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6 The Panther February 15-28, 2017
Clark Atlanta University
How is technology affecting this generation’s
understanding oi relationships & what is love?
By Aiysha Conner
MANAGING EDITOR
Valentine’s Day just passed.
Many students find themselves
questioning the idea of love, or in
some cases feeling down about having
no one to spend the holidays with.
Generational differences
are inevitable, especially when
dealing with the matter of the heart.
Though each individual’s encounter
or perspective of the controversial
subject of love varies, generations
tend to have its trend on the
meaning of love.
In an interview, Simon
Sinek on an episode of “Inside
Quest,” was asked 'The Millennial
Question’ where he broke down
the reasoning behind millennial
actions. He said millennials feel as
if they are entitled, having no idea
what it is they actually desire.
Sinek said, “You have an
entire generation that has access
to an addictive numbing chemical
called dopamine, through social
media and cell phones, as they are
going through the high stress of
adolescence. Too many kids don’t
know how to form deep meaningful
relationships. They will admit
that many of their friendships are
superficial.
“They will admit that they
don’t rely on their friends. They
have fun with their friends, but they
also know that their friends will
cancel on them if something better
comes along. Deep meaningful
relationships aren’t there because
they never practiced the skill set,
and worse they don’t have the
coping mechanisms to deal with
stress. So when significant stress
starts to show up in their lives,
they’re not turning to a person,
they're turning to a device, social
media, they're turning to these
things that offer temporary relief.”
Tyler Harrington, a junior
at Clark Atlanta University, shared
his input on the notion: “How we
communicate love is different
from past generations. Our social
capabilities have increased, but
have become a handicap because
of technology. You can’t blame us.
We were born into a generation of
technology. We don't communicate
love; we just have a different
way of showing it. Many of our
actions are at fault from us being
misguided.”
At the end of last semester,
Dr. Kanika Bell from the
Department of Psychology hosted
“The Dating Game.” The event
consisted of a game show that
tested students’ dating savvy and
conflict resolution skills. It was
held in one of the large lecture
rooms in Carl and Mary Ware
Hall where many students were
of attendance eager to participate
in the game show. Questions
incorporated informative statistics
such as “one out of four women are
victims of serious intimate partner
violence,” and for men it is “one
out of seven.”
“People are
afraid of love
just because
they don’t know
what it is. The
word gets tossed
around loosely.”
Dr. Bell also displayed
three words scenarios such as,
"Breath Mints, Protection, and
the Truth.” She then asked the
audience, “in what case you would
need the three items?”
Answers varied amongst
the crowd. One male participant in
particular responded, “When you
are trying to sleep with someone.”
Another scenario read,
“Yelling/cursing, demeaning
statements, and controlling
behaviors.”
A female student answered
insinuating that the traits would
potentially attract a woman to a
man.
Paul Hudson from Elite
Daily said, “My greatest worry
is our generation will be looked
at as the generation that gave up
on love. We date for the sake of
dating. The generation that forgot
how to love — which is ridiculous.
Most people have never had a good
understanding of love, just a poor
interpretation of it.”
As witnessed at “The
Dating Game” event, the responses
given portrayed the disconnect
students had from the concept of
how to genuinely love.
According to a study
reported in an article titled ‘Tales
From the Millennial Sexual
Revolution’ published in Rolling
Stone, “Today’s college students
are significantly less likely to
report having a regular sexual
partner (77.1 percent versus 84.5
percent), while they're more likely
to report having sex casually with a
friend or random partner.”
Elizabeth Armstrong, a
sociologist at the University of
Michigan who studies sexuality,
further points out in the article,
“Hookups may be a way of
hedging one’s bets for all genders:
They allow for physical pleasure
while avoiding emotional risks.”
Moreover, Jarrett
Thurgood, a recent Morehouse
graduate, stated, “People are
afraid of love just because they
don’t know what it is. The word
gets tossed around loosely. Some
people get caught up in the word,
and not the actions. People say it
because they feel like they have to,
but don’t really mean it. But when
someone actually genuinely loves
you, people can’t even see it.”
According to an article in
The Huffington Post, historically,
humans are going where no human
has gone before, hooked up to apps
offering unprecedented exposure to
the innermost thoughts and actions
of others, as well as new avenues
to spy on loved ones, cheat, and
cover the tracks.
"The science of epigenetics
has shown that our experiences
may permanently, even heritably,
transform our DNA. This means
that things we feel, like trauma
and loss, change the way future
generations are wired. By this
logic, can communication
physically transform us?” the
article says.
A 2014 Nielsen survey found
that the average American spends
11 hours on social media, and
more than half of that time is spent
looking at a smartphone or tablet.
“Technology has put our
relationships in beta, redefining
how we communicate our desires
and trust one another," the report
says.
The study also concludes
hat technology is accelerang
new relationships, is mobilizing
the LGBT community and also
changing he way we mourn.
lecord of nearly 400 international students
irom 21 countries enroll at (AH this semesteil
Students returning to Clark Atlanta University for the Spring ’17 semester will find one of the most
diverse HBCUs in the nation. That's because nearly 400 international students from 21 countries, the most
ever, are pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees at CAU, .
Eighty-seven percent of all international students enrolled at CAU are from Saudi Arabia. Others
hail from countries like Nigeria, Yemen, China and India, to name a few.
“Besides the strategic efforts of the University to enroll a diverse student population, international
students have indicated they value their experiences at CAU,” said Gwen Wade, director of International
Programs. The numbers seem to prove her right.
During Fall ’ 14, CAU enrolled only 167 international students. Within two years that number had
more than doubled. The surge in the number of international students is being met by a boost in University
resources to accommodate their needs.
“I feel at home,” said Yakuba Adderly, a junior business major from The Bahamas. “I feel a sense
of belonging. I feel more welcome here than at other colleges,” Adderly said.
Wade said the growing presence of international students is a win for the entire CAU community.
“International students provide enriching opportunities for the CAU community to broaden individual
perspectives and enhance learning experiences on cultures, languages, religions and customs, which might
be new or different,” Wade said.
“I have always valued interactions with international students and visitors. I sincerely believe
students who have the ability to interact with people of different ethnicities and worldviews enhance their
understanding of the global community we share,” she added.