Feature Story Post

The roofs on the houses slowly change from black to a mix of black with some interspersed blue as you get closer to the coastline. Some of the roofs are completely blue. They flap slightly in the salt-tinged breeze. The blue tarps are the best protection some residents of Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange, West Orange and Bridge City Texas have against the rain and the oncoming hurricane season.

The blue poly tarps are the only option some families have to act as alternatives for a roof. Other roofs feature a combination of shingles and tarp to defend against leaks. These hybrid roofs are just another part of the southeastern Texas landscape. Mary Young’s roof was blue after Hurricane Ike damaged her home in September 2008. Young, a 64 year-old African-American woman from Beaumont, Texas, is recovering from the damage Hurricane Ike caused to her home.

On first sight, Mary Young's house looks as if there is nothing wrong with it. In fact, the neighborhood Young and her family reside in appears to have not been affected at all by the hurricane whatsoever. The inside of the house however, tells a different story. Entire portions of the ceiling in various rooms of the house are missing and were temporarily replaced with plywood sheets. Young recalls the hurricane like a thief in the night.

“Ike came, he saw my little house and decided to take it,” Young said.

While Hurricane Ike did not take the entire house, Ike took some big chunks with him. Young said that when she returned to her house after a month, she could stand in her bedroom look up out of the hallway, through the ceiling and roof and see the sky. Water from the hurricane and every rainstorm after the hurricane damaged most of the furniture inside the house. Young said when she returned from her evacuation that many of the mattresses in the house were soaking wet. The carpet was drenched. A portion of the roof collapsed on her dining room table, which was lost. To some extent, Ike damaged everything in the house. In addition to the destruction of her house, she was not insured and was laid off just before the hurricane hit, leaving Young in a bad spot financially.

Due to her economic circumstances and the condition of her house, Mary qualified for assistance from Disaster Recovery, an organization that supplies mission groups with work sites, tools and materials to help families affected by hurricanes to mend and restore their homes. Susan Smith, site leader for Disaster Recovery in the Beaumont region, said that Disaster Recovery has helped 721 families that have been affected by Hurricane Rita. In addition the organization has also assisted 160 families affected by Hurricane Ike. Approximately 30 families are still on the list for assistance from Disaster Recovery.

However, “That number lessens everyday,” Smith said.

Young filled out an application for assistance from Disaster Recovery to replace her roof and finish construction work on her house. Makeshift repairs were put in place. A blue tarp was installed but leaked. Young battled the rain by placing buckets and blankets on the beams in her attic to catch and absorb the leaking water from the storms. She continued to live in her home, plywood and all, from October 2008 to February 2010 when her new roof was completed. Young relied on her faith and prayer to get her and her family through the hard times.

“I prayed. I knew I had to have help, so I kept praying. I tried not to get discouraged, sometimes I did. But I kept praying that I would get assistance and it's coming,” Young said.

The help did indeed come. A mission group comprised of college students, the young adult mission trip from FUMC of Keller, answered Mary’s prayers. A crew from the mission group answered the call on March 17 and repaired Mary’s ceiling. Young was overjoyed as the sheet rock was installed and her ceiling restored. Bruce Bacon, leader of the young adult mission trip, commented on Young’s house.

“The house was a very neat house. She has a lot of pride in it. To be able to help her and her family…the least we could do for her right then was to help her house become whole again,” Bacon said.

In addition to helping Mary Young, the mission team from FUMC of Keller assisted six other clients during their week of missionary work over spring break.

Football Cleats and Music Scores

Cleats and conducting, game plays and rehearsal schedules. What exactly do those things have in common? Dr. Richard Zielinski could tell you: it’s him.

Zielinski, Dr. Z as he is most commonly referred to, is the choral director of activities at the School of Music at the University of Oklahoma.

On the surface, one sees a man who has a love for music and teaching it, but on the inside his passion for music and sports flows through his body like ending vocals resonating in an auditorium.

Standing up looking at his bookshelf, he runs his fingers over the collection of sports books in a small section of the bookshelf in his office. Some of them were written by athletes and some by coaches. He gazes at them, all while mentioning his love for sports. Zielinski played sports all through his childhood and even into part of his college career, and actually attended Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis. on a sports scholarship.

“I never had to pick. It was always athletics and arts.”

If Zielinski weren’t teaching, he’d be a coach.

“What I do in front of a choir is very much like a coach. I’m trying to get people organized and motivated. Rehearsals are like a practice; you practice certain skills.”

Although his love of sports and competition runs deep, he did not continue to do sports for his entire college career; instead, he turned to music.

“Music can go on forever. Any athlete’ll tell ya that there comes a time when you hang up you cleats and glove.”

“I had three older sisters, and a lot of them were involved in music. So we had a lot of singing groups, piano, and we’re playing... So I just always thought that was kind of normal. There was always music at our house. My sisters and dad had a great LP collection. So I was just exposed to it at a very young age. You know, that’s the way I live my life.”

He also mentioned how the sports factored in, playing pickup games with the neighbors all day and everyone coming over to the Zielinski household where Mama Z, as the neighborhood kids called her, was with food and love, and an eye to keep on Ricky. When they went to the small three-bedroom house that was shelter to six people, they all gathered around the piano in fellowship and sang songs.

Reflecting on the wide LP collection the family had, Zielinski was exposed to different types of music.

“I’ve done all kinds of music in my life. You know, choral music, to symphonic, opera to rock ‘n roll. You know, I’ve done all that stuff. I’ve sung in rock ‘n roll bands; I’ve sung opera. You know, I’ve did all that. When I was a youngster, or younger.”

Zielinski’s athleticism got him pretty far, and his love and passion of music kept growing.

"Now I’d see, by the time I got to college, I’d go audition for choir in college They’d say ‘Why aren’t you in music? Why aren’t you a music major? You have a beautiful voice.’ I’d say, ‘Well I'm here. I’m gonna teach history and coach.’ I wanted to be a professional athlete. I always wanted to be. I was athlete of the year. I did realize that I had a lot of talent. I had great training.”

Another thing he enjoys is history, and he wants everyone to know theirs, including whichever school they attended or are attending.

“I like history. You know, I’m trying to bring back all these spirit songs. You know, these old spirit songs. There’s about 10 of them. I wanna get that football stadium singing; it’s one of my goals.”

Getting people involved and bringing them together as one community is one thing he really wants to do.

“I love how music brings the community together. There’s no division: it’s not black-white, it’s not young-old. rich or poor...They’re just singing. They don’t see that. And then think of how it looks to the audience when they see a multiracial, multicultural, multi-religious group of people. We sometimes take it for granted what choirs do. Choirs do a lot for a community.”

Dr. Mark Lucas, the assistant choir director said Zielinski could by described by intense. "But sometimes that word has a negative connotation," Lucas said, "And with him, it doesn’t." Zielinski's work ethic from his athletic years to his music years and having such a passion for it can be one reason many, including Sara Ledford, a graduate assistant that's been working with him for a bit, agrees to.

"I would also describe him as intense," she said.

Lucas also noted that he is "very energetic, words like intense, and serious describe him, but not in a negative way at all- it’s a very positive way."

From Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and traveling the world teaching and directing choirs, he’s ended up here: teaching history and coaching. 
Zielinski, a renowned and revered choir director, has traveled around the world came to OU from the University of South Florida.

-ReiL.

Oklahoma: Where the Stone Goes Sweeping Down the Ice

As the clock strikes five on the old scoreboard at the Arctic Edge Arena in Edmond, Okla., members of a local youth hockey team make their way off the ice and into the locker room.

As the team exits and the zamboni begins its circling of the rink, a small crowd begins to congregate at the north end. The diverse group patiently waits for the ice to be cleaned and makes its way onto the ice, donning sweatshirts, jeans and street shoes.

It’s now five thirty. Time for practice.

The group begins to warm up, one by one taking their position kicking off the hack and throwing a stone down the ice.

The newly formed Oklahoma Curling Club has officially begun their second week of meeting.

The club was started by Jonathan Havercroft, a political science professor at the University of Oklahoma.

Havercroft grew up playing the sport in Canada and when he moved down to Oklahoma he began planning what has now become the Oklahoma Curling Club.

“The most important part is finding a group of people that are interested,” Havercroft said.

Word of Oklahoma’s first curling club spread through email, Google and Facebook searches and features in the paper and on local news programs.

The club currently has about 70 paying members looking to give the sport a shot and see what it’s really about.

Curling is a sport normally associated with jokes and criticism rather than devout fans and followers. The sport is highlighted every four years when it can be seen during the Winter Olympics.

Curling is played between two teams of four. A game consists of ten ends, which are similar to innings in baseball. In each end, teams will “throw” a curling stone across a sheet of ice toward a bulls eye at the opposite end know as “the house.”

One of curling’s most famous elements are the two players that will glide alongside the rock, sweeping the ice ahead of it. The sweeping helps the team change the stone’s speed and direction in order for it to sit where they feel is most strategic.

Points are determined at the completion of an end based on which team has a stone closest to the center of the house.

Most of the members of the Oklahoma Curling Club have begun to understand the rules. It’s the technique they need to master, which many members feel they’re beginning to get a hang of.

Though Oklahoma’s club is small and still in its early stages, it certainly proves one thing: the sport is growing.

For many years, curling in the United States solely took place in select areas of the country. Wisconsin, Minnesota and upstate New York held most of the country’s clubs and interest in the sport.

Thanks to the curiosity the Olympics have stirred into those all across the country, clubs are beginning to pop up in many unconventional locations. Southern states such as Florida, Arizona and Texas are beginning to form curling clubs and local interest.

Many people will find these clubs through social media and Internet searches based on their own curiosity.

Others will try curling to answer a challenge.

“You turn on the radio anywhere in the country during the Olympics and somebody is make fun of curling,” said Rick Lemke, the president of the Wauwatosa Curling Club in Wauwatosa, Wis. “We have a lot of members who will call into those radio shows and say, ‘Hey, it’s a lot of fun. Why don’t you come give it a try?’”

One of the biggest challenges clubs face is taking people who try it one time and having them commit to a league, where the real fun begins.

Much like golf and bowling, curling will get a lot of people hooked because of its social aspect.

“My favorite part about curling are the social components,” said Erich Gross, a member of the Wauwatosa Curling Club. “There’s a little bit of competiveness and a little bit of social interaction. It’s mostly just hanging out.”

As word begins to spread and interest from the Oklahoma continues to grow, Havercroft hopes his club can continue maintain its members while attracting new ones.

He’s already planning a few Thursday night sessions on the basics of curling for community members who aren’t quite ready to commit to a league.

Though most of the state may never know the difference between a bonspiel or a slider, curling has officially begun in Oklahoma.

Feature Story: Steve's Rib

Steve’s Rib

As you drive through the streets of Edmond, Oklahoma, many mouth-watering smells overwhelm your nostrils.

Continue to drive until you finally reach the one-of-a-kind Steve’s Rib. Through the car window the aroma of ribs, brisket and baked beans fills the air. A smell so enticing you will enter the parking lot and begin walking towards the front door. As the doors swing open, hosts will welcome you with smiles as they lead you to the nearest open booth. Upon taking your seat, the sound of multiple sporting events ring from the plasma televisions posted onto the walls, as well as a low chattering from the surrounding customers.

Open the two-page menu, which allows for a number of choices and pick the items that sound most appetizing. Whether you order pulled pork, turkey or ribs with steak fries, your food will be served to you very promptly. Once you receive your food, drizzle some of the homemade barbeque sauce atop it and chow down. Steve’s Rib will provide a meal that will cause not only your taste buds to be satisfied, but also your wallet.

However, this story is about the creator Steve, a man who took yet a mere thought and transformed it into a thriving restaurant. As many know, behind every business is an idea from a dreamer. Behind every successful business is a history of hard work and determination. Steve’s Rib is the product of a dream turning into a reality.

In 1993, Steve became the proud owner of a kiosk in a Homeland grocery store. Attempting to put himself through architectural school, he began learning how to cook and create recipes. After receiving a few pointers from the previous owner of the kiosk, Steve’s Rib was well on its way. With assistance from his friend Mike, the two handled every aspect of the restaurant whether it was cooking, cleaning or serving. People began flowing into Homeland to wait in line for a taste of perhaps the best barbeque they would ever experience. Steve’s Rib soon became so popular that they knew they must upgrade to a bigger facility. Upon relocating to a new building within the same shopping center, business only increased. “It was very strange at first moving into the new building,” Mike said. “We went from doing absolutely everything ourselves to having employees. It changed from a rib stand to a restaurant. The growth was tremendous, and everything was completely different.”

However, the new restaurant was similar to a cafeteria style as it provided a line you progressed through picking out the food you desired as you moved along. Though it provided a larger space with tables to sit and enjoy your meal, it was still not the full service restaurant Steve had always desired.

Yet, Steve’s desire soon became a reality as business continued to grow so rapidly that a full service restaurant was the only option. With his architectural degree, Steve built the new building where the restaurant is still located today including a full bar, kitchen and seating. Through the increase of services, the income has also made a tremendous leap. “Since moving we’ve gone from a $500 a day business to a multi-million dollar business,” Mike proclaimed.

Steve’s Rib also supplies jobs to many college students, including Candace Gillette, who has worked at the restaurant for 5 years. Her job entails washing dishes, waiting tables, bartending and hosting on occasion. “It’s an easy job and pays very well,” Candace said. “It’s pretty low key and there isn’t a lot of structure. Because of the money and hours, I would definitely recommend working here.”

From the creator to the employees, Steve's Rib seeks to satisfy customers. A veteran of the restaurant, Katie Stuewe, has been a witness to Steve rising from the bottom to the top over the 17-year period. “I have very fond memories of going to the grocery store with my mom as a child," Stuewe said. "The best part about those trips was on our way out of Homeland, we would stop and get the chopped brisket and barbeque sauce from Steve himself. I always knew he was there, not because he was the first thing you saw as you entered the store, but because you could always smell his delicious barbeque before you even entered the store.”

From a kiosk in a Homeland grocery store to a full service restaurant, Steve’s Rib has flourished into a prosperous business, all of which started with a simple idea, hard work and determination.

Predisan: Medical Help in Rural Honduras

The sun creeps over the horizon as the rooster crows. It peeks through the trees and creates a golden haze that quietly awakens every creature from its sleep. Miles and miles of green stretch in every direction. There is not an inch of the mountains that is not covered by a bright green jungle. The morning sun shoots energy into the mountains’ inhabitants and pulls them out of their lull. Laughter rings through the morning and dirt covered children of all ages sprint up the gravel pathway to receive free soccer balls from the gringos.

Honduras is knows as the “banana republic” of the world. Its countless hills produce agricultural exports like coffee, timber and, of course, bananas that are shipped all over the world. But even with its massive international trade, Honduras’ financial reliance on these cheap products have not kept it away from the number two spot on the “CIA World Factbook’s” list of poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Andrew Burnett, a junior undergrad at Harding University, traveled to Honduras in 2009 to develop a microfinance program in the rural communities of Catacamas. “As we continue to work in Catacamas, we have to address the growing urbanization of the region, specifically the increase in poor populations. The focus for the mountain region now needs to be turned to education while maintaining the level of health care and existing programs for the rural population” Burnett says.

With a struggling economy, proper health care is regularly overlooked, leaving the remote mountain villages of Honduras without health care guidance. If a family needs to take a member to a hospital - miles out of the mountains and into the foreign civilization of Catacamas – they must face the treacherous mountain roads that regularly flood in the rainy seasons. They are also burdened with the fact that their poverty level will not even cover a fraction of the hospital bill.

As a solution to these issues, Predisan was launched in 1986. It is a Christian medical center with a simple goal to teach basic health care techniques to the people of Catacamas, Honduras. Most of the medical conditions that are acquired in the mountains and treated by Predisan can be prevented if the individual is aware of those basic health care techniques.

Bartola Madrid, adopted daughter of the medical director Amanda Madrid, describes the campaign: “It's one of the greatest missions there is in Honduras. They are fully dedicated to helping the people that are really in need...that cannot afford a doctor. And the most important thing is that Predisan is not only concerned about the physical need, but also the spiritual need. It's one of the things I love about it ...it is balanced.”

Predisan’s practices quickly spread to the surrounding rural and mountainous areas of Catacamas.

Predisan has established five fully-functioning clinics that serve a total of 51 mountain communities. These communities are scattered over the Honduran mountains in remote locations that are commonly without basic functions like running water and toilets that flush.

Madrid goes on to elaborate more about the work that Predisan does. “I can see how giving everyone is…how doctors, nurses, preachers and missionary groups are willing to sacrifice their comfort and travel deep in the jungles to vaccinate, do oral hygiene, build latrines…that amazes me and makes me want to be a part of it every time.”

Since its introduction in the 1980s, Predisan has grown from a heath skills learning program into a full-time medical facility. However, the health care programs it provides in the rural and mountainous areas are Predisan's passion. Predisan medical staff trains volunteers to go into the villages and conduct programs that teach everything from basic sanitation rules to providing vaccinations for poisonous snake bites.

A growing and increasingly popular campaign –for mission groups- that Predisan conducts is the Healthy School Program. A staff made up of medical leaders and volunteers are invited into the dirt-floored schools to teach children about the importance of hygiene and a healthy life-style.

In addition to the “health classes” classes taught by Predisan, oral hygiene, vitamins, healthy food, treatment for parasites and a physical assessment of the children are provided. The simple lessons that are taught provide an important foundation for the children so that they can develop healthy habits and improve their well-being.

“My [biological] mom died of cervical cancer and not because there was not cure but because she was not taught to get a regular check up. She never even had the chance to get to see a nurse because of distance and money” Madrid says.

Medical correspondents and volunteers of Predisan are encouraged to set up relationships with the teachers and students. Predisan wants the villages to know that although they are disassociated with urban life, medical and spiritual assistance are not out of reach.

Kelly Graham, office administrator for New Hope Church of Christ, has done mission work with Predisan since 1999. “The people make it special. I have built lasting relationships in Honduras...” Graham says, “It is locals helping each other and trying to improve themselves and their lives. The people are thankful and not expectant.”

"In Your Dreams"

Ding, ding. The door shuts behind me. “Hi, how are you today?” asks a friendly face behind the counter. I am immediately soothed by the Colbie Caillat tracks playing above and the sweet aromas coming from candles scattered around the store. My eyes scan the brightly colored merchandise filling the little boutique and I can feel myself smiling as I begin to look around.

“In Your Dreams” is an independently owned business that is notorious for the large variety of goods sold under one roof. "We carry an eclectic mix of everything: artwork, home decor, entertainment, kitchenware, loungewear, bedding, jewelry and more," employee Renee Coffman said. The shop sells many well-known brand name items, such as Beatrix Ball and Pine Cone Hill. According to the owner, the most popular brand item sold is Brighton jewelry, which has only been available in the store for the last two years. Owner Sally Elkin says, “Selling Brighton is like owning another business in one store. Business is huge; Brighton has great brand recognition and we do a lot to promote it.”

One thing that this boutique prides itself on is the variety of handmade items it sells. Several paintings by local artists hang on the walls, and during the holiday season, Elkin says that handmade glass ornaments are very popular with the customers. One particular item that receives a lot of attention is the Texas Cross. These crosses are handmade from barbed wire by the staff of Tender Heart Design in Texas. These workers then pray over the crosses, and bless and anoint them before shipping them to “In Your Dreams”. No other store in the Norman area carries this product. Coffman claimed that the care that goes into the crosses is the main selling point and attracts many customers.

There are several factors that set apart this shop from all the others. "In Your Dreams is unique in the fact that there aren't many stores like it. This is your true Oklahoma brick n' mortar store," Coffman stated. Perhaps the most distinctive items sold are the sorority items. Elkin works directly with Panhellenic to sell an assortment of gifts monogrammed with Greek letters. Students, alumni and parents with children at numerous universities all come to “In Your Dreams” to buy these items. One item that has become extremely popular has customers lining up outside the door. Elkin was the first person to bring the famous scent beads to Norman, and until recently, was the only one selling them in the area. She asserted that the beads are wildly popular among students, and are primarily hung from rearview mirrors in cars. At “In Your Dreams”, customers can pick their favorite scent from over a dozen types of aroma beads, and then put them into their preferred designed bag. These bags filled with beads can then be monogrammed, as many sorority members choose to do. These scent beads and sorority items are top sellers among the many college students in Norman. “I would say that about one third of our customers are college students, so it’s important that we sell products geared toward them,” employee Kylie Watson said.

Elkin, who opened the boutique 13 years ago, is known for her fantastic customer service. "Sally has strong roots to the community. She knows a lot of people in this town and she knows her customers," Coffman said. Elkin studied retail, fashion and merchandising, and marketing at the University of Oklahoma, which gives her the knowledge of how to run this business. Her favorite part of the job is working with students. “It’s important to treat every customer like we’re glad to see them, and I want the students that come in to feel this way too, just as the adults are treated,” Elkin said. One problem Elkin deals with is going too far in taking special orders. Customers often come in with special requests about a product they want that isn’t in the store, and Elkin tries to always follow through in providing for her customers. She feels that the most important thing in running a business is listening to your customers. These values are the very elements that make this shop special.

In Your Dreams is not just another typical boutique of Norman. It is a place where employees care about their customers and cater to their needs. The vast supply of products covers every category of home décor, and is reputable for bringing customers back regularly.

For information on the location and hours of the store, go to:

http://www.inyourdreamsoklahoma.com/

Feature Story

Christie Latimer

Feature Story

Female college students across the University of Oklahoma campus, wear colorful beaded bracelets of all different patterns and hues. The bracelets are an accessory to the typical uniform-like dress that girls follow; including athletic shorts, t-shirts, and an array of sweat pants. Just like the popular Nike running shorts, the beaded bracelets have become a staple trend that many have begun to follow. However, the beaded bracelets differ from other fads in that their proceeds benefit a cause greater than the salary of another CEO.

Global Girlfriend, a wholesale corporation sells the bracelets. According to their website, the company “specializes in fairly-traded apparel and accessories hand-made by women and communities in need.” When one buys a bracelet, one percent of the proceeds goes to a micro-grant fund for a woman in Africa. Global Girlfriend attributes the help given to the women in Africa to a partner organization known as Camfed.

The Camfed Seed Money Scheme was founded in 2000. According to the Camfed website, the “Seed Money Program offers training, peer support, grants and microloans to help young women learn economic skills and launch small businesses. This program is uniquely run by young women in Cama, the Camfed Association, creating a bond of female solidarity that is integral to its success.” Also according to the website, Cama’s microfinance program has helped 5,132 women start small businesses, and 1,327 women expand their businesses since 2000. This initiative is helping women in Africa break the cycle of poverty by learning to run businesses, be self-sufficient, and budget money and time.

College girls buying the bracelets because they simply want to fit in are unknowingly impacting women half way across the world. Several local stores such as Lucca and Caymans sell the bracelets. Lucca’s assistant manager, Lindsey Massad, said that the buyers did “absolutely not” understand the benefits of the bracelets. She continued “Most girls don’t realize the bracelets are benefiting women half way across the world. Most of the employees here probably don’t even know what the bracelets benefit. We sell the bracelets in sorority colors, which has become a huge selling point, and which is why most of the girls buy them.” As of March 20, Lucca had sold over twenty five of the beaded bracelets. The bracelets are sold at different prices, depending on the retailer. Global Girlfriend sells them online for $10, but boutiques such as Lucca currently sell them for $14.99, almost 50 percent more. Because of their popularity, many students are willing to spend more to get the bracelets instantly.

Tyler Dikeman, a current Lucca employee, indicated that the stores needed to do a better job advertising the benefits of the proceeds of the bracelets. “... a sign is needed to tell the story of the bracelets and the great things that they are doing. Most people who come in and purchase the bracelets here definitely don’t know what the bracelets benefit.” Both Massed and Dikeman agreed that the stimulation of capitalism and the empowerment of women in Africa were very significant, and needed to be better advertised.

Just as mentioned by Massed, Megan Raitt, a college student, and owner of several beaded bracelets was shocked to find out that they were more than just another accessory. “I got the bracelets for my birthday. I just assumed they were cute and went with everything. I had no idea that there was more to them. I like wearing more than one, and mixing and matching them” Raitt continued, “If people knew the bracelets were for such a good cause, way more girls would wear them.”

The "sorority girl" uniform is easily recognizable, especially in college towns such as Norman. Staple wardrobe items, hairstyles, and now even accessories are standardized amongst the masses of female college students. Typically, the necessity to fit in is frowned upon by most, as our society tends to praise the individual. However, the beaded bracelets, whether girls know it or not, are a trend which differ from the others. The desire to follow the latest fads may be seen as superficial, but the benefits of sticking to the bracelet trend are much bigger than simply fitting in. Women in parts of Africa are receiving life changing benefits due to the sale of these bracelets, and the poverty cycle is slowly being broken. Regardless of why girls are buying the bracelets, they are still buying them. And because of that, our world is slowly becoming a better place.

Falling Whistles for peace

They sit quietly on the counter, softly reflecting in the harsh overhead light. Placed amongst the other pastel accessories, they stand out because of their blunt and unique shape. A simple, unobtrusive addition to a store filled with busy colors and styles.

Several customers shoot a curious glance towards the small washed wood stand and then towards one of the several sales associates wearing one of them around their neck. But many also leave without asking about it. Until a woman, buying a pair of Toms Shoes for her son asks, “What’s with the whistles?”

The sales associate looks over at the stand with a smile and touches her own, standing out against her bright shirt. “They are Falling Whistles, and they’re a symbol of protest.”

It all started with one person. Sean Carasso visited the Democratic Republic of Congo as what was supposed to be a one-day stop while traveling through Africa with his friends from Invisible Children and TOMS Shoes. What he found there though, completely changed his life.

Right now, the DRC is experiencing the deadliest war since World War II. There are many reasons for this but one of the most prominent is because the DRC rests atop a rich supply of minerals such as Coltan, a key ingredient in the production of the cell phones so many of us in developed countries have. This gives the DRC great potential to expand and grow, but it also leaves it open to other countries interested in manipulation.

In Congo, Carasso and the group he was traveling with met five boys: Busco, Bahati, Serungendo, Claude, and Sadiki. These boys had been kidnapped by the rebel army; stolen from their families and homes and forced to fight as child soldiers. But they found the courage to escape, even knowing that if they were discovered the penalty was death. Only to be found, captured and abused by the National army. Because they had fought for the rebels, even unwillingly, they were considered enemies of he state. When the national army intercepted these children, all under the age of fifteen, they were starved, beaten and humiliated. Ribs pushed out against skin, visible through dirty and tattered clothing. But what was even more horrific than the injustices done against them was the story they told.

They spoke of young boys, too small to even use a gun, sent out onto the frontlines of war by the rebel army with nothing but a whistle hanging around their necks. They use the whistles in an attempt to scare away their enemies, but when that isn’t effective, the opposing national army shoots these small children, turning their bodies into human barricades.

“The sickness of everything that is occurring there, and what is happening to these children just horrifies me,” UCO student Hailey Barry said. “ When a close friend of mine told me the story, I knew I had to help in some way. The fact that I had never even heard about any of this before was appalling. I couldn’t believe it wasn’t more publicized.”

By the end of the day that they met the boys, Carasso’s group was able to get the UN and UNICEF to help the five children escape and send them home to their families. Five out of a million. But what about the other children, the ones who were stuck in the crossfire of two vicious armies with no hope and no foreseeable freedom in sight? That was the question Carasso brought back with him to America. The answer he found was in the symbol that brought so much pain to so many people; a whistle. It was in the whistle that he discovered “Their weapon could be our voice”.

So Falling Whistles was launched. A grass roots business in every way, they had volunteers that moved cross country on everything from bikes to their own feet, just trying to get their word out and spread the whistles. They moved slowly, but grabbed attention quickly, creating displays for the likes of Fred Segal department store, and Donna Karan New York. Until it moved its way into Oklahoma with Lucca Fashion Boutique stores, which is now the largest whistle distributor in the state.

“It was an easy decision to support a cause like this,” Lucca Inc. Owner Yaniv Segal said. “You can do your part to buy the product and spread the word, but it’s not enough! The small part we can play in the overall scheme of this cause is the least we can do. There are people in this world who are meant to be leaders, who follow a path that no one else is willing to take, and who fight for that, for the chance of a better future. By supporting the cause of these leaders, you are helping to create change.”

100% of the proceeds of each whistle sold go to rehabilitating war-affected children in the DRC. According to the website, through creative methods like art, dance, and sports, the children in the rehabilitation program with Falling Whistle’s partner organization in Congo are able to begin healing. They are then enrolled into school to get an education. They will receive job training as well as receiving human rights training so that they have the skills to become a productive member of society. These methods are designed to repair and heal the children who have escaped from one or both armies and are traumatized by the heinous acts they were forced to do.

“These whistles make a kind of clientele who’s not aware of certain political problems in other countries more aware of the things going on,” Lucca employee Andrea Gentis said. “Typically you never hear what’s going on in Africa through our media outlets, especially not in the news, and specifically what is happening to the children, even though it is one of the biggest problems right now.“

Referring to their supporters as “whistle blowers for peace” Falling Whistles does rely on the people who believe in their cause to spread the word. When asked, Barry Segal, and Gentis all consider themselves whistle blowers. The other thing they also agree on is that getting the word out is one of the most important things they can do.

One of the easiest ways for consumers to gain knowledge and get a feel for the organization is to visit their website at www.fallingwhistles.com where the user friendly layout easily guides the viewer through the different aspects of the war, the children, the story, and ways to purchase a whistle.

“Personally I wear my whistle every day,” Gentis said. “It is for me to represent that I believe in this cause, and anytime I’m asked, I get to share this with a person who is more than likely not aware of what’s going on. Then they get the idea and majority of the time they feel the need to at least look into the problem, or buy one of the whistles.”

John Lennon once said, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality”. That is exactly what Falling Whistles is trying to accomplish. By using something so visible, the word gets spread faster. And with each new person that hears the story and walks away with knowledge, the more the dream of ending the war and saving the children hurt by it becomes a reality.

The Spotlight Theater

The Spotlight Theater is a unique building overlooking the Arkansas River. Located on 1381 Riverside Drive in Tulsa, it is surrounded by beautiful plants, bushes and flowers. The plants around the building aren’t the only thing guests notice because the windows are eye catching and hard to ignore. There is a big, round window in the center that gives the old building a modern and futuristic touch. On each side of the building, there are four, small, rectangular windows that are supposed to represent piano keys. The theater is humble with no flashy lights or big signs on it. The outside white paint is laid back and neutral and contrasts with the green of plants around the building.
Stepping inside the lobby, a rush of blue fills the room. This is where all the guests mingle before the show. They can grab a soda or a bag of chips from the concession stand. They can reserve and buy tickets from the office. Guests can also go up the lobby’s grand staircase that will take them to the place where all the magic happens: the auditorium.
The auditorium is small with dimed lights. However, the stage in the middle of the auditorium is well lit. A red curtain is pulled down on the stage hiding what’s going on behind it. Backstage, you can hear the bustling noise of the crew and actors getting ready. The curtain rises and the legacy of great family entertainment continues for the Spotlight Theater.
It is a highly renowned theatre that has been recognized by the media and people of Tulsa. Its family oriented plays and historic building attracts many people from around the world. It has been ranked as Tulsa’s Best Children’s Theater two years in a row. Its recent showing of the children’s play, Alice in Wonderland, set a personal record for the theater for the most attendance. Larry Stockard, president of the theater, said, “The Theater has entertained nearly a quarter million people over the last 57 years. Not too many theatres could match that.”
Many theaters also don't have the longest running play in America but the Spotlight Theater does. The Drunkard has been performed every Saturday night since 1953. People should not be fooled by the title of the play. According to Stockard, it is a family friendly, melodrama representing the evils of alcohol. The eleven member cast of the play rotates each week creating a new experience because each person portrays a character differently. Jere Upcapher is the office and stage manager and has been involved with the theatre for 53 years. He comments: “Although the script is the same, seeing a different cast creates a different play and experience. Seeing the same cast is rare. You never know what will happen.”
Besides having the longest running play in America, the theater is different than others because the plays are more interactive with the audience. Instead of the audience just sitting and watching the show, they are encouraged to interact by the actors. On stage, the actors become involved with the audience. For example, during the Drunkard, the villain mischievously appears onto the stage for the first time and the audience boos and hisses at him. He acknowledges their presence and shoots them an evil look. Besides hissing at the villain, the audience will have an option at throwing a tomato him. They will begin selling these tomatoes in the lobby before the show. Of course, the tomatoes are fake and soft so the actors don't get hurt, or messy.
The small auditorium makes it easier for the audience to interact because they are closer to the stage and actors. There is only room for 50-60 guests for the Drunkard and 125-130 for the children’s plays Stephanie Porter, a student who volunteered at the theater and has performed in one of their children’s play, said “There is a small close knit feel because of the smaller auditorium. You are closer to the audience and the audience is more involved with the show. The stage crew is even more involved and not hidden like in other theatres. It is more involved in all aspects in the theater.”
The auditorium is small because it was originally built to be used for piano recitals. According to the theater’s website, the theater was built in the 1920’s for Patti Shriner, a famous pianist, who used it as a piano studio and her residence. It was known then as the Riverside Studio. She hired architect Bruce Goff to create the design of the building and it is one of the oldest and surviving buildings in the world that was designed by him. However, she lost it during the Great Depression after becoming bankrupt. It remained unoccupied until former New York City actor Richard Mansfield Dickinson bought the property in 1941. He used it as his residence and a drama studio. In 1952, Dickinson wrote the script for the Drunkard and it was performed by a group of actors called the Tulsa Spotlighters.
The Spotlight Theater shows no signs of slowing down. They are always recruiting volunteers to be actors and crew members. Stockard said, “We attract people who have always wanted to act but have not had the chance to. A lot of our actors had no previous experience but want to do it for fun. We are always recruiting volunteers. New people bring family and friends. It’s an incredible phenomenon.”
The vision for the theater's future is to add on to its current property, according to Stockard. They have a goal to raise enough money to build another building on the empty lot next to the current theater. This new building would provide a bigger theatre for shows and events. The theater would then be restored to its original state and could be turned into a museum.
Until then, it will continue to entertain in the original auditorium where audiences can boo, hiss, cheer, applaud, sing and have a good time during the show.

Skirvin Hotel

As the elegant classical-like music echoes from the piano, the lighting from the over-sized black chandeliers set an eerie mood; a mood that causes the hairs on the back of my neck to rise. Long, flowing, dark red drapes stretch from the second floor to the ground making the scene look like a picture from the 1920’s.
DING! The bell makes a sound as I press the illuminated number ‘2’ and nothing but a slight screech of metal can be heard. When I asked about the history of this landmark, the front desk associate said, “I’m not allowed to comment. I’m not even supposed to knowledge the fact that it’s haunted.”
Built in 1910, the Skirvin Hotel opened its doors to the Oklahoma City public. The hotel, now owned by the Hilton Corporation, has been a tourist hotspot for decades ever since it re-opened in February 2007. Not many guests are aware of the so-called ‘haunting’ due to the $46.4 million project to renovate the building that stood empty for nearly fifteen years.
The Skirvin Hotel was considered the finest hotel in the Southwest in the early 1900's. As legend has it, W.B. Skirvin, builder of the plush hotel, had an affair with one of the hotel maids. The maid conceived and in order to keep the scandal a secret, she was locked away in a room on the tenth floor of the hotel. She was depressed from being locked up for more than nine months, and even after her child was born, she was still not allowed to leave. After she couldn’t take the torment anymore, she threw herself, along with her child, out of the window to die.
Former Skirvin employees have nicknamed the woman “Effie” and allegedly her ghost still continues to haunt the floors and guests. “I haven’t stayed the night yet, but it does have a creepy feel here! The floors kind of creek when you walk on them,” said University of Arkansas student, Katie Burton, who was a Skirvin guest.
Trying to get information concerning “Effie” or any other kind of abnormal behavior that occurs at the hotel from the current employees was nearly impossible. It’s as if they’ve been trained to keep their mouths sealed so it doesn’t reflect bad business. Responses such as “no comment” and a shrug of the shoulders were common when trying to ask them what they knew about the hotel being haunted. However, two bellhops standing outside did offer some information under the circumstance that their real names were not revealed. Ben* and Brad* told a story about how they heard a lady's voice mumbling behind them as they walked down a hallway. “I’m not sure if it was really something, or just our imagination,” Ben said *.
According to about.com, the New York Knicks basketball team recently stayed at the Skirvin Hotel the night before they played the Oklahoma City Thunder. They gave reports to the New York Daily News that they were unable to sleep. “I definitely believe that there are ghosts in that hotel," center Eddy Curry said. Forward Jared Jefferies added, “The place is haunted. It’s scary.” The team also blamed their poor game performance on the hotel afterwards.
I began to roam the halls where the guests stay and the alleged floor where “Effie” and her child committed suicide. I did not hear a woman’s voice, a baby cry, or see a shadow like some websites have stated. However, it did feel unpleasant and I found myself looking over my shoulder quite often.
The Skirvin Hotel has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since October 1979. The legacy of “Effie” still lives on even through the massive renovation. I had a conversation with a guest that eventually led to the hotel and its “haunted” past. "It's definitely a fun place to be, and I don't believe the fact that it's allegedly haunted hurts business, that's the reason I picked to stay there in the first place, to see for myself." Gina Knowles from Houston said.
If only I had the time and money (dropping over $200 on a room for a night is a little bit out of the question on a college students’ budget) I would love to get a first-hand account myself as well. However, for now, “Effie” is still considered by some to be one of Oklahoma’s vanishing celebrities.





*indicates that names have been changed for protective purposes.

Center Coordinators Feature Story

Ask an OU Housing Center Coordinator (CC, for short) what their job entails and you will get a different answer every time.

Rodney Bates, the Center Coordinator for Adams Center described his job as, "The jack-of-all-trades position." He continued, "If you think about life.... you have to deal with your family... work.. social aspects.... relationships... money... your spiritual (life)... your health... Okay, throw a CC title on it and then that's what we do with students. It is hard to define it because we deal with everything."

The CCs do not have much help in trying to figure out how to deal with everything. It is mainly up to them to determine how to deal with the needs of each student.

"There is no handbook for life, we don't necessarily have a handbook for what we do, said Bates. "We have to be all things to everyone."

While the coordinators have many tasks that are not well outlined they do have the job of being the lead disciplinarians for the students. But this is the last thing the leaders of the centers want to be known for.

Rarely do they think of themselves as being rule enforcers; they all thought of the moments they have with the students as times to help them grow. They said when students receive an alcohol or drug citation, or when they have a specific citation three times, each person is brought into the office to be helped, not to be condemned.

"I think we all like to take those opportunities as teaching moments," Elisa Smith, the Cate Center Coordinator said.

Smith wants the students to think about what they have done and figure out how they could have done those things differently.

She explained further, "They are on their own for the first time, how can we help them transition through this?"

Bates described his relationship with the students as one of a mentor.

"When they're coming to talk with me it's to get advice. It's 'What do you recommend?' More of a mentor aspect," Bates said. "I understand that they see me as a professional and they may not feel as comfortable with (a casual relationship). I'll take the mentor relationship, or aspect of it."

The Walker Center Coordinator, Erin Simpson takes a similar route when it comes to her interaction with the students in Walker. She enjoys turning the discipline contacts she has to friendships in the end. Simpson enjoys seeing a student in the cafeteria that she had to previously discipline and letting them know that she has not judged them for whatever crime they committed. She wants to be known for more than just the disciplinary force in the dorms.

While talking with the Center Coordinators, they explained that when the citations were most heavily handed out was during times of great stress on the students.

"When it gets crunch time in terms of academics you always see a little bit of rise in citations in general. That is because kids are stressed out, staying up all night, then trying to relax in ways that bend the policies, break them sometimes." SImpson said.

However, Rodney Bates finds the issues he deals with in Adams to be at an even deeper level. He said the numbers point to him dealing with students with alcohol and drug citations. But those citations are not the main issue.

"Alcohol is the surface of the majority of what I meet about. But it's really that they make poor choices," Bates said. "Even though alcohol is the reason you're in the room (CCs office), the reason you're in this chair is because you made a poor decision to drink alcohol. So let's talk about your decision making."

Bates, along with the rest of the CCs are looking to adapt to the ever changing landscape of the average college student to help each of them make good decisions.

The coordinators do not only give talks to students for serious citations, they also lead groups of undergraduate students and graduate students to help make their job slightly less chaotic.

The CCs each have two resident directors (or RDs) assigned to them to help deal with citations in the dorms and to help organize events within the dorms. Each resident director has their daily jobs to deal with, all while dealing with being a graduate student at OU.

Both directors, as well as the coordinator helps lead resident advisors or RAs.

They explained that sometimes they make things up as they go, but the book never gets smaller and they have to have the drive to be everything to every student that needs their leadership for those teaching moments.

Legend's Restaurant

Looking at the upscale restaurant on Lindsey Street in Norman, Oklahoma, one would never have guessed that this business used to be a pizza delivery service in 1967.
Legend’s Restaurant, first named Lemuel B. Legend’s, is family-owned and operated by Joe and Rebecca Sparks. It was started on Norman’s South Navy Base as a pizza delivery service. To order pizza, one would simply dial LEGENDS on the phone.
Lemuel Legend became the restaurant's icon. He was an imaginary little man in a chef’s outfit delivering pizza from the seat of an antique Rolls Royce. Later in 1968, Lemuel B. Legend’s moved to a new location and added salads, steaks and sandwiches to the menu. And in 1972, the restaurant changed its name to Legend’s Restaurant and stopped serving pizza and started serving a more sophisticated menu. The restaurant also acquired the building next door to its new building in 1998 and named it Legend’s Times Two. Legend’s Times Two has become a banquet facility used for weddings, business meetings or any other gathering.
The restaurant’s goals “are to serve delicious, healthy, attractive food at a reasonable price, provide a positive working environment for our staff, and to be instrumental in the healthy, positive growth of our community,” said Joe Sparks, Owner and General Manager. Sparks thinks that the restaurant has become very successful in obtaining and preserving their goals.
“Legend's has become an important part of the history of Norman and extremely beneficial in volunteering and giving to the Norman community,” said Sparks. “Legends is important to the history of Norman because it provides the community with a upper-casual restaurant that is helpful for the community to grow. That is why we believe that Legend’s has become a vital part of the city of Norman,” said Sparks.
The restaurant participates in many fundraising events and donates food and catering services to events that help the community. “Joe and Rebecca Sparks give so much to the community, and shoulder the way Legend’s is involved in the community as well,” said Rick Steiner, dining room manager.
“The reason that we are involved in the community and give donations of food and time is because it is first important to live in a place and help nurture it and help it grow. It is like a house, you want your house to be structurally sound, welcoming and attractive. That’s what I want Norman to look like, and that’s why our restaurant is focused on helping the community. Second, volunteering and donating is good for promoting our business,” said Sparks.
Legend’s participates in Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation which combats hunger. It donates food to the Taste of Norman which invites the community to sample some of the town’s best restaurants and contributes to the music programs for both high schools in Norman. Sparks said he likes the event because it supports school programs. Sparks is the president of the school board in Norman.
Every year Legend’s Restaurant takes part in the annual Chocolate Festival in Norman, as well as contributes to the local arts scene. Sparks has received the Earl Sneed Business in the Arts Award for Legend's participation in the arts. The restaurant is involved with the Norman Firehouse Arts Center, as well as donates to the Sooner Theatre. Legend’s changes the artwork in the restaurant four times a year, and most of the pieces are for sale. When the artwork gets sold, all the money goes directly to the artist.
The restaurant has employed over 2,400 Oklahomans since its founding and many of them have been University of Oklahoma students. Legend’s prides itself on being a positive part of the community.
Jerry Andrews, who has been a Legend’s customer for the past ten years, says that Legend's is his favorite. “They give so much to the Norman community, and are helping to preserve a better future for the next generations to come,” said Andrews. “Joe Sparks is a good reason why Legend’s participates in so many events. He is even the president of the Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as volunteers for The Junior League,” said Andrews. “I admire Legend's Restaurant for all the work they do in the community,” he added.
Regardless of the restaurant’s involvement in the community, Legend’s has a long history of serving up good food that keeps Norman’s residents and visitors returning to this legendary establishment.

Challenges in Writing Journalistically

The biggest challenge that I face in writing journalistically is making sure that my work is concise and to the point. In other words, I need to achieve brevity. Throughout my high school writing career, I was trained to elaborate and fluff my work to give it a sense of academic dignity. Teachers admired writing with a lot of detail because it proved that you could extend your ideas into smooth, flowing thoughts. Although elaborate writing is my strength, I need to work on delivering my thoughts in brief, but effective, statements.

challenges in journalistic writing vs. academic writing

The challenges that I am experiencing in journalistic writing all involve the concept of brevity or "simplifying my writing". I struggle with writing too many words, or over elaborating on the minor details of my topic . In academic writing, length seemed to be something that was praised and desired. It is quite the opposite, however, in journalistic writing. I am learning that the goal is to get your point across in the shortest amount of words possible. I am also learning that in academic writing, big and complicated words make your writing seem more "intelligent". In journalism, however, big words make the story difficult and unappealing to readers.

Journalistic vs. Academic

The transition from academic writing to the journalistic style is filled with small rules and guidelines that complicate beginning to write for the mass media.

Six sentence paragraphs are now replaced by those of two sentences. Complex, descriptive words are now substituted by simpler synonyms.

Academic writers focus on backing up claims with a plethora of facts. Journalists need to simply inform the audience in the least amount of words possible.

After being taught the academic style my entire life, the transition to journalistic writing was naturally confusing at first. Through review and constant practice, I've begun to understand this unique form of writing.

Challenges Writing Journalistically

The hardest challenge for me when writing journalistically is achieving brevity. From the beginning of my education, I was taught to include "flowery" language. From elementary school, I was taught to include similes, metaphors, drawn out descriptions, and difficult vocabulary. I struggled to make my papers the required length.

Now, when writing journalistically, it is imperative that I use short, succinct sentences with as few words as possible. The switch from academic to journalistic writing has been difficult because writing academically is a habit. I have to constantly be alert when writing, to insure that I am sticking to all the journalistic style rules.

Writing Journalistically

I have found that writing for journalism is actually more different than writing for english or history papers.

It takes more "style." I would like to think that I write with style, but having been taught to write an a formal essay form all of my life, writing journalistically is very tough.

I think what needs to happen is simply just repetition and learning how to write properly. In journalism, we like short sentences, simple words and quick points on information. Essays want drawn out points and they need to be represented with more words.

But I can make the change.

Journalistic vs. Academic

So many challenges, so little space (or not much of a word count). That has been my main problem concerning the differences between journalistic writing and academic writing. I consider myself a long-winded person, one who is often wordy and keeps on going and going and never seems to end a sentence at a good stopping point, it is just going to go on forever it seems. Cut down on wordiness. That has been the cardinal rule up to this point. Which is a good rule, it means less work for me. What is that old adage? Less is more.

writing style difficulties

What I find most difficult about switching between the academic and mass media styles of writing is switching my brain between the two. My entire school career until this point has been formatted to one style of writing that I can follow easily, but now, this class has spun my writing format around to something more technical and to the point. I constantly find myself adding too many details and wanting to add in a opinion, so I’m always rereading what I do because I need to catch that. I also am reading more newspapers lately, looking at how they format, what they include, and the kind of descriptions used, for inspiration and guidelines that I try to emulate in my own work. 

I Made the Switch

While I do know there are certain conventions you have to conform to when writing journalistically versus academically, I don't think I have much of an issue. There might be some things here and some things there that I may need to tweak, but for the most part, because I have done academic writing practically all my life, and was exposed to writing journalistically when I was in high school, I can make the switch. If anything, I feel like I sometimes make my academic papers sound journalistic. When I do that, I have to make a concious effort to switch to "Academic Mode"- gotta bust out my fancy words and longer sentences.

-ReiL.

Challenges in Writing

Journalistic writing is very different than academic writing, and after writing academically for so long it was difficult to make the switch. English has always been my best subject, and I have always been taught to write complex sentences with advanced vocabulary. Now as a journalism major, I am being taught to write simple sentences with plain vocabulary. After filling numerous papers with long, intelligent-sounding words to increase the length, it is strange to cut down my writing by keeping it short and to the point. There are also a lot of style rules to remember, such as saying healthful instead of healthy, and these types of rules were never taught in English classes.

Challenges

There are many challenges I face with writing journalistically compared to writing academically. I went to a high school that focused on English and writing papers. My teachers never taught me any other way to write besides academically. It is hard for me not to write in MLA format when I’m writing for JMC 2033. Writing journalistically has caused me some problems because the writer is supposed to focus on getting to the point, nouns and verbs, while I am used to wordy writing and making a paper as long as I can. When I write journalistically, I have to cut down my wordiness.

Challenges

I find it very challenging to transfer from academic writing to journalistic writing because with any kind of habit that one has been practicing for over ten years, it’s hard to break! I had a tendency to make sentences wordy because that was a way to “fully describe something”; however, the contrary appeals to a journalistic type of writing. Now, I must make sentences short, concise, and to the point. Also, in academic writing, the paper is not complete without a conclusion. The conclusion was a way of drawing the content to a close but when writing a story for journalism, when you have all the pertinent information, you’re done! It’s still taking some time to grasp on to all the changes.

Academic vs Journalistic Writing

I have difficulties writing journalistically. I find it easier to write academically because that’s what I’ve been taught all through middle and high school. I’m out of my comfort zone writing journalist because I do not have experience writing in that style.
The rules and style is different. Journalism has various writing styles and stories, whereas academic writing doesn’t have much various. Journalism has different rules according to the AP style handbook. There’s different meanings and abbreviations that is different than academic writing. Journalism uses different words and gets straight to the point. In academic writing you should sound more sophisticated, have a thesis and a conclusion.

Recognizing Diversity in Journalism

National Association of Hispanic Journalists is an organization that supports journalism in the Hispanic culture. NAHJ recognizes the struggles in Hispanic journalism NAHJ advocates fairness and balanced coverage on Latinos and immigration in the media outlets. The organization raises awareness by conducting and attending conventions that help improve Hispanic journalism. It also offers scholarships to Hispanic journalism students. Chapters are dispersed throughout the United States to increase involvement and networking within NAHJ.

The money raised for student journalism scholarships comes from donations, advertising and sponsorship. NAHJ acts as a middle man that connects the public with Hispanic and Latino journalism of any subject. NAHJ strives to change the way the public views Hispanic culture by emphasizing the influence Hispanic journalism has on media outlets like TV news coverage and newspapers.

Hispanic journalism is supported by NAHJ through recognition of news stories that have something to do with the Hispanic culture. These stories are taken and given a new twist. Instead of broadening the group of people the story can relate to, the stories' main focus is on the portion that has to do with a person of Hispanic background or a topic that relates to Hispanic subjects. NAHJ also involves itself in events that relate to, advocate or support Hispanic culture around the world.

NAHJ praises individuals who's efforts have resulted in an improvement of Latino representation nationally. This association finds ways to relate to Hispanic journalists of any nationality, branch and age by advocating lifetime involvement within NAHJ.

DiversityInc.

DiversityInc.com is a website dedicated to enhancing and expanding diversity throughout the media world. They are similar to an online magazine, with articles about media happenings but that also concern the expansion of diversity either positively or negatively. It's easily navigable and features pages about diverse companies. They offer help in finding jobs, an area for resumes and a place to post jobs that need filling.

This is a site that offers as many outlets to improve diversity as possible. They aren't simply concerned with the advancement of a specific race or ethnicity, but with the goal that everyone gets representation. They even have a link called Ask the White Guy. The work encompasses a wide range of topics from government issues to pop culture and social topics. It’s done a very good job at being fair an relevant to everyone

DiversityInc is hosting an event this year that promotes it's message on a global level. Twelve companies from around the world have been chosen to represent how minorities around the world are being reached. It is at this event that DiversityInc will be also announcing the 2010 top 50 companies for diversity.

This is such an important website because it encompasses a wide range of media opportunities and stories that be of interest and service to people throughout the diversity spectrum. They deal with many facets of the media so that it can be relevant to various people who are part of the industry.

ACLU

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was established to protect the nation's liberty; to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States has guaranteed for each person.

They fight for cases such as national security, technology and liberty. LGBT rights, racial justice and many more issues.

It is important for everyone involved in the media to be aware of the happenings of the government. The government determines what we as US citizens will be able to do in the future. I think that whether we decide to become writers for fashion, sports or breaking news articles, the government will always play a part in what we as people of the United States would call news.

This Union wants to make the country aware about the ways the United States has attempted to take away from our liberties. So it is our goal as members of the media to help spread the word through our writing, advertising and broadcasting that we need to act toward the government or just be informed.

Media practitioners can find cases that are happening near them through ACLU. They have a drop down box that lists every state for anyone who is interested in local issues of civil liberty.

Overall ACLU is an important way to recognize and reveal certain cases dealing with the Bill of Rights in today's society.

Diversity Blog: Take 2

Diversity Inc. is an extensive website that covers any and all things related to diversity in the media. The main page for Diversity Inc. features a "ticker" of sorts highlighting Internet articles related to diversity and providing easy access to the articles. In addition with the ticker element the website has a featured video on diversity issues with two columns of articles related to diversity below. Other features of the website include a numbered list of 50 companies registered with Diversity Inc., frequently asked questions, a job application link, and other various links to management sights. The website also highlights some “hot leads” concerning diversity with catchy headlines and phrases including: Baloney Meter: The World According to Vanity Fair: Thin. White. Female”, “CBS Super Bowl Flap Shows Media Out of Touch, Says White Guy” and “Why the ‘B’ in ‘Black’ is Capitalized at DiversityInc.”

This is an important tool for everyone in the mass media field because anyone in any career field, not just journalism, can use it. While the main focus is diversity in mass media, the careers page provides opportunities to search for employers and careers with a high rate of employment among different races. It also gives opportunities for those of a non-diverse background to help raise their multicultural awareness and give more respect to diversity and other cultures. One of these opportunities is a sidebar with phrases not to use in conversations with people from different cultural groups. For example, “Things not to say to Latino executives, Things not to say to Black coworkers.”