BG News: Opinion

American decline may be beneficial

2011-08-02T23:05:12Z

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." John 12:24.
Taken extremely out of context and ignoring any hint of its original meaning, I contend that this line of Biblical script can aid in the construction of a silver lining to this darker than dark cloud that hangs above our country.
We can all see that dark cloud, can't we? Certain factions may focus on their own parts of interest, but we can all generally see it is there.
I am speaking of course of the uncertain future of this country, the United States of America.
For me and much of my generation this is much of a reverse from the kind of worldview we grew up with. We grew up with the myth of America as that invincible figure that sat upon a white horse. The future was bright, and we seemed to be on course to ascend to that shining city on the hill.
The events of 9/11 were a cause for concern for some time, but they soon became just an exception that proved the rule, as American pride, resolve and sense of community seemed stronger than ever before.
That was then, that was before.
Before the wars became endless. Before job opportunities became limited. Before America's standing in the world decreased. Before other nations, including that rising star in the East, increased their standing. Before, before, before.
Now the man in the White House that ran on the promise of hope seems to be presiding over an age of disillusionment.
Now to many of my generation and others, America is seen as being pulled along by a pale horse whose rider's name is Death.
Things do not seem to be going smoothly. The debacle of the debt ceiling debate was only one more piece of evidence that ours is not the best of times.
This all may be for the better.
This is because the current problems of the day may not be the main problems in themselves but rather symptoms that display much deeper problems.
Without descending into a crisis, without dying in a sense, we would continue along faulty paths (I would include elements of jingoism among them.)
A baptism of fire can be good from time to time. It can help in burning away impurities and forging a stronger, more flexible whole.
There have been examples of this from our past. It would be best to remember Shays' Rebellion and the general strife of young America which exposed the shortcomings of its political system.
Out of those dark days when the fate of our country was in question, Americans were able to come together and work out many of our problems. The end result included the Constitution, Bill of Rights and other political fixes that greatly improved the state of the country.
The same could be said of other dark days in American history. We should remember that the partisan fighting words in Congress today are nothing compared to the physical partisan fights, including a senator being nearly beaten to death with a cane, leading up to the Civil War.
But again America came out stronger, freer and generally better than before.
Although we could all despair over the decrease in jobs and world rankings, it would be better to attempt to get at the heart of our problems.
It will be difficult.
Many will have to admit they are wrong about deeply held beliefs (both liberal and conservative). Many of my generation and others will have to accept that their lot in life will not be easy, will not be the way they expected or felt entitled to.
If we would only do that, if we would only re-evaluate and restructure our country with all the sacrifices that entails, we could rise once more out of the ashes and be better because of the strife.
Or we could chant "USA, USA" and hope that things work out.

Editor reflects on summer newspaper

2011-08-02T22:56:57Z

This isn't a graduation column or a farewell column.
I'll still be working at The BG News for the next two years. Over the past three months, I've pondered how to write an "end of summer column" every time someone asked me "are you excited to graduate?" and I replied, "I'll let you know in two more years."
Although most editors don't get the chance to be sentimental until they've completed their four-year sentence at Bowling Green State University, I'm about to do it while only being halfway there.
As Editor-in-Chief, I've faced a lot of hurdles with this summer's staff (vague headlines, thinking of story ideas and once or twice telling the photo editor to not forget to "edit" his photos). But, as summer finally sets, I'm realizing it was worth it to be able to pick up those eight to ten pages every week.
Back in May, my goal was to put out one issue with all-local content, but somehow the staff turned one into twelve.
I also hoped every week I wouldn't be able to find a mistake, that each week might finally bring a "perfect" paper.
Although no one issue was absolutely flawless, with the help of a dedicated staff we got as close as anyone ever could.
They say the president ages twice as fast as a normal person by the time he's finished two terms in office--the same goes with whoever is editor of The BG News. However, with only two years under my belt, I'm more interested in looking forward than just looking back.
This fall I'll be the News Editor and a junior at the University.
I already can't wait to start working on the first issue for the school year in the room where social lives go to die, 210 West Hall.
I'm even more excited to again work alongside some of the most talented students in the news business, who daily admire the nice, green newsroom walls (probably painted with whatever was left over from Olscamp Hall).
Although they're always saying, "I have no clue what I'm really doing," they've proved just the opposite this summer, and I know they'll keep doing it this fall. After all, they are what really drives The BG News.
Summer days may almost be behind us, but the real fun starts this fall with the first issue Aug. 19. Don't miss out by not picking up an issue, and I promise we'll never stop you from doing so by missing our deadline, hopefully.

Educated opinions are more effective

2011-08-02T22:48:23Z

As American citizens we are all entitled to an opinion about the topics of the day, but I feel like opinions mean very little if they are not informed opinions.
For example, someone anonymously commented about my last column on The BG News website. This person made some claims that I could write a whole other column rebutting (I know this because I actually did write a whole rebuttal column before realizing that I was, once again, letting my liberal hang out), and then closed his or her comment by saying that, "you need to open your mind up to both parties. Keep writing but be open."
First, let me say to this person that I truly appreciate that you read my column and took the time to comment on it, but the fact is that I absolutely DO keep my mind open to both parties. However, I also pay close attention to the words and actions of the newsmakers and legislators in both parties, and because of that I get angry.
I get angry that the average people--those of us who are not among the nations wealthiest--of our country consistently get the shaft. And while I know that no one political party is entirely at fault for this, I do feel like one party is more culpable for this scenario.
I feel like the real problem lies in the fact that not enough people pay attention to the path that our country is on (not to mention who is responsible for putting us on that path), then they overhear what some of their friends--most of which are also not paying attention--say and repeat it as their own uninformed opinion.
I cannot tell you how many times in my life I have heard someone say, "I don't follow politics because it doesn't matter who's elected anyway," and then three sentences later they say, "Did you hear about Brad and Angelina?" That is when I want to scream at them, "No, that is what doesn't matter!"
I think a lot of people--especially younger people--think that keeping up with the news is too time consuming, and I am here to tell you that is doesn't have to be. There are "dashboard" websites like the one I use called netvibes.com, which make it easy to keep up with what media outlets are reporting.
On netvibes.com, you can get RSS feeds (most of which are pre-ready to use in the form of apps) from most every major media outlet in the country. When I log into this site, I get all the headlines being reported from both right-wing leaning media sources (the Wall Street Journal, Fox News) as well as left-wing leaning sources (the New York Times, MSNBC), and then I can decide for myself what I believe to be the case. I also have this site linked to my email, Facebook and Twitter accounts so I can check them all at one time.
So, in closing my final column for the 2011 summer semester, what I would really like to say to those of you who disagree with my opinions is that I welcome hearing your opposing viewpoints, but I hope they are informed opinions.
If you follow the news and are aware of the political situations at hand (as well as the implications of those situations), I would love nothing more than to hear your opinion and have an honest discussion with you about it. One of the best things about our country is that we have not only the right but a civic duty to have (and give voice to) an opinion. That is a great thing and not something to be taken for granted or wasted by not making the effort to be informed.

Riding a bicycle can lead to adventures

2011-08-02T22:40:58Z

I am famous for getting lost. On one occasion I took the wrong bus in Cincinnati to get from downtown to the Cincinnati Museum Center last summer.
Directions are not my forte. I depend on landmarks instead of street names.
But after riding my bike since May to campus and to work (with Google Maps in my pocket if I'm not sure where I'm going), I've learned more about how to get around Bowling Green since May than in the six semesters I've spent on campus and walking around town.
I didn't realize City Park was just a few turns past Happy Badger, turning the wrong way on Wintergarden or Conneaut isn't the wisest choice and riding my bike as transportation is great exercise that doesn't require a fee to the Rec.
Riding past road kill has not been pleasant, but otherwise experiencing the outdoors and seeing town has been fun. I've had the opportunity to tan as I travel, breathe in fresh air and exercise instead of setting aside a separate time to work out every day. I merely hop on my bicycle, and I'm off on an adventure.
Whenever I biked at the Rec when I lived on campus, I was able to do seven miles easy. It's a different story when you have to fight wind resistance, go up and down small inclines and over highway overpasses and avoid road kill and other foreign objects on the road.
The ride from home to campus is about two miles, and if I go downtown it's easily three miles one way if I want to go to Grounds for Thought, Happy Badger or the Wood County District Public Library. The distance bothered me at first because I wasn't used to the resistance, but as I've biked more, I've been able to cut my travel time.
But I'm not the only student who rides to campus. Sophomore creative writing major Christine Chapman also rode her bike this summer.
"I love being able to ride to the [Jerome] library and pull up to the rack," Chapman said.
Even though she admits to disliking the process of locking her bicycle to the rack, it's better than having it stolen.
"My number one piece of advice to give people is: don't ride with your iPod ear buds in," Chapman said. "As a motorist [too] a number of cyclists don't hear me coming, have no clue I'm there and they can't pay attention to traffic."
Some other tips to keep in mind when riding according to the Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws: obey all traffic signs, signals and pavement markings; stay as close to the right as possible because bicyclists must ride with traffic unless walking a bicycle; have a white headlight, a red taillight and a red rear reflector when riding at night; and use hand signals (up for a right turn, down for slow or stop and parallel to the ground for a left turn).
But one of the most important things is to be safe.
If your bicycle is in need of repair, we're lucky to have Cycle Werks at 248 S. Main St. I've had to replace the tubes on both tires this summer.
Cory Fraszewski has worked at Cycle Werks for almost a year and does repairs.
Their most common repair is "between flats or something else" according to Fraszewski.
As for students using the shop, "We [Cycle Werks] get quite a few of those [students] once in a while."
I would advise getting a helmet and headlights, brushing up on bicycle laws and constantly paying attention when you're on the road. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Cultural relativism needs consistency

2011-07-26T21:03:36Z

The bigoted narrative that justified so much injustice by the Westerner toward the non-Westerner is alive and well in contemporary American thought.
The narrative that I am speaking of was best summed up by Edward Said in his work "Orientalism" where he writes of the Western view of "... the absolute and systematic difference between the West, which is rational, developed, humane, superior, and the Orient, which is aberrant, underdeveloped, inferior...."
Said also saying, "Orientals were viewed in a framework constructed out of biological determinism..." in which the "... possibility of development, transformation, human movement--in the deepest sense of the word--is denied the Orient and the Oriental."
What he was most concerned about was the manner in which those sentiments formed the basis of Westerners imposing themselves on the non-Westerner through imperialism.
Although Western imperialism has largely lost public support in the West, I contend that the beliefs that laid its foundations can be observed in a new mode of thinking, that of cultural/moral relativism.
I want to be clear in stating many who hold to cultural/moral relativist theory should not be considered bigoted. I do not see bigotry in Ruth Benedict's declaration that all people, including herself, arrive at moral understanding through a "nonrational and subconscious process."
My concern is that far too many hold to cultural/moral relativism thought and use its language when discussing foreign peoples are inconsistent, in that the "nonrational and subconscious process" is purely the domain of the non-Westerner while the Westerner is capable of a rational and conscious process to arrive at morals and norms.
For example, I remember a class discussion I took part in a few semesters ago in which we were to discuss the practice of men opening doors for women in American society. Most of my fellow students had grand moral objections to it, relying on everything from the most abstract philosophies to the most concrete scientific findings to argue their case.
A few weeks latter the same class with the same people was presented with the overseas practice of female circumcision. The same people that were so strident against men opening doors for women now raised no objections to little girls having their clitorises cut off and vaginal openings sewn up so as to retain their virginity for their wedding night.
"It is their culture," they said.
Now wait a minute. One could say that female circumcision is part of another's culture, but one can also just as easily say that men opening doors for women is part of our culture.
Why such drastically differential treatment then?
I believe part of it is simply an over correction of Western imperialism, but I also see the basis of that very imperialistic thought perpetrating the thinking of my fellow students.
Through their criticism of the Western practice of door opening they were, in a sense, declaring that the Westerner is a rational free agent, possessing the cognitive abilities to evaluate the cost and benefits of an action, and able to progress and change their behavior.
On the other hand, through simply saying "It is their culture" to the non-Western practice of female circumcision they were saying that non-Westerners are little more than creatures of culture, lacking the abilities to change and progress.
Let me re-emphasize, if you are one of those people that believe all societies arrive at morals and norms simply through nonrational societal constructs, in which one is no better than another, then this column is not meant for you.
If you are however, one of those that believe a rational approach can be taken to Western norms and practices, to both explain and approve upon them, and you do not apply the same standard to other peoples then this column is directed towards you.
I simply want you to consider that your attempt to be "nonjudgemental" may very well be a judgment call in itself and a very demeaning one at that.

Music festivals can be unenjoyable

2011-07-26T20:59:51Z

When I go to a concert, I expect to watch a band perform not get assaulted.
Last week, I went to Warped Tour and it was incredibly unenjoyable. I don't understand why festival seating is still accepted for major label bands.
For the first band, I was relatively close to the front, which was nice but as minutes passed, more and more people swamped in and shoved me around. After a while, I was 10 rows back and pretty angry.
When a concert is festival seating only, it allows for free reign which sounds good at first, but imagine being a younger girl who just wants to see Paramore play live. You have to be tough as nails to hold off the mosh pit ninjas and crowd surfers.
Also because there was free reign for all fans, I got pick-pocketed. During a song, a man literally jumped up on me and popped my wallet out of my back pocket. When I figured out my wallet and it's contents (my license, credit card, my mother's obituary, etc.) were missing, I freaked out and tried getting people to help me, but nobody would cooperate. They were too focused on keeping their spots.
I understand festival seating for punk bands or extremely heavy bands, given that they are notorious for moshing and hardcore dancing, but when pop rock bands are scheduled to play, they should put them where seats are located.
The concert schedulers should not put all the "good" bands, or big-ticket bands, on the same stage. Separate them out a little bit so people can actually enjoy watching them.
I was trying to watch Paramore play, but I was pressed up against a girl I had never met. I apologized ahead of time to her, you know, in case she had a boyfriend, but it was still extremely awkward. The crowd became one big accordion, stretching and squeezing as music came from the stage.
The festival seating also made for a poor concert experience because it was 100 degrees outside. When it is that hot, the last thing you want to do is press up against strangers. At one point, I was shoved against someone and my mouth went into their sweat-soaked shirt. You can imagine how grossed out I was.
The chaotic concert experience sounds good in theory, but when you look down at your hands and realize you are pruning from your own sweat, you figure out that the festival arrangement is a terrible idea.
Another problem posed at music festivals is the lack of water provided. According to festival staff members, venues are required to provide free water for concertgoers because a girl died last year from dehydration at an outdoor concert. I still had to pay $3 for my first bottle of water but I am not complaining, seeing as how I paid $6 per bottle last year without free refills. But then the refill stations stopped giving out water and the crowds grew dehydrated and angry.
After the sun went down, the concert finally became enjoyable. The temperature dropped 15 degrees and the crowd was too tired to fight anymore.
Punk rock band A Day To Remember took the stage and everyone seemed to be happy with where they stood. After the first song, mosh pits broke out, but they were friendly. Some members of the crowd took the role of guards for the smaller people (or people who just didn't want to get hit) and the attitude in the pit was a lot better. When a person fell to the ground, people helped that person up. They didn't just watch them get trampled over like a Black Friday shopper.
I had fun even though I had $100 stolen from me, I got beaten like I did something wrong and I had the taste of another man's sweat in my mouth. I would say the concert was good, but with a few adjustments, it could have been amazing.

Blossom in locales, unexpected places

2011-07-26T20:53:59Z

We get off the expressway exit and drive down the long bumpy road that was so familiar to me. I tell my friend to turn his GPS off because I know exactly where he needs to go to get to my house. (Of course I do. I have lived in that house for 21 years.)
As we continue down the road, I see the water tower for the town I went to high school in. I point it out to my friend and tell him about the tiny town. He has never been to this part of southeast Michigan.
We continue driving in the same general direction, going around a few curves. Then about 10 miles from the water tower, I point down a road and say, "That's where my dad lives. It's pretty close to my mom's house." Five more miles down the road, I point out the road for Monroe County Community College. This is where I graduated a year ago with an Associate's Degree.
I start to laugh as I realize I have lived my whole life on about a 15-mile strip of road. The majority of significant events in my life have happened there.
Two more miles down this road and we have reached our destination - my house.
Seeing my life laid out this way did not make me feel worldly. In that moment it eliminated the thoughts of the hundreds of people I met in those 15 miles, hid the thousands of different opportunities and experiences I had there and snuffed out the millions of memories I have with my friends and family members in that 15-mile stretch of southeast Michigan.
This geography is more important than I ever thought. Initially I had hoped to go to college in Hawaii 5,130 miles away. I had visited as a kid and loved it and wanted any excuse to move there. Then I changed my mind; I wanted to move to New York City (about 580 miles away), which I saw as the city with the most opportunities.
I had a glamorized view of college and had big ideas before I really did the research, saw what I could afford and thought about what I wanted in a school and for my life.
My choices got closer and closer to home. When it came down to it, I began to see that the people and opportunities around me were more important than how tall the buildings were or how beautiful the weather was (and we know Bowling Green has neither tall buildings nor nice weather).
So although in this case, an outsider might look at my life and think I didn't go very far literally or figuratively. I can look back and see that I chose to be proactive in my small-town situations. I thrived in that atmosphere and used the community to make lasting connections, decide on a career and meet lifetime friends.
When I did decide to move the 45 miles to Bowling Green, I saw how much I really loved that 15 miles in Michigan, and I visit what I call home, quite often. As of now, I don't have plans to move far away from home, but if I do, I know I'll want to be in another small town. That's what made me who I am and that's what I have grown to love.
It's not about what location is most recognizable to people around the world or how many miles it takes to get you there, it's about where you thrive best and what you need to get everything you can out of a situation, whether a person decides to go to Bowling Green, Ohio, Alaska or even Zimbabwe.

Residence halls sweat in the heat

2011-07-26T20:43:23Z

It's unbelievably hot.
And with the heat looming in the 90s, the Aug. 22 start of Fall classes is coming like ferocious wildfire, especially for students living in non-air conditioned dorms.
Students living in Centennial Hall, Conklin North, Falcon Heights, Founders Hall and Offenhauer Towers will enjoy controlled low temperatures until the heat wave dissipates.
Everyone else: buy a fan.
If you will be living in Harshman Quadrangle, Kohl Hall, Kreischer Quadrangle or McDonald Hall, get ready to wake every morning in a puddle of your own sweat.
I endured furnace-like temperatures in Kohl Hall last Fall, and I will be living there again this Fall. You think Biology books are boring? Consider memorizing the Photosynthesis formula while baking in a 10 feet by 15 feet dorm. It was awful. At one point, I was so overwhelmed with homesickness and heat that I cried to my mother from an air-conditioned bathroom. I'm not proud.
In my defense, the heat was awful enough; the challenging college transition was the icing on the cake of fiery hell.
Looking to the upcoming Fall, we could be facing heat even stronger than before. As a Telecommunications and Spanish major, I have a vast understanding of meteorology. Let's break it down with an analogy. If last year's temperatures were like Voldemort in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," this year's temperatures could be like Voldemort in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two."
In plain English: it's potentially going to be much worse.
Last year, Bowling Green State University did little to help us roasting in our sauna-like dorms. Would it be that difficult to give us some air conditioning? How hot does it have to be before it's illegal to keep us incarcerated in heat like farm animals?
The University already forces a significant number of students to live on campus. If the University is going to do that, it should at least attempt to keep us alive.
I don't want to die from heat stroke. Or Voldemort.

Republicans attack poor, middle class

2011-07-22T00:44:33Z

This is the ninth column I have written for The BG News and in many of those I have talked about how the Republican Party is harming poor and working class people. I would like to let everyone know why this theme reoccurs in my columns so often.
It is because poor and working class people are disproportionately underrepresented in the media. It makes sense this would be the case because blue collar people do not ordinarily own or routinely have access to media outlets. I know there are two sides (and sometimes more) to every political issue, but the side of the issue I am commenting on is the one that is routinely overlooked and ignored by many in mainstream media.
All that having been said, this week I want to tell you that the Republicans in U.S. Congress are intentionally trying to halt any possible economic recovery for our country.
In fact, they would like nothing more than to see the U.S. economy go even farther down the toilet than it already has. The more you and I have to pay to fill up our gas tanks, the bigger the smiles are on the faces of congressional Republicans and their political strategists.
This is because the Republicans believe the worse the economy is next year--a presidential election year--the more likely you are to vote for their candidate. You as voters in Ohio, a state that is often very important in determining the outcome of presidential elections, must not be fooled.
It is important that you realize a return to a Republican presidential administration will almost certainly return America to the Bush-era policies that started us into this downward economic spiral to begin with.
The evidence of Republican plans to keep the economy from recovering--and thus keep all of us struggling--comes from the current debate in Washington D.C. about whether or not to raise America's debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is the amount of debt that the country can legally incur in order to keep from defaulting its financial obligations. Economists of all political stripes agree that not raising the debt ceiling could be catastrophic for America's economy. Should politicians fail to do so by Aug. 2, interest rates across the board will rise and the value of the dollar in the global market will continue to sink even lower than it already has. In other words, average people's savings and retirement accounts will be worth less than they were the day before.
Republicans have been saying they will not vote to raise the debt ceiling unless Democrats agree to slash funding for many programs; the most prominently cut being social programs primarily benefiting the poor, such as food stamps and Medicaid.
Congressional Republicans claim this needs to be done in order to balance the budget, but they then prove their own hypocrisy by refusing to help balance the budget through increasing revenue going into the government.
Such revenue increases would include cutting subsidies to big oil companies (who are making record profits and do not need your tax dollars), raising taxes on the people making over $250,000 a year and closing current tax loopholes which allow multi-billion dollar corporations to pay no taxes at all (in some cases these corporations, like General Electric, actually get money back from the government). In other words, congressional Republicans are adhering to their own Golden Rule. That being, "Whoever has the gold makes the rule."
So what about those of us who don't have any gold? I guess we are supposed to just sit there and take what crumbs are thrown at us and be happy to get them. At least the bulk of today's conservative movement seems to think so.
First off, we in the poor and working class need to stop being ashamed that we are poor and working class. Then, we need to tell politicians in Congress if they will not keep our interests in mind and work for us the way we work for society's affluent community, we will go to the ballot box and elect someone who will.

All deserve love regardless of class

2011-07-22T00:42:19Z

I came home from work to the news: he's coming!
My second oldest sister rushed my oldest sister to the hospital followed shortly by my brother-in-law.
I woke to the usual dark and quiet morning, being the first to rise and go to work before the house and streets were filled with activity. This morning seemed all the more quiet because of the unanswered question I had no one to ask: is my nephew born?
I went to work and received permission to leave early in order to make a two-hour drive with my family to visit the new parents and the baby. Before leaving I asked a co-worker for prayers, and she spread the word as I went out into the bright morning anticipating the news.
We arrived in the hospital 20 minutes after the birth and 22 hours after labor began. A couple hours later we entered the room and met the youngest member of our family.
Have you ever seen or experienced the joy of a new mother? My sister smiled as she looked at her son, all her pain forgotten. Have you ever held a newborn child?
I was a little afraid to hold my nephew; he is so vulnerable and fragile, and yet so trusting. Most of us who held him were more afraid than he was. That is, we were afraid of harming him, and he was peacefully sleeping.
We all watched him as he slept and made faces and when he lay awake and stretched in the new open space. And we loved him. We love him so much, just for existing.
In light of all this, it seems strange to consider how often people are judged based on wealth, appearance, intelligence, skill or other factors. People are considered more or less lovable and others are even considered unlovable. As if love needs to be earned or won like a prize. Why can't we always love each other just for being?
The same story is told again and again. A person is wretched and then they are loved into grace. You may consider examples ranging from novels like "No Great Mischief" by Alistair MacLeod, in which we read "All of us are better when we're loved" or children's films like "Megamind" or "Despicable Me" in which we watch the villain become the hero because someone loved him. If we are truly loved, we are not loved only when we are strong, but also when we are weak. And it is in these weak times that love may strengthen us.
I love my new nephew, and I want to do all I can for him even though I have only just met him and he is one of the most vulnerable, dependent human beings on earth.
I am also certain that his parents love him immeasurably, even knowing that raising him is likely to be the biggest challenge they have ever faced.
He is worth it just because he is. We are all worth loving, just because we are.

Internships provide experience at a cost

2011-07-22T00:40:21Z

The University urges students to support their educations with internships. From journalism to dietetics, departments offer hundreds of opportunities that--according to the University--will help in the future.
And it's true. Ask professionals in any field, and they will encourage you to network with workers and get hands-on experience. Interning gives students an opportunity to do both.
So at the end of spring semester, I emailed my local news station. Rated number one in Cincinnati, I saw Local 12 News WKRC-TV as a bridge to a successful news career. Alumni Chris and Angela Hursh work at Local 12 News. Together with Bob Jones, they founded BG24 News. Plus, alum Dan Spehler is the newest news reporter at Local 12. It's safe to say Falcon blood runs rampant through the station's veins.
After an interview with the operations manager, I was told I got the internship. I was thrilled. However, I was told I needed to make sure I received school credit. The operations manager said it was a requirement of the law.
I assumed it was because I wasn't being paid, which I was comfortable with. At this stage, I felt the experience and connections were more important than a paycheck.
So I emailed my telecommunications adviser and after some paperwork I was signed up for a one-credit internship. After two weeks of running around with reporters, learning how to write stories and cutting video, I discovered something unexpected on my bursar account: $424 was charged for one credit hour.
I understood not being paid but paying $424 seemed strange. Local 12 is three hours away from the University. There are no classrooms or instructors involved. Besides the paperwork I paid to fax, the school has nothing to do with my learning process. I was confused. Why did I need to pay $424 to the University when the people helping me are at the station? If anything, I thought, Local 12 should've gotten that money.
That's when I got in contact with the telecommunications department.
"There is no classroom, but for some internships we do hire a faculty adviser and an engineer to maintain the equipment and facilities," someone from the department said. "The internship coordinator has to work with your internship supervisor to get their feedback and assessment of your performance so that it is a meaningful learning experience."
But is $424 necessary to "assess my performance"?
"Of course, you can say the cost should be lower than a regular course," the department said. "But this is the same across the University."
My somewhat unresolved solution: that's just the way it is. Nothing will change anytime soon. But for those of you planning to intern in the future, the department told me scholarships are the best solution.
"Plan early and apply to the student development fund early," the department said. "All the development fund applications must be processed during the regular semester."
Don't forget, many departments--like telecommunications--require students to do a one-credit internship. So make sure you budget accordingly.
I know, I know: more money coming out of your wallet, right? But now at the end of my internship, I have to admit, it's perhaps the best $424 I've (well, my parents have) ever spent. The University is right. Internships are vital to your future. They will either help you network and learn or help you realize that your calling is something else.
Local 12 News helped me learn about both my future and myself. Discovering that I am on the right path has been worth every penny.

City housing laws confine living options, unfair to students, independent landlords

2011-07-22T00:34:12Z

As I walked home from class on a Friday afternoon, my mind drifted to the weekend festivities that were to come. After blocks of vivid day dreaming, I reached my doorstep and punched in the code to my electronic lock, entering the house. I quickly felt the mood shift as my roommates approached me with worried faces.
They told me that a code enforcement official from the city had just left and the city knew we were breaking the zoning ordinance that limited houses to only three non-related residents per household. My biggest fear had come true and now with just one month left of school, three people living in our house were being forced to move out. The house where we all shared countless great memories in had seven bedrooms and three bathrooms. According to the city however, we were only allowed to fill three of those bedrooms. We did not feel as if we were committing any crimes or breaking any laws but that the city was committing something of a crime against us.
Why is it that a seven bedroom house can only hold three non-related residents? Why is it illegal for my landlord to fill these extra rooms?
While I do not disagree with the idea of limiting a household to a certain number of people, I do disagree with the current limit of three. Instead of just limiting each house to three residents, why not make it depend on the size of the house, such as the bedroom to bathroom ratio?
I propose something along the lines of: for each full bathroom, a house is permitted to hold three residents if there are enough bedrooms to accommodate each resident.
In other words, in my house the maximum number of residents would be six, as we have two full bathrooms and seven available bedrooms. Splitting costs between six residents would surely help out college students. Additionally, this system would benefit landlords, making bigger houses more appealing to potential renters.
There is also an issue about the current three-person ordinance that I would like to call into question. Why is that certain companies in town are exempt from this ordinance? Some big name property owners in town are allowed to house four or more people in their properties. If my landlord were to sell his property to a big name realtor, then more students may be able to live there.
How is that fair? Is this the city's way of acknowledging how unjust and broken this ordinance is? The ordinance in no way seems ethical, and almost supports a housing monopoly in Bowling Green. Small independent landlords don't stand a chance at competing against the competition, when competitors don't have to follow the same rules and guidelines.
To counteract this, most independent landlords just look the other way when it comes to how many residents are living in their properties. Years ago I spoke to a landlord (who shall remain nameless) who said that he didn't care how many people lived in his property as long as they paid rent.
My friends who live throughout town have also told me their landlords do this. These examples further illustrate the broken ordinance. In the end it is you, the students, who pay the price for this ordinance. You either pay more money for rent and utilities, or break the ordiance and risk paying hundreds of dollars in fines.

All deserve love regardless of class

2011-07-19T22:45:39Z

City housing laws confine living options, unfair to students, independent landlords

2011-07-19T21:27:20Z

Internships provide experience at a cost

2011-07-19T21:13:35Z

Bowling Green State University urges students to support their educations with internships. From journalism to dietetics, departments offer hundreds of opportunities that--according to BGSU--will help in the future.
And it's true. Ask professionals in any field, and they will encourage you to network with workers and get hands-on experience. Interning gives students an opportunity to do both.
So at the end of spring semester, I emailed my local news station. Rated number one in Cincinnati, I saw Local 12 News WKRC-TV as a bridge to a successful news career. Alumni Chris and Angela Hursh work at Local 12 News. Together with Bob Jones, they founded BG24 News. Plus, alum Dan Spehler is the newest news reporter at Local 12. It's safe to say Falcon blood runs rampant through the station's veins.
After an interview with the operations manager, I was told I got the internship. I was thrilled. However, I was told I needed to make sure I received school credit. The operations manager said it was a requirement of the law.
I assumed it was because I wasn't being paid, which I was comfortable with. At this stage, I felt the experience and connections were more important than a paycheck.
So I emailed my telecommunications adviser and after some paperwork I was signed up for a one-credit internship. After two weeks of running around with reporters, learning how to write stories and cutting video, I discovered something unexpected on my bursar account: $424 was charged for one credit hour.
I understood not being paid but paying $424 seemed strange. Local 12 is three hours away from BGSU. There are no classrooms or instructors involved. Besides the paperwork I paid to fax, the school has nothing to do with my learning process. I was confused. Why did I need to pay $424 to BGSU when the people helping me are at the station? If anything, I thought, Local 12 should've gotten that money.
That's when I got in contact with the telecommunications department.
"There is no classroom, but for some internships we do hire a faculty adviser and an engineer to maintain the equipment and facilities," someone from the department said. "The internship coordinator has to work with your internship supervisor to get their feedback and assessment of your performance so that it is a meaningful learning experience."
But is $424 necessary to "assess my performance"?
"Of course, you can say the cost should be lower than a regular course," the department said. "But this is the same across BGSU."
My somewhat unresolved solution: that's just the way it is. Nothing will change anytime soon. But for those of you planning to intern in the future, the department told me scholarships are the best solution.
"Plan early and apply to the student development fund early," the department said. "All the development fund applications must be processed during the regular semester."
Don't forget, many departments--like telecommunications--require students to do a one-credit internship. So make sure you budget accordingly.
I know, I know: more money coming out of your wallet, right? But now at the end of my internship, I have to admit, it's perhaps the best $424 I've (well, my parents have) ever spent. The University is right. Internships are vital to your future. They will either help you network and learn or help you realize that your calling is something else.
Local 12 News helped me learn about both my future and myself. Discovering that I am on the right path has been worth every penny.