A major part of St. Edward’s University’s fulfillment of its global mission, the study abroad program in Angers, France, has significantly less participation for its upcoming second semester, largely because it is colliding with the current economy.
This fall, there are 18 students enrolled in the Angers program out of a possible 25 spots. For the upcoming spring semester there are 13 students scheduled to study in France.
Current and Prospective Angers Students Express Financial Concerns:
Current Angers students have expressed the difficulty of managing their money in a down economy, especially with the value of the dollar compared to France’s euro.
“The U.S. dollar has progressively gotten weaker so it has come to take adverse effects on the feasibility to travel, go out to eat and many times a night out on the town,” said Albert Vasquez, a St. Edward’s student studying in Angers.
Study abroad is a major expense for students and their families, and the instability and unpredictability of the economy is making it much more difficult to accurately budget ones money.
“Being from humble backgrounds, I knew that my study abroad experience would be expensive; but one thing is assuming, and another is living on the budget,” said Vasquez.
The economy is also influencing how students who are scheduled to go to Angers next semester plan for their time abroad. Debbie Cruz, a St. Edward’s senior who is one of the 13 students scheduled for this coming semester, said that she is going to great lengths to prepare financially.
"I'm not shopping like I used to and if I do buy something I think twice about it,” Cruz said. “I try to find the cheapest places to eat. I'm trying to save as much as I can. I talk myself out of buying things I don't need.”
The Financial Model for a Semester in Angers:
While some students are struggling to make ends meet, the concept of the Angers program was in fact the opposite. The tuition for a semester in Angers is the same as a semester at St. Edward’s. Scholarships and financial aid apply in the same way, too. For the fall semester, tuition is $15, 570, not including travel and food.
“The idea behind the Angers program is that you are taking St. Eds classes and paying St. Eds tuition, just in France,” said Natacha Martin, an advising specialist in the school of Humanities.
Martin explained that the cost should be the same, besides paying for a plane ticket. She said that it should not be an issue of cost.
“Other study abroad programs very widely in cost,” Martin said. “You accept their tuition.”
Why The Downturn in Enrollment?:
While the initial cost of a semester in Angers may be close to the same as a semester in Austin, the financial burden comes in part from a lack of supplemental income that is available while in the states. Many students have jobs while going to school, so to travel overseas for a semester would mean giving up that income.
“I think a lot of it is uprooting yourself for a semester.” Martin said. “If you are working here, you aren’t working there.”
Vazquez explained that he worked hard at his job as a bank teller to save money for the trip, but it has proven to not be enough.
"I was only able to save roughly $2,500 by myself and have relied on family assistance because I soon found my money draining and fast,” Vasquez said. “Some adjustments that I’ve HAD to make to fit my budget, is to eat in and thanks to friends I’ve learned how to cook and quite well too. More so on food what many have done is cook for one friend one night so that the other can cook the next night."
Cruz said that financial aid and scholarships that she’s been awarded are filling a large part of her already thinly stretched budget plan.
“I'm worried I'll run out of money even on a tight budget,” Cruz said. “I applied for scholarships and I plan to live off those funds next semester."
Martin thinks the downturn in participation is do more to students not wanting to sacrifice a semester in Austin. Students value their time at St. Edward’s and the Austin area so much that they simply are not willing to sacrifice an entire semester to go overseas. Study abroad is always more popular in the summer, possibly because students don’t have to lose a valued semester.
“As bad as it sounds to give up a fun semester, this is the time to do it,” Martin said.
The Benefits of Studying Abroad:
The University is taking steps to increase enrollment for the upcoming spring semester. The application deadline was extended by more than three weeks, from Oct. 8 to Oct. 30. The University also began marketing internship opportunities in France that could be obtained while studying at Angers.
Cruz has high hopes for her time in Angers, outside of the financial concerns.
"I am expecting to gain another wold view and immerse myself in a new culture," Cruz said.
Martin said there are many benefits to studying abroad beyond class credit and internships, but it isn’t for everyone. Beyond being a great experience to grow as a person, it is great for your resume, Martin said.
“The benefits are huge,” Martin said. “There is a whole other world out there.”
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Austin Chronicle's Michael King speaks to St. Edward's students
A senior editor at the Austin Chronicle spoke to a group of St. Edward’s University students regarding the alternative news business as it adapts to the online medium, and his experiences in it on Thursday.
Michael King joined the Austin Chronicle in 2000 after leaving Texas Monthly. He spoke of the challenges and opportunities arising with the transition to the Internet, both at the Chronicle and in journalism more broadly.
“The difference in the last ten years is the explosion of online journalism,” King said.
The problem is figuring out how to make money off of online journalism. With print readerships dropping, everyone is trying to be a part of the new platform for journalism.
“Like everybody, I’m wondering what is going to happen,” King said. “Can you make a living doing it, I don’t know.”
King described the effects a struggling economy and the rise of the Internet are having on journalism and the Chronicle.
“I haven’t had a freelance budget at all in over a year because revenue’s go down and expenses go up,” King said.
Certain things are simply not possible anymore with the changing landscape. He explained that he has to prioritize coverage based on his staff and available funds. Blogging is an example of the situation, he said, as it basically forgoes any real reporting because it costs money and offers mostly just opinion.
“My mandate is to do the best I can, covering the whole city with seven writers,” King said.
At the Chronicle, the online version offers breaking news and the majority of the sports coverage, because there isn’t the money or the staff to cover it in print.
“More and more there is the expectation of new stuff all the time,” King said.
He described the online version of the Chronicle, and online journalism in general, as fast, disappearing, and not financially self-sufficient. He sees it as a vortex of information that nobody comprehends.
“The online coverage is more freewheeling, less edited and more off the cuff,” King said. “Online coverage is more insider oriented.”
While the online version offers more freedom in reporting and writing, King is a traditionalist.
“I’m old school,” King said. “I’d much rather get it right than get it fast. You take risks online that you wouldn’t take in print. It’s part of an attempt to do things on the edge.”
While King portrays a somewhat pessimistic and resistant view of the evolution to online, he remains confident in journalism more generally.
“Journalism will survive whether the objects from which we read it survive,” King said.
Michael King joined the Austin Chronicle in 2000 after leaving Texas Monthly. He spoke of the challenges and opportunities arising with the transition to the Internet, both at the Chronicle and in journalism more broadly.
“The difference in the last ten years is the explosion of online journalism,” King said.
The problem is figuring out how to make money off of online journalism. With print readerships dropping, everyone is trying to be a part of the new platform for journalism.
“Like everybody, I’m wondering what is going to happen,” King said. “Can you make a living doing it, I don’t know.”
King described the effects a struggling economy and the rise of the Internet are having on journalism and the Chronicle.
“I haven’t had a freelance budget at all in over a year because revenue’s go down and expenses go up,” King said.
Certain things are simply not possible anymore with the changing landscape. He explained that he has to prioritize coverage based on his staff and available funds. Blogging is an example of the situation, he said, as it basically forgoes any real reporting because it costs money and offers mostly just opinion.
“My mandate is to do the best I can, covering the whole city with seven writers,” King said.
At the Chronicle, the online version offers breaking news and the majority of the sports coverage, because there isn’t the money or the staff to cover it in print.
“More and more there is the expectation of new stuff all the time,” King said.
He described the online version of the Chronicle, and online journalism in general, as fast, disappearing, and not financially self-sufficient. He sees it as a vortex of information that nobody comprehends.
“The online coverage is more freewheeling, less edited and more off the cuff,” King said. “Online coverage is more insider oriented.”
While the online version offers more freedom in reporting and writing, King is a traditionalist.
“I’m old school,” King said. “I’d much rather get it right than get it fast. You take risks online that you wouldn’t take in print. It’s part of an attempt to do things on the edge.”
While King portrays a somewhat pessimistic and resistant view of the evolution to online, he remains confident in journalism more generally.
“Journalism will survive whether the objects from which we read it survive,” King said.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Sex crimes common at college campuses
Nearly 3 percent of college women experience a completed and/or attempted rape during a college year, a U.S. Department of Justice report released today estimates.
The report, "The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” offers a comprehensive view of the frequency and nature of sexual assault occurring at American universities.
The data supports research suggesting that college women are at a greater risk for rape and other forms of sexual assault than women in the general population or in a comparable age group.
The report showed that women at a college that has 10,000 female students could experience more than 350 rapes a year, while 13 percent reported having been stalked since the beginning of the school year.
The study showed that for completed on-campus rapes, 60 percent took place in the victim’s residence, 31 percent in other living quarters and 10 percent occurred at a fraternity.
“Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them,” the authors wrote. “For both completed and attempted rapes, about nine in 10 offenders were known to the victim.”
The report found that women do not characterize their victimization's as a crime because of embarrassment, not clearly understanding what it means to be victimized or because they blame themselves for the assault. The study reinforces the importance of many organizations’ efforts to improve education and knowledge about sexual assault.
The federally funded report was released by the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute and the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and was conducted by Bonnie S. Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner.
The report was based on a telephone survey of a randomly selected, national sample of 4,446 women who were attending a 2 or 4-year college or university.
The report, "The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” offers a comprehensive view of the frequency and nature of sexual assault occurring at American universities.
The data supports research suggesting that college women are at a greater risk for rape and other forms of sexual assault than women in the general population or in a comparable age group.
The report showed that women at a college that has 10,000 female students could experience more than 350 rapes a year, while 13 percent reported having been stalked since the beginning of the school year.
The study showed that for completed on-campus rapes, 60 percent took place in the victim’s residence, 31 percent in other living quarters and 10 percent occurred at a fraternity.
“Most victims knew the person who sexually victimized them,” the authors wrote. “For both completed and attempted rapes, about nine in 10 offenders were known to the victim.”
The report found that women do not characterize their victimization's as a crime because of embarrassment, not clearly understanding what it means to be victimized or because they blame themselves for the assault. The study reinforces the importance of many organizations’ efforts to improve education and knowledge about sexual assault.
The federally funded report was released by the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute and the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and was conducted by Bonnie S. Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, Francis T. Cullen and Michael G. Turner.
The report was based on a telephone survey of a randomly selected, national sample of 4,446 women who were attending a 2 or 4-year college or university.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Fines for tweets sets a double standard
Athletes are embracing Twitter like nobody else. They do so because Twitter offers a more direct way to interact with fans than ever before.
It seems obvious, however, that tweeting during competition is a distraction for the player and a detriment to the overall performance of the team.
If professional sports today were about achieving the highest level of performance possible, then tweeting in competition should be against the rules. Professional sports are not, though, just about the game; rather, they are a business where the priority is profit.
Many coaches and teams have made headlines recently for issuing fines to players who Tweet during games, stating that it is a clear distraction. Charlie Villanueva of the Milwaukee Bucks was punished for Tweeting at halftime against the Boston Celtics March 15.
“…[A]nything that gives the impression that we’re not serious and focused at all times is not the correct way we want to go about our business,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said.
If the reasoning is that tweeting is a distraction, then that makes perfect sense. But how is that any different from in-game interviews of coaches and players adopted by a few of the major networks and mandated by the National Basketball Association? Or asking a player or coach to wear a wire so the fans can hear on TV? Answering questions on national television in front of a camera is definitely as distracting as sending a tweet from a cell phone in the locker room.
Both tweeting and things like in-game interviews offer fans a more interactive experience with the athletes and coaches. They are both encroachments on the game for the sake of creating a better product for the fans. The difference between the two is that the networks and owners do not make money off of the tweets.
The leagues are quick to adopt new ways to make their product more appealing to the fans if they can financially capitalize on it. When players attempt to do the same thing by connecting directly with the fans, but without going through a sponsor or major network, sanctions are imposed to stop it, often behind the justified rationale that it is a distraction.
Professional sports are a display of the best of what humans can do athletically, and consumers pay to see it. If the priority is to produce the highest quality athletic display that is humanly possible, then tweeting during competition should not be allowed, and neither should in game interviews.
But that isn’t what the owners see as the priority. Their priority is profit. Mandating interactivity on one hand and punishing it on the other is hypocritical and sets up a double standard.
It seems obvious, however, that tweeting during competition is a distraction for the player and a detriment to the overall performance of the team.
If professional sports today were about achieving the highest level of performance possible, then tweeting in competition should be against the rules. Professional sports are not, though, just about the game; rather, they are a business where the priority is profit.
Many coaches and teams have made headlines recently for issuing fines to players who Tweet during games, stating that it is a clear distraction. Charlie Villanueva of the Milwaukee Bucks was punished for Tweeting at halftime against the Boston Celtics March 15.
“…[A]nything that gives the impression that we’re not serious and focused at all times is not the correct way we want to go about our business,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said.
If the reasoning is that tweeting is a distraction, then that makes perfect sense. But how is that any different from in-game interviews of coaches and players adopted by a few of the major networks and mandated by the National Basketball Association? Or asking a player or coach to wear a wire so the fans can hear on TV? Answering questions on national television in front of a camera is definitely as distracting as sending a tweet from a cell phone in the locker room.
Both tweeting and things like in-game interviews offer fans a more interactive experience with the athletes and coaches. They are both encroachments on the game for the sake of creating a better product for the fans. The difference between the two is that the networks and owners do not make money off of the tweets.
The leagues are quick to adopt new ways to make their product more appealing to the fans if they can financially capitalize on it. When players attempt to do the same thing by connecting directly with the fans, but without going through a sponsor or major network, sanctions are imposed to stop it, often behind the justified rationale that it is a distraction.
Professional sports are a display of the best of what humans can do athletically, and consumers pay to see it. If the priority is to produce the highest quality athletic display that is humanly possible, then tweeting during competition should not be allowed, and neither should in game interviews.
But that isn’t what the owners see as the priority. Their priority is profit. Mandating interactivity on one hand and punishing it on the other is hypocritical and sets up a double standard.
J2: Group Exercise
Tommy Collins
Katie Cantu
Daniel Salazar
Amber Burton
How is the economy affecting private university attendance in Texas? (Meaning application rates and dropout rates) How are universities reacting and what budgets are they cutting? With private universities being more expensive than public schools, where can students get more financial aid? Focus on St. Edward’s: application fees, graduate donations, etc.
Multimedia:
If we find that St. Edward’s is cutting funding in building maintenance, a video of buildings flooding after the pipe’s burst. Or if sports teams are losing funding, we could show the fields lacking maintenance. We would depend each multi media thing on what we find. It would be good to focus on St. Edward’s then broaden the view. It would be good to have multimedia maps of schools and where they are hurting for help.
Sources:
• http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113965656&sc=emaf
o College tuition is riding even with the recession making college more unaffordable than before
• http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/education/21costs.html?_r=1&ref=education
o Article from the Times stating that college costs are rising.
• http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/U_S__States/Texas/Education/College_and_University/Private/
o List of private universities
• http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/moms/6288904.html
o Houston Chronicle writes about ways private universities are trying to ward off the recession
• www.Collegeboard.com
o They have a few spreadsheets with facts about education and how costs have changed in the past 30-40 years of the cost of education.
• http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2009/01/universities_look_for_ways_to.html
o NPR talks about universities prepping for budget cuts
• http://www.ucan-network.org/searchInstitution.asp
o University and college accountability network
• http://www.naicu.edu/news_room/private-colleges-respond-to-the-economic-downturn
o National Association of Independent College and Universities
Katie Cantu
Daniel Salazar
Amber Burton
How is the economy affecting private university attendance in Texas? (Meaning application rates and dropout rates) How are universities reacting and what budgets are they cutting? With private universities being more expensive than public schools, where can students get more financial aid? Focus on St. Edward’s: application fees, graduate donations, etc.
Multimedia:
If we find that St. Edward’s is cutting funding in building maintenance, a video of buildings flooding after the pipe’s burst. Or if sports teams are losing funding, we could show the fields lacking maintenance. We would depend each multi media thing on what we find. It would be good to focus on St. Edward’s then broaden the view. It would be good to have multimedia maps of schools and where they are hurting for help.
Sources:
• http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113965656&sc=emaf
o College tuition is riding even with the recession making college more unaffordable than before
• http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/education/21costs.html?_r=1&ref=education
o Article from the Times stating that college costs are rising.
• http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/U_S__States/Texas/Education/College_and_University/Private/
o List of private universities
• http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/moms/6288904.html
o Houston Chronicle writes about ways private universities are trying to ward off the recession
• www.Collegeboard.com
o They have a few spreadsheets with facts about education and how costs have changed in the past 30-40 years of the cost of education.
• http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2009/01/universities_look_for_ways_to.html
o NPR talks about universities prepping for budget cuts
• http://www.ucan-network.org/searchInstitution.asp
o University and college accountability network
• http://www.naicu.edu/news_room/private-colleges-respond-to-the-economic-downturn
o National Association of Independent College and Universities
Online Journalism Activities 5.1
Tommy Collins
Journalism II
Heath
10/22/09
Current story idea:
• How the economy influenced application rates and graduate donations/the endowment at St. Edward’s and similar universities? If so, how has the university reacted, i.e. where have they made budget cuts to compensate? Basically find out what the priorities of the university are based on where the money is going and where it is getting cut in tough economic times.
Information I am looking for online:
• Incoming freshman applications over the past five years at St. Edward’s and comparable universities.
• Graduate donation rates over the past five years at St. Edward’s and similar universities.
• Find the breakdown of the budget, and how it has changed over the past five years. Where have there been cuts to compensate for less money coming in, if that’s found to be the case?
Sources:
• http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2009/10/20/2009-10-20_college_tuition_costs_rise_again_this_fall_at_public_and_private_universities_na.html - This is an article from the New York Daily News that I took as credible because it is from the Associated Press.
• http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search§ion=Government_Relations&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentFileID=3545 - This is a document of testimony on behalf of the American Council on Education, the Association of American Universities and similar organizations presented to the Senate Committee on Finance, explaining endowments and their importance to higher education.
• http://www.allbusiness.com/education-training/education-systems-institutions/12961746-1.html - This is an article out of the Waco Tribune-Herald, discussing how Baylor and other private universities are weathering the economic downturn. I find it credible because it comes from a newspaper and has a recent publication date.
• http://www.stedwards.edu/giving/endowment - This is the information regarding the endowment provided on the St. Edward’s Web site.
Journalism II
Heath
10/22/09
Current story idea:
• How the economy influenced application rates and graduate donations/the endowment at St. Edward’s and similar universities? If so, how has the university reacted, i.e. where have they made budget cuts to compensate? Basically find out what the priorities of the university are based on where the money is going and where it is getting cut in tough economic times.
Information I am looking for online:
• Incoming freshman applications over the past five years at St. Edward’s and comparable universities.
• Graduate donation rates over the past five years at St. Edward’s and similar universities.
• Find the breakdown of the budget, and how it has changed over the past five years. Where have there been cuts to compensate for less money coming in, if that’s found to be the case?
Sources:
• http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2009/10/20/2009-10-20_college_tuition_costs_rise_again_this_fall_at_public_and_private_universities_na.html - This is an article from the New York Daily News that I took as credible because it is from the Associated Press.
• http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search§ion=Government_Relations&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentFileID=3545 - This is a document of testimony on behalf of the American Council on Education, the Association of American Universities and similar organizations presented to the Senate Committee on Finance, explaining endowments and their importance to higher education.
• http://www.allbusiness.com/education-training/education-systems-institutions/12961746-1.html - This is an article out of the Waco Tribune-Herald, discussing how Baylor and other private universities are weathering the economic downturn. I find it credible because it comes from a newspaper and has a recent publication date.
• http://www.stedwards.edu/giving/endowment - This is the information regarding the endowment provided on the St. Edward’s Web site.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Feature Assignment: Online Supplement
Beyond the Baseline:
Newman has adjusted his lifestyle off the court to meet the needs of his business.
He converted his private home into a boarding facility for students who want to train with him but live too far away. He turned his office into a classroom where the students do the home school part of the Hybrid program, which combines school and tennis training in one package at the academy. His personal car is the designated van for transporting the students to and from home and to and from tournaments all around the state.
“I took out a 1 million dollar loan to build this academy as the fulfillment of a dream,” Newman said. “After that, it makes a little more sense to dedicate everything I have to make sure it succeeds.”
According to the academy's mission statement, the idea of the Hybrid program is to offer young athletes a comprehensive approach to focusing on tennis goals by combining school and training at one place. Most participants live at the boarding house while going to school and training at the academy.
But a common concern of parents is that there are things through adolescence that don’t fall under school of athletics, Newman said. He recently taught Aaron, one of the 15 year-old athletes, to drive. He oversaw his progression through a home course of drivers training.
“Aaron moved in when he was 14,” Newman said. “At that age there are other things a kid needs to learn that don’t fall under class or tennis and that is our responsibility as well.”
Newman has adjusted his lifestyle off the court to meet the needs of his business.
He converted his private home into a boarding facility for students who want to train with him but live too far away. He turned his office into a classroom where the students do the home school part of the Hybrid program, which combines school and tennis training in one package at the academy. His personal car is the designated van for transporting the students to and from home and to and from tournaments all around the state.
“I took out a 1 million dollar loan to build this academy as the fulfillment of a dream,” Newman said. “After that, it makes a little more sense to dedicate everything I have to make sure it succeeds.”
According to the academy's mission statement, the idea of the Hybrid program is to offer young athletes a comprehensive approach to focusing on tennis goals by combining school and training at one place. Most participants live at the boarding house while going to school and training at the academy.
But a common concern of parents is that there are things through adolescence that don’t fall under school of athletics, Newman said. He recently taught Aaron, one of the 15 year-old athletes, to drive. He oversaw his progression through a home course of drivers training.
“Aaron moved in when he was 14,” Newman said. “At that age there are other things a kid needs to learn that don’t fall under class or tennis and that is our responsibility as well.”
Thursday, October 15, 2009
12-2 : Headlines
A. Missing Harvard University professor's body found in Mississippi River
Blurb: After a month long search, missing Harvard University professor Don Wiley's body was found dead in the Mississippi River. Wiley, 57, was found in Vidalia, La. about 300 miles north of where his rental car was found three weeks earlier. No evidence of foul play has been found.
B. North Dakota custodian promoted to head of science department
C. New city ordinance targets distracted drivers
D. Montana ranks second in alcohol-related traffic deaths
E. Web site devoted to cats playing with small objects
Blurb: After a month long search, missing Harvard University professor Don Wiley's body was found dead in the Mississippi River. Wiley, 57, was found in Vidalia, La. about 300 miles north of where his rental car was found three weeks earlier. No evidence of foul play has been found.
B. North Dakota custodian promoted to head of science department
C. New city ordinance targets distracted drivers
D. Montana ranks second in alcohol-related traffic deaths
E. Web site devoted to cats playing with small objects
Chunk Writing: Journalism II
Section I:
As customers arrived to the National Furniture Liquidators on Monday, they weren’t welcomed with a typical offering of help.
“Hey, we got a loose skunk in here!”
Shoppers were met at the door by a group of employees strategically evading a skunk that had wandered in through the open doors.
“I’ve worked in strange situations before,” Dennis Goke, acting assistant manager said. “I’ve worked in floods. I’ve worked without any power in the building.”
But none of those circumstances had the potential to wreak as much havoc on the thousands of dollars worth of furniture as this skunk did.
Section II:
With most other small animals, the employees could have used more aggressive means of getting it out of the store. But with a skunk, the employees predictably decided the best thing to do was to hide.
For about the first hour, the skunk was left to roam the aisles as Goke tried to figure out how to avoid aggravating the skunk enough to spray the employees and the thousands of dollars of furniture.
“If it would have been a squirrel, I would have chased him out with a broom,” Goke said.
A few of the more bold employees tried to lure the skunk out by creating a trail of bread crumbs out the door, which only succeeded in attracting dozens of screeching gulls, while the skunk found a secure place to hide.
It was time to call in a specialist.
Section III:
After the creative attempts to lure the skunk outside had the reverse effect, Rich Ulkus of Animal Allies was summoned to the scene.
Ulkas spent a few minutes on his hands and knees, shining a floodlight under the furniture, drawing gasps of admiration and comments about his bravery.
When Ulkas’ efforts didn’t find the skunk, he and Goke had one last idea. The two baited a trap using tuna wrapped in several layers of plastic, then wrapped the entire thing in a blanket and stuck it in the corner.
By 8 p.m. the store was closed and the skunk was still at large. Efforts to capture it had failed, at least for today.
As customers arrived to the National Furniture Liquidators on Monday, they weren’t welcomed with a typical offering of help.
“Hey, we got a loose skunk in here!”
Shoppers were met at the door by a group of employees strategically evading a skunk that had wandered in through the open doors.
“I’ve worked in strange situations before,” Dennis Goke, acting assistant manager said. “I’ve worked in floods. I’ve worked without any power in the building.”
But none of those circumstances had the potential to wreak as much havoc on the thousands of dollars worth of furniture as this skunk did.
Section II:
With most other small animals, the employees could have used more aggressive means of getting it out of the store. But with a skunk, the employees predictably decided the best thing to do was to hide.
For about the first hour, the skunk was left to roam the aisles as Goke tried to figure out how to avoid aggravating the skunk enough to spray the employees and the thousands of dollars of furniture.
“If it would have been a squirrel, I would have chased him out with a broom,” Goke said.
A few of the more bold employees tried to lure the skunk out by creating a trail of bread crumbs out the door, which only succeeded in attracting dozens of screeching gulls, while the skunk found a secure place to hide.
It was time to call in a specialist.
Section III:
After the creative attempts to lure the skunk outside had the reverse effect, Rich Ulkus of Animal Allies was summoned to the scene.
Ulkas spent a few minutes on his hands and knees, shining a floodlight under the furniture, drawing gasps of admiration and comments about his bravery.
When Ulkas’ efforts didn’t find the skunk, he and Goke had one last idea. The two baited a trap using tuna wrapped in several layers of plastic, then wrapped the entire thing in a blanket and stuck it in the corner.
By 8 p.m. the store was closed and the skunk was still at large. Efforts to capture it had failed, at least for today.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
A Federal violation of our pastime
Last week, San Francisco’s Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the infamous list of 100 Major League Baseball players believed to have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs was seized illegally.
The court ruled that the federal agents acted outside the limitations of the warrant, which listed only 10 names.
The decision came too late for players like Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz, as their presence on the list was leaked in violation of federal law. This unfairly and unequally punished them for participating in what was promised to be a confidential list, and still is for the others named, at least for now. While MLB has taken major steps to correct the problem, the Feds still are wrongly trying to seek justice six years later.
There is no doubt the steroid era is a stain on the history of the game. It betrays the very premise by which professional sports are played, i.e. that the absurdly high salaries are justified because these athletes are at the absolute top of this planet’s talent pool.
The high level of competition should represent the very best of what humans can do athletically. But when the athletes are enhancing themselves pharmaceutically, the game is no longer a true test of skills, rather a test of chemistry.
In 2003, years after steroids ran rampant, MLB began efforts to curtail the problem by asking for confidential tests to find out what percentage of the players were using, with the promise that testing positive would not bring punishment. The Feds are fighting to break this promise between the players and their union, MLBPA.
A year later in ‘04, the list of names gathered from the confidential testing was seized by federal agents in a raid of labs linked to performance enhancing drugs. For the next five years, lawyers of baseballs players union fought to have the seizure ruled illegal and protect the leagues’ promise of confidentiality. This past week’s ruling validated their work.
There is no doubt that MLB deserves blame for the severity of steroid use in its sport. In 1986, when mandatory testing for performance enhancing drugs was introduced, baseball decided not to support it. Two years ago, MLB began handing out 50 game suspensions for a first-time failed test.
Baseball is finally on board. It has taken significant steps to protect the integrity of the sport. However, the Feds are now punishing baseball’s athletes for six-year-old issues that have since been corrected.
Professional sports are slowly transitioning away from this empty promise of an era and the Feds need to move forward too. Seeking justice for six-year-old issues that have since been resolved reeks of revenge and punishment.
The court ruled that the federal agents acted outside the limitations of the warrant, which listed only 10 names.
The decision came too late for players like Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz, as their presence on the list was leaked in violation of federal law. This unfairly and unequally punished them for participating in what was promised to be a confidential list, and still is for the others named, at least for now. While MLB has taken major steps to correct the problem, the Feds still are wrongly trying to seek justice six years later.
There is no doubt the steroid era is a stain on the history of the game. It betrays the very premise by which professional sports are played, i.e. that the absurdly high salaries are justified because these athletes are at the absolute top of this planet’s talent pool.
The high level of competition should represent the very best of what humans can do athletically. But when the athletes are enhancing themselves pharmaceutically, the game is no longer a true test of skills, rather a test of chemistry.
In 2003, years after steroids ran rampant, MLB began efforts to curtail the problem by asking for confidential tests to find out what percentage of the players were using, with the promise that testing positive would not bring punishment. The Feds are fighting to break this promise between the players and their union, MLBPA.
A year later in ‘04, the list of names gathered from the confidential testing was seized by federal agents in a raid of labs linked to performance enhancing drugs. For the next five years, lawyers of baseballs players union fought to have the seizure ruled illegal and protect the leagues’ promise of confidentiality. This past week’s ruling validated their work.
There is no doubt that MLB deserves blame for the severity of steroid use in its sport. In 1986, when mandatory testing for performance enhancing drugs was introduced, baseball decided not to support it. Two years ago, MLB began handing out 50 game suspensions for a first-time failed test.
Baseball is finally on board. It has taken significant steps to protect the integrity of the sport. However, the Feds are now punishing baseball’s athletes for six-year-old issues that have since been corrected.
Professional sports are slowly transitioning away from this empty promise of an era and the Feds need to move forward too. Seeking justice for six-year-old issues that have since been resolved reeks of revenge and punishment.
'Money' Mayweather cashes in again
The popularity of boxing and the sophistication of its fans are diminishing at a rapid rate. But don’t blame Floyd Mayweather Jr. He is the last remaining American icon in a sport that is far from its prime, fighting for an audience that understands less about the sport than ever before.
With the rise of mixed martial arts, offering skillful yet aggressive contests with often quick and brutal results, boxing is simmering on the back burner. The world’s best boxer, Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather Jr., dominated Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night, increasing his unbeaten record to 40-0, 25 KOs.
It did seem somewhat quiet for boxing fans over the past two years while Mayweather was retired. Now back in the spotlight, Mayweather’s mouth made plenty of guarantees and proclamations of greatness with his typical godly confidence. And, as usual, he backed up every word. Mayweather’s artistic display once again proved that he is comparable to the best boxers ever, despite fighting for an unappreciative sports audience.
“I’ve been off for two years,” Mayweather said. “But I can get better.”
Mayweather picked apart Marquez from afar, utilizing superior speed and precision against a smaller and weaker opponent. Marquez is arguably one of the top two best pound for pound fighters in the world, and the best Mexico has to offer. But Mayweather toyed with him like he did his previous 39 opponents, never letting him get close enough to be effective by punishing him with a straight left jab and a brutal right hook.
Mayweather landed 59 percent of his punches to only 12 percent by Marquez.
In his last fight in December 2007, Mayweather faced Ricky Hatton, whom he dispatched with a brutal knock out. While his fight with Marquez was not for a title, Mayweather has earned world championships in an astonishing five different weight classes.
While his defensively dominant style takes much criticism for lacking excitement, Mayweather proves repeatedly that his skills around the ring are second to none. He is the best pound for pound fighter of this generation, and deserves credit despite his seemingly boring style.
Mayweather should not be faulted for his less exciting style just because the audience doesn’t watch enough to appreciate it. To those who follow the sport, Money Mayweather’s fights are a spectacle of precision and skill that compares with the best boxers ever.
Sure, the sport’s popularity is dying. And yes, Mayweather’s fights at times can be painfully boring. But his legacy should not be diminished because he fought during the sport’s decline in front of an unappreciative sporting audience.
With the rise of mixed martial arts, offering skillful yet aggressive contests with often quick and brutal results, boxing is simmering on the back burner. The world’s best boxer, Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather Jr., dominated Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night, increasing his unbeaten record to 40-0, 25 KOs.
It did seem somewhat quiet for boxing fans over the past two years while Mayweather was retired. Now back in the spotlight, Mayweather’s mouth made plenty of guarantees and proclamations of greatness with his typical godly confidence. And, as usual, he backed up every word. Mayweather’s artistic display once again proved that he is comparable to the best boxers ever, despite fighting for an unappreciative sports audience.
“I’ve been off for two years,” Mayweather said. “But I can get better.”
Mayweather picked apart Marquez from afar, utilizing superior speed and precision against a smaller and weaker opponent. Marquez is arguably one of the top two best pound for pound fighters in the world, and the best Mexico has to offer. But Mayweather toyed with him like he did his previous 39 opponents, never letting him get close enough to be effective by punishing him with a straight left jab and a brutal right hook.
Mayweather landed 59 percent of his punches to only 12 percent by Marquez.
In his last fight in December 2007, Mayweather faced Ricky Hatton, whom he dispatched with a brutal knock out. While his fight with Marquez was not for a title, Mayweather has earned world championships in an astonishing five different weight classes.
While his defensively dominant style takes much criticism for lacking excitement, Mayweather proves repeatedly that his skills around the ring are second to none. He is the best pound for pound fighter of this generation, and deserves credit despite his seemingly boring style.
Mayweather should not be faulted for his less exciting style just because the audience doesn’t watch enough to appreciate it. To those who follow the sport, Money Mayweather’s fights are a spectacle of precision and skill that compares with the best boxers ever.
Sure, the sport’s popularity is dying. And yes, Mayweather’s fights at times can be painfully boring. But his legacy should not be diminished because he fought during the sport’s decline in front of an unappreciative sporting audience.
SGA Constitution Day - Multimedia Budget
Photo assignment: A photo of students interacting with the members of Student Government at the event. Possibly a student receiving a free constitution would be a good picture.
Interactive/Online graphic: Take a survey of students who received constitutions, inquiring how many actually knew before hand that this was the anniversary of the signing of the constitution. It could be some type of bar graph, with one bar showing the number of students who were aware of the historic day, one bar of students who had no idea, and one bar of students who only cared about the free pop ice, as that seemed to be a major draw.
Video/audio component: Get a short video clip of a student eating free pop ice and holding his newly acquired pocket constitution. Ask him or her what the main draw was to the event and what it means to them as a citizen of this country.
Interactive/Online graphic: Take a survey of students who received constitutions, inquiring how many actually knew before hand that this was the anniversary of the signing of the constitution. It could be some type of bar graph, with one bar showing the number of students who were aware of the historic day, one bar of students who had no idea, and one bar of students who only cared about the free pop ice, as that seemed to be a major draw.
Video/audio component: Get a short video clip of a student eating free pop ice and holding his newly acquired pocket constitution. Ask him or her what the main draw was to the event and what it means to them as a citizen of this country.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
In Class ledes: JII Impact ledes
Impact ledes
1.
Print: Homeowners whose roofs were damaged during the storm have five more days to apply for the free roof repair at any of the corps offices.
Web: You have five days remaining to sign up for free installation of plastic covering if your roof was damaged by the recent storm.
2.
Print: Homeowners with a gravel driveway will no longer be able to park on it if the Austin City Council approves a new ordinance.
Web: Homeowners with gravel driveways would be forced to park elsewhere by a proposed ordinance by the Austin City Council.
3.
Print: University of Missouri students' tuition is set to raise by 12 percent, an increase approved by the Missouri Board of Curators.
Web: Tuition for University of Missouri students will increase by 12 percent after the Missouri Board of Curators approved the new rate.
4.
Print: Your metal subway tokens will be replaced by "smart cards" at a cost of $120 million in Massachusetts subways, officials said.
Web: Subway riders must adopt an automated fare collection system, replacing metal subway tokens in Massachusetts, officials said.
5.
Print: A new drug cuts the duration of cold symptoms significantly, researchers said.
Web: A new prescription drug eases cold symptoms within a day, researchers said.
1.
Print: Homeowners whose roofs were damaged during the storm have five more days to apply for the free roof repair at any of the corps offices.
Web: You have five days remaining to sign up for free installation of plastic covering if your roof was damaged by the recent storm.
2.
Print: Homeowners with a gravel driveway will no longer be able to park on it if the Austin City Council approves a new ordinance.
Web: Homeowners with gravel driveways would be forced to park elsewhere by a proposed ordinance by the Austin City Council.
3.
Print: University of Missouri students' tuition is set to raise by 12 percent, an increase approved by the Missouri Board of Curators.
Web: Tuition for University of Missouri students will increase by 12 percent after the Missouri Board of Curators approved the new rate.
4.
Print: Your metal subway tokens will be replaced by "smart cards" at a cost of $120 million in Massachusetts subways, officials said.
Web: Subway riders must adopt an automated fare collection system, replacing metal subway tokens in Massachusetts, officials said.
5.
Print: A new drug cuts the duration of cold symptoms significantly, researchers said.
Web: A new prescription drug eases cold symptoms within a day, researchers said.
SGA Constitution Day Hits the Hilltop - Final Draft
Tommy Collins
Journalism II
Prof Heath
9/29/09
SGA Constitution Day - Final Draft
St. Edward’s University students, mainly brought by free popsicles, congregated at a Student Government Association event, celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution on Thursday by handing out free pocket constitutions.
SGA members set up a booth in the Robert and Pearle Ragsdale Center lobby from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and handed out miniature constitutions and free popsicles. All St. Edward’s students, faculty and staff members were welcomed to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.
The goal of the event was to celebrate an important date in history, said Hannah Kurtzweil, vice president of legislative initiatives.
“We were handing out the pocket constitutions to help raise peoples awareness of what was in the constitution and so that people could have a copy of it themselves,” Kurtzweil said. “The pop ices were a way to help get people excited and do something nice other than to just say hey its constitution day…”
Congress passed a measure in 2004 requiring that every educational institution that receives any federal funding, private or public, host some type of constitution awareness event. For St. Edward’s University, SGA took on that responsibility.
SGA consists of student representatives who serve as mediators between the student body and the administration through work on various councils, boards and committees.
“I honestly didn’t realize today was the anniversary of when [the constitution] was signed,” senior Bernie Lancaster said. “I grew up in Australia, so it is cool to see how days like this are celebrated away from home.”
The free pop ice alone drew other students to the event.
“I’ll listen to what they have to say if they give me free popsicles,” junior Brett Powers said. “It’s cool that they are giving out mini constitutions and all, but I wouldn’t have stopped by if there weren’t free [popsicles].”
There was also a table set up providing information about future SGA events.
SGA will host an induction ceremony next week on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Mabee A & B. It will also host the State of the Campus address in which the Student Government President Meghan Kuentz will address the campus about where it is going this year and where the Student Government Association is planning to help.
Overall the SGA event went very well, Kurtzweil said.
“The constitutions were donated to Student Government to hand out on Constitution day so I think distributing a whole box of them was a great success,” Kurtzweil said.
Journalism II
Prof Heath
9/29/09
SGA Constitution Day - Final Draft
St. Edward’s University students, mainly brought by free popsicles, congregated at a Student Government Association event, celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution on Thursday by handing out free pocket constitutions.
SGA members set up a booth in the Robert and Pearle Ragsdale Center lobby from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and handed out miniature constitutions and free popsicles. All St. Edward’s students, faculty and staff members were welcomed to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.
The goal of the event was to celebrate an important date in history, said Hannah Kurtzweil, vice president of legislative initiatives.
“We were handing out the pocket constitutions to help raise peoples awareness of what was in the constitution and so that people could have a copy of it themselves,” Kurtzweil said. “The pop ices were a way to help get people excited and do something nice other than to just say hey its constitution day…”
Congress passed a measure in 2004 requiring that every educational institution that receives any federal funding, private or public, host some type of constitution awareness event. For St. Edward’s University, SGA took on that responsibility.
SGA consists of student representatives who serve as mediators between the student body and the administration through work on various councils, boards and committees.
“I honestly didn’t realize today was the anniversary of when [the constitution] was signed,” senior Bernie Lancaster said. “I grew up in Australia, so it is cool to see how days like this are celebrated away from home.”
The free pop ice alone drew other students to the event.
“I’ll listen to what they have to say if they give me free popsicles,” junior Brett Powers said. “It’s cool that they are giving out mini constitutions and all, but I wouldn’t have stopped by if there weren’t free [popsicles].”
There was also a table set up providing information about future SGA events.
SGA will host an induction ceremony next week on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Mabee A & B. It will also host the State of the Campus address in which the Student Government President Meghan Kuentz will address the campus about where it is going this year and where the Student Government Association is planning to help.
Overall the SGA event went very well, Kurtzweil said.
“The constitutions were donated to Student Government to hand out on Constitution day so I think distributing a whole box of them was a great success,” Kurtzweil said.
Journalism II News Ledes
Tommy Collins
Journalism II
Heath
1.
PRINT: Three to four children die every day in the United States from child abuse or neglect, according to a survey by the Child Abuse Prevention Center.
WEB: Child abuse and neglect kills three to four children every day in the United States.
2.
PRINT: Anti-abortion protesters were arrested yesterday on disorderly conduct charges after blocking the entrance to a local clinic.
WEB: 150 anti-abortion protesters were arrested yesterday.
3.
PRINT: A food delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint yesterday at a local apartment complex, police said.
WEB: A man was robbed at gunpoint at a local apartment complex, police said.
4.
PRINT: A cigarette started a house fire in Austin yesterday, causing $45,000 in damages and minor injuries, fire officials said.
WEB: A local homeowner suffered minor burns after a cigarette set her sofa on fire.
5.
PRINT: Murders in Texas are up 53 percent for the first three months of the year, according to the Bureau of Investigation.
WEB: Texas murder rates are up 53 percent according to the Bureau of Investigation
6.
PRINT: A 10 percent increase in skin cancer cases over the next decade was part of the findings of A United Nations scientific panel released yesterday.
WEB: A predicted 10 percent increase in skin cancer cases was part of the findings of a recent scientific panel.
7.
Print: A California woman was charged with attempted murder after setting her husband on fire, police said.
Web: Police charged a woman with murder after setting her husband on fire after he ate her chocolate bunny, police said.
8.
Print: United States ranks low on a list of the highest Broadband using countries, surveys say.
Web: United States ranks near the bottom on a list of the highest broadband using countries, surveys say.
9.
Print: Princeton University professors are now limited to giving no more than 35 percent of its students grades of A minus or higher, according to the university.
Web: Princeton University initiated a cap on the percentage of A grades that can be issued by each department.
10.
Print: Not following common sense sleeping tips is costly for many Americans, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Web: Sleep disorders and sleep deprivation issues cost Americans more than $100 billion annually and can be avoided with common sense sleeping tips, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Journalism II
Heath
1.
PRINT: Three to four children die every day in the United States from child abuse or neglect, according to a survey by the Child Abuse Prevention Center.
WEB: Child abuse and neglect kills three to four children every day in the United States.
2.
PRINT: Anti-abortion protesters were arrested yesterday on disorderly conduct charges after blocking the entrance to a local clinic.
WEB: 150 anti-abortion protesters were arrested yesterday.
3.
PRINT: A food delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint yesterday at a local apartment complex, police said.
WEB: A man was robbed at gunpoint at a local apartment complex, police said.
4.
PRINT: A cigarette started a house fire in Austin yesterday, causing $45,000 in damages and minor injuries, fire officials said.
WEB: A local homeowner suffered minor burns after a cigarette set her sofa on fire.
5.
PRINT: Murders in Texas are up 53 percent for the first three months of the year, according to the Bureau of Investigation.
WEB: Texas murder rates are up 53 percent according to the Bureau of Investigation
6.
PRINT: A 10 percent increase in skin cancer cases over the next decade was part of the findings of A United Nations scientific panel released yesterday.
WEB: A predicted 10 percent increase in skin cancer cases was part of the findings of a recent scientific panel.
7.
Print: A California woman was charged with attempted murder after setting her husband on fire, police said.
Web: Police charged a woman with murder after setting her husband on fire after he ate her chocolate bunny, police said.
8.
Print: United States ranks low on a list of the highest Broadband using countries, surveys say.
Web: United States ranks near the bottom on a list of the highest broadband using countries, surveys say.
9.
Print: Princeton University professors are now limited to giving no more than 35 percent of its students grades of A minus or higher, according to the university.
Web: Princeton University initiated a cap on the percentage of A grades that can be issued by each department.
10.
Print: Not following common sense sleeping tips is costly for many Americans, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Web: Sleep disorders and sleep deprivation issues cost Americans more than $100 billion annually and can be avoided with common sense sleeping tips, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
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