Intro music
Emily Robertson: Since its opening in 1988, Barrett, The
Honors College has provided thousands of students each year with specialized
classes and separate living spaces than the rest of the Arizona State University
campus. Barrett students have to pay an exceptionally larger amount of money
than the rest of the students at the university. Honors college students should
realize that despite the fact that they receive special treatment, the extra
money being poured into the school is not worth the money.
As far as residential benefits go, Barrett students have it
made. The rooms come with bigger bathrooms, they get higher quality food, and they
have their own rec center. These are undoubtedly the biggest areas the money is
going towards. But the fact is that the students at Arizona State University
stand divided. Interestingly enough, the two students living at home or in
other residence halls look into the negatives of being in the honors college
while the two inside perspectives stand divided.
Danika Orcilla: I
live at home, but I think I have a good understanding of how student housing
works on campus. I feel like students pay their way into Barrett. Anyone can
get into it and say they are part of it but not really uphold the true meaning
of being in an honors college. Students in Barrett are automatically thought of
as being smarter than a student not in Barrett, so it is more of an image they
use to their advantage. It separates the students in the honors college from
the normal students to the point where they have to take separate classes, so
they don’t really get the true college experience. It is similar to the
strategies elementary schools use with reading groups where everyone knows who
is in the higher levels versus the lower. It is a form of academic segregation.
Not only is Barrett segregated academically, but also segregated physically,
because they have their own gated off community that is secluded from the
“average” students dormitory. Barrett kids eat, sleep, and essentially live
with their equals instead of interacting with a mixture of types of people.
Emily Robertson: From
an inside perspective, do you feel the same way?
Arianna Bradley: I
think it is worth it in some respects like priority registration for classes
each semester and my human event and honors classes, but the overcharging for
the facilities that I use are not worth the price due to their quality. For
instance the dorms in Barrett are not that different compared to other
residence halls. I still share a bathroom with three other people just like
hassayampa. We also have lounges and community kitchens just like the other
halls as well. As far as the education goes I think Barrett could not be more
worth it. I find my Human Events class is extremely useful and personal. I also
think my cluster of people I am in multiple classes with has helped me too. I
have gotten to form study groups with them because I know we are all learning
the same thing, and since we all live in the same community I believe it is
extremely beneficial to live in Barrett.
Emily Robertson:
So you are split with if you think it is worth it or not?
Arianna Bradley:
I’d say so. I think it is just a matter of opinion. I know I do not want to
live in the Barrett dorms again next year, and I don’t like how they try to
keep you here for longer than freshman year. Looking back, I am glad I applied,
but I don’t think it is completely worth everything I am putting into it.
Emily Robertson: Isabel, Looking solely at residence halls, do
you feel your money going to Barrett is benefitting you?
Isabel Anderson: It
is absolutely worth it. In my opinion, we aren’t that different than the kids
living in any other residence halls. The students in San Pablo or Best hall are
probably just as close as we are in our halls. My friends are always coming
over to Barrett too; I don’t think they would if it were just the same as
Hassayampa. The food is better because we pay more, so we deserve higher
quality food. I chose to apply here because I thought it would be a better
environment for me to focus on school and it feels like that is true so far.
The people in my classes all know what it takes to be an honors student, so
it’s nice to have similar people to you with common goals around.
Emily Robertson:
What about education?
Isabel Anderson:
Not as worth it as the housing. Yes, I get to eat better but that isn’t really
a huge factor on whether or not I need to pay more tuition. My professors are
as great as the others and people outside of Barrett have my major and are
taking some of the same classes as me.
Emily Robertson:
So by living in Hassayampa do you think it is worth it to pay additional
tuition to be in Barrett?
Brianna Quintero: It
is hard to say that paying that money would be worth it because I already feel
like I am getting everything I need to succeed without being an honors student.
Being a Biochemistry major, I already feel as though my classes are challenging
enough without piling a thesis onto it or a Human Events class. My professors
are just as good as the other ones and the people I live around are willing to
form study groups as well. I live in Hassayampa. The food is decent, along with
things like the student rec center. I feel like having to live like everyone
else is a part of the whole experience of being here. We always heard of
stories about college growing up and I think that their experience is
completely different than mine or anyone’s that is not in Barrett.
Emily Robertson:
The general consensus is that it is only worth paying extra money for partial
benefits. Other than that, Barrett really is not that different from the
typical college student’s lifestyle. This shows that despite the fact that they
get special treatment, The Honors College is not all it’s cracked up to be.
Outro music
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