PTS: I’m Calling You Out…
February 13, 2005
Shout out to PTS students here. I’m just wondering, over the course of a full day, how many actual PTS students read this blog. So, if you are a PTS student, leave a comment with your Name, Class and one thing you’d change if you were in charge of PTS (I know there are some of you out there who could rant on a LOT of things - but you are limited to only one thing).
I’m calling you out PTS (and alums!)
Posted in Rants
Adam Walker Cleaveland: 
February 13th, 2005 at 11:40 pm
Becca Sanders
Junior (well actually, 1st year Dual, but I don’t want to talk about the fact that I am going to be here for 4 years instead of 3 right now)
I would make PTS be in southern California, near the beach, where I would get to be at home with my West Coast peeps
February 13th, 2005 at 11:41 pm
Zach as a first year here at PTS (and refers to himself in the third person) reads the blog just about every night! It sooths the troubled waters of my turbulent days and lulls me into deep thought or blissful repose. Or something.
Something to change if I was in charge of PTS? I’m off of complaining for Lent so that one will have to wait. I appreciate of all that I have! (single tear)
February 13th, 2005 at 11:43 pm
hi adam. i read this blob (whoops, nice typo; i’m leaving it in there :) if i could change one thing about PTS… hmm… i suppose those of us would remember — and constantly talk about — why we’re here. we wouldn’t be as bogged down in some of the “blah blah blah” that we hide behind. instead, we’d go back to the basics; we’d talk about how we heard God’s voice and were moved to obey so we could make a difference in the world. oh yeah, and the IT department wouldn’t suck so bad.
February 13th, 2005 at 11:44 pm
Peter J. Allen, Middler, and I can’t wait to see the curriculum revisions that Torrance has in store. I would love to see some 21st century updates to some of our classes.
February 13th, 2005 at 11:45 pm
Joshua Cleveland
M.Div Junior
I’d change my sheets.
February 14th, 2005 at 12:32 am
Hey Slappy–
If you spent less time fishing for comments, and tauting how many hits your blog got, and posting about how many comments you get and how many hits your blog gets, and how much traffic your blog gets, and how many people read your blog…Maybe…just Maybe…you would have some good content on here and wouldn’t need to buy fishingforcomments.com to host your blog on.
That is the only thing I would change about PTS
February 14th, 2005 at 7:26 am
kyle garst - first year dual - i would make finals before christmas.
February 14th, 2005 at 10:34 am
Joshua Mikelson
M.Div Junior
I have talked to some people who have taken a year off in the midst of their studies to partake in a year long intensive field ed experience…it seems like it would be a good idea for students to take advantage of this possibility. Granted, it is not always practical, but it seems to me that it would be beneficial for those who are interested in full-time ministry to take the time and see what it is all about before they graduate from seminary.
February 14th, 2005 at 12:21 pm
Kellen Plaxco/m.div junior
i’d like to see more clowns.
February 14th, 2005 at 3:48 pm
M.Div Middler
I would love to have courses offered in spirituality…i.e. a course in spiritual direction, disciplines, or reading through the classics. A weekly Taize or contemplative prayer service could be a great place to start.
February 14th, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Mdiv junior. I agree with Kyle. Finals before Christmas. I also would like to have more Native Americans in the house. I would like to take this chance to have the unveiling of the Native American Student Society of PTS. If you are interested and Native American please contact Adam Cleaveland and he will point you to the other Native American on campus. Other than that PTS rocks. Oh, maybe sell notebooks in the TBA or some other supplies. That would help. And add espresso to the coffee cart in MacKay, forgive me I am from Seattle. Oh yeah, let off campus housing people park in the parking lots. Oh yeah, nothing else. I hope you enjoy my suggestions.
Peace,
DRH
February 14th, 2005 at 4:24 pm
Eric Rhoda
M.Div Junior
I would change the credit designation for normal classes to 4 instead of 3. That way we could take 1 less class as a full load. Either that or I want the Seminary to re-finish the basketball court in the gym!
Rhoda
February 14th, 2005 at 4:59 pm
Jill Good
M.A. Senior
I agree with susan about the spirituality dimension, but I also think it would be helpful if there was a way for people who were interested in being in a bible study/prayer group to find out who else was interested. There seems to be people who want to be integrated into community in this way but don’t know how to start.
February 14th, 2005 at 6:21 pm
Ok, I don’t really count, since I’m not really an offical PTS student. But, I read your blog everyday.
February 14th, 2005 at 7:00 pm
1st year Dual.
What would I change about PTS? Without a doubt the TP which, in my estimation, cannot be more than half-ply! Surely Princeton can afford better than that!
February 14th, 2005 at 7:03 pm
Jenny Smith, 1st year
I have decided I like finals after Christmas. I agree with Susan & Jill–it would be nice if there were some sort of classes to help cultivate spirituality in the midst of all of the academic pressure. Maybe there are already such courses, but I can’t take them yet because I’m only a Junior. I also agree with Eric–the intro classes assign so much work that I wish they were worth more credit so that I could apply myself more to them.
February 14th, 2005 at 8:18 pm
I check the blog several times throughout the week.
If I could change only one thing, I’d include a mandatory class that meets every semester, perhaps three times each semester, on pastorship. It seems few of us (less than 60%) go on to pastorol positions and even fewer make it through five years. Why is this? Is it the boundry’s of the PCUSA? Is it the money? Is it the stress? I’d like to know as I am a career change student and would like some feeling God’s call will be satisfying!
February 14th, 2005 at 8:37 pm
andrea
m.div junior
could we take a giant saw to the earth’s core around the boundaries of pts (crw, too, I like you married folks), pick up the pts/crw chunk and move it 2500-3000 miles west? I don’t think that’s too much to ask. one possible new location could be montana; there’s lots of open land there.
just trying to help us think outside the box.
also, wifi.
February 14th, 2005 at 9:09 pm
jamey
victory lap
what would i change? two words: kickbacks.
February 14th, 2005 at 9:19 pm
dean
MDiv Junior
How about a one hour per week spiritual formation group you get credit for. It would be a small group of about eight people and would be led by a local area pastor and you would talk about what you are leaning about in your classes and you would discuss how that might grow you spiritually and how you could teach it in church and and and there would be cookies. Ya. That would be sweet.
In response to Tim above, I recently talked to the admissions director at Western Semminary (the sem. I currently attend) and he said that about 10% of incomming students know they want to be pastors in the parish. 85% exit seminary and accept calls to churches within the denomination. Why? I don’t know.
February 14th, 2005 at 10:47 pm
Luke
M.Div Senior
Right on, Joshua. Increase focus on and opportunities for full-time, year-long church internships. Hey, invest in your courses, then with a congregation, not both at once. Eleven colleagues and I did this last year. Immersion in the pastoral role strongly shaped my perspective and sense of call.
February 15th, 2005 at 1:34 am
3rd year m.div.
can’t say what i’d change bro, it ain’t my blog.
February 15th, 2005 at 1:42 am
my mistake, i thought you asked what we’d change about the blog…what i’d change about pts: i remember being rather frustrated my first year that there wasn’t more emphasis placed on biblical studies. us mainline folks don’t know our bibles like our baptist brothers and sisters.
February 15th, 2005 at 8:28 am
Nathan Hart
MDiv grad ‘04
I visit once weekly or so. What would I change about PTS? Chapel.
February 15th, 2005 at 1:32 pm
mdiv jr
i’d add a refund process so that i could get money back for classes where 1/4 to 1/3 of the class is taken up by a professor’s personal opinion instead of teaching the class. i understand then need for learning about the role of context but i would appreciate less first-hand examples. i have no problem if professors want to spill out their issues but let me get some $$$ back…
February 15th, 2005 at 3:13 pm
M.Div middler. New to the blog-visiting thing. Visit your site when procrastinating. One thing I’d change…I would eliminate the dorms and turn all housing into apartments. Despite the childish behavior students often exhibit, we are technically grown up now.
February 15th, 2005 at 4:40 pm
M.Div junior
Taught Cleave McCleaverson everything he needs to know about pomo. Just ask him. No need for change, it’s all about the process–not the end result.
February 15th, 2005 at 5:47 pm
Babbs
MDiv Junior
Ditto Staci on the procrastinating point (I think I should be writing a New Testament paper right now).
I would change the fact that all of these people who I am growing so close to will be spread across the country within the next four years. Too soon to think about that, though. I heart PTS!
February 15th, 2005 at 11:44 pm
Adam,
I do not read your blog. I do not check it several times daily as a means of procrastination. I do not attend PTS. And I would not make finals before Christmas.
February 16th, 2005 at 1:59 pm
MDiv Jr. I check in once every other week or so… I wouldn’t change a thing.
February 16th, 2005 at 8:26 pm
Just found your blog. Alumnus & ThM.
What would I change?
We need hammocks. Lots of hammocks. And monkies, but mostly hammocks.