execration n. 1.c. Utter detestation; intense abhorrence. OED, 2nd ed. 1989.
Last night I had the pleasure of the company of five of our new “1st years” at The Blind Pig for beers and conversation (Jim, Natalie, Megan, Margaret and Jake).
Now, it is not the new students who I consider to be an execration, but the term “1st years.” [If you've been reading this blog for more than a week or two then you should know that I love every one of our new crops of students!] I’ve heard this referent since I first got to GSLIS in the summer of 2004. I have no idea how long it has been in use, but it really needs to stop.
[Update: I do not mean to imply that this term is used derogatorily; only that it is used as a term to distinguish between people. For more clarification, see my reply to Jenny in the comments.]
I fully understand the use in reference to doctoral students. Most of them are here for 5+ years. For those who are here towards the longer end of the spectrum they may prefer to actually stop counting at some point. That, though, is an entirely different issue.
Where did the masters students get it from? Was it borrowed from the doctoral students or is it more pop culture-oriented? That is, did it come from Harry Potter? My gut feeling is, yes. I have no “proof,” nor even evidence. But I do have my suspicions.
Either way, it’s use in regards to masters students is completely inane. At. best. The kids in the Hogwart’s universe attend school for 7 years. That is, if they don’t get killed first. They are basically young doctoral students. Numbers on the order of seven deserve to be counted.
Numbers on the order of two, unless in binary, often do not need to be counted. What, pray tell, is the difference between a “1st year” and a “2nd year”? Heck, many of our masters students (oncampus) only stay for a year, that is, they get their 40 hours completed in one fall, spring, summer cycle. Those of us on the slower route stay 2 years or a bit more.
I have been one of the “slowest” masters students recently. I started in a summer and went through my second spring. Depending on how one counts, that was 2+ years or only (under) 2 years—June 2004 to May 2006. What is the purpose of differentiating between 1st and 2nd in these cases?
That first class I took in the summer of 2004 was one of the 2 required course we have at UIUC GSLIS. Masters students are supposed to get them both out of the way as soon as possible, that is in their 1st two semesters. There are always some who manage to leave one of them to last. We, in fact, did have a few “2nd years” in our class. They are the ones who introduced this loathsome concept to us. Was there any difference between them and the majority of us who were just starting? No. Not really. They were just (much) closer to graduation.
As for our LEEP (distance ed) students, they don’t use this referent to the best of my knowledge. They have a much more useful way to differentiate themselves, despite the fact they do generally take a bit longer to finish. LEEP students have a cohort number each year, which is how they generally refer to themselves. In fact, if you meet LEEP students from the early days of the LEEP program they too will introduce themselves by their cohort. This year, cohorts 11.1 and 11.2 started the program (it being the 11th year of LEEP). Cohort numbers seem to even be a bit of pride for LEEPers.
Maybe the masters students should count by semesters if they really need to practice their math skills. I mean that way they can at least count up to three or possibly six, except in the rarest of cases.
Worst, I have no idea what I am now. As usual, I am confused under such a system. I am in my 3rd year at GSLIS, but it would be senseless to call me a “3rd year.” I’m not that slow; I have started another degree. Should I be referred to as a “1st year” CAS student? Please, NO! There’s so few of us we really have no need to count.
I’m sure it is just me, but the use of the terms “1st year” and “2nd year” to refer to students who will only be here for either one or two years at most is senseless. IMHO it is inane, inapt, awkward, banal and an execrable use of language.
I have decided that I dislike it even more than “Happy Place.” And that, as a few of you know, is really saying something!
grrr i replied lengthily but the computer ate it. my points being:
1. i have never heard 1st year used negatively, only to describe someone so as to further clarify who is being mentioned, ie “you know, sally with brown hair, who works in education? first year?”
2. it was not around my first semester, but was my second, your first year. perhaps that is because i knew no “second years” and i was weird mid-semester.
3. most people at gslis do NOT complete it in a year–that is total marketing propaganda.
4. if you find first year offensive what else should we use?
5. in my experience “1st year” stands in for cohort, since on campus doesn’t have them and probably won’t ever, since what would the numbering be like? woo cohort 78! i actually think the word cohort is pretty stupid and have always wondered who picked such a weird term.
6. i am ignorant of harry potter yet use first year frequently.
7. phD students seem to use 1st year for distinguishing masters students too..
Sorry about your computer!
1. Yes, very sorry I was not clearer. It is *only* used descriptively and non-derogatorily! I have only heard it used in a possibly demeaning manner once, and that was by someone who seemed to speak derogatorily of everyone but herself.
2. “it was not around my first semester…” If you are referring to when it started then this is clear evidence for my HP thesis, although I really don’t care how it arose. That’s not the point of my displeasure. I only brought in the HP reference for human interest and the fact that “librarians” seem to own a lot of HP.
http://www.librarything.com/groups/librarianswholibrar
3. “most people at gslis do NOT complete it in a year–that is total marketing propaganda.” Sorry, I see a “many” slipped in; but I know I didn’t claim “most.” Even many may be too high. Some do. I do agree with you about the “marketing propganda” angle though. Most (I mean this) that try to do it in a year give it up (the trying in a year, not the degree) after the first semester or so. 40 / 3 = way too many grad hours/semester!
4. “if you find first year offensive what else should we use?” I’m not sure “offensive” is the right word. It “offends” me because I find it silly; that is not the same as being offensive though. Why can’t we just say something like, “This is my 2nd year,” or “You mean the Elizabeth that just started?” These are not circumlocutions and don’t really need a shorter way to express them. All sets and categories are not created equally. And just because some things can be desribed the same does not imply that we need a category to put them in.
5. “in my experience “1st year” stands in for cohort, … i actually think the word cohort is pretty stupid and have always wondered who picked such a weird term.” I agree, although a vast amount of differentiation is lost. BTW, I am not claiming that LEEP cohorts need that much differentiation. I, too, am no fan of “cohort” and find it sort of weird. BUT. I am more used to it from my military days, which is why it seems *really* odd here. It does go along with “boot camp” though. And boot camp is what cements the x.1 vs. x.2 cohesiveness of the cohort halves; the supposedly common experience.
6. “i am ignorant of harry potter yet use first year frequently.” That may be, but it has no bearing on my argument. I am ignorant of the source of many terms–especially those from pop culture–but am often capable of using them, or at least recognizing them and their meaning.
7. “phD students seem to use 1st year for distinguishing masters students too.” Please don’t get me started on the PhD students.
Only one gripe at a time. This may be, but then they are used to using it regarding themselves already so it is a small leap to widening its use, appropriately or not. In my experience, many of the PhD students do their best to act as if the masters students aren’t even there. Of course, that works both ways. You must remember that it’s weirdos like you and me who are good at boundary crossing–on purpose or otherwise.
Again, I must thank my friend Jenny for helping me make clear what I meant to say. Most importantly, these terms are NOT used derogatorily. I only mean/meant “discrmination” (in all of its forms used) as in making fine distinctions. Also, to clarify that only some masters students make it through in a year.
Words are important. They can help or harm or *just* be words. In this case, I think they are just words. Again, my (very personal) gripe is that this is a silly and inapt use of langauge; I am not claiming anything more harmful than that.
I don’t even expect anyone else to agree with me. But, c’mon Jenny, you are well aware that I often get bugged by things most folks would consider “perfectly normal.”
Maybe my displeasure in the use of these terms is related to my displeasure with extraneous choice. Choice and distinctions should be reserved for when they matter, and not taken too far. I just don’t see this as a distinction that matters.
If one wanted to argue or educate me, that is where I would begin. Why is this a distinction that matters? And why isn’t simple plain language acceptable? Why do we need a term?
3. yes we totally agree. even those who do it in a year seem to stick around anyway, thus giving necessity to the first year thing.
4. first year generally doesn’t refer to people who have just started, but people halfway through the program….
5. i felt really close to most people in my “cohort” because there were very few of us, and they placed us all in the same 390 together…..perhaps cohorts should be 501 class groupings. like if this was year 1 cohort 1.1 would be under instructor x for 501, 1.2 under instructor y etc.
6. sorry i didn’t mean to imply that it had something to do with it. i thought you meant people thought 1st year was funny in HP and were intentionally using it as such. i was just pointing out there has been no such intentional usage on my part.
7. “many of the PhD students do their best to act as if the masters students aren’t even there. Of course, that works both ways.” I agree strongly on the first part, but less on the second. This is a side argument, but I will bame neither in this case and instead blame the faculty whose fault it is really.
“I don’t even expect anyone else to agree with me. But, c’mon Jenny, you are well aware that I often get bugged by things most folks would consider “perfectly normal.””
Hahahhaahah I do know this but I thought you were taking offense at “2nd years” ribbing on “1st years” which I think is pretty nonexistent. Interestingly it TOTALLY did exist when the term seems to have been created. I recall a lot of 2nd years really disliking the class a semester before me, and your class and intentionally segregating from them. See: the great drinking gslis debacle of 2005.
4. “first year generally doesn’t refer to people who have just started, but people halfway through the program…. So what do we call the newbies? BTW, this post, although gestating in my mind for a while, arose primarily due to some news students referring to other new students as “1st years.”
5. “i felt really close to most people in my “cohort” because there were very few of us, and they placed us all in the same 390 together…..perhaps cohorts should be 501 class groupings.” I felt close to several people in my 501, but barely knew many of the others even by the time they graduated, but, yes, this is the closest we have. But what about those who mange to put off 501 to the end, though?
6. “… i was just pointing out there has been no such intentional usage on my part.” Right. I understood that.
As usual, I’m trying to clarify/broaden for others who may not understand our immediate dialogue.
7. “… but I will bame neither in this case and instead blame the faculty whose fault it is really.
” hee hee. Agreed.
“Hahahhaahah I do know this but I thought you were taking offense at “2nd years” ribbing on “1st years” which I think is pretty nonexistent. Interestingly it TOTALLY did exist when the term seems to have been created. I recall a lot of 2nd years really disliking the class a semester before me, and your class and intentionally segregating from them. See: the great drinking gslis debacle of 2005.”
So; it’s true! That’s OK. I didn’t particularly care for some of those ahead of me either. I do have to wonder why this happened though. Just what was there about the group before you and “my” group that was disliked? Of course, wasn’t it this group that seemed to have so much “incestuous” dating going on? Maybe they just had issues, period. [These are realy rhetorical, but feel free to answer if you like.]
Remembering the whole “incestuous dating” thing is kinda funny. I mentioned it Friday night out with the new students and they found it incredulous. One of the women has specifically decided to be celibate while at grad school, and another was convinced that all the “boys” are gay until proven otherwise. When I jokingly asked how “we” are supposed to prove otherwise, she said, “However we like.” I quit at that point, although I really wanted to counsel her on how unwise such a response is to some males. Ah, the invulnerability of youth….
I am happy to report that there doesn’t seem to be any of the enmity between classes that you report from previously. Clearly, though, this new group is far better looking than the last 2 or 3 classes. That, though, is a *completely* different topic.
5. I thought the only people who could put off 501 were doctoral students? haha you’re in *MY* cohort!
I don’t know what their deal is, but they are still like this….on one hand there was a lot of exclusiveness but on the other hand, i think it was ironically WAY more inclusive–ie if something went out on drinking gslis, everyone really was invited and everyone came.
Somehow a few MS students manage to put it off too.
I did realize when I wrote that that we are in the same cohort based on our defintion. I was going to say something smarta**ed about it and then decided, “Why? I’m glad we’re in the same cohort.”
Yes, I remember going out a few times when I 1st got here–lots of people “old” and “new.” Lots of people go out now, but there seem to be lots of little groups with only some overlap. Oh well, more groups to hang out with. Better seating this way….
Now go find a picture of a cookie in Long Island after teasing me, will you? [ http://flickr.com/photos/jennybento/251649556/ ]
I feel your pain. This is my first full-time semester at GSLIS, but my fourth actual semester. Since I am only now taking 501, I hang out with a lot of “first years,” yet, I am not one. I think. I know that I do feel old and slow whenever anyone refers to themselves as a “first year,” though. Damn, what year am I going to be when I’m finally done?
Fall 2006 is the first semester that I ever heard anyone refer to themselves as first year or second year, most likely because I didn’t have much of a GSLIS social life until this semester (working full-time does that to you).
I like the idea of going by semesters. As long as we leave out Summer sessions. Because that would just screw things up more. From now on I’m going to say “this is my fourth semester at GSLIS” instead of trying to determine what “year” I am. Perhaps I can be the bellwether for the alternate terminology….
Welcome Jenn/Yana! Alternate terminology is always great; most thesauri need more lead-in terms. And someday, with a little luck, we can even swap the “preferred” term with the alternate one.
I know I’ve seen you around but I’m not sure we’ve actually met. Soon I hope!
PS You can always send “us” a new pic for your bio page if you like. You can also add others, you just can’t “change” the official one yourself. But we in ITD will be happy to change it for you if you send us one. Not suggesting you need one; just responding to your comment on your bio page.
PPS I hang out with many of the “first years,” too. I think they’re great; I just do *not* like the terminology. I also hang out with others, be they “second years,” PhD students, other CAS students, staff, faculty, …. Date of accession into the program just doesn’t seem to matter much since most of us have enough interesting quirks on our own.
WHoa!
As a First Year 2002 (and founder of Drinking GSLIS!), I gotta step in! When I was First Year, the Second Years were very very cliquey, and interacted not-at-all with us. And we were rabidly social, and so created Drinking GSLIS. When we were 2nd years, there was actually a WHOLE LOT of discussion about how not to repeat the past, how to make sure that the now-First Years were included in our rabid socializing! There were many issues surrounding how we handled the listserv, which had been essential for us to communicate, but “hidden” due to concerns outside GSLIS and how to not be elitist and make sure folks knew about it…not sure all was handled as well as could be hoped, but I think (think) we did OK.
And when we left GSLIS, we left DrinkingGSLIS behind, as a gift to the future to help everyone be as rabidly social as they wanted.
And I think of it like my baby. Did it die? What was the 2005 debacle?
gotta know!
As for the debacle, it’s best to ask the person who said it. My thoughts on the matter are probably more orthogonal to what they meant in particular; but the reference was enough that I “got it” for the purpose at hand.
Drinking GSLIS is still going, and going rather strong. In fact, lowly little me is one of this year’s moderators; which is really only adding people to the list.
See: http://www.gslis.org/index.php?title=Drinking_gslis
As for cliquishness, I think we do a really good job nowadays at integrating each other. The doctoral students are mostly their own little herd; not much too be done about that. There is one or two prominent crossovers, though.
As for the Masters, most of them have no concern for who is where in the program. “Let’s just have a good time!” is more the motto. To which I say, “Amen!”
As for me, well, as usual I’m the oddball! Where do I fit as a CAS student and “3rd year?” Is “3rd year” even accurate? There are a few other oddballs like me who moved into the CAS, but we all just hang out. In fact, although over the summer I mostly hung out with “2nd years” [kind of by def.], I now hang out mostly with “1st years.”
My main problem with the labels is I just think they are spurious. They don’t really describe anything of use, in *my* mind. Also, what the heck am I in this scheme? I guess a “1st year CAS student” is best, but that disregards my previous 2 years of history; a history that directly feeds into my socializing, my being a moderator of Drinking GSLIS, my work, my classwork, etc. Like most people, I do not like labels that exclude me.
The bottom line: Personally, I don’t like the labels. Most people could really care less. It’s not really a big deal.