When it comes to blogging, I've been involved in the online "art" for a few years now. Even back when Myspace was still a thing and Facebook and 'status updates' hadn't yet come into focus, I was making blog entries about whatever little asinine thing had caught my attention that day. It was a way of self expression that somehow became more interesting simply because other people could read my thoughts and submit their own ideas about what I was discussing.
Nowadays I do most of my blogging through Tumblr. Sometimes I'll just sit and reblog pictures or make little "Slice of Life" posts, but sometimes I'll get in the mood to make long, flourishing paragraph entries or extensive opinion posts like I used to. Really this Journalism blog sees more real 'blogging' action, but only in the sense that I'm consecutive and consistent with it.
But regardless, I think blogging is something that everyone should try at least once, if only to say that they've done it. Really, it's a great way to get your thoughts out there, and if you're comfortable with the entirety of the internet having access to it, you may even come into contact with people who agree with you; or disagree. Even if it's just for a class like this, blogging can be a very relaxing and productive way to pass time, and I think having this blog in addition to my work for Journalism has been a great value to me.
-Fran
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Finding New Things
If there's one thing that I've found enriching about this Advanced News Writing class, it's all the information and, well, news. As much as I hate to admit it, I tend to suffer from Wittenber Bubble-itis. I try to read the news every now and again but sometimes stuff just slips under the radar.
For example, until Maggie brought it up the other day in class, I had heard nothing about the Christain video that was slamming in the Muslim faith. Now I have to wonder how I ever missed such a thing. And I'm very interested in reading the story that's going to be written about it, as well as the story on Wittenberg students being unimformed.
In fact, I had no idea that the topic iof the story I'm currently writing was even a problem until it was mentioned in class. I mean, last year I kind of wondered why the fountain was never on or why there was always water on the ground around it, but now that I know that it was in ill-repair, I'm very much looking forward to writing about it in my next story. If anyone has any more info on it that they'd like to share please feel free to leave a comment or two. Thanks!
-Fran
For example, until Maggie brought it up the other day in class, I had heard nothing about the Christain video that was slamming in the Muslim faith. Now I have to wonder how I ever missed such a thing. And I'm very interested in reading the story that's going to be written about it, as well as the story on Wittenberg students being unimformed.
In fact, I had no idea that the topic iof the story I'm currently writing was even a problem until it was mentioned in class. I mean, last year I kind of wondered why the fountain was never on or why there was always water on the ground around it, but now that I know that it was in ill-repair, I'm very much looking forward to writing about it in my next story. If anyone has any more info on it that they'd like to share please feel free to leave a comment or two. Thanks!
-Fran
Monday, September 17, 2012
Who's the Guy or Girl Nextdoor?
A couple days ago, as I was reading through some of my fellow classmate's blogs, I came across a particularly interesting entry by one Jessica Batanian. In her post, titled "Noisy Neighbors", she describes how she and her housemates were rudely awoken by some loud Springfield citizens having a party just behind the FIJI house. So this got me thinking....exactly how close are we mingled with the city of Springfield? Turns, out pretty close.
I live in the Kappa Delta house located on North Wittenberg Ave. From there, I decided to do a quick perimeter of the houses close by to see if they were all occupied by Witt students. All the houses immediately to the right, left, front, and back of us checked out fine. But across the street to the left and two houses down, I discovered that the house was actually occupied by three young gentlemen; all residents of Springfield, but none of them students of Wittenberg University.
I was genuinely surprised by this. After asking a couple girls in my house if they knew any of them,
I live in the Kappa Delta house located on North Wittenberg Ave. From there, I decided to do a quick perimeter of the houses close by to see if they were all occupied by Witt students. All the houses immediately to the right, left, front, and back of us checked out fine. But across the street to the left and two houses down, I discovered that the house was actually occupied by three young gentlemen; all residents of Springfield, but none of them students of Wittenberg University.
I was genuinely surprised by this. After asking a couple girls in my house if they knew any of them,
Semester-Story Progress
Earlier on today, I had the opportunity to sit down with my roommate, Angela Chen, who is an art major at Witt. I asked her to tell me everything she knows in regards to the condition of Koch Hall, and her immediate response was, "Get ready." And boy was I in for a list.
According to her, the ancient building has no humidity control, no air-conditioning, and peeling walls all over. Not only that, the cracks in the basement floor allow bugs such as centipedes, silver-fish, and ants to enter into the building which can be more than a little surprising for art students trying to do their work. "It's just an ill-equipped building." she says.
With all the art and photography majors that occupy the hall, there's hardly enough room. Seniors are supposed to have their own personal studios, yet there aren't enough to go around. Angela describes the building as "crowded" and "uncomfortable", and says that the only redeeming quality lies in the 2nd floor lounge where comfortable couches and fresh tea and coffee are always readily available. However, these small luxuries are minuscule compared to the major problems above.
She has recommended that I speak with Prof. Mann and Prof. Charney to get more information, so I intend to speak with one or both of them sometime later this week.
-Fran
According to her, the ancient building has no humidity control, no air-conditioning, and peeling walls all over. Not only that, the cracks in the basement floor allow bugs such as centipedes, silver-fish, and ants to enter into the building which can be more than a little surprising for art students trying to do their work. "It's just an ill-equipped building." she says.
With all the art and photography majors that occupy the hall, there's hardly enough room. Seniors are supposed to have their own personal studios, yet there aren't enough to go around. Angela describes the building as "crowded" and "uncomfortable", and says that the only redeeming quality lies in the 2nd floor lounge where comfortable couches and fresh tea and coffee are always readily available. However, these small luxuries are minuscule compared to the major problems above.
She has recommended that I speak with Prof. Mann and Prof. Charney to get more information, so I intend to speak with one or both of them sometime later this week.
-Fran
Monday, September 10, 2012
Dead and Decaying: Is Age Catching Up With Witt Buildings?
As opposed to my original story idea about fear on campus, some comments made by a couple of my sorority sisters has driven me to change directions and instead focus on something else: the buildings on campus.
Walking to Hollenbeck five times a week for a class, I'm always reminded that the building was built in the year 2000. It says it right out front. However, according to a couple professors, the twelve year-old structure has had problems in the form of a leaky ceiling for over a year now.
So if Hollenbeck has these problems, then how well are other buildings on campus fairing?
After talking to my roommate (who's an art major) I've discovered that Koch Hall lacks air conditioning and climate control. Another friend of mine claims that Krieg has a leak problem similar to the one discussed above which can put expensive instruments in danger. And my own personal experience with Carnegie shows the building to be crumbling and wearing down from the inside out.
These aren't the only buildings on campus in this condition, and for my story I'm determined to find out more. Hopefully by talking to one or two people who have experience with each I'll be able to get the information I need, and maybe even get down to the bottom of why nothing seems to be getting done about all these problems.
-Fran
Walking to Hollenbeck five times a week for a class, I'm always reminded that the building was built in the year 2000. It says it right out front. However, according to a couple professors, the twelve year-old structure has had problems in the form of a leaky ceiling for over a year now.
So if Hollenbeck has these problems, then how well are other buildings on campus fairing?
After talking to my roommate (who's an art major) I've discovered that Koch Hall lacks air conditioning and climate control. Another friend of mine claims that Krieg has a leak problem similar to the one discussed above which can put expensive instruments in danger. And my own personal experience with Carnegie shows the building to be crumbling and wearing down from the inside out.
These aren't the only buildings on campus in this condition, and for my story I'm determined to find out more. Hopefully by talking to one or two people who have experience with each I'll be able to get the information I need, and maybe even get down to the bottom of why nothing seems to be getting done about all these problems.
-Fran
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Next on the Agenda
With my first story (hopefully) finished and nearly ready to be turned in, I'm already looking forward to my next story. Or, more specifically, my big story of the semester. After discussing several topics in class, I think that my interest still lies in the idea of safety on campus.
Coming into Witt, I really had no opinion on the surrounding area of Springfield. But after a few months, I found myself fearing walking out of the "Witt Bubble". Upperclassmen and other freshmen had told me that I'd be mugged, stabbed, raped, killed, and everything terrible under the sun. I remember having to walk down to the museum for one act practice, only to have a friend volunteer to drive me for the benefit of my 'safety'; you know, despite the fact that the museum was less than half a mile off campus.
Where does this fear come from? Is it really as bad as most people think? Do most people even see it this way? What do the Witt police have to say about it? With all these questions unanswered, I really think that I could make a story out of this.
Where does this fear come from? Is it really as bad as most people think? Do most people even see it this way? What do the Witt police have to say about it? With all these questions unanswered, I really think that I could make a story out of this.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Complications
With our first assignment underway, I began writing my first story with the utmost confidence. I knew what I wanted to say and that I had a good start with two interviews and some statistical information that I got offline. The only thing I needed to wrap the whole thing up in a nice little journalistic package was some help and a few words from the good old Registrar office not even 5 minutes from my house and I'd be done. I expected to be handed a couple numbers and maybe a comment or two.
What I did not expect was the exact opposite.
Having been to the Registrar twice now, I've found myself turned away on both occasions. The first time I went, I was told that I required permission from Prof. Mac via an email sent to the office. So, after asking him to do so, I assume that my second visit would be a bit more fruitful.
It was not.
The same woman who had shooed me away the first time (I now know her to be called "Pam") informed me upon my second visit that my professor needed to be more specific. She'd gotten the email from him alright, but suddenly she needed to know even more about the information that I needed than before. It'd have been really great if she'd told me all this the first time, but apparently she felt it necessary to leave that little bit out.At this point, I'm just hoping that she actually did manage to speak with Prof. Mac again and that I'll at least have the stats I need to finish my story by Thursday morning because without, I'm pretty much stuck between a rock and a Registrar secretary who probably likes me as much as I like her.
-Fran
What I did not expect was the exact opposite.
Having been to the Registrar twice now, I've found myself turned away on both occasions. The first time I went, I was told that I required permission from Prof. Mac via an email sent to the office. So, after asking him to do so, I assume that my second visit would be a bit more fruitful.
It was not.
The same woman who had shooed me away the first time (I now know her to be called "Pam") informed me upon my second visit that my professor needed to be more specific. She'd gotten the email from him alright, but suddenly she needed to know even more about the information that I needed than before. It'd have been really great if she'd told me all this the first time, but apparently she felt it necessary to leave that little bit out.At this point, I'm just hoping that she actually did manage to speak with Prof. Mac again and that I'll at least have the stats I need to finish my story by Thursday morning because without, I'm pretty much stuck between a rock and a Registrar secretary who probably likes me as much as I like her.
-Fran
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