation of othersRead MoreIn Order To Be A Successful Team Leader, One Must Have1197 Words   |  5 PagesIn order to be a successful team leader, one must have the skills and ability to drive his or her team to be performing at its peak. Thus, effective team management is key to ensuring team success and maintaining a healthy, collaborative environment. Leader effectiveness is a dynamic process, where leader behaviors need to fit followers and circumstances in order to be effective (Pieterse et al, 2010).Leaders can and will influence follower behavior as Hirst states â€Å"followers will be more inclinedRead MoreTeam : Team And Abstract Essay1640 Words   |  7 PagesTEAM CHARTER Name of the Team and Abstract Team Name: â€Å"The Associates† Abstract: The main purpose of creating the team is to get an actual and explanatory outcome of the selected topic. Team formation is very important as it can positively affect the team work while creating opportunities for each member to participate and share their viewpoints as well as gathering the feedback and ideas from others. Collecting information

Dukes v. Wal-Mart Essay - 2269 Words

Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is a legal battle concerning whether or not the company engaged willfully in gender-based discrimination. Underlying causes, organizational culture and ethical issues will be examined in determining how the largest private employer in the United States could have fallen prey to unfair labor practices. â€Å"In 1999, women constituted 72% of Wal-Mart’s hourly employees, but only 33% of its managerial employees† (Bhatnagar, 2004). This fact and many others are the reasons many people allege that Wal-Mart has unfair labor practices. The Dukes v. Wal-Mart case challenged the hiring, promotion and pay practices of Wal-Mart. The case was filed in June 2001. When the case reached class certification†¦show more content†¦Employee Cleo Page actually experienced the effects of Wal-Mart’s unethical labor practices. Ms. Page began working for Wal-Mart as a cashier in one of their super centers in Tulsa, OK making $6.50/hr. Page resigned from her job three years later from a store in California where she was making $10/hr. Over the three years of employment, she received above standard evaluations, but despite her desire for advancement, she was passed over twice for promotions by less qualified male applicants. Page had also encountered other women who had similar experiences, some who were in the same position for eight years. Three years of earning low wages adversely affected Page’s financial situation. She had little savings and as a result, she lost her house in California in addition to the foster children she was caring for. Page declared that she would not have lost her home and children if she had been given the well deserved promotion. The promotion came with many great incentives and better bonuses. This alone would have improved her financial situation. Wal-Mart is the largest retail store in the United States. The root cause of the problem with Wal-Mart is that they try to increase their profits by minimizing their costs. Many internal policies are used to maintain this philosophy. First and foremost is the strong organizational culture that is dictated from the home offices. Store level managers receive discipline ranging from writtenShow MoreRelatedThe Case Of Dukes V. Wal Mart Stores, Inc. Essay884 Words   |  4 PagesSUMMARY In the case of Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the District Court of the Ninth Circuit certified a class of 1.5 million females currently and formerly employed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The plaintiff class sought injunctive and declaratory relief, punitive damages, and back pay; due to the alleged violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act in regards to alleged discrimination against female employees in promotions and wages. In Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, the petitioner filed an appealRead MoreWal Mart As A Symbol Of The United States1613 Words   |  7 PagesOverview: Sam Walton founded Wal-Mart in 1962 in Roger, Arkansas. In a little less than 10 years, Wal-Mart had 38 locations and was opening two stores per year. In 1970, the company started trading in the New York Stock Exchange. By 1979, the company announced a record $1billion sales and it became the first company to do so. Wal-Mart reached record after record during those years, and by the end of 1989, Wal-Mart reported after tax-profits of $1billlion. Wal-Mart now has become a symbol of theRead MoreWalmart and Its Associates Efficient Operator or Neglectful Employer1479 Words   |  6 PagesDiscrimination 4 Dominance Policies 4 Unionisation 5 Wal-Mart: Past and new allegations 5 Conclusion 6 References 7 Introduction: Ethical Issues (Appendix A) Wal-Mart had been criticized for its worst CSR practices which includes low wages for the employees (Karen, 2004). Immoral activity of paying low for more and the overtime works had been held (Karen, 2004) .The quantitative records of designations in the company showed that Wal-Mart had sexual discrimination in its organization (TheRead MoreThe Importance Of An Integral Workforce Within The United States Economy1704 Words   |  7 Pagesand Labor Act provided legal fortitude to the decision affirmed in Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo (136 S. CT. 1036, (2016) and analyze the rulings from previous court cases that used the FSLA to determine possible future outcomes when a legal issue involving the statue arises. Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo: Background The war between the working class and the elite took another standoff in Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo, which was brought before the Supreme Court in 2015. The ruling was announcedRead MoreSex Discrimination at Walmart Essay1132 Words   |  5 PagesSex Discrimination at Wal-Mart OMM640 Business Ethics and Social Responsibility Dr.: David Britton May 14, 2012 Betty Dukes along with five other women filled a law suit against Wal-Mart Inc. in 2001 for discrimination against women, denying them their raises and also their promotions. Betty Dukes and the other women hope that they can stand for hundreds of thousands of other women who might have been similarly affected by this type of behavior when they wereRead MoreGlobalization And Its Discontents : The Promise Of Global Institutions Essay874 Words   |  4 Pagesserves as a prime example, where it houses Wal-Mart, one of the largest corporations in the world. Nicholas Copeland and Christine Labuski, authors of The World of Wal-Mart: Discounting the American Dream, discusses about Wal-Mart s practices. Wal-Mart was founded by a man who wished to build a place where the American Dream was available for everyone. Despite his wishes, Wal-Mart s practices undermine the American Dream. With globalization, Wal-Mart has gained large amounts of wealth and possessesRead MoreWal-Mart Eth ics Essay2348 Words   |  10 PagesWal-Mart Stores, Inc. is currently entangled in a legal battle that will decide if the company has engaged willfully in gender-based discrimination. Underlying causes, organizational culture and ethical issues will be examined in determining how the largest private employer in the United States could have fallen prey to unfair labor practices. In 1999, women constituted 72% of Wal-Marts hourly employees, but only 33% of its managerial employees (Bhatnagar, 2004). This fact and many othersRead MoreDiscrimination in the Workplace1265 Words   |  6 Pagescompany. The following case occurred in 2011, but it is remarkable and unforgettable event. Wal-Mart v. Dukes was one of the largest United States Supreme Court case in American history. The case is about a 54-year old Wal-Mart worker who claimed gender discrimination at her workplace. She have been in the company for over six years and viewed as a good performance worker. Even with a positive review, Dukes was denied for a training program that can further her position in the company. Is it anRead MoreWalmarts Reputation1415 Words   |  6 PagesThe culture and organizational behavior of Wal-Mart has many consumers questioning the integrity of the company. Wal-Mart has seen itself in some of the nations largest suits. Wal-Mart has been harshly criticized in the public eye for over a decade now. The companies brand is a stake and Wal-Mart is fighting to change their reputation it day in and day out. It appears that Wal-Mart grew too big too fast and never planned on this rapid growth . They were not prepared for what the growth entailedRead MoreThe Movement Of The 1964 Civil Rights Act Essay1052 Words   |  5 PagesMuller v Oregon (1908) – limited women to work â€Å"no more than 10 hrs a day† – to protect women and unlocking the discussion of â€Å"women’s rights and gender equality.† †¢ Roe v Wade (1973) – balancing protection of life with â€Å"a woman’s right to privacy.† †¢ Adkins v Children’s Hospital (1923) – â€Å"women have same rights as men do when it comes to work wages.† †¢ Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) – â€Å"married women were granted the undeniable right to use contraceptives by the right to privacy.† †¢ Phillips v. Martin

Gambling Is A Risk And The Outcome - 987 Words

Gambling is an activity in which one bets money while participating in games that are, but are not limited to, cards, slot machines, sporting events, dice, and lotteries that may have a more beneficial outcome (Petry 2005). Fay (2012) found about 85 percent of U.S adults have gambled at least once in their lifetime. Unfortunately, gambling is a risk and the outcome is influenced solely by chance. Many Americans are occasional gamblers who bet relatively small amounts simply for the thrill and enjoyment of the game (Fay, 2012) While others are classified as pathological gamblers who lack the ability to control their gambling behaviors despite the negative impact that it may have on their lives. Fay (2012) reported approximately 2 million†¦show more content†¦It deprives us of the ability to move past patterns and broaden out ways of thinking. Culture can liberate us if we are willing to to refrain from the repetitive ways of thinking and challenging existing patterns. Thus, culture influences an individual’s decision to gamble. Gambling has been deeply embedded in human civilization since prehistoric times. Dice was discovered in an Egyptian tomb from 3000 BC (France, 1902). Smith (1948) found that during the establishment of the New World, the colony of Virginia was funded through lotteries. Interestingly, George Washington was believed to have purchased the first ticket (Smith, 1948). Among the Bushmen of South Africa, Ancient Chinese, and the American Indians, guessing games have been implemented into their rituals (Petry, 2005). Thus, culture influences an individual’s decision to gamble and how frequently an individual engages in gambling activities. Zitzow (1996) conducted a study in which he examined the gambling patterns of both American-Indian and non- Indians. Zitzow (1996) found that American-Indians began gambling at an early age and are more likely to become pathological gamblers than non-Indians. Zitsow (1996) found that this was due to American-Indians cultural belief in the notion of â€Å"good luck† and â€Å"fate†. In a similar study Wallisch (1996) found that Hispanics had higher gambling rates than did Caucasian. Perhaps, individuals tend to mimic the gambling patterns of those within in

Teaching Human Virtues Free Essays

Human beings grow and mature through their experiences in life. With the help of parents, friends and other people we get to know, human beings are able to learn many different lessons and knowledge. Human virtues are normally inculcated in our minds at a very young age, thought by no less than our immediate family members. We will write a custom essay sample on Teaching Human Virtues or any similar topic only for you Order Now Through time, we may or may not abandon the virtues that we believe in depending on our personal perceptions and our social environment. Nonetheless, human virtues can be taught not only because such virtues are ‘social constructs’ but also because human beings have the tendency to teach things by ostensive definition which can easily train people into believing many different things. John Locke proposed in Book II of An Essay Concerning Human Understanding that the state of human beings at birth can be compared to a tabula rasa or a blank tablet—the mind is basically empty of knowledge (Wood, p. 652). Conversely, we acquire knowledge through experience, specifically through sensory perception, as well as through our interactions with other people. One way of learning is through ostensive definition or defining what a concrete object or an abstract idea is by ‘pointing’ to the object or the manifestation of the idea. A child learns what a ‘chair’ is when somebody points an object chair to a child and tells the child that the object is a chair. Similarly, a person learns what the human virtue of kindness is when somebody points to a certain manifestation of the virtue and tells the person to observe the behavior. In essence, human virtues are abstract concepts that can be best understood in terms of their physical manifestations. For instance, the virtue of charity can be learned by observing a person who willingly donates some of his properties to charitable institutions such as orphanages. The virtue of bravery can be learned when a child sees a group of firemen trying to put out a fire from inside a burning building. There are also other ways to teach and learn different human virtues apart from ostensive definition. One of these ways is through formal education where students are taught what human virtues are with the help of books and other written articles. To a certain degree, learning institutions provide the theoretical framework for these human virtues. Thus, students learn the theoretical aspects of human virtues in the classroom while they learn the practical aspects of these virtues in real-life circumstances outside the school. From the state of tabula rasa, human beings progress into filling those empty slates with learning taught from experience, including human virtues. On the other hand, Aristotle maintains that human virtues can only be acquired by enacting the principle of the â€Å"mean†. According to Aristotle, virtues are the â€Å"mean† or middle values between ‘excess’ and ‘deficiency’ (Yu, p. 341). For example, courage is the mean of rashness—excessive courage—and cowardice or the deficiency of courage. How can an individual attain the human virtues or how can an individual live within the confines of the â€Å"mean†? To that question, Aristotle tells us that we should habituate our actions. Since every human being should strive to attain the good life or what he calls Eudaimonia, they should likewise see to it that they constantly practice the virtues so that they can be habituated. Following Aristotle’s theory, human virtues can be taught because virtues can be—as they should be—habituated. By performing virtuous actions to others and by habituating them, others are, in effect, taught about the value of these virtues. Those who are unaware of the idea that helping an old lady cross the street, for example, is an act of kindness can learn about the virtue by experiencing the act themselves. Children who are yet to fill their â€Å"blank tablets† with knowledge can be taught about human virtues through constant exposure to the action and by requesting them to do the same thing in their lives. In his book The Construction of Social Reality, John Searle argues that institutional facts are facts that have been socially constructed. That is, human beings and the society in which they live in are responsible for creating these types of facts. In that sense, human virtue can be considered as an institutional fact primarily because human beings have long proposed varying theories concerning the nature of virtues. Without human beings, one can hardly say that virtues will still exist. The fact that â€Å"human virtues† are called as such suggests that, without humanity, these virtues would not have come into existence. Following Searle’s argument, it does sound reasonable enough to say that human virtues can be taught. Like factual lessons taught to young people in classrooms and in the family, human virtues are also taught in almost the same manner. Some can even go to the point where they create their own virtue systems. The fact that there are varying conceptions of human virtues also points us to the idea that human virtues have been formulated across different cultures in different times. While one act may be considered absurd by one group such as cannibalism, another group may consider the act as virtuous. Among these varieties of groups, every respective virtue is passed on from one generation to another, making it survive through time or reducing it into inexistence or into another form. In highly traditional regions, virtues are taught either through word of mouth or through practice. For example, the virtue of â€Å"bayanihan† in the Philippines—the virtue where members of the community form a team to help a resident transfer his house to another location, typically through manual labor—is taught from one generation to the next through stories told to the younger members of the neighborhood and through the observation of the practice as it happens (Gibson and Zellmer-Bruhn, p. 283). In more modern countries, human virtues are taught through a number of ‘far-reaching’ ways; one of these ways is through mass media. For example, America is host to numerous television networks broadcasting hundreds of TV shows on a daily basis. Cartoons with a broad adult audience composition such as â€Å"Simpsons† and â€Å"King of the Hill† teach human virtues typically related to family matters through the stories of each episode and their characters. Children’s cartoons and puppet shows—for instance, Baby Looney Tunes and Sesame Street, respectively—are more likely to impart human virtues that can be easily understood and appreciated by children because they comprise the larger part of the audience share (Cross, p. 39). Those who think that human virtue cannot be taught may believe that human beings are incapable of teaching virtue in their pure form without alteration or bias. In effect, they might argue that what we consider as the virtues per se that we teach others are actually parodies of a seemingly endless string of parodies of parodies, ad infinitum. The response to that criticism is this: alterations only arise in specific contexts; virtues remain as they are in their general form. For example, a father may teach his children that it is only virtuous to avenge the death of their murdered grandfather when they become adults later in life. The father may have been given that impression about vengeance from the older generation of the family circle who also learned the â€Å"virtue† from those that preceded them, and so forth. And yet, the more general notion that causing harm to others is not virtuous remains. The more general notion that kindness and forgiveness are human virtues that should be practiced still remains intact. Others may also argue that human virtues cannot be taught because human beings are governed by their basic instinct for self-preservation. They primarily seek their personal interests and may or may not eventually promote the interests of others. Thus, they keep the virtues that can promote their personal welfare to themselves instead of teaching them to others out of fear of conflicting interests. The response to this argument rests on the very nature of human virtues; they are called â€Å"human virtues† because they presuppose that human beings naturally interact and share with others. Without sincere interaction and sharing, virtues can only be regarded as personal philosophies or personal guiding principles and not as what we know of them to be. They are called â€Å"human virtues† precisely because these virtues transcend individualism and selfishness. Otherwise, they would not be virtues in the first place. While it may be more or less likely true that human beings have a selfish gene, so to speak, it does not make them pathologically selfish beings. Neither does it totally prevent them from teaching human virtues to others, especially young children and those who need a lesson or two about them. It is through our daily experiences that we are able to learn human virtues as we observe them and, more importantly, as they are taught to us by those who know the virtues well enough. Although some people may decide not to teach others about human virtues, it does not consequently suggest that human beings are indeed incapable of teaching human virtues to others. The fact that each person can decide whether or not to teach human virtues to others also suggests that they can teach these virtues regardless of their personal decisions. A virtue taught to another individual may be in the form of an observed behavior, an ostensive definition or a theoretical example. Either way, human virtues can be taught. Not even the most selfish person in the world can deny the fact that human virtues have been passed on from one generation to the next. How to cite Teaching Human Virtues, Papers