Monday, May 25, 2009
Emerson College Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Break
I wanted to start posting a few journalism stories. Some I am sure you'll enjoy or relate to others I'm sure you won't, but constructive criticism is always appreciated.
With airfare prices reaching the highest rates in more than a decade it is no surprise that more students are spending their Thanksgiving Break in the Boston area than ever before. Approximately 2% of Emerson students stay on campus during break while countless students find themselves unable to go home for the holiday. This number has not increased significantly since last year. Instead students are choosing to stay with family and friends who live in the area.
This lack of interest in housing at Emerson College is a probably a good thing. Acquiring housing for break periods is no easy task. Housing is limited to rooms in the Little Building. Emerson students wishing to receive housing are required to fill out an application demonstrating need as well as submit employment papers. These items are necessary not simply to discriminate who receives housing, but also to ensure that once you do receive housing you will be able to work on campus during break.
It’s not the application process that makes staying on-campus during break so difficult, however, it’s finding a room at all. Students must find Little Building residents who are willing to ‘rent out’ their rooms for the week.
Most students that find it impossible to go home for break find it easier to stay with friends or relatives who live in the Boston area. Staying on campus is for most is a last choice chosen only once they have exhausted all other options. It is surprising then that not all students are staying on campus simply because the cost of going home is too high.
Several students came to Emerson this year knowing that they would not be able to travel back home until December break. For the more than 38% of Emersonians that hail from West Coast states like California buying a plane ticket home for break would cost you on average more than $100 dollars for each day you were gone.
Chelsea Graven a third year Marketing student, said that going home for Thanksgiving break was never going to be an option for her this year.
“I'm from California and even in August tickets to go back home were around 600, when they were around 400 last year, so financially it seemed ridiculous to spend all that money to go home for 5 days when Christmas break is only a couple weeks later.”
Financial reasons were not the only causes of students staying on campus for the holiday, however, some students stayed for more personal reasons. Derrick Cheung, a freshman Marketing student, said that though going home was an option he decided to stay on-campus.
“It's a long and complicated story... basically I’m staying here to see a girl who I’m in love with.”
Criticism from students about housing procedures during school breaks usually have nothing to do with staying on-campus or not being able to take place with festivities of home. Instead students often complain about more practical things such as the loss of their meal plan or being required to work at the reception desk during the week.
When asked Chelsea Graven said that her reasons for staying are somewhat moot because although she won’t be paying for a plane ticket she still has to find off campus restaurants to eat in during the week.
“It's frustrating that we can't use our meals, since it's pretty difficult to cook food if you don't have pots and pans, which a lot of us don't, and it probably won't end up being all that much less expensive to stay here than go home at the end of the day with the cost of eating out all the time.”
I wanted to start posting a few journalism stories. Some I am sure you'll enjoy or relate to others I'm sure you won't, but constructive criticism is always appreciated.
With airfare prices reaching the highest rates in more than a decade it is no surprise that more students are spending their Thanksgiving Break in the Boston area than ever before. Approximately 2% of Emerson students stay on campus during break while countless students find themselves unable to go home for the holiday. This number has not increased significantly since last year. Instead students are choosing to stay with family and friends who live in the area.
This lack of interest in housing at Emerson College is a probably a good thing. Acquiring housing for break periods is no easy task. Housing is limited to rooms in the Little Building. Emerson students wishing to receive housing are required to fill out an application demonstrating need as well as submit employment papers. These items are necessary not simply to discriminate who receives housing, but also to ensure that once you do receive housing you will be able to work on campus during break.
It’s not the application process that makes staying on-campus during break so difficult, however, it’s finding a room at all. Students must find Little Building residents who are willing to ‘rent out’ their rooms for the week.
Most students that find it impossible to go home for break find it easier to stay with friends or relatives who live in the Boston area. Staying on campus is for most is a last choice chosen only once they have exhausted all other options. It is surprising then that not all students are staying on campus simply because the cost of going home is too high.
Several students came to Emerson this year knowing that they would not be able to travel back home until December break. For the more than 38% of Emersonians that hail from West Coast states like California buying a plane ticket home for break would cost you on average more than $100 dollars for each day you were gone.
Chelsea Graven a third year Marketing student, said that going home for Thanksgiving break was never going to be an option for her this year.
“I'm from California and even in August tickets to go back home were around 600, when they were around 400 last year, so financially it seemed ridiculous to spend all that money to go home for 5 days when Christmas break is only a couple weeks later.”
Financial reasons were not the only causes of students staying on campus for the holiday, however, some students stayed for more personal reasons. Derrick Cheung, a freshman Marketing student, said that though going home was an option he decided to stay on-campus.
“It's a long and complicated story... basically I’m staying here to see a girl who I’m in love with.”
Criticism from students about housing procedures during school breaks usually have nothing to do with staying on-campus or not being able to take place with festivities of home. Instead students often complain about more practical things such as the loss of their meal plan or being required to work at the reception desk during the week.
When asked Chelsea Graven said that her reasons for staying are somewhat moot because although she won’t be paying for a plane ticket she still has to find off campus restaurants to eat in during the week.
“It's frustrating that we can't use our meals, since it's pretty difficult to cook food if you don't have pots and pans, which a lot of us don't, and it probably won't end up being all that much less expensive to stay here than go home at the end of the day with the cost of eating out all the time.”
Randi Goldklank
Goldklank
Randi Goldklank, a woman often seen behind the scenes of most news coverage, became a story herself earlier tonight. Goldklank the general manager of Boston news station WHDH was arrested earlier tonight and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Allegedly Goldklank was involved in several outbursts after a Delta flight from Philadelphia to Boston on Sunday night. According to a Massachusetts State police report airport attendants had to escort her off of the aircraft due to her unsteadiness. Police had already been contacted regarding Goldklank due to her disorderly behavior while onboard the aircraft.
According to the report, Goldklank staggered out of Gate number nine at Logan International airport smelling of alcohol. The report states that while being taken into custody she struck the arresting officer breaking the prescription eye glasses and threatened him, screaming, “Leave me alone, do you know who the [obscenity] I am? I’ll have a news crew down here in minutes and you will lose your [obscenity] jobs”.
“I’m a big shot in Boston,” Goldklank is reported as saying to Troopers “and I’ll have your [obscenity] jobs you think you’re a [obscenity] tough guy, you just watch and see what[obscenity] happens to you when I get [obscenity] out of here.”
Goldklank was so unmanageable that police had difficulty booking her due to her level of intoxication. After refusing to answer any questions and swearing at officers Goldklank the report states that she became subdued.
A few minutes late the report states that she leaned forward and said to Sergeant Luce, “You think I’m cure and I think you’re cute, just drive me home.”
Later, after medical professionals from Boston Health and Hospital were called, Goldklank was overheard saying that she had had “about three dozen drinks,” according to the report. The report also stated that Goldklank was overheard saying she had been taking Lexapro for depression.
Randi Goldklank, a woman often seen behind the scenes of most news coverage, became a story herself earlier tonight. Goldklank the general manager of Boston news station WHDH was arrested earlier tonight and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Allegedly Goldklank was involved in several outbursts after a Delta flight from Philadelphia to Boston on Sunday night. According to a Massachusetts State police report airport attendants had to escort her off of the aircraft due to her unsteadiness. Police had already been contacted regarding Goldklank due to her disorderly behavior while onboard the aircraft.
According to the report, Goldklank staggered out of Gate number nine at Logan International airport smelling of alcohol. The report states that while being taken into custody she struck the arresting officer breaking the prescription eye glasses and threatened him, screaming, “Leave me alone, do you know who the [obscenity] I am? I’ll have a news crew down here in minutes and you will lose your [obscenity] jobs”.
“I’m a big shot in Boston,” Goldklank is reported as saying to Troopers “and I’ll have your [obscenity] jobs you think you’re a [obscenity] tough guy, you just watch and see what[obscenity] happens to you when I get [obscenity] out of here.”
Goldklank was so unmanageable that police had difficulty booking her due to her level of intoxication. After refusing to answer any questions and swearing at officers Goldklank the report states that she became subdued.
A few minutes late the report states that she leaned forward and said to Sergeant Luce, “You think I’m cure and I think you’re cute, just drive me home.”
Later, after medical professionals from Boston Health and Hospital were called, Goldklank was overheard saying that she had had “about three dozen drinks,” according to the report. The report also stated that Goldklank was overheard saying she had been taking Lexapro for depression.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Court House
Suffolk County Court
Court Case
At three Pemberton Square near the Massachusetts’ State House lies Suffolk County Superior. Various defendants and plaintiffs sat on the wooden benches as Judge Cratsley, presided over six different cases in his first hour on the bench on April 10, 2009.
In the case of, Hayes vs. Conway, Sindy Hayes and Principal Kate Conway of the Kennedy-Longfellow Public School in Cambridge, Mass., Judge Cratsley determined that Hayes did have parental rights of her 15-year-old grandson. Hayes, who had previously not been allowed access into her grandson’s classroom because she was not thought by the school, or Conway, to be Curtis’s legal guardian was elated by the news. After looking at the records that Hayes had submitted to the court Conway’s lawyer explained that Conway was “simply looking for clarity on who was the legal guardian.”
Although Hayes was deemed to be Curtis’ legal guardian the judge did explain that that did not give her the right to unilaterally attend all of Curtis’ school sessions. As Conway’s lawyer explained “Parents are allowed in the classroom as long as they do not interrupt the educational process,”
Judge Cratsley suggested that Hayes and Conway work on a feasible compromise that would allow Hayes to visit her grandson while not interfering with student learning. To help with this Judge Cratsley recommended speaking with a court mediator if they were not able to come to some sort of compromise amongst themselves. If within one month no agreement is reached between the parties Judge Cratsley deemed that he would make a judicial decision on May 22, 2009.
Another case that landed upon Judge Crastsley’s desk involved Stanley Hackett, a Mass. funeral worker, who petitioned the court for an extension of a restraining order against Merritt. Hacket alleged that Merritt has a history of violent behavior and of carrying weapons.
According to Hackett, Merritt threatens and is disrespectful to him when he visits his girlfriend, Hackett’s younger sister, in Hackett’s family home. Merritt, who denied all accusations, said that he not only has no history of incarceration but that he is not a drug dealer, another allegation that Hackett alleged to the court.
Judge Cratsley granted Hackley an extension his restraining order against Conway for six months, until Oct. 9. Both Hackett and Merritt were asked to leave at separate times under the supervision of a court warden.
Note: I didn’t catch Merritt’s first name and the docket isn’t online yet.
Court Case
At three Pemberton Square near the Massachusetts’ State House lies Suffolk County Superior. Various defendants and plaintiffs sat on the wooden benches as Judge Cratsley, presided over six different cases in his first hour on the bench on April 10, 2009.
In the case of, Hayes vs. Conway, Sindy Hayes and Principal Kate Conway of the Kennedy-Longfellow Public School in Cambridge, Mass., Judge Cratsley determined that Hayes did have parental rights of her 15-year-old grandson. Hayes, who had previously not been allowed access into her grandson’s classroom because she was not thought by the school, or Conway, to be Curtis’s legal guardian was elated by the news. After looking at the records that Hayes had submitted to the court Conway’s lawyer explained that Conway was “simply looking for clarity on who was the legal guardian.”
Although Hayes was deemed to be Curtis’ legal guardian the judge did explain that that did not give her the right to unilaterally attend all of Curtis’ school sessions. As Conway’s lawyer explained “Parents are allowed in the classroom as long as they do not interrupt the educational process,”
Judge Cratsley suggested that Hayes and Conway work on a feasible compromise that would allow Hayes to visit her grandson while not interfering with student learning. To help with this Judge Cratsley recommended speaking with a court mediator if they were not able to come to some sort of compromise amongst themselves. If within one month no agreement is reached between the parties Judge Cratsley deemed that he would make a judicial decision on May 22, 2009.
Another case that landed upon Judge Crastsley’s desk involved Stanley Hackett, a Mass. funeral worker, who petitioned the court for an extension of a restraining order against Merritt. Hacket alleged that Merritt has a history of violent behavior and of carrying weapons.
According to Hackett, Merritt threatens and is disrespectful to him when he visits his girlfriend, Hackett’s younger sister, in Hackett’s family home. Merritt, who denied all accusations, said that he not only has no history of incarceration but that he is not a drug dealer, another allegation that Hackett alleged to the court.
Judge Cratsley granted Hackley an extension his restraining order against Conway for six months, until Oct. 9. Both Hackett and Merritt were asked to leave at separate times under the supervision of a court warden.
Note: I didn’t catch Merritt’s first name and the docket isn’t online yet.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Broadcast Spots
Opps...Almost forgot about these...
AL FRANKEN
MINNESOTA’S CONTESTED SENATE SEAT REMAINS EMPTY. ALTHOUGH A MINNESOTA COURT CONFIRMED ON MONDAY THAT DEMOCRAT AL FRANKEN WON MORE VOTES THAN REPUBLICAN NORM COLEMAN IN THE 2008 SENATE RACE COLEMAN IS STILL BRINGING LEGAL ACTION. COLEMAN PLANS TO APPEAL THE COURT’S DECISION.
OBAMA EASES CUBA RESTRICTIONS
TRAVEL MAY BE A LITTLE EASIER FOR SOME AMERICANS. ON MONDAY PRESIDENT OBAMA LIFTED ALL RESTRICTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO VISIT RELATIVES IN CUBA. OBAMA CLAIMS THE CHANGE IS MEANT TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN DIVIDED CUBAN FAMILIES.
Cuban and U.S. Relations
United States' relations with Cuba seem bright. U.S. lawmakers have
announced that they are considering improving relations with that country. American officials have since met with Fidel Castro during a trip designed to encourage better dialogue between nations.
Cabbie Lawsuit
Going green may be costly to Boston cabbies. Boston cab companies are claiming that the extra costs will be too costly during the economic struggle. A group of companies are suing the city in hopes of delaying the regulation that would force drivers to use hybrid only cabs. If passed the new regulations would force all Boston to 'go green'.
AL FRANKEN
MINNESOTA’S CONTESTED SENATE SEAT REMAINS EMPTY. ALTHOUGH A MINNESOTA COURT CONFIRMED ON MONDAY THAT DEMOCRAT AL FRANKEN WON MORE VOTES THAN REPUBLICAN NORM COLEMAN IN THE 2008 SENATE RACE COLEMAN IS STILL BRINGING LEGAL ACTION. COLEMAN PLANS TO APPEAL THE COURT’S DECISION.
OBAMA EASES CUBA RESTRICTIONS
TRAVEL MAY BE A LITTLE EASIER FOR SOME AMERICANS. ON MONDAY PRESIDENT OBAMA LIFTED ALL RESTRICTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO VISIT RELATIVES IN CUBA. OBAMA CLAIMS THE CHANGE IS MEANT TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN DIVIDED CUBAN FAMILIES.
Cuban and U.S. Relations
United States' relations with Cuba seem bright. U.S. lawmakers have
announced that they are considering improving relations with that country. American officials have since met with Fidel Castro during a trip designed to encourage better dialogue between nations.
Cabbie Lawsuit
Going green may be costly to Boston cabbies. Boston cab companies are claiming that the extra costs will be too costly during the economic struggle. A group of companies are suing the city in hopes of delaying the regulation that would force drivers to use hybrid only cabs. If passed the new regulations would force all Boston to 'go green'.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Profile
Two of the group’s members hold colorful guitars while the youngest stands between them, with a disarming smile on his face. Their clothing manages to be both chic and stylish while radiating youth and frivolity. They are attractive clean cut as do all of Disney’s young stars. While posing for pictures they mentally prepare themselves for the night ahead.
No, this trio is not the pop sensation The Jonas Brothers; instead they are Kimya Kavehkar and her suitemates Christine Allen and Jessica Bonet. As part of an ongoing joke that attempts to make the pop rock trio The Jonas Brothers appear ridiculous the three roommates dressed up as the band for Halloween.
This is the kind of free spiritedness that causes Allen, one of Kavenhkar’s closest friends, to describe her as, “loud funny [with] absolutely no shame.” Her gutsy personality is just one of the characteristics that motivated her to travel nearly 2,000 miles to attend school in Boston, Massachusetts. Kavenhkar’s grew up in Austin Texas, an urban city that offers, in her words, “more music options than Boston,”
A move to Boston is not the only thing that Kavenhkar’s confidence and drive has provided her, however. When recalling an internship last summer Kavenhkar described her application process as an example of who she is as a person. One day she decided that she needed an internship and immediately sought one with no doubt that she would stand out amongst her peers. She describes herself as a person who “makes things happen”.
As a Print and Multimedia Journalism major Kavenhkar plans to pursue a career in International or Fashion Journalism after graduation. She plans to achieve this goal in the same way that she’s achieved everything else in her life by going after it with dogged determination.
That determination has proven successful in the past most notably when it, combined with her scholastic record, helped her win a $1,000 scholarship to the International Baccalaureate Program at Oxford. While in the program, Kavenhkar studied Human Rights with a private Oxford tutor and attended lectures about, in her words, “everything from the EU to Romantic British Poetry”.
While an undergraduate student at Emerson College, Kavenhkar is already beginning to gain the credentials that will help foster her career. She is an active member of the Fashion Society, Writer’s Block, and EmMagazine. Her hope is that these and other activities will eventually help secure her a place in the world journalism industry.
No, this trio is not the pop sensation The Jonas Brothers; instead they are Kimya Kavehkar and her suitemates Christine Allen and Jessica Bonet. As part of an ongoing joke that attempts to make the pop rock trio The Jonas Brothers appear ridiculous the three roommates dressed up as the band for Halloween.
This is the kind of free spiritedness that causes Allen, one of Kavenhkar’s closest friends, to describe her as, “loud funny [with] absolutely no shame.” Her gutsy personality is just one of the characteristics that motivated her to travel nearly 2,000 miles to attend school in Boston, Massachusetts. Kavenhkar’s grew up in Austin Texas, an urban city that offers, in her words, “more music options than Boston,”
A move to Boston is not the only thing that Kavenhkar’s confidence and drive has provided her, however. When recalling an internship last summer Kavenhkar described her application process as an example of who she is as a person. One day she decided that she needed an internship and immediately sought one with no doubt that she would stand out amongst her peers. She describes herself as a person who “makes things happen”.
As a Print and Multimedia Journalism major Kavenhkar plans to pursue a career in International or Fashion Journalism after graduation. She plans to achieve this goal in the same way that she’s achieved everything else in her life by going after it with dogged determination.
That determination has proven successful in the past most notably when it, combined with her scholastic record, helped her win a $1,000 scholarship to the International Baccalaureate Program at Oxford. While in the program, Kavenhkar studied Human Rights with a private Oxford tutor and attended lectures about, in her words, “everything from the EU to Romantic British Poetry”.
While an undergraduate student at Emerson College, Kavenhkar is already beginning to gain the credentials that will help foster her career. She is an active member of the Fashion Society, Writer’s Block, and EmMagazine. Her hope is that these and other activities will eventually help secure her a place in the world journalism industry.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Scene
The indoor black framed lights cast a slight glow over him. It’s a slightly gray January day in Boston, with heavy winds that cut through layers of clothing and chill your spine. He has found a warm place to relax before his next stop. The busy downtown Starbucks is fueled almost entirely by patrons who only stay long enough to receive their caffeinated drinks.
On this Thursday afternoon he appears to have enough time to settle in amongst business men and women and enjoy his beverage. Seated at a corner table he fiddles with his wallet; organizing and reorganizing its contents while stretching out his long legs and exposing his lanky frame. He occupies a table for three. His legs taking up the space a second chair would normally occupy while his dark brown corduroy jacket takes up the third and final seat. With his legs crossed at his calves his rotates his left ankle in a circular motion as he murmurs into his cherry red LG cell phone. His voice is too soft to carry far, but hushed murmured words like “baby” and “tonight”. He appears to be explaining something, his right hand routinely sways upward seemingly of its own violation as he struggles to make his point known.
His presence is an unfamiliar sight at this time and at this particular Starbucks. The entire establishment is filled not with men like himself in tan baggy pants and sweatshirts but with business people with bulky laptops and stacks of sticky notes waiting to be utilized. He appears ignorant or at the very least unconcerned by these facts. The constant flow of college students in multi-colored rain boots, business men and women, and police officers in bright yellow vests seem invisible to him as he shuts his cell phone and glances at his Styrofoam cup.
Before he leaves, he pulls on his coat, grips his bag and takes one brief look at the growing crowd. A few seconds later it’s as if he was never there. A young man with an HP laptop and a small suitcase shortly takes his place at the corner table.
On this Thursday afternoon he appears to have enough time to settle in amongst business men and women and enjoy his beverage. Seated at a corner table he fiddles with his wallet; organizing and reorganizing its contents while stretching out his long legs and exposing his lanky frame. He occupies a table for three. His legs taking up the space a second chair would normally occupy while his dark brown corduroy jacket takes up the third and final seat. With his legs crossed at his calves his rotates his left ankle in a circular motion as he murmurs into his cherry red LG cell phone. His voice is too soft to carry far, but hushed murmured words like “baby” and “tonight”. He appears to be explaining something, his right hand routinely sways upward seemingly of its own violation as he struggles to make his point known.
His presence is an unfamiliar sight at this time and at this particular Starbucks. The entire establishment is filled not with men like himself in tan baggy pants and sweatshirts but with business people with bulky laptops and stacks of sticky notes waiting to be utilized. He appears ignorant or at the very least unconcerned by these facts. The constant flow of college students in multi-colored rain boots, business men and women, and police officers in bright yellow vests seem invisible to him as he shuts his cell phone and glances at his Styrofoam cup.
Before he leaves, he pulls on his coat, grips his bag and takes one brief look at the growing crowd. A few seconds later it’s as if he was never there. A young man with an HP laptop and a small suitcase shortly takes his place at the corner table.
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