Blogging

Honestly, I really enjoyed the blog requirement for this class. Yeah, it could have been a little more structured (which is likely why most people did not do them all), but that's because this is new to Mac just as it is new to most of us.

I can see myself blogging in the future. It's a cool way to make people listen to what you have to say, if that makes sense. I enjoyed it, and I really think it's an important part of journalism today.

Tornado Warnings: Too Much or Not Enough??

This morning, a text went out to half of campus, warning students of their imminent doom. "Seek shelter immediately," it read. Shrieks of terror ensued, followed by a panicked rush to the lowest level within close distance.

20 minutes later, nothing happened. Another text read "Tornado warning cancelled." The entire campus sighed collectively.

Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit.

But still, the tornado warning system seems to be a bit overblown. These warnings (often issued for storms in distant parts of the county) freak out much of campus for no real reason. I understand that safety is the main concern, but screaming "fire" seems a little unnecessary.

This being said, the text from Carl Loney came out a whole ten minutes after the tornado was reported. By this time, the entire Witt campus could have been in severe danger had a tornado actually come through in that time. Why wasn't the warning sent out closer to the report? When danger was actually a possibility?

Loney's email said that his information came from Channel 7, which lead me to believe that the Security Office does not use the National Weather Service as a resource. This seems almost like a game of telephone; the best way to get info is right from the source. Why doesn't Witt use technology like an Emergency Alert System (WUSO has one, for Christ's sake)? Strange.

I have no real opinion on whether the weather alert system is too much or too little. I'm positive students have opposite opinions, so I'm leaving it up to you! Get at me with those responses.

Scheduling... it sucks

Maybe I chose an "Easy Major." Maybe I need to add another minor. Maybe I just did too much planning ahead. Whatever it is, I seem to have a giant, gaping space between finishing my major and graduating.

I'm a communication major, journalism minor. Both of these programs are suffering from huge growing pains. Last semester, I was shut out of almost every COMM class I needed to take... as a junior! This time around, I managed to pick up my two remaining COMM courses.

Journalism has a total of 6 availible credits next semester: one is the half-semester Making News course, the other is Beginning Journalism. I've taken both of these courses.

Now I'm not exactly worried about not being able to finish my major or minor. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've already completed journalism. It would be nice, however, to gain a little more experience in the field of journalism (when was the last time Feature Writing or Opinion Writing were availible?).

So for now, I'll sit back and maybe pick up a few Sociology classes. They're about the only mildly interesting thing I can find right now... any suggestions are welcomed with open arms.

My Least Favorite Thing About Witt

It's hard to pick something that I "hate" about Wittenberg, for two reasons. First, I've been generally satisfied with my experience at Witt; I feel that most schools have their fair share of problems, so I don't think anywhere else would offer much more satisfaction than this school. And second, the problems Witt DOES have are ground to death by students. We've heard all the complaints about how annoying secret societies are, how superficial the administration is, or how bad the cafeteria food is. We get it, they suck.

So, these things aside, my least favorite thing about Wittenberg is unquestionably the staircase in from of Zimmerman Hall.

Seriously!

It sucks. The stairs are unevenly separated, so, when I walk down them from Hollenbeck to Reci, I always feel like one of my legs is working harder than the other. It's really frustrating.

If anyone shares my feelings toward this apparent flaw in Witt's campus design, please humor me. Comment and share your thoughts about this cruel bit of concrete.

My Favorite Thing: WUSO

My favorite thing about Wittenberg is also the most underutilized and unappreciated resource on campus: the radio station.

Maybe I'm biased; I've been WUSO's Head Music Director for over a year now, and I've DJed since my first semester at Witt. But from my very first encounters with the station, I have seen a huge amount of untapped potential.

WUSO has the ability to be great on campus. The possibilities are endless: news, music, sports, talk, etc. But due to YEARS of poor structure virtually no promotion (besides T-Shirts, which at least inform students that we HAVE a radio station), WUSO has fallen from Wittenberg's radar. WUSO has become, to most, an outlet for students to give shoutouts to friends and play mainstream pop and hip-hop music (and, for some, a bed of CDs fresh for stealing, but that's another rant).

Part of my reason for coming to Witt was the radio station. I had some idea that radio was a field I wanted to explore, and WUSO seemed like a fountain of opportunity. When I came to Witt and experienced WUSO firsthand, I found that it did offer much opportunity: the station was structured so poorly that I could play practically whatever I wanted.

The station seems to currently be in an upward swing in terms of popularity and enthusiasm, but what will it take to reach the level of professionalism occupied by other schools? In my last year at Witt, I would like to see major leaps forward for WUSO. Not just for personal gain, but out of love for the medium and the station.

Big Story: Alcohol for Underage Students

My semester story idea involves a sort of ethical problem... how do I expose the ways in which underage students acquire alcohol around Witt without ruining those sources for future students? Should this story go to print, or should it stay anonymous?

Any feedback on this story will  be helpful; I'm also interested in where to beging and who to talk to.

So far I have these on my list:

Plum Market
Valero
Wine Works
Obvioulsy students about their experiences
Some Dean or Faculty member in charge of this (who?)

Thanks for any feedback!

Wow.. spring break is in two weeks? Where did that come from.

Break usually seems like it takes ages to arive, and whe it does, it flies by. Maybe I've been busier this semester, but I'm not used to Spring creeping up on me like this.

With the weather the way it's been the last week, I couldn't be more ready to drive down to Panama City, FL for some heat. I've got the Spring Fever, for sure.

This is the third year in a row I will be going to Florida for break. While the weather might not always be warm enough for swimming this time of year, nothing beats a cold beverage on the beach. No responsiblilties, no work... perfection.

Of course, now that I've uttered these words, I'm positive the next two weeks are going to drag on slower than molasses. But when things get rough and it starts snowing again here in Springfield, I'll be closing my eyes and enjoying the beach... the glorious beach... once again.

My past/future stories

My last story was a little undercooked. Actually, that's an exaggeration... it was likely to produce salmonella poisoning. I wasn't able to contact the sources I needed, and the topic (state of the dorm computers) wasn't anything new.

Today, however, I received some information that would improve my story by a great margin. The dorm computers are being replaced! So I spoke with Mark DeVilbiss, and I feel that I now have something. My hopes are to publish story for the latest issue of the Torch, which will actually put us ahead of the computer installments! I know, breaking news!!

My next small story will be about the Livestrong guy speaking at commencement. Not too much worry there, should be able to get some background info and opinions from faculty and staff. If anyone has any suggestions, you know how to comment!

The Facebook Epidemic

Facebook... why do I keep running back to you?

With very few exceptions, none of my "friends" have anything worthwhile to say. I have no desire to know what some girl I met at a party once ate for dinner, how hungover any of my cousins are, or what some hipster I went to High School with is listening to via Youtube. There is no real information to be gained from any of these people. I see comparisons between these people's status updates and the dead bird that's been laying in front of Firestine for the last few days.

Mostly because I can't help but look.

Ever since I got the iPhone, Facebook has become a problem. It is literally right at my side, calling out to me. "Look at me," it says. "It's the only way to know what's going on."

And so I am drawn in. not 4 hours goes by that I don't check my friends' updates. It's become a problem. I need help. I've tried unfriending the pople I don't like, but they always find a way to add me back. What can I do? Is there anyone out there? Show me the way out!

Next Story: Computers on Campus

For my latest news story... I haven't gotten very far. In fact, I'm considering changing my topic.

My current story is about the availability of computer resources on campus... is this interesting? Should I continue on with this topic or find something new?

I feel that my own personal lack of a computer at the moment has set me back a ways as well. But that could just be motivation for me to get out and talk to the people I need to for this story.

Passing the Torch

Over the last month or so, I've noticed a lot of negativity toward the Torch.

Perhaps its always been there, and I just never noticed. It seems possible that my involvement with the institution would make me slightly more perceptive to certain criticisms. But even so, the Torch has received a considerable amount of backlash from Witt students.

This puzzles me, because I've heard nothing but praise for the Torch's improvements over the past two years from faculty and staff. Professors Fallon, McClelland, and Smith have all cited past failures on the Torch's behalf, and stated these things are long behind the newspaper.

So where do students get off calling the Torch "incompetent?" Is the Torch, not unlike many other college institutions, meant to be a learning vehicle for future news writers and display editors to hone their skills?

I feel as though many Wittenbergers are confused about the actual operations of their campus's newspaper. So allow me to clear a few things up:

1) The Torch is not exactly a cohesive or collective body of staff writers that churns out stories as a group. Each writer is responsible for his own work, and should be criticized individually.

2) The Torch is nowhere near fully staffed, and its editors are on a very tight schedule. This means that stories cannot be reworked time and again, and, at a certain point, stories have to run as they are.

3) Sometimes, things just aren't that interesting. It can be hard to find a house fire or a burglary every week, especially on a college budget. Of course, that would be writers' jobs were they full-time employees. But they aren't. We're in college. 

Witt students need to think before they go on talking trash about every little problem with their newspaper. Overall, I feel that people should try to contribute more instead of bashing every institution that doesn't seem "professional." It's a lot harder than it looks.

***This is not meant to be a slight toward anyone in ENGL 320 who helps in constructive criticisms during class. It is aimed more toward those who complain without ever trying to fix any problems.

First Story

Overall, the biggest drawback I had on my lastest story, over Wittileaks, was who to talk to.

Of course, I spoke with the site's founders, and several of its members. But would interviewing faculty and staff really have much of an effect on the story. They can't join the group without invitation, and most probably don't even know the site exists.

So I kept my story at 3 sources for now. If there is some sort of faculty uproar after they discover the site via the Torch, then I'll write a piece on that.

One more note... the most interesting thing that I learned trhough this story was the prospect of a secret society or Greek "outing" of sorts with respect to their secrets. Could Wittileaks really put the Shifters in their place? Will the world finally know the truth? Doubtful, but there's still a chance.

2 Degrees from John Lennon?

It's interesting, the things you are exposed to in college.

No, I'm not talking about sex and drugs, those pretty much go without saying. I'm talking about the people.

Growing up in the places you and your friends inevitably called the middle of nowhere during your formative years, you don't meet many people that seem to make an impact on the "real world." The world of politics, entertainment, big house, five cars, etc.

And then you come to college, and you find yourself shaking hands with Joe Strummer's art teacher.

I had the chance to record guest speaker Derek Boshier's radio interview with Professor Fitz Smith the other day on WUSO. As I listened to him speak about hanging out with David Bowie, teaching Joe Strummer, and selling John Lennon his car (!), I couldn't help but sit back and listen with amazement. These were the people I worshipped as a teen (OK let's face it, I still do), and he's casually throwing around stories about bumping into them on the street.

The experience with Boshier really opened my eyes to the value of my college experience. Above all, it's made me realize that fame isn't so unattainable and pristine. Great things can come from people we lived next door to in Firesitne freshman year.

So, in closing, maybe Wittenberg is located in the middle-of-nowhere Ohio. Maybe it's not a Metropolitan city. But great things and great people can still stop through from time to time. So don't completely write it off.

Wittenberg's Tolerance (or Rather, Lack Thereof)

Anyone who doesn't think Wittenberg has a tolerance problem clearly doesn't get out much.

In fact, I often don't even have to leave my house to face these issues. Within my own groups of friends, I constantly find hints of homophobia, sexism, and, racism. Comments like "nobody likes him; let's face it, it's because he's the black guy" and "that's why we shouldn't vote for a black president" have been uttered in my presence, and, unfortunately, I did nothing to correct this ignorance. In my efforts to preserve a stable atmosphere, I bit my tongue and looked the other way.

In my 5 semesters at Wittenberg, diversity is the one thing that I've noticed that Witt doesn't do so well. African-American and international students on campus seem to band together, without much notice from other sections of the Witt community.

Moreover, Wittenberg has a negative view of the Springfield community, creating animosity between the city and the university. Why should  Witt students have the right to complain about so-called "townies" at the bar? They were here in Springfield long before most students, and I'm sure many local residents will remain here long after any student's four- or five-year tenure at Witt.

So when I first heard about the racial message that was left on an African-American student's door last Monday, I can't say I was surprised. The general message that Witt students seem to promote is that being different from the majority (which somehow always amounts to upper- and middle-class heterosexual Caucasian people, even in the middle of Springfield, OH), you aren't welcome at Witt. And I'm willing to bet the "townies" weren't surprised, either. Most were probably upset, but I feel that this behavior is what the Springfield community has come to expect from Wittenberg.

So, in closing, I'm not happy with this reputation that Wittenberg has as an intolerant community. And from now on, biting my tongue won't be an option.

Drugs are inevitable on a college campus. That's no great insight or revelation, but I feel (as most of us probably do) that it needs to be said in order to move forward with the topic. College is traditionally the point in a person's life when he breaks free from the shackles of independent life and immediately begins making bad decisions.
And drugs are out there. And not just marijuana (is that even considered a drug anymore?). Harder drugs (generally defined as the ones that can actually kill you) are accessible on most college campuses if you look hard enough (I would assume Cedarville would probably be an exception, but who knows?).
The problem is not the will to experiment with these drugs. Curiosity is natural, especially for people in their late teens/early -20s. Drug abuse comes down to one problem: self-control. When people don't have any, they tend to develop dependencies. It's true for alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, etc. When students lose focus on their required tasks and replace duties with chemicals, problems arise.
Drugs are reasonable when managed. But the levels of self-control vary from person-to-person, and from drug-to-drug. I feel like I know my personal limits. I feel that there are people who can handle harder drugs than I can. And I know that there are people who can't meet my personal drug plateau. It's all a matter of will. Bottom line: if someone can manage his life while maintaining a steady drug routine, I say more power to him. But I certainly can't.