Wednesday, December 9, 2009
How this Class Has Changed My Perspective
I have learned how much work a journalist does. I never thought that the job of a journalist involves so much foot work and telephone work. I also never knew that journalists had to be so careful about libel. The main thing I had to learn was AP style. I have respect for any journalist who has mastered this writing style. I learned a lot about how to work with people during this course, and I am thankful for that experience.
The Building Project at the Coon Rapids Campus
Hannah Schott
Dec. 5, 2009
Building project
Main Story
Parts of Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s Coon Rapids campus are under construction. “There are several building projects in play right now,” Coon Rapids campus vice-president Michael Seymour said.
The new Visual Arts Center, which the college started building in the fall of 2008, is located beside a parking lot at the northwest end of the campus. The Visual Arts Center will be ready for use in the fall of 2010.
Next to the Visual Arts Center is the 40-year-old Fine Arts building, which is scheduled to undergo renovation in July of 2010.
In August of 2010, the college plans to begin constructing a 30,000-square-foot BioScience and Allied Health addition, which will be located on the south side of the campus.
According to Patrick Johns, the Coon Rapids campus president, funding for the remodeling of the current Fine Arts Building and the construction of the BioScience Building will be considered by the legislature this spring.
“Currently, the Visual Arts Center is the only major construction project at the Coon Rapids campus,” Johns said. Johns added that the Visual Arts Center was funded by grants given to the college by the legislature during the last bonding bill cycle.
“The Visual Arts center was funded with capital bonding,” Seymour explained. “That’s the best kind of funding source because the state pays two-thirds of all the cost,” he added.
College officials started talking 17 years ago about a building that would improve the situation for music and arts, Seymour commented. He said: “It takes a long time to take a building project from conception to completion. In this case, it will be over 17 years.”
“That is why it seems odd to people sometimes that a college sitting with relatively new facilities has started a conversation about new square footage,” Seymour said. The college has to start thinking 10 to 20 years before it wants new buildings, because that is how long it could potentially take to get buildings constructed, Seymour explained.
According to Seymour, it is hard for a project to even make it to the funding process. Seymour said: “The project has to be deemed the top priority of the college, and that means both campuses. So you have two campuses that each have an interest in growing the square footage of their facilities.”
The college has to compare the needs of the Cambridge campus with the needs of the Coon Rapids campus to determine which projects deserve the highest priority, Seymour said.
There are a number of attributes that are used to asses the validity of a project request, Seymour noted. “One is enrollment, another is the workforce development interests of the state, and a third is asset preservation, since the project will fix up an old, antiquated building,” Seymour explained. A fourth qualification is being able to share new spaces with multiple partners, such as if the college partnered with a state university, a school district or the city of Coon Rapids, Seymour noted.
The Fine Arts building hit on two of the four attributes, the bigger one being in terms of asset preservation, since the Fine Arts building is 40 years old, Seymour said. The second strength of the project is that the growth of enrollment in arts and music has been high, Seymour commented.
Seymour said that the college’s only partnership is its connection to the community’s senior population, who are interested in the arts. Seymour said: “We can make reference to the senior population’s interest in coming in and using the facilities available, such as glass blowing and things. It sounds good, but I do not know if the senior population would ever get in here, because I think there are students who use those facilities most of the time.”
“On the Coon Rapids campus, the Visual Arts Center has competed with the BioScience building and the student service spaces,” Seymour noted, “so it took 17 years for the music and art building to become a priority of the college.” Once the Visual Arts Center was identified as a priority of the college, it was put into the external process, which is the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) process, Seymour said.
“So we do kind of a thoughtful planning process, and in the end we write a project narrative and people read it and they basically rate our project and then stack it up against the other requests for funding,” Seymour said.
The director of public relations, Mary Jacobson, said that Anoka-Ramsey has been trying to put more information about the building projects on the college’s Web site. Jacobson said, “The college also has different student groups like the student government and the advisory committee where events like building projects are talked about quite a bit.”
“A couple of times we have had legislators come through on tours,” Jacobson noted. She said: “It seems to me that those tours have been productive. I think the legislators ask a lot of good questions and they become a lot more aware of the college and what we’re doing here.”
The legislators can walk down the halls and see how crowded they are, especially upstairs in the art area, Jacobson commented. “Everything is out in the hallways and messy,” she said.
Lyudmila Spencer, a student at Anoka-Ramsey’s Coon Rapids campus, took Ceramics II in the Fine Arts building this semester. “I’m going to come back to Anoka-Ramsey and take Ceramics III in the new building,” Spencer said.
Spencer said she is eager to see what the Visual Arts Center will be like. She said: “I’m hoping that in the firing room there will be boxes for individual students’ stuff. It’s almost impossible to keep track of your own stuff here. It is crowded here, so I hope the new building will have more rooms.”
“As the college moves all art classes into the Visual Arts Center, the Fine Arts building will be remodeled for music,” Johns commented. Johns said that this will separate the messier classes in art such as glass blowing and ceramics from music classes, which require a clean environment.
Sidebar
Kelsey Schwarzrock is responsible for sending the building project narrative to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU). Schwarzrock is a management analyst who works in the president’s office at Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s Coon Rapids campus.
Schwarzrock said the narrative explains exactly what the college wants to build. The narrative gives a description of the project and lists the college’s needs, such as the dollar amount needed for the building project, Schwarzrock said.
“The narrative is also our strategic plan and our initiative that says how our project meets our objective,” Schwarzrock said. The narrative has to address how the project is going to meet MnSCU strategic initiatives, Schwarzrock explained.
(more)
According to Schwarzrock, the narrative contains information about space utilization, enrollment and specific
areas that will be located within the building. Schwarzrock said: “I was at a meeting at MnSCU a couple weeks ago and the architect was presenting a whole floor plan of the new building. It was so cool to see the floor plan.”
Schwarzrock said that the floor plan showed an area for university programs that Anoka-Ramsey houses, but universities come in and teach here. “There’s space in the new building for those specific programs,” Schwarzrock said. Schwarzrock said that information about the programs is in the narrative.
“The narrative says how the project will create collaborations and partnerships with people externally,” Schwarzrock commented. “In this case, St. Cloud State, Bemidji State and Anoka-Hennepin schools will be involved in some way, shape or form in the project,” she explained.
Schwarzrock worked a lot with public relations director Mary Jacobson and vice-president Michael Seymour to create the narrative in the fall of 2008.
Seymour asked for input from deans who had an interest in the Fine Arts building, as well as to the chief academic officer and chief of student affairs officer, Schwarzrock said. “The deans and officers would send their comments and insights about the building project, and I would take their input and put it into the narrative,” Schwarzrock noted.
According to Schwarzrock, getting all the pieces together was the hardest part of working on the narrative during the week of organizing. “It’s hard to organize so many people and so much involvement in one project, but it’s also really interesting to see the different kinds of writing and the different kinds of ideas about the direction things are going here,” Schwarzrock noted.
“Most of the work I did on the narrative was organizing the writing and editing it,” Schwarzrock said. “It was probably altogether a week of organizing and editing before we submitted the narrative, then there was a response from MnSCU and a redraft of the narrative,” she commented.
“Because the narrative is what MnSCU uses to make their budget request booklet, I think that the narrative is going to be used by them as a reference material throughout the entire process in deciding what projects to fund,” Schwarzrock said.
According to Schwarzrock, the basic details about the project are the most important part of the narrative.
“MnSCU found the details they thought were the most valuable and the most important, took those details out of the narrative and put them in their budget request booklet,” Schwarzrock explained. Schwarzrock said she thinks MnSCU’s involvement was crucial to deciding exactly what information the government needs, since it would have been difficult for her to figure out what a legislator wants to know about the building project.
Legislators probably do not look all the way through the narrative, Schwarzrock said. “I think that what’s important for the legislators to see is just the really important parts, the most influential things,” Schwarzrock noted.
Schwarzrock said that the college broke the building project down into three areas: economic stewardship of the state, resources, and environmental consciousness. “Those three things were highlighted in our presentations,” Schwarzrock said.
Besides organizing the narrative, Schwarzrock facilitates tours for legislators. “Mary Jacobson and I led the tours, and I handled some of the logistics of the tours, such as putting the presentation together and preparing all the materials that we handed out,” Schwarzrock said.
Schwarzrock said that she and Jacobson arranged a preview tour in the summer of 2009 with some local legislators. “We organized a lunch for them and gave them a tour so that they were prepared for when we had the big tour with the Senate and the House legislators,” Schwarzrock commented.
“One of the local legislators who came last summer came to the tour with the Senate and House legislators and thought that we were doing really well,” Schwarzrock commented. Schwarzrock added: “It’s cool to see the whole process of our building project. I get to meet a lot of people.”
People with questions about the narrative can contact Schwarzrock’s office at 763-433-1507. People with questions about the building projects at Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s Coon Rapids campus can contact the Coon Rapids campus information desk at 763-433-1240.
Vice-president Michael Seymour
The construction of the Visual Arts building at the
Coon Rapids campus
Dec. 5, 2009
Building project
Main Story
Parts of Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s Coon Rapids campus are under construction. “There are several building projects in play right now,” Coon Rapids campus vice-president Michael Seymour said.
The new Visual Arts Center, which the college started building in the fall of 2008, is located beside a parking lot at the northwest end of the campus. The Visual Arts Center will be ready for use in the fall of 2010.
Next to the Visual Arts Center is the 40-year-old Fine Arts building, which is scheduled to undergo renovation in July of 2010.
In August of 2010, the college plans to begin constructing a 30,000-square-foot BioScience and Allied Health addition, which will be located on the south side of the campus.
According to Patrick Johns, the Coon Rapids campus president, funding for the remodeling of the current Fine Arts Building and the construction of the BioScience Building will be considered by the legislature this spring.
“Currently, the Visual Arts Center is the only major construction project at the Coon Rapids campus,” Johns said. Johns added that the Visual Arts Center was funded by grants given to the college by the legislature during the last bonding bill cycle.
“The Visual Arts center was funded with capital bonding,” Seymour explained. “That’s the best kind of funding source because the state pays two-thirds of all the cost,” he added.
College officials started talking 17 years ago about a building that would improve the situation for music and arts, Seymour commented. He said: “It takes a long time to take a building project from conception to completion. In this case, it will be over 17 years.”
“That is why it seems odd to people sometimes that a college sitting with relatively new facilities has started a conversation about new square footage,” Seymour said. The college has to start thinking 10 to 20 years before it wants new buildings, because that is how long it could potentially take to get buildings constructed, Seymour explained.
According to Seymour, it is hard for a project to even make it to the funding process. Seymour said: “The project has to be deemed the top priority of the college, and that means both campuses. So you have two campuses that each have an interest in growing the square footage of their facilities.”
The college has to compare the needs of the Cambridge campus with the needs of the Coon Rapids campus to determine which projects deserve the highest priority, Seymour said.
There are a number of attributes that are used to asses the validity of a project request, Seymour noted. “One is enrollment, another is the workforce development interests of the state, and a third is asset preservation, since the project will fix up an old, antiquated building,” Seymour explained. A fourth qualification is being able to share new spaces with multiple partners, such as if the college partnered with a state university, a school district or the city of Coon Rapids, Seymour noted.
The Fine Arts building hit on two of the four attributes, the bigger one being in terms of asset preservation, since the Fine Arts building is 40 years old, Seymour said. The second strength of the project is that the growth of enrollment in arts and music has been high, Seymour commented.
Seymour said that the college’s only partnership is its connection to the community’s senior population, who are interested in the arts. Seymour said: “We can make reference to the senior population’s interest in coming in and using the facilities available, such as glass blowing and things. It sounds good, but I do not know if the senior population would ever get in here, because I think there are students who use those facilities most of the time.”
“On the Coon Rapids campus, the Visual Arts Center has competed with the BioScience building and the student service spaces,” Seymour noted, “so it took 17 years for the music and art building to become a priority of the college.” Once the Visual Arts Center was identified as a priority of the college, it was put into the external process, which is the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) process, Seymour said.
“So we do kind of a thoughtful planning process, and in the end we write a project narrative and people read it and they basically rate our project and then stack it up against the other requests for funding,” Seymour said.
The director of public relations, Mary Jacobson, said that Anoka-Ramsey has been trying to put more information about the building projects on the college’s Web site. Jacobson said, “The college also has different student groups like the student government and the advisory committee where events like building projects are talked about quite a bit.”
“A couple of times we have had legislators come through on tours,” Jacobson noted. She said: “It seems to me that those tours have been productive. I think the legislators ask a lot of good questions and they become a lot more aware of the college and what we’re doing here.”
The legislators can walk down the halls and see how crowded they are, especially upstairs in the art area, Jacobson commented. “Everything is out in the hallways and messy,” she said.
Lyudmila Spencer, a student at Anoka-Ramsey’s Coon Rapids campus, took Ceramics II in the Fine Arts building this semester. “I’m going to come back to Anoka-Ramsey and take Ceramics III in the new building,” Spencer said.
Spencer said she is eager to see what the Visual Arts Center will be like. She said: “I’m hoping that in the firing room there will be boxes for individual students’ stuff. It’s almost impossible to keep track of your own stuff here. It is crowded here, so I hope the new building will have more rooms.”
“As the college moves all art classes into the Visual Arts Center, the Fine Arts building will be remodeled for music,” Johns commented. Johns said that this will separate the messier classes in art such as glass blowing and ceramics from music classes, which require a clean environment.
Sidebar
Kelsey Schwarzrock is responsible for sending the building project narrative to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU). Schwarzrock is a management analyst who works in the president’s office at Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s Coon Rapids campus.
Schwarzrock said the narrative explains exactly what the college wants to build. The narrative gives a description of the project and lists the college’s needs, such as the dollar amount needed for the building project, Schwarzrock said.
“The narrative is also our strategic plan and our initiative that says how our project meets our objective,” Schwarzrock said. The narrative has to address how the project is going to meet MnSCU strategic initiatives, Schwarzrock explained.
(more)
According to Schwarzrock, the narrative contains information about space utilization, enrollment and specific
areas that will be located within the building. Schwarzrock said: “I was at a meeting at MnSCU a couple weeks ago and the architect was presenting a whole floor plan of the new building. It was so cool to see the floor plan.”
Schwarzrock said that the floor plan showed an area for university programs that Anoka-Ramsey houses, but universities come in and teach here. “There’s space in the new building for those specific programs,” Schwarzrock said. Schwarzrock said that information about the programs is in the narrative.
“The narrative says how the project will create collaborations and partnerships with people externally,” Schwarzrock commented. “In this case, St. Cloud State, Bemidji State and Anoka-Hennepin schools will be involved in some way, shape or form in the project,” she explained.
Schwarzrock worked a lot with public relations director Mary Jacobson and vice-president Michael Seymour to create the narrative in the fall of 2008.
Seymour asked for input from deans who had an interest in the Fine Arts building, as well as to the chief academic officer and chief of student affairs officer, Schwarzrock said. “The deans and officers would send their comments and insights about the building project, and I would take their input and put it into the narrative,” Schwarzrock noted.
According to Schwarzrock, getting all the pieces together was the hardest part of working on the narrative during the week of organizing. “It’s hard to organize so many people and so much involvement in one project, but it’s also really interesting to see the different kinds of writing and the different kinds of ideas about the direction things are going here,” Schwarzrock noted.
“Most of the work I did on the narrative was organizing the writing and editing it,” Schwarzrock said. “It was probably altogether a week of organizing and editing before we submitted the narrative, then there was a response from MnSCU and a redraft of the narrative,” she commented.
“Because the narrative is what MnSCU uses to make their budget request booklet, I think that the narrative is going to be used by them as a reference material throughout the entire process in deciding what projects to fund,” Schwarzrock said.
According to Schwarzrock, the basic details about the project are the most important part of the narrative.
“MnSCU found the details they thought were the most valuable and the most important, took those details out of the narrative and put them in their budget request booklet,” Schwarzrock explained. Schwarzrock said she thinks MnSCU’s involvement was crucial to deciding exactly what information the government needs, since it would have been difficult for her to figure out what a legislator wants to know about the building project.
Legislators probably do not look all the way through the narrative, Schwarzrock said. “I think that what’s important for the legislators to see is just the really important parts, the most influential things,” Schwarzrock noted.
Schwarzrock said that the college broke the building project down into three areas: economic stewardship of the state, resources, and environmental consciousness. “Those three things were highlighted in our presentations,” Schwarzrock said.
Besides organizing the narrative, Schwarzrock facilitates tours for legislators. “Mary Jacobson and I led the tours, and I handled some of the logistics of the tours, such as putting the presentation together and preparing all the materials that we handed out,” Schwarzrock said.
Schwarzrock said that she and Jacobson arranged a preview tour in the summer of 2009 with some local legislators. “We organized a lunch for them and gave them a tour so that they were prepared for when we had the big tour with the Senate and the House legislators,” Schwarzrock commented.
“One of the local legislators who came last summer came to the tour with the Senate and House legislators and thought that we were doing really well,” Schwarzrock commented. Schwarzrock added: “It’s cool to see the whole process of our building project. I get to meet a lot of people.”
People with questions about the narrative can contact Schwarzrock’s office at 763-433-1507. People with questions about the building projects at Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s Coon Rapids campus can contact the Coon Rapids campus information desk at 763-433-1240.
Vice-president Michael Seymour
The construction of the Visual Arts building at the
Coon Rapids campus
Monday, December 7, 2009
President Morales coasts to victory in Bolivia
Bolivians reelected incumbent Bolivian president Evo Morales on Sunday. Morales decisively defeated his eight challengers by winning 68 percent of the vote. "Evo Morales has a mandate unlike any other president in the hemisphere," commented Cochabamba Democracy Center analyst Jim Shultz. Morales is expected to continue his program of change for Bolivia.
Source: President Morales coasts to victory in Bolivia by Associated Press
Dec. 7, 2009 Star Tribune print edition
Source: President Morales coasts to victory in Bolivia by Associated Press
Dec. 7, 2009 Star Tribune print edition
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Professor Vincent
Hannah Schott
Nov. 30, 2009
Professor Vincent
“College is about grappling with ideas and pushing yourself to figure out where you stand,” said M. Bess Vincent, a social science professor at Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s Coon Rapids campus. People often ask new college students to explain their views on a public issue, Vincent commented. “Students need to know what that issue is so they can grapple with it for themselves,” she said.
According to Vincent, the most important lesson to learn from her classes is the art of argument. Vincent said she hopes students “learn how to put together a successful argument, think about what it is that is at issue, take a position, and articulate the support for that position without spouting what they have heard on the radio or TV or from their parents.” How students discover their feelings on an issue are the lessons they carry with them, Vincent explained.
However, that discovery is a process and it may not be something students realize in her classes, Vincent added. She said that she can not think of any particular moment in her undergraduate years when she felt like she had found herself. The discovery of personal opinion “is a series of learning experiences,” Vincent said. “If I can contribute to students’ learning experiences, then I feel gratified,” she commented.
At Anoka-Ramsey, Vincent teaches general sociology, criminology, juvenile delinquency and a course in relationships, marriage, and the family. Vincent, who attended a small liberal arts school in central Louisiana, took a psychology class and a sociology class in her sophomore year of college. Vincent said: “The psychology class was dealing more with brain stuff. I liked the sociology class better, so I decided I wanted to go with sociology as my major.” Vincent said that undergraduate experiences that she found intriguing are the lessons she tries to convey to her students.
Sociology has provided Vincent with some insights she can use in her everyday life. Vincent stated that she knows she can beat any of her friends at Apples to Apples. She said: “I can usually get a pretty good grasp of people and read people pretty well. Sociology really helps me understand the different roles and statuses that we play.”
Vincent, who has previously taught at the University of New Orleans, Tulane University, and Loyola University (New Orleans), said she teaches to a broader audience and a larger spectrum of types of individuals at Anoka-Ramsey than she experienced at any of the other universities. Tulane and Loyola were private schools with wealthy students, Vincent explained, while the types of students she taught at the University of New Orleans were more equivalent to the types of students she teaches at Anoka-Ramsey.
According to Vincent, the many night classes she teaches at Anoka-Ramsey are composed of non-traditional students. “The majority of the students I teach at Anoka-Ramsey are first generation college students with working, middle-class backgrounds,” Vincent said.
Vincent noted the difficulty of seeing some students try their hardest to learn and still not understand the material. Students who do not speak English as a first language have a difficult time, Vincent added. Vincent encourages students who do not understand English well to ask her for help. “That’s my job, to answer your questions,” Vincent pointed out.
“I want students to walk away from my class and feel that I was fair,” Vincent commented. Vincent said her liberal arts education allows her to see issues from many different angles, and said she tries to use that ability when teaching. “To me, class should be an extension of my everyday life, it’s just that I’m having a conversation with 45 people as opposed to sitting on my couch talking to one or two other people,” Vincent said.
Vincent uses in-class exercises throughout the courses she teaches. Vincent and a couple of her colleagues created a budgeting exercise called Calculating the Bottom Line, which Vincent uses in sociology class. Calculating the Bottom Line developed out of a course she and her colleagues took in graduate school, Vincent explained.
Vincent said that none of the in-class exercises she conducts turn out exactly like their descriptions on paper. “They have all been adapted,” Vincent said. “Usually the projects I do involve some kind of hybrid of one or two different exercises that other people have posed,” she added.
One of the exercises Vincent uses in criminology class came from a book for sociology teachers available through the American Sociological Association. “(The book) has a whole bunch of different exercises you can implement in classes,” Vincent said. According to Vincent, a lot of her ideas for in-class exercises are obtained from either that book or from a journal called “Teaching Sociology,” in which Vincent and her colleagues had their budgeting exercise published.
Vincent said that one of the most rewarding moments of teaching is when students incorporate knowledge they learned from her classes into assignments for other classes. “That means I have given them something that they retained,” Vincent said.
Nov. 30, 2009
Professor Vincent
“College is about grappling with ideas and pushing yourself to figure out where you stand,” said M. Bess Vincent, a social science professor at Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s Coon Rapids campus. People often ask new college students to explain their views on a public issue, Vincent commented. “Students need to know what that issue is so they can grapple with it for themselves,” she said.
According to Vincent, the most important lesson to learn from her classes is the art of argument. Vincent said she hopes students “learn how to put together a successful argument, think about what it is that is at issue, take a position, and articulate the support for that position without spouting what they have heard on the radio or TV or from their parents.” How students discover their feelings on an issue are the lessons they carry with them, Vincent explained.
However, that discovery is a process and it may not be something students realize in her classes, Vincent added. She said that she can not think of any particular moment in her undergraduate years when she felt like she had found herself. The discovery of personal opinion “is a series of learning experiences,” Vincent said. “If I can contribute to students’ learning experiences, then I feel gratified,” she commented.
At Anoka-Ramsey, Vincent teaches general sociology, criminology, juvenile delinquency and a course in relationships, marriage, and the family. Vincent, who attended a small liberal arts school in central Louisiana, took a psychology class and a sociology class in her sophomore year of college. Vincent said: “The psychology class was dealing more with brain stuff. I liked the sociology class better, so I decided I wanted to go with sociology as my major.” Vincent said that undergraduate experiences that she found intriguing are the lessons she tries to convey to her students.
Sociology has provided Vincent with some insights she can use in her everyday life. Vincent stated that she knows she can beat any of her friends at Apples to Apples. She said: “I can usually get a pretty good grasp of people and read people pretty well. Sociology really helps me understand the different roles and statuses that we play.”
Vincent, who has previously taught at the University of New Orleans, Tulane University, and Loyola University (New Orleans), said she teaches to a broader audience and a larger spectrum of types of individuals at Anoka-Ramsey than she experienced at any of the other universities. Tulane and Loyola were private schools with wealthy students, Vincent explained, while the types of students she taught at the University of New Orleans were more equivalent to the types of students she teaches at Anoka-Ramsey.
According to Vincent, the many night classes she teaches at Anoka-Ramsey are composed of non-traditional students. “The majority of the students I teach at Anoka-Ramsey are first generation college students with working, middle-class backgrounds,” Vincent said.
Vincent noted the difficulty of seeing some students try their hardest to learn and still not understand the material. Students who do not speak English as a first language have a difficult time, Vincent added. Vincent encourages students who do not understand English well to ask her for help. “That’s my job, to answer your questions,” Vincent pointed out.
“I want students to walk away from my class and feel that I was fair,” Vincent commented. Vincent said her liberal arts education allows her to see issues from many different angles, and said she tries to use that ability when teaching. “To me, class should be an extension of my everyday life, it’s just that I’m having a conversation with 45 people as opposed to sitting on my couch talking to one or two other people,” Vincent said.
Vincent uses in-class exercises throughout the courses she teaches. Vincent and a couple of her colleagues created a budgeting exercise called Calculating the Bottom Line, which Vincent uses in sociology class. Calculating the Bottom Line developed out of a course she and her colleagues took in graduate school, Vincent explained.
Vincent said that none of the in-class exercises she conducts turn out exactly like their descriptions on paper. “They have all been adapted,” Vincent said. “Usually the projects I do involve some kind of hybrid of one or two different exercises that other people have posed,” she added.
One of the exercises Vincent uses in criminology class came from a book for sociology teachers available through the American Sociological Association. “(The book) has a whole bunch of different exercises you can implement in classes,” Vincent said. According to Vincent, a lot of her ideas for in-class exercises are obtained from either that book or from a journal called “Teaching Sociology,” in which Vincent and her colleagues had their budgeting exercise published.
Vincent said that one of the most rewarding moments of teaching is when students incorporate knowledge they learned from her classes into assignments for other classes. “That means I have given them something that they retained,” Vincent said.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Exercise 2, Chapter 16 story
Hannah Schott
Nov. 30, 2009
Exercise 2, Chapter 16
The transcript of a 911 call from a woman requesting help for a boy who her daughter and niece had seen naked on a street corner was released today by the Milwaukee police. The woman, Glenda Cleveland, 37, made the call on May 27 at 2 a.m.
The two police officers who responded to the call left the boy, 14-year-old Konerak Sinthasomphone, with Jeffry L. Dahmer, a 31-year-old man the officers believed Sinthasomphone was living with. Dahmer killed Sinthasomphone after the officers left.
The two police officers, who were not identified, were suspended with pay last week. A lawyer representing the officers said they had seen no evidence indicating that anything was wrong.
Cleveland said in the 911 call that Sinthasomphone was naked, beaten and bruised and was unable to stand up or see straight.
When the officers arrived at the scene, they believed Sinthasomphone was intoxicated.
“The fact is a crime was being committed,” Cleveland said in a follow-up call to the police department. According to Cleveland, the situation indicated that a child was “being raped and molested by an adult.”
The officer who took Cleveland’s call assured her that Sinthasomphone was an adult, not a child, and told Cleveland that he was positive the situation had been taken care of.
Police officers two months later found 11 mutilated bodies in Dahmer’s Milwaukee, Wis., apartment and arrested Dahmer. Dahmer confessed to killing a total of 17 people and pleaded that he was insane.
Nov. 30, 2009
Exercise 2, Chapter 16
The transcript of a 911 call from a woman requesting help for a boy who her daughter and niece had seen naked on a street corner was released today by the Milwaukee police. The woman, Glenda Cleveland, 37, made the call on May 27 at 2 a.m.
The two police officers who responded to the call left the boy, 14-year-old Konerak Sinthasomphone, with Jeffry L. Dahmer, a 31-year-old man the officers believed Sinthasomphone was living with. Dahmer killed Sinthasomphone after the officers left.
The two police officers, who were not identified, were suspended with pay last week. A lawyer representing the officers said they had seen no evidence indicating that anything was wrong.
Cleveland said in the 911 call that Sinthasomphone was naked, beaten and bruised and was unable to stand up or see straight.
When the officers arrived at the scene, they believed Sinthasomphone was intoxicated.
“The fact is a crime was being committed,” Cleveland said in a follow-up call to the police department. According to Cleveland, the situation indicated that a child was “being raped and molested by an adult.”
The officer who took Cleveland’s call assured her that Sinthasomphone was an adult, not a child, and told Cleveland that he was positive the situation had been taken care of.
Police officers two months later found 11 mutilated bodies in Dahmer’s Milwaukee, Wis., apartment and arrested Dahmer. Dahmer confessed to killing a total of 17 people and pleaded that he was insane.
Inaction threatens historic U.S.-Mexico suspension bridge
Responsibility for the restoration of the San Pedro-Roma Suspension Bridge belongs to both the United States and Mexico. The deteriorating 81-year-old bridge is the only international suspension bridge in the world. Starr County (Texas) Judge Eloy Vera said, “Naturally, we want to preserve it, we want to save it.” However, the United States and Mexico disagree on how to restore the bridge. “Since 1996, we have been struggling to invest more money on both sides (of the border), but so far we have accomplished nothing,” said Servando López Moreno, the mayor of Miguel Alemán, Mexico, the town that witnessed the bridge’s construction in 1928.
Source: Inaction threatens historic U.S.-Mexico suspension bridge by Associated Press
Nov. 30, 2009 USA Today print edition
Source: Inaction threatens historic U.S.-Mexico suspension bridge by Associated Press
Nov. 30, 2009 USA Today print edition
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Ways to relieve stress
Two simple ways to relieve stress are cleaning a house and riding a bicycle. Cleaning a house is a way to relieve stress because a messy house makes people feel stressed. When a house is messy, the occupants feel frustration because they have lost control of their house's condition. Cleaning a house also requires the use of physical energy, which relieves stress. Bicycle riding relieves stress because it gets people outdoors. The outdoors refresh most people and help relieve their stress.
Second Poll Story
Hannah Schott
Nov. 25, 2009
Library use poll
The library at Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Coon Rapids campus allows students to access numerous resources. The library houses over 40,000 books and provides 10 computers for student use.
The library utilizes the Minnesota Project for Automated Library Systems (MnPALS), an interlibrary loan system. "The library has access to millions of materials from colleges all across the state," said Al Mamaril, a librarian at the Coon Rapids campus library. "The library's electronic access database contains thousands of other materials," Mamaril added.
Mamaril noted that because of the college's increase in enrollment, the number of students checking out books has gone up.
To find out how many Anoka-Ramsey students use the college library, 30 students were polled last week. Of the students polled, four were polled in the library, 19 were polled in an English class, two were polled online, and five were polled in the college lounge.
There was an equal number of students, 11, who used the library zero to three times during a semester and who used the library eight or more times during a semester. There were eight students who used the library four to seven times during a semester.
Of the 11 students who used the library zero to three times during a semester, many relied on computers. Seven of those students used computers to find information, and three students both asked librarians for help and used computers to find information.
Although most of those students found the library’s information helpful, four of them did not check out any books during a semester and only three checked out five or more books. The other four students checked out one to four books.
Of those students, nine were completing their first semester, one had attended Anoka-Ramsey for one to two years and one had attended the college for three years or more.
Eight students used the library four to seven times during a semester and most found the library’s information helpful. A majority of those students both asked librarians for help and used computers to find information, and three solely used computers to find information.
Half of those students checked out five or more books during a semester, and half checked out one to four books during a semester. For six of those students, this was their first semester, while two had attended the college for three or more years.
Out of the 11 students who used the library eight or more times during a semester, nine of them both asked librarians for help and used computers to find information. The same number found the library’s information helpful.
Of those students, seven checked out five or more books during a semester, and four checked out one to four books during a semester. The majority of those students were completing their first semester, while four had attended Anoka-Ramsey for three or more years.
“It’s nice knowing that there are academic sources at school if I need them,” one student commented about the library.
Barbara Sloboden, a librarian at the Coon Rapids campus library, said: “We librarians teach English class students about how to use the library. When we teach, the point we try to bring home is that while Google may be a user-friendly way to find information, the library has scholarly resources, and librarians are happy to help students use those resources.”
Nov. 25, 2009
Library use poll
The library at Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Coon Rapids campus allows students to access numerous resources. The library houses over 40,000 books and provides 10 computers for student use.
The library utilizes the Minnesota Project for Automated Library Systems (MnPALS), an interlibrary loan system. "The library has access to millions of materials from colleges all across the state," said Al Mamaril, a librarian at the Coon Rapids campus library. "The library's electronic access database contains thousands of other materials," Mamaril added.
Mamaril noted that because of the college's increase in enrollment, the number of students checking out books has gone up.
To find out how many Anoka-Ramsey students use the college library, 30 students were polled last week. Of the students polled, four were polled in the library, 19 were polled in an English class, two were polled online, and five were polled in the college lounge.
There was an equal number of students, 11, who used the library zero to three times during a semester and who used the library eight or more times during a semester. There were eight students who used the library four to seven times during a semester.
Of the 11 students who used the library zero to three times during a semester, many relied on computers. Seven of those students used computers to find information, and three students both asked librarians for help and used computers to find information.
Although most of those students found the library’s information helpful, four of them did not check out any books during a semester and only three checked out five or more books. The other four students checked out one to four books.
Of those students, nine were completing their first semester, one had attended Anoka-Ramsey for one to two years and one had attended the college for three years or more.
Eight students used the library four to seven times during a semester and most found the library’s information helpful. A majority of those students both asked librarians for help and used computers to find information, and three solely used computers to find information.
Half of those students checked out five or more books during a semester, and half checked out one to four books during a semester. For six of those students, this was their first semester, while two had attended the college for three or more years.
Out of the 11 students who used the library eight or more times during a semester, nine of them both asked librarians for help and used computers to find information. The same number found the library’s information helpful.
Of those students, seven checked out five or more books during a semester, and four checked out one to four books during a semester. The majority of those students were completing their first semester, while four had attended Anoka-Ramsey for three or more years.
“It’s nice knowing that there are academic sources at school if I need them,” one student commented about the library.
Barbara Sloboden, a librarian at the Coon Rapids campus library, said: “We librarians teach English class students about how to use the library. When we teach, the point we try to bring home is that while Google may be a user-friendly way to find information, the library has scholarly resources, and librarians are happy to help students use those resources.”
Monday, November 23, 2009
Engineering Love for Science
President Obama will today announce a campaign for science and math education called Educate to Innovate. The campaign will use television, video games and a website to teach middle and high school students about science, technology, engineering and math. To support the campaign, the president is calling for the volunteer services of companies and nonprofit groups.
Source: Engineering Love for Science by Kenneth Chang
11/23/09 Star Tribune print edition
Source: Engineering Love for Science by Kenneth Chang
11/23/09 Star Tribune print edition
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
First Poll Story
Hannah Schott
Nov. 18, 2009
Building projects poll
Students can see that parts of Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Coon Rapids campus are under construction. The new Visual Arts Center, which the college started building in the fall of 2008, is located beside a parking lot at the northwest end of the campus.
Next to the Visual Arts Center is the 40-year-old Fine Arts building, which is scheduled to undergo renovation in the spring of 2010.
In August of 2010, the college plans to begin constructing a 30,000 sq. ft. Bioscience and Allied Health addition, which will be located on the south side of the campus.
These improved or new facilities will change how students learn at Anoka-Ramsey. However, many students are not informed about the building projects.
Of the 30 students polled, 67 percent said they do not know anything about the building projects, and 27 percent said they have some knowledge. Only 6 percent said they feel very informed about the building construction at Anoka-Ramsey.
The majority of students who do not know anything about the building projects are first semester students 20 years old or older. Although they are not informed about the building projects, 60 percent of them said they think the building projects are somewhat important.
Most of the students with some knowledge about the building projects called them very important. The percentage of first semester students to students who had attended the college for one to two years was equal.
Of the 30 students polled, 53 percent think the building projects are somewhat important, while 43 percent said the building projects are very important.
Most of the students polled were 20 years old or younger, while 20 percent were 21 to 30 years old and 23 percent were 31 years old or older.
The director of public relations, Mary Jacobson, said that Anoka-Ramsey has been trying to put more information on the college's Web site. Jacobson said, "The college also has different student groups like the student government and the advisory committee were these things are talked about quite a bit."
Michael Seymour, the administration director, said: "If we push information out on people so they are aware of things, they complain that we are spamming them. And then if we don't inform them, students show up on surveys as knowing nothing." Seymour said that it would be nice for students to know about the building projects, but it is not vital for students to know.
Nov. 18, 2009
Building projects poll
Students can see that parts of Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Coon Rapids campus are under construction. The new Visual Arts Center, which the college started building in the fall of 2008, is located beside a parking lot at the northwest end of the campus.
Next to the Visual Arts Center is the 40-year-old Fine Arts building, which is scheduled to undergo renovation in the spring of 2010.
In August of 2010, the college plans to begin constructing a 30,000 sq. ft. Bioscience and Allied Health addition, which will be located on the south side of the campus.
These improved or new facilities will change how students learn at Anoka-Ramsey. However, many students are not informed about the building projects.
Of the 30 students polled, 67 percent said they do not know anything about the building projects, and 27 percent said they have some knowledge. Only 6 percent said they feel very informed about the building construction at Anoka-Ramsey.
The majority of students who do not know anything about the building projects are first semester students 20 years old or older. Although they are not informed about the building projects, 60 percent of them said they think the building projects are somewhat important.
Most of the students with some knowledge about the building projects called them very important. The percentage of first semester students to students who had attended the college for one to two years was equal.
Of the 30 students polled, 53 percent think the building projects are somewhat important, while 43 percent said the building projects are very important.
Most of the students polled were 20 years old or younger, while 20 percent were 21 to 30 years old and 23 percent were 31 years old or older.
The director of public relations, Mary Jacobson, said that Anoka-Ramsey has been trying to put more information on the college's Web site. Jacobson said, "The college also has different student groups like the student government and the advisory committee were these things are talked about quite a bit."
Michael Seymour, the administration director, said: "If we push information out on people so they are aware of things, they complain that we are spamming them. And then if we don't inform them, students show up on surveys as knowing nothing." Seymour said that it would be nice for students to know about the building projects, but it is not vital for students to know.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Britain apologizes to relocated kids
Britain is apologizing to impoverished British children shipped to colonies overseas by child migrant programs. About 150,000 children were sent to America, Australia, Canada and other British colonies between 1618 and 1967. Britain relocated the children to prevent them from becoming inconveniences to the British state. Sandra Anker was 6 years old when Britain sent her to Australia in 1950. She said: "We've suffered all our lives. For the government of England to say 'sorry' to us, it makes it right - even if it's late, it's better than not at all."
Source: Britain's taken kids get a long-overdue 'sorry' by Jill Lawless of the Associated Press
11/16/09 Star Tribune print edition
Source: Britain's taken kids get a long-overdue 'sorry' by Jill Lawless of the Associated Press
11/16/09 Star Tribune print edition
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Stormy weather in Omaha, Neb.
My family drove to Omaha, Neb., last May to attend my cousin's wedding. Passing through Iowa was boring, so we took pictures of the landscape to amuse ourselves. Whenever we saw wind turbines, we tried to photograph them. Photographing them was hard sometimes because we were moving so fast and they were so tall, but we managed to get some good pictures. We had really nice weather through most of our trip, but a storm developed after we passed Des Moises. Thankfully, it wasn't a severe thunderstorm. We encountered more stormy weather after we got to Omaha. I was a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding, and the day before the wedding I went to a nail spa with the rest of the girls in my cousin's wedding. The television in the spa was broadcasting tornado warnings while I was having my toenails painted, which was somewhat disturbing. I am not sure if a tornado touched down around Omaha or not, but I never heard of any damage. The wedding went well, and we headed back to Minnesota. We took more pictures of wind turbines on the way home.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Indian housing project renewal
A housing construction proposal by the American Indian Community Development Corp. has been renewed after a three-year delay. The proposal, which involves buying land in south Minneapolis from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn-DOT), was postponed because of the I-35W bridge collapse and the economy's unfavorable condition. The proposal will be discussed at a public hearing in Hennepin County this week. The corporation's CEO, Mike Goze, said, "Our goal is to provide safe, affordable housing that will provide a way for people to access other areas of their life."
Source: Indian housing project back on docket by Kevin Duchschere
11/9/09 Star Tribune print edition
Source: Indian housing project back on docket by Kevin Duchschere
11/9/09 Star Tribune print edition
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Halloween Costumes
I am not much of an authority on Halloween costumes, because the last time I really had fun during Halloween was the 2004 holiday when I had a party with my friends. My friend Chad and I had tried for years to get a party together, but no one ever came. Our previous attempts at parties had been held in his backyard, where it was always cold and dark on Halloween. In 2004, we decided to try a different strategy. We decided to hold the party in my basement and offer food, games and prizes! Our new strategy worked and we had lots of fun. I don't think I dressed up as anything; I was too busy decorating the whole basement.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Gail Peterson Story
Hannah Schott
Nov. 2, 2009
Peterson story
Tight deadlines can cause headaches, but Gail Peterson said she gains a sense of accomplishment after deadlines are met. Peterson, who works at the Human Resources office of Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Coon Rapids campus, is responsible for arranging the college faculty's salary transactions, insurance coverage and retirement benefits.
Peterson has deadlines for processing payroll transactions every two weeks. When a deadline arrives, I have accomplished something and finished something, said Peterson, and I know people are going to be paid.
"I have that sense of satisfaction when certain deadlines have been met," Peterson added.
Tight deadlines restrict when Peterson can take time off work. I really do not have the freedom to be able to use vacation time when I want to, she commented, and I think my job would be tough for somebody who was married and had a family. "I'm single and I don't have any kids, so it isn't quite so bad for me," she said.
The busiest times of the year for Peterson are directly before the fall, spring and summer semesters, when she sets up the faculty in the personnel payroll system. Peterson said her job, which has varying workloads during the year that climax before semesters, gives her both times of challenge and times to relax.
Peterson began her job three and a half years ago during a rush before the fall semester. Her first day was frustrating, she said, because her co-workers in the Human Resources office were so busy.
No one really had time to show me anything or tell me anything, Peterson explained.
Peterson was not familiar with the computer system used at Anoka-Ramsey, which was one of the reasons she wanted to work at the college.
I knew I would be learning this particular personnel payroll database, and I really wanted to learn it, Peterson said. "I knew that it would be really challenging," she added.
Peterson said she also wanted to work at Anoka-Ramsey because she worked at a college before and knows that college employees have a commitment to their jobs.
They really care about doing a good job for the students, she commented.
The faculty are interesting people to work with, according to Peterson. "They all have their different areas that they know a lot about," she said.
Peterson said she knows that the faculty do not have time to worry about their pay, insurance and retirement, and is happy that the faculty can come to her if they have concerns.
After they talk to me, they do not have to worry anymore and can focus on the duties they have to perform, Peterson said.
Peterson said her job at Anoka-Ramsey has changed since she began working there. She has gained two more co-workers, which has lightened her workload and made her duties more specific.
My job also changed after I made it through the steep learning curve, Peterson added. "I'm more comfortable in my job and not as stressed out by the deadlines because I'm better able to judge the amount of work and how long it's really going to take to get it done," she said.
Peterson recommended math, computer and communications classes to students looking for a job in a Human Resources office.
Nov. 2, 2009
Peterson story
Tight deadlines can cause headaches, but Gail Peterson said she gains a sense of accomplishment after deadlines are met. Peterson, who works at the Human Resources office of Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Coon Rapids campus, is responsible for arranging the college faculty's salary transactions, insurance coverage and retirement benefits.
Peterson has deadlines for processing payroll transactions every two weeks. When a deadline arrives, I have accomplished something and finished something, said Peterson, and I know people are going to be paid.
"I have that sense of satisfaction when certain deadlines have been met," Peterson added.
Tight deadlines restrict when Peterson can take time off work. I really do not have the freedom to be able to use vacation time when I want to, she commented, and I think my job would be tough for somebody who was married and had a family. "I'm single and I don't have any kids, so it isn't quite so bad for me," she said.
The busiest times of the year for Peterson are directly before the fall, spring and summer semesters, when she sets up the faculty in the personnel payroll system. Peterson said her job, which has varying workloads during the year that climax before semesters, gives her both times of challenge and times to relax.
Peterson began her job three and a half years ago during a rush before the fall semester. Her first day was frustrating, she said, because her co-workers in the Human Resources office were so busy.
No one really had time to show me anything or tell me anything, Peterson explained.
Peterson was not familiar with the computer system used at Anoka-Ramsey, which was one of the reasons she wanted to work at the college.
I knew I would be learning this particular personnel payroll database, and I really wanted to learn it, Peterson said. "I knew that it would be really challenging," she added.
Peterson said she also wanted to work at Anoka-Ramsey because she worked at a college before and knows that college employees have a commitment to their jobs.
They really care about doing a good job for the students, she commented.
The faculty are interesting people to work with, according to Peterson. "They all have their different areas that they know a lot about," she said.
Peterson said she knows that the faculty do not have time to worry about their pay, insurance and retirement, and is happy that the faculty can come to her if they have concerns.
After they talk to me, they do not have to worry anymore and can focus on the duties they have to perform, Peterson said.
Peterson said her job at Anoka-Ramsey has changed since she began working there. She has gained two more co-workers, which has lightened her workload and made her duties more specific.
My job also changed after I made it through the steep learning curve, Peterson added. "I'm more comfortable in my job and not as stressed out by the deadlines because I'm better able to judge the amount of work and how long it's really going to take to get it done," she said.
Peterson recommended math, computer and communications classes to students looking for a job in a Human Resources office.
Scientists Decode Pig DNA
Newly decoded domestic pig DNA may aid in the development of new medicines for humans and pigs, scientists revealed today. "The pig is the ideal animal to look at lifestyle and health issues in the United States," said biomedical science professor Larry Schook, who led the pig DNA research team. Pigs and humans have comparable biogenetic configurations, and research on pigs has proved helpful in the study of human medical conditions.
Source: Scientists decode DNA of pig- man's best friend for research by Karen Hawkins of the Associated Press
11/2/09 Star Tribune print edition
Source: Scientists decode DNA of pig- man's best friend for research by Karen Hawkins of the Associated Press
11/2/09 Star Tribune print edition
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Abbreviated Transcript of Interview with Gail Peterson
Hannah: Can you tell me what your job is and what you do at your job?
Gail: I work at the Human Resources office, and I work with faculty transactions. The way we have the work divided up is that I work with faculty issues such as getting them set up on the payroll, processing different kinds of payments to them, not only for their teaching but sometimes they do other work that they get paid for, like special projects or curriculum development. In the case of Tesha Christensen, she gets paid some teaching credits but also she's involved with the student newspaper and stuff, things like that. I'm responsible for getting them set up in the personal payroll system and getting them paid, also determining their eligibility for insurance, insurance benefits and retirement benefits. Their workload determines their eligibility for insurance. I'm at the computer all day long, every day. I have deadlines every two weeks that I have to make, in terms of the processing transactions for the payroll. Then there are busier times of the year, like getting all the faculty ready and set up for fall semester. So right before fall, right before spring, right before summer.
Hannah: How many days a week do you work?
Gail: I work Monday through Friday.
Hannah: How long have you worked here?
Gail: I've been here about three and a half years.
Hannah: Do you have a favorite day of the week to work? If so, which day is that and why?
Gail: Probably Friday, because Friday is kind of like when I can put all my work to bed for the week. The deadlines have happened, I've got everything squared away. I know that things are done, things are taken care of, people are going to get paid. So I'd say Friday. I've accomplished something. Then I'll see what the Monday brings. Monday's a new day. So much of what I do is deadline driven.
Hannah: What interested you about this job?
Gail: A couple different things. I like working in a college because I think it's a good environment, because I think pretty much all the employees have a real commitment and a buy-in to the organization. They really care about their jobs, care about doing a good job for the students. With my particular job duties, I knew that I would be learning this particular database, the particular personal payroll database that's used here. I really wanted to learn it. So I knew that it would be really challenging and I really wanted to learn this system, just to have another skill.
Hannah: What do you like best about your job?
Gail: There's two things I really like. One I mentioned before, about having the feeling that I accomplished something. Also, I like working with the faculty. It's very interesting. I like interacting with the faculty and learning from them because they're so interesting. They all have their different areas that they know a lot about. The faculty don't have time to be worried about their pay and their insurance and retirement. If they're confused about something or concerned and they're worried, they talk to me. Then they don't have to think about it or worry about it any more and they can focus on the stuff that they have to focus on, which is the students and the grading of the papers, the teaching, all that kind of stuff.
Hannah: So what do you think is the hardest thing about your job?
Gail: It is difficult sometimes to have the really tight deadlines because they limit, for example, when you can take time off work. So I think, for example, somebody who maybe was married and had a family, I think it could kind of be tough for them. While for me, I'm single and I don't have any kids, so it isn't so bad for me. But that's kind of tough, and the varying workloads during the year is tough because sometimes when the workload is really the peak time, you get so tired out. So if a person was really a healthy person, it wouldn't be quite so bad, but I'm not in the greatest health, so it kind of takes its toll physically on me.
Hannah: How many co-workers do you have?
Gail: There's a total of five of us workers, one supervisor and one director. So there's a total of seven.
Hannah: What's unique about your job that other people may not know about?
Gail: I think that people, employees and students and stuff, and maybe even co-workers in the office, they don't know how much behind the scenes work there is so someone gets paid on time and paid correctly. Maybe if they took a look at my desk and saw what a rat's nest it was with all the papers piled everywhere, they'd see that there really is a lot of stuff to do to make it so somebody gets their pay for their class.
Hannah: What part of you job makes your time most meaningful?
Gail: I really like it when I can work uninterrupted and I can really, really concentrate on my data entry. I have to be fast, and I have to be really, really accurate. So I really like it when I can work uninterrupted and really, really concentrate and do my data entry, because then I know that all the data will be clean, no problems, no errors, no nothing.
Hannah: What's your favorite memory that you've had so far in your job?
Gail: I came in new and I had a lot to learn, there was a backlog of work, it was the busiest time of the year, and then to make it through that first year. I really truly remember when I took my first breath of like, "Oh! I made it! I made it! I made it!"
Hannah: So what was your first day like?
Gail: The first day was pretty frustrating because they weren't ready for me. They didn't have my computer access set up, or my phone. Nobody really had time to spend with me. So it was a little bit frustrating at first.
Hannah: So how long do you think you'd like to work here?
Gail: I only have about seven years to go until I'm eligible to have an early retirement with full retirement benefits. So I've been kind of thinking, "Well, I'll just work here for seven years until I'm retirement age." But then I think no. I'm kind of ready for a challenge because now after three and a half years I've pretty much learned all there is to learn about my job and this computer system. Maybe I won't work here much longer, or else I'll work here for seven more years. So I'm kind of at that point right now of evaluating myself.
Hannah: What is an average day at work like for you?
Gail: Right now when I come to work, I like to focus on my own work and be left alone for the first two and a half hours. So the first part of my day is really in the computer, doing my data entry into the computer, then the next part of my day is talking to faculty and deans, either them contacting me or me contacting them. And then in the afternoon, like right now when it's not the super busy time of the year, I'll work on my long-term projects, or back burner projects, like running reports on the computer, or finding problems with the coding that need to be fixed up, or getting my papers and all my information ready and organized for getting ready for the semester.
Hannah: If a student at ARCC wanted to get a job in Human Resources, what kind of education or classes would you suggest?
Gail: It kind of depends on what level of Human Resources they'd want to come in at. In terms of education and classes, definitely communications classes in terms of being able to write, because there's always so many memos and letters to communicate things to employees. Definitely math skills to be able to do a lot of calculations. In terms of the general business classes, take like management classes or management supervision classes so you can relate to the supervisor or the deans that you deal with as a customer group. I know a lot of the jobs in Human Resources these days, they either require or prefer a bachelor's degree, and I think they can do that these days because the economy's so bad and there's so many applicants that they can be picky and require or prefer a bachelor's degree.
Hannah: What kind of personality traits does a person in Human Resources need if they work there?
Gail: Patience. A lot of patience. Also being a type of person who doesn't take things personally. So when someone comes in or calls and they're very angry or frustrated you know to not take it personally or get defensive.
Hannah: Has your job changed any since you started?
Gail: It has changed because we've added more people in the office. When I first came, there were three of us, and the supervisor and the director. So now there is five of us, and the supervisor and the director. So we got two more staff people, which means that for me, my workload has gotten a little less, and my duties have gotten a little more specific, because certain things were taken off my plate and given to others. And I guess things have changed because once I made it through the steep learning curve, I'm more comfortable in my job and not as stressed out by the deadlines because I'm better able to judge the amount of work and how long it's really going to take to get it done.
Gail: I work at the Human Resources office, and I work with faculty transactions. The way we have the work divided up is that I work with faculty issues such as getting them set up on the payroll, processing different kinds of payments to them, not only for their teaching but sometimes they do other work that they get paid for, like special projects or curriculum development. In the case of Tesha Christensen, she gets paid some teaching credits but also she's involved with the student newspaper and stuff, things like that. I'm responsible for getting them set up in the personal payroll system and getting them paid, also determining their eligibility for insurance, insurance benefits and retirement benefits. Their workload determines their eligibility for insurance. I'm at the computer all day long, every day. I have deadlines every two weeks that I have to make, in terms of the processing transactions for the payroll. Then there are busier times of the year, like getting all the faculty ready and set up for fall semester. So right before fall, right before spring, right before summer.
Hannah: How many days a week do you work?
Gail: I work Monday through Friday.
Hannah: How long have you worked here?
Gail: I've been here about three and a half years.
Hannah: Do you have a favorite day of the week to work? If so, which day is that and why?
Gail: Probably Friday, because Friday is kind of like when I can put all my work to bed for the week. The deadlines have happened, I've got everything squared away. I know that things are done, things are taken care of, people are going to get paid. So I'd say Friday. I've accomplished something. Then I'll see what the Monday brings. Monday's a new day. So much of what I do is deadline driven.
Hannah: What interested you about this job?
Gail: A couple different things. I like working in a college because I think it's a good environment, because I think pretty much all the employees have a real commitment and a buy-in to the organization. They really care about their jobs, care about doing a good job for the students. With my particular job duties, I knew that I would be learning this particular database, the particular personal payroll database that's used here. I really wanted to learn it. So I knew that it would be really challenging and I really wanted to learn this system, just to have another skill.
Hannah: What do you like best about your job?
Gail: There's two things I really like. One I mentioned before, about having the feeling that I accomplished something. Also, I like working with the faculty. It's very interesting. I like interacting with the faculty and learning from them because they're so interesting. They all have their different areas that they know a lot about. The faculty don't have time to be worried about their pay and their insurance and retirement. If they're confused about something or concerned and they're worried, they talk to me. Then they don't have to think about it or worry about it any more and they can focus on the stuff that they have to focus on, which is the students and the grading of the papers, the teaching, all that kind of stuff.
Hannah: So what do you think is the hardest thing about your job?
Gail: It is difficult sometimes to have the really tight deadlines because they limit, for example, when you can take time off work. So I think, for example, somebody who maybe was married and had a family, I think it could kind of be tough for them. While for me, I'm single and I don't have any kids, so it isn't so bad for me. But that's kind of tough, and the varying workloads during the year is tough because sometimes when the workload is really the peak time, you get so tired out. So if a person was really a healthy person, it wouldn't be quite so bad, but I'm not in the greatest health, so it kind of takes its toll physically on me.
Hannah: How many co-workers do you have?
Gail: There's a total of five of us workers, one supervisor and one director. So there's a total of seven.
Hannah: What's unique about your job that other people may not know about?
Gail: I think that people, employees and students and stuff, and maybe even co-workers in the office, they don't know how much behind the scenes work there is so someone gets paid on time and paid correctly. Maybe if they took a look at my desk and saw what a rat's nest it was with all the papers piled everywhere, they'd see that there really is a lot of stuff to do to make it so somebody gets their pay for their class.
Hannah: What part of you job makes your time most meaningful?
Gail: I really like it when I can work uninterrupted and I can really, really concentrate on my data entry. I have to be fast, and I have to be really, really accurate. So I really like it when I can work uninterrupted and really, really concentrate and do my data entry, because then I know that all the data will be clean, no problems, no errors, no nothing.
Hannah: What's your favorite memory that you've had so far in your job?
Gail: I came in new and I had a lot to learn, there was a backlog of work, it was the busiest time of the year, and then to make it through that first year. I really truly remember when I took my first breath of like, "Oh! I made it! I made it! I made it!"
Hannah: So what was your first day like?
Gail: The first day was pretty frustrating because they weren't ready for me. They didn't have my computer access set up, or my phone. Nobody really had time to spend with me. So it was a little bit frustrating at first.
Hannah: So how long do you think you'd like to work here?
Gail: I only have about seven years to go until I'm eligible to have an early retirement with full retirement benefits. So I've been kind of thinking, "Well, I'll just work here for seven years until I'm retirement age." But then I think no. I'm kind of ready for a challenge because now after three and a half years I've pretty much learned all there is to learn about my job and this computer system. Maybe I won't work here much longer, or else I'll work here for seven more years. So I'm kind of at that point right now of evaluating myself.
Hannah: What is an average day at work like for you?
Gail: Right now when I come to work, I like to focus on my own work and be left alone for the first two and a half hours. So the first part of my day is really in the computer, doing my data entry into the computer, then the next part of my day is talking to faculty and deans, either them contacting me or me contacting them. And then in the afternoon, like right now when it's not the super busy time of the year, I'll work on my long-term projects, or back burner projects, like running reports on the computer, or finding problems with the coding that need to be fixed up, or getting my papers and all my information ready and organized for getting ready for the semester.
Hannah: If a student at ARCC wanted to get a job in Human Resources, what kind of education or classes would you suggest?
Gail: It kind of depends on what level of Human Resources they'd want to come in at. In terms of education and classes, definitely communications classes in terms of being able to write, because there's always so many memos and letters to communicate things to employees. Definitely math skills to be able to do a lot of calculations. In terms of the general business classes, take like management classes or management supervision classes so you can relate to the supervisor or the deans that you deal with as a customer group. I know a lot of the jobs in Human Resources these days, they either require or prefer a bachelor's degree, and I think they can do that these days because the economy's so bad and there's so many applicants that they can be picky and require or prefer a bachelor's degree.
Hannah: What kind of personality traits does a person in Human Resources need if they work there?
Gail: Patience. A lot of patience. Also being a type of person who doesn't take things personally. So when someone comes in or calls and they're very angry or frustrated you know to not take it personally or get defensive.
Hannah: Has your job changed any since you started?
Gail: It has changed because we've added more people in the office. When I first came, there were three of us, and the supervisor and the director. So now there is five of us, and the supervisor and the director. So we got two more staff people, which means that for me, my workload has gotten a little less, and my duties have gotten a little more specific, because certain things were taken off my plate and given to others. And I guess things have changed because once I made it through the steep learning curve, I'm more comfortable in my job and not as stressed out by the deadlines because I'm better able to judge the amount of work and how long it's really going to take to get it done.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Russian Rights Activist Killed
A Russian human-rights activist, Maksharip Aushev, was killed in a highway shooting on Sunday in the Russian province Ingushetia. Aushev is the third human-rights activist killed since July. "This heinous crime was intended to destabilize the region," said Yuns-Bek Yevkurov, the president of Ingushetia, who pledged to find Aushev's killers.
Source: Russian Rights Activist Killed by Shamsudin Bokov of the Associated Press
10/26/09 Star Tribune print edition
Source: Russian Rights Activist Killed by Shamsudin Bokov of the Associated Press
10/26/09 Star Tribune print edition
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
My event story
Hannah Schott
Oct. 19, 2009
Theater Symposium
"Radio Golf," a play by August Wilson, was the third consecutive symposium presented by Penumbra Theatre of St. Paul to be held at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. The symposium was held Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Coon Rapids Campus' Performing Arts Center.
The symposium began at 1 p.m., lasted 50 minutes, then repeated at 2 p.m.
About 200 people attended the first presentation and about 60 people were at the second, according to Scott Stankey of Anoka-Ramsey's English department. Many of the attendees were Anoka-Ramsey students and professors.
The symposium was recorded, Stankey said, and will soon become viewable on Desire2Learn, Anoka-Ramsey's online learning center.
The symposium was hosted by two actors and two directors from Penumbra. The two actors, Rex Isom and T. Mychael Rambo, read selected portions of the play and, along with the two directors, Dominic Taylor and Stephanie Lein Walseth, discussed the play with the audience.
"We wanted to tease out some of the themes and ideas that are present in the play," said Taylor, the associate artistic director at Penumbra. Taylor said he hopes the symposium "gives students places to enter and understand the play."
The program opens up students to investigating "Radio Golf" further, according to Taylor. "Anoka-Ramsey students are always engaged and seem to value theater as an art," he said.
Taylor said he feels it is beneficial for Penumbra to share theater with academic communities like Anoka-Ramsey. "It is important that the theater we do at Penumbra reaches out beyond St. Paul," he said.
The goal of the "Radio Golf" symposium was to help students contextualize the play, Taylor said. He added that the symposium helps students situate the play in Wilson's oeuvre and in the history of Penumbra.
"Radio Golf" is used at a textbook by six English professors at Anoka-Ramsey's Coon Rapids campus.
Prof. Linda Varvel, one of those six, said the symposium inspired her and excited her about theater. She said: "I think one of the best things (about the symposium) is that students can hear actors raise the play up on its feet. They can hear the lyrics and the emotion."
Varvel said that students who read "Radio Golf" before attending the symposium had diverse reactions to the actors' interpretations. Some students found more humor in the play, Varvel said, and some students found more anger.
"At the symposium, students have a chance to engage in a play that deals with people's real lives and their struggles with the American Dream," Varvel explained.
Taylor does a good job relating to the audience and describing the culture of African-American theater, Varvel said. "It's advantageous for our students from various cultures to experience that," she commented.
During the symposium, Taylor announced that Penumbra will play "Radio Golf," directed by Lou Bellamy, from Oct. 1 to Oct. 25. Taylor encouraged people to attend the production.
Varvel said the symposium helps students become aware of live theater in the Twin Cities. "I wish I could put each class on the bus and take them to "Radio Golf" (at Penumbra)," Varvel said, but acknowledged that the symposium, which she called an "intellectual exercise," was the next best experience.
Oct. 19, 2009
Theater Symposium
"Radio Golf," a play by August Wilson, was the third consecutive symposium presented by Penumbra Theatre of St. Paul to be held at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. The symposium was held Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Coon Rapids Campus' Performing Arts Center.
The symposium began at 1 p.m., lasted 50 minutes, then repeated at 2 p.m.
About 200 people attended the first presentation and about 60 people were at the second, according to Scott Stankey of Anoka-Ramsey's English department. Many of the attendees were Anoka-Ramsey students and professors.
The symposium was recorded, Stankey said, and will soon become viewable on Desire2Learn, Anoka-Ramsey's online learning center.
The symposium was hosted by two actors and two directors from Penumbra. The two actors, Rex Isom and T. Mychael Rambo, read selected portions of the play and, along with the two directors, Dominic Taylor and Stephanie Lein Walseth, discussed the play with the audience.
"We wanted to tease out some of the themes and ideas that are present in the play," said Taylor, the associate artistic director at Penumbra. Taylor said he hopes the symposium "gives students places to enter and understand the play."
The program opens up students to investigating "Radio Golf" further, according to Taylor. "Anoka-Ramsey students are always engaged and seem to value theater as an art," he said.
Taylor said he feels it is beneficial for Penumbra to share theater with academic communities like Anoka-Ramsey. "It is important that the theater we do at Penumbra reaches out beyond St. Paul," he said.
The goal of the "Radio Golf" symposium was to help students contextualize the play, Taylor said. He added that the symposium helps students situate the play in Wilson's oeuvre and in the history of Penumbra.
"Radio Golf" is used at a textbook by six English professors at Anoka-Ramsey's Coon Rapids campus.
Prof. Linda Varvel, one of those six, said the symposium inspired her and excited her about theater. She said: "I think one of the best things (about the symposium) is that students can hear actors raise the play up on its feet. They can hear the lyrics and the emotion."
Varvel said that students who read "Radio Golf" before attending the symposium had diverse reactions to the actors' interpretations. Some students found more humor in the play, Varvel said, and some students found more anger.
"At the symposium, students have a chance to engage in a play that deals with people's real lives and their struggles with the American Dream," Varvel explained.
Taylor does a good job relating to the audience and describing the culture of African-American theater, Varvel said. "It's advantageous for our students from various cultures to experience that," she commented.
During the symposium, Taylor announced that Penumbra will play "Radio Golf," directed by Lou Bellamy, from Oct. 1 to Oct. 25. Taylor encouraged people to attend the production.
Varvel said the symposium helps students become aware of live theater in the Twin Cities. "I wish I could put each class on the bus and take them to "Radio Golf" (at Penumbra)," Varvel said, but acknowledged that the symposium, which she called an "intellectual exercise," was the next best experience.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Governing party stays put in Botswana
Botswana's parliamentary elections were swept Friday by the Botswana Democratic Party, the only political power to govern Botswana since the country's independence from Britain in 1966. Botswana, a landlocked country in southern Africa, is struggling with poverty and a high rate of AIDS but held a peaceful election.
Source: Governing party firmly stays put by the Associated Press
10/19/09 Star Tribune print edition
Source: Governing party firmly stays put by the Associated Press
10/19/09 Star Tribune print edition
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
My Obituary
Hannah Joy Schott of Blaine, Minn., an avid bowler and a devoted NASCAR fan, died yesterday when a meteorite destroyed her house. She was 17.
Schott was a 4-H member for seven years and volunteered at 4-H events. She participated in and co-directed two Share the Fun plays, "All's Faire" and "Hubbub on the Bookshelf."
Schott was born March 2, 1992, to Tarry and Linda Schott, and lived in Lexington, Minn., until she was 12 years old. Schott was home schooled through grade school and was currently attending Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids.
Schott was a member of two 4-H clubs, the Dandy Linos and the High Adventurers, and held the offices of secretary, reporter, vice-president and president. In 2008, Schott received the Share the Fun Outstanding Performer award and was the champion in the Interpretive Reading division of the Communications Contest.
Schott was a member of Brunswick's Tuesday home school bowling league and won the girls' High Game Scratch award last spring with an average of 157.
NASCAR was Schott's weekend passion, and she loved her favorite driver, Kevin Harvick. "She was a dedicated Harvick fan even when he wasn't winning," Schott's brother, Daniel, said.
Schott is survived by her parents, Tarry and Linda Schott, and her brother, Daniel Schott.
Her memorial service will be held at Blaine Baptist Church at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. She will be buried in Down Under Cemetery.
Schott was a 4-H member for seven years and volunteered at 4-H events. She participated in and co-directed two Share the Fun plays, "All's Faire" and "Hubbub on the Bookshelf."
Schott was born March 2, 1992, to Tarry and Linda Schott, and lived in Lexington, Minn., until she was 12 years old. Schott was home schooled through grade school and was currently attending Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids.
Schott was a member of two 4-H clubs, the Dandy Linos and the High Adventurers, and held the offices of secretary, reporter, vice-president and president. In 2008, Schott received the Share the Fun Outstanding Performer award and was the champion in the Interpretive Reading division of the Communications Contest.
Schott was a member of Brunswick's Tuesday home school bowling league and won the girls' High Game Scratch award last spring with an average of 157.
NASCAR was Schott's weekend passion, and she loved her favorite driver, Kevin Harvick. "She was a dedicated Harvick fan even when he wasn't winning," Schott's brother, Daniel, said.
Schott is survived by her parents, Tarry and Linda Schott, and her brother, Daniel Schott.
Her memorial service will be held at Blaine Baptist Church at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. She will be buried in Down Under Cemetery.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Justin Thompson's car racing hobby
Hannah Schott
Oct. 12, 2009
Car Racing
"The adrenaline rush from trying to control something on the edge" is his favorite characteristic of car racing, Justin Thompson said.
"I have always like going fast," Thompson said. Thompson, 35, said he began racing cars 10 years ago.
Thompson said he felt nervous at the start of his first race and didn't know what he was doing. "I went past the staging lights and had to back up," he explained.
The officials started the lights when he got back in position, Thompson said, but he wasn't ready and his competitor took off first.
"It was still fun though, and I was hooked," Thompson noted.
Thompson said he has won three first place trophies and numerous second and third place trophies while bracket racing at Rock Falls Raceway. Thompson commented that his favorite racing memory is the time he beat an arrogant young driver by over eight car lengths.
"I like to try new things," Thompson said. He said he recently decided to use E-85 fuel in his car because of its availability and high octane rating. E-85 has cooling effects and provides more power than ordinary race fuel, Thompson said. "It is also much cheaper than race gas," he added.
Thompson said he taught himself to make modifications on his car through Internet research. "I have been modifying my car for years," he said.
Thompson said racing cars has taught him a valuable life lesson. "Even if things aren't going right, keep at it and keep making improvements," he said.
Oct. 12, 2009
Car Racing
"The adrenaline rush from trying to control something on the edge" is his favorite characteristic of car racing, Justin Thompson said.
"I have always like going fast," Thompson said. Thompson, 35, said he began racing cars 10 years ago.
Thompson said he felt nervous at the start of his first race and didn't know what he was doing. "I went past the staging lights and had to back up," he explained.
The officials started the lights when he got back in position, Thompson said, but he wasn't ready and his competitor took off first.
"It was still fun though, and I was hooked," Thompson noted.
Thompson said he has won three first place trophies and numerous second and third place trophies while bracket racing at Rock Falls Raceway. Thompson commented that his favorite racing memory is the time he beat an arrogant young driver by over eight car lengths.
"I like to try new things," Thompson said. He said he recently decided to use E-85 fuel in his car because of its availability and high octane rating. E-85 has cooling effects and provides more power than ordinary race fuel, Thompson said. "It is also much cheaper than race gas," he added.
Thompson said he taught himself to make modifications on his car through Internet research. "I have been modifying my car for years," he said.
Thompson said racing cars has taught him a valuable life lesson. "Even if things aren't going right, keep at it and keep making improvements," he said.
U.S. helps Philippine relief efforts
Aid from the United States was welcome in the Philippines after twin typhoons diminished the country's food and gasoline reserves and caused 600 deaths. "There is nearly zero gasoline supply now, and we're running low on food," said the police chief of Baguio, a town located north of Manila. The U.S. sent helicopters loaded with supplies to the Philippines on Sunday.
Source: U.S. helps Philippine relief efforts by the Associated Press
USA Today print edition
Oct. 12, 2009
Source: U.S. helps Philippine relief efforts by the Associated Press
USA Today print edition
Oct. 12, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Interview with Laura Sweeny
Q: When did you begin to play soccer?
Laura: I started playing soccer when I was three.
Q: Where do you play soccer?
Laura: I play soccer for Anoka High School and through the Northern Lights soccer club. I play on a traveling U17 team.
Q: Why did you become involved in this sport?
Laura: My mom put me in soccer because when I was little I used to play with a mini soccer ball. Also my two older siblings played and enjoyed it so my mom thought I would also enjoy it.
Q: Who has most influenced the way you play soccer?
Laura: My coach has influenced the way I play soccer. I don't want to let her down. I know that she counts on me a lot, so I try my best always. Also I know that if I screw up I'll probably end up running and I hate running so I try to not screw up.
Q: How has soccer affected the way you live your life?
Laura: Soccer has affected my life a lot. I met my best friends from being on my soccer team. I can get my anger out on the field, so soccer is like my therapy. It gives me the chance to let my emotions out. I have met loads of new people from different states and countries from our soccer tournament so it's like a cultural experience too. I also get to travel to a bunch of different places.
Q: What life lessons has soccer taught you?
Laura: A life lesson I've learned from soccer is teamwork. You can't just depend on yourself for everything; sometimes you need people there for you. That's what soccer is, people backing you up all the time.
Q: What is your favorite soccer memory?
Laura: My favorite soccer memory would have to be when my soccer team traveled to Illinois for a tournament. It was the first week of summer and we had to drive there. Traffic was so bad! My dad thought he could take a short cut and skip the traffic but the road he was going to take was closed because there was a flood. So we were rerouted. I was 15 in a car with my mom and dad, my phone didn't get service and my ipod died. The radio didn't get a signal. We were stuck in a traffic jam. For three hours we didn't move. We ended up getting to the hotel at 2 a.m. My team and their parents were chilling outside waiting for us; when we pulled up they started clapping. I got out of the car and my best friend Kayla introduced me to these super cute boys and I was so embarrassed because I was in cow boxers and a Jonas Brothers shirt. To this day my team still talks about my terrible trip to Illinois.
Laura: I started playing soccer when I was three.
Q: Where do you play soccer?
Laura: I play soccer for Anoka High School and through the Northern Lights soccer club. I play on a traveling U17 team.
Q: Why did you become involved in this sport?
Laura: My mom put me in soccer because when I was little I used to play with a mini soccer ball. Also my two older siblings played and enjoyed it so my mom thought I would also enjoy it.
Q: Who has most influenced the way you play soccer?
Laura: My coach has influenced the way I play soccer. I don't want to let her down. I know that she counts on me a lot, so I try my best always. Also I know that if I screw up I'll probably end up running and I hate running so I try to not screw up.
Q: How has soccer affected the way you live your life?
Laura: Soccer has affected my life a lot. I met my best friends from being on my soccer team. I can get my anger out on the field, so soccer is like my therapy. It gives me the chance to let my emotions out. I have met loads of new people from different states and countries from our soccer tournament so it's like a cultural experience too. I also get to travel to a bunch of different places.
Q: What life lessons has soccer taught you?
Laura: A life lesson I've learned from soccer is teamwork. You can't just depend on yourself for everything; sometimes you need people there for you. That's what soccer is, people backing you up all the time.
Q: What is your favorite soccer memory?
Laura: My favorite soccer memory would have to be when my soccer team traveled to Illinois for a tournament. It was the first week of summer and we had to drive there. Traffic was so bad! My dad thought he could take a short cut and skip the traffic but the road he was going to take was closed because there was a flood. So we were rerouted. I was 15 in a car with my mom and dad, my phone didn't get service and my ipod died. The radio didn't get a signal. We were stuck in a traffic jam. For three hours we didn't move. We ended up getting to the hotel at 2 a.m. My team and their parents were chilling outside waiting for us; when we pulled up they started clapping. I got out of the car and my best friend Kayla introduced me to these super cute boys and I was so embarrassed because I was in cow boxers and a Jonas Brothers shirt. To this day my team still talks about my terrible trip to Illinois.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sleeplessness is a safety hazard
Hannah Schott
Oct. 5, 2009
Sleep Shortage
"Going without sleep is as much of a public and personal safety hazard as going to work drunk," Diana Gant, one of the nation's leaders in the study of sleep, said today. Gant is a psychology professor and has studied sleep for more than 17 years.
When she first started to research sleep, Gant wanted to observe people who got little sleep and remained productive. "The problem was, when my subjects arrived in laboratories and got a chance to sleep in dark, quiet rooms, they all slept for about nine hours," Gant said.
She said that experiment and other work convinced her that most people suffer from sleep deprivation.
Gant considers sleep comparable to exercise. She explained: "People exercise because it's healthy. Sleep is healthy."
Most people need to sleep nine to ten hours a night, Gant said. "Some (of that sleep) should be taken in afternoon naps."
Gant said the average person only gets about seven hours of sleep. She said: "Some people think that going without sleep is the big, sophisticated, macho thing to do. They figure they don't need it, that the rules don't apply to them, that they can get more done.
"It may work for them for awhile, but sooner or later they begin to suffer the consequences. Then you can have some real problems."
Gant has gathered data from laboratory studies and statistics on the connection between sleeplessness and accidents. Gant noted: "One thing I've done is study the number of traffic accidents in the state right after the shift to daylight savings time in the spring, when most people lose an hour's sleep.
"There's an 8 percent increase in accidents the day after the time change, and there's a corresponding decrease in the fall when people gain an extra hour of sleep."
Gant added that the effects of people getting up an hour early is the equivalent of a national jet lag. "The effect can last a week," she said.
"It isn't simply due to lack of sleep," she said, "but (to) complications from resetting the biological clock."
Gant declared sleeplessness as the probable cause of disasters such as the space shuttle Challenger's explosion, the nuclear reactor mishap at Russia's Chernobyl and the Exxon Valdez oil spill. "The element of sleeplessness was involved in all of them," Gant said.
Gant said that sleeplessness can make people feel clumsy, stupid and unhappy. People feel as if their clothes weigh a few extra pounds, and they tend to become drowsy after lunch, Gant said. She said that if people cut their eight hours of sleep back to six hours, they will probably become depressed.
If people cut their sleep back to only five hours, they may find themselves "falling asleep at stoplights while driving home," Gant said.
Gant said it is easy for people to find out if they are getting enough sleep. People should ask themselves if they feel sleepy or doze off when they are sitting quietly after a large lunch, Gant explained.
It's easy to solve the problem of sleeplessness, Gant said. She instructed: "Shut off all the lights and draw the shades. Don't drink or eat a lot. That will disturb your sleep."
Tobacco, coffee and alcohol cause the brain to become alert, Gant said, and should be avoided. "Also avoid chocolate and other foods that contain a lot of sugar," Gant advised.
It is good to relax for an hour or so before going to bed by watching TV or reading a good book, Gant said.
Gant added that a room with a 65 degree temperature, a comfortable bed and clean, fresh bed linens are best for good sleep.
Oct. 5, 2009
Sleep Shortage
"Going without sleep is as much of a public and personal safety hazard as going to work drunk," Diana Gant, one of the nation's leaders in the study of sleep, said today. Gant is a psychology professor and has studied sleep for more than 17 years.
When she first started to research sleep, Gant wanted to observe people who got little sleep and remained productive. "The problem was, when my subjects arrived in laboratories and got a chance to sleep in dark, quiet rooms, they all slept for about nine hours," Gant said.
She said that experiment and other work convinced her that most people suffer from sleep deprivation.
Gant considers sleep comparable to exercise. She explained: "People exercise because it's healthy. Sleep is healthy."
Most people need to sleep nine to ten hours a night, Gant said. "Some (of that sleep) should be taken in afternoon naps."
Gant said the average person only gets about seven hours of sleep. She said: "Some people think that going without sleep is the big, sophisticated, macho thing to do. They figure they don't need it, that the rules don't apply to them, that they can get more done.
"It may work for them for awhile, but sooner or later they begin to suffer the consequences. Then you can have some real problems."
Gant has gathered data from laboratory studies and statistics on the connection between sleeplessness and accidents. Gant noted: "One thing I've done is study the number of traffic accidents in the state right after the shift to daylight savings time in the spring, when most people lose an hour's sleep.
"There's an 8 percent increase in accidents the day after the time change, and there's a corresponding decrease in the fall when people gain an extra hour of sleep."
Gant added that the effects of people getting up an hour early is the equivalent of a national jet lag. "The effect can last a week," she said.
"It isn't simply due to lack of sleep," she said, "but (to) complications from resetting the biological clock."
Gant declared sleeplessness as the probable cause of disasters such as the space shuttle Challenger's explosion, the nuclear reactor mishap at Russia's Chernobyl and the Exxon Valdez oil spill. "The element of sleeplessness was involved in all of them," Gant said.
Gant said that sleeplessness can make people feel clumsy, stupid and unhappy. People feel as if their clothes weigh a few extra pounds, and they tend to become drowsy after lunch, Gant said. She said that if people cut their eight hours of sleep back to six hours, they will probably become depressed.
If people cut their sleep back to only five hours, they may find themselves "falling asleep at stoplights while driving home," Gant said.
Gant said it is easy for people to find out if they are getting enough sleep. People should ask themselves if they feel sleepy or doze off when they are sitting quietly after a large lunch, Gant explained.
It's easy to solve the problem of sleeplessness, Gant said. She instructed: "Shut off all the lights and draw the shades. Don't drink or eat a lot. That will disturb your sleep."
Tobacco, coffee and alcohol cause the brain to become alert, Gant said, and should be avoided. "Also avoid chocolate and other foods that contain a lot of sugar," Gant advised.
It is good to relax for an hour or so before going to bed by watching TV or reading a good book, Gant said.
Gant added that a room with a 65 degree temperature, a comfortable bed and clean, fresh bed linens are best for good sleep.
Greece elects Socialist Party
The people of Greece broke a European norm Sunday when they eliminated the center-right New Democracy party's control of the parliament by electing the Socialist PASOK party. Grecians were unsatisfied with two years of New Democracy strict economic policies and favored PASOK's promise to rebuild. Political victories for left parties are scarce in Europe, where they have struggled to benefit from the global financial crisis.
Source: Socialists in Greece show ruling party to the exit doors by Rachel Donadio and Anthee Carassava
Star Tribune print edition, Oct. 5, 2009
Source: Socialists in Greece show ruling party to the exit doors by Rachel Donadio and Anthee Carassava
Star Tribune print edition, Oct. 5, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
My Earliest Memory
My earliest memory is when my mother hung a shower curtain. I was a 2-year-old when my family moved from an apartment where there was a shower with glass doors to a house where there was a tub and shower. The tub and shower needed a curtain, but I did not understand why. I was also confused because the shower curtain was pink and it resembled a window curtain. I remember asking my mother why she was hanging a window curtain in the bathroom. I do not remember her answer, but I soon learned what shower curtains are and how they differ from window curtains.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sheriff argues over funding
Hannah Schott
Sept. 28, 2009
County Affairs
An argument regarding county affairs occurred Thursday between the county sheriff and several county commissioners. The sheriff accused the county commissioners of preventing changes the county sheriff's department needs.
"You're putting the lives of the people of this county in jeopardy," Sheriff Gus DiCesari said to commission president Anne Chenn and commission members Valerie Dawkins, Faith Ellis, Jose Gardez and Roland Grauman. DiCesari asked for five new sheriff's deputies and eight new police cruisers, but Chenn said the county does not have the $580,000 needed for those improvements.
DiCesari told the county commissioners that the eight current police cruisers each have more than 150,000 miles on them. DiCesari said: "It is getting too costly to maintain the older vehicles and they spend too much time in the repair shop. You commissioners eliminated the equipment budgets for my department this year and now I can't buy anything. This is the first time in my 27 years as sheriff that the county hasn't allocated money to the sheriff's department to buy equipment. My deputies can't keep driving these old vehicles. Something bad is going to happen."
Chenn suggested that deputies not drive their cruisers home each day as they do now, which would make cars more available and limit mileage. DiCesari disagreed. He said letting the deputies drive their cruisers home and parking them in their neighborhoods is a deterrent to crime.
Commission members Anita Shenuski and Raymond Laybourne supported Sheriff DiCesari's plea for more funding. Shenuski and Laybourne said the county should spend more money on the sheriff's department and law enforcement than on programs for migrant workers who come to the county.
Shenuski said during an argument with Chenn: "We never had problems until we began letting migrants come to this county to work. They are a problem for our law enforcement, our schools and our health care system. They take away jobs from decent people and work for next to nothing and if something gets stolen, you can bet it is one of them that's taken it. We need to protect local residents from them."
Chenn denied that migrant workers are the problem. Chenn said the county ran short of money this year because of increased costs for employee health care and fuel. The county also had to spend $30 million to build a new prison. Chenn said: "Those people who come here to work are decent, hardworking people being employed at jobs that local residents don't want to do. They add a great deal to the local economy and they pay taxes. You are being a hypocrite when you try to blame those people for everything."
The county commissioners estimate that there are around 5,000 migrant families now in the county working in agriculture, construction and service industry jobs. Commissioner Jose Gardez said many of the migrant workers become permanent members of the community, open businesses and become citizens.
The commissioners voted 5-2 against the sheriff's request for additional money.
Sept. 28, 2009
County Affairs
An argument regarding county affairs occurred Thursday between the county sheriff and several county commissioners. The sheriff accused the county commissioners of preventing changes the county sheriff's department needs.
"You're putting the lives of the people of this county in jeopardy," Sheriff Gus DiCesari said to commission president Anne Chenn and commission members Valerie Dawkins, Faith Ellis, Jose Gardez and Roland Grauman. DiCesari asked for five new sheriff's deputies and eight new police cruisers, but Chenn said the county does not have the $580,000 needed for those improvements.
DiCesari told the county commissioners that the eight current police cruisers each have more than 150,000 miles on them. DiCesari said: "It is getting too costly to maintain the older vehicles and they spend too much time in the repair shop. You commissioners eliminated the equipment budgets for my department this year and now I can't buy anything. This is the first time in my 27 years as sheriff that the county hasn't allocated money to the sheriff's department to buy equipment. My deputies can't keep driving these old vehicles. Something bad is going to happen."
Chenn suggested that deputies not drive their cruisers home each day as they do now, which would make cars more available and limit mileage. DiCesari disagreed. He said letting the deputies drive their cruisers home and parking them in their neighborhoods is a deterrent to crime.
Commission members Anita Shenuski and Raymond Laybourne supported Sheriff DiCesari's plea for more funding. Shenuski and Laybourne said the county should spend more money on the sheriff's department and law enforcement than on programs for migrant workers who come to the county.
Shenuski said during an argument with Chenn: "We never had problems until we began letting migrants come to this county to work. They are a problem for our law enforcement, our schools and our health care system. They take away jobs from decent people and work for next to nothing and if something gets stolen, you can bet it is one of them that's taken it. We need to protect local residents from them."
Chenn denied that migrant workers are the problem. Chenn said the county ran short of money this year because of increased costs for employee health care and fuel. The county also had to spend $30 million to build a new prison. Chenn said: "Those people who come here to work are decent, hardworking people being employed at jobs that local residents don't want to do. They add a great deal to the local economy and they pay taxes. You are being a hypocrite when you try to blame those people for everything."
The county commissioners estimate that there are around 5,000 migrant families now in the county working in agriculture, construction and service industry jobs. Commissioner Jose Gardez said many of the migrant workers become permanent members of the community, open businesses and become citizens.
The commissioners voted 5-2 against the sheriff's request for additional money.
Bluefin herring returns to namesake restaurant
Bluefin Grille on Lake Superior's North Shore survived a summer without its namesake fish on the menu. "We hadn't had it all summer until last week," the restaurant's executive chef said. Bluefin herring were hard to catch this summer because the water temperatures in Lake Superior were colder than usual.
Source: Bluefin herring returns to namesake restaurant by Steve Karnowski
Pioneer Press print edition, Sept. 28, 2009
Source: Bluefin herring returns to namesake restaurant by Steve Karnowski
Pioneer Press print edition, Sept. 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
My first day at ARCC
My first day at Anoka-Ramsey Community College occurred only four weeks ago, but seems like history to me. I never thought four weeks could pass so quickly and feel like an eternity at the same time. These last four weeks have felt like a summary of my life. Each day I have in life is precious, and I think I would value days more if I only had the time to treasure them. Right now, all I can do is try to keep a hold on each day's memories so I can sift through them later to look for hidden gems.
On August 25, 2009, I walked into a classroom for the first time in my life. I knew this would be an experience incomparable to being a home-schooled student. I wasn't really scared, but I was sad. Life can be like a rainstorm, beautiful and wild, passing over us before we have a chance to breathe in the scent of fresh, cleansing rain.
Someday I'll look back on my first day at ARCC and these first four weeks. I'll remember them and smile. This is my chance. This is my change. This is my blessing and my challenge.
On August 25, 2009, I walked into a classroom for the first time in my life. I knew this would be an experience incomparable to being a home-schooled student. I wasn't really scared, but I was sad. Life can be like a rainstorm, beautiful and wild, passing over us before we have a chance to breathe in the scent of fresh, cleansing rain.
Someday I'll look back on my first day at ARCC and these first four weeks. I'll remember them and smile. This is my chance. This is my change. This is my blessing and my challenge.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Alzheimer's Toll Rises
The number of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease is rising, a new study reveals today. Alzheimer's disease now afflicts more than 35 million people worldwide, a number that will double in the next 20 years. Researchers report age, obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes as the leading causes of Alzheimer's disease.
Source: Alzheimer's Toll Rises by Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press
Star Tribune print edition, September 21, 2009
Source: Alzheimer's Toll Rises by Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press
Star Tribune print edition, September 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Crash Wreaks Havoc on Interstate 790
Hannah Schott
September 16, 2009
Morning Crash
Devastation closed Interstate 790 this morning after 14 cars and four tractor-trailers careened into a wreck. The crash killed two people and injured 20 others, four of whom were seriously hurt. Firefighters cut the roofs off three of the cars to free the drivers and passengers. A helicopter from Memorial Hospital flew two of the seriously injured people to a trauma center. All five of the Fire Department's ambulances and ambulances from four nearby cities were called to the scene.
The chain reaction crash began at 6:45 a.m. when two tractor-trailers collided. A diesel truck driver prevented his tanker from overturning after his cab was hit by a car, reported Sgt. Albert Wei of the Police Department. The accident happened in the northbound lanes and closed the entire highway. The city's Police Department is investigating the accident.
Fire Chief Tony Sullivan said the scene looked like a "war zone" when he arrived, worse than any other accident he had seen in his 18 years as fire chief. Sirens wailed as fire trucks and ambulances arrived to help the injured. Interstate 690 was backed up for three hours as traffic was re-routed.
September 16, 2009
Morning Crash
Devastation closed Interstate 790 this morning after 14 cars and four tractor-trailers careened into a wreck. The crash killed two people and injured 20 others, four of whom were seriously hurt. Firefighters cut the roofs off three of the cars to free the drivers and passengers. A helicopter from Memorial Hospital flew two of the seriously injured people to a trauma center. All five of the Fire Department's ambulances and ambulances from four nearby cities were called to the scene.
The chain reaction crash began at 6:45 a.m. when two tractor-trailers collided. A diesel truck driver prevented his tanker from overturning after his cab was hit by a car, reported Sgt. Albert Wei of the Police Department. The accident happened in the northbound lanes and closed the entire highway. The city's Police Department is investigating the accident.
Fire Chief Tony Sullivan said the scene looked like a "war zone" when he arrived, worse than any other accident he had seen in his 18 years as fire chief. Sirens wailed as fire trucks and ambulances arrived to help the injured. Interstate 690 was backed up for three hours as traffic was re-routed.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Flu drugs that save lives
A flu drug that saves lives could become the decade's first new flu medicine. The drug, peramivir, when intravenously administered removes flu symptoms 5 times faster than Tamiflu pills. Tamiflu pills aid the survival prospects of flu patients, but peramivir IV treatment is preferable when patients cannot swallow pills.
source: Tests show two flu drugs shorten illness, save lives
September 14, 2009 print edition of Star Tribune
source: Tests show two flu drugs shorten illness, save lives
September 14, 2009 print edition of Star Tribune
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
McDonald's offers Friendly Welcome
If you are looking for a warm welcome to accompany your hot cup of coffee, walk inside your neighborhood McDonald's restaurant. While I was at a McDonald's Tuesday morning, I observed people sharing news about current events, retelling past stories and giving friendly advice. I asked an older man named Rob why he came to McDonald's. Rob said, "It is a friendly atmosphere because we have the whole neighborhood here."
A woman who identified herself as a school bus driver told me the employees at McDonald's make her feel comfortable and welcome. "During the school year, I come here every day," she said.
A woman who identified herself as a school bus driver told me the employees at McDonald's make her feel comfortable and welcome. "During the school year, I come here every day," she said.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The dos and don'ts of leads
I have learned that leads are crucial to the development of a good story. Leads should be concise, but should contain enough important information about the story to capture the reader's interest. Leads should not be iffy or gushy. They also should not state the obvious. The best lead is in subject-verb-object order, and leads should not contain unnecessary adjectives.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Japan elects opposition
The future of Japan changed Sunday when voters ejected the established political party. Voters felt dissatisfied with the Liberal Democratic Party because of their country's record unemployment and deflation, problems the succeeding Democratic Party of Japan has promised to fix.
source: Opposition takes over in Japanese elections from USA Today 8/31/09 print edition
source: Opposition takes over in Japanese elections from USA Today 8/31/09 print edition
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
My three most noteworthy news experiences
Every night, local news broadcasts air live on television, and every night I ask myself, "Which station do I want to watch tonight?" On an average basis, my answer is Kare 11 news. Kare 11 news doesn't have the fullest national coverage; I occasionally watch other local stations and see that they run more national stories. However, I consistently keep turning back to Kare 11. I look for the reason why. I listen to the newscasters as they recount the day's events. I watch their faces as they relate the story of a policeman's death or an upcoming charity walk. The passion that the Kare 11 newscasters have for their local news is evident in their faces. That passion shows me that they care about their community. That is why I watch Kare 11 news, and I hope that the more I watch that local station, the more I will learn from its caring newscasters.
There was no other motorsports radio show in the upper Midwest except FAN Motorsports. Now it is gone. Its rise to success started ten years ago, when its first host, Russ Bohaty, began the show as a local racing show on Thursday nights. In the next few years, FAN Motorsports gained listeners rapidly and was moved to a Saturday. The show also welcomed its second and final host, Chris Hawkey, who guided the show through its glory years. Hawkey invited his listeners to call his show and discuss their opinions with him on the air. Many motorsports racing fans, including myself, called in regularly. Hawkey hosted racing greats such as John Force, Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, and Richard Petty, but always kept his listeners informed of current racing news and of events taking place at local racing tracks around the Midwest. The decline of FAN Motorsports was gradual as the show became a victim of our nation's economy. In November 2008, Hawkey announced that his friend and co-host, Jordan Bianchi, had been let go from the show. The show ended in May of 2009 and became available in podcast form. On the final edition of FAN Motorsports, I was the first listener to call in and wish Chris Hawkey and his show goodbye. Hawkey expressed his hope that someday FAN Motorsports will return to the air, but that day has not yet come.
I don't receive any daily newspaper at my house and usually don't buy one, but the day after November 4th, 2008, I knew I wanted to have a print edition of any newspaper. Barack Obama had just been elected president, and I wanted a tangible reminder of the historic day. Unfortunately, by the time I looked for a newspaper at my local grocery store, they were all sold out. I realized how much people still value newspapers, not only as keepsakes and reminders of historic days, but to connect them to the current news and to make them feel a part of it. Luckily for me, my dad found a newspaper covering Barack Obama's election and brought it home. I'll always keep it, and I know many other people will keep theirs as well.
There was no other motorsports radio show in the upper Midwest except FAN Motorsports. Now it is gone. Its rise to success started ten years ago, when its first host, Russ Bohaty, began the show as a local racing show on Thursday nights. In the next few years, FAN Motorsports gained listeners rapidly and was moved to a Saturday. The show also welcomed its second and final host, Chris Hawkey, who guided the show through its glory years. Hawkey invited his listeners to call his show and discuss their opinions with him on the air. Many motorsports racing fans, including myself, called in regularly. Hawkey hosted racing greats such as John Force, Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, and Richard Petty, but always kept his listeners informed of current racing news and of events taking place at local racing tracks around the Midwest. The decline of FAN Motorsports was gradual as the show became a victim of our nation's economy. In November 2008, Hawkey announced that his friend and co-host, Jordan Bianchi, had been let go from the show. The show ended in May of 2009 and became available in podcast form. On the final edition of FAN Motorsports, I was the first listener to call in and wish Chris Hawkey and his show goodbye. Hawkey expressed his hope that someday FAN Motorsports will return to the air, but that day has not yet come.
I don't receive any daily newspaper at my house and usually don't buy one, but the day after November 4th, 2008, I knew I wanted to have a print edition of any newspaper. Barack Obama had just been elected president, and I wanted a tangible reminder of the historic day. Unfortunately, by the time I looked for a newspaper at my local grocery store, they were all sold out. I realized how much people still value newspapers, not only as keepsakes and reminders of historic days, but to connect them to the current news and to make them feel a part of it. Luckily for me, my dad found a newspaper covering Barack Obama's election and brought it home. I'll always keep it, and I know many other people will keep theirs as well.
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