{"id":6230,"date":"2017-09-06T22:59:34","date_gmt":"2017-09-07T04:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/richyrocks.com\/?p=6230"},"modified":"2021-03-03T11:09:23","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T17:09:23","slug":"harvard-revokesrescinds-because-of-memes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/richyrocks.com\/coolenglish\/harvard-revokesrescinds-because-of-memes\/","title":{"rendered":"harvard revokes\/rescinds because of memes"},"content":{"rendered":"

when the university of harvard<\/span><\/strong> welcomed its incoming freshmen<\/strong> <\/em>(first year students) last week, at least 10 students who planned to start with the others were not there. \u00a0what happened?<\/p>\n

\"harvard<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0samantha schmidt<\/strong> at the washington post<\/strong>, early this year, the students of harvard’s class of 2021 (this year’s freshmen<\/em>) started a messaging group to share memes. these types of groups<\/p>\n

have been popping up<\/em> at the campuses of harvard, columbia, princeton, penn, yale and dartmouth, as well as<\/em> the university of california berkeley and others.<\/h4>\n

pop up<\/strong><\/em><\/a> means appear<\/em>. as well as<\/em><\/strong><\/a> is also<\/em>, additionally<\/em>.<\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

\"mork<\/p>\n

mork & mindy, starring robin williams as mork (left), was a spinoff<\/u>\u00a0of happy days.<\/em><\/h5>\n

from the original messaging group, a second group formed to share darker, more offensive memes. schmidt reported \u00a0that<\/p>\n

the spinoff<\/em> group exchanged memes and images \u201cmocking<\/em> sexual assault, the holocaust and the deaths of children,\u201d sometimes directing jokes at specific ethnic or racial groups, the harvard crimson reported. one message \u201ccalled the hypothetical hanging<\/em> of a mexican child \u2018pi\u00f1ata time\u2019.\u201d<\/h4>\n

indicates that the second group came from<\/em> the first group. mock<\/em><\/strong><\/a> means laugh at<\/em>, make fun of<\/em>. hang<\/strong><\/em> is a form of capital punishment<\/a> or commiting suicide using a rope<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"judas<\/p>\n

in the passion of jesus, judas hanged<\/u> himself\u00a0<\/em>after betraying<\/a> jesus, <\/em><\/h5>\n

eventually<\/strong> <\/em>(after a while), adminstrators at harvard became aware of the spinoff<\/em> group<\/p>\n

university officials\u00a0caught on<\/em>. and in mid-april, after administrators discovered\u00a0the offensive, racially charged meme exchanges,\u00a0at least 10\u00a0incoming students who participated in the chat received letters informing them that their offers of admission\u00a0had been revoked<\/em>.<\/h4>\n

catch on<\/strong><\/em><\/a> means learn <\/em>or find out<\/em>. revoke<\/strong><\/em> means cancel<\/em>. \u00a0had been revoked<\/em><\/strong> is past perfect passive<\/strong>. past perfect<\/a><\/strong> is used because schmidt is referring to the relationship of two events in the past: the decision to revoke admission offers and students receiving the letters informing of this decision. passive voice<\/strong><\/a> is used because the harvard administrators who made the decision are implied but not directly mentioned.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h5>\n
this meme looks ugly, isn’t really funny and cost some teenager the opportunity to attend harvard. (thetab.com)<\/em><\/h5>\n

the headline of the article uses a different verb to describe the university’s decision<\/p>\n

Harvard withdraws<\/em> 10 acceptances for \u2018offensive\u2019 memes in private group chat<\/h1>\n

is the same idea as revoke<\/em>, and there is a third alternative used in the article as well<\/em>. schmidt explains<\/p>\n

the university\u2019s decision to rescind<\/em> the\u00a0students\u2019 acceptance to harvard underscores<\/em> the dangers of social media posts \u2014 public or private \u2014 among prospective college students.<\/h4>\n

rescind<\/strong><\/em> is the same as withdraw<\/em> and revoke<\/em>. underscore<\/strong><\/em> means emphasize<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"couple<\/p>\n

for better or worse<\/u> is a traditional vow<\/a> at christian weddings. this usage means in good or bad times.(rocknrollbride.com)<\/em><\/h5>\n

yariv alpher<\/strong>, executive director of research at kaplan test prep<\/strong>, a company that helps students prepare for college entrance exams, made this observation about the importance of social media in the college admissions process<\/p>\n

for better or worse<\/em>, social media has become an established factor in college admissions, and it\u2019s more important than ever for applicants to make wise<\/em> decisions<\/h4>\n

for better or worse<\/strong><\/em> means it’s reality if we like it or not<\/em>. wise<\/em><\/strong><\/a> means intelligent<\/em>.<\/p>\n

<\/h5>\n
\"an<\/h5>\n
a quote from the french-algerian absurdist philosopher<\/em><\/h5>\n

what was the reaction to harvard’s decision?<\/p>\n

the repercussions spurred<\/em> both praise<\/em> and criticism from harvard students, alumni<\/em> and others at a time when university campuses across the country are in the midst of\u00a0clashes<\/em> over free speech. some felt the decision was justified, while others expressed a belief that admissions officers crossed a line<\/em><\/h4>\n

repercussions <\/strong><\/em>are consequences. spur<\/a><\/strong><\/em> means provoke<\/em>. praise<\/strong><\/em><\/a> is positive words<\/em>, the opposite of criticism<\/em>. \u00a0alumni <\/strong><\/em>are graduates of a school<\/em>.\u00a0in the midst of<\/strong><\/em><\/a> means in the middle of<\/em>, right now<\/em>. cross the line <\/strong><\/em><\/a>is used to say that harvard’s decision was\u00a0excessive<\/em>. a clash<\/strong><\/em><\/a> is a confrontation.\u00a0<\/em>and also this iconic band from the punk era.<\/p>\n