Writing the final, especially question number two, has made me realize it is impossible to make anyone happy. No matter what I do, what I write about, how I speak, someone is always going to have a differing opinion to me.
This blog is my personal space to say what I want to say, how I want to say it, regardless of how people think I should be writing or what I should be writing.
I am happy with where I am in life. Taking my HCOM proseminar made me realize CSUMB is not the school for me. I want to write, I want to be a journalist, and I don't think by taking classes like Restorative Justice or American Drama, I'll be able to get the education I want.
So, next fall, I'll be packing my bags and heading to Sacramento State University, about 20 miles from my house, to enter their English and journalism programs. I am hoping their dedicated departments, versus just a small section in HCOM like CSUMB (side note: I will be so happy to get away from all the acronyms), will give me a greater understanding and preparedness for the world, instead of a small understanding of many things, like CSUMB hopes to give their students.
This summer, I'm going to try and get some freelance journalism work going...hopefully I will be able to build a substantial portfolio by the end of summer and continue in the field.
I wish everyone luck with their new endeavors!
5.12.2009
5.09.2009
bad me
I haven't been keeping this up, but with work being so busy, it's been insane. Forgive my ineptitude.
I have a few things to say.
I hate how the media is obsessed with the Obama administration and their daily lives. Yes, he's the first Democratic president we've had in eight years, but that doesn't make him and his family Roswell aliens.
Michelle Obama is a beautiful, classy and well-organized woman with a distinct sense of style. Does this mean she will be the best First Lady this country has ever seen? No. The fashion community is fawning over her dresses and those of her daughters, when they should be focusing on the attempts she is making at improving the country with her newly-gained power as the SO of the President. President Obama's actions in the Oval Office and Congress should be the forefront of the media, but no, instead we get commentary on the kinds of mustard he likes on his hamburger.
Really. Enough. The Obamas are normal people. Focus on policy, not which designer or which food is their flavor du jour.
I have a few things to say.
I hate how the media is obsessed with the Obama administration and their daily lives. Yes, he's the first Democratic president we've had in eight years, but that doesn't make him and his family Roswell aliens.
Michelle Obama is a beautiful, classy and well-organized woman with a distinct sense of style. Does this mean she will be the best First Lady this country has ever seen? No. The fashion community is fawning over her dresses and those of her daughters, when they should be focusing on the attempts she is making at improving the country with her newly-gained power as the SO of the President. President Obama's actions in the Oval Office and Congress should be the forefront of the media, but no, instead we get commentary on the kinds of mustard he likes on his hamburger.
Really. Enough. The Obamas are normal people. Focus on policy, not which designer or which food is their flavor du jour.
5.03.2009
swine flu
I think swine flu is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. We thought bird flu was bad? Now we have pig flu to supplement the infectious disease menagerie.
What's next on the CDC list?
I got it. Giraffe flu. Can you imagine? People growing patches of spotted fur, tongues turning blue, necks suddenly elongating into the troposphere...
I digress.
I get that this flu could potentially do a lot of damage, and it's unseasonable for North America, whose flu season runs from October to February, but does the media always have to use their doomsday prophecies to scare the entire nation into taking Tamiflu and using painting masks to try and avoid it? Taking Tamiflu will make it worse the next time around, and unless you keep your hands clean every single minute of the day, there is a risk you're going to get infected.
What's even more dangerous, though, is the gap between the reporting of disease occurrences to the CDC, confirmation of swine flu, then reporting of statistics to the country. We may think the number is small now, but the number you hear a week from now is the number it actually was today.
Follow all hygiene procedures. Cover your face when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands thoroughly and often, use hand sanitizer, avoid sharing stuff on which another person has left their saliva (unless it's your significant other. If my boyfriend gets swine flu, there's no doubt I will).
Be healthy!
What's next on the CDC list?
I got it. Giraffe flu. Can you imagine? People growing patches of spotted fur, tongues turning blue, necks suddenly elongating into the troposphere...
I digress.
I get that this flu could potentially do a lot of damage, and it's unseasonable for North America, whose flu season runs from October to February, but does the media always have to use their doomsday prophecies to scare the entire nation into taking Tamiflu and using painting masks to try and avoid it? Taking Tamiflu will make it worse the next time around, and unless you keep your hands clean every single minute of the day, there is a risk you're going to get infected.
What's even more dangerous, though, is the gap between the reporting of disease occurrences to the CDC, confirmation of swine flu, then reporting of statistics to the country. We may think the number is small now, but the number you hear a week from now is the number it actually was today.
Follow all hygiene procedures. Cover your face when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands thoroughly and often, use hand sanitizer, avoid sharing stuff on which another person has left their saliva (unless it's your significant other. If my boyfriend gets swine flu, there's no doubt I will).
Be healthy!
4.28.2009
the fight for marriage equality
I consider myself to be one of the odder people on campus in terms of political beliefs. I was raised in a highly conservative household when it came to policy and fiscal matters, but social ones were treated with relative indifference. Gay marriage and abortion were no big deal, and I've never understood why so many people become so vehemently opposed to either.
I totally support gay marriage, or whatever it is. I understand marriage is traditionally defined as occurring between a man and a woman, but when that definition was formed, a woman could be killed for being raped or disobeying her husband. If we are to keep these laws, then the one in three women facing rape or sexual abuse in their lifetime would be gone. Now imagine if that was your wife or girlfriend, mother or sister, niece or daughter.
That's a lot of women whose lives would be adversely affected by maintaining this traditional rule. Why are we so hellbent on keeping an archaic structure which is maladapted to our current society? A union is a union regardless of the sex or gender of the people involved. Every spouse should have equal rights to their significant other's estate, protection and benefits. If tables were turned and gay marriage was suddenly the dominating influence in a society, would you as a heterosexual person feel outraged? Disgusted? Rebellious?
A little empathy goes a long way.
I totally support gay marriage, or whatever it is. I understand marriage is traditionally defined as occurring between a man and a woman, but when that definition was formed, a woman could be killed for being raped or disobeying her husband. If we are to keep these laws, then the one in three women facing rape or sexual abuse in their lifetime would be gone. Now imagine if that was your wife or girlfriend, mother or sister, niece or daughter.
That's a lot of women whose lives would be adversely affected by maintaining this traditional rule. Why are we so hellbent on keeping an archaic structure which is maladapted to our current society? A union is a union regardless of the sex or gender of the people involved. Every spouse should have equal rights to their significant other's estate, protection and benefits. If tables were turned and gay marriage was suddenly the dominating influence in a society, would you as a heterosexual person feel outraged? Disgusted? Rebellious?
A little empathy goes a long way.
4.05.2009
work sucks
I really don't like my job.
I know a lot of people say that, but I think my situation is a little unique.
For one, I have three female bosses, and everyone in my office is female. I'm a girl, too, so the amount of estrogen floating around is astonishing.
In order of appearance, we have: Flutterby, the big boss, who controls the entire office and such.
Kookles, one of two minor bosses, who is rather insane
and, finally, Beezy. Her name speaks for itself.
Part of my job is to write 1-2 articles a week for this organization, which appear in a local newspaper. Everyone has their own opinions, which is fine, but I have to have a 45-minute meeting with Kookles before she is satisfied, a 10-minute meeting with Beezy before she is satisfied, and then another meeting with Flutterby where she dismisses all the changes made by the other two. This is also the case for e-newsletters or anything else that involves communications. And it can't be something simple like changing a word, it has to be "I don't like how this looks now, change it."
I have to say, Kookles is really kooky because of a semi-recent surgery and the amount of drugs she's taking.
But these women are never satisfied! Something is always wrong, something always needs changing.
I suppose that's how the world works, though.
I know a lot of people say that, but I think my situation is a little unique.
For one, I have three female bosses, and everyone in my office is female. I'm a girl, too, so the amount of estrogen floating around is astonishing.
In order of appearance, we have: Flutterby, the big boss, who controls the entire office and such.
Kookles, one of two minor bosses, who is rather insane
and, finally, Beezy. Her name speaks for itself.
Part of my job is to write 1-2 articles a week for this organization, which appear in a local newspaper. Everyone has their own opinions, which is fine, but I have to have a 45-minute meeting with Kookles before she is satisfied, a 10-minute meeting with Beezy before she is satisfied, and then another meeting with Flutterby where she dismisses all the changes made by the other two. This is also the case for e-newsletters or anything else that involves communications. And it can't be something simple like changing a word, it has to be "I don't like how this looks now, change it."
I have to say, Kookles is really kooky because of a semi-recent surgery and the amount of drugs she's taking.
But these women are never satisfied! Something is always wrong, something always needs changing.
I suppose that's how the world works, though.
eyes wide open
All this weekend and on Monday, there will be an event called Eyes Wide Open, sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and a few other organizations. In the main quad, there will be over 400 pairs of army boots, each representing a soldier from California who died. Some boots are from far away (Oceanside) while others are close to home (Salinas). Along with soldier boots, take a look for civilian baby and women's shoes, who represent just a few of the Iraqi casualties in the war.
Personally, I think this is a great way to give people a concept of the shear number of deaths. We wear our shoes every day, just like the brave men and women protecting our country. As I was talking with some of the organizers of the exhibit, they told me they used to travel the country and would receive boots from family members of those who have fallen, but due to the shear number of total casualties and the amount of care required to preserve the personal effects, they were all given back.
American soldiers who have died: 4264
(source http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/)
Personally, I think this is a great way to give people a concept of the shear number of deaths. We wear our shoes every day, just like the brave men and women protecting our country. As I was talking with some of the organizers of the exhibit, they told me they used to travel the country and would receive boots from family members of those who have fallen, but due to the shear number of total casualties and the amount of care required to preserve the personal effects, they were all given back.
American soldiers who have died: 4264
(source http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/)
3.23.2009
Remembering Jeanette Martinez
Here is the article I wrote for the Otter Realm on Jeanette Martinez. She will be missed.
-----------------------------------------------
She was the tiniest girl with the biggest heart. Her big, bright smile lit up any room she entered, and she was always willing to lend a helping hand. A soft voice and petite frame belied her strong conviction to change the world and her devotion to bettering the lives of others.
John Martinez was sound asleep when a knock on the door brought a parent’s greatest nightmare. His eldest daughter, Jeanette, had died only a few hours before. After a long night, she was driving home to her East Campus apartment when tragedy unfolded. A 27-year-old woman had been driving drunk, struck two cars, and hit the CSU Monterey Bay (CSUMB) junior and Collaborative Health and Human Services major head on, killing her instantly.
The same morning, Ashley Rodgers, a Human Communications major and fifth-year student at CSUMB, woke to an incessant ringing. “The sorority sisters kept calling me and calling me,” said Rodgers. “So I called them back and [a sister] told me what happened, and I got dressed and went over there just to be with them.”
Jeanette was holding down three jobs and 15 units, all while supporting her sorority, Sigma Theta Psi, as an Epsilon class sister, coqueta, and ladybug. “[This semester] she wasn’t active, but she still came to meetings. She wanted us as sisters, she wanted to bring us together,” said Rodgers. “She had a special bond with everyone; I think we all have a little spot with Jeanette.”
One of her favorite activities was fund raising for breast cancer awareness, something her sorority promoted throughout October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Jeanette was an active volunteer and attendee of her church from early in life. Her faith was important to her, and she read her Bible daily. She would memorize 13 verses during the week and read them aloud at Sunday morning service at Family Christian Center, which she attended with her family on a weekly basis.
Alongside her busy life at CSUMB, Jeanette remained close to her parents, two sisters, and niece at home in Greenfield, CA. She took care of her mother when she fell ill, driving her to doctor’s appointments and tending to her needs. “She was always there,” said her mother, Carmen Martinez. “She was never too busy for me. She was always there no matter what; she loved us.”
As the oldest, Ms. Martinez was the best friend to sisters Claudia and Jasmin. Even while pursuing her degree at CSUMB, she was always there to help with homework or to take care of her niece, Neveah. “Even though she worked three jobs, she was always there for us,” said Claudia. “Anything we wanted, she would get for us. We could always call her.”
There is little doubt Jeanette remains a bright spot among her friends and family. From happy child, to happy girl, to happy woman, Jeanette will always be remembered for her smile and presence. “She was like an angel to me,” said Mrs. Martinez. “She lifted me up.”
-----------------------------------------------
She was the tiniest girl with the biggest heart. Her big, bright smile lit up any room she entered, and she was always willing to lend a helping hand. A soft voice and petite frame belied her strong conviction to change the world and her devotion to bettering the lives of others.
John Martinez was sound asleep when a knock on the door brought a parent’s greatest nightmare. His eldest daughter, Jeanette, had died only a few hours before. After a long night, she was driving home to her East Campus apartment when tragedy unfolded. A 27-year-old woman had been driving drunk, struck two cars, and hit the CSU Monterey Bay (CSUMB) junior and Collaborative Health and Human Services major head on, killing her instantly.
The same morning, Ashley Rodgers, a Human Communications major and fifth-year student at CSUMB, woke to an incessant ringing. “The sorority sisters kept calling me and calling me,” said Rodgers. “So I called them back and [a sister] told me what happened, and I got dressed and went over there just to be with them.”
Jeanette was holding down three jobs and 15 units, all while supporting her sorority, Sigma Theta Psi, as an Epsilon class sister, coqueta, and ladybug. “[This semester] she wasn’t active, but she still came to meetings. She wanted us as sisters, she wanted to bring us together,” said Rodgers. “She had a special bond with everyone; I think we all have a little spot with Jeanette.”
One of her favorite activities was fund raising for breast cancer awareness, something her sorority promoted throughout October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Jeanette was an active volunteer and attendee of her church from early in life. Her faith was important to her, and she read her Bible daily. She would memorize 13 verses during the week and read them aloud at Sunday morning service at Family Christian Center, which she attended with her family on a weekly basis.
Alongside her busy life at CSUMB, Jeanette remained close to her parents, two sisters, and niece at home in Greenfield, CA. She took care of her mother when she fell ill, driving her to doctor’s appointments and tending to her needs. “She was always there,” said her mother, Carmen Martinez. “She was never too busy for me. She was always there no matter what; she loved us.”
As the oldest, Ms. Martinez was the best friend to sisters Claudia and Jasmin. Even while pursuing her degree at CSUMB, she was always there to help with homework or to take care of her niece, Neveah. “Even though she worked three jobs, she was always there for us,” said Claudia. “Anything we wanted, she would get for us. We could always call her.”
There is little doubt Jeanette remains a bright spot among her friends and family. From happy child, to happy girl, to happy woman, Jeanette will always be remembered for her smile and presence. “She was like an angel to me,” said Mrs. Martinez. “She lifted me up.”
3.21.2009
yahoo answers
My boyfriend got me hooked on Yahoo Answers. You get points for answering questions about anything you can possibly think of, and you can get lost for hours just answering questions.
I think it would be awesome if colleges were structured like that. You go to class, the professor asks you a question, whoever answers it the best gets 10 points. But if you're one of those annoying people who has to ask for clarification on something 25 times in the 5 minutes before class gets out, you get one point taken away for each question. Can you imagine? People would be jumping over each other to get the most eloquent answer in the shortest amount of times.
Some people would just post a link somewhere (or quote the textbook) and get a mediocre response, maybe a thumbs up or two. But those who thoroughly researched their answers (or at least had enough charisma to pull off looking like they knew what they were talking about) would get the best rewards.
Classes would branch off like wikipedia articles, everyone would talk about what interested them, and everything would somehow, some way relate back to the class at hand. No one would be bored, everyone would be engaged, because these points would be their entire grade, at least for one class period.
I think when I become a teacher, I'll hold classes like that with my students as a sort of review session. God knows it couldn't be any worse than those old, boring study guides we got in high school. I think if I had those growing up, review sessions would have been a lot more productive.
I think it would be awesome if colleges were structured like that. You go to class, the professor asks you a question, whoever answers it the best gets 10 points. But if you're one of those annoying people who has to ask for clarification on something 25 times in the 5 minutes before class gets out, you get one point taken away for each question. Can you imagine? People would be jumping over each other to get the most eloquent answer in the shortest amount of times.
Some people would just post a link somewhere (or quote the textbook) and get a mediocre response, maybe a thumbs up or two. But those who thoroughly researched their answers (or at least had enough charisma to pull off looking like they knew what they were talking about) would get the best rewards.
Classes would branch off like wikipedia articles, everyone would talk about what interested them, and everything would somehow, some way relate back to the class at hand. No one would be bored, everyone would be engaged, because these points would be their entire grade, at least for one class period.
I think when I become a teacher, I'll hold classes like that with my students as a sort of review session. God knows it couldn't be any worse than those old, boring study guides we got in high school. I think if I had those growing up, review sessions would have been a lot more productive.
3.15.2009
whaddlyatcha
One of my favorite memories from elementary school was sitting and playing hand and word games with the other girls. Some lyrics to bring you back...
Miss Mary Mack Mack Mack
All dressed in black, black, black
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons
All down her back, back, back.
She asked her mother, mother, mother
For 50 cents, cents, cents
To see the elephants, elephants, elephants
Jump over the fence, fence, fence.
They jumped so high, high, high
They reached the sky, sky, sky
And they didn't come back, back, back
'Til the 4th of July, ly, ly!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Miss Suzie had a steam boat
the steam boat had a bell (toot toot)
Miss Suzie went to heaven
the steam boat went to
Hello operator, please give me # 9
If you disconnect me I'll chop off your
Behind the refrigerator, there laid a piece of glass
Miss Suzie sat upon it and broke her little
Ask me no more questions, tell me no more lies
The boys are in the bathroom, zipping up their
Flies are in the meadow, bees are in the park
Miss Suzie and her boy friend are kissing in the D-A-R-K D-A-R-K dark dark dark
Is like a movie, a movie's like a show, a show is on TV
And that's all I know I know
I know my ma I know I know my pa
I Even know my sister wears a 40 acre bra
------------------------------------------------------
I think we were all mean little girls. Because you know Miss Suzie and Mary didn't deserve to die, but we sang about them every day.
Whatever. I wish my daughters (if and when they exist) still have handgames like these to play.
Miss Mary Mack Mack Mack
All dressed in black, black, black
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons
All down her back, back, back.
She asked her mother, mother, mother
For 50 cents, cents, cents
To see the elephants, elephants, elephants
Jump over the fence, fence, fence.
They jumped so high, high, high
They reached the sky, sky, sky
And they didn't come back, back, back
'Til the 4th of July, ly, ly!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Miss Suzie had a steam boat
the steam boat had a bell (toot toot)
Miss Suzie went to heaven
the steam boat went to
Hello operator, please give me # 9
If you disconnect me I'll chop off your
Behind the refrigerator, there laid a piece of glass
Miss Suzie sat upon it and broke her little
Ask me no more questions, tell me no more lies
The boys are in the bathroom, zipping up their
Flies are in the meadow, bees are in the park
Miss Suzie and her boy friend are kissing in the D-A-R-K D-A-R-K dark dark dark
Is like a movie, a movie's like a show, a show is on TV
And that's all I know I know
I know my ma I know I know my pa
I Even know my sister wears a 40 acre bra
------------------------------------------------------
I think we were all mean little girls. Because you know Miss Suzie and Mary didn't deserve to die, but we sang about them every day.
Whatever. I wish my daughters (if and when they exist) still have handgames like these to play.
3.06.2009
take this with a grain of salt
I thought I had seen it all.
Nuh uh.
Then, there was this.
As said by Brad Pitt in my favorite movie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith...
"Sweet Jesus mother of God."
Who lets their child do this? A sixteen-year-old child gets married to another seventeen-year-old child and the wedding costs $200,000.
Oh, my god. I'm eighteen. I want to get married, and probably will get married right after getting my degrees. But that girl (allegedly) hasn't been in school since the age of nine and is now throwing her life away to make more children in their trailer park in England.
And is anyone else supremely frightened by the little girls in belly shirts with fake tans and stripper heels?
Especially now, with the economy the way it is, I can't imagine spending that much on anything, much less a wedding resulting in a marriage that probably won't last more than a year.
On a side note, I was glancing through the Sacramento Bee this morning and saw that California has by far the most mortgages worth more than the actual property value. Surprisingly enough, the area with the highest percentage of mortgages like this is not Los Angeles, but Stockton.
On another side note, $330 to get a tv fixed?
The world is going insane.
Nuh uh.
Then, there was this.
As said by Brad Pitt in my favorite movie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith...
"Sweet Jesus mother of God."
Who lets their child do this? A sixteen-year-old child gets married to another seventeen-year-old child and the wedding costs $200,000.
Oh, my god. I'm eighteen. I want to get married, and probably will get married right after getting my degrees. But that girl (allegedly) hasn't been in school since the age of nine and is now throwing her life away to make more children in their trailer park in England.
And is anyone else supremely frightened by the little girls in belly shirts with fake tans and stripper heels?
Especially now, with the economy the way it is, I can't imagine spending that much on anything, much less a wedding resulting in a marriage that probably won't last more than a year.
On a side note, I was glancing through the Sacramento Bee this morning and saw that California has by far the most mortgages worth more than the actual property value. Surprisingly enough, the area with the highest percentage of mortgages like this is not Los Angeles, but Stockton.
On another side note, $330 to get a tv fixed?
The world is going insane.
2.25.2009
Gross National Happiness
In Bhutan, they have this thing called Gross National Happiness on which they base their country's overall prosperity. Their government provides them with clean water to drink and land on which to live, and most of its citizens are sustenance farmers, meaning they only grow what is needed to support their families. They aren't democratic, but the citizens have the right to remove the king if he becomes tyrannical and demagogic. They have a national dress code (which looks rather comfy, robes and pajamas, I dig it), one television station that broadcasts every night at 8pm, and so far, have held back the invasion of technology and salaciousness from the outside world.
I would live there, if they actually believed women were capable of holding a position of power.
The king's "cabinet", for lack of knowledge of the correct term, are all graduates of US colleges and fluent, for the most part, in English. They are also all men. The king himself has four wives, all of them sisters.
I hate to pull the feminist card, I really do, but in that part of the world, women are still considered baby machines and only baby machines. Don't get me wrong, I'm dying to have children and be a mom and hold my baby in my arms, but I'm equally desirous of a career and accomplishing all of my life goals. Being barefoot and pregnant is not one of them. However, if the women of Bhutan are content with their positions in life, then more power to them. I wish the US dealt in gross national happiness instead of gross domestic product, but I'm content with my position in life as it is.
We can only hope.
I would live there, if they actually believed women were capable of holding a position of power.
The king's "cabinet", for lack of knowledge of the correct term, are all graduates of US colleges and fluent, for the most part, in English. They are also all men. The king himself has four wives, all of them sisters.
I hate to pull the feminist card, I really do, but in that part of the world, women are still considered baby machines and only baby machines. Don't get me wrong, I'm dying to have children and be a mom and hold my baby in my arms, but I'm equally desirous of a career and accomplishing all of my life goals. Being barefoot and pregnant is not one of them. However, if the women of Bhutan are content with their positions in life, then more power to them. I wish the US dealt in gross national happiness instead of gross domestic product, but I'm content with my position in life as it is.
We can only hope.
2.10.2009
the death of journalism
All I hear about as a journalism student is the death of journalism and how newspapers are falling by the wayside.
Regardless of whether newspapers are going to live, journalism itself is never going to die. It's one of the oldest professions in the world (think of those hieroglyphics on pyramid walls...ancient journalist drew those so we could all remember). Everyone still needs to know what happened and when, and someone will have to write it down and write a story.
One of the things emphasized the most in my classes is the art of crafting a story to make it more believable. Working on the Otter Realm this semester has definitely helped me expand my knowledge about writing and crafting a story in such a way it makes people care.
Another writer on staff this semester actually got to interview Jayson Blair, a reporter from the New York Times who was caught plagiarizing and submitting inauthentic work. He said he resigned from the Times "because he got caught." In all regards, he shouldn't have been doing it in the first place. I know firsthand how fast a deadline can come up on you and you're left without a story, without a quote, and you still have to make it work. People say academia is the profession where it's "publish or perish," but I believe journalism is even more cutthroat. Freelancers especially have a hard time, subsisting on stories here and there to keep their name in the papers and their reputation intact.
I love every minute of it, though, and wouldn't change it for the world.
Regardless of whether newspapers are going to live, journalism itself is never going to die. It's one of the oldest professions in the world (think of those hieroglyphics on pyramid walls...ancient journalist drew those so we could all remember). Everyone still needs to know what happened and when, and someone will have to write it down and write a story.
One of the things emphasized the most in my classes is the art of crafting a story to make it more believable. Working on the Otter Realm this semester has definitely helped me expand my knowledge about writing and crafting a story in such a way it makes people care.
Another writer on staff this semester actually got to interview Jayson Blair, a reporter from the New York Times who was caught plagiarizing and submitting inauthentic work. He said he resigned from the Times "because he got caught." In all regards, he shouldn't have been doing it in the first place. I know firsthand how fast a deadline can come up on you and you're left without a story, without a quote, and you still have to make it work. People say academia is the profession where it's "publish or perish," but I believe journalism is even more cutthroat. Freelancers especially have a hard time, subsisting on stories here and there to keep their name in the papers and their reputation intact.
I love every minute of it, though, and wouldn't change it for the world.
2.07.2009
we just can't get rid of them
According to both this website and this PDF and this PDF (both from CSUMB), CSU Monterey Bay has a dismally low graduation rate. One in ten students will get a degree in four years; two in five will have their degrees in six. The CSU system as a whole isn't much better; 9% more get their degrees in six years, and 3% more get their degrees in four years.
Why do we have so many people who want to hang around?
I had a meeting with one of my school's academic advisors yesterday, both to ask her some questions about my transcripts and to interview her for an upcoming article I have in the school newspaper. She said that my transcripts looked fine and I was supposed to have that many units. She also said that CSUMB has some of the most desirable housing in the state (in terms of location, not quality), and that students, once they get past the 120 units needed to graduate, often just go to East Campus housing and stay there for as long as possible, switching majors and racking up units, until they've lived there for 10 or 12 years and absolutely have to find a way out. Those people, obviously, drive down our graduation rate, but I admire them for their dedication at achieving a well-rounded education.
We also have the students who just keep changing their mind, completely innocently. The advisor said that the problems usually arose when a student in an open, flexible major like SBS or HCOM switched to a much more regimented major like Liberal Studies or Business, which have major prerequisites along with the requisites. As a result, these students are often here a lot longer than they originally intended.
Finally, we have the students who are just completely unmotivated. CSUMB's system is designed for students to need 15 units per semester to graduate in four years. Most students end up taking 16 units per semester, simply because the majority of classes are 4 units, and it's hard to get exactly 15. However, 12 units is considered a "full load" for a "full-time student." For students who take the 12 unit approach, they can get their degree in five years, but when combined with switching majors and not convening regularly with their advisor to ensure they're on track, these students are often here just as long as they want to be. They'll move on when they get there, but they're taking their sweet time about reaching that finish line.
My solution to all these problems?
Offer every proseminar every semester, to anyone who wants to take them. Require each student to take two (the equivalent of a 4 unit class) per semester, until they are sure they want to pick that major.
Once they have picked that major, incorporate their major classes along with their GEs, so they get the full experience, but don't burn out on doing the same thing over and over again. I know I get bored doing the same thing over and over again, and this applies to classes, too. My semester this fall is five HCOM classes. I know how to torture myself.
If they decide they don't like the major, they can still change at a later date, and not have the entire semester or year become a waste, because they still have taken GEs and made progress towards their degree.
If a student has stayed long enough to surpass the 120 units needed to graduate but cannot graduate because of coursework incompletion, put a cap on total "earnable" units to 180. Everyone can finish a degree in 60 units.
I doubt anyone important is going to notice this, but it definitely would be worth a shot.
If only I ran a university.
Why do we have so many people who want to hang around?
I had a meeting with one of my school's academic advisors yesterday, both to ask her some questions about my transcripts and to interview her for an upcoming article I have in the school newspaper. She said that my transcripts looked fine and I was supposed to have that many units. She also said that CSUMB has some of the most desirable housing in the state (in terms of location, not quality), and that students, once they get past the 120 units needed to graduate, often just go to East Campus housing and stay there for as long as possible, switching majors and racking up units, until they've lived there for 10 or 12 years and absolutely have to find a way out. Those people, obviously, drive down our graduation rate, but I admire them for their dedication at achieving a well-rounded education.
We also have the students who just keep changing their mind, completely innocently. The advisor said that the problems usually arose when a student in an open, flexible major like SBS or HCOM switched to a much more regimented major like Liberal Studies or Business, which have major prerequisites along with the requisites. As a result, these students are often here a lot longer than they originally intended.
Finally, we have the students who are just completely unmotivated. CSUMB's system is designed for students to need 15 units per semester to graduate in four years. Most students end up taking 16 units per semester, simply because the majority of classes are 4 units, and it's hard to get exactly 15. However, 12 units is considered a "full load" for a "full-time student." For students who take the 12 unit approach, they can get their degree in five years, but when combined with switching majors and not convening regularly with their advisor to ensure they're on track, these students are often here just as long as they want to be. They'll move on when they get there, but they're taking their sweet time about reaching that finish line.
My solution to all these problems?
Offer every proseminar every semester, to anyone who wants to take them. Require each student to take two (the equivalent of a 4 unit class) per semester, until they are sure they want to pick that major.
Once they have picked that major, incorporate their major classes along with their GEs, so they get the full experience, but don't burn out on doing the same thing over and over again. I know I get bored doing the same thing over and over again, and this applies to classes, too. My semester this fall is five HCOM classes. I know how to torture myself.
If they decide they don't like the major, they can still change at a later date, and not have the entire semester or year become a waste, because they still have taken GEs and made progress towards their degree.
If a student has stayed long enough to surpass the 120 units needed to graduate but cannot graduate because of coursework incompletion, put a cap on total "earnable" units to 180. Everyone can finish a degree in 60 units.
I doubt anyone important is going to notice this, but it definitely would be worth a shot.
If only I ran a university.
1.29.2009
teletubbies in your twenties
There are times when I am extremely proud of my generation and the things we are going to accomplish within our lifetimes. Then, there are others which make me cringe for the safety of our country and the world as a whole.
For one of those times, I wasn't actually present, but my sources are highly reputable, and I would trust both of them with my life.
During the beginning of a class, someone was looking through popular videos on Today's Big Thing and found (warning, sexual themes and strong language) this one. Two girls were at first excited because they loved the show LazyTown. Cue the splicing of a hardcore-ish rap song. They reacted with shock and disgust; who would dare to impregnate their beloved LazyTown with adult themes and swear words? I mean, it's a kid's show, yes, but these girls are in their twenties, way past the time when most people stop watching puppet shows.
They aren't the only ones. More and more often, I am seeing college students, adults even, idolizing mementos from their childhood and embracing childlike habits (wearing pink frilly socks and using babyspeech in normal conversation). I don't know and can't figure out why, but it's obvious that they're trying to escape the real world around them in favor of a Disney princess life within their heads.
Sometimes I feel like the only one who actually wants to be an adult, to face the challenges of life and take them on, eye to eye. It does make me concerned for the fate of our country as time goes on, but I'm keeping hope that I'm not the only one who wants our generation to succeed in the world.
For one of those times, I wasn't actually present, but my sources are highly reputable, and I would trust both of them with my life.
During the beginning of a class, someone was looking through popular videos on Today's Big Thing and found (warning, sexual themes and strong language) this one. Two girls were at first excited because they loved the show LazyTown. Cue the splicing of a hardcore-ish rap song. They reacted with shock and disgust; who would dare to impregnate their beloved LazyTown with adult themes and swear words? I mean, it's a kid's show, yes, but these girls are in their twenties, way past the time when most people stop watching puppet shows.
They aren't the only ones. More and more often, I am seeing college students, adults even, idolizing mementos from their childhood and embracing childlike habits (wearing pink frilly socks and using babyspeech in normal conversation). I don't know and can't figure out why, but it's obvious that they're trying to escape the real world around them in favor of a Disney princess life within their heads.
Sometimes I feel like the only one who actually wants to be an adult, to face the challenges of life and take them on, eye to eye. It does make me concerned for the fate of our country as time goes on, but I'm keeping hope that I'm not the only one who wants our generation to succeed in the world.
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