Blurred Lines between Reality and Fiction

Every few months a picture of people being on their phones while at a dinner or a party makes the rounds on social media. Although twitter and Facebook users are quick to denounce this anti-social behavior, the trend persists. In today’s social media culture people are so concerned with being up to date and curating…

Data and Privacy

The relationship between data collection and privacy is hotly contested issue in the modern arena. In the wake of startling revelations that the NSA listened to the calls of ordinary Americans, collected civilian text messages, and tapped into the servers of nine internet firms, many Americans began to fear the imminence of a big brother…

Comparing Campus Cultures from a Newbie Perspective

Penn State, much like the Circle, is a center for innovation, education, and social growth. As newbies, both Mae and I came into these environments with excitement and anxiety. We had to quickly pick up on the cultural norms of each institution. However, while my experience at Penn State is more centered around adopting tradition, Mae’s…