Recent bills could allow firearms on college campuses
04 May 2011 Leave a Comment
There has been plenty of debate going on about whether firearms should be allowed onto college campuses. With gun shootings happening in public areas, schools being a main target, would being able to have a gun help protect the students and staff or potentially do more bad than good?
Senate Bill 1467
One of the bills, Senate Bill 1467, was passed by the legislature but according to Governor Jan Brewer vetoed it on Monday, April 18. When the bill was first written it would have allowed firearms into classrooms, but was later changed to only in public right of ways, according to the Arizona Republic.
The Arizona Republic quoted Jan Brewer saying one of the reasons she vetoed the bill was because it was “poorly written,” and didn’t define public right of way, saying it also could have included K-12 schools.
“Bills impacting our Second Amendment rights have to be crystal clear so that gun owners don’t become lawbreakers by accident,” said Brewer.
Governor Jan Brewer shocked many people when she didn’t sign bill 1467. According to azcentral she typically is known for being lenient on gun control. Brewer has allowed guns in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, and carry concealed weapons without a permit.
Keeping students and faculty safe
According to The Huffington Post, gun control on college campus has been a major issue for the pass four years, ever since the Virginia Tech shooting.
Rebekah Aronson, student at Paradise Valley Community College thinks students should be able to carry guns with them on campus as a safety precaution.
“If something like Virginia Tech ever happened on campus, I would want to be able to protect myself instead of running for cover,” said Aronson.
Another PVCC student, Lindsay Mayper doesn’t think that guns should be allowed on campus unless carried by campus police.
“I wouldn’t feel safe with someone my age carrying a gun out in the open… Who knows what someone would do if they became angry enough,” said Mayper.
Though bill 1467 has been vetoed, that is not going to stop other bills that will lessen restriction for weapons. According to Josselyn Berry, journalist for Downtown Devil, there is currently House Bill 2001, which would allow faculty members to carry a concealed weapon onto a university or college campus; HB 2014, which would prohibit a university or community college from banning the possession of concealed weapons by those with proper permits; and HB 2479, which proposes the same legislation.
“Whether it is legal to bring a gun on campus or not, a law does not prevent someone with ill intent from doing so,” said Kyle James, senior at Arizona State University.
University presidents
Currently universities and community colleges are able to decide whether or not they allow guns onto campus, which none of them do. According to ABC news writer, Nathan O’Neal, Arizona’s main universities presidents from Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University don’t support guns being allowed on campus. Saying they will obey it if the bill ever gets passed, but wont be happy about it.
In the same article from O’Neal, the president of Northern Arizona, John Haeger, was quoted saying “Part of the reason is that I think that it will create a climate on campus that is not what you want on an institution…”
According to The Inquirer, Utah is the only state that allows guns on college campuses. The bill was passed in 2006 and so far has had no affect on campus gun violence. Which brings gun-rights advocates saying that shows fears of mayhem are overly exaggerated.
Gun-rights advocates
Gun-right advocates, according to Fox news back the bill because it would help people defend themselves and prevent them from getting in trouble for having a gun in their vehicle. While other people think guns would put people in more danger, and would make it harder for officers responding to a shooting to identify the shooter.
The Huffington Post did a survey in February 2011 with a public opinion poll, and found that 69 percent of Arizonans oppose guns on campus proposals. Other states including Colorado, Florida, Idaho, New Mexico, West Virginia and Virginia have tried passing a bill to allow guns on campus, but have also failed.
Citizens on gun laws
After the tragic shooting in Tucson this year, Arizona citizens have had gun violence on their minds more than usual. According to a poll CBS News took 47 percent of Americans believe gun control laws should be more strict, 36 percent believe laws should stay the same and 12 percent thought the laws should be made less strict.
Getting guns to be accepted onto college campuses will be a constant battle regardless of the outcome. It will never be able to please everybody. The best everyone can hope for is that gun violence will become less common so less people will be afraid of guns.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20028184-503544.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/18/arizona-guns-on-campus-jan-brewer_n_850808.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/university-presidents-speak-arizona-gun-bills/story?id=12751437
Timeline of school shootings
October 2010- North Carolina, student fatally shot another student in the victims dorm room.
September 2010- Texas, 19-year-old student was fatally shot.
March 2010- Ohio, Maintenance employee shot and killed his manager at school for being fired.
February 2010- Alabama, professor opened fire killing three colleagues and wounding three others
September 2009- Georgia, student opened fire on campus killing a 19-year-old student.
How spring break got started
09 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
When students think of spring break it doesn’t matter whether or not they are going on vacation. It only means one thing, freedom for a week.
Spring break is a time of year where college students put the stress of the semester to the side and put their focus on having fun. Usually, this involves heavy drinking, promiscuity and the sun.
The start to spring break
Spring break was started by the Ancient Greeks, the arrival of spring, which was known as the season of fertility, and awakening was celebrated with the Greek and Roman god of wine, Dionysus and Bacchus. Spring break wasn’t always as crazy as it is today, but that doesn’t mean the Greeks didn’t know how to party. The Greeks had rituals involving drinking and dancing until they were at an altered state of consciousness. Some people still believe today that the Gods of wine still live through today’s youth during spring break.
Paradise Valley Community College student, Lacey Banger, is going on a cruise to the Caribbean this year for her spring break.
“Two of my best friends are graduating from college this year so we figured it was either go big or go home… we’re not going to have too many chances in the future to do things like this,” said Banger.
Spring break in Florida
A more recent start to spring break came in 1936 when the swim coach of Colgate University in Hamilton, New York took his swim team to the first Olympic-size pool, the Casino Poll in For Lauderdale, Florida. They also went the following year when Fort Lauderdale noticed they could make money off of college students and held the first College Coaches’ Swim Forum. Making Florida one of the first destination spots for spring break.
Paradise Valley Community College student Rachel Squires is heading out to Florida for her spring break this year.
“I’ve never been to Florida so I plan on spending most of my days drinking on the beach and then the last two days I’ll be at The Magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” says Squires.
Traveling to Mexico
After Florida became a hot spot for college students’ things got a little out of control. Forcing the mayor of the time to make stricter rules for them to follow. Making students want to find other places to go, which led them out of the country and down to Mexico.
Mexico isn’t as safe anymore these days, but that hasn’t stopped students from wanting to travel there. Colleges are advising students to avoid Mexico even the more Americanized places such as Rocky Point, Cancun and Cabo San Lucas. There have been too many Americans getting in the crossfire’s of the Mexican drug war.
“I wouldn’t risk traveling to Mexico this spring break,” says one Paradise Valley Community College student, “I would much rather go to California to their beaches.”
Whether students are staying home or traveling one thing is for sure. Everyone will enjoy not being in class.
Sidebar: History of spring break.
-Advent of Christianity put a stop to early rituals from the Greeks.
-Spring break normally occurs between the first weekend in March and Easter Sunday in April.
-Earliest spring break dates back to 1936.
-Time magazine first reported the college kids partying in 1959.
-Alcohol and drugs started playing a larger role in spring break in the 1970’s.
-Lake Havasu is a popular destination in Arizona.
Source: Coolestspringbreak.com
http://www.coolestspringbreak.com/spring-break-history.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/03/earlyshow/main20038821.shtml
http://www.studentuniverse.com/t/spring-break/top-10-party-spring-break-2011-destinations/6740/
International Student Volunteers
03 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
There is a great organization for students who are interested in traveling abroad. International Student Volunteers (ISV) takes students to eight different countries. Thailand, Eastern Europe, Costa Rica, South Africa, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Australia and New Zealand.
Students are expected to volunteer for two weeks and the last two weeks are dedicated to an adventure tour throughout the country. The volunteer work varies from country to country and the adventure part involves whats popular in those specific countries. Students are aloud to volunteer without the tour part, but to have the ‘adventure tour’ one must volunteer first.
I went to Thailand for a month and it was one of the most eye opening experiences of my life. I volunteered at an elephant nature park for the first week, and the second week I helped a Thai village rebuild their community. I even built a bridge.
There are different volunteer options for groups per country. Some involve helping animals, children or just rebuilding a town. It just depends what you’re interested in and ISV tries to accommodate you the best they can. If you want to travel with a friend they will make sure you and your friend end up at the same place.
ISV takes all the planning out of traveling, and all you have to do is show up. I strongly encourage this to anyone who wants to travel. It will be one of the most amazing experiences of your life. The only thing you need to do is visit their website.
http://isvonline.org/
When fear turns into something good
22 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
I’m not one for doing public speeches, and I don’t enjoy getting graded on how well I perform. When I found out taking a form of communications was mandatory I was not very happy.
Luckily, I coaxed two of my friends who also needed the class to take it with me. Figuring if I had support in the class it wouldn’t be as bad. Without doing any research we chose communications 101 with Mr. Frank Switzer.
I was nervous going in on the first day because I was still semi-new with college and I didn’t know what to expect. The class started late in the semester so it lasted for two and a half hours long, one of the longest I’ve had since starting school.
I sat down at a table for four with my two friends and waited for class to begin. Switzer came in full of energy, and started discussing what we would be doing that semester. Turns out it wasn’t going to be too bad. There were only two speeches that were mandatory.
Switzer was and still is my favorite teacher I have had since coming to school. He was always entertaining, with fun stories to tell, funny stand up performances to show us and he really knew how to make a conversation out of anything. He cared about getting to know his students. He even would ask for me to be his server when he would come into my work.
Not only did I enjoy going to Switzers class everyday I also met one of my best friends in that class, Megan Vales. For one of our speeches we had to explain something, it could be anything and Megan did hers on Barbie, and came dressed up for the part. I thought it was hilarious, and started talking to her. We soon found out that we both love the Phoenix Suns and went to watch the game together after class with my two other friends that took the class with me. Megan and I have been close to inseparable ever since.
“Mr. Switzer was also one of my favorite teachers. He’s hilarious and a great debater,” said Vales.
I still look almost every semester at communications just to see if Switzer may teach a different class. I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to take another class with him.
http://www1.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=1315416
online media
02 Feb 2011 1 Comment
Cnn.com has a number of different thing it focuses on. It tells a lot of news about politics, and keeps readers up to date on anything important going on. It also posts videos with the stories if they are available. It is generally easy to read, and has a variety of stories.
This website has a large audience. I think almost any age group that can read could find something valuable and entertaining on here, but is more intended toward adults. Since you can change the language setting it can be for anyone who can read English or Spanish.
My favorite part about cnn.com is the entertainment section. This section shows all the happenings with the celebrities. With award season happening right now there is always coverage on who is nominate, who already won and interviews with celebrities.
Cnn.com has stories for people who are interested in traveling, health, new technology, politics, justice, living, money, sports, world news and important things happening in the U.S.
http://us.cnn.com/
Raw Food Diet
01 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
The raw food diet is exactly what it sounds. It only lets you consume raw food. This diet is said to make people healthier and live longer. It can be extremely hard to follow, and you must be extremely dedicated to make it work, but the hard work pays off.
Heating food above 116 degrees F is believed to destroy enzymes in food that can assist in the digestion and absorption of food. Cooking is also thought to diminish the nutritional value of the food. Some health benefits from eating this diet are increased energy, healthier skin, better digestion, weight loss and reduces this risk of heart disease.
There is a Mesa resident named Bernando LaPallo who turned 109 years old on August 17th, 2010. He doesn’t look a man of his age and can still drive, walk and do many things on his own. He claims eating only raw food helps one age gracefully and keeps you healthy.
It may be necessary to take certain vitamins if you only eat raw food because you are missing certain things from your previous diet such as calcium, iron, protein and calorie intake.
This diet also helps a person become more “green” in bettering the planet because it is all natural food, and involves little packaging and cooking.
