Overall, I found the author’s argument for greenspaces quite persuasive. After reading this, even if its not displayed in my responses, I do think that colleges need green spaces. However, I do not think it is as big of a priority as she does. Her conclusion effectively highlights her arguments for green spaces. I also like how she reviewed the cognitive attention points because it was the back bone of her argument. She also makes a point to mention that it will make the university more attractive as well as helping the students. This is one of the strongest points she makes because it is not only a call to action, but she shows the two way benefits of adding green spaces.

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The author displays many nice ways to employ green spaces to the campuses, but the author never mentions how the universities are supposed to pay for these. I want to refer to a simple economic principle; “There is no such thing as a free lunch” essentially means that the funds have to come from somewhere. Colleges, like LSU jack up student fee rates making college even more unaffordable to those who are struggling to pay tuition (Woodhouse). Students having to pay for these amenities by increasing student fees makes the campus more exclusive to the upper class. Much like I mentioned above, where in the past colleges were primarily for the rich. As colleges expand the amenities that colleges provide the more expensive and inaccessible college will be.

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I agree with the first definition of nature in which it describes nature as something separate from human influence or touch. Adding green spaces is not really incorporating nature into the campus because it is just some plants, grass, and the sun. Being from the country, nature is when you are in the depths of the woods where there is not a sign of human hand. Green spaces are just a way of tricking the mind to be in nature. In the following paragraphs, the author describes how “green spaces” could reduce direct attention and activate indirect attention; thus, lowering the stress rates of students. However, I feel that green spaces would ultimately be a distraction from a student’s main focus – education. The reason I think this is because students would see the green space as another “hang out” spot, leaving even less time for studying. On the flip side, green spaces would be a relaxing spot for students to go, but I do not think it would contribute to their overall learning. I do agree with the fact that nature is healing. I just do not agree that green spaces are the same thing as nature. I think a better way for students to experience the connection with nature is to actually go to nature. By this I mean that the school could have set days where they provide a shuttle to a nice wooded area or walking trail where students are actually in the middle of nature instead a grass plot. Also, I feel that the cost of running a bus a few times a week would be more cost efficient than building a whole area on campus of green spaces.

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This passage fits nicely with the concept of the Built Environment Project. This is because pf he connection of the past to the present and ho the architecture reflects this idea. In the post- war era of our country, from 1955 to 1970 increase the number of students enrolling into University astronomically. I also think that this increase was due to transition movements such as the civil rights movement and women’s rights movement. This expanded colleges from the rich, white male to essentially anyone with means to go to college. The need for newer buildings was growing, thus making it necessary to integrate the new with the old- much like the city of Atlanta. As college campuses’ student demographics changes, then campuses have to change as well. Another example is the call for safe spaces. As mention in the Washington Post article by Ms. Strauss, students are demanding for safe spaces. One of the reasons for the call of safe spaces is that college student bodies are growing increasingly more diverse, creating an atmosphere for conflict. In the past we can see how the “grass roots” movement in the 1970’s and global warming awareness are two other ideas that changed the shape of college campuses by calling for more “green spaces”.

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RR4

I want to address the quote "1/5 of a student's time is spent in the classroom" because it is quite revealing of the life of a student. This contrasts with the lives of high school students who typically spend 40 hours a week in class. College students really are not in class, so where are they? If they are serious about their education then they are in a quiet place studying, if they aren't you can find them at a dorm party or having a Netflix marathon. Most college students fall somewhere in between. With that being said, I am not sure why the author thinks that a grassy area would be a source of improvement of this. This idea would be more plausible if the green spaces were a dead zone. Most students are attached to their phones, so without self-discipline the stimulation and attention fatigue would more than likely stay the same

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj6-sLWk6rSAhWV14MKHWfcAcwQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F429249408203771040%2F&psig=AFQjCNGRdRv1zDupSi3hWXtd4NwWhaFmLA&ust=1488074508498612

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I find the author's argument to be weak in this paragraph. This is because she fails to recognize that colleges do not follow this model. As cities and campuses grow, they will intertwine. We do not live in the 1700s where cities are miles apart; cities often are side by side. There just not enough space to have the luxury of a closed campus.

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RR2

Upon reflection of this passage, I could not help but to think of Georgia State. I started attending Georgia State University in fall of 2013. Since I have started here, there have been some significant changes. For one, parking is an absolute nightmare now. I never really thought about why this change occurred, but after reading this passage I have come to the conclusion is that universities as a whole are growing rapidly. Georgia State obviously has had an influx of students and since Georgia State is historically a commuter school, parking availability is critical ital. The same problem can be observed at UGA. Many students at University of Georgia have to live off campus because of the exclusivity of on campus housing. Because there is such a high demand for housing at UGA, they are able to jack of the prices on sub- par living quarters. Another unforeseen consequence of the rising rate of students that this article did not address or even acknowledge is it is giving colleges the ability to raise tuition, and make college more difficult for students to get into. This ultimately will give students who are have higher status or with superb athletic abilities to get into the bigger, more prestigious colleges.

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RR1 The first supplementary reading I used was from the Washington Post’s article So you like the University of Chicago’s rejection of the ‘safe spaces for students? Consider this. The article discussed the reasons why students want safe spaces. The main argument was that students want safe spaces because of the increasing violent times and the more diverse student bodies. The counter argument against safe spaces was that there were for “snowflakes” that could not handle the real world.

The second supplementary reading I used was Are lazy rivers and climbing walls driving up the cost of college? This article was about LSU spending 85 million dollars on student amenities to make it more attractive to potential students. She reveals that the river was paid for by an increase in student fees and that making such additions attract students who are less academically focused.

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