Obama handing out diplomas at University of Phoenix

or maybe they're just trying to make those 30,000-plus people feel a little more secure about their stakes and their path
because, look, if they don't get what they want, they're gonna be pissed... and if they're pissed, they might just walk away and blow all that cash somewhere else instead...

I feel like we’re drifting a bit away from the actual point here. 😁 Look, my intention wasn't to belittle Vernal or any other private colleges. I am certainly not suggesting there isn't a single soul there actually hungry for knowledge—in fact, I'm sure there are plenty of driven students among them. But if you look at the reality of private institutions over the last few years, they aren't necessarily being filled by the wealthy elite; they are primarily populated by people who couldn't make the cut anywhere else because their academic records weren't up to par. Now, that doesn't mean they won't work hard once they're enrolled—maybe this is exactly the spark they need to become top-tier professionals. However, speaking purely from my own limited experience, I have yet to encounter a truly stellar student who chose a private college, though I won't dwell on that since it's beside the point.

My post was specifically aimed at refusing to justify Barack Obama's move. By all means, he can go host a seminar at Vernal—though even that shouldn't really be standard practice—but this business of handing out diplomas is simply crossing a line. Many major state universities celebrate various anniversaries and boast incredible students, including PhD candidates who are absolute leaders in their fields across the entire US, yet the President doesn't just show up to hand out degrees at their promotional events. To me, this felt less like an official ceremony and more like a bunch of the social elite gathering together and inviting the President along for the ride.

stormystag16 said:😁 😁

I mean, look... I’m just assuming there aren't actually any decent, hard-working students over there who genuinely want to learn and kill it in their field. Because if there were, I don't get why they wouldn't just enroll at some respectable university where their degree actually means something, instead of settling for a place like this.

We don't really have "respectable" universities here😁
Seriously though, sure, there are schools with tradition and a certain "name" in the public eye, but the truth is our education system is so outdated it’s hard to even put into words. The way Americans are taught often produces "idiot factories"—people who can memorize a mountain of useless data but are practically useless in a professional setting, just waiting for the government to hand them everything on a silver platter. If things aren't handed to them, you hear all the complaining: "I graduated, I struggled, I worked my tail off, and now the government won't hire me." 😁 It's a daily occurrence. ☕ Honestly, if you graduate from a business or economics program, you should at least know how to create your own opportunities, start something of your own, or be innovative...

Unfortunately, through my own studies and hanging out with people from different majors, I've realized the situation is pretty much the same everywhere. Some programs might be tougher than others, but the point remains the same—you walk out of college and you're still a nobody for at least another ten years. ☕ In Vern's case, it's the exact same story with EFZG, which is more or less in the same vein. It's supposedly our top business school, but what do students actually know when they graduate? What matters most after graduation is motivation and the drive to move beyond textbooks and lectures toward practical application. You have some people who will be perfectly happy working behind a bank teller window, and then you have those who will grind to climb the ladder. But whether it's Vern or EFZG, the result is the same... because generally speaking, these business studies are mediocre, which directly impacts the current state of the American economy. 😁

To make a long story short, private colleges have their perks. From having professors and staff who are probably much more professional and polite to students, to having noticeably better facilities. Unfortunately, around here, people tend to treat anything public or state-run as if it's "nothing," so that's how they treat it. Plus, the work ethic of the administration and many instructors at these universities is questionable. Since they rely on the government, they don't feel they owe the students anything—the student isn't the state, right? But if they depended directly on students and their tuition money, I think they'd act very differently.

If I ever have enough money, and if there's a high-quality private college in the field my kid wants to pursue, I won't hesitate for a second to make it happen. My kid will have been raised to value knowledge from a young age, so hopefully, they'll have the personal ambition to go after it. 🤷 In that case, it doesn't really matter where they study, because our state universities seem destined to stay stuck in textbooks rather than hands-on practice... at which point you could just study from your living room and only show up for exams, since attending a lecture that just reads a chapter aloud isn't exactly useful. I'd much rather they have decent study conditions and a professional relationship with the people introducing them to academic life.

No, circling back to Barack Obama... I honestly feel like there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of people out there whose graduation ceremonies he’d actually want to attend, mostly because they’ve probably achieved way more significant things than he has.

I'm genuinely wondering if he’ll even bother acknowledging that Ruđerovac o dno piece on DNA?

stormystag16 said:No, circling back to Barack Obama... I honestly feel like there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of people out there whose graduation ceremonies he’d actually want to attend, mostly because they’ve probably achieved way more significant things than he has.

I'm genuinely wondering if he’ll even bother acknowledging that Ruđerovac o dno piece on DNA?

I honestly think his best move—if he truly wants to emphasize how much knowledge matters in American society—would be to go on a tour across major US cities. Right now, during graduation season, he could give speeches to students graduating from universities all across the country. Of course, I don't mean visiting every single department or specific major individually, but rather speaking at the university level.
If that sounds too exhausting or demanding in terms of travel, maybe he could just record a video message for graduates that universities could play during their commencement ceremonies.

By only showing up at Vernal, he isn't just overlooking the colleges under the University of Chicago umbrella; he's essentially ignoring all the other universities and their respective colleges throughout the entire country.

I bet Njavro cut a check for Barack Obama's campaign or something, because now he's basically just showing up as a glorified spokesperson.

stormystag16 said:No, circling back to Barack Obama... I honestly feel like there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of people out there whose graduation ceremonies he’d actually want to attend, mostly because they’ve probably achieved way more significant things than he has.

I'm genuinely wondering if he’ll even bother acknowledging that Ruđerovac o dno piece on DNA?

*Who gives a damn who hands out the diploma at which college?
I wouldn't even be attending this school if I didn't think it was worth my time.
The value of my degree doesn't need some guy like Barack Obama to validate it for me.
Personally, I’d be pretty crushed if the President showed up to hand me my diploma,
mostly because I can't stand him OR his predecessor.
If Barack Obama were handing out degrees at Vernal, I wouldn't have even signed up.
Why would I care who delivers the paper when the dean of my own college is the best person for the job?!

casualranger2 said:I bet Njavro cut a check for Barack Obama's campaign or something, because now he's basically just showing up as a glorified spokesperson.

I highly doubt Njavro donated anything—how would you even know that? Besides, Njavro's whole department leans way more toward the right wing.
just look at the group of professors running the show there.
maybe you're thinking of those folks over at Vernal, but Vernal has zero connection to Njavro.

Andrew Chase31 said:We don't really have "respectable" universities here😁
Seriously though, sure, there are schools with tradition and a certain "name" in the public eye, but the truth is our education system is so outdated it’s hard to even put into words. The way Americans are taught often produces "idiot factories"—people who can memorize a mountain of useless data but are practically useless in a professional setting, just waiting for the government to hand them everything on a silver platter. If things aren't handed to them, you hear all the complaining: "I graduated, I struggled, I worked my tail off, and now the government won't hire me." 😁 It's a daily occurrence. ☕ Honestly, if you graduate from a business or economics program, you should at least know how to create your own opportunities, start something of your own, or be innovative...

Unfortunately, through my own studies and hanging out with people from different majors, I've realized the situation is pretty much the same everywhere. Some programs might be tougher than others, but the point remains the same—you walk out of college and you're still a nobody for at least another ten years. ☕ In Vern's case, it's the exact same story with EFZG, which is more or less in the same vein. It's supposedly our top business school, but what do students actually know when they graduate? What matters most after graduation is motivation and the drive to move beyond textbooks and lectures toward practical application. You have some people who will be perfectly happy working behind a bank teller window, and then you have those who will grind to climb the ladder. But whether it's Vern or EFZG, the result is the same... because generally speaking, these business studies are mediocre, which directly impacts the current state of the American economy. 😁

To make a long story short, private colleges have their perks. From having professors and staff who are probably much more professional and polite to students, to having noticeably better facilities. Unfortunately, around here, people tend to treat anything public or state-run as if it's "nothing," so that's how they treat it. Plus, the work ethic of the administration and many instructors at these universities is questionable. Since they rely on the government, they don't feel they owe the students anything—the student isn't the state, right? But if they depended directly on students and their tuition money, I think they'd act very differently.

If I ever have enough money, and if there's a high-quality private college in the field my kid wants to pursue, I won't hesitate for a second to make it happen. My kid will have been raised to value knowledge from a young age, so hopefully, they'll have the personal ambition to go after it. 🤷 In that case, it doesn't really matter where they study, because our state universities seem destined to stay stuck in textbooks rather than hands-on practice... at which point you could just study from your living room and only show up for exams, since attending a lecture that just reads a chapter aloud isn't exactly useful. I'd much rather they have decent study conditions and a professional relationship with the people introducing them to academic life.

Look, this is a crucial distinction,
and I’m in the lucky position of being able to afford both state schools and private universities, so I’ve seen both sides of the coin firsthand.
Everything you’re saying is spot on—it’s just an unfortunate reality. You basically have to shell out roughly $30,000 $0.00 (depending on which private institution you're looking at) just to ensure the faculty and staff actually treat you like a human being—to make sure they're approachable, patient, and actually willing to help when you're struggling. The big gripe people have with private schools is the low bar for grading, which leads to high pass rates but leaves students with questionable actual knowledge—a point that's highly debatable, honestly.

On the flip side, things are a bit more complicated at a major state university. You’re just one number in a massive crowd, dealing with professors who can be pretty irritable and dismissive, all while being forced through a mountain of theoretical coursework filled with useless facts you'll forget in forty-eight hours. But, there's a silver lining—state school teaches you how to fight for what you need. There are no handouts there; you're on your own.

Andrew Chase31 said:I honestly think his best move—if he truly wants to emphasize how much knowledge matters in American society—would be to go on a tour across major US cities. Right now, during graduation season, he could give speeches to students graduating from universities all across the country. Of course, I don't mean visiting every single department or specific major individually, but rather speaking at the university level.
If that sounds too exhausting or demanding in terms of travel, maybe he could just record a video message for graduates that universities could play during their commencement ceremonies.

By only showing up at Vernal, he isn't just overlooking the colleges under the University of Chicago umbrella; he's essentially ignoring all the other universities and their respective colleges throughout the entire country.

but honestly, what's the point of all that if it's just for show? elsewhere, people are actually achieving way bigger, more meaningful things than just "getting a degree"...
why not participate in actual competitions, or highlight significant research breakthroughs and stuff if knowledge and education are supposed to be so damn valuable...

VERN, Baltazar Krčelić, basically the School of International Relations and Diplomacy—it’s your classic American private college that operates right on the edge of being legit. It's barely even an educational institution at this point. Honestly? It's just a glorified diploma mill for people with deep pockets but zero brains who couldn't hack it at a real state university.

A buddy from my college days—someone who’s basically a die-hard Barack Obama fan and spends way too much time spinning conspiracy theories—told me he heard a rumor about Vernon. Apparently, they have these backroom deals with major corporations to hire everyone who graduates there, only to let them go after just two years.

Is there any truth to that, or are there other cases like this?