FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[GoldandBlueBU]

Here's a fun challenge:

Step #1: Go to your college or university's "majors & minors" webpage where all majors and minors are listed

Step #2: Conduct a word search for "Studies"

Step #3: Find a major from the search results that is not a complete bulls**t program.

That was an interesting challenge.  Almost entirely what I would categorize as a waste of time and money, save for 2 of them - Social Studies (for education majors) and Biblical and Theological Studies, which is relevant for those going into ministry or planning for seminary.

Peace Studies was my winner for biggest waste of time, just beating out Gender Studies.  Leadership Studies won the "vague" category for  me.

[SagatagSam]

Here's a fun challenge:

Step #1: Go to your college or university's "majors & minors" webpage where all majors and minors are listed

Step #2: Conduct a word search for "Studies"

Step #3: Find a major from the search results that is not a complete bulls**t program.

That was an interesting challenge.  Almost entirely what I would categorize as a waste of time and money, save for 2 of them - Social Studies (for education majors) and Biblical and Theological Studies, which is relevant for those going into ministry or planning for seminary.

Peace Studies was my winner for biggest waste of time, just beating out Gender Studies.  Leadership Studies won the "vague" category for  me.

Point taken on social studies. Although, I think that social studies is kind of a mutant child of several disciplines--history probably being the most notable, combined with political science, and a little economics (generally really, really bad economics).

Biblical and Theological Studies could just simply be titled "Theology" as every theology program that I'm aware of incorporates a study of the bible to a substantial degree.

Peace Studies should be nothing more than a concentration of a Philosophy major.

Don't even get me started on Gender & Sexuality Studies degrees--I see no merit or utility there at all.

[Texas Ole]

Here's a fun challenge:

Step #1: Go to your college or university's "majors & minors" webpage where all majors and minors are listed

Step #2: Conduct a word search for "Studies"

Step #3: Find a major from the search results that is not a complete bulls**t program.

That was an interesting challenge.  Almost entirely what I would categorize as a waste of time and money, save for 2 of them - Social Studies (for education majors) and Biblical and Theological Studies, which is relevant for those going into ministry or planning for seminary.

Peace Studies was my winner for biggest waste of time, just beating out Gender Studies.  Leadership Studies won the "vague" category for  me.

Point taken on social studies. Although, I think that social studies is kind of a mutant child of several disciplines--history probably being the most notable, combined with political science, and a little economics (generally really, really bad economics).

Biblical and Theological Studies could just simply be titled "Theology" as every theology program that I'm aware of incorporates a study of the bible to a substantial degree.

Peace Studies should be nothing more than a concentration of a Philosophy major.

Don't even get me started on Gender & Sexuality Studies degrees--I see no merit or utility there at all.

I guess it fits the stereotype that most Johnnies avoided women's studies.

Jokes aside some of these majors can be beneficial if you have a specific plan.  Some are good for teaching and certain types of grad school.  The key to any major is having a plan on how to use it which most people ignore.  I wish I hadn't majored in English.  Eventually I got an accounting degree which is serving me well.  Schools do cut programs that don't mesh with the identity of the school.  St. Olaf dropped communication and some of its education programs.  I know nursing was at one point on the chopping block.  I know we have talked about it some on this board, but I think the MIAC is due to see at least 1 school fail or have to fully merge with another one. 

Also don't worry Johnnies we are planning to vote you out soon so you can join UST at the D1 level.  I am joking of course, but with the direction of the NCAA and athletics I could see a ton of movement between divisions in the coming years.  I see a few D1 coaches regularly, and they keep telling me the portal and NIL has created a mess for schools.

[OzJohnnie]

It's not football but it's still good to watch.  Jays v Gusties.  Bottom of the sixth.



EDIT:  Hamline has a great ballpark.  I would enjoy watching games there.

EDIT II: No wonder it looks so good.  I see that Hamline shares it with the Saints.

EDIT III: Remind me to never post photos during a Johnnie football game.  The Gusties have scored one in the seventh to trail 7-5 and have loaded the bases with no outs on two errors.

[OzJohnnie]

Goooooooooooooo Johnnies!  A pinch hitting sophomore ties the game at 9 with a two-run, off the fence two-out double in the top of the ninth!  Was so close to a Natural moment.

EDIT:  Damn, the Gustie right fielder made a spectacular score saving catch to send the game to the bottom of the ninth tied at 9.  The Jays will try and hold them and send the game to extra innings.  Man, of all the things I miss most about home, it's ball games like this.  I love being at the park for a high-tension game.

[OzJohnnie]

It's the top of the tenth and the Jays have the go ahead run on second and I need to drive #3 to work.  Curse kids. Who the heck ever said they were a good idea?

[OzJohnnie]

Gah!  Heartache.

[Retired Old Rat]

Johnnies lose 11-10 in ten innings.  Poor pitching (again) and three errors do them in.  They lost to Gustavus 17-7 yesterday.  Bethel only needs to win 1 of 2 from Gustavus tomorrow to claim the championship.

[carletonknights]

I know this was brought up several months ago, but it is worth re-posting again for context. Saint Mary's is near the middle of the pack as far as fiscal health. Makes me wonder what we could see from a place like Hamline in the near future.

Missed this previously, what goes into this score?

[art76]

Johnnies lose 11-10 in ten innings.  Poor pitching (again) and three errors do them in.  They lost to Gustavus 17-7 yesterday.  Bethel only needs to win 1 of 2 from Gustavus tomorrow to claim the championship.

Bethel wins the conference season and the playoffs - that hasn't happened since 2014 - at least that's what they're touting on FB.

[SagatagSam]

I know this was brought up several months ago, but it is worth re-posting again for context. Saint Mary's is near the middle of the pack as far as fiscal health. Makes me wonder what we could see from a place like Hamline in the near future.

Missed this previously, what goes into this score?

There is a detailed explanation of each of these in the article, but I reposted nine areas considered here.

1. Endowment Assets Per FTE (15%)
2. Primary Reserve Ratio (15%)
3. Viability Ratio (10%)
4. Core Operating Margin (10%)
5. Tuition As A Percentage of Core Revenues (15%)
6. Return On Assets (10%)
7. Admissions Yield (10%)
8. Percent Of Freshmen Getting Grant Aid (7.5%)
9. Instruction Expenses Per FTE (7.5%)

Full article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/schifrin/2021/02/22/college-financial-grades-2021-will-your-alma-mater-survive-covid/?sh=2c55780e4916

[SagatagSam]

Jokes aside some of these majors can be beneficial if you have a specific plan.  Some are good for teaching and certain types of grad school.  The key to any major is having a plan on how to use it which most people ignore.  I wish I hadn't majored in English.  Eventually I got an accounting degree which is serving me well. 

I agree that having a plan is crucial piece that is missing from 85%+ students selection of a school and/or major. My 37-year-old self would try to talk my dumb freshman self out of being a communication major. It was a fun major, but I wasn't really paying attention to the economic and human resource realities of the day (i.e., doesn't pay much and lots of job sectors fed by COMM majors that were rapidly shrinking).

It's not that English, communication, political science, history, etc. should be wiped from the face of the earth. However, those majors probably shouldn't account for 1/4 of the student population. I believe communication was one of if not the biggest department on campus when I was at SJU and political science was also huge.

The Onion rightly lampooned the overabundance of communication degree holders years ago: https://www.theonion.com/company-immediately-calls-job-applicant-upon-seeing-b-1819574706

[SagatagSam]

The Johnnies won their 13th MIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship on Saturday, scoring 218.25 points and defeating their next closest rival, St. Olaf, by 59.25 points. The win represents the second most points ever scored by SJU in an outdoor championship meet (the 2007 Johnnies scored 225 points in a 47 point victory over second place St. Thomas), and the largest margin of victory by SJU in any championship meet. The 1986 St. Thomas squad holds the MIAC largest margin of victory all time at 145.8 points over second place SJU.

With the completion of the outdoor track season, the Durenburger and Wiesner trophies are officially awarded to SJU (15th overall, first since 2007) for the men and Gustavus (6th overall, first since 2007) for the women. Here are the final standings:

[OzJohnnie]

Quick question on pronunciations:  St Olaf?  Ol-OFF or Ol-if?

I have always said Ol-if but I was watching the track highlights and the announcer said Ol-OFF.  Am I not Minnesotan?

[BDB]

Quick question on pronunciations:  St Olaf?  Ol-OFF or Ol-if?

I have always said Ol-if but I was watching the track highlights and the announcer said Ol-OFF.  Am I not Minnesotan?

OL-Uff (Da)