Long Live Journalism

   Little did I know that taking Beginning Journalism during my sophomore year of college would kick start my writing career and introduce me to a discipline that is so unique and essential.  Throughout the past three years, I have learned about how to be a journalist, why journalism is important, what it takes to be a journalist, etc. Dr. Michael McClelland has given me all the tools I need to write a news article while making the process an enjoyable one.
  Over the past semester, I believe I have improved my news writing skills as they are very different from the other writing styles I do.  News writing is very succinct and to the point, no added word fluff; something I had a difficulty breaking myself of at the beginning of my journalism career at Witt. However, with the critique offered by Mac and the repetition of writing articles, I think I have improved in this area.  Having this skill I think will help me in the future because I now have multiple types of writing that I can produce for potential employers, whether that is in journalism or not.
    I also have enjoyed writing in my blog.  It has given me an alternate avenue for writing and gotten me in the habit of writing weekly.  Seeing my writing and reading my peers' blogs allows us to feel important and that our writing is worthwhile.  Advanced News Writing this semester has been my outlet class; I enjoy the people I interact with in class, the professor, and the content of the course.  I am able to relax and speak freely about all the topics we discussed and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity and privilege to take this class. Thank you to Mac, my classmates, and anyone who read my blog or articles. Long live journalism!!

Never Gets Easier...

    Regardless of your age or grade in school, this time of year is always anticipated because of the many holiday breaks that students get from school.  I know that when I leave Wittenberg for Thanksgiving or Christmas break, I am in a very very happy mood.  I am eager to get home and relax with family and friends, and escape from the stresses of school.
    Last Tuesday, I was packed to go home the night before and got on the road north to Toledo as soon as I could.  However, my mood is the opposite when I ventured south today back towards Springfield.  It has always been difficult to leave home after a holiday break.  It is just enough time to get settled in to the routine of home; eating home-cooked meals, sleeping in, seeing friends and family, and releasing all ties to school.  And then, that comfort is taken right out from underneath you and on you go back to school.
   This feeling has not changed.  I remember experiencing this infamous holiday break remorse my freshmen year and I felt the same way on my drive back today.  The only thing that has changed is my reaction.  I remember I cried my freshmen year leaving home after Christmas break.  I have thankfully gotten a tad bit tougher when it comes to leaving home.  Regardless, I am so thankful for the wonderful Thanksgiving break I had with my family and that is why it is always so hard to leave home.

I May Have an Obsession...

   Books, Movies, Cars, Beauty, Pop Culture, Music.  All typical topics people are interested in when they turn on the TV or pick up a magazine or scroll through their pintrest page. 

   However, I have come to notice and I am sure others have too, that I have a particular topic that I am interested in. Food. And this is not just an interest, it is an obsession.  Now, don't automatically jump the gun and assume that when I say I am obsessed with food that all I do is eat it.  Yes, granted, I enjoy eating food but this relationship is based on so much more than that.

  First and most importantly, I love to cook and bake.  I am constantly thinking of new creations and fun desserts I can make for friends and family.  This contributes to how I spend a lot of my free time; looking up recipes.  I have several sources for my recipes; my collection of cookbooks (its very small but I imagine it'll grow), the Food Network, the Food Network magazine, several food blogs, etc. The list goes on and on.  On a bus ride home from a volleyball tournament, a teammate happened to look through the seats in front of her to where I was sitting and she wondered what was I doing? As she put it, "looking at food porn" on my ipod.  Of course it was not food porn, that's gross people, but that's how she described it because the website was just images of food that linked me to their respective recipes. 

   I know that it may seem crazy or obsessive but food is my hobby.  With volleyball over now I have much more time to devote to baking, my true passion.  Just this week alone, I will have made pumpkin ice cream, a brown butter apple tart, and cupcakes for my volleyball coach's daughter's birthday.  And a big question on my mind is what I am going to bake for Thanksgiving; I have several recipes that I want to make including a homemade apple pie (something every baker has to have under their belt), pumpkin creme brulee, and possibly some sort of layer cake. 

   Looking at this blog right now is even more evidence of my passion for food.  This is probably the longest blog I have written, so if you are still reading, cudos to you! I even want to pursue food sustainability and nutrition in a future career.  I think that it is so important for children and even adults to understand where food comes from and how to prepare it properly to make it both healthy and tasty! It is possible! Believe me! 

   Thinking about a topic to write about for this blog, food immediately entered my brain.  Haven't written about it yet and with the holidays around the corner, it is consuming a big portion of my daily thought processes. So now I have let you in on my food obsession and if you ever have a request of something you are absolutely craving, chances are that I will cook or bake it for you!

Difficult Times for Wittenberg

     The fall of 2012 has marked a difficult beginning to the academic year for Wittenberg University because of the rise in sexual assaults, the arrest of a French professor on charges of rape, and now the potential cuts that several departments are facing.  The latter issue is the focus of this post and is something that should not be taken lightly.
     Some of the departments that are up for elimination are Geology, Dance, Music, and French; it is these departments that face removal because they draw the lowest amount of students for a major or minor.  It is unfortunate that any department has to face this fate because Wittenberg is an institution that values community and the education of every student by offering avenues to study many different disciplines.
    I know that a department that students are particularly sensitive about and adamant about saving is the dance and music departments.  People argue that if you take aways the art disciplines, then you are essentially lowering the standards that Wittenberg has set as a liberal 'arts' university.
  The administration is offering a way for students to voice their opinions online regarding the departmental cuts.  I think that this is good and it encourages student participation in a decision that is going to undoubtedly impact the future of the university.  I only hope that the students who are most distraught by the potential elimination of several departments express their opinions through the online application provided.  

Saving the Best for Last

     Last Tuesday, the Wittenberg womens volleyball team traveled 6 hours on a charter bus up to Grand Rapids Michigan to participate in the NCAA regional tournament in hopes of achieving back to back national championships.  However, this journey would not come without its' battles and this is exactly what the tigers faced in their three days of competition.
    Day 1: the only obligation the volleyball team had on Wednesday was attending the 55 minute practice mandated and observed by an NCAA representative.  After that, we went to see a movie and had a great team dinner at Olive Garden.
   Day 2: game day#1!! We were set to play Ohio Northern in the first round and beat them in three.  On to the next opponent!!
   Day 3: On Friday, we played Hope College, #5 in the nation vs. us, #2 in the nation.  Big, big game that I think a lot of people did not expect the tigers to handle so confidently and poised.  We beat Hope in three.
   Day 4: Regional Finals. #1Calvin College vs. #2 Wittenberg University.  Basically the national championship match in the third round of the NCAA's.  We knew it was going to be a all out battle, but it was not something we weren't willing to fight for.  My team already had accomplished so much in our season, far beyond anybody's expectations.  So we decided, to enjoy the moment.  Live in the incredible atmosphere we had in that arena with 2,000 fans screaming after every point.  We definitely embraced the challenge with open arms and did not hold anything back.  Unfortunately, we lost to Calvin in 5 sets, ending our season and for the four seniors, our volleyball careers.
   This may seem sad, and it was in the aftermath of the match.  But as we sat back and reflected on our season, my team and I realized that we had already won.  We had created some lasting friendships, learned so much together, and accomplished some amazing feats in the time from August 11th to November 10th. I will forever cherish the times spent as a tiger volleyball player; but especially the moments I had with my team this past season.  Once a tiger, always a tiger! KKHHMMMHHWWB.

First Time Voter in a Suspenseful Election

    Tuesday November 6th 2012 is a day that many Ohioans will remember forever.  Not only was Ohio extremely influential in determining the outcome of the presidential election, but Ohio also saw an influx of new voters taking a stand and voicing their opinions.  Our generation's contribution to politics and elections has always been of interest and we, as college students, have been especially targeted to take part and vote.  If you don't believe me, take a look at my mailbox.  I changed my voter registration to Clark County in September so that I could conveniently vote while at Witt.  Every since I did that, flyers and pamphlets swarmed my mailbox and I even received a few phone calls from a campaign office.  Needless to say, the election has been in our faces for the past 3 months and I think that students actually listened to the campaign materials! My friend and I, both first time voters, walked downtown to the Heritage Center early Tuesday morning and spoke our voices.  We felt very excited and empowered after we turned in our ballots, regardless of who we voted for and who inevitably won the election.  I think this is the lesson to be learned, not if our candidate won or not.  We, as the college student generation, have a responsibility to take a stake in our future and the future of our country.  Step 1: voting, and I am proud to say that I, as well as many of my friends, voted for the first time on Tuesday and will continue to be politically involved in the United States, Ohio, and even in Springfield.

Small but Mighty

      Wittenberg's size definitely does not correlate to its strength when it comes to partying on campus.  After three and a half years of going to parties on campus, dancing/singing with strangers at the bar, and late-nighting after the bar with a Cousin Vinny's BIG 10 (freshmen if you don't know what a BIG ten is, LEARN!), I know a thing or two about Wittenberg and the night scene we have.  I realize that freshmen year is a time for exploration.  Freshmen tend to go all out when it comes to their partying, often times making those "freshmen mistakes" we all have made before. For example, drinking so much that you don't make it past 10:00PM or wandering around trying to find a party but not knowing exactly which house is the most welcoming.  These experiences are ones that will shape how you approach the social scene at Witt and will also teach you some very valuable lessons.  I think that as upperclassmen we should try to guide the little freshmen in their first year of Wittenberg nightlife; but also relish in the entertainment we may get out of watching them figure it out themselves and remembering our rookie year in college.     
       My knowledge of the night life on campus does not mean that I go out every night and am a complete party animal wherever I go.  I actually consider myself somewhat of a more conservative student when it comes to going out and partying.  For the first half of every year at Witt, I have been in a comlpete dry season because I play volleyball for Wittenberg and that is one rule we do not mess with.  However, the times when I do venture around Wittenberg's night scene, they are definitely nights to remember (depending on my alcohol content, the remembering thing may get a tad hazy).  Wittenberg is a very fun campus and  students are generally very open with their house parties.  I know that people outside of Witt who come here to visit friends and go out are always impressed with how much Wittenberg does party.  Just because we are small doesn't mean that we do not know how to have fun and throw a raging ugly sweater party! And also, I want to clarify, going out on Wittenberg's campus does not necessarily imply that you have to consume alcohol to enjoy yourself.  I know plenty of people who choose not the drink and still have a great time just socializing with friends and soaking up the overall environment that Wittenberg parties typically have.  I hope that my readers, especially if you are freshmen, are excited about the upcoming nights when they get to experience a night out on Wittenberg's campus laughing with friends, possibly streaking the Hollow, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.   

Witt VB's Experiece in Atlanta!

   Over this past weekend, Wittenberg's volleyball team traveled to Atlanta Georgia to play in a tournament hosted by Emory University.  The trip was primarily for competition purposes, but each player got much more out of the experience. 

   First things first, we flew to Atlanta.  The majority of us on the team had flown before; however, for one freshman, it was her first flying experience and surely she will remember it! We all were comforting her pre-flight butterflies and the flight staff even provided her with a set of pilot's wings to calm her anxiety. Once we took off, she was able to relax and even laugh a little as the flight attendent mentioned our team's presence on the plane and encouraged applause from the people on board with us. 

   As far as the volleyball aspect of the trip, it went very well! We won all three of our matches and of particular importance, we beat the #6 ranked team in the nation, Emory University.  That set the tone for the entire trip! We also enjoyed shopping and experiencing downtown Atlanta at a shopping mega-center where we had a very unique and delicious dinner at a place called Yard's House.  Many of us were sad to see our weekend getaway to Atlanta end as our plane took off and would shortly thereafter touch down in Dayton Ohio.  But even if it was only two and a half days of Atlanta, it was two and a half days that our team will never forget!

Party in the Student Center!

    Wednesday, October 24.  I am sitting at the computers in the basement of the student center and it is currently 11:02PM.  Yet, the student center is still buzzing with people! This is reassuring to me.  I feel like a big question on campus and with student government/union board is whether or not students take advantage of the Witt Wednesdays events, Doppelgangers, and Founders; especially on Wednesdays.  Where students are spending their Witt Wednesdays, at least this Wednesday, is in the student center.  I can hear people in Founders, watching the baseball world series and casually conversing among 21 year old peers.  I also hear individuals playing pool and other games in Doppelgangers, which is a satisfying discovery because that place could not have been a cheap investment for Wittenberg.  And finally, masses of students seemed to have poured out of the CDR after the Illusionist Witt Wednesday event was finished.  Also, another reassuring discovery; students are spending time going to free entertainment with friends rather than drinking in their dorms or houses.  Sure, there are probably still those party houses bumping on W. College and students anxiously awaiting bar time.  But maybe, just maybe, Witt Wednesdays are becoming less about drinking and more about using free and quality entertainment provided by Witt.  Only time, and more Witt Wednesdays, will tell.

Story Ideas....

     I have been thinking all weekend about what possible story ideas I could offer to my fellow journalists in class...Let me tell you, it was somewhat difficult to find unique story ideas!
However, here are my ideas and I haven't claimed any of them as of yet so feel free!

1). I have had several of my freshmen on my team ask me about scheduling for their second semester of college and advice for what classes they should take.  Possibly do a story on tips for freshmen as they schedule classes for the first time on their own? Getting quotes from upperclassmen who have registered several times and maybe even offer any courses they recommend?? (Actually as I write this post, I like this story idea more and more so I am claiming it as mine haha)

2). Maybe a reaction story to any of the Naked Week events coming up? I know there is the "Vagina Monologues" and "I Heart the Female O" early this week in the evenings.  These could be very relevant topics with the circumstances on campus recently.  I know I personally cannot attend these events but I would definitely read them in the Torch!

3).  My last story idea is whether or not students are taking advantage of the resources that are offered to us free of charge; like the Career Services center, the Oral Communications Center, the Math Workshop, the Foreign Language Center, the Writing Center, etc.  These resources are technically paid for by students through tuition so I am curious whether students are aware of that and if these services get utilized. 

I hope that these stories are interesting to you and that you see them as worthy of taking on! Enjoy!

The Infamous 21

      21: it may just be a number but when associated with age, it symbolizes the step into a whole new world.  A world where you are now legally allowed to buy and drink alcohol, something many college students value deeply.  No longer having to use a fake ID, have others buy you alcohol, and not being denied entry or charged to get into bars is huge.  See, like I said, a whole new and exciting world.

     I turned 21 in July and it was just as monumental as I had imagined it to be.  You'll hear stories about people taking 21 shots for their birthday or getting so drunk to the point where it isn't fun anymore for those around them.  I'll admit, I had my fair share of drinks bought for me on my birthday.  However, I wasn't falling over and throwing up like I have heard happen on so many birthdays.  It was definitely an experience that I can say I will never forget but also one that I don't completely remember.

     Using my new license gave me a sense of empowerment.  Not necessarily only because I am now legal to buy alcohol but it also gave me a new found independence and the feeling of being an adult.  So therefore, I showed my license whenever and wherever I could!  Unfortunately, the time I had to use my brand new license was cut short.  My athletic team adheres to a very strict dry season which began the second week of August and that consequently ended my time to consume/purchase alcohol until the end of our season in November.  But have no fear, I am not too distraught about this situation.  I know that when season is over and I am capable of having an alcoholic drink, my license will still be there in my wallet just waiting to be put to use! The infamous 21, it has a different meaning for every individual.  However, one commonality in the number is that majority of college students anxiously await the day where they have the power while standing at the bar.
      

And the Winner Is......

        An average student at Wittenberg enrolls in about 32 classes during their four years of college.  Of those 32 courses, is it possible to have a great learning experience and remarkable professor in each one? Unfortunately, the odds are not in your favor (any Hunger Games readers will understand that reference).  However, that just means the classes students do find particularly intriguing and stimulating will not only be excellent experiences while here at Witt but will provide great memories after they graduate.
       It is difficult for me to pick a favorite course that I have taken at Wittenberg because I have had some wonderful classroom experiences that are all very unique to one another.  However, if I had to choose one course that stood out from the rest, I would say my Introduction to Photography course that I took in the spring of my junior year.  I already knew I had an interest in photography but I did not know that I would love it as much as I did.  The course used solely 35mm cameras and black and white film.  I also was responsible for developing and editing my own images for each assignment.  This class was the ultimate creative environment for me because it was scientific in the developing but also extremely whimsical and invigorating when I had a camera in my hands.  I loved being totally in charge of what my photographs looked like and yet not getting that satisfaction until after the developing and printing process.  Black and white photography is such a beautiful art form, I think that it is great that Witt offers this course as an A general education requirement.
       With every high there must be a low; thus, my least favorite class that I have taken while at Wittenberg was during the first semester of my freshmen year.  It was an ethics and morality class regarding several different religions.  The class material was very dense, partly because the professor was not adequately conveying the content to us students.  He was not very interactive with the class and did mostly lecturing for the full hour.  It also was not very challenging because for every test, the professor would give the test questions and go over the answers prior to the exam.  All in all, I did not feel that this class really added to my Wittenberg experience as a student.  However, it did not deter me from the school and is truly a needle in the haystack of great classes I have taken at Witt.

Wheels on the Bus....

    Within the last month and a half, the volleyball team has traveled to five different universities across the Midwest on a charter bus.  By the fifth and most recent trip, the charter bus began to feel like a second home to many of us, especially the freshmen who are just getting used to the imprint the uncomfortable seats leave on your backside.  For the seniors, the buses have been the means of transportation to away matches for the past four years and some of the treks have lasted as long as eight hours.  However, regardless of the length of the trip, the volleyball team always finds ways to make the bus ride entertaining.  Our coach does make us do study tables for a couple hours on the longer trips but that is actually beneficial because we are oftentimes missing classes while we are away.  But apart from academics, we watch movies, play games, and have many conversations; sometimes involving severely slap happy girls because we have been couped up on a bus for six hours! The most recent road trip back from the University of Indianapolis was spent doing MadLibs and playing other word games to pass the time.  No matter where we go, the volleyball team always makes the best out of the long bus rides we have to endure because they are truly the times when we get to know each other even more and make some lasting memories.  

What About Blogging?

      Having to create a blog and write on it twice a week has not been as miserable for me as I think it has been for other individuals in the class.  I actually enjoy writing on my blog as well as reading others.  It is an avenue for me to write about what I want (within the bounds of a prompt if Mac gives us one) and express my opinions in a much more creative way than in a typical hard news article.  Also, with technology advancing as it is, blogging opens up a world of opportunity for the post.  Bloggers can post links, pictures, videos, comics, and any other additive to their article to make it even more appealing and interactive for a reader.  And there is the other part of blogging I like; reading! I am a food junkie so within the last year I have looked at so many food blogs it is unreal! But I also find that I am interested in other types of blogs as well; informational, sports, health, and even personal blogs written by perfect strangers!  Blogs are a way to enter another individual's mind and view the world or whatever they are writing about from their perspective. I am thankful that we are including blogging and the technological aspect of journalism into our class and I hope my peers appreciate the assignment as much as I do.

Here is a link of an example of one of the many food blogs I look at!!
Be warned...you may become addicted like me!

 http://www.mariasmenu.com/desserts/nutella-and-chocolate-cupcake

Wittenberg: Conservative or Liberal?

 

     With the upcoming election and all the buzz about politics around campus, it's no surprise that the question of Wittenberg's political views comes into question.  Being a citizen that is not as informed as she probably should be about the presidential campaign, I do not really take notice to the overall political "feel" of our university.  However, through discussions in our news writing class, I am beginning to notice things around campus that scream either democrat or republican.  For instance, there is a house on the edge of Fountain Ave. that has a home-made sign in front that supports Obama and has a big pair of lips on it, possibly giving Obama a kiss?  Also, I am noticing bumper stickers on cars across campus; many of which are supporting liberal candidates or liberal issues.  Regardless of whether or not students feel that they are up to date with the current election, they are being exposed to it daily just by being on campus.  And the overwhelming support of liberal ideals makes me believe that this exposure may be painting a biased picture for those of us who are not as politically aware and savvy.

Baby, It's Getting Cold Outside

       I wouldn't say that temperatures are to the point where singing the famous song, Baby It's Cold Outside, is appropriate but the recent chilly mornings make me believe that time is not too far off.  This morning I woke up at 7:45AM and I was absolutely frozen in my bed! I like to sleep with my window open during the fall because it gets me some fresh air and keeps my room cool with the temperate climate of Ohio's autumn.  However, I may need to rethink my sleeping circumstances if night temperatures continue to reach the lows that they have been.  Don't get me wrong, I love fall weather because daytime temperatures are a happy medium between hot and cold.  However, I am now going to have to prepare better for nighttime and possibly close my window to avoid seeing my breath when I wake up.  Bundle up Wittenberg!



PS. I am attaching a link to a local weather forecast for those of you, who like me, want to prepare for colder temperatures ahead!

http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Springfield+OH+USOH0908

Noisy Neighbors

      On a college campus, it is typically the college students who are throwing the massive parties with loud music. However, what I do not think people realize is that sometimes it is Springfield civilians who occupy those loud houses of our neighborhood.  I live on the edge of campus, an area where many non-Wittenberg affiliated people reside.  Recently, my roommates and I were suddenly woken up because of music echoing from a nearby house.  Being located directly behind the FIJI house on campus, we immediately assumed that it was coming from them.   To our surprise however, the noise was coming from a house next door, in which a Springfield family lives.  I swear, it sounded like we were at an Amy Winehouse concert as her song Rehab seemingly played over and over again.  It did not makes sense to me that a house with a family living in it would be playing music so loudly at 8:30AM.  But sure enough, it was them because this is not the only time it has happened.  My roommate threatened that next time she was woken up by their music, she would call the Witt Security on them.  Although, I am not sure what Wittenberg Security can do since the family has no ties with the university to my knowledge.
       I know that in class we have discussed how Wittenberg students are living among Springfield residents in the off-campus housing areas but who would have imagined that the Witt students would be complaining about the Springfield locals about noise. Kinda seems a little backwards to me.  Possibility for a news story? I think so.

Remembering September 11th

       Each year, September 11th is a day stained with sorrow and grievance for people throughout the United States and yet Wittenberg held no memorial service or vigil to remember those lost in the tragedy. Why?  This is a question I immediately asked myself as I reflected on the day and its' meaning to me.  Last year, Wittenberg had a ten year anniversary memorial service; however I think that this year was no less tragic or less worthy of remembrance than any year in the past.  It bothered me that our university failed to recognize those lives lost in the terrorist attacks of 9/11 when it was an event that affected every citizen, and undoubtedly every Witt student, at that time.  The most frequent type of remembrance that I encountered yesterday was either through peoples' twitter accounts or on television.  I just hope that Wittenberg is not dismissing this event because it is now more than ten years in the past.  It is still a memory that is fresh in the minds of every American and will continue to be as long as people chose to remember and respect September 11th.  Even though I will not be at Wittenberg next year during September, I hope that the University will do a better job of remembering the day and the people who lost their lives in the attacks.

Can Men Be From Venus and Women From Mars??

         Throughout society's history, men and women have always had some form of cultural boundary regarding the role each gender is meant to fill.  However, what if those roles were reversing? This question is both intriguing and relevant because men and women are in fact currently experiencing a gender role reversal in America.  Women are seen stepping into more powerful positions in the professional world and men are seen taking on a more nurturing and child-rearing role.   

       It may seem like a very broad and extensive topic for a semester long story and I realized this once I began planning my approach to get the information I will need.  However, I am currently taking a communication class at Wittenberg that has introduced me to the notion of gender roles.  After discussing in class the current state of those roles on a societal level, I immediately thought about it also being evident at Wittenberg.  Especially with the recent inauguration of the first female president in Wittenberg's history, I thought this topic would be extremely prevalent and interesting to students.
        My plan is to interview Dr. Joyner, the new president, to get her perspective as the first female president and her general opinions about women gaining more power in society.  I also want to interview the communication department professors because their gender dynamics are interesting.  Having only one male professor among four women professors will provide me with helpful insight to how gender plays into their professional lives.   I am hoping to first provide readers with a broad societal view of gender role reversal, providing examples and information from credible literature.  After that I will tailor the story to Wittenberg and how students and faculty alike are being influenced by the gender role reversal.  Hopefully this story will be as interesting to my readers as it is to me.

Tiger Up Witt!!

         Tonight, the first annual Tiger Sports Rally was held in the student center on Wittenberg's campus to kick off this year's athletic season.  Not only was this event used as a means to gather tiger athletes but it was also a way to introduce our new president, Dr. Joyner, to the athletes here at Wittenberg.  The rally was consumed by the music, energy, and excitement provided by the athletes and coaches alike that were present.  It was really great to experience a gathering of all the athletes at Wittenberg and to really see just how many of us there are.  The athletic director and several coaches led the athletes in cheers and then Dr. Joyner gave a short speech.  She said how impressed she was with Wittenberg so far because not only are we academically strong but also athletically successful.  However, as the rally went on, students began to lose interest; especially during a trivia game that seemed to last a lifetime.  But, have no fear, the athletes attention levels and energy picked up again once the DJ yelled "who wants free t-shirts?!" Quickly athletes were on their feet hoping to catch a free Wittenberg t-shirt.  Overall, I think the rally was a success and I hope they continue it for years to come.  

A New Species Of Human??

       I am currently enrolled in a course at Wittenberg called Relational Communication and as I enter the third week of class, I am already being intellectually challenged by this class.  A recent assignment was to read an article from the magazine, Scientific American, titled "What Will Become of Homo Sapiens?"  This title, you may be thinking to yourself, is rather precarious in nature.  It is something not many people think about; the evolution of the human race.  As it says in the article, some people believe that the human race is done evolving due to modern technology and medicine that allows us to live longer and reproduce more successfully.  However, others believe that modern technology like genetic modification will ultimately create a new species of human.  What? A new species of human? Yes, that is what I said.  The author of the article,  Peter Ward, is an expert in paleontology and mass extinctions.  He stated that if humans begin to genetically modify their unborn children so that they live longer and are seemingly healthier, that generation of children will evolve into a new species of human; a more intelligent and longer-living species who will only want to reproduce with others like them.  Today, genetic modification is surrounded by questions of ethics and is possibly still considered taboo when dealing with altering human genes.
       At first, it was difficult for me to understand this article because of its' complicated and abstract nature.  But as I thought about it more, I realized that Ward's theory may be a tad extreme but it may have some truth to it.  Are we allowing technology to interfere with natural human processes that could potentially effect the future of our species? Human genetic modification walks a very fine line between pursuing technological/medicinal breakthroughs and allowing the creation of the "perfect" child, an already an ethically charged topic in today's society.  So I guess the question to ask is, what will become of humans if we continue down this technologically driven path  where ultimately even our genetic make-up is determined by fellow humans? According to Ward, we will have a new species of human amongst us.

Uncertainty for November: How and/or Will Witt Students Vote?

         On Tuesday, the advanced news writing class at Wittenberg University discussed the upcoming presidential election and whether or not students plan to participate in the election and/or their thoughts on the issues the nation faces.  Out of the four students interviewed, three stated that they plan to vote absentee and the fourth is unsure about his actions.  The general consensus that was gathered from the students is that this election is difficult for students to both understand and formulate a concrete opinion for either candidate. Some students agreed that the whole political campaign  feels more like an act rather than the candidates' genuine concern for the nation's future.  Particularly, one student mentioned the campaign advertisements on television seem more like personal attacks on the other party rather than focusing on what they will do if elected. It was also interesting to acknowledge what students did not say regarding issues most important to them.  Popular responses included healthcare and women's rights.  However, one especially prominent and influential issue our entire nation is facing that was not mentioned was the economy.  Perhaps this is suggesting that college students are not feeling the effects of the economic crisis? However, I find this difficult to believe because so many students are paying their way through college or at least having to pay some expenses.  Come November, it seems unsure of how students will vote or if they will even vote at all.

Walking Past Witt

         Incoming freshmen and Wittenberg students alike are often times hesitant to leave campus and see what Springfield has to offer.  Over the summer, I participated in an internship through Wittenberg that opened my eyes to a different side of Springfield that I had never seen before.  I ate at many local restaurants; most of which were better dining experiences that what I have had on the infamous Bechtle Avenue or as many Witt students know it as the Mecca of American fast food and chain restaurants.  I also learned about the history of Springfield at the Heritage Center in downtown; something I recommend that every student go explore.  So many opportunities to explore Springfield are within walking distance from Wittenberg's campus but are rarely taken advantage of.  I am hoping that this article will bring awareness of the great local events and locations Springfield has to offer to Wittenberg students and hopefully draw them outside of the Wittenberg bubble.  Examples of these events/locations include the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings; the Clark County Library; Un Mundo Cafe; Coffee Expressions; Fountain on Main.

Thoughts for the Semester

        Today was the first day of my advanced news writing class for the fall semester of my senior year.  I am excited to be in a more writing intensive course where  the work we produce could potentially be published in The Torch or in other news publications.  I also see myself as more of a feature writer so I am excited to challenge myself and learn more about news writing and the different writing style required.  I am hoping to write for The Torch as much as I can this semester working with my volleyball schedule; however after taking this course, I think I will be even more prepared to write consistently for The Torch in the spring semester.  The variety of assignments and stories that we will be writing will keep the class interesting and fresh.  Also having taken the introductory jounralism course at Wittenberg in my sophomore year, it will be good to review the basics of journalism and build on those skills.