September 7, 2010

With landfills packed and overflowing with trash, plus an additional oil rig explosion last week that contributed to the environmental turmoil in the gulf, environmental issues have become priority legislation for many jurisdictions, despite economic hard times. In October 2009, North Carolina joined several other states in passing legislation to require the recycling of plastic bottles.

California has been at the forefront of the growing trend of legislation and governmental encouragement and incentives for recycling efforts. The California Bottle Bill, which makes use of the state’s existing private and public recycling resources, places a monetary value on recyclables, which has resulted in high rates of recycling. Local jurisdictions have varying levels of additional environmental laws: San Francisco has enacted a mandatory recycling and composting ordinance. And up until last week, California was very close to being the first state to pass a ban on single-use plastic bags. California Senate struck down the bill on Tuesday, Aug. 31.

The bill was passed by the California Assembly in June and drew praise from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The state has a history of enacting similar laws at a local level: San Francisco was the first city in the country to pass a ban on plastic bags in 2007. And the idea is starting to take off and gather support in other areas: North Carolina banned single-use plastic bags in the Outer Banks, and Washington, D.C. began requiring grocery stores to charge for plastic bag use. Similar legislation to the proposed bill in California is under review in United States unincorporated territory American Samoa. Other countries, including Ireland, South Africa and Bangladesh, have similar laws.

The problem with the proposed legislation, and similar legislation in higher level jurisdictions, may not really have anything to do with plastic bags. Reactions and commentary over California’s situation suggest the law has implications that go beyond the environment and reach into concern over what can and should be regulated by the government.

Fox News Channel contributor and conservative columnist Michelle Malkin wrote on her blog after the ban failed to pass Senate: “Finally, California shows some sense. Lawmakers trashed an onerous, ill-timed, empty-gesture plastic bag ban pushed by radical greens this week.”

Readers commenting on a Huffington Post article about the ban who disagreed with the legislation expressed concern over the proposition of environmental laws over other governmental concerns. One commenter dismissed the bill as “just another special interest mandate.”

Similarly, supporters of the ban have expressed concern for legislators being swayed by the monetary effects on plastic bag manufacturers.

Much of the contention over this issue isn’t about plastic bags. I’m sure not everyone— or really, most people— opposing the ban are completely dismissive of all environmental issues. And perhaps not everyone in support of the ban remembers to place every plastic soda bottle in the recycling bin.

The controversy surrounding this legislation highlights a major problem in U.S. politics right now: there is a heavy us-versus-them divide, a need to align ourselves and distinguish what we aren’t. Sometimes, this overshadows the actual issues.

And that’s just one more thing this country can’t afford.

Originally written for Elon University’s The Pendulum

By Christina Edwards

December 2, 2009

A year following the release of her debut album “The Fame,” singer Lady Gaga’s own fame has skyrocketed to staggering heights. With four No. 1 singles under her glittery belt, over four million albums sold worldwide and her picture printed in numerous celebrity hit-or-miss fashion blogs, Gaga continues her streak of avant-garde domination with her sophomore effort, “The Fame Monster,” released Nov. 23.

While it was originally packaged as a re-release of her first album, Gaga and Interscope records have released the eight bonus tracks as an album of their own.

“The Fame Monster” picks up where “The Fame” left off. Both musically and in content, Gaga has moved on from discussing fame, money and their perils and onto an earnest and often startling portrayal of her eight fears — including the fear of love, the fear of death and the fear of loneliness.

While the content has moved forward and, in several cases, into a more mature, thoughtful space, “The Fame Monster” is still at heart an electro-pop dance album. Gaga has taken the catchy, club-destined beats of her debut and pushed them a step further, becoming more ambitious with production and more creative with her experimentation.

The result is a mass of hits, with a few scattered misses that are still admirable attempts.

One of the highlights of the album is “Monster,” a darker turn of the club beats that gave her success with “LoveGame” and “Pokerface.” The song opens with a breathy, spoken “don’t call me Gaga,” setting the horror-film-meets-underground-club feel. She goes on to sing about the monster who ate her heart, throwing in a cheeky reference to her carefree first single “Just Dance.” The result perfectly straddles the line between potential radio hit and solid artistic experimentation.

“Telephone,” her collaboration with Beyonce, feels almost destined for top-40 success, a result of the combined unstoppable star power and danceable backbeat. The song veers toward overproduction in spots, but the sassy punch of the lyrics takes the attitude of “Single Ladies” one step further and makes up for it.

The album also features several more esoteric attempts that may never see wide radio play, but certainly add to her credibility as an artist. “Speechless,” written to convince her father to have open-heart surgery, is a poignant piano-driven ballad with some of the album’s most heavy-hitting, raw lyrics.

As she wails “I’ll never talk again/oh boy, you’ve left me speechless,” the listener finally gets to see the crack in her shiny veneer. The dark, brash lyrics of “Teeth” are almost scary as they hit hard, but are easily some of her most bold artistic ventures yet.

There are weak spots, of course. Lead single “Bad Romance” feels predictable and uninspired at spots, recalling dance beats of the 80s a little too familiarly.  “Dance in the Dark” is slightly overproduced with too much going on, while still managing to drag the beat. Both tracks feel like a Madonna update, but the update part seems to have been forgotten.

Gaga is one of the most exciting artists on the current pop scene. She’s not afraid to dabble in disco and techno and attempts to make it heartfelt or hard-hitting. At times, she falls flat on her face in the process, but the brilliance of the hits far outweigh the missteps.

Overall, “The Fame Monster” is more than worthy of a listen, and if Gaga can continue to progress in later musical forays the way she has here, make sure to keep an eye out for a fast-rising star.

Originally written for the Pendulum

November 18, 2009

In a world where top- 40 radio hits have people conditioned to recognize pop music as mindless, albeit occasionally fun, variations upon a theme, British pop star Robbie Williams’ latest offering, “Reality Killed the Video Star,” might come as a shock to the system.

Despite being a former member of British 90s boy band Take That (he left the group in 1995 to launch his solo career), his work in the last 15 years has shown a sense of ingenuity and a penchant for constant reinvention rarely found anymore on the major labels. “Reality Killed the Video Star,” which is his eighth solo album, is no exception to this rule.

Williams has yet to gain an incredibly strong notoriety in the United States but is probably best known for his 1999 single “Angels,” still clearly has something to say and a point of view to express, even after being in the industry for nearly two decades. This album features Williams’ signature insightful irreverence for the mainstream point of view and an impressively cohesive smorgasbord of musical influences and allusions.

The album opens with “Morning Sun” and closes with a reprise of the song, a full-circle move that nicely pulls the whole thing together. The song, a lyrical reference and tribute to Michael Jackson, is a somber and jarring take on the reality of loneliness in fame: “You always wanted more than life/ But now you don’t have the appetite/ In a message to the troubadour/ The world don’t love you anymore.” The lyrics are in a pleasant juxtaposition to the soaring, bright orchestrations.

Williams continues to mix and modernize genres throughout the album, creating an eclectic collection of perspectives. The track “You Know Me” is layered with an old-school, Frankie Valli nostalgic sound and mixed with a much fuller orchestration coming out of the chorus. The lyrics mix a 50s heartthrob simplicity with occasional literary genius as he throws in a refreshing bout of alliteration.

Williams goes on to tackle the dance beats in the vaguely dark “Last Days of Disco,” overlaying a stereotypical disco sound with modern electro beat in what becomes surprising aural ear candy.
Williams proves his versatility, as that track doesn’t seem at all out of place on the same album as the drum-heavy, catchy rock beat of “Do You Mind?” The repetitive, forward-moving melody is enough to earn the song multiple plays, but coupled with the opening tongue-in-cheek “this is a song about metaphors,” it easily transitions from fun to borderline intuitive genius.

The lyrics hit hard and pack a punch throughout the album. A pop album may be slightly better served with a side of mindless fun, but this is already so far from a typical pop album it’s more than forgivable. The album is so littered with lyrical gems it’s hard to pick a standout, but Williams manages to be insightful without being overwhelming or cryptically trying too hard.

Williams manages to capture his wide-ranging perspective in a nutshell in “Difficult for Weirdos” — “I like it different/I like it strange/In my own way/I haven’t changed.”

Each song is worth listening to as its own complete, inspired entity. There’s not a hint of filler or repetition to be found. With “Reality Killed the Video Star,” Williams has managed to create something that entertains with the capability of making the listener feel something, while retaining his unique point of view and musically taking himself — and the listener — somewhere new.

Originally written for The Pendulum

January 21, 2009

Without a doubt, the political candidates of this past election season are some of the most carefully scrutinized people in the U.S. From practically the second President Barack Obama was announced as President-elect, scrutiny and criticism shifted to include questions about Obama’s potential cabinet.

As those skeptical about the quantity and quality of his political experience shrouded Obama’s campaign in criticism, the cabinet nominations were the first chance for the then president-elect to prove himself and gain the trust of the rest of the country after a testy and unexpectedly long campaign process.

For many, the cabinet nominations set the tone and impression of the beginning of the presidential term. So what do the picks say about the 44 presidency?

In short, they project a lot of caution, a dash of safety-oriented doubt and a sprinkle of self-assertion.

One of Obama’s earliest staff picks was Rahm Emanuel for White House Chief of Staff. Emanuel has the experience that Obama is hoping to assert in response to questions of his own experience. He served as a top advisor to President Clinton and is a veteran Congressional leader. But this same top-level experience comes with a catch; he’s a “Clintonite.” Does Obama have the political expertise and knowledge necessary to create his own team?

And what about all of this change we’ve been talking about? Emanuel’s experience may show good judgment, but may also be a double-edged sword.

Adding to the lineup of politicians we’ve seen before is Obama’s secretary of state nominee. The nomination of Hillary Clinton was possibly the most publically scrutinized of the process. While Clinton has significant and extensive experience in world travel and diplomacy, she is, of course, part of the old school of politicians so much of the country is eager to get away from, particularly in the form of her husband’s lingering presence.

And of course, Clinton’s rather volatile campaign against Obama in the Democratic primaries raises additional concerns. The two, who are probably the most prominent example of “frenemies” in current U.S. politics, have traded enough barbs to raise well-founded skepticism on their ability to work concurrently. A partnership between the two could be incredibly well-run and an effective linking of vision and expertise; yet, there’s always the lingering chance that the old prejudices and unsettling politics of the past could lead more toward the path of disaster.

While many of Obama’s cabinet picks may suggest a tendency to stay the same rather than the promised change, others in top positions draw from his circle of Chicagoan political contacts, which suggest an assertion of his own style.

He is certainly treading with an appropriate or even precautionary level of carefulness: His vetting process has shown to be incredibly rigorous. Gov. Bill Richardson has withdrawn his name for commerce secretary in the midst of the vetting process. Even in the case of Timothy Geithner’s taxes, things are out in the open.

Obama’s cabinet is promising, but with reservation. There’s a lot of solid experience and potential. But it remains to be seen what will come when that solid experience and caution meets the promise of change.

Written originally for Elon University’s The Pendulum

November 11, 2009

“Glee” is taking over the entertainment world like “High School Musical” on steroids.

Fox’s breakout comedy of the fall season had massive promotion last spring, building up to impressively huge viewership numbers and critical acclaim practically across the board for the premiere of the pilot last May. The hype managed to last through a summer of no new material.

While the ratings continued to hold strong and steady and the battalion of new young stars conquered the rabid press at Comic Con, the little show that could braved a relatively new frontier for television: iTunes and the general music world at large.

Within a day of each new episode airing, at least one newly released cover track from the show has managed to break the top-10 singles on iTunes. On Nov. 3, “Glee – The Music, Volume 1″ was released as a compilation of these songs. In addition, several tracks that have yet to premiere on the show made it on the album.

Generally, the tracks on the album manage to capture the same quirky, fun irreverence that has arguably made the show a giant success. “Glee” doesn’t take itself seriously with its earnestly over-the-top punch lines, and that same sensibility extends to the music, particularly in instances such as the cover of Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It,” where wheelchair-bound, suspenders-wearing Artie (Kevin McHale) cheerfully declares, “This is a dance for all the sexy people.”

But while many of the tracks aren’t meant to be taken seriously, there is some serious talent and musical innovation displayed in these covers.
The show mainly focuses on glee club leads Finn (Cory Monteith) and Rachel (Lea Michele), giving them the majority of the solos. While Michele is more than a few steps up from Disney ingénue Vanessa Hudgens in the singing department, and Monteith’s version of “It’s My Life” has garnered multiple plays on this listener’s iPod, the album gives the rest of the mega-talented cast a chance to shine.

Amber Reilly, who plays Mercedes, shows off a boatload of fierce attitude and vocal chops as she belts out Jazmine Sullivan’s “Bust Your Windows” and Jill Scott’s “Hate On Me.”  McHale’s vocals on Usher’s “Confessions Part II” is one of the biggest pleasant surprises in a show full of pleasant surprises. Both McHale and Reilly also get larger parts in the extended tracks of “Somebody to Love” and “Halo/Walking on Sunshine,” splitting the parts Monteith and Michele took on the show.

The mash-up tracks, “Halo/Walking on Sunshine” and “It’s My Life/Confessions,” are a strong showing of innovation and are actually mash-up pairings that lyrically make sense.  The show’s breakout hit cover of the Journey classic “Don’t Stop Believing” is a fun homage to show choirs everywhere.

There are a few misses, though. While it’s nice to finally get to hear more than a few bars out of the talented Chris Colfer, who plays Kurt, the slowed-down rearrangement of “Wicked” showstopper “Defying Gravity,” shared in a duet with Michele, doesn’t provide much of a glory moment and lacks the epic impact of the original arrangement.

Overall, this album is incredibly reflective of the show — fun and silly, with a good quality that comes out of nowhere to surprise you. It’s a recommended addition to the guilty pleasure playlists of iPods everywhere.

Originally written for Elon University’s The Pendulum

By Christina Edwards

Credit BarackObama.com

December 11, 2008

Hundreds of thousands of people crowded in Grant Park in Chicago on November 4 as the new President-Elect Barack Obama spoke to address his win and the work that needs to be done in his coming term as president. Similar scenes were echoed across the nation: crowds gathered, cheering and pressing against the White House fence, people gathered in Times Square, pouring out into neighboring streets, students at Elon University gathered in Young Commons, circling up and holding hands to sing the national anthem.

“I almost cried a little when Obama spoke,” said Caitie Zavila, a sophomore at Georgetown University who said she watched Obama speak with her classmates, then headed over to join the crowd at the White House.

On election night, chants of “yes we can” melded into new chants of “yes we did.” And on January 20, Obama’s term begins and he will again address the American people about their future at his inauguration. In his inaugural speech, citizens would like him to exactly what exactly it is that “we’ve” done in terms of the economy, war, and healthcare.

The Economy and Bailouts: He’s Got Some Explaining to Do

The current economic crisis is almost unanimously the top issue for U.S. citizens. Obama addressed the crisis in a radio address on December 6, calling attention to November as the worst month of job loss in over three decades. He began to announce key parts of his economic plan, which citizens say they would like to hear in more detail in his Inaugural Address—along with explanations for the bailout trend.

In September, federal bailouts hit the forefront of the economic crisis when Federal Reserve chairmen Ben Bernanke proposed a plan for a $700 billion bailout of U.S. financial firms. In the past month, Congress has been discussing a similar bailout of the automotive industry.

“We have these bailout plans for Wall Street and the automotive industry, but I think we need a bailout for Americans in general,” said Robin Riggins, who works in the admissions office at Elon University. Riggins says she thinks a bailout for the average American would be more proficient than the proposed auto bailout.

“We need to help people be able to pay their mortgages, for people who are unemployed because of the crisis not to be have to sacrifice their livelihood,” said Riggins. “If we’re bailing them out, the money will go back into the economy. We’re going to bailout the automotive industry when we can’t afford to buy cars. I want him to address the bailouts and what it’s going to mean for us.”

Sonja Hopkins, who works at the Kangaroo Express near Elon University agrees.

“He needs to talk about the economy in general. Nothing really specific, but I want him to be talking about the economy,” Hopkins said.

Rudy Zarzar, Professor of political science at Elon University said that with the government openly saying that the economy is in a recession, there is no way that Obama’s speech will not heavily focus on the economy.

“He will primary focus on the economy. I don’t see how he can ignore it, he’d be a fool if he did,” Zarzar said. “We already had a fool in the White House, we don’t need another one.”

War and the Military

Another top concern many would like Obama to address is the war in Iraq, which Obama adamantly professed plans for pulling out of during the campaign.

“I’m concerned about the war,” said Terri Martin, contract administrator at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C. “He’s said we’re going to pull out of Iraq, but we need to know that we’re not going to just go straight to Afghanistan.”

Makaila McKinely, a junior at Elon University, said that she is primarily concerned with Obama’s views on the military.

“My dad was in the Navy, so I’m really concerned with what he’s going to do with the military,” McKinely said. “I didn’t vote for him because he was so against the military; I’m concerned about retirement benefits for my dad. I’m concerned about the war in Iraq and hope we’re not just going to surrender like he’s said he would. I think he’s going to have a tough battle to fight. He’s going to have to prove he’s good for America, which is going to be tough because basically half of American voted for McCain.”

Healthcare and the Government’s Role

According to Zarzar, Obama needs to put his secondary focus on healthcare, which Zarzar says is inexplicably tied to the economy.

“No American should find himself or herself in a situation where they can’t afford healthcare because they don’t have the means,” said Zarzar. “I don’t really care what it is, we need to have it. A system must be created to enable people who can’t afford medical care to have it.”

While others can agree that healthcare is a major issue, some expressed more concern than Zarzar over the actual details of a heathcare plan.

“I’m concerned about healthcare, of course, because I’m working in a healthcare related job,” said Martin. Concerned has been raised among employees at Memorial Mission Hospital about job retention under Obama’s healthcare plan.

Looking to the Future

What is important beyond the actual topics of the address, citizen say, is the tone Obama sets for the next four years.

“I really think the most important thing he needs to address is that we all need to work together,” said Martin.” “It’s no longer political. It’s not about whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat anymore, it’s about all of us.”

Additional Comments on Inaugural Address:

By Christina Edwards

December 4, 2008

Photo credit Roy Zipstein

At the end of his prolific Reagan era social commentary play Angels in America, playwright Tony Kushner writes “there is a kind of painful progress. Longing for what we’ve left behind, and dreaming ahead.”

Appropriately, progress and looking back were key topics of An Evening With Tony Kushner, held at the Taylor Theatre at UNC Greensboro December 3.

Kushner, an Emmy award winner and a two-time Tony winner who has been praised for his politically fused dramas, spoke to a full crowd about the future of American politics and the social consciousness of theatre.

“I’m okay with being called a political dramatist, but I’m not sure I am,” Kushner said. “The family scenes, that’s what I like to write. I deal with human relationships and psychology.”

Kushner opened the evening with a reading of Prayer for New York, a piece he was commissioned to write for a 9/11 commeration, complete with character voices and wild hand gestures.

“I was conflicted about writing it,” Kushner said about being asked to write the piece. “But then again, I’m conflicted about most things.”

Conflicted, maybe, but opinionated? Certainly. Kushner talked for two hours about the challenges Obama will face in the next four years, Sarah Palin, and writing for film and stage.

He also spoke about Steven Spielberg’s upcoming movie Lincoln, which Kushner recently wrote the screenplay for.

Kushner ending the evening by signing books at the Brown Theatre, staying to hold a conversation with fans, who filed out the door waiting to meet him.

List of Kushner’s Works

Raising the Bar: Higher Competition Complicates College Admissions Process

By Christina Edwards

December 1, 2008

High school graduation: the end of an era. A milestone transition from childhood to legal adulthood. A choice on where to go next.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics out of the US Department of Labor, 67.2 percent of high school graduates made the choice to enroll in a college or university, a choice made in increasingly large numbers; this is a jump even from the class of 2006′s 65.8 percent college enrollment.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that college enrollment has been rising since 2001, where 61.7 percent had enrolled in post-secondary education.

As these numbers rise, high school education has seen a shift towards preparation towards a more competitive college admissions climate.

Schools have seen the implementation of increasing amounts of Advanced Placement (AP) classes, SAT and ACT preparation classes, and students clamoring for leadership positions in various extracurricular activities.

This brings several questions to the forefront: can US high schools support the new climate? Is high level competition a help or a hindrance? And how, in a sea of near-perfect GPAs and test scores, does a student stand out?

High School Students: “It’ll Look Good on My Application.”

Sojung Ko, a junior at Roberson High School in Asheville, NC, is currently enrolled in four college level courses; she’s already completed one. She is heavily involved in her school’s National Honor Society, Odyssey of the Mind, and is the student government vice president.

“[The AP classes] are definitely more challenging than honors class,” says Ko. “You have to study extra hours just to make at least a B in classes. Even though I might not do well in classes, AP classes build up my endurance and dedication.”

Ko says she was advised by her brother, a class of 2008 high school graduate, to take her already required math, English, science, and history classes in AP courses; he told her to take AP statistics and environmental science this year to make room for AP calculus and physics her senior year. Her extracurriculars were also planned strategically.

“I chose National Honor society because it shows that I have been able to sustain my GPA pretty high and work hard at school,” says Ko. “I chose student government because it shows that I have leadership and is able to represent my class. Odyssey of the Mind, to able to be involved in a long-term club that competes with other schools. It shows that even with my crazy schedule, I was able to be involved in this kind of club, something more creative.”

Ko’s classmate, junior Molly Ohmen, is only currently enrolled in one AP class, but says her newspaper class, in which she is part of the editorial board, is equally preparing her for college.

“I think that newspaper will be one of the most beneficial things to put on a college application,” says Ohmen. “It helps you deal with real life obstacles like deadlines and has made me more outgoing. I also think that because I have a leadership position and that I have been so dedicated to the class that it will look good on an application.”

A small survey of honors and advanced placement high school juniors, all planning on attending a four year college or university, found 50 percent of students taking 2 AP classes their junior year; 33.3 percent planned to take six AP classes before they graduated.

All students surveyed participated in at least one extracurricular activity, with 58.3 percent participating in more than four. 41.7 percent hold at least one leadership position in an extracurricular activity. 66 percent participated in a sport.

The Two-Sided Push: School Systems and Competition

The school systems, in turn, are adjusting to the competitive climate, and perhaps facilitating the change in mentality.

In 2006, Roberson added an AP world history class; the next year psychology and English language were added, bringing the school’s total to 13 offered AP classes that teach to 15 AP tests. This is in accordance with a Buncombe county wide push for the AP program: 20 AP classes are offered among the six county high schools, and enrollment in AP classes increased by 248 students from fall 2006 to fall 2008.

Guidance counselors at the high school who speak to incoming freshman as they choose their classes recommend that students planning to attend a top university plan to take six AP classes before they graduate.  In 2003, three AP classes were recommended.

Roberson has traditionally encouraged juniors to begin taking AP classes; with the class of 2010, the school began offering an option for advanced students to take a different track of history classesthat would allow them into AP World History as sophomores.

Though the school system supports AP as effective college preparation, some teachers disagree with the push for more APs at an earlier age.

“Personally, I do not know of many, if any, sophomores in high school who could really survive a true college-level course,” Mark Harrison, an English teacher at Roberson, says.  “I think that over the years,schools have focused their attention on easing the standard levels to keep kids from failing, and thus keep them from dropping out. The schools get lots of APs and fewer drop outs, the kids get higher GPAs for doing the same work as they would have in a regular or honors class.  So it seems to work, but it just masks what is really happening… a lowering of expectations across the board.”

Harrison also teaches the communications class at Roberson, which teachers print and broadcast journalism, along with marketing and business skills. Students in the class work during and after school to produce news publications. Harrison argues that class like his, along with classes like band and chorus, make a student stand out more than an AP class would.

“If a student shows they are taking difficult classes as well as being dedicated to sports and hard, consistent classes like band and Communications, they are actually showing themselves as well-rounded, highly-educated and risk-takers, what colleges want in order to find students who stick out in a mass of thousands of students with basically all the same GPAs,” Harrison says.

How I Got to College: Current Students Speculate

Ultimately, what students, parents, teachers, and high school administration are seeking is the surefire path to the acceptance envelope. Yet differing experiences of current college students suggest the quest for a fail-proof formula may be in vein.

Kelley McClure, a sophomore majoring in graphic design at NC State University, took one AP class in high school, Studio Art. She says the class helped her build a portfolio and prepared her for college level critique, but having her design work published in a school newspaper gave her an edge.

“The people in the graphic design department here love published work,” says McClure. “It shows that I have worked with people and as a team with other staff members to create something for the community.”

McClure says she did not feel the need to take high school courses that did not necessarily interest her.

“I actually didn’t really plan my classes and other activities for college, mostly because I prefer doing things that I know I will enjoy and probably take part in later on in life,” McClure says.

Emily Srisarajivakul, a freshman at Northwestern University, argues that high school schedules dull the advantages to AP classes. She says she structured her high school class schedule and extracurriculars around building up her college application. She credits her acceptances to this, but says it did little in terms of actual preparation.

“Classes here are way more rigorous because we’re on a quarter schedule; I’m used to classes being spread out over a year,” Srisarajivakul said. “We have three months to learn everything. But I placed out of some courses, so I have more freedom to take electives.”

Inside the Admissions Office

For colleges admissions offices, the real test is in weighting the value of all of the competitive achievement.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), part of the NC system of public universities, has seen twenty percent increase in applications in the last five years.

“We don’t use formulas or cutoffs or thresholds; no one is automatically admitted or denied because of a single number. We understand that students travel many different roads to get to Carolina, and we celebrate the variety of interests, backgrounds and aspirations that they bring with them,” says Ashley T. Memory, senior assistant director of undergraduate admissions at UNC.

UNC emphasizes well-rounded academic excellence, and uses extracurriculars, admissions essays, and test scores to further assess students.

“We pay particular attention to the rigor of each candidate’s course of study. We encourage juniors and seniors, when possible, to take the most difficult programs available at their school.  If AP, IB, or Honors classes are available, we encourage students to take these classes,” said Memory.

Elon University, a NC private university, uses test score cutoffs to reduce its applicant pool, in addition to weighing academic performance and difficulty of coursework, according to Greg Zaiser, Dean of Admissions. The school received about 9340 applications for 1290 spots for the class of 2012. Distinguishing between students for admittance can often come down to a single differing factor.

“Because so many student applicants have strong academic profiles, we have had to reevaluate the way we utilize the essay and activities in the admissions process,” said Zaiser.  “While the academic is always paramount, a student with a stronger essay than another, all other things being equal, could be given one of the seats in the class.”

Colleges have seemingly backed themselves into a corner, albeit a positive one to be in. As the desire for post-secondary education grows, a new dilemma appears: what happens to prestige when everyone is good enough?

Maybe prestige does not matter after all, and somewhere there is a place for everyone.

Or maybe there will be a new way to raise the bar.

Twitter provides constant, accessible stream of information

By Christina Edwards

November 21, 2008

There’s no such thing as too rapid when it comes to information, at least for the three million plus users on Twitter.

Twitter is a free microblogging service that launched on the Web in 2006. Messages posted are 140 characters or less, which provides a constant stream of short informational updates. Users range from news organizations such as CNN, to bloggers and the average citizen keeping friends and family updated easily.

“With its requirement for people to squeeze their thoughts into 140 characters or less, Twitter is a perfect tool for a fast-paced, mobile society,” said Janna Anderson, director of a research project called Imagining the Internet. “Compressed information fits and it offers quick-hitting details we can apply to our lives. Most of the early adopters using Twitter to communicate today are writing on the road, from conferences, sales calls and other mobile situations in which they want to share tightly written information chunks. It first caught on at the South By Southwest media conference in Austin, Texas, just a couple of years ago. It has since been used by political campaigns, businesses and media organizations to quickly brief people on developing situation.”

As someone fairly familiar with the Internet world of information, I’ve only had a marginal experience with Twitter, having seen updates streamed on blogs. I signed up for an account and started exploring.


The Accesiblity Factor

Twitter is free and takes just a few minutes to set up. All that’s required is an email and a password, so Twitter gets automatic points for the easy sign up process. At the same time, anyone can sign up, which comes with the implications of an unfiltered “news” stream.

Posting a message is easy, too: the textbox is at the top of the page. It also counts how many characters used as you type. Simple.

Searching for news feeds to follow becomes a little more difficult. When you enter in a search term, the engine brings up every message containing the terms. The advanced search option allows you to specify whether you are searching words or conversations or places. Searching for specific users is not easily accessible.

How Informative Is It?

How informative Twitter is depends on how often a newsfeed is updated. Updates can happen constantly. I decided to “follow” the US World and News Report, BBC, and the Huffington Post. The Huffington Post, over a course of four hours, updated constantly, providing news every few minutes.

The pertinence of the information, however, is another matter entirely. Over the same four hours, the most talked about subject was the new Twilight movie—on the same day Hillary Clinton said she would accept a Secretary of State nomination.

The Format

Twitter is formatted to be unintimidating. The layout of the actual site can be chosen by the user: the choices are reminiscent of personal blogging platform Livejournal. This doesn’t have to be a stuffy, professional news atmosphere to getting information: a plus for civilian accessibility, but slightly off-putting to the professional.

The stream of news feeding on the home page is both immediate enough to appeal to those searching for constant information and comforting to those more used to Facebook status updates.

Overall

Twitter is an effective means of communicating short messages in a more than timely manner. But I’m not yet convinced that it’s the future of information: it’s shallowly informative. And currently, finding real information is like sifting through soil to find gems.

My Twitter feed, as I set up my account.

Timeline of Online Journalism

The Division of News and Gossip

By Christina Edwards

November 19, 2008

The journalist’s job is to inform, to provide the general population with the current information about the world, country, and community they live in. The average citizen has the right to know when happens are effecting their lives, and it is the journalist’s job to serve and protect that right. The first amendment covers freedom of the press for that very purpose, Sunshine Centers have been introduced to assist the journalist in fighting for that right. But in a country that also names privacy as a first amendment right, where is the line between informative, intrusive, or even frivolous?

The recent election season has brought to the forefront questions of journalistic necessity, particularly where families of candidates (including underaged children) are concerned. It can be argued that the candidates are the one running for office, not the family, but what happens when the family provides news relevant to the campaign?

In late August, Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin announced that her 17-year-old daughter Bristol was pregnant. This was immediately followed by a media blitz, covered everywhere from gossip websites to CNN. The coverage, in turn, was immediately criticized by right wing organizations as exploitation.

Palin announced her daughter’s pregnancy at a press conference. Palin is a known advocate of both the pro-life movement and abstinence only education in schools. Palin in essence allowed for this event to be covered, and there is arguable relevancy. The original coverage of the event? Within the rights of reporting.

In the weeks after the news broke, articles appeared reporting on the Myspace Web sites of both Bristol Palin and the reported father, Levi Johnston. These included pictures taken of the teens drinking and quotes taken from Johnston’s page where he had written “I don’t want kids.”
Articles like these breech a level of appropriateness. While it can be argued relevant that a pro-life candidate has a pregnant teenage daughter and child with Down’s Syndrome, the necessity of investigative judgment on the life of a candidate’s child becomes blurred.

On the other side of the partisan pond, one of the hot topics surrounding President Elect Barack Obama (besides what breed of dog the family will adopt) concerns what school his two young daughters will attend when relocated to Washington D.C.

Last week, the New York Times ran an article titled “Parents’ Night with the President,” which reported on elite Washington private schools reportedly looked at by the family vying for the Obamas’ attendance. This topic was also addressed in a recent interview with Obama and his wife Michelle on CBS.

Obama’s democratic education platform addresses several reforms to the public school system and stresses the importance of investing in the quality of public schools. In Chicago, his daughters attended private school, and all of the reported top school choices for the Obamas are private. In terms of where Obama stands on education, the decision he makes on where to send his own children can be considered relevant.

The New York Times ran another article on Tuesday addressing the Obama girls—this time on a tour the were given of the White House by Jenna and Barbara Bush. In the article, there is explicit mention that this was a private event: “The visit was strictly private, with no media coverage or photos.”
Was this article harmful to either the Obama or Bush family? Would it have been harmful to have a couple of photographers snapping pictures? Was this some top secret matter of national security? Probably not, on all counts.
But it wasn’t really relevant to anything, either.

What this comes down to is a matter of privacy. It is not wrong to report that an event happened, or to draw attention to a public website. There’s nothing illegal or even arguably morally reprehensible about these articles.

But just because something can be reported on doesn’t mean it’s newsworthy or necessary. Will it be read? Probably.

But there’s a line between news and gossip, and it’s also the journalist’s job to decide where that line is.