Nearly three years ago, I came to the University of Northern Colorado to fulfill my high school dream to become a print journalist. Since then, I have experienced my share of triumphs and failures that have not only shaped my journalistic abilities but ultimately improved my work ethic and motivated me to become persistent, resilient, and steadfast in purpose. Through the in-class instruction that I have received from my journalism professors and the field experience that I have garnered through my job as a staff writer and a Student Senate beat reporter at The Mirror, I have learned how to report on difficult and challenging issues; ask tough questions; report every angle from an objective perspective; and thoroughly research every point of view.
One of the most influential classes that I have taken as a journalism major has been JMC 410: Advanced News & Feature Writing in which I have been able to improve my editing skills and step out of my personal comfort zone by utilizing different writing styles to present various issues on my beat. By doing this, I believe that I am better prepared for the various tasks and assignments that I may encounter in a newsroom.
Not too long ago, I found a maxim that simply read, “Don’t give up on something or someone that you can’t go a full day without thinking about.” For me, journalism is something that I can’t go a full day without thinking about, and one day, it is my hope that I will one day work for a large news organization like the Associated Press, New York Times, or the Washington Post.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Senate members conclude academic year with farewells
The Student Senate concluded its meetings for this academic year by hosting a banquet that commemorated the achievements of this year’s Senate cabinet.
“You’re all really a tremendous group of people,” said Dean of Students Raul Cardenas. “I’ll always remember the work that you’ve done and the mark that I think you all have left on this campus.”
Among the recognized accomplishments was the creation of the Student Judiciary, which will function as the university’s new student-led judicial body beginning in the fall semester, if it is approved by the UNC Board of Trustees. If instated, the five-person judicial body will hear a wide range of student grievances, including those concerning academic, legislative and ethical issues.
Some Senate members acknowledged that their participation in the Student Senate not only provided them with leadership experience, but also allowed them to grow as individuals.
Sen
“Student Senate has really changed our lives because without it, we wouldn’t be who we are today,” said Student Body President Justin Puckett. “I can look back on my senior year of high school and remember that being above a 3.0 student was a fantasy; being Student Body President wasn’t even an option at all. But when I compare where I was four years ago when I first came here to where I am now; the change is amazing.”
-- Originally published in The Mirror on April 30, 2010
“You’re all really a tremendous group of people,” said Dean of Students Raul Cardenas. “I’ll always remember the work that you’ve done and the mark that I think you all have left on this campus.”
Among the recognized accomplishments was the creation of the Student Judiciary, which will function as the university’s new student-led judicial body beginning in the fall semester, if it is approved by the UNC Board of Trustees. If instated, the five-person judicial body will hear a wide range of student grievances, including those concerning academic, legislative and ethical issues.
Some Senate members acknowledged that their participation in the Student Senate not only provided them with leadership experience, but also allowed them to grow as individuals.
Sen
“Student Senate has really changed our lives because without it, we wouldn’t be who we are today,” said Student Body President Justin Puckett. “I can look back on my senior year of high school and remember that being above a 3.0 student was a fantasy; being Student Body President wasn’t even an option at all. But when I compare where I was four years ago when I first came here to where I am now; the change is amazing.”
-- Originally published in The Mirror on April 30, 2010
Student Senate finalizes special election results
The Election Judiciary Board unanimously ruled Tuesday two grievances filed by Timothy Andrews, a director of Academic Affairs candidate, against political rival Benjamin Schiffelbein were not meritorious in a decision that officially ended this year’s special election.
In his first grievance, Andrews, a junior secondary education major, alleged that Schiffelbein violated an election bylaw and committed an act of election fraud by providing free T-shirts — that were advertised on a Facebook fan page — to potential voters as a part of a campaign to garner support for his candidacy.
Schiffelbein admitted the T-shirts were to endorse his candidacy, but argued they were only given to those who asked for them and already supported his cause.
“In order to wear a T-shirt with a political preference tattooed on your chest, it is implicit that you are a very passionate supporter,” said Schiffelbein, a sophomore political science and philosophy major, in his testimony to the Election Judiciary Board.
In his second grievance, Andrews alleged that Schiffelbein committed an act of defamation after Schiffelbein’s brother, Will Schiffelbein, a sophomore political science major, replied unfavorably to a campaign e-mail sent to students through a class Listserv. Andrews said he used Blackboard to send e-mails out to candidates endorsing the “People’s Choice Ticket,” which encouraged students to vote for nine specific candidates for Student Senate positions. In response, Will replied with an e-mail sent on the Blackboard Listserv that denounced the ethical decision of candidates to campaign on class Listservs and criticized the current practices exercised by the Student Senate.
Benjamin said he had no knowledge of the e-mail’s content prior to the Election Judiciary Board hearing and stated that his brother’s actions do not reflect his own. Schiffelbein withdrew his grievance after the second ruling was announced.
-- Originally published in The Mirror on April 28, 2010
In his first grievance, Andrews, a junior secondary education major, alleged that Schiffelbein violated an election bylaw and committed an act of election fraud by providing free T-shirts — that were advertised on a Facebook fan page — to potential voters as a part of a campaign to garner support for his candidacy.
Schiffelbein admitted the T-shirts were to endorse his candidacy, but argued they were only given to those who asked for them and already supported his cause.
“In order to wear a T-shirt with a political preference tattooed on your chest, it is implicit that you are a very passionate supporter,” said Schiffelbein, a sophomore political science and philosophy major, in his testimony to the Election Judiciary Board.
In his second grievance, Andrews alleged that Schiffelbein committed an act of defamation after Schiffelbein’s brother, Will Schiffelbein, a sophomore political science major, replied unfavorably to a campaign e-mail sent to students through a class Listserv. Andrews said he used Blackboard to send e-mails out to candidates endorsing the “People’s Choice Ticket,” which encouraged students to vote for nine specific candidates for Student Senate positions. In response, Will replied with an e-mail sent on the Blackboard Listserv that denounced the ethical decision of candidates to campaign on class Listservs and criticized the current practices exercised by the Student Senate.
Benjamin said he had no knowledge of the e-mail’s content prior to the Election Judiciary Board hearing and stated that his brother’s actions do not reflect his own. Schiffelbein withdrew his grievance after the second ruling was announced.
-- Originally published in The Mirror on April 28, 2010
Student Senate hosts special election open forum
The Student Senate hosted its special election open forum on Wednesday to provide candidates a final opportunity to express reasons for running for a position.
“I know there’s a lot of mixed emotions out there about how we got to this process and how we got to this point (…) but I’m excited that students are excited,” said Student Activities Director Evan Welch, who has also assumed the role of election commissioner for the special election. “I think it’s good that — for better or for worse — it has sparked passion in students — whether they’re glad to run because they didn’t know about the last election or whether they’re mad as hell because they don’t think Student Senate knows what they’re doing. Students are fired up, and that is one thing that I have been trying to do through my position, but I didn’t necessarily think that this would have been the call to action for students.”
Welch said the amount of candidates running in the special election is a large improvement in comparison to previous years — the pool of candidates reached 26 students at its highest participation rate. Welch said this year’s special election marked the highest candidate pool in the last four student government elections.
“Students are not knowing one of the most important things on this campus, and that’s elections,” said Dan Beal, a junior communication major, who is a non-traditional student and a presidential candidate in the special election. “This tells me that there’s a communication breakdown somewhere. We have to analyze what’s going on and get the word out to students.”
The revision and standardization of the plus-minus grading system and the increase of communication between Student Senate and the campus community were the main topics addressed by candidates during the open forum.
“I’ve talked to several hundred students over the past couple of months concerning this, and the general consensus is that nobody likes the A-minus,” said Josh Divine, a sophomore mathematics major, who is running for the director of Academic Affairs. “If I’m elected, that’s one of the first things that I’m going to try to get rid of. Director Bradford has been trying to do that so far, and it hasn’t worked.”
Benjamin Schiffelbein, a sophomore political science and philosophy major, who is currently running against Divine for the director of Academic Affairs, said he disagreed.
“I actually enjoy the plus-minus grading system because I think it allows professors to be more exact with their grades,” Schiffelbein said. “If the problem is that I got a 90 percent as opposed to a 93 percent and I get a little less of a score on my GPA, then I think the burden falls on me to maybe spend an extra five minutes studying and 10 minutes doing my paper.”
-- Originally published in The Mirror on April 23, 2010
“I know there’s a lot of mixed emotions out there about how we got to this process and how we got to this point (…) but I’m excited that students are excited,” said Student Activities Director Evan Welch, who has also assumed the role of election commissioner for the special election. “I think it’s good that — for better or for worse — it has sparked passion in students — whether they’re glad to run because they didn’t know about the last election or whether they’re mad as hell because they don’t think Student Senate knows what they’re doing. Students are fired up, and that is one thing that I have been trying to do through my position, but I didn’t necessarily think that this would have been the call to action for students.”
Welch said the amount of candidates running in the special election is a large improvement in comparison to previous years — the pool of candidates reached 26 students at its highest participation rate. Welch said this year’s special election marked the highest candidate pool in the last four student government elections.
“Students are not knowing one of the most important things on this campus, and that’s elections,” said Dan Beal, a junior communication major, who is a non-traditional student and a presidential candidate in the special election. “This tells me that there’s a communication breakdown somewhere. We have to analyze what’s going on and get the word out to students.”
The revision and standardization of the plus-minus grading system and the increase of communication between Student Senate and the campus community were the main topics addressed by candidates during the open forum.
“I’ve talked to several hundred students over the past couple of months concerning this, and the general consensus is that nobody likes the A-minus,” said Josh Divine, a sophomore mathematics major, who is running for the director of Academic Affairs. “If I’m elected, that’s one of the first things that I’m going to try to get rid of. Director Bradford has been trying to do that so far, and it hasn’t worked.”
Benjamin Schiffelbein, a sophomore political science and philosophy major, who is currently running against Divine for the director of Academic Affairs, said he disagreed.
“I actually enjoy the plus-minus grading system because I think it allows professors to be more exact with their grades,” Schiffelbein said. “If the problem is that I got a 90 percent as opposed to a 93 percent and I get a little less of a score on my GPA, then I think the burden falls on me to maybe spend an extra five minutes studying and 10 minutes doing my paper.”
-- Originally published in The Mirror on April 23, 2010
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