Diego Figueroa, a junior elementary education student, goes over his notes for his morning class. On the right side of the folder is a sketch of a barn - Figueroa said it was part of a lesson plan he was creating.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Final Cramming
DePaul student, Chris A. Schink, sits in the downtown campus library stresses while trying to get some last minute cramming in for a test in his night class tonight
Street Performers Make Me Feel Good About My Future
I work off the Chicago Red Line stop and there are frequent street performers (or in this case "L" performers) that i see often. This guy happened to be jamming out to some Bob Dylan when i was leaving work the other week so i thought i would take a quick photo before jumping on the "L".
I know that this might seem somewhat irreverent, but seeing this guy performing for money made me feel a lot better about my future after college. I'm not sure if he makes a living as a street performer, but i know a lot of them do.
Being an artist is a tough life, especially if you want to pursue it as a career. I have several friends who went to DePaul for acting and are now really struggling to make it through these tough times. Its unfortunate, but it really comes down to them not having any "backup" skills to fall back on in times like these.
Anyway, if you think your future is looking bleak, take a look at this photograph for a minute. You'll realize that at least you don't have it this bad.
Pro-crastinatin'
DePaul freshman Alex Staliones (right) and her friend Joe Agliata, a freshman at Triton College, sit in the sunny Brownstone's Annex in the Student Center, hard at work on their matching Mac computers. Staliones, an Art History major, has upcoming finals in her math, writing, and focal point classes. Which final is she studying for here? ...Neither. She's Facebooking!
Open Mic Night-Multimedia Project
Students watch on as Ben Graves and Adam Shaffer play at one of DePaul’s open mic nights. Ben and Adam kept the Lincoln Park crowd entertained and got them clapping to their music.
Watch-out. Crime at the Library.
I am a regular at the Richardson Library, since I can't get any work done at my apartment, due to my distracting roommates. So I was worried when I noticed a bright yellow sign that caught my attention, warning students about recent theft at the library...
The sign was a "safety alert" letting students know that the theft rate at the library has increased and to be careful where you are leaving your stuff. Imagine this situation if you will... You just get to the library get all comfortable, set-up all your books, and then of course you have to go to the bathroom. What are you to do? You can't just pack all your stuff back up just to leave for a minute, but then again you can't just leave it there, someone could steal it. It's a real hassle. And to be honest I haven't come up with a good solution to solve this problem, unless you are with someone you can trust. I used to feel safe leaving my bag unattended for a moment, but after seeing this sign I was not going to risk it. Not only that but I found a couple other warnings about theft around the library. Here are a couple other warning signs I spotted (that aren't normally there).
This sign was located at a desk, warning students not to leave their laptops unattended.
The other sign I saw was this clever one about keeping an "eye" on your "iPod". They are obviously trying to warn students not to leave important belonging unattended. So watch your stuff when you are at the library!
Study Break
Finals are upon us. The library is more packed than ever, Brownstones provides extended hours and students hole up in their dorm rooms. Even though it only lasts a week (two weeks if you count the studying), we are constantly looking for an escape.
I think DePaul is doing a pretty good job of providing that escape. Last night, Tuesday, motivational speaker/ dancer Judson Laipply performed at the Student Center. Below is a video of his act (from youtube) in case you missed it and would like a study break right now.
Later on last night, as seen in my multimedia assignment, was a late-night pancake fix at Seton Hall. R.A. Sarah Keep set up an assembly line of pancakes in a student kitchen/lounge complete with the grill, batter and of course chocolate chips. The event began at 11:30 pm, just when students are really hitting the books. Below is another picture from that event.
So if you aren’t the studying type, check out the many DePaul-sponsored events that encourage students to not study! Everybody needs a break…
Multimedia project #4
Pancakes at midnight? With finals approaching, Seton Hall R.A. Sarah Keep gives her residents a tasty break from studying. Willing to use any excuse to not study, students lined up out the door.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-check it ouuut. 1, 2.
One of his readers, Stephen Goldmeier, 24, claims he is absolutely not studying, as he catches up on the Lessig Blog, sips coffee beside his iPod, and his cyberlaw text. An absolute must read if you're a second-year DePaul law student like Stephen, specializing in Intellectual Property Law. iBook or lawbook; which learning tool would you choose?
Metro-Ed.
One of this university's main attributes is its location within Chicago. Often times when asked, students, faculty, and administration will say that "Chicago is our campus." This generally refers to all of the fantastic resources available to us:
- Fogged over Lake Michigan as a background to a student film
- Chicago Board of Trade internships for number crunchers on the edge
- High profile visitors, like Angela Bassett, who will be honored later this spring by the Theater school.
- Claiming territory with the President of the United States
The list is endless.
There's another population pounding the pavement on our urban campus who might not know as many fanstastic resources. Some do not speak to us; and some do not even make eye contact. Any of us might easily ask a good samaritan for a dollar in a pinch, but those requests are well rehearsed for this group.
Some ask, and some merely suggest their need by the bite-marked styrofoam Dunkin Donuts cup held out in hopes of collecting lunch money.
This is William, whose birthday is today. He tells me he is 35, and spells out his birthdate, "Eleven - twenty-two - seventy-three."
Even after mistaking the date, I still handed out 94 cents as a thanks for the message of "God's Love," bundled in a bunch of compliments which preceded his plea for L fare.
Sitting closeby enough to observe drool on his chin, William represents countless homeless people who stroll around "our campus;" - DePaul the university, or DePaul the Vincentian agency of social change; one might wonder if this school has a reputation for kindness amongst those who successfully panhandle outside our doors from day-to-day.
Adventures in Music Theory
Kyle Geib, 20, and a sophomore here at DePaul, works on a composition with a banjo and a guitar for his Music Theory class. Students had to create an original song, write the composition out in sheet music, and perform it for the class as a final project.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Multimedia Picture
Dan McMahon, 22, a Journalism student at DePaul, performs as a guest bass player with the band Coventry at the Elk Grove Community Center.
Circle of Trust
There's a new student organization on campus called Circle of Trust. Inspired by the example set by the Gordie Foundation, Circle of Trust is dedicated to changing college culture in terms of the way we consume alcohol. According to Circle of Trust's Facebook group, "Through the Gordie Foundation’s creative merchandising and marketing, college students have the power to spread the message of responsible drinking, moderation, compassion for others, and intolerance of hazing."
The Gordie Foundation was created in memory of Gordie Bailey, a freshman at the University of Colorado at Boulder who died in 2004 at the Chi Psi fraternity house on "bid night." According to the Gordie Foundation's website, on this night Gordie and 26 other pledges went into the woods and were told to drink four handles of whiskey and six bottles of wine around a fire in half an hour. Gordie was intoxicated when they returned to the fraternity house, and as he slept on the couch, his fraternity brothers wrote on his body. According to the Gordie Foundation's website, he "slept it off" for 10 hours before he was found dead, face down on the floor, and no one called for help.
This is the kind of tragic and dangerous story that more students should know about before they make irresponsible drinking decisions. There is little you can do to stop a group of 27 year old college freshmen from drinking alcohol; there is plenty you can do to prevent them from drinking ten bottles of alcohol in half an hour.
The Circle of Trust strives to help educate DePaul students about the dangers of binge drinking, alcohol poisoning, hazing, and the side affects of irresponsible drinking such as sexual assault, violence, loss of self control, criminal activity, and the negative health and academic consequences. There are Circle of Trust chapters in colleges and high schools all across the country, and they are all working to make sure that what happened to Gordie will not happen again.
We've all heard the hazing horror stories from high schools and colleges across the country. Let's make sure that this never happens to a DePaul student.
The Gordie Foundation was created in memory of Gordie Bailey, a freshman at the University of Colorado at Boulder who died in 2004 at the Chi Psi fraternity house on "bid night." According to the Gordie Foundation's website, on this night Gordie and 26 other pledges went into the woods and were told to drink four handles of whiskey and six bottles of wine around a fire in half an hour. Gordie was intoxicated when they returned to the fraternity house, and as he slept on the couch, his fraternity brothers wrote on his body. According to the Gordie Foundation's website, he "slept it off" for 10 hours before he was found dead, face down on the floor, and no one called for help.
This is the kind of tragic and dangerous story that more students should know about before they make irresponsible drinking decisions. There is little you can do to stop a group of 27 year old college freshmen from drinking alcohol; there is plenty you can do to prevent them from drinking ten bottles of alcohol in half an hour.
The Circle of Trust strives to help educate DePaul students about the dangers of binge drinking, alcohol poisoning, hazing, and the side affects of irresponsible drinking such as sexual assault, violence, loss of self control, criminal activity, and the negative health and academic consequences. There are Circle of Trust chapters in colleges and high schools all across the country, and they are all working to make sure that what happened to Gordie will not happen again.
We've all heard the hazing horror stories from high schools and colleges across the country. Let's make sure that this never happens to a DePaul student.
i saw the sign.
Spotted: Belden & Sheffield Ave.
This contradictory message of a heart and cross bones stuck on a sign outside of the Lincoln Park Student Center acts as a sign for onlookers, almost warning that love is dangerous. The heart's skull face has one black eye and one swollen eye. I saw the sign and it gave me a black eye?
Chi-city, I'm coming home again.
DePaul University students just dance the night away in Union Station for their annual Homecoming on February 28, 2009. The event was held in the historic Great Room of the station.
C3POlitical
Spotted: Fullerton & Sheffield Ave.
I spotted this sticker on a street sign by the Sheffield Parking Garage. The quality of the photograph is not the best, but in person the wording was difficult to read. It appears to be some kind of political statement, I am not sure who the figure is, it does almost resemble Harrison Ford?
DePaul Student at Work
Alexis Famiano, 24, a DePaul Education major, goes to work at Chicago Bagel Authority on 953 W. Armitage Avenue. Famiano works part-time at Chicago Bagel Authority, which specializes in steamed bagel sandwiches. She has been an employee there for over three years.
Objective Journalism...Where did it all begin?
I have been wondering about newspapers and where it all started. Like many, I probably will not take a class in the history of Journalism. I came across a blog through Twitter today touching on objectivity and how we can get editors to correct any perceived bias or untruth in their publications. Happy reading.
Avoiding the Costly Spring Break...
There's no question that spring break is the time of year most college students look forward to, but it can also be quite expensive. Not every struggling college student can afford the bill for a vacation in some exotic location. However that doesn't mean they can't still have the great experience a spring break can bring- it's all just a matter of timing and packaged deals.
Without a doubt, the sooner you book your spring break plans the cheaper it will be. Its always a good idea to plan early. So that means getting together with your friends, deciding where you want to hang out for a week, then commit to it by making it happen. Obviously the more people involved the cheaper it will be as well. You need to check out all your options (sit down and figure out the numbers because you might be able to save a bunch of cash). Its always a good idea to ask your travel agent about packaged deals. Some Spring Break companies offer packages that include food, drinks and more.
A great affordable spring break option is an all inclusive. For one flat fee you have access to an entire resort, all the food and drinks and lots of extras such as entertainment and scheduled activities. A spring break experience can be planned on a budget; it is just a matter of doing some research and early planning.
DePaul sign tagged
Upon walking through a parking lot for DePaul faculty and staff, next to the EL on Fullerton, I saw this sign with the spray painted cat on it and thought i'd post it to contribute to Liza's underground art posts.
Free At Last!
(Photo from DePaul's Hillel website)As I am sure everyone is aware, spring break is coming up. (Anyone else counting down the days?) What are your plans? I think some people may be surprised to know a group of DePaul students will be lending a helping hand in the South.
While some of us will be laying on the beach somewhere warm trying to soak up the sun, DePaul's Hillel will be bringing a group of students to the Gulf Coast for Hillel Builds: Alternative Spring Break. Through this students will be dealing with hands on service, community interaction, social justice as well as Judaism.
Hundreds of other Hillel students from across the country will also be volunteering in the Gulf Coast to rebuild some of what was lost during Hurricane Katrina from March 23-30.
What a great way to spend spring break, right?
DePaul Men break 18-game losing streak, upset Cincinatti
Though the Women's team was defeated in their valiant effort against Pittsburgh this afternoon, DePaul's lackluster Men's squad came through with a huge 67-57 upset against Cincinnati today. Coming into today's game, DePaul was 0-18 against Big East opponents this season.
The Blue Demons were seeded 16th out of 16 teams in the Big East Tournament, which began today at New York's Madison Square Garden. A 15-2 run in the 2nd half was key in DePaul's victory today. Junior guard Will Walker and Sophomore forward Dar Tucker led all players with 18 points each, with all of Tucker's coming in the 2nd half.
Before the game, Newsday's Mark Dwyer said "I want to pick the Demons here. I really do... What a great story this would be, right? I'm going to do it. I would, really. But, I can't. " Thanks for the motivation, Mark!
DePaul moves on in the tournament, and will face Providence in the 2nd round. That game will be at 11 A.M. tomorrow. You can catch it on ESPN, or WSCR 670 AM.
The Blue Demons were seeded 16th out of 16 teams in the Big East Tournament, which began today at New York's Madison Square Garden. A 15-2 run in the 2nd half was key in DePaul's victory today. Junior guard Will Walker and Sophomore forward Dar Tucker led all players with 18 points each, with all of Tucker's coming in the 2nd half.
Before the game, Newsday's Mark Dwyer said "I want to pick the Demons here. I really do... What a great story this would be, right? I'm going to do it. I would, really. But, I can't. " Thanks for the motivation, Mark!
DePaul moves on in the tournament, and will face Providence in the 2nd round. That game will be at 11 A.M. tomorrow. You can catch it on ESPN, or WSCR 670 AM.
Blue Crime Camera Update
After writing the story about the blue camera that is on the corner of Sheffield and Fullerton, many questions arose about why the camera is actually there. One question that stood out was whether the camera was there because the school wanted to promote safety or whether it was due to the already present crime in this area. In fact, after speaking to a member of the public defenders office, who chooses to remain anonymous, he said that the blue cameras are mounted in high crime areas. These areas have experienced a large amount of criminal activity including narcotics transactions, sexual assault, muggings and all other possible criminal activity. Having a camera in these places are done with the hope that it will discourage criminals from committing crimes since they have a high risk of it being caught on tape. The camera tapes all activity around that area in hopes of catching crime in action and then it can be used in court. The member of the public defenders office said that he has used recordings from these tapes all the time in order to help solve a case.
Overall, in the case of the camera on Sheffield and Fullerton, it is there due to the increasing number of crimes in the area, but is also put there for the general safety of the DePaul students.
Overall, in the case of the camera on Sheffield and Fullerton, it is there due to the increasing number of crimes in the area, but is also put there for the general safety of the DePaul students.
DePaul Women Knocked Out of Big East Tournament
The women's basketball season came to an end this past Sunday, losing in the quarter finals of the Big East Tournament to Pittsburgh 62-59. The Blue Demons won a close came the day before, beating West Virginia 75-72 in Overtime. Natasha Williams lead DePaul with 19 points against West Virginia. Deirdre Naughton added 18 points and five rebounds. West Virginia hit two free throws to tie the game with two seconds left which sent the game to overtime. DePaul was down by one with less than a minute left in overtime when Natasha Willam's lay-up gave DePaul the lead. Sam Quigley was fouled with one second left and knocked down both free throws to make it a three point game and secured DePaul the victory. Williams added 21 against Pittsburgh to once again lead the Blue Demons, but it was not enough. DePaul jumped out to an early ten point lead but went into the half up by only one. Pittsburgh seized control in the second half leading by as many as 17 points. DePaul almost pulled off a terrific come back and cut the lead to one point with 17 seconds left in the game. But Deirdre Naughton could not hit the jumper that would have given DePaul the lead, and two free throws for Pittsburgh sealed the game without DePaul getting off another shot. The men's basketball team will leave the Big East Tournament with at least one win as well. The men's team snapped their 18-game losing streak today and finally got that Big East victory, beating Cincinnati 67-57. Good for the Blue Demons, nobody likes to see a team lose that many games in a row, especially to end their season. Without any pressure to win, look for the Blue Demons to pay back the Big East with some more tournament upsets. DePaul will play Providence tomorrow at noon eastern time. The game will be shown on ESPN.
The Career Center
In addition to the crucial skills learned through taking classes, DePaul University has a Career Center, which their mission statement explains as “creating connections to the world of work, providing comprehensive, centralized employment, and career services for members of the DePaul University community." It is crucial that colleges be able to assist students in their ability to prepare for post graduation employment.
DePaul's Career Center is a great and effective way to connect to numerous jobs and internship opportunities whether it be on-campus or with employers throughout Chicago and elsewhere. The Career Center can provide for students trying to find positions that correlate with their studies or taking the necessary steps in starting their career. To get started, the center advises students to learn about a variety of professions, employers, and graduate schools then connect with employers at the Career Center's career development workshops, job fairs, and events.
Through my academic knowledge and experiences, I have learned that it is never too early in a college career to begin thinking about the ultimate goal of getting a job after graduation. Students should consider the state of their resumes during their time at college and map out a plan to obtain the necessary experience and credentials for their chosen career path.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
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http://www.realshamrock.com/Shamrock_Logo.jpg)
http://www.realshamrock.com/Shamrock_Logo.jpg)
I have to say this is one of my most favorite of holidays. Yes. I am Irish, which could be why I love it so much. But I really feel like it is the start to Spring and the excitement on the DePaul University campus. Ever since freshman year at DePaul I have had big plans for that Saturday before the actual St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th). This usually includes festivities such as the downtown Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will be held on this Saturday March 14th, and will begin at noon. Another favorite tradition of mine is when they dye the Chicago River green! This is scheduled for 10:45 am on Saturday. If you are interested in going to the parade you must be willing to wake up a little early for a Saturday, and somehow get downtown Chicago. Personally, I would recommend taking public transportation to avoid traffic and such. A good web site to check on about various public transportation methods is: http://www.chicagostpatsparade.com/parade.html. This web site will also provide you with more details on Saturday’s events.
For those of you who cannot make the celebrations on Saturday don’t worry there is another parade called, Chicago’s South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which is on Sunday March 15th. This parade will also begin at noon, but will have a different route than Saturday’s parade. The parade will kick off at 104th & Western. For further information about this parade check out the site: http://www.southsideirishparade.org/.
So even if you aren’t Irish get out there and enjoy the many festivities going on this weekend in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Get your friends together and head up to one of the parades, and then hit up some of the local bars around campus (if you are of age). Kelly’s Pub on Webster is always a festive Irish pub to go to on St. Patrick’s Day, and I am sure a lot of the bars have parties going on all day Saturday. I know State on Webster is offering a wristband deal stating at 8:30am-1:30 pm (food and drinks). From what I remember in years past, all the bars around DePaul campus are usually packed, so get out there early on Saturday and celebrate!
It's Raining, It's Pouring..
Well, it's once again pouring rain today and I find myself taking shelter once more in the Student Center, camera in hand.
Junior, Stacey Thompson and Grad Student, Mark Adler take shelter from the rain in the Student Center on Tuesday to catch up on some work before finals begin next Monday.
You May Need to Change your Schedule…
For those of you who did not read or receive the e-mail called “New Lincoln Park Campus Course Schedule Beginning Autumn 2009” I will give you the low down of what you are normally familiar with that is about to change in Autumn Quarter 2009. In my four years at DePaul the course schedule has not changed once until now, which I feel is kind of a big deal for those of you students that are used to the regular set schedule of classes. In the e-mail it says that, “Beginning in autumn quarter of 2009, there will be a new schedule for most courses that meet at the Lincoln Park Campus. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Communication, and the School of Education will follow the new schedule; the Theatre School and the School of Music will not.”
As a commuter student from Lincoln Park to the loop it was always hard for me to schedule my classes so that I can make the next one on time. For example, if I have a 1:30-3 in Lincoln Park there is no way I can make a 3:10-4:40 in the loop on time, which means I have to eliminate taking a class because of the travel time. The new schedule will create a better alignment with classes that are in the loop so that you can get there on time. I also noticed that most classes will only meet twice a week, which means a lot of students will have Friday’s off! On the front cover The DePaulia there is a whole page dedicated to schedule changes having students shout, “Thank God it’s Thursday!” Check it out. Also night classes will be offered on Fridays now, and most night classes will start at 6-9:15 pm. I will copy the new schedule that they posted in the e-mail to this post so that you can all have a glance at it:
MW:
8:00-9:30
9:40-11:10
11:20-12:50
1:00-2:30
2:40-4:10
4:20-5:50
TTH:
8:00-9:30
9:40-11:10
11:20-12:50
1:00-2:30
2:40-4:10
4:20-5:50
MWF:
8:30-9:30
9:40-10:40
11:20-12:20
1:00-2:00
F:
8:30-11:45
12:00-3:15
M-T-W-TH-F evenings:
6:00-9:15
Lastly, I just received another e-mail about new classes that were recently added to the 2008-09 Spring Quarter Course Schedule that may help some of you, those classes are:
-MCS 351 Sec 902 Topics in Television Studies with Dr. Michael DeAngelis is offered on Thursdays from 5:45-9:00PM in the Loop Campus.
-MCS 349 Sec 901 Topics in Film Studies: Latin America Cinemawith Dr. Luisela Amelia Alvaray offered Mondays from 5:30-9:30PM in theLoop Campus.
-AMS 395 Sec 901 American Studies Topics: 1970 American Cinemawith Dr. Jay Beck is offered Wednesdays from 5:45-9:00PM in the LoopCampus.
Hope this post was somewhat useful those of you who will be here next year, and in the spring. Good luck with finals everyone!
As a commuter student from Lincoln Park to the loop it was always hard for me to schedule my classes so that I can make the next one on time. For example, if I have a 1:30-3 in Lincoln Park there is no way I can make a 3:10-4:40 in the loop on time, which means I have to eliminate taking a class because of the travel time. The new schedule will create a better alignment with classes that are in the loop so that you can get there on time. I also noticed that most classes will only meet twice a week, which means a lot of students will have Friday’s off! On the front cover The DePaulia there is a whole page dedicated to schedule changes having students shout, “Thank God it’s Thursday!” Check it out. Also night classes will be offered on Fridays now, and most night classes will start at 6-9:15 pm. I will copy the new schedule that they posted in the e-mail to this post so that you can all have a glance at it:
MW:
8:00-9:30
9:40-11:10
11:20-12:50
1:00-2:30
2:40-4:10
4:20-5:50
TTH:
8:00-9:30
9:40-11:10
11:20-12:50
1:00-2:30
2:40-4:10
4:20-5:50
MWF:
8:30-9:30
9:40-10:40
11:20-12:20
1:00-2:00
F:
8:30-11:45
12:00-3:15
M-T-W-TH-F evenings:
6:00-9:15
Lastly, I just received another e-mail about new classes that were recently added to the 2008-09 Spring Quarter Course Schedule that may help some of you, those classes are:
-MCS 351 Sec 902 Topics in Television Studies with Dr. Michael DeAngelis is offered on Thursdays from 5:45-9:00PM in the Loop Campus.
-MCS 349 Sec 901 Topics in Film Studies: Latin America Cinemawith Dr. Luisela Amelia Alvaray offered Mondays from 5:30-9:30PM in theLoop Campus.
-AMS 395 Sec 901 American Studies Topics: 1970 American Cinemawith Dr. Jay Beck is offered Wednesdays from 5:45-9:00PM in the LoopCampus.
Hope this post was somewhat useful those of you who will be here next year, and in the spring. Good luck with finals everyone!
Rain Insurance at FEST?
FEST 09 is coming up and the annual concert is looking to be another good time. The past two years have not been disappointing, with good artists at cheap prices and an even better atmosphere. I have to say, DAB has done a phenomenal job at putting together a legitimate college concert. Last year there was Girl Talk, which was the sickness and the year before was The Roots, which was even better.
Lets talk about the rain insurance for a second though. I have never paid for it, and probably won't again this year despite the fact that it has rained for the past two years.
I'm sticking with the game plan. I have a gut feeling that if i pay that extra cash (what is it? A dollar?) for the rain insurance that it is not going to rain. Besides, they didn't even move it indoors when The Roots played, and it was awesome!! So why ruin the experience?! I guess i can understand the whole "safety" issue, if i actually cared about it. A little lightning couldn't hurt that much, haven't you seen the movie Powder? Come on now! I say if it rains this year, let us party on! Boycott the rain insurance!!!
Lets talk about the rain insurance for a second though. I have never paid for it, and probably won't again this year despite the fact that it has rained for the past two years.
I'm sticking with the game plan. I have a gut feeling that if i pay that extra cash (what is it? A dollar?) for the rain insurance that it is not going to rain. Besides, they didn't even move it indoors when The Roots played, and it was awesome!! So why ruin the experience?! I guess i can understand the whole "safety" issue, if i actually cared about it. A little lightning couldn't hurt that much, haven't you seen the movie Powder? Come on now! I say if it rains this year, let us party on! Boycott the rain insurance!!!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Our fancy web-neighbors...
You are now supposed to be reading all about DePaul on iTunes; like, how awesome is it to stumble upon a DePaulian media pod during a very routine Google stalking?
Truth is: the desired result of the particular Google search which [digitally] unearthed iTunes' DePaul OnDemand was a hunt for facts about J383, the sequel to the Online Journalism class that maintains this very blog.
DePaul OnDemand @ iTunes
I landed in the class' menu of final projects, eying digital video products that DePaulia writer, Scott Bolohan, said made him feel like he had an edge above all other journalism students in the country. Not a bad endorsement for Online Journalism 2.
But the plot thickens. The iTunes abode for countless DePaul departments has already been blogged about on the Demon Tracks blog, a webspace devoted mainly to profiles of newsworthy alums and tips on merging career advancement fetishes with social media fetishes. [Kinda like us, huh?]
Fellows or foes, you might wonder? Professionals. And they're even crowdsourcing in the CMN department here at DePaul, featuring a DPU senior as a guest blogger.
Because the Tracks blog aims to document the moves of our post-grads, it might be wise to keep a devilish eye on their work, just to know what we all have to live up to.
The ancestral Blue Demon voices have spoken. (Even on The X-Files!)
Listen, and learn.
Truth is: the desired result of the particular Google search which [digitally] unearthed iTunes' DePaul OnDemand was a hunt for facts about J383, the sequel to the Online Journalism class that maintains this very blog.
DePaul OnDemand @ iTunesI landed in the class' menu of final projects, eying digital video products that DePaulia writer, Scott Bolohan, said made him feel like he had an edge above all other journalism students in the country. Not a bad endorsement for Online Journalism 2.
But the plot thickens. The iTunes abode for countless DePaul departments has already been blogged about on the Demon Tracks blog, a webspace devoted mainly to profiles of newsworthy alums and tips on merging career advancement fetishes with social media fetishes. [Kinda like us, huh?]
Fellows or foes, you might wonder? Professionals. And they're even crowdsourcing in the CMN department here at DePaul, featuring a DPU senior as a guest blogger.
Because the Tracks blog aims to document the moves of our post-grads, it might be wise to keep a devilish eye on their work, just to know what we all have to live up to.
The ancestral Blue Demon voices have spoken. (Even on The X-Files!)
Listen, and learn.
Spring Intramural Sports Approaching Fast
As the April Rapidly approaches, students start to prepare for a whole new group of spring sports. Each quarter/season a group of new sports starts allowing students to play mostly in coed intramural sports. This April, volleyball, floor hockey, flag football, kickball, softball, table tennis, badminton, tennis, and bocce ball are offered by Campus recreation. All teams are required to sign up by early April or they will not be allowed to participate.
The thing that confuses me is why the University doesn't advertise intramural sports more then they do. If they want students to get involved you think there would be an e-mail blast or something done that will make people aware of the many different options they have to participate in. The only reason I found any information about floor hockey is because after this quarter ice hockey is over and a few guys from the team wanted to get into an intramural sport, so I did some research. It just seems to me that if the University want students to get more involved, things should be advertised more. This goes for more then just intramural sports. I just recently read and article in the Depaulia about how students were only warned once about homecoming, which was when they announced the theme and location. After that there was nothing else posted, which resulted in many students missing out on the event due to not knowing about it. The students have no way of finding out what events are happening on campus unless they are told what is coming up and it is the number of student organizations on campus that are responsible to make sure the DePaul student population are aware of them.
The thing that confuses me is why the University doesn't advertise intramural sports more then they do. If they want students to get involved you think there would be an e-mail blast or something done that will make people aware of the many different options they have to participate in. The only reason I found any information about floor hockey is because after this quarter ice hockey is over and a few guys from the team wanted to get into an intramural sport, so I did some research. It just seems to me that if the University want students to get more involved, things should be advertised more. This goes for more then just intramural sports. I just recently read and article in the Depaulia about how students were only warned once about homecoming, which was when they announced the theme and location. After that there was nothing else posted, which resulted in many students missing out on the event due to not knowing about it. The students have no way of finding out what events are happening on campus unless they are told what is coming up and it is the number of student organizations on campus that are responsible to make sure the DePaul student population are aware of them.
Guest speaker on Guantanamo
One of President Obama's first promises was to shut down Guantanamo Bay, but that does not mean that Americans should no longer talk about torture. For this reason, the student group Model UN/Society for International Affairs (MUN/SIA) in conjunction with the department of Religious Studies and the Center for Church/State Studies at DePaul's Law School invited Joseph Margulies to speak to students on Tues., March 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Courtelyou Commons.
Margulies is an attorney with the MacArthur Justice Center and a professor of Law at Northwestern University, and he will talk about his recent book entitled Guantanamo and the Abuse of Presidential Powers. According to the event's Facebook group, Margulies was the lead counsel for the Rasul v. Bush trial, in which the Supreme Court awarded Guantanamo prisoners the right to judicial review.
Anyone who is interested in politics, human rights, and the complicated relationship between the two should think about attending this event!
Here is a video I found on YouTube of Margulies talking about his role in the first Guantanamo detainee's case:
If nothing else, the event will have free refreshments!
Margulies is an attorney with the MacArthur Justice Center and a professor of Law at Northwestern University, and he will talk about his recent book entitled Guantanamo and the Abuse of Presidential Powers. According to the event's Facebook group, Margulies was the lead counsel for the Rasul v. Bush trial, in which the Supreme Court awarded Guantanamo prisoners the right to judicial review.
Anyone who is interested in politics, human rights, and the complicated relationship between the two should think about attending this event!
Here is a video I found on YouTube of Margulies talking about his role in the first Guantanamo detainee's case:
If nothing else, the event will have free refreshments!
DIY-Battle!
It's about that time for DePaul's annual Battle of the Bands and this year it will be kicking things up a notch with a competition with Columbia College and Roosevelt.
Hosted by the DePaul Activities Board at the Metro on May 5th, five bands from DePaul, five from Columbia and five from Roosevelt will compete for studio time, press coverage, the honor of playing the Metro and the title of biggest mouth. Also, for those DePaul bands involved who win the DePaul vote you will get the chance to play FEST.
You can email Rachel Lafranconi at rlafranc@depaul.edu for details on the submission process and rules. Deadline for submissions is April 17th, winners announced April 22nd! All genres are welcome.
If you ask me, this is an awesome way to get more DePaul bands involved on campus not to mention the amazing benefits of winning!
Hosted by the DePaul Activities Board at the Metro on May 5th, five bands from DePaul, five from Columbia and five from Roosevelt will compete for studio time, press coverage, the honor of playing the Metro and the title of biggest mouth. Also, for those DePaul bands involved who win the DePaul vote you will get the chance to play FEST.
You can email Rachel Lafranconi at rlafranc@depaul.edu for details on the submission process and rules. Deadline for submissions is April 17th, winners announced April 22nd! All genres are welcome.
If you ask me, this is an awesome way to get more DePaul bands involved on campus not to mention the amazing benefits of winning!
Youtube sensation Judson Laipply to give speech tomorrow
Tomorrow night at the Lincoln Park student Center, the DePaul Activities Board will be hosting an event that looks to be a little different than the bulk of their offerings. Motivational speaker and comedian Judson Laipply will show up and entertain/motivate students with his speech entitled "Life Is Change".
So you're probably thinking "ok, so what?". While Judson may not exactly be a household name, you've probably seen his video on youtube; his "Evolution of Dance" clip (which you can check out here) is the 2nd most-viewed video in the history of youtube, with a whopping 115 million + views (the most-watched is Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" music video, FYI). Apparently Laipply closes most of his performances by performing this routine, and he released "Evolution of Dance 2" in January.
I'm honestly not that familiar with any other aspects of Laipply's routine, but based on his youtube videos alone, I have a feeling the performance will be one worth seeing.
UPDATE: Judson's speech went very well, I think. For once DAB, underestimated how many students would attend the event, and a number of people had to sit on the floor. Judson was a lot funnier than I expected and, of course, he closed his speech with an extended version of The Evolution of Dance.
No Big East Wins, Still in the Tournament
First the bad news. The DePaul men's basketball team ended their season with an 18-game losing streak and did not get a single Big East Conference victory. Now the good news. The Blue Demons still get a chance to play in the Big East tournament. The Big East tournament now includes all 16 teams instead of the top nine teams in previous years. DePaul now has the ultimate shot at redemption. After getting beat up for the past two months by everyone in the Big East, DePaul can now play the spoiler role and knock some teams out of the conference tournament. DePaul will begin the tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday. Their first opponent will be the Cincinatti Bearcats. The Bearcats came to Allstate Arena and beat the Blue Demons in a close game back in January. Dar Tucker will look to lead the way with his team high average of 18 points per game. Will Walker who was right behind Tucker in scoring will look to continue his hot streak from 3-point land, even though he only shot 36% for the year. Any win DePaul gets in the tournament will be viewed as an upset and their chances of going far (if anywhere) are very doubtful. But the Big East has given DePaul one more chance to get a conference victory and hopefully the Blue Demons do not waste it.
Final Exams Approach (Multi-Media Final Assignment)
With finals week approaching I decided to take a photo of my roommate for our final multi-media assignment. My roommates name is Drew Olson and he is a junior at DePaul and like most students at DePaul during this time of year, he is studying for finals. When I asked Drew how he felt about spending all of his free time studying this week he said, “I feel like I just took mid-terms last week and I’m already taking finals." I believe that this photo tells the story of every DePaul student in these last few weeks before spring break.
Want a chance at $500?
My wallet’s been looking pretty sad lately…. (all that change and no paper). My friends and I like to call it the recession blues. That’s why I was pretty happy when I got a link for the 2009 NACE Student Survey – click there to fill it out as an undergrad, and you might win $500 cash. NACE stands for the National Association of Colleges and Employers; they’re an organization that connects undergrad and grad students with potential employers.
The survey is about 40 questions regarding your job searching habits thus far pre-graduation. They take around 15 minutes to answer. All you have to include for identifying information is your name and e-mail address for them to contact you if you win. The winner will be drawn on May 1, so you have until then to enter. Why not take a couple minutes for a chance at $500?
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Great Ad for DePaul Art Museum
I was flipping through TimeOut Chicago magazine today and on the 'museum listings' page, the word DePaul caught my eye! The DePaul Art Museum, it turns out, is listed this week for its 'Reverence Renewed' exhibit--sandwiched between The Chicago History Museum and DuSable Museum of African American History. Also on the page: the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry.
Not bad, DePaul!
Even neater, the listing has an asterisk next too it, denoting that it is 'recommended' by TimeOut Chicago. I don't know who was responsible for getting that listing in the magazine, but great job! This form of advertising could potentially attract a lot more visitors. I'm almost never on the Lincoln Park campus, but I'm in the Loop all the time and never see ads for art exhibits.
I checked into this exhibit online after reading the TimeOut blurb. Here is the link to the site for 'Reverence Renewed', which is really informative if you are interested in art or the exhibit itself. It even includes a slideshow of some of the art if you don't have time to make it over to the museum.
The art museum is located in the library on the Lincoln Park campus (corner of Fullerton and Kenmore) and the exhibit is completely free.
ASK
Image courtesy of http://ask.depaul.edu.
If you’re wondering whether you would actually be interested in a prospective career, you might be looking for someone from that field to talk to. Not only would it give you a better idea of what the career would be like, but it might also be a good way to network and get your name out.
Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) is DePaul’s network to allow you to do just that. There are nearly 1,000 volunteer mentors that are part of the program. Whether you’re from the College of Communication, Commerce, or LA&S; or whether you’re looking for the corporate or private sector, there are professionals available to aid you as you are making career decisions.
A couple of the services the ASK program provides are job test drives and resume advice. The test drives are available around the country from California to Florida to Chicago’s surrounding suburbs and give you a chance to shadow for a day-in-the-life-of experience.
You can also schedule a practice interview with an ASK mentor in your prospective field. These interviews usually take about an hour and give you valuable time to discuss details of careers, resume tips, and interview tips.
To set up a practice interview or job test drive through ASK, you can call their office at (312) 362-8282 or contact them via e-mail at ask@depaul.edu.
DePaul Hockey Advances to Nationals
Last weekend the DePaul hockey team participated in the ACHA Central region, regional tournament. There are around 50 teams in the central region and out of those teams the top 10 teams make the regional playoffs. Since the number one and two seeds get an automatic bid to nationals, teams 3-10 play to see which other two teams will join the 12 other teams from the other three regions. In the first night of the tournament DePaul faced off against local rivals, Robert Morris College. This was the two teams 3rd meeting this year, with both teams having a win against the other. So not only was this game a must win to advance to the next round, but also was a chance for bragging rights. After a long tough game DePaul came out ahead with a 4-2 win over Robert Morris, giving them a birth into the second round against Minnesota school, Saint Thomas University.
Just like the game against Robert Morris, the second round game versus Saint Thomas promised to be a good one. Through the first two periods the game remained close, but DePaul remained ahead by one goal and took the lead to two by the end of the second. The score remained the same until late in the period when rookie forward, Vince Conenna scored a pair of goals to further seal the deal. DePaul went on to win it 6-2 and now advance to the National tournament, held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on March 17th through the 21st. Being the first time for many to make it to a National tournament and the first time for the DePaul organization, one can bet that the group of guys that make of the DePaul hockey team will not accept anything short of a National championship. It will take the skill and effort of the whole team to bring home a win, but most of all it will take heart.
Even though your DePaul hockey team will be on the road for their quest to win Nationals, you can still support them by watching the live webcast of the games. Each National tournament game is broadcast live over the web. Just visit www.livesportsvideo.com and click on "ACHA Mens Division II Hockey Championships 2009" and it will take you to a list of all the DePaul games.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Alternative Transportation Fair
Fairs have been a common occurrence on the DePaul campus which has given me the ability not to stray away from my beat that I was given at the beginning of the quarter. On March 6th in the student center of DePaul’s
One of the booths was for the CTA which is probably the most familiar mode of alternative transportation to people in Chicago and especially students at DePaul. Another station was represented by I-GO Cars which allows people to use and share hybrid cars with others only when they need them which eliminates the need to buy or lease a vehicle. I left the fair and I was handed my Luna bar and a list of tips of ways to make the world “greener.” This fair was much better than getting hounded by people working for organizations trying to talk to you on the street asking to help save panda bears from extinction. This fair was relevant to our times and especially to the
Friday, March 6, 2009
Ethical Journalism in the Digital World
In case you didn't get the email, the Chicago Headline Club is sponsoring an event on March, 14 at Loyola University's Water Tower campus. Students will pay $5.00 at the door as opposed to the $25.00 fee for non-members of the club. Speakers at this event include Bob Steele, Al Tompkins, and other Chicago television and radio news directors. The time is scheduled for 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Lewis Tower of the campus. To RSVP for this event and to learn more, please follow the link below.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Almost Alumni Fair
On Thursday March 5th from 12-6 p.m. in the student center of DePaul’s
There were many different stations but there were a few that stood out to me as I walked by and took a closer look. One are of the fair had students dressing up in graduation gowns and taking graduation photos which would explain the bright flashes as I walked into the student center. The second booth that stood out to me had to do with graduation rings. I walked up to the booth and spoke to the woman running the booth and there were many different types of stones and ring bands that were laid out on the table. Students were trying on different sizes and colors and making decisions on which combination to use for their graduation. Although college is great for meeting new people and working toward a profession and a career I feel like it should be about time for me to graduate.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
5th Congressional Seat Goes to Quigley
The 5th Congressional Primary Election went by with no hiccups, and with a low voter turnout as well. The Special Primary was set up to determine the candidates for the vacated congressional seat left by Chicago's Rahm Emanuel.
The dismal turnout was attributed to "voter fatigue". At least that is what the Chicago Board of Elections Chairman Langden Neal likened it to.
I don't live in the 5th District, so i wasn't eligible to vote, but is "voter fatigue" really an excuse, or an explanation? I mean i understand that we just experienced a historic presidential election, but shouldn't that excite citizens to want to vote even more?
I don't know how much i buy this whole "voter fatigue" business. I would rather hear that most people just don't care. The winner of the election did just happen to be the candidate endorsed by both the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. It might be more believable that most people figured that with endorsements by the two biggest Dailies in the city that Quigley would get the vote anyway.
Its not over though. The General Election will be held on April 7, 2009 and Quigley will have to win that one too.
The dismal turnout was attributed to "voter fatigue". At least that is what the Chicago Board of Elections Chairman Langden Neal likened it to.
I don't live in the 5th District, so i wasn't eligible to vote, but is "voter fatigue" really an excuse, or an explanation? I mean i understand that we just experienced a historic presidential election, but shouldn't that excite citizens to want to vote even more?
I don't know how much i buy this whole "voter fatigue" business. I would rather hear that most people just don't care. The winner of the election did just happen to be the candidate endorsed by both the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. It might be more believable that most people figured that with endorsements by the two biggest Dailies in the city that Quigley would get the vote anyway.
Its not over though. The General Election will be held on April 7, 2009 and Quigley will have to win that one too.
Up for debate
I went to a debate Thursday night between the DePaul Democrats and the DePaul College Republicans. They covered four issues: the Employee Free Choice Act, the stimulus package, California's Proposition 8 and the Freedom of Choice Act (abortion).
I had to go to the debate for an article I wrote for the DePaulia. (You can see the online version here, but the print version is more informative because there's a chart. For some reason that wasn't put online.) Even though it was an obligation, I really enjoyed the event.
Both sides kept the event as serious and official as a group of college students arguing possibly could. What I couldn't write in my article but I can write here is that the audience definitely did not. I felt like some people said some inappropriate things (during a question session held between issues). On top of that, people were muttering (or even saying out loud) things between questions, even when the moderater continually told them not too.
Nonetheless, it provided for some great entertainment. Even though the issues covered were what you could call the 'political basics,' I learned a great deal more about them. I did not know about debates previously, but I would definitely go again. Just probably not by myself (as I did for my DePaulia article). And not with someone whose political opinions differ from mine, it was more intense than I'd imagined.
I had to go to the debate for an article I wrote for the DePaulia. (You can see the online version here, but the print version is more informative because there's a chart. For some reason that wasn't put online.) Even though it was an obligation, I really enjoyed the event.
Both sides kept the event as serious and official as a group of college students arguing possibly could. What I couldn't write in my article but I can write here is that the audience definitely did not. I felt like some people said some inappropriate things (during a question session held between issues). On top of that, people were muttering (or even saying out loud) things between questions, even when the moderater continually told them not too.
Nonetheless, it provided for some great entertainment. Even though the issues covered were what you could call the 'political basics,' I learned a great deal more about them. I did not know about debates previously, but I would definitely go again. Just probably not by myself (as I did for my DePaulia article). And not with someone whose political opinions differ from mine, it was more intense than I'd imagined.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
elephants never are never forgotten.
Spotted: Fullerton Avenue and Sheffield
The second sighting of the FU Elephant on the mailbox in front of the Lincoln Park Post Office. I have seen this multiple times throughout Chicago, and not just on postal stickers. I'm not sure what is means exactly, but what I do know, is that it will never be forgotten.
[if you have seen this in another location, post the intersection]
ID Services Department in the Loop Campus is hiring!!!
Kaiji poised at her desk at the ID department in the loop.
Kaiji at a slow moment at work in the loop ID services Department.
Kaiji waiting for someone to help with ID or U-pass issues. Inset - Howard by the U-pass trays.
Howard helping Marie, a student, at his desk.
Howard verifying a student's ID.
Howard searching for a U-pass in the tray.All qualified students are allocated Federal Work Study Funds each quarter at DePaul, but not all students take advantage of this extra funds by the government. While some students do not need these extra funds, some who do find it hard to take advantage of it due to limited positions on campus, and not being able to network properly for the positions available. A percentage of students do not know that they have this option, hence my blog today.
The loop ID services department is currently hiring for the spring quarter because some of the student workers there will be graduating soon, some have more classes to fill the free times they have to be able to work long hours each week. The process is simple, all you have to do is register your information at:
click on "log in to the student employment system" at the bottom of the page after reviewing all the information on the page.
Then take a copy of your resume to the ID department to speak with Jim Michehl-he is the Manager at the loop department. If you or anyone you know will benefit from this available position(s), do not hesitate to do so as soon as possible.
Goodluck:-)
Hate Crime?
Today, while at the event I wrote about in my last blog post, a representative from Hillel, a group on campuses around the country that fosters Jewish students and puts on different programs relating to Judaism, got up in front of the group to bring some serious news.
Alan Eisenstadt, an Israel Intern for Hillel at DePaul, told the attendants that fliers that were posted on campus for this event had been found with swastikas all over them today. While he does not know who did this, he said that Hillel is asking everyone at DePaul to remember the ideals that this university is grounded on and uphold them.
I'm not exactly sure where I wanted to go with this blog post but I just thought it was interesting that people feel the need to do such things. I could rant forever about this subject but I'll turn it over to you: Did anyone see these flyers at all? Have you seen any other type of hate crime on campus? I know that this is not the first incedent.
Alan Eisenstadt, an Israel Intern for Hillel at DePaul, told the attendants that fliers that were posted on campus for this event had been found with swastikas all over them today. While he does not know who did this, he said that Hillel is asking everyone at DePaul to remember the ideals that this university is grounded on and uphold them.
I'm not exactly sure where I wanted to go with this blog post but I just thought it was interesting that people feel the need to do such things. I could rant forever about this subject but I'll turn it over to you: Did anyone see these flyers at all? Have you seen any other type of hate crime on campus? I know that this is not the first incedent.
Alternative transportation
Yesterday, while I was waiting to meet up with a friend in the SAC I was browsing the fliers on the bulletin board, and I noticed an advertisement for an "Alternative Transportation Fair" on March 6 in the Student Center. I thought to myself, a whole fair dedicated to alternative modes of transportation--walking, biking, skating, scooting, you name it--that's pretty cool! I know that DePaul is dedicated to keeping the campus as green as possible. We have recycling receptacles all over campus, the new "greenware" in the cafeteria, and more and more classes are using digital resources such as Blackboard and TurnItIn.com (or for this class, Blogger!) instead of paper. Student groups like the Environmental Concern Organization (ECO) promote awareness of environmental issues to the DePaul community and do service work to promote a healthy environment.
But honestly, how many of us consider the impact our transportation choices can make on the environment? It is true that living in the city makes it more difficult to have/maintain/pay for a car, so many students use the CTA buses and trains. This is a good step, but what about the other alternatives? This year, my apartment is kind of far off campus, so I brought my bike from home and I ride it in nice weather. But there are students at DePaul who ride their bikes every day, keeping their bodies healthy and the planet that much more green. And sure, most of us use public transportation now, but what about when we graduate, leave the city, and go out into that elusive "real world" that everyone has been talking about since we were little kids? Will the measures to make our campus more green and our experiences at events like alternative transportation fairs affect our decisions?
This week in my Monday night class, we got off on a tangent about geopolitics and how globalization devastates a lot of the local culture in developing countries. My teacher was talking about biofuels, and how a lot of people are looking to biofuels as the alternative to fossil fuel sources, since we all know that our precious oil reserves are going to run out someday, and probably some day soon. According to my professor, the most successful sources for these biofuels are sugarcane and African palm plants. While this seems like a good thing on the surface, there's a real underlying danger. It is unlikely that we will be growing the majority of these cash crops on our own soil, and I imagine that in American corporate fashion we already have our eyes set on the soils of developing countries in Latin America. Thus biofuels will likely continue the perpetual cycle of globalization and cultural imperialism, and we'll keep destroying.
Maybe my professor is right and we should be working on building engines that don't depend on fuel.
Maybe alternative transportation fairs are a good first step for DePaul students who are interested not only in preserving the environment, but in preserving basic human rights across the globe.
(What's up, politically charged blog post from Jenn??)
But honestly, how many of us consider the impact our transportation choices can make on the environment? It is true that living in the city makes it more difficult to have/maintain/pay for a car, so many students use the CTA buses and trains. This is a good step, but what about the other alternatives? This year, my apartment is kind of far off campus, so I brought my bike from home and I ride it in nice weather. But there are students at DePaul who ride their bikes every day, keeping their bodies healthy and the planet that much more green. And sure, most of us use public transportation now, but what about when we graduate, leave the city, and go out into that elusive "real world" that everyone has been talking about since we were little kids? Will the measures to make our campus more green and our experiences at events like alternative transportation fairs affect our decisions?
This week in my Monday night class, we got off on a tangent about geopolitics and how globalization devastates a lot of the local culture in developing countries. My teacher was talking about biofuels, and how a lot of people are looking to biofuels as the alternative to fossil fuel sources, since we all know that our precious oil reserves are going to run out someday, and probably some day soon. According to my professor, the most successful sources for these biofuels are sugarcane and African palm plants. While this seems like a good thing on the surface, there's a real underlying danger. It is unlikely that we will be growing the majority of these cash crops on our own soil, and I imagine that in American corporate fashion we already have our eyes set on the soils of developing countries in Latin America. Thus biofuels will likely continue the perpetual cycle of globalization and cultural imperialism, and we'll keep destroying.
Maybe my professor is right and we should be working on building engines that don't depend on fuel.
Maybe alternative transportation fairs are a good first step for DePaul students who are interested not only in preserving the environment, but in preserving basic human rights across the globe.
(What's up, politically charged blog post from Jenn??)
Revolution in US? Don't Doubt It.
Do we need a revolution and a radically different society? What is happening every day—what this system does to people, day in, day out—here and all over the world, cries out: YES, WE DO.
Is revolution really possible in a country like the U.S.? YES, IT IS.
Is there actually a strategy and method for approaching how to make such a revolution? YES, THERE IS.
Is there a group that is organized on the basis of that strategy and method, is working for such a revolution and could lead that revolution when the time is right? YES, AGAIN.
These serious questions were addressed on Sunday at the University Center by the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA. And believe me, they really do want revolution. And it isn't just a minor change in the system that they are calling for, it is an all out collapse of the capitalist structure as we know it. A complete tear down, just think V for Vendetta and you'll get the general idea of just what type of revolution the RCP, USA is calling for.
In light of the current downturn in the economy and the fact that capitalism and our government had a obvious hand in it, I just thought that this was a very interesting event. Seeing as it has been over 50 years since the Red Scare and the Cold War it was interesting to see this mentality still around, and in such an aggressive way too. But these aren't your traditional communists. Well, not completely.
Anyway, if you are interested in more information check out their website: www.revcom.us
Liberal Arts & That "Perfect Job"
Attaining the perfect job after college is the ultimate goal for most graduates. However, the ease in which one gains employment may vary depending on their field. Nonetheless, finding a job is not something that can be done in a single day; “job hunting” takes forethought and careful planning. Colleges, such as DePaul University, provide many tools for students who are seeking jobs (including career centers and possibly even on campus interviews). In addition, DePaul’s Liberal Studies program prepares graduates by providing courses that educate them on a variety of topics. Even so, it is up to each student to individually take time to learn the system and interview their way to a promising career.
The importance of liberal education is that it provides students with a greater understanding of many different fields that may or may not pertain to their major. Furthermore, liberal education prepares students to be involved in many kinds of jobs because of today’s ever-changing world.
I believe students with a liberal arts education are prepared for today's evolving world of work. Liberal arts graduates are attractive to employers because they have developed the skills necessary to adapt in a transitioning workforce. Careers in liberal studies share similar characteristics when it comes to the notion of skills. As students in the College of Communications, we are taught such skills as the ability to distribute and communicate information; the ability to make judgements and decisions; the ability to understand and analyze difficult concepts. In addition, we understand the importance of exhibiting excellent writing and public speaking skills. What more could an employer want?
Climbing meter prices
As one of the largest commuter schools in the country, one would think that parking would be simple for students, but seeing that DePaul is located in one of the busiest cities in the country one has to expect for difficulty parking. With this being said you would think the city or at least the school would try to make it a bit easier for commuters to park in the city, but instead there are timed meters all on and around campus. If thats not bad enough, many meter's prices are starting to go up from 25 cents for and hour to 25 cents for only 15 minutes. It is absurd that the city is raising the prices of the meters and lowering the time that a quarter gets a driver. All this does is create more tickets for the people and more revenue for the city. Not only are the prices being raised, many are also going to be 24 hour meters meaning that the meter will no longer allow people to park in the spot without paying between the time period of 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. With an already troubled parking problem, these new regulations only create a further problem for the DePaul students and all Chicago residents in general.
Popular East Coast Burger Joint "Five Guys" Comes to Lincoln Park
The other day a few of my friends and I were having a discussion about the best burgers in America: my favorite comes from Jake Moran's in Mundelein, one of my friends thought west coast chain In 'N Out was tops, another made a case for Chicago landmark Billy Goat Tavern (albeit in jest). The fourth member of our debate, however, chose chain with which none of us were familiar: Five Guys Burgers & Fries. Conveniently enough, this reputable Virginia-based chain recently made their way to Chicago. So off we went to check it out.
Five Guys' storefront is decorated in a retro red-and-white-checkered motif, and the walls are adorned with newpaper and magazine clippings singing their praises... so obviously, I had pretty high hopes.
The menu at Five Guys is pretty straightforward: you can get hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and not much else: the real appeal here is that all the toppings are free. They have traditional toppings like lettuce, tomato, and mayo, as well as more interesting options like grilled mushrooms or A-1 steak sauce. Another item of note is that their fries are incredibly fresh, and there was even a dry-erase board indicating which small Idaho town provided the day's potatoes. You can expect to wait for about ten minutes for your food, but there are complimentary in-the-shell peanuts to munch on while you wait.
Upon biting my burger, I was somewhat underwhelmed. The toppings were fresh, but the burger itself seemed to be a little lacking in flavor. The fries, on the other hand, were fantastic. I order mine "cajun style", and the seasoning added to the fries gave them a pleasant, spicy flavor.
Overall, I suppose I would recommend Five Guys. You should expect to pay about $10 for a burger and fries, so budget-conscious students may want to steer clear. Five Guys is located at on Clybourn Avenue between Webster and Armitage, so it's just barely within walking of the Lincoln Park campus.
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Five Guys' storefront is decorated in a retro red-and-white-checkered motif, and the walls are adorned with newpaper and magazine clippings singing their praises... so obviously, I had pretty high hopes.
The menu at Five Guys is pretty straightforward: you can get hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and not much else: the real appeal here is that all the toppings are free. They have traditional toppings like lettuce, tomato, and mayo, as well as more interesting options like grilled mushrooms or A-1 steak sauce. Another item of note is that their fries are incredibly fresh, and there was even a dry-erase board indicating which small Idaho town provided the day's potatoes. You can expect to wait for about ten minutes for your food, but there are complimentary in-the-shell peanuts to munch on while you wait.
Upon biting my burger, I was somewhat underwhelmed. The toppings were fresh, but the burger itself seemed to be a little lacking in flavor. The fries, on the other hand, were fantastic. I order mine "cajun style", and the seasoning added to the fries gave them a pleasant, spicy flavor.
Overall, I suppose I would recommend Five Guys. You should expect to pay about $10 for a burger and fries, so budget-conscious students may want to steer clear. Five Guys is located at on Clybourn Avenue between Webster and Armitage, so it's just barely within walking of the Lincoln Park campus.
View Larger Map
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