Graduates in the current economy

For my story, I plan on talking to several students who are graduating from college this year. I want to get an idea of what they are doing in terms of job searches, continuing education, etc.

The unemployment rate in Massachusetts has jumped up from 4.8% a year ago to 7.8% now. I'm wondering how their searches are going, or if they are looking at other states for work.

I plan on interviewing Rachel DePalma, who I know is looking to get a job in Japan, Evan Storer, who is trying to get an IT job, and Shane Kirby, a computer graphics and animation major.

I figure three different fields would produce different results, and I'm interested to find out how they are doing.

Stimulating work study

The Fine Arts Center business office is located in the Curry/Hicks building on the UMass campus.

At the University of Massachusetts, bills for tuition, housing, fees, and other expenses can seem overwhelming. With the current frozen state of credit, students will take any money they can get to complete their degrees. The recent implementation of a $1,500 fee increase – even with the promised rebates – does nothing to help the case for optimism.

With all the money pumped into the economy by the recent economic stimulus package, working college students may wonder if any is dedicated specifically for them for them. According to the “Education for the 21st Century” section of the American Recovery and Investment Bill, $200 million will be set aside for college work-study. If used correctly, this money will help massive budget cuts from slicing student jobs.

According to Ed Blaguszewski, Director of News and Information at UMass, “The university has committed to maintain, and, in fact, expand its commitment to financial aid for the coming year now matter what happens with stimulus funding.”

He continued, “The trustees have approved a fee increase, and they have said that depending on the amount of stimulus money coming to the university, they will rebate all or some of the fee increase in the future.”

Recently, Governor Deval Patrick spoke about the federal stimulus money coming to Massachusetts schools. In an e-mail sent to members of the UMass community, Chancellor Robert Holub announced Patrick's plan to put $81.6 million in the UMass system. Approximately half of this total will go directly to the flagship Amherst campus.

Christine Texiera, technology manager for the Fine Arts Center at UMass, is also worried about these budget cuts: “I'm hoping they don't make me get rid of my students.”

Christine Texiera's office, where she works on computers and helps FAC employees over the phone.

She currently has five students working for her, and they perform a multitude of tasks that would make her job very unproductive. She works on things at a very high level – attempting to block hackers from crashing the servers, managing the website, account information, yearly technology upgrades, helping other FAC employees with computer problems, etc. Her students handle print jobs on posters, assist in designing the website, get rid of viruses, pick up and drop off equipment at hardware support, deal with simpler computer problems, recover data from hard drives, etc.

If all of these responsibilities fell on Texiera alone, nothing would get done: “There would be way too much for me to do on my own. Once I got done with the small problems of the day, there would be no time for any long term projects that I do now.”

Without an effective technology department, the FAC would, “Basically fall apart.”

The jobs are important to the students, as well. With pay starting at $8 an hour and increasing based on computer knowledge and the benefits that come with adding this position to a resume, employment here is very desirable. There is also the very rare quality these students have compared to most work-study jobs – working on something they like to do.

When loans and grants fall short, work study can play a crucial role in a student's finances. One of the students working for Texiera received $4,500 per semester for work study compensation – a total that is not guaranteed, but rather a maximum amount of what the student can make. The student is required to find a job and work enough hours to reach this sum. With the possible loss of jobs at UMass, the stimulus money becomes vital.

The part of the office where students work is always full of broken computers.

Sophomore Jake Tavares has been working with Texiera for over a year now: “I like this job a lot. I'd be very disappointed if budget cuts made me lose my position here.”

He continued, “Both the money as well as the experience this job provides are important to me. It'll look really good on my résumé, and it's nice to be able to have some independence with the biweekly paychecks. I'd much rather be doing this than delivering pizzas.”

"Hope" for Fair Use

Image obtained using Google Image Search. (Please don't sue me!)
Copyright issues are very prevalent in today's legal world. Unlike most teenagers who download music illegally, however, Shephard Fairey has the law of fair use to back up his possible infringement.

When looking for inspiration, Fairey did what most people would -- he typed in "Barack Obama" in a Google image search. When I searched for the same image, I did not find it among the first 500 results (out of almost 25 million). I imagine it would have been a lot easier before he became President, but the point remains the same -- the image was legally obtained on a computer, and no exact copy was ever produced or sold.

The law of fair use understands that, "there is no such thing as a completely original thought or idea and that all artistic and literary works are to some degree derivative of previous works" (Foust, 221).

The image of the President of the United States is probably the most widely-circulated image of a living individual in the world. Could Fairey not use any image he has ever seen? Even if he were to attend a rally, get his own photo or mental note, would it not be similar to another that already exists? If you were asked to draw a picture of Barack Obama right now (and it wouldn't end up a stick figure), would it not be similar to an image of him you have in your head? Guess where that image came from -- TV or photographs.

This is not Vanilla Ice stealing the bassline of "Under Pressure"; this is everyone using the same chords as in Pachelbel's Canon in D. The only way to avoid infringing on a copyright someone owned at some point would be to not ever produce anything new. Everything is derivative of something else, and if it's not an exact copy or used to try and steal credit, there should be no legal ramifications.

Story ideas

1. In the economic stimulus package, $200 million is dedicated to support working college students. As a working student myself, I'm very interested in seeing where this money will go. I'd specifically like to see others' thoughts on the money.

Specifically, I'd like to talk to Christine Texiera, technology manager for the Fine Arts Center, to find out what this could to towards saving the students she has working for her.

The director of Financial Aid Services at UMass, Suzanne Peters, would be a great source for this story. If she is not available, I could talk to Anne Peramba, the associate director of Employment Services. Either one would know how this could potentially impact the status of work study.

And finally, I would talk to a student who is part of the work study program. I myself am one, and know many students at work who fit the bill. If names are needed -- Connie Wang (junior), Evan Storer (senior), and Jake Tavares (sophomore) are a few. I can ask them about their concerns and hopes for the money.

2. After reading this story in the Boston Globe about a possible weak link in every strain of the flu virus. If scientists can target this area, they could make a vaccine and end the need for yearly flu shots.

I saw posters all over campus for months about getting a flu shot. Donna Yezierski, Director of Operations, Systems, and Clinic Services at UHS has statistics on the amount of flu shots given this year. I personally do not know anyone who got a flu shot (at least at UHS) so I'm very interested in seeing the actual number.

Christine Horn, a nurse practitioner at UHS, would be a great source to find out how many people have actually come in with the flu. While a real number would probably be hard to track down, I could be pleasantly surprised. She would probably know if any of these people actually had a flu shot -- as it is posible to catch a different strain than the shot protected against.

Finally, looking to the future, Alan Calhoun, Medical Director at UHS could provide insight on a school-wide level. Would the vaccine eventually be available to students at UHS? Would it become a requirement, like many other vaccines are?

3. After reading another Globe article about the risks of teens going missing and dying at parties, I can't help but think the same thing applies at college -- even if it is less prevalent.

Everyone makes bad decisions when they drink, but it only takes one really dumb one to have terrible consequences. The other night, a bunch of my friends and I were walking back to my apartment when some other guy none of us knew was staggering and following us. When we asked what he was doing, he said "going with you guys." When we told him not to, and we wouldn't let him in, he persisted until he had to go to the bathroom (in a bush) and passed out on a snowbank. He was gone 10 minutes later, so we assumed he's ok.

I'm interested in talking to the UMass police on this matter. In the Globe article, one of the people who wandered off in a party admitted to hiding from police because he didn't want to get into trouble. Almost everyone I know would have done the same thing. What does that say about students' opinions of the police? Are the police more concerned with apprehending drunks, or helping them get back home? Johnny Whitehead, interim Chief of Police for the UMPD, can answer these questions, as well as give thoughts on how these situations can be averted.

A student who drinks a lot would be another good source. I'd talk to my roommate.

No, I'm kidding -- about talking to him. He does drink a lot. But really, I know a specific person would be good, but maybe a bunch of random people I could talk to for a bit would be even better.

I could talk to any of the UHS sources I listed for the story above for this topic, as well. They know how many people have come in with alcohol-related injuries of any kind. Their opinions on not only the medical but social aspects are not often discussed. Talking to them would be an interesting angle, outside of the usual student-versus-police debate.

A-Roid, day 2

Image obtained in Google Search. http://blog.silive.com/sportsstories/

Ok, so I've had a day to think about this mess Alex Rodriguez's leaked test results have caused.

Whether it's Buster Olney, Jayson Stark, or even his former manager Buck Showalter, everyone on ESPN has expressed his or her opinion on the matter.

Most writers seem to think baseball is tarnished forever. And in many ways, it may be:

The all-time hits leader (Mr. Peter E. Rose) won't be in the Hall of Fame.

The all-time home run leader (assuming that's where A-Rod's highway leads him) won't be in the Hall of Fame.

The man who broke Hank Aaron's record (Barry Bonds) won't be in the Hall.

The man who broke Roger Maris' record (Mark McGwire) won't be in the Hall.

The man who was once the winningest right-handed pitcher of the live-ball era (Roger Clemens) won't be in the Hall.

The man with the most 60-homer seasons in baseball history (Sammy Sosa) doesn't look like he's headed for the Hall, either.

-Jayson Stark

Yes, there is no other sport that can claim that so many statistical leaders are or may be denied entry into their respective Halls of Fame. But the statement that A-Rod's test was an attack on the sport itself is ludicrous. He was doing what was best for him in a time when it seemed like the only way to get ahead. He wasn't the only one to do it, and I'm sure there are many other superstars that have used performance-enhancing drugs.

I'm not making an excuse for him. What he did was more than just a rules infringement; it was a poor moral decision. What I am saying is he wasn't thinking about baseball history or how this would hurt the game. A-Rod doesn't think that way. Through his relationships with his teammates and the media, it's clear he's only out to make himself the center of attention. 

This is why he was caught at a strip club with a woman who is not his wife in Toronto. 

This is why he has a strange relationship with Madonna. 

This is why he acts like everyone is out to get him.

This is why he is nicknamed "The Cooler" by former teammates, noting his negative effect in locker room chemistry.

This is why he used steroids.

But America's Pasttime is not destroyed or tarnished forever. These records held hostage by the steroid era will fall. Pete Rose will be allowed into the Hall. America won't care.

That's the thing that these sportswriters tend to forget -- America doesn't care what you've done. America forgives. America forgets. America will take repeated punishment as long as you make them smile once in a while.

One man isn't going to ruin this system MLB has installed. Baseball is only behind football in terms of revenue, when its life was once threatened by strikes by players and apathy by fans. Sportswriters have the ability to get the majesty of a sport get near and dear to their hearts, and are outraged by anything that might hurt its image in the public.

'A-Fraud' tested positive for steroids in 2003

Image found on Google Search. Hosted on askmen.com

Alright, by now I'm sure most of you have heard that New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez used steroids.

Sports Illustrated broke the story on Saturday, and everyone has been giving their opinions on the matter. I've been trying to avoid sports stories for this blog, but I figure this is too big of a deal to let pass by.

In 2003, the year he tested positive, steroids were banned in baseball but there was no penalty for using them. The over 1,000 tests taken were basically a survey by Major League Baseball to see if random testing with penalties was merited. 104 players were found to have steroids in their system, so baseball implemented new rules and punishments in 2004.

According to the SI report, A-Rod was one of these players. The records were supposed to be confidential, but there is nothing private in sports, and his name leaked out.

As a disclaimer, I'll tell you that I'm a huge Red Sox fan. Anything that can be used to laugh at the Yankees is great fun for me. I've never seen Rodriguez as a true Yankee; he seems to be more of an expensive rental.

Even still, I don't think he should be punished for what he did in 2003. He might have broke the rules, but there was no punishment set at the time, and if they went back and retroactively penalized everyone who used the "juice," the MLB would be a mess.

The most interesting part of this story for me is mentioned later in the article:

In September 2004, Gene Orza, the chief operating officer of the players' union, violated an agreement with MLB by tipping off a player (not named in the report) about an upcoming, supposedly unannounced drug test. Three major league players who spoke to SI said that Rodriguez was also tipped by Orza in early September 2004 that he would be tested later that month.

If A-Rod had stopped taking steroids when penalties were in place, why would he need to be tipped off? This is the bigger story than the fact that he took steroids the year before. Even if he didn't test positive in 2004, this illegal tip could put those test results in doubt. Random tests aren't very effective if the players know they are coming. The type of steroid Rodriguez took in 2003 was popular for the short span of time it stayed in the system. It is detectable for a shorter period of time than most steroids.

Whether or not more comes from this story, you can bet he's going to hear chants of "A-Roid" every time he comes to Fenway.

I could lose my job!

Image taken from umass.edu

With all the budget cuts and restructuring going on, I'm concerned for my future employment with the university. 

I work for the Fine Arts Center.

No, I'm not creative or anything like that. I work with computers. My boss, Christine Texiera, is the technology manager for the whole Fine Arts Center. If any problem comes up from hackers to broken keyboards, she is the one called. I deal with the easier problems, that she probably shouldn't be wasting her time on.

There five of us students working under Christine, and all of our jobs are in jeopardy. Actually, according to Christine, even her job might be lost.

She told me she doesn't know what she would do without the use of work-study students helping her. We are usually overwhelmed with what needs to be done with six of us working; I can't imagine what she would do by herself.

The FAC would probably fall apart.

I'm not saying that as a joke. It's a legit possibility. I see all Christine does already, and what happens one day when she's sick and something goes wrong? She controls everything from the website to mailing lists to ticket orders. Think the FAC can be alright without those key features?

I can't imagine how many situations like this arise around campus. While UMass has a current hiring freeze, that's clearly not going to be enough. Eventually, jobs are going to be lost.

It's a vicious cycle we've gotten ourselves into, and one we'll probably experience again 80 years from now.

Seems dumb we spent so much money on signs now, doesn't it?

I realize I'm throwing a lot of links at you, and the Great Depression one was an attempt at dark humor, but you should take a closer look at the budget situation. Everyone has been sent e-mails from Chancellor Holub, but many people (including, until recently, me) should take a look at them.

Do you do your assigned readings?

Image taken from Google Image Search, source: liberty.edu

Whether you don't have the book or you're just lazy, there's a good chance you have skipped some assigned readings in the past.

I've done it frequently, especially in my journalism classes, because I feel they can be very irrelevant to the discussion. In a class I had last semester, which will remain nameless, we had assigned readings each week that we sometimes discussed in class. I did half of one week's readings and no more.

I got an A- in the class.

As S.P. Sullivan states in this Daily Collegian column, readings usually aren't seen as important by students. He seems to believe, at least in the past, that there was an understanding between student and professor:

‘This is too much reading. I know this. Only a small percentage of you will do all of it. But enough of you will read Book A and enough of you will read Book B and enough of you are prodigious-enough bullshitters that we’ll be able to keep the conversation going all semester.’

He concludes that we probably should put the money we spend on books to good use, but I have an even better idea: don't buy the books in the first place. As much as I might be able to learn by reading in journalism classes, I've been helped much more by the critiquing of my writing and the sharing of real-life experiences from my professors.

School for Flirts

Image taken from howstuffworks.com (I did a Google image search, I didn't actually look up how flirting works).

My title is misleading. It really should be, "School for People Who Are Bad at Flirting." But the other one sounds nicer.

With Valentine's Day now a mere 10 days from now, maybe some of you would like to check this out. This article in the Boston Globe chronicles writer Meredith Goldstein's attendance to a flirting class in the Boston Center for Adult Education.

When I read the first few paragraphs, I was ready to blast this piece, as well as the people who attended the seminar. But I'm here at my computer alone and they're at least out trying to improve their lives romantically, even if it is at a cost of $51. 

Goldstein informed them of her status as a journalist, but that didn't seem to bother anyone.

Swack made me pair up with the defensive guy from Fidelity.

He complimented first: "I like your sweatshirt," he said.

I wasn't wearing a sweatshirt. It was a sweater. It was just baggy.

It was my turn to compliment him, so I told him that his questions in class made him sound smart and thoughtful. I didn't mean it, but it seemed like something nice to say.

Swack interrupted us and told me I wasn't really flirting. She said I sounded disingenuous.

"Tell him he's smart," she said. "That's a compliment."

"How do I know he's smart?" I asked, frustrated.

I told him I liked his sneakers.

While I would still never go to some class like this, I can understand why some people would. She described the crowd as predominantly middle-aged and presumably divorced. I can't make fun of a group of people like that.

I'd rather wish them good luck...

...and hope I never am in the same situation.

Talking Points Memo Café

The Talking Points Memo Café is a spin-off blog from the popular Talking Points Memo website. It is updated daily by multiple writers from a variety of backgrounds, but the posts cover mostly domestic and foreign policy issues.

I'm not a fan of political pundits. I like to hear the news and make my own opinions. Finding a blog I could appreciate was a tough undertaking, but I was pleased with TPMCafé (Yes, they really like to be called that). I'm not a fan of Bill O'Reilly's tirades or Keith Olbermann's "World's Worst." The number of voices was refreshing, even if most came from a slightly-left-of-center viewpoint.

Then again, it could be the fact that I couldn't actually hear these author's voices that helped.

Either way, the writing is of high quality and the issues they comment on matter. I get the feeling that they want you to know they are proud of their opinions without being pretentious; this is a tactic I try to employ every day. 

An issue I found was the length of some of the posts. Blogs are supposed to be concise and keep my interest. I saw a post by M.J. Rosenberg titled, "Has Israel Jumped The Shark?" and the thoughts of the Fonz in his leather jacket in the water made me click. I was disappointed, however, to discover that the article was very long.

It was very, very, very long.

The post was 1,713 words, not including the postscript.

I couldn't get through it, because the topic wasn't enough to interest me to read six double-spaced pages worth and I got the feeling that it wouldn't end with an "'Eyyyyyyyy."

Rosenberg did link to an article in The Atlantic that his son was quoted in. It deals with the end of "whiteness" in America (which is clearly still alive) and does nothing to aid his cause for reading the blog post. In fact, it makes me want to click the link and read the other article instead.

In fact, I think I'll do that.

....

I didn't really read it. I did see some references to The Office and The Colbert Report, so my whiteness will make me finish it later (or, according to the title, it won't).

But don't let this dissuade you from visiting the site. As I said before, it is pretty good, despite the few misses among its hits. One such case was a post by Robert Reich, the former United States Secretary of Labor who apparently has been hit so hard by the recession that he can't afford a higher quality digital camera. I'm joking, of course, but 

his post "Why We Need Stronger Unions, and How to Get Them" kept me through to the end, despite it's length (939 words) and lack of a promise of Happy Days.

He makes a case for the importance of unions, provides statistics showing the drop in unionized workers, and connects this to the current financial situation. Though it comes across as patronizingly championing the middle class without any real plan, I could just be cynical. Regardless, it works and I feel better for reading it.

I've gone off-topic a lot in this post, but that's what I like to do. That's what I would like any blogs I read to do. TPMCafé apparently does a good amount of research on its own, but also throws its hat into the mix of the news of the day. I plan on reading past these three days.