Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Journalism 2121

This class has really changed my perspective on writing. It has shown me that journalism can be really challenging, and getting the story just right can take several drafts and some creative ideas! Spicing up your storys when all of them already seem to be the same, can be really difficult to do. This has made me appriciate journalists alot more, and see that their jobs can really be hard.

I did really enjoy this class. It was the first writing course that has actually challenged me, in a very long time.

Last Story

Tenth Story
Frustrated Students and a Full Parking Lot

Students all over the Anoka- Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids campus are ranting about the current parking lot situation. That is, there is not enough space for everybody to park. Some students walk all the way from the goodwill parking lot, a block away. Nearly every student on campus has muttered something negative about how far they have to walk in the Minnesota cold weather, just to get inside. The amount of students tardy to a class just because they are looking or a parking spot, has increased and is beginning to be a problem.
One student by the name of Alisha Terry even went as far as to say, “This parking situation is ridiculous. I drive around for 20 minutes some days just trying to find a spot. The administrative has to understand that is really frustrating. When its really cold outside and I have to walk from the goodwill parking lot, the whole way in all I think about is switching schools. What’s going to happen when there is a bunch of snow on the ground? Then what do I do? Trudge through? I’d rather skip class than deal with that.” These are just a few of the points of many students who are attending the Coon Rapids campus. Some of them are beginning to wonder if things will ever change.
“It just doesn’t seem to me that the school is doing anything to improve what is going on with the parking lots. I just feel that they should be doing more to help us. I hate being late, and sometimes I just can’t help it because there are no spots open. The worst part is, you can tell the teachers are getting angry with people walking in late too. Its just all around a bad situation,” Trina Scherff added, “It’s just a bad start to my day when I can’t find anywhere to park.” Many students also agreed that teacher have become frustrated with the tardiness this semester, even though most of the time its because they can’t find a spot to park.
Another student had an even bigger problem because of medical issues, but replied anonymously reporting, “I have arthritis, and there are a lot of days where my arthritis acts up, and worse in the cold, and it doesn’t help that I have to walk so far in the cold to get in the school. I just can’t take it. They need to solve this issue some how, and fast. I think student enrollment is going to go down for next semester if students do not begin to see some sort of effort put in to solving the problem.”
It seems to me that every student is being effected, and even some professors on campus have made remarks through out the semester. Kristen Olsen, a sociology professor stated, “It’s like the first couple weeks the parking lots are jam packed, and slowly they get less crowed.” She is upbeat and thinks that only the fist two weeks are really that bad, and from then on you find parking spots a lot easier than before.
This semester has had the highest percentage of enrollment yet, which has caused the unexpected parking problem. The Coon Rapids campus was simply overwhelmed with the amount of students, and what to do.
Paxer Yang, a student currently attending morning classes at the Coon Rapids campus suggested an idea, “I know the campus is struggling with ideas of what to do to fix the problem. I think they should turn second parking lot into a parking ramp. Maybe an indoor one. It could work, and maybe with the extra enrollment lately, they could afford to. I don’t know what their budget is, but at least its an idea.” Other students argued that this would create and even bigger problem. While they would be constructing this large ramp there would be an even bigger parking problem, and more people would be frustrated. “Imagine the parking situation as they are building a ramp! I don't like the walk either.”- Anonymous.
Many students noticed the vehicles that are now scattered along the streets, parking alongside the curb. Some said this is frustrating too, because you can’t see getting out of the parking lots anymore with all the cars blocking your view. Some even park in the way of other cars in parking lots, along the curbside, even when there are still parking spots available in the particular parking lot. They simply just do not look for parking spots. In an anonymous poll, one student complained that they were blocked in by one of these students that decide to park on the curb inside of the parking lot.
“Its really frustrating to be blocked in, when your already on a timed schedule, and need to get to work on time, or just have plans. People start to get in the mindset that there are not going to be any parking spots, even if they do keep looking. So they just quit. They give up on looking, and block off someone else. It’s really rude, but at the same time I understand where they are coming from,” Josh Anderson, goes along with Olsen’s response that only the fist couple weeks are really all that bad and from there on it gets better, but people just refuse to pay attention and see what is going on around them.
So far the Coon Rapids campus has not shown any signs that students really are going to refrain from signing up for second semester. Students are still enrolling for the spring 2009 semester.




Note* I could not figure out how to make a side bar actually fit on the screen in word, so this is why I am just writing it below.


Sidebar
Enrollment at the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids campus was higher than usual this fall of 2009 semester. This created a parking issue around campus. Many students claim they cannot find parking spots at any time during the day, and struggle to get to class on time.
“This parking situation is ridiculous. I drive around for 20 minutes some days just trying to find a spot.”- Alisha Terry a current student.

(Alisha Terry)
“It just doesn’t seem to me that the school is doing anything to improve what is going on with the parking lots. It’s just a bad start to my day when I can’t find anywhere to park.”- Trina Scherff, another current student.
(Trina Scherff)

“I think student enrollment is going to go down for next semester if students do not begin to see some sort of effort put in to solving the problem.” -Anonymous

Some people do have hope, and really don’t believe it’s as big of an issue as others do.
“It’s like the first couple weeks the parking lots are jam packed, and slowly they get less crowed.” -Professor Kristen Olsen of the Coon Rapids campus.

Some are even coming up with suggestions to help the school.
“I know the campus is struggling with ideas of what to do to fix the problem. I think they should turn second parking lot into a parking ramp.”-Paxer Yang
(Paxer Yang)
For any further questions contact the school at:
The information center:
(763) 433-1240

Or the Ink spot for further reports:
(763) 433-1960

Monday, December 7, 2009

Man blames brother in beating death of woman

September 18th 2008, Natasha Waalen was murdered allegedly by her boyfriend, Ryan Boland. Ryan Boland pleaded guilty of being an accomplice to the murdered and told the courtroom that his brother Timothy was the one who committed the murder. According to Ryan, Timothy hit Waalen over the head with a baseball bat in Ryan and Waalen's appartment. Timothy was now charged with second degree murder.
After Timothy committed the murder the two brothers tried to make it look like a motorcycle accident, and left her for dead.
Boland and Waalen had a 4 year old daughter together.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Teacher of the Universe

Teacher of the Universe

About ten years ago Monticello Senior High School gained the help of a well loved woman by the name of Nancy Cassano. Mrs. Cassano used to be a mathematics teacher, until she retired and now helps out full time, teaching students who don’t understand the work in class.
In 2005 Cassano won the Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award, even though she is not technically a teacher at the moment, they made an exception for her because of the inspiration she is among the students here in Monticello. The most interesting part about Cassano is that she completely donates all of her time, she is just a volunteer and is not paid one cent for her work.
Being a mathematics teacher is said to be one of the most challenging things you can do, because if the student doesn’t understand you there is only so many ways you can teach something. However somehow it seems she always finds a way to make the problem become a solution easier than most teachers. Many students even reported that they understood the math problems with her, but not with other teachers and began to feel more confident in themselves.
Around the high school Cassano is like a celebrity everyone knows her and always wants to be in her room. Students feel comfortable going to her about anything, even if it is a personal issue, or just a math problem. Mrs. Cassano never complains, she enjoys her time with the students just as much as the students enjoy her. She is supportive of every student, and is always there to help with any problem you have with a smiling face.
Mathematics is not the only school subject you can find her helping with though. Cassano is there to help with every subject, so even when the students help concerns that they are inquiring about are all different, Cassano keeps a smile on and helps everyone quickly and with good manner.
One student wanted to comment on her work here, he(Billy Ferman) told me, "it seems like even the teachers depend on her to function properly. I mean, there are some really messed up bad kids around here and the teachers always just send them to Cassano. I have seen so many kids turn around and become great stand up smart kids, just from her help. She actually takes the time to see who you are and find out more about you. Cassano makes sure you are okay in all aspects, not just school but that you are okay with every part of your life, and if your not she finds a way to help you through."
Cassano never even takes a day off, even though she is unpaid she is always dependable and always there, from start of the day to finish she stands by waiting to help anyone who walks through her door. Another student commented on her abilities here, "Cassano has always been there when I have needed her. I was failing math because I just couldn’t understand and keep up with the work, and then I turned to Cassano for help. By working with her everyday for the first ten minutes of class I understood all of the problems when the teacher started out the lecture, and I could actually follow along. She is such a wonderful lady, so sweet and concerned about everyone’s well being. I feel like she is another Grandparent of mine, just looking out for me."-Claire Maser. While I was interviewing These students I also noticed an older looking student sitting in one of her chairs, so I walked over and asked his story. It turns out that this student was not actually a student of Monticello Senior High anymore, but was in college and frequently came back to the school to get help from her, and she was still just as willing to help him as she was when he actually attended the high school.
Today Cassano gets at least a few thank you letters from past students in the mail every year, saying that the student couldn’t have got where they are today with out her help. Some even go as far to say that she changed their lives, and they felt lost and confused before she took an interest in them.
In the main commons area, and lunch room hang’s a picture of Cassano smiling at the camera, much like she does while helping a student, with teacher of the year 2005 written below. She has been nominated by students several times since that picture was taken but is yet to win it again.
The overwhelming appreciation and love for Nancy Cassano will not be forgotten by any student who has graduated from Monticello, or is yet to graduate, who knew her well and were changed by her work.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Thirty One Year Old Man Confesses to Killing 17 People

Early morning on May 27th a Women called the county dispatch informing them of some odd happenings around her apartment. At 2 a.m. Glenda Cleveland, 37, reported that her daughter and niece had seen a naked boy on a street corner and that the boy seemed like he needed help. On her call with dispatch she said, "He's been beaten up real bad...He can't stand up....he has no clothes on. He is very hurt."
Cleveland's daughter and niece that witnessed this crime unfolding believed that the naked boy on the street, was just that, a boy. Not a grown male, but a boy. That was Cleveland's main concern in the whole situation. When she called in and reported what she had seen, the dispatcher sent a squad car to the scene.
Later Cleveland was informed by her daughter and niece that they had flagged down a cop car, but the police had taken no information from them about who they were or if they had any additional information. At that point Cleveland and her family began to believe that this child was being raped and she informed the police of her suspicions, "Their names or nothing was taken down and I wonder if this situation was being handled....what it indicated was that this was a male child being raped and molested by an adult." Even through out the conversation with dispatch it seemed like nobody was taking her seriously even as she stated, "The fact is a crime was being committed."
The dispatcher phoned the squad car, after the naked male had been spotted, and the police officers were heard laughing as they reported, "36...Intoxicated Asian, naked male, was returned to his sober boyfriend." The officers kept laughing all throughout the conversation with dispatch. Durring this time they also had a report of a male dragging a naked male who looked injured.
After many phone calls with dispatch, and other officers, Cleveland finally tracked down the car number of the police officer that was sent to check out the situation, who didn't take down any information. Eventually she got him directly on the phone and questioned him about what exactly had happened, and if the situation was being handled correctly. She was told that the naked male was not a child but infact an adult. Cleveland questioned the officer many times, wanting to know if he was positive that the male was an adult, and he said yes. The officer continued to explain that this naked male was a boyfriend to another man in the apartment complex, Jeffrey Dahmer.
Police officers could have saved a life that day. Later they found out that this naked male was actually 14 years old, and was a Laotian boy by the name of Konerak Sinthasomphone. When police had investigated into Dahmers apartment they eventually found 11 mutilated bodies, a month after they had returned Sinthasomphone to Dahmers apartment, and realized they could have saved the boy. Dahmer admitted to killing 17 people, and proceeded to plead guilty. Two police officers, whose names have not yet been released have been suspended.

St. Paul teen charged in fatal shooting

A 19 year- old man has been charged with second degree assault for giving a group of 16 year old boys a gun. Thanksgiving morning the group of teenage boys were playing a game of Russian roulette and a 15 year old boy was shot in the back of the head. The shooter claims he didn't know the gun was loaded.

-Star Tribune

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Stress

I relieve my stress by laying down for a nap most of the time. If I can't do that I try to just step back and listen to a song that is cheerful and light for a couple mintues just to relax and collect my thoughts.