Drop-out students learn to start over

By Linda Hou, Miami 2007
Originally published in The Central High Times.

The many students who returned to Central after dropping out came back with different reasons and motives.

For sophomore Laura Franklin, coming back was what she always wanted.

“I never really wanted to dropout. It was my only alternative,” Franklin said. Franklin dropped out of Hillcrest last year because she and her friend Kelsey felt threatened by another group of students.

“They were threatening and calling us names,” Franklin said, “The day we dropped out, some girl punched …[Kelsey], and the teacher didn’t do anything about it.”

Forget Hollywood and Bollywood — Here comes Novelawood!

By Arelis Hernández, Washington, D.C. 2004
Originally published as part of the New York Times 2007 Student Journalism Institute. Arelis Hernandez was recently named one of the UWIRE 100, a yearly compiled list of the country’s top college journalists.

Telenovela actress Jenny Arraiz, 28, by Marie de Jesús/New York Times Institute

As a little girl in Venezuela, Jenny Arraiz was never allowed to watch telenovelas. Her mother said there was too much kissing, but that didn’t stop Jenny from sneaking a peek as the blind Topacio — the title character in a 1984 hit — married a rich man and regained her sight.

Twin Cities Dragon Festival 2008

By Ian Yue, New York 2006
Originally aired on KFAI, July 14, 2008.

July 12-13, 2008, marked the 12th year of the Twin Cities Dragon Festival, the state’s largest festival celebrating Asian American culture. While the event featured various cultural performances, martial arts demonstrations, and lots of Asian cuisine, a major focus was on the Dragon Boat Races. KFAI’s Ian Yue was on the scene for the weekend event.

Standing up for stripping down

By Naresh Rammohan, New York 2006, and Marlei Martinez
Republished from RTN 205.2.

Taken by Marlei Martinez

The New York Giants versus Arizona Cardinals game blared on the television screen as John Tidd put out his cigarette in the ashtray next to his computer keyboard. Scattered piles of paperwork, plastic kids’ meal toys and hot pink high heels littered the area around his desk. An eye patch covered his right eye because he recently suffered an eye stroke. But even that did not prevent the burly businessman from finding his Marlboro pack in his breast pocket and lighting up another cigarette.

Best Feature Photo + Audit

Photos by Thomas Ngo, San Diego 2003

“Brian Doyle”
Portland Magazine editor Brian Doyle reacts to being the subject of a hypothetical beatification by Ken Woodward, contributing religion editor for Newsweek Magazine.

This photo won 1st place for Best Feature Photo in Division 2 at the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2008 Collegiate Newspaper Contest.

“Bob and Barbara Balen”
An elderly couple audit an intense 400-level medieval philosophy course on campus.

Minions? No way!

By Mary Jo Pham, New York 2006
Originally published in The Republican, Oct. 10, 2006. First place editorial prize for Newspaper Foundation of America.

The recent resignation of Republican U.S. Congressman Mark Foley over the disclosure of what have been called “overly-friendly” e-mails to young men who served in the Congressional House page program has been the focus of much media attention as well as much finger-pointing within the Republican party over how early certain members were informed of these e-mails.

What should have been done sooner and by whom are valid questions for investigation but these were barely points in a recent piece by New York Times columnist John Tierney printed in the Op Ed section of today’s Republican.

Tierney compares pages to “squires” or “serfs” of the medieval ages. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Alum Tales: Capitol Hill Press Conference

By Laura Chernikoff, Chicago 2008

My name is Laura Chernikoff and I am from Boulder, Colorado. I participated in J Camp in the summer of 2008 when it was held in Chicago, and had a thrilling, eye-opening, fast-paced, and wonderful experience. I have been on staff of my high school’s newspaper, the Royal Banner, since my freshman year and am currently Co-Editor-in-Chief. In this past February, I had the opportunity to take part in another exciting journalism experience, the Colorado High School Press Association Capitol Hill Press Conference.

This event was held in Denver’s Capitol Building, and was aimed at letting student journalists experience a real political press conference. Additionally, through a contest to write the best news story, which followed the event, we experienced writing under pressure and time-constraints. My Co-Editor-in-Chief Allison Langley and I joined a small group of students from all around Colorado in the old Supreme Court chambers of the gold-capped capitol building.

‘Rhapsody’: a short film about breaking the rules

Chicago 2008 J Camper Daniel Wang explains two videos he shot recently: “Rhapsody,” and a video he captured at the fair.

Click “Read More” below to watch them.

Daniel: “Rhapsody” was our director Sarah’s idea. It was shot for the Campus MovieFest competition, and as of now, we won best picture at the school level and we’re going to Atlanta to compete in regionals. I actually got involved because my friend gave me a call one day and asked me if I wanted to shoot the movie poster.

Hang on to election fever

By James Ding, Miami 2007
Originally published in the Daily Tar Heel, Nov. 2, 2008

The election of our lifetimes is a day away and its outcome is uncertain. Regardless of whom we support, we all know that agonizing loss and blissful triumph are equally probable tomorrow.

But are we really prepared to accept either? Or will we believe that the incentive for recent activism — to secure the election in our favor — will be gone once the ballots are cast?

Looking back, this election of unparalleled importance has been the raison d’être for much of student-led activism this year. Cobb Community’s “Tunnel of Political Oppression,” the Young Democrats’ “March to the Polls,” and the multitude of candidate appearances on campus — all this activity has stemmed from one historic, impending election.

Simply put, all of these events were the symptoms of this year’s election fever, a contagious zeal for discourse that has increased the vibrancy of political dialogue on campus.