I blogged in this space about November being one of the tougher months on campus, with all the papers, projects, tests and articles that present themselves in some way, shape, or form.
Now comes the final stretch. Two weeks of classes where as a colleague of mine best put it, "everyone expects you to run the gauntlet." Finals week is the week after.
All told the semester has flown by and now is that coming to a climax. Out for now, cheers.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Perspective on everything
My last post chronicled how easy it is to get overwhelmed during the month of November. But no matter the personal challenges, it is all placed into perspective when something as shocking, tragic, and sudden as what happened this weekend does.
The family, friends, and Marquette community are mourning the loss of freshman Andrew Siebenaler, who died late last night.
There are rumors as to how it happened and the only official release is that no foul play is suspected. It's a jarring subject and shouldn't be touched on if it doesn't need to be, in my opinion, but it's a life lost that probably shouldn't have been.
There will be more on this to come.
The family, friends, and Marquette community are mourning the loss of freshman Andrew Siebenaler, who died late last night.
There are rumors as to how it happened and the only official release is that no foul play is suspected. It's a jarring subject and shouldn't be touched on if it doesn't need to be, in my opinion, but it's a life lost that probably shouldn't have been.
There will be more on this to come.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
November work blues
There's a weird realization after snapping out of the hangover on Halloween and the audacious, outlandish and flamboyant costume you were wearing the previous night (assuming college students do these types of things).
It's November.
It's easily a tougher month than December and the leadup to finals, I have to say, in my now third year here at Marquette. In a lot of cases, it's the projects that have been the white elephant in the room since they were introduced on syllabus day are now re-emerging from their hiatus.
They've been due since day one, and you know they exist, but you don't want to think about them. Or start on them.
I've blogged in this space that on a personal level and I'm sure many of my other friends, colleagues and aquaintances would agree, that procrastination and time management are half the battle.
We all have a wealth of projects, papers, articles and the like - and for that matter all the professors have to grade these - but the average college student doesn't know when to start working on something until it is the night or two before it is due.
Sure, the project suffers at that rate, but hey, so long as it's done, right?
With the wealth of projects, naturally, some will get more emphasis than others. It's completely unreasonable to expect perfection on each.
But managing the time and starting as early as possible could prevent the inevitable academic downfall and lack of social life that happens as a result of spending all hours in Raynor, Memorial, Cudahy or Marquette Place. We could do it, we just choose not to.
Case in point, the major project for this newly renumbered JOUR 4200 class for Dr. Byers. A team project of creating a Web site with stories, photos, videos and audio is the coup de grace of all we've learned this semester but I highly doubt there has been much in the way of starting across the board other than preliminary meetings and a planned outline.
On a personal level, I just have to look at the week ahead. At least three scheduled interviews for a Marquette Journal story that will run next month and is due Tuesday. I have a Journal column due Wednesday. There are the usual Marquette Tribune beat stories due Monday and Wednesday. There is a THEO test Wednesday, a PHIL paper due Thursday, and work on papers for both of my other JOUR classes. That's just this week.
I've heard of people who are getting hammered by 5 or 6 exams in the span of one week. There's something in the system here - and I don't know if it exists at other universities but I figure they do - where certain weeks, the entire university is bombarded with work.
I don't know how it all transpires - perhaps something to do with university standards and when things have to be done by - but either way, it usually happens in November.
The few weeks in-between now and Thanksgiving will make us collectively crave not only the turkey, but the sleepiness that comes from a break in the work and the tryptophan.
Game on.
It's November.
It's easily a tougher month than December and the leadup to finals, I have to say, in my now third year here at Marquette. In a lot of cases, it's the projects that have been the white elephant in the room since they were introduced on syllabus day are now re-emerging from their hiatus.
They've been due since day one, and you know they exist, but you don't want to think about them. Or start on them.
I've blogged in this space that on a personal level and I'm sure many of my other friends, colleagues and aquaintances would agree, that procrastination and time management are half the battle.
We all have a wealth of projects, papers, articles and the like - and for that matter all the professors have to grade these - but the average college student doesn't know when to start working on something until it is the night or two before it is due.
Sure, the project suffers at that rate, but hey, so long as it's done, right?
With the wealth of projects, naturally, some will get more emphasis than others. It's completely unreasonable to expect perfection on each.
But managing the time and starting as early as possible could prevent the inevitable academic downfall and lack of social life that happens as a result of spending all hours in Raynor, Memorial, Cudahy or Marquette Place. We could do it, we just choose not to.
Case in point, the major project for this newly renumbered JOUR 4200 class for Dr. Byers. A team project of creating a Web site with stories, photos, videos and audio is the coup de grace of all we've learned this semester but I highly doubt there has been much in the way of starting across the board other than preliminary meetings and a planned outline.
On a personal level, I just have to look at the week ahead. At least three scheduled interviews for a Marquette Journal story that will run next month and is due Tuesday. I have a Journal column due Wednesday. There are the usual Marquette Tribune beat stories due Monday and Wednesday. There is a THEO test Wednesday, a PHIL paper due Thursday, and work on papers for both of my other JOUR classes. That's just this week.
I've heard of people who are getting hammered by 5 or 6 exams in the span of one week. There's something in the system here - and I don't know if it exists at other universities but I figure they do - where certain weeks, the entire university is bombarded with work.
I don't know how it all transpires - perhaps something to do with university standards and when things have to be done by - but either way, it usually happens in November.
The few weeks in-between now and Thanksgiving will make us collectively crave not only the turkey, but the sleepiness that comes from a break in the work and the tryptophan.
Game on.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Flash on the Fly
As part of the convergence in Marquette Student Media this year, The Marquette Tribune has added the Closer Look section for double-length stories and feature projects combined with multimedia aspects.
A project done by one of the Trib's part-time general assignment reporters is the first major convergence one, looking at the art program at Marquette and what can be done to improve it. Different areas of the project will be covered by sister MU Student Media outlets The Marquette Journal, MUTV and MU Radio.
I reference the Closer Look section as for Tuesday's issue of the Trib, I worked on a Flash graphic for the first time. It took a couple hours to get the hang of it but once I did it was easy to create the boxes with mouse overs, so rolling over something indicates what it is.
As part of teasing the article I also went on MUTV to discuss the report. I have to say from even just an hour or so there, those kids work their tails off and I highly doubt they have received the credit they deserve for their efforts. I also don't know what kind of exposure they get from the hours they slave away.
And I also see why I'm a writer and not a TV person. For me at least, the cameras cause a momentary concentration lapse where you forget what you're supposed to say and then it only comes back shortly thereafter.
Anyway, thanks to Closer Look editor Sarah Milnar and graphics editor Patrick Johnson for their help in this iPhone piece. The finished project is below:
http://marquettetribune.org/2009/10/27/carousel/iphone
Out for now, cheers.
A project done by one of the Trib's part-time general assignment reporters is the first major convergence one, looking at the art program at Marquette and what can be done to improve it. Different areas of the project will be covered by sister MU Student Media outlets The Marquette Journal, MUTV and MU Radio.
I reference the Closer Look section as for Tuesday's issue of the Trib, I worked on a Flash graphic for the first time. It took a couple hours to get the hang of it but once I did it was easy to create the boxes with mouse overs, so rolling over something indicates what it is.
As part of teasing the article I also went on MUTV to discuss the report. I have to say from even just an hour or so there, those kids work their tails off and I highly doubt they have received the credit they deserve for their efforts. I also don't know what kind of exposure they get from the hours they slave away.
And I also see why I'm a writer and not a TV person. For me at least, the cameras cause a momentary concentration lapse where you forget what you're supposed to say and then it only comes back shortly thereafter.
Anyway, thanks to Closer Look editor Sarah Milnar and graphics editor Patrick Johnson for their help in this iPhone piece. The finished project is below:
http://marquettetribune.org/2009/10/27/carousel/iphone
Out for now, cheers.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Mid-term week
Incredibly, the first half of the semester has rushed by at a rapid rate and that said it is already mid-term week. In some respects, it's a more challenging time period than finals.
Students still have classes to attend (whether or not they actually choose to go depends), jobs to work, and on top of that have to prep for either exams, papers or projects.
It's a highly stressful time period that is rewarded with a two-day break on the Thursday and Friday in mid-October.
I will admit that I have been traditionally a slow starter throughout my schooling career, really since high school, and always spend the time after mid-term break playing catch-up. It always ends up where I dig holes and then spend the rest of the time recovering. I can't say I'm proud of it but after doing it now for many successive semesters, it's become old hat.
So suffice to say the rest of the semester will be a crucial time for recovering and examining the future, both in class and work opportunities.
Students still have classes to attend (whether or not they actually choose to go depends), jobs to work, and on top of that have to prep for either exams, papers or projects.
It's a highly stressful time period that is rewarded with a two-day break on the Thursday and Friday in mid-October.
I will admit that I have been traditionally a slow starter throughout my schooling career, really since high school, and always spend the time after mid-term break playing catch-up. It always ends up where I dig holes and then spend the rest of the time recovering. I can't say I'm proud of it but after doing it now for many successive semesters, it's become old hat.
So suffice to say the rest of the semester will be a crucial time for recovering and examining the future, both in class and work opportunities.
Monday, October 5, 2009
The aftermath
Call me prophetic. Earlier today, I had this to say about poor Aaron Rodgers being able to withstand the pressure of a ferocious Vikings d-line and Packers' atrocious front five:
"Lost in the magnitude of what is the most obvious storyline any professional game has ever had in decades, is that Rodgers might not make it out of the first half in one piece. He's already been sacked a league-high 12 times in three games, and the Pack o-line is in shambles with already having to change three positions since opening week."
True that. Rodgers got sacked 8 times and left tackle Daryn Colledge, a replacement for the injured Chad Clifton, was hopeless until he got hurt. To add insult to injury rookie T.J. Lang saw his first significant playing time filling in for Colledge and was hopelessly out of his depth.
"Add that in to the fact the Vikes' d-line has the Williams wall and the man of 1000 dead animal hats, as well as just a general freak of nature, Jared Allen, Rodgers is the man I fear will be tasting turf more often than Favre."
Allen had 4.5 of those. Dude's a freak. Like Owen Wilson in Wedding Crashers, "I think he's on steroids. It's like trying to cover a f---ing race horse."
Next?
"And what does Favre have to do? The claim he isn't out for revenge is preposterous. There was always going to be some small element of it. So my thinking is, although he made the game-winning throw last week versus San Fran (and Greg Lewis, by the way, MADE that play, otherwise we're talking about a 3-0 '9ers team and the Vikes losing their home opener), he is just going to go off tonight."
Well Favre only went 24-31 for 271 yards, 3 touchdowns and no picks. And he hit up both guys on my fantasy team (sadly Berrian was on my bench and that was the difference between winning and losing, I digress) for TD's.
This while having enough time in the pocket to write a novel about how many times he vacillated between retiring or not retiring. Adrian Peterson, rather shockingly, got shut down to only 55 yards and a touchdown.
And finally...
"My final prediction: Vikes 27, Pack 23. I hope I'm wrong."
It was aided by two late scores by the Packers and Rodgers' desire to keep fighting, but the 30-23 final wasn't as close as the 7-point differential would indicate. Still, I was close!
The Packers got manhandled, and thoroughly outplayed by what was a substantially better team tonight.
The offensive line is a train wreck, and that's putting it kindly - Rodgers is averaging getting sacked 5 times a game through 4 games and at that rate, there is no way he will stay healthy the entire season.
The secondary couldn't do much to cover the open receivers, and the Vikes converted on third downs 8 of 14 times. When they didn't, there were three times the Vikes special teams downed the Packers inside the five.
Finally, that Favre feller. He stepped up when it counted and delivered an artistic performance reminiscent of the good 'ol days when he was rocking the green and gold. He's now beaten all 32 teams in the league, the first player to do so.
At the end of the day the story will be about Favre, as could be expected, but from a Packers perspective it's the future that's being compromised while the foundation around him is very much out of sync. It's still better to lose to Favre in Minnesota than in Lambeau.
Out for now and onto the rest of the week. That includes another Tribune article, first Journal column, take-home exam, Theology exam, homework for this class and two investigative projects for that class. Good times. I hope to maintain my sanity.
"Lost in the magnitude of what is the most obvious storyline any professional game has ever had in decades, is that Rodgers might not make it out of the first half in one piece. He's already been sacked a league-high 12 times in three games, and the Pack o-line is in shambles with already having to change three positions since opening week."
True that. Rodgers got sacked 8 times and left tackle Daryn Colledge, a replacement for the injured Chad Clifton, was hopeless until he got hurt. To add insult to injury rookie T.J. Lang saw his first significant playing time filling in for Colledge and was hopelessly out of his depth.
"Add that in to the fact the Vikes' d-line has the Williams wall and the man of 1000 dead animal hats, as well as just a general freak of nature, Jared Allen, Rodgers is the man I fear will be tasting turf more often than Favre."
Allen had 4.5 of those. Dude's a freak. Like Owen Wilson in Wedding Crashers, "I think he's on steroids. It's like trying to cover a f---ing race horse."
Next?
"And what does Favre have to do? The claim he isn't out for revenge is preposterous. There was always going to be some small element of it. So my thinking is, although he made the game-winning throw last week versus San Fran (and Greg Lewis, by the way, MADE that play, otherwise we're talking about a 3-0 '9ers team and the Vikes losing their home opener), he is just going to go off tonight."
Well Favre only went 24-31 for 271 yards, 3 touchdowns and no picks. And he hit up both guys on my fantasy team (sadly Berrian was on my bench and that was the difference between winning and losing, I digress) for TD's.
This while having enough time in the pocket to write a novel about how many times he vacillated between retiring or not retiring. Adrian Peterson, rather shockingly, got shut down to only 55 yards and a touchdown.
And finally...
"My final prediction: Vikes 27, Pack 23. I hope I'm wrong."
It was aided by two late scores by the Packers and Rodgers' desire to keep fighting, but the 30-23 final wasn't as close as the 7-point differential would indicate. Still, I was close!
The Packers got manhandled, and thoroughly outplayed by what was a substantially better team tonight.
The offensive line is a train wreck, and that's putting it kindly - Rodgers is averaging getting sacked 5 times a game through 4 games and at that rate, there is no way he will stay healthy the entire season.
The secondary couldn't do much to cover the open receivers, and the Vikes converted on third downs 8 of 14 times. When they didn't, there were three times the Vikes special teams downed the Packers inside the five.
Finally, that Favre feller. He stepped up when it counted and delivered an artistic performance reminiscent of the good 'ol days when he was rocking the green and gold. He's now beaten all 32 teams in the league, the first player to do so.
At the end of the day the story will be about Favre, as could be expected, but from a Packers perspective it's the future that's being compromised while the foundation around him is very much out of sync. It's still better to lose to Favre in Minnesota than in Lambeau.
Out for now and onto the rest of the week. That includes another Tribune article, first Journal column, take-home exam, Theology exam, homework for this class and two investigative projects for that class. Good times. I hope to maintain my sanity.
So tonight it actually happens...
Let's be honest - the rivalry at Marquette between Chicago and Wisconsin students is fairly intense.
When it comes to baseball, the Cubs fans have single-handedly been able to turn Miller Park into Wrigley North, despite the Brewers' fans better efforts since I started my collegiate career.
Nothing tops the Bears/Packers feud for pure intensity - literally half this campus walked around with their heads down after Week 1 and Aaron Rodgers hit a wide open Greg Jennings in stride to put the Packers on top.
But suddenly, the Chicago/Wisconsin rivalry takes a firm backseat to the Wisconsin/Brett Favre divide. Tonight, the game I've been waiting for with baited breath since unretirement number 2 (6 or 7 unofficially), finally commences. It's the Pack and Vikes with a completely different twist - Brett Favre in PURPLE. Man that looks weird.
A friend of mine who's a sports columnist for The Marquette Tribune told me last week that while he wants the Packers to pummel the living crap out of old #4 tonight, that Brett Favre is now "like an old man who forgot what he was thinking and doing."
He made the point that as Packers fans, we shouldn't completely admonish the man who for 16 years put the franchise back on the map and had the organization single-handedly bend over backwards to bow to his each and every demand. If there was ever a player who earned unofficial "player/GM" status, it was Favre during the Mike Sherman era. No question.
And as much as I've hated the drawn out sagas of vascillating and ESPN sending either Rachel Nichols or Wendi Nix to their unofficial Hattiesburg bureau in front of the Favre residence, it still is compelling. Obnoxious and covered to the point of exhaustion, yes, but still something I couldn't take my eyes off of.
Now, had ESPN assigned Erin Andrews to the coverage, I think fewer people would have been as annoyed with ESPN turning to Favre-central. I digress.
Anyway as Packer fan it is always my wish to see the Pack to smash the Vikes. Always. To be honest, though, I'm more afraid for Aaron Rodgers.
Lost in the magnitude of what is the most obvious storyline any professional game has ever had in decades, is that Rodgers might not make it out of the first half in one piece. He's already been sacked a league-high 12 times in three games, and the Pack o-line is in shambles with already having to change three positions since opening week.
Add that in to the fact the Vikes' d-line has the Williams wall and the man of 1000 dead animal hats, as well as just a general freak of nature, Jared Allen, Rodgers is the man I fear will be tasting turf more often than Favre.
And what does Favre have to do? The claim he isn't out for revenge is preposterous. There was always going to be some small element of it. So my thinking is, although he made the game-winning throw last week versus San Fran (and Greg Lewis, by the way, MADE that play, otherwise we're talking about a 3-0 '9ers team and the Vikes losing their home opener), he is just going to go off tonight.
The Packers secondary isn't entirely healthy either. Granted Charles Woodson and Al Harris are probably the best duo in the league, but still Favre can either dink-and-dunk his way around the 3-4 or bomb it to where our safeties our, hook up with speedsters Percy Harvin or Bernard Berrian (if I'm being selfish, please Brett hit Visanthe Shiancoe for a TD because I need it in fantasy), and go on his merry way.
I'm excited but nervous. It's probably going to be all-hype and fall flatter than Dolphins tackle Jake Long did earlier this year against the Falcons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1k_1GukEwo.
My final prediction: Vikes 27, Pack 23. I hope I'm wrong. Out for now, cheers.
When it comes to baseball, the Cubs fans have single-handedly been able to turn Miller Park into Wrigley North, despite the Brewers' fans better efforts since I started my collegiate career.
Nothing tops the Bears/Packers feud for pure intensity - literally half this campus walked around with their heads down after Week 1 and Aaron Rodgers hit a wide open Greg Jennings in stride to put the Packers on top.
But suddenly, the Chicago/Wisconsin rivalry takes a firm backseat to the Wisconsin/Brett Favre divide. Tonight, the game I've been waiting for with baited breath since unretirement number 2 (6 or 7 unofficially), finally commences. It's the Pack and Vikes with a completely different twist - Brett Favre in PURPLE. Man that looks weird.
A friend of mine who's a sports columnist for The Marquette Tribune told me last week that while he wants the Packers to pummel the living crap out of old #4 tonight, that Brett Favre is now "like an old man who forgot what he was thinking and doing."
He made the point that as Packers fans, we shouldn't completely admonish the man who for 16 years put the franchise back on the map and had the organization single-handedly bend over backwards to bow to his each and every demand. If there was ever a player who earned unofficial "player/GM" status, it was Favre during the Mike Sherman era. No question.
And as much as I've hated the drawn out sagas of vascillating and ESPN sending either Rachel Nichols or Wendi Nix to their unofficial Hattiesburg bureau in front of the Favre residence, it still is compelling. Obnoxious and covered to the point of exhaustion, yes, but still something I couldn't take my eyes off of.
Now, had ESPN assigned Erin Andrews to the coverage, I think fewer people would have been as annoyed with ESPN turning to Favre-central. I digress.
Anyway as Packer fan it is always my wish to see the Pack to smash the Vikes. Always. To be honest, though, I'm more afraid for Aaron Rodgers.
Lost in the magnitude of what is the most obvious storyline any professional game has ever had in decades, is that Rodgers might not make it out of the first half in one piece. He's already been sacked a league-high 12 times in three games, and the Pack o-line is in shambles with already having to change three positions since opening week.
Add that in to the fact the Vikes' d-line has the Williams wall and the man of 1000 dead animal hats, as well as just a general freak of nature, Jared Allen, Rodgers is the man I fear will be tasting turf more often than Favre.
And what does Favre have to do? The claim he isn't out for revenge is preposterous. There was always going to be some small element of it. So my thinking is, although he made the game-winning throw last week versus San Fran (and Greg Lewis, by the way, MADE that play, otherwise we're talking about a 3-0 '9ers team and the Vikes losing their home opener), he is just going to go off tonight.
The Packers secondary isn't entirely healthy either. Granted Charles Woodson and Al Harris are probably the best duo in the league, but still Favre can either dink-and-dunk his way around the 3-4 or bomb it to where our safeties our, hook up with speedsters Percy Harvin or Bernard Berrian (if I'm being selfish, please Brett hit Visanthe Shiancoe for a TD because I need it in fantasy), and go on his merry way.
I'm excited but nervous. It's probably going to be all-hype and fall flatter than Dolphins tackle Jake Long did earlier this year against the Falcons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1k_1GukEwo.
My final prediction: Vikes 27, Pack 23. I hope I'm wrong. Out for now, cheers.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Long day
I've already touched on procrastination in this blog and once again I find myself kicking myself for resorting to this habit.
I haven't been back to my apartment since 9:15 a.m. this morning and as I write this it is now nearly 10:00 p.m. It's been a whirlwind day filled with interviews, working on homework, class, and then studying/working on a take-home exam for another class. I have an event to cover tomorrow morning from 7:15-9:00 a.m., then another test in the afternoon.
This weekend, refreshing as it was to be at a race track for the SCCA Runoffs at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., it thoroughly set me back on hours of school work I could have got done. There's only myself to blame for not setting priorities in the right order.
That said, it's nearly October and the weather has taken a decided turn for the worse with temps only in the 50's and low 60's this week. I'm sorry but isn't fall supposed to occur after summer?
Again, time-management is key to getting everything done and it remains a work in progress for me. Out for now, cheers.
I haven't been back to my apartment since 9:15 a.m. this morning and as I write this it is now nearly 10:00 p.m. It's been a whirlwind day filled with interviews, working on homework, class, and then studying/working on a take-home exam for another class. I have an event to cover tomorrow morning from 7:15-9:00 a.m., then another test in the afternoon.
This weekend, refreshing as it was to be at a race track for the SCCA Runoffs at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., it thoroughly set me back on hours of school work I could have got done. There's only myself to blame for not setting priorities in the right order.
That said, it's nearly October and the weather has taken a decided turn for the worse with temps only in the 50's and low 60's this week. I'm sorry but isn't fall supposed to occur after summer?
Again, time-management is key to getting everything done and it remains a work in progress for me. Out for now, cheers.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Women in sports journalism
Marquette welcomed Christine Brennan, USA Today sports columnist and easily one of the most, if not the most, recognizable female sports journalists working today for the Axthelm Memorial Lecture at the Weasler Auditorium today. The talk coincided with Marquette's ongoing celebration of its centennial of admitting women.
Brennan's talk focused a large amount on baseball's so-called "steroid era" and how it was a failure of the players, the union director Don Fehr, and the media to not bring more attention to the situation when it was going on. The dilemma therein lies that fans don't like being cheated even if they like seeing players mash homers like it was going out of style.
She more than anyone else in this field has earned the right to say whatever she wants, as a pioneer for women in sports journalism. There were pointed critiques throughout. The BCS she said, was even more convoluded, and she preferred the "chaos" growing up when four or five teams laid claim to the national championship.
She also touched on the alarming and disgraceful scandal that befell ESPN's sideline reporter Erin Andrews. Andrews is the stunner/jaw-dropper that stops many a college student nationwide dead in their tracks - I'll admit being one of them whenever she comes on the television screen - but she's also a journalist and a damn good one.
Brennan was immediately on radio when her unfortunate situation happened and the first two words to describe it were "gross" and "disgusting." FOX News reportedly twisted it the other way to say she thought it was okay and that was even more of an insult.
As someone who's covered racing professionally for the last four years (this is 20 percent of your life when you're 20), I know the treatment Danica Patrick gets as a woman in a male-dominated sport. Deserved or not, she is held to a different standard than her male counterparts. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Patrick's but I still respect what she has done to make it in the IndyCar Series, and would hope she wouldn't embarrass herself if and when she switches to NASCAR.
Similarly, I think women in sports journalism deserve the same respect as their male counterparts, if not more so. My editor for the motorsports website I write for is a well-respected female that has been around the sport of auto racing for 30-plus years, dating to her days working corners. The Andrews incident was certainly a setback for women and I hope it does not detract from more women getting involved in it. Out for now, cheers.
Brennan's talk focused a large amount on baseball's so-called "steroid era" and how it was a failure of the players, the union director Don Fehr, and the media to not bring more attention to the situation when it was going on. The dilemma therein lies that fans don't like being cheated even if they like seeing players mash homers like it was going out of style.
She more than anyone else in this field has earned the right to say whatever she wants, as a pioneer for women in sports journalism. There were pointed critiques throughout. The BCS she said, was even more convoluded, and she preferred the "chaos" growing up when four or five teams laid claim to the national championship.
She also touched on the alarming and disgraceful scandal that befell ESPN's sideline reporter Erin Andrews. Andrews is the stunner/jaw-dropper that stops many a college student nationwide dead in their tracks - I'll admit being one of them whenever she comes on the television screen - but she's also a journalist and a damn good one.
Brennan was immediately on radio when her unfortunate situation happened and the first two words to describe it were "gross" and "disgusting." FOX News reportedly twisted it the other way to say she thought it was okay and that was even more of an insult.
As someone who's covered racing professionally for the last four years (this is 20 percent of your life when you're 20), I know the treatment Danica Patrick gets as a woman in a male-dominated sport. Deserved or not, she is held to a different standard than her male counterparts. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Patrick's but I still respect what she has done to make it in the IndyCar Series, and would hope she wouldn't embarrass herself if and when she switches to NASCAR.
Similarly, I think women in sports journalism deserve the same respect as their male counterparts, if not more so. My editor for the motorsports website I write for is a well-respected female that has been around the sport of auto racing for 30-plus years, dating to her days working corners. The Andrews incident was certainly a setback for women and I hope it does not detract from more women getting involved in it. Out for now, cheers.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Working to get work
It's no secret that the economy is struggling, even if lately it has shown some preliminary signs of recovery. For students looking for internships and/or break into the workplace, it's incredibly difficult to find jobs but if students make the right moves and do the necessary things in order to impress employers, it greatly enhances their chances.
I got a great perspective into the prep Marquette is doing to help its students, thanks to the Career Services Center (@MU_CSC on Twitter and www.mu.edu/csc), while working on a project for this week's Closer Look section of the Marquette Tribune.
The article is here: http://marquettetribune.org/2009/09/17/news/career-fair-cl
Much thanks to Maryann, Matt, Kristin and everyone else at CSC and to Wade Krogwold from Direct Supply for their help and assistance with this project. This is something I cannot emphasize enough for students to take advantage of.
I didn't know much about it going in but this given me the kick in the pants to realize what MU has to offer. I'm stoked to put on my suit and print off some resumes. And explain in 30-60 seconds why I'm qualified for a job. Go out and seek, my friends.
I got a great perspective into the prep Marquette is doing to help its students, thanks to the Career Services Center (@MU_CSC on Twitter and www.mu.edu/csc), while working on a project for this week's Closer Look section of the Marquette Tribune.
The article is here: http://marquettetribune.org/2009/09/17/news/career-fair-cl
Much thanks to Maryann, Matt, Kristin and everyone else at CSC and to Wade Krogwold from Direct Supply for their help and assistance with this project. This is something I cannot emphasize enough for students to take advantage of.
I didn't know much about it going in but this given me the kick in the pants to realize what MU has to offer. I'm stoked to put on my suit and print off some resumes. And explain in 30-60 seconds why I'm qualified for a job. Go out and seek, my friends.
Monday, September 14, 2009
The joy of procrastination
I guess it's as much a college staple as anything else - procrastination.
I say this because I'm updating this blog less than a half an hour from class, a day after waiting to complete, or rather begin, my homework at midnight following the Packers-Bears football game.
Personally, I've always found it harder to get work done in the fall semester because the weather is nice for a majority of it, football is wall-to-wall both college and the NFL on Saturdays and Sundays, and it's coming off summer break so it's always easier to push things back then get them done in advance.
Case in point, on Saturday I went to the library for three hours and it was a feeble attempt to get ahead on projects and assignments for the next few weeks. I got sidetracked a number of times - maybe that speaks to my lack of focus - and then it was Saturday night, time to eat and live the college life.
It's not something I'm proud of and I'm always working at it. But then again, what would college be without waiting until the last minute for some things?
This is not something I want to do on a regular basis as the semester progresses, I stress that. More later because I should be getting to class.
I say this because I'm updating this blog less than a half an hour from class, a day after waiting to complete, or rather begin, my homework at midnight following the Packers-Bears football game.
Personally, I've always found it harder to get work done in the fall semester because the weather is nice for a majority of it, football is wall-to-wall both college and the NFL on Saturdays and Sundays, and it's coming off summer break so it's always easier to push things back then get them done in advance.
Case in point, on Saturday I went to the library for three hours and it was a feeble attempt to get ahead on projects and assignments for the next few weeks. I got sidetracked a number of times - maybe that speaks to my lack of focus - and then it was Saturday night, time to eat and live the college life.
It's not something I'm proud of and I'm always working at it. But then again, what would college be without waiting until the last minute for some things?
This is not something I want to do on a regular basis as the semester progresses, I stress that. More later because I should be getting to class.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Labor Day weekend wrapup
Things were fairly relaxing and uneventful during the Labor Day weekend and then suddenly on Monday at about 2:30 p.m., while I was lounging around in my pajamas and digesting hours of pointless TV, it hit me.
The second week of classes were here. And that meant actual work, not just syllabus handouts.
On this occasion there was a small fire at the Maytag Laundry facility underneath the Campus Town West apartments, so I ran out there after literally throwing on the first pair of clean clothes I saw. I wasn't originally going to have a story for Tuesday, but naturally this needed coverage. The smoke wasn't much, but it was enough to evacuate the complex and put everything on lockdown.
So much for a day off. Although most of Marquette's campus (notably the Raynor Library and Alumni Memorial Union) was closed, we still had a paper to put out for today and to add to the festivities, WordPress wasn't working.
What would journalism and reporting be without tech issues?
Nonetheless the Tuesday edition of The Marquette Tribune came out earlier than either of our first week issues and is on the newsstands around campus. I think the design has come a long way in three issues, it looks much cleaner now in my opinion.
The writing has been great so far as well. Sure I'm biased, but the new reporters have done a great job of integrating into the fold. They've collectively done much better than I did starting out last semester.
And I have to give a tip of the cap to my colleague Derrick Chengery, one of the first-year writers, who has made it on the front page in each issue so far. Unfortunately, I now have to give myself a wag of the finger for jinxing Derrick in case he doesn't end up there on Thursday.
That said there's always more to do, a beat story and project for tomorrow in addition to other class work. Again, with week two of the semester, the honeymoon/breaking-in period ends.
Out for now, cheers.
The second week of classes were here. And that meant actual work, not just syllabus handouts.
On this occasion there was a small fire at the Maytag Laundry facility underneath the Campus Town West apartments, so I ran out there after literally throwing on the first pair of clean clothes I saw. I wasn't originally going to have a story for Tuesday, but naturally this needed coverage. The smoke wasn't much, but it was enough to evacuate the complex and put everything on lockdown.
So much for a day off. Although most of Marquette's campus (notably the Raynor Library and Alumni Memorial Union) was closed, we still had a paper to put out for today and to add to the festivities, WordPress wasn't working.
What would journalism and reporting be without tech issues?
Nonetheless the Tuesday edition of The Marquette Tribune came out earlier than either of our first week issues and is on the newsstands around campus. I think the design has come a long way in three issues, it looks much cleaner now in my opinion.
The writing has been great so far as well. Sure I'm biased, but the new reporters have done a great job of integrating into the fold. They've collectively done much better than I did starting out last semester.
And I have to give a tip of the cap to my colleague Derrick Chengery, one of the first-year writers, who has made it on the front page in each issue so far. Unfortunately, I now have to give myself a wag of the finger for jinxing Derrick in case he doesn't end up there on Thursday.
That said there's always more to do, a beat story and project for tomorrow in addition to other class work. Again, with week two of the semester, the honeymoon/breaking-in period ends.
Out for now, cheers.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Working, then the weekend
One of the joys of reporting is of course... well... reporting. And there's nothing I have heard more of lately than answering machines while trying to track down potential sources.
My other job on campus is directly tied to answering machines. When you call the school's alumni, as student callers do at the Phonathon, the chances of hearing little Charlie answering for his parents on the pre-recorded message increase exponentially because they realize it's Marquette and we're fundraising. That is just part of the job, since raising more dollars for scholarships remains a vital task at the university.
It takes real devotion and persistence to not lose your cool and keep pushing in the quest to talk to the right people. This is one of the things I am learning as a young reporter, because I know my place in the general media world. It's not quite The New York Times level yet.
There's also learning of how to work on more than one story simultaneously. Besides a beat story I have for next week's The Marquette Tribune I also am working on a project that is in the pipeline. Time management is absolutely key in accomplishing the goals and meeting those deadlines.
But with that said, it's a three-day weekend with Labor Day Monday off. So it's time for me to give my fingers a break and quit laboring.
I'm not sure how well sarcasm translates to the printed word as opposed to speech. I will revisit the blog a little later. Cheers.
My other job on campus is directly tied to answering machines. When you call the school's alumni, as student callers do at the Phonathon, the chances of hearing little Charlie answering for his parents on the pre-recorded message increase exponentially because they realize it's Marquette and we're fundraising. That is just part of the job, since raising more dollars for scholarships remains a vital task at the university.
It takes real devotion and persistence to not lose your cool and keep pushing in the quest to talk to the right people. This is one of the things I am learning as a young reporter, because I know my place in the general media world. It's not quite The New York Times level yet.
There's also learning of how to work on more than one story simultaneously. Besides a beat story I have for next week's The Marquette Tribune I also am working on a project that is in the pipeline. Time management is absolutely key in accomplishing the goals and meeting those deadlines.
But with that said, it's a three-day weekend with Labor Day Monday off. So it's time for me to give my fingers a break and quit laboring.
I'm not sure how well sarcasm translates to the printed word as opposed to speech. I will revisit the blog a little later. Cheers.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The introductory post
Hello and welcome to The JOUR 4200 Special, a blog looking at the life of a journalism student in a changing journalistic world.
Granted, it is targeted mainly for a specific class of students that occupy Johnston Hall room 300 on Mondays and Wednesdays with Dr. Byers teaching us his knowledge. But with that said, I hope to explore all the trends going on in the world of journalism as well as things we are embarking on in this class.
Readers are getting their news different ways and it is up to the next batch of reporters to learn the tricks of the trade, master multimedia elements, and still hit those deadlines (trust me, as I also write for The Marquette Tribune - they don't change).
So that's the first of what promises to be many updates to this blog. Out for now, cheers.
Granted, it is targeted mainly for a specific class of students that occupy Johnston Hall room 300 on Mondays and Wednesdays with Dr. Byers teaching us his knowledge. But with that said, I hope to explore all the trends going on in the world of journalism as well as things we are embarking on in this class.
Readers are getting their news different ways and it is up to the next batch of reporters to learn the tricks of the trade, master multimedia elements, and still hit those deadlines (trust me, as I also write for The Marquette Tribune - they don't change).
So that's the first of what promises to be many updates to this blog. Out for now, cheers.
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