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-   -   FIRST On A Disturbing Path (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20149)

tenfour 14-04-2003 03:39

Thanks!

As I said, at FIRST, we are two colors: red and blue.

WakeZero 14-04-2003 04:14

Can everyone just become colorblind so we can continue having some fun competing robots?

Just wondering, because I thought FIRST was bigger than all this :confused:

Koko Ed 14-04-2003 07:59

Jesse Jackson, to me, is more of a politician than a freedom fighter like my grandfather the reverend Patterson down in Savannah, GA.
Jesse tries to keep himself in the spotlight as much as possible because he seeks political clout. Most of the battles he seek have already been fought and seem like repeated efforts. He needs to take the next step so African Americans can take the next step as well.
The NAACP seems unable to understand that African Americans need to brought into the loop of this technology savvy society or be in danger of being left behind. That would be required to do something that they would dread to do: bring accountability to the African American people themselves. We African Americans have to take up the reins and control our own destiny instead of waiting for others to save us.
FIRST is a big part of those opportunities. It opens up the real possibilities that science and technology are a real career path to take. Scholarships are just a part of that. The kids learn to work in a diverse environment ( I dare say the X-Cats are the most diverse team in FIRST) in a true business model and are given accountability for their actions to make responsible descions that affect the whole team. Much is learned from this and provides invaluble experience that they can take with them to college and when they enter the work force.

Mike Martus 14-04-2003 09:31

This thread
 
At this point reading the threads I would request that this thread be ended. I am requesting of the posters instead of just closing or deleting it.

I would like to see these boards do a little self governing. Here is the opportunity.

The path of this thread while important to free speech and opinions can cause many hard feelings and be disrespectful.

It has often been said " If you have nothing good to say about someone, say nothing".

Here is not the venue to discuss Mr. Jesse Jackson or other politicians that you may or may not like. All of us do some good and some bad in life. What is "Good" or "Bad" is dependent on where you are in life and your personal views as related to society.

In conclusion...

Please refrain from discussions that can cause more harm than good on these forums.

We ARE about the Community of FIRST lets make this idea of FIRST move to even higher levels in growth and organization.

KenWittlief 14-04-2003 09:49

A couple points on this:

scholarships: I dont see any problem with a person or organization giving a scholarship that is open only to one group of people. The key word here is GIVING!

the scholarship is a gift - its not something you earned, not something you competed for - its something that was freely given based on the desires of the giver.

We do this all the time. I am paying for my own childrens college out of my pocket - isnt that my form of giving them a scholarship? If I want to pay for my nephews tuition, or to give a scholarship to someone from my high school (Hutch Tech in Bflo, NY) is there something wrong with that? absolutely not!

FIRST itself IS discrimantory! FIRST is a program intended to inspire students to pursue careers in science and technology.

Who needs that inspiration the most? think about this for a minute before you answer. I live in Fairport, NY - a suburb of Rochester. This year I volunteered to be the sparkie engineer for the Fairport team because they had no EEs.

98% of the graduating students from Fairport HS go to college every year. Many students here ARE the children of engineers, business men, doctors, dentists, teachers, professors...

Do these kids from the suburbs NEED to be inspired?

Well yes - it does help and encourage them to be a part of the FIRST program - it does push then further than they might have gone on their own.

Last year I was on the X-cats team - A city magnet school in Rochester, NY. Many of the kids on the Xcats had never even MET an engineer before they joined the team. The difference in the level of impact that the Xcats has on the students lives is like night and day.

The REAL impact of FIRST is to reach students who would NOT goto college otherwise - who dont have the motivation, the self confidence, the resources to make it on their own. That is what FIRST is all about - not a robot building contest - its a life changing, career building endevour!

Who is Jesses Jackson? what does he have to do with FIRST?! What does Will Smith have to do with FIRST? Who is this Woody Flowers guy I see walking around all the time? What are his political motivations?

There is a biblical saying: those who are not against us, are with us. If someone comes to a FIRST event, and encourages and uplifts some or all of the students, then God bless him - I hope he comes back next year, and anyone else who has positive and encouraging things to say to us.

FIRST: playing with robots -> altering the future!

note to moderator: I was writing this while you posted your request to end the thread - sorry - didnt see it until I posted.

DCaldwell05BCP 14-04-2003 11:44

I am glad that this has not turned into a flamefest. This is a testament the quality of people that post on Chief Delphi.

I feel that this is an issue that needs to be discussed and yes it is controversial. I wish we didn't need to discuss this, but it is something we can't ignore.

FIRST will attract controversy and will disenfranchise many if they allow more people like Jesse Jackson to attend their events and if they continue to push programs and scholarships that are availible only to people of a certain race.

This is important to us because we love FIRST so much. We do not want a media circus surrounding FIRST. We do not want talking-heads trashing FIRST. This is what will happen if FIRST allows people like Jesse Jackson to attend events.

DarkRedDragon 14-04-2003 12:16

what ever happened to just giving it to the most deserving people? a good student who has financial problems. My dad works, my mom cant, and i have 2 older siblings in college, i am in 9th grade, and i have a little sis in 4th grade. I work hard in school and yet politics effects everything now. The color blind idea seems good right about now. It seems that we should ignore this stuff and just try to live out our lives, becuase if you do your best, the chances are that someone will help you out.

indieFan 14-04-2003 13:06

Re: FIRST On A Disturbing Path
 
Quote:

Originally posted by DCaldwell05BCP

There were several scholarships totalling a few thousand dollars each. However, there was one scholarship that was larger then the rest. Forty thousand dollars if my memory serves me right, ten times larger then the ones mentioned before..... and it was only avalible to those of Hispanic heritage.

I'm rather curious who was offering this "Hispanic Heritage" scholarship. Was it offered by a specific college, or was it offered by a professional society targeting Hispanics, such as SHPE? If it was the latter, then it makes perfect sense that they would limit the qualifications for winning to someone of the target group.

I know that I would personally be annoyed if, as a member of SWE (Society of Women Engineers), SWE offered a scholarship and allowed men to apply for it. I have no problem with men being a part of SWE as it serves, in part, as a networking tool. However, since SWE is targeting women, the scholarship should remain within the target group.

Also, as a college student going for a second bachelor's degree, finding scholarships that apply to my situation is next to impossible. I am not an undergraduate student by the college's definition, but I am not a student working towards a specific master's or PhD degree. Therefore, if I read the fine print of all scholarships, I am not eligible. Do I see this as unfair? Sure. From a graduate/continuing education student, what makes me different from those working towards a specific degree that's a master's or PhD? In my mind, nothing other than the fact that my next degree will say Bachelor of Science. But the people that offer these scholarships have their requirements, and I don't meet them. Knowing this is the reality, however, I have instead looked into other options, such as Work Study programs and loans.

Just my thoughts,
indieFan

LizJJury 14-04-2003 13:20

All I know is that scholarships tend to be created by a group of people or a person. that person decides what they want their scholarship's requirements to be. so that one person makes lots of people gripe.......
personnally i would take each person on a case by case basis and look at money need, academics, classes, other students at that school, and all the basics. i would pretend that there was no such thing as different races or skin tones. if you look at everything but that persons race then you will be fair to everyone. the person who best desrves it will get it....whether it be a white, african american, native american, indian, chinese, ect.

i guess what i am trying to say is that a person who is intelligent, tries hard, gets pretty good grades....B and better, and is in need of that money should get it. NO ONE ELSE! if there are several than you should choose the person who needs it the most.

it is really hard to type out what i am thinking but i think that i am getting the basis of my message and feelings out.

KenWittlief 14-04-2003 13:29

Does it bother anyone that all of these scholarships we are talking about, are ONLY available to students who are active members of a FIRST team?!

is that fair to the other students in your high school?

if you follow the logic that is becoming prevelant in this thread, then these 'FIRST only' scholarships are not fair to non-FIRST students, and they should ALL be opened up a all high school students at all schools - Im sure there are many students at your high school who need these scholarships more than you do

and who did not have the time or energy to be on a FIRST team - maybe they had to spend more time on their studies - maybe they have jobs after school to earn money for college

they desirve to considered too -

Right?

[a scholarship is NOT a right or a prividedge - it is A GIFT! understand?]

Caleb Fulton 14-04-2003 14:02

Quote:

Does it bother anyone that all of these scholarships we are talking about, are ONLY available to students who are active members of a FIRST team?!
With all due respect, that is a moot point; one can choose to be on the robotics team, but one cannot choose his skin color...

Koko Ed 14-04-2003 14:09

Quote:

Originally posted by Caleb Fulton
With all due respect, that is a moot point; one can choose to be on the robotics team, but one cannot choose his skin color...
Believe you me, if I had the choice to change my skin color to get a job you'd bet I'd turn white to improve my chances.

KenWittlief 14-04-2003 14:16

how can you chose to be on a FIRST team - if your school doenst have one?

or if you need to spend all your time studying to keep your grades up?

or if you MUST have a job after school because you need the money?

'Choose' is a poor choice of words here. PLEASE PEOPLE - if someone wants to give away a scholarship [FREE MONEY] that is a good thing, no ANDs IFs XORS BUTs

people are free to give GIFTS to whomever they chose, for whatever reason they choose - what is the point in complaining about it?

Make the most of what you have and when you are rich and successful then YOU can give out scholarships to whoever YOU deem most worthy

OK?

Caleb Fulton 14-04-2003 14:26

Yes, people are free to do whatever they want with their money, but governments are not, and schools that use government funding for race-based scholarships are not just "giving of their own free will." It is also wrong for people like Jessie Jackson to threaten business and organizations if they don't do his bidding--whatever his cause may be.

KenWittlief 14-04-2003 14:31

Can someone please post the video of Jesse Jackson makeing threats against FIRST?

I wasnt at the Championship - I mustof missed one heck of an opening ceremony! %(


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