Civility

What is Civility?

Civility...is the sum of the many sacrifices we are called to make for the sake of living together. When we pretend that we travel alone, we can also pretend that these sacrifices are unnecessary. Yielding to this very human instinct for self-seeking... is often immoral, and certainly should not be done without forethought. We should make sacrifices for others not simply because doing so makes social life easier (although it does), but as a signal of respect for our fellow citizens, marking them as full equals, both before law and before God. Rules of civility are thus also rules of morality; it is morally proper to treat our fellow citizens with respect, and morally improper not to. Our crisis of civility, then is part of a larger crisis of morality. And because morality is what distinguishes humans from other animals, the crisis is ultimately one of humanity.

What duties does civility require?

1. Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.

2. Shake not the head, feet, or legs; role not the eyes nor lift one eyebrow higher than the other; wry not the mouth; and bedew no man’s face with your spittle by approaching too near him when you speak.

3. Turn not your back to others, especially in speaking; jog not the table or desk on which another reads or writes; lean not upon anyone.

4. Wherein you reprove another, be unblamable yourself, for example is more prevalent than precepts.

5. Use no reproachful language against anyone, neither curse nor revile.

6. Let your conversation be without malice or envy, for ‘tis a sign of a tractable and commendable nature; in all causes of passion admit reason to govern.

7. Speak not injurious words, neither in jest nor earnest; scoff not at none although they give occasion.

8. Think before you speak; pronounce not imperfectly, nor bring out your words too hastily, but orderly and distinctly.

9. While you are speaking, point not your finger at whom you discourse, nor approach too near to whom you talk, especially to his face.

10. Speak not evil of the absent for it is unjust.

How can you tell if civility is being practiced around you?

1. People receive credit for the good work that is done.

2. Individuals take responsibility for their actions/behavior rather than making excuses or blaming others.

3. Individuals are committed to keeping each other informed and trust each other to pass along information appropriately.

4. People collaborate on important issues by seeking out each others opinions and expertise.

5. People talk in terms of “we” instead of creating “us and them” distinctions.

6. Individuals focus on the main issue or mission and don’t get sidetracked by differences in detail.

7. Individuals respect organizational structures and roles and don’t use them as weapons.

8. Individuals value each other’s background and experience rather than discrediting each other’s competence.

9. Concerns, criticisms, and conflicts are openly raised, are focused on methods for accomplishing the work, and are discussed in a respectful manner.

10. People speak positively about their work, the organization, and the future rather than negatively or expressing cynicism.

Sources:

Driving Fear From the Workplace by K. Ryan and D. Oestreich

Civility: Manners, Morals, and the Etiquette of Democracy by Stephen L. Carter

Think You Know About Diversity?

Hi All!

Do you feel like you know one or two things about diversity? Take this quiz about different types of diversity and find out! If you get stuck, the answers may be found at: http://www.pikeschool.org/page.cfm?p=532.

#30

1. What is the purpose of the Chinese Dragon seen at weddings, New Year festivities, and other important Chinese events?
2. Groundhog Day is a holiday custom brought to America from Great Britain and Germany. On what day is it celebrated?

#29

1. In celebration of the Chinese New Year, the use of these “explosive” items are considered “the letting off of flowers.”
2. In Demark, Norway, Italy and Portual, the tradition of “First Footing” is celebrated by many families when starting the New Year. “First Footing” is based on what belief?

#28

1. In preparation for the feasting of Christmas Day, Christmas Eve is a “lean day” and no meat is consumed in this country. Austria, Pakistan or Italy?
2. It is a Cuban tradition to eat 12 of this type of fruit on New Year’s Eve.

#27

1. Latin Americans tend to stand close during conversation. True or False?
2. Long periods of not talking are common in this country, because silence is highly respected. England, China or Paraguay?

#26

1. Which is the best selling condiment in America? Ketchup or Salsa?
2. What we know as “Chili con Carne” is a development of this culture’s stew of hot peppers and vegetables. Name this culture.

#25

1. Proper Japanese manners require school children to use how many different types of shoes at school? 2, 3. or 4?
2. This Jewish High Holy Day is a day of confession, fasting, and prayers for forgiveness of sins committed during the year.

#24

1. An Ancient Jewish custom requires a father to plant a cedar sapling for a male child born during the year and a cypress for a female child. In celebration of what event would the trees be cut down and used as posts?
2. Name the first African-American player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

#23

1. The most common last name in the World is from what nationality?
2. In agricultural societies like the Mixtecan Indians of Mexico, sowing and reaping crops is a natural part of life. What else is considered a natural part of life, and is equally crucial to the life of the community?

#22

1. Early Christians believed that on this holiday morning, the sun danced in honor of Christ’s resurrection. People would rise long before the sun to see the feat. Name this holiday event that still takes place in the United States and Europe.
2. During Passover, Jewish families eat this food as a reminder of the hurried departure of their ancestors from Egypt.

#21

1. Similar to American football, this sport is the national game of Wales and is popular in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, New Zealand and Australia.
2. Ancestors of many modern domesticated cat breeds came from what country in roughly 2500 BC?

# 20

1. On a worldwide basis, what ranks as the most popular sport?
2. The inhabitants of the Arctic are known as Eskimos, but they call themselves “Inuit” which means?

#19

1. Name the Hindu belief that life’s fortunes are dictated by good or evil deeds in former lives.
2. The Irish step dance was one source for which American dance?

#18

1. The American version of “Santa Claus” was inspired by the legend of “Sinter Klass,” which was brought to New York by immigrants in the 17th century. This legend originates from what country?
2. Prayer rugs are used by members of what religion.

#17

1. Turkeys come from what country?
2. Name the one universal action, the one signal, the one form of communication that is used and understood by every culture and in every country.

#16

1. In Japan this behavior is not only a respected business negotiation skill, but is also considered polite.
2. To eat while on the street is considered bad manners in what country?

#15

1. This Jewish holiday marks the Jewish New Year.
2. In the Middle East, Muslims observe which two days of the week as days of rest and worship?

#14

1. Salicylic acid, found in the bark of the willow tree, was used by the ancient Greeks and Native American to counter fever and pain. Using that chemical, German chemist Felix Hoffman created this common drug.
2. Sir Frederick Grant Banting, a Canadian physician and Nobel laureate, is credited with the co-discovery of this diabetes treatment.

#13

1. Native of India, and long considered the world’s most important spice, name this spice which has flavored foods for over 3000 years.
2. Blueberries are a native fruit of which country?

#12

1. Name the river in India, where followers of the Hindu religion cleanse themselves at holy places along its banks.
2. Those who follow the religious teachings of Islam are known as?

#11

1. Name the January 6th holiday, which celebrates the coming of the “Magi” to see the baby Jesus.
2. In this country, pine and bamboo are important front door New Year’s decorations.

#10

1. Invented in China around 2000 BC, this milk and rice concoction packed in snow was a favorite dish of Chinese emperors. Name this frozen treat.
2. This food, shaped into the form of two arms crossed in prayer, was originally created by Christians in the Roman Empire. It was made to remind them that Lent was a season of penance and devotion.

#9

1. The oldest board game in recorded history is believed to have originated in Mesopotamia. Name this game, which is still played today.
2. Soccer, the world's most popular game, can be traced back to what country? Chile, Denmark, or China?

#8

1. The "drachma" is the currency used in which country?
2. Name the country where paper bank notes were first used over 1,000 years ago?

#7

1. How do you say hello in Hindi?
2. How do you say hello in Russian?

#6

1. Name the Scottish cap with a round, flat top.
2. In this country, women developed the art of decorating their eyes by blackening the lashes and the upper lip with kohl, a preparation made from soot.

#5

1. This sport was invented for middle-aged men who wanted a game that wasn't as strenuous as basketball. Players used a basketball and tennis net when the game was first created. Name this sport.
2. Popular in Spain, the Philippines and Latin America, a wicker scoop is used to hurl a ball across a court at a high rate of speed. Name this sport.

#4

1. After English, this language is the most common in Kenya.
2. What does the Muslim greeting "salaam alaykum" mean?

#3

1. The ancient Greeks and Native Americans to counter fever and pain used salicylic acid, found in the bark of the willow tree. Using that chemical, German chemist Felix Hoffman created this now "household" drug.
2. J. R. Winters, an African-American inventor, patented this life-saving fire rescue equipment.

#2

1. Name the currency of Argentina and Mexico.
2. A "rand" is the name of the currency of what country? Austria, Greece or South Africa?

#1

1. Standing with your arms folded in this country is thought of as a sign of arrogance.

2. In Fiji, when standing and speaking with someone, what is the best way of showing your respect for them?

*These questions are courtesy of http://www.pikeschool.org/page.cfm?p=530

"It's Not Easy Being Green"

Hellooooooo Residents!

First of all, welcome back to Furman! I hope everyone's breaks went well and I also hope that you are finally settling back into the swing of things at Furman. February is sustainability month at Furman. As my long time friend once said, "it's not easy being green." Don't believe me? Ask him:

Alright well, I guess he changed his mind. But seriously, here are a few ways you can go green around our campus and Greenville:

1. Buy organic and local. When possible, buy organic or "fair trade." There's a better chance the food was grown in an eco-friendly way, and if it's locally grown, it didn't have to travel that far. This also goes for those double lattes — coffee often has a large carbon footprint because of the distance those beans had to travel to get here, and how they were produced. Also, try eating at restaurants that serve locally produced or seasonal foods.

2. Pay attention to packaging. When out shopping, try to go to stores or co-ops that keep packaging to a minimum. For example, you may chose to buy the loose tomatoes rather than boxed or plastic-wrapped tomatoes. Also, take reusable bags to the grocery store. When it comes to resources, plastic is better than paper — but a reusable cloth tote-style bag is better still.

3. Ditch bottled water. Bottled water has a huge carbon footprint — it's bottled at one location in small plastic bottles and shipped all over. Try buying a reusable water bottle or canteen for your water. Also, a lot of restaurants have made the move from offering fancy bottled water, usually imported from an exotic source, to using in-house filtration systems that make tap water a good choice. Many plastic water bottles are recycled, but most are not, making the footprint even bigger.

4. Energy-proof your apartment. We're not talking major upgrades here... Make sure all of your windows close properly. Try switching from incandescent to compact florescent light bulbs. Compact florescent light bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than our normal light bulbs and last much longer. Compared to regular bulbs, the fluorescents are more expensive, but they will eventually pay for themselves due to lower energy costs.

5. Window Shop. If you have the urge to spend, try window shopping or browsing first. This helps ensure you are only buying things you really need, or really want, and you're not just impulse buying. Remember, every item in a store, no matter how small, has a footprint — so if we are conscious consumers, we can reduce our own footprint and the overall footprint of our nation.

6. Take a direct flight. If you need to travel by airplane, try taking a direct flight when at all possible. Your impact is reduced when you take one flight, as opposed to hopping on a couple or more passenger jets to reach your final destination. You might also feel a little less harried when you arrive, because changing planes can be a real hassle.

7. Unplug it! Unplugging appliances that you don't use frequently. Most electronics have a standby mode that siphons energy even when not in use. Cell phone chargers, laptops, televisions, stereos — there's a whole list of items that should be unplugged when not in use. Try using a power strip for groups of electronic items. One flick of the switch and it's all off.

8. Keep your car. With gas prices seemingly always on the rise, it's tempting to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle. But if your older-model car is in good condition, you're better off keeping it in good running condition. Even hybrids create a big footprint when they're built, so consider driving that old clunker for a little while longer. Also, try more eco-friendly modes of transport when possible, like buses, trains, a bicycle, telecommuting or even walking.

9. Eat fresh. Admittedly,  this is a bit drastic. But this speaks more to those convenient frozen dinners some rely on because of their busy schedules. A freezer full of meals is actually more energy-intensive — it costs more to freeze foods, ship them cold, display them frozen in the grocery store and keep them frozen in our homes. So while the modern convenience of the microwave and the Lean Cuisine is enticing, it's much more resource-intensive. Cook fresh food when you can, and you'll also find yourself eating out less often.

10. Use cold water. No, not in the shower... but maybe in the washer. Try using cold water to launder things that don't need to be cleaned in hot or warm water. It takes a lot of energy to heat up water — multiply that by the number of loads, and that's a big footprint. Most major detergent makers sell detergents designed to have the same cleaning power as with regular soap. Try washing mixed loads in cold water, too.

11. Have friends over. Gatherings are a good way to spend some quality time with friends, with very little carbon impact. Cooking and entertaining for larger groups is more efficient and, per person, a lot less expensive. And who can put a price on these "carbon freebies"?

12. Make time for errands. A lot of us try to run errands in-between work and other commitments. Try bundling errands together to reduce how far you need to travel. Going back-and-forth to the same part of town on different days to run errands uses more gas than if you planned and did everything in the same area all at once. And if you really want to make it a "carbon freebie," try carpooling and running errands with a buddy.

AND REMEMBER THE THREE Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. It seems like something from a kid's sing-a-long, but sometimes we lose sight of just how much we buy. Try buying less, and reusing and fixing things when you can instead of buying new. And for a lot of people, recycling is as easy as rolling the trash bin to the curb. Just remember to do it in school too.

Article courtesy of http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumed/tips.html

Ready for a New Outlook on Life?

Although it often goes unnoticed, personality types affect our lives on a daily basis. Understanding your own personality type and the personality types of others can usually prevent undesired conflicts and can also promote more meaningful friendships. If one knows an individuals’ personality type, he or she can understand why the particular individual behaves the way they do. Furthermore, one can be more informed on how those individuals express their feelings and why certain people are really open or really reserved. By knowing their own personality type, an individual may target their weaknesses, which often go unnoticed, and can then proceed to work on improving those weaknesses. Knowing one’s own personality type may also aid in deciding which careers to follow. Due to all of these benefits, it is often a great idea to know your personality type; thus I encourage you to take this quick test in order to find out your personality type. Who knows, you might gain a new perspective on life in under ten minutes!
http://www.personalitytest.net/cgi-bin/q.pl

Multiple Benefits of Healthy Behavior?

Hola!

I hope everyone is enjoying their first week of October (despite the chills)! So, I recently ran across an article that seemed pretty interesting. It discusses a study based on how healthy behaviors (or poor health behaviors) affect your GPA. A summary chart is located below; however, I would read the whole article (as it is more in-depth). The link to the article is http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/10/21/health. Also, although I am not required to let you know exactly when Fire Safety Inspections will be conducted, we will be doing them TODAY between 2PM and 4PM. Thus, if you would like to be present during inspections, please try to be in your apartments during these times. As always, let me know if you have any questions!

Behavior or Activity	% Reporting the Issue	% Saying the Issue Affected Academics	Mean GPA for Students Who Say Issue Affected Academics	Mean GPA for Students Who Did Not Report the Issue
Stress	69.9%	32.9%	3.12	3.23
Sleep Difficulties	40.8	20.0	3.08	3.27
Concern for Troubled Friend/Family Member	42.4	15.8	3.08	3.25
Relationship Issues	34.8	14.1	3.10	3.25
Excessive Computer/Internet Use	30.4	13.0	3.04	3.27
Financial Difficulties	44.0	12.8	3.03	3.28
Mental Health Issues	21.5	12.3	3.08	3.25
Upper Respiratory Infection	36.5	11.5	3.12	3.23
Alcohol Use	32.8	7.5	2.92	3.28
Learning Disability/ADD	7.2	4.3	2.93	3.26
Moved/Changed Residence	21.5	3.8	3.05	3.24
Drug Use	6.5	2.2	2.94	3.25
Serious Injury	4.6	2.0	3.01	3.25
Allergies	29.7	1.8	3.04	3.24
Chronic Conditions	10.3	1.8	3.17	3.24
Mono	3.1	1.6	3.19	3.24
Eating Disorder	4.6	1.2	3.13	3.24