Thursday Three For All

It’s Thursday, kiddies: the day when I roll out a few things I’ve been reading over the past week. Three of ‘em, to be exact. Enjoy. (Remember: click on the bold print to read the entire article.)

Trigger Warnings and Academic Consumerism. (via @firstthingsmag) Very interesting, balanced article on the rise of – ahem – concerned students.

I have been reading a lot of back-and-forth about “trigger warnings” lately. Students who see themselves as victims of discrimination and abuse are demanding that professors issue warnings about materials in courses they are teaching that might cause strong negative emotional responses in student psyches. And some administrators and faculty members are quite open to accommodating these demands. This willingness to comply is often motivated by a recognition of a significant shift in higher education, as expressed by student groups who are announcing their intention to “take back the university.”

Five Ways to Create Church Volunteer Opportunities for Everyone. (via @timastevens) This is a current conversation I’m having with the voices in my head. Good thoughts here.

I’m sure we all know people who live with an ever-increasing calendar or demanding jobs – always somewhere to go and be. Many people travel for work, others live far from their church, and some have families who claim their time during the week. Whatever busy-ness ensues in people’s lives, creating more opportunities for people to plug into volunteering at your church – opportunities that don’t require an ongoing commitment – will establish a culture of serving within your church.

The Last Accordion Repair Shop in NYC. (via @laughingsquid) I promise this is among the top three best ways you can spend your next two minutes. “I fix the accordion and I lose the customer, because I fix the accordion correctly.”