Oh look, outrage. It’s been a few minutes since we last ran into outrage. This time: an evil plot, hatched by the Missouri University School of Journalism, that, in effect, lets students cover the cost of their iPhone or iPod touch with federal student loans. Someone call Superman, or at least Daredevil.
How is the school getting away with this? By classifying the iPhone or iPod touch as a requirement, students can then buy them with the full faith and credit of a federal student loan.
I now quote Valleywag because it made me laugh:
This has students who are PCs up in arms; one student, Elizabeth Eberlin, has started a Facebook group, her generation’s ultimate gesture of pointless, passive-aggressive protest, to complain about the move.
There’s a small asterisk here. Even though the iPhone is “required,” it’s not really required. The school actually won’t force you to buy an iPhone—you won’t be penalized in any way if you don’t buy one—so there’s little reason to freak out about it.
Carry on, citizens.
Photo: Flickr
What’s the justification for the iPhone. An HTC Touch Pro can do everything the iPhone can plus a lot more.
@Jared… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…. I almost spit coffee through my nose when I read your comment… Good One buddy, Thats how I like to start my Friday’s… with a good laugh.
Are you kidding!?
The iPhone is a piece of garbage. My BlackBerry can do WAY more then your silly little iPhone.
The touch pro is a piece of crap, I’m sorry. I’m both a PC and Mac guy, but I can easily say that the iphone takes the prize on this one.
You stupid iphone junkies. The touch pro is awesome and much more versatile. Its like the difference between males and females Not as slick and pretty but much more useful. but go ahead you macfags…
I graduated from MU’s Journalism program, and this isn’t new. When I was going a few years back, we were “required” to buy an apple laptop for classes. There’s even an certified apple store adjacent to the student bookstore. Can’t complain about the student discount on Apple products though…
I am currently a student at MU’s Journalism school. The reason they are “requiring” students to have an iPhone or iPod touch is so the school will get free Apple computers. It is some type of deal the school set up with Apple. Essentially, by requiring the students to buy apple products, the school in return gets benefits. The apple computers and accessories are actually pointless to the major.
I went there too. The J-School dean got quite a hefty sum of money from Apple so he basically gets on his knees for them whenever possible. Although I do like Apple products so I can’t complain.
Wow – what a waste. It makes you wonder what over backhanded deals apple has with other school’s / universities… They say they need them for their “podcasts” total BS.
And my F’n tax dollars are helping someone pay for a flippin iPhone – F – that noise…
I was a graduate of the University of Missouri-Colombia School of Journalism back in ‘88. At that time they had a deal with IBM to modernize the newsroom. They gave us PS/2 computers running OS/2. Yeah, that was helpful.
If you read what Dean Brooks said, the reason they require it is so that students can use financial aid to get them, so they can listen to lectures multiple times, which greatly increases retention. But there is no penalty for not getting them.
I was a photojournalism major, and having my faculty advisor write a letter to financial aid, I was able to increase the amount of financial aid I was eligible for so I could buy the lenses and film I need to do complete my classes.
So, the “current” student who says they are irrelevant to the program wasn’t paying attention. Knowing the requirements for graduation, dude, I’d say change your major.
I was the president of the United States at one point not for very long, but long enough and I say you spoiled little fuckers need to take your posting rages and shove them up your arses.
This idea of NEEDING a phone is rediculous. NOBODY NEEDS a cell phone…It’s just because your little spoiled American minds can’t stop doing something for five seconds and relax..you have to be texting or calling or playing or fiddling…
All this talk about needing phone and cameras is all bullshit…get a life people…disconnect yourselves from the madness.
the htc touch screen phones arent all that good they lose signal constantly and fall apart easily get a psp you can actually talk on a psp its an app compatible with internet and you get games!
hey Nick, Response to your post
http://blog.unlimitedcellular.com/school-requires-students-buy-iphone/217