Editor in Chief Andrea Alemany
Letter froIn the Editor
Managing Editor Kirsten Acuna
Art Director Jinyan Xu
Assistant Art Director Genevieve Tabios
Senior Editors Noelia de la Cruz Sabrina Lochner
Writers Lilian Chan Jennifer Cheng Eunji Kim Kathleen Kim Allie Leogrande Carolyn McChesney Akshay Nanavati Mackenzie Reiss Melissa Savignano Jinyan Xu
Photographers Mackenzie Reiss Elizabeth Reyes Ann Sullivan Genevieve Tabios Jinyan Xu
Designer Talia Roth
Illustrator Bernard Lee
Web Editor Danielle Alvarez
Dear readers, When I suggested to my editorial staff at the beginning of the semester to focus this issue on people's dreams, I wanted to find out reader's answers to one question: What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail? The staff responded with enthusiasm. They instantly started talking about their fantasies of becoming lawyers or of traveling the world to discover the next "Harry Potter"-like book. The stories in this issue are filled with students who aren't afraid to make their dreams a reality. They do what they believe in and don't let anyone stand in their way. Inside you will find drag kings and queens who know a strong attitude is all you need to be comfortable in your own skin (p.7). You'll meet one student who took time off from school to get lost in the Amazon River (p. 14) and another who gives a vertical spin to exploring different cultures (p.12). These stories began making an impact even before we went out to print. Jinyan Xu, our art director, loves to explore the world. After discussing this issue, she booked herself a solo trip to Mexico City. She came back with friends from over nine different countries - all of whom are as eager to see the world as she. They already made plans to go to Australia over the summer. I, on the other hand, began looking for ways that would eventually guide me into my crazy lifelong fantasy of teaching English in a foreign country. So whatever your dreams might be, I hope you get inspired with this issue and go after them. Ask yourself what you would do if you could do anything and then figure out ways to make those dreams a reality. You might not always get exactly what you want, but as the people in these stories show, you'll at least learn something about yourself along the way. Happy dreaming!
Fact Checkers Lilian Chan Hayley Kang Allie Leogrande Melissa Goldberg Megan Griffo Melissa Savignano Ali Werner
Copy Editors Heather Drost Melissa Goldberg Rita Kokshanian Valentina Palladino Melissa Savignano Scott Simone
Un abrazo,
Andrea Alemany Editor in Chief medley magazine
Advisor Elane Granger, Ph.D. Associate Director for Stu足 dent Services, Lillian and Emanuel Slutzker Center for International Services
medley is dedicated to providing a forum for students to explore international and cultural differences and its manifestations on campus, in the city of Syracuse and abroad medley magazine is published once a semester with funding from your student fee All contents of the publication are copyright 2010 by their respective creators.
Table of Content
04
medley magazine spring 2010 17
SU's Brazilian ensemble continues to grow
Rhythms of Rio 05
Galleries that exhibit diversity
Art Attack 06
The restoration of one historic home in Fayetteville
EnGAGEd to History 07
(Photospread]
Playing with Gender 10
The rise of the beta male
Role Reversal 12
The world is calling. Explore it your way
Take it to the Limit 14
Student proves that not all who wander are lost
Lost and Found 15
One elementary school in Arizona bleeds orange
No Excuse Education 16
The right to Facebook
Tag This, Tweet That 17
SU students help soothe disaster woes
Helping Hands 18
After two years, Spanish newscast expands
This just in ... en Espanol 19
ITibits}
What would you do?
visit us online at medleymag.wordpress.com
Cover by Mackenzie Reiss Model: Chikere Cottoy
Rhyt ms
f
Two SU professors bring Brazilian beats to campus
By Jennifer Cheng Photos by Elizabeth Reyes
W
m me blow ofJosh Dekaney's samba whistle, me Brazilian ensemble awakens and Crouse College of Fine Am fills wim sounds from me srreers of Rio de Janeiro. Performers ger up and drum because me only way [0 learn Brazilian srreer percussion is by lisrening and moving ro (he bear. TIle Samba Laranja srarred in 2001 wirh only five members, bur in nine years rhe group has grown ro 50 people. The ensemble receives coundess invirarions ro play ar high schools and in rhe Syracuse community. Josh and Elisa Dekaney, married Syracuse University professors, lead tlle group. 'Tm nor purring anyone in me from of rhe room who looks rired," Josh says ar rehearsal. When he blows rhe whisde, rhe musicians come alive. The rambourine group sashays, fwO musicians in rhe from jump up and down and mose on me a-go-go, a hand-held xylophone wim fwO keys, move side ro side. Even mose manning me surdos, me large drums mar serve as me foundarion for me rhythm, swing meir arms up. "( jusr look forward [0 rehearsal," says Baprisre Arnaud, an exchange srudem and clarinerist from France. "Ir is pure happiness." The ensemble anrac[s diverse srudems who share a love for music. The group includes drummers from [he marching band, all cypes of music majors and mose who can'r read music. Anyone can join [he ensemble, because, like in Brazil, everyone learns me rhythms and skills from reperirion and wimour sheer music, says Elisa, a Rio narive. Elisa loves mar me Brazilian ensemble is codependem. One cannor have rhe drums wimour me a-go-go, or rhe rambourines wimour me singing. And since Brazilian drumming is meanr for [he meers, Josh rakes one end of me band and gers rhe crew ro sra.nd up and move by circling a.round, all while darlCing and jumping. "I can'r play and nor dance ar rhe same rime," says Diane Johns, a receJl[ graduare from tlle SU music composirion graduare program. Johns enjoys rhe drumming so much rhar she even followed online
4
insrrucrions [0 creare her own surdo. She has also incorporared rhe energeric narure of rhe Brazilian drumming iJl[O her own composirions. "No marrer how bad of a day you've had, you can always leave wim a smile on your face," Johns says. Erica Scarano, a junior music educarion major, says she loves rhe ensemble because ir's differem man orner music. "You're encouraged [0 be your own individual, nor like wim classical music," she says. During one rehearsal, Elisa asks rhe class [0 make noises one would hear in me Amazon rainforesr. While me class hums me gentle murmur of narure's sounds, a few mal<e ridiculous, albeir, real-sounding bird cries. The class is joyous. "We're going [0 need a bir of work on our foresr," Elisa jokes, which only draws more laughrer. In addi[ion ro leading rhe group in mal<..ing rainforesr sounds, Elisa rells me class singing Brazilian songs shouldn'r sound like opera. Rarher, Brazilian singing should be in a narural, comfonable rone. "Music is nor whar's on paper, ir's whar we decide ir w be," she says. ..
rt Attack
International artists display their work off the hill
By Kathleen Kim
Photos by Genevieve Tabios Elizabeth Reyes
Downtown Syracuse houses a vibrant art scene. Museums and galleries engage the community, but three art spaces stand out for celebrating diversity. Syracuse University students can visit them by using the Connective Corridor bus.
XL Projects 307-313 S. Clinton Street he contemporary an gallery, XL Projects, opened in February 2009 as an exhibition space for the College ofYisual and Performing Arts ro showcase the works of anists affiliated with SUo This includes students, faculty, alumni and visiting anists. TIle gallery's gray concrete Roors and various exposed brick walls give the space a distinctive industrial feel. Irs high ceilings and long rooms provide a vast, open space for large-scaJe works of an. An abundance of white wall space allows for display of drawings, paintings and works that descend from me ceiling, such as woven quilts. XL Projects focuses on current work; aJ I are less than a year old. Past exhibitions include "Fresh," which showcased a variety of works consisting of digital and video an, sculprure and animation by first-year SU School of Art and Design srudenrs; "Graduate Painting," a collection of large installations by graduate painting srudenrs; and "Elongating the Thread," which featured works by fiber and textile alumni anists.
T
The Point of Contact Gallery 914 East Genesee Street
E
stablished in 2005, The Point of Contan Gallery stems from a bilingual book series of the same name compiled by SU Spanish professor Pedro Cuperman in 1975. Published in English and Spanish, "Point of Conracr" gave emerging and established Latin American and international writers and anists an outlet for creative literature and an. In 2004, Light Work, SU's an organization, displayed a collection of these original works which triggered interest in providing a permanent space for them. As a result, The Point of Contan Gallery opened in 2005. The small yet intimate gallery is dedicated to verbal and visual contemporary ans. Ir maintains a strong focus on Latin American ans and literature, but also collaborates with orher inrernational anists. The letters and poetry of AJejandra Pizarnik inspired the most recent exhibir. Past anists include South Korean video anist Nam June Paik and Argentinean painrer and drawer Pedro Roth. "We always try to highlight that it is not an ethnic project even though a lot of the anists are Latin American and international," says Tere Paniagua, managing direcror at Poinr of Contan. "As Pedro Cuperman likes to say: 'We don't just bring good Latin American an; we bring good arr.'"
Community Folk Art Center (CFAC) 805 E. Genesee Street
Su
faculty and srudems established the Community Folk Art Cemer (CFAC) in 1972. As a componem of me African American Studies Depanmem, the cemer exhibits works by anists of African descem and of different ethnicities. 'The cemer showcases five ro eight exhibitions a year. One exhibit was "Gullah Lifestyles," a compilation of arrwork focused on the Gullah people of the Somh Carolina and Georgia Sea Islands. Anorher was ''Vietnam: Journey of the Heart," a set of phorographs documeming the cuJrure and people
ofYietman by phorographer Geoffrey Clifford. The most recent exhibition, "Tesoros del Pueblo: EI Arte Folkl6rico de Mexico," features Mexican folk an from the eclenic, extensive collection of Dr. Alejandro Garcia, direcror of the School of Social Work at SUO In addition ro its exhibitions, CFAC inreracts with the surrounding communi!y throughout the year by providing film screenings, gallery talks and visual arts workshops taught by anists and professionals. Some workShops have included ceramics and. dance lessons for children and adulrs.
EnG GEd to History
su
Professor rebuilds a forgotten home By Eunji Kim Photo by Ann Sullivan
S
ally Roesch Wagner and Matilda Joslyn Gage lived 150 years separate fi路om one anomer. Bur a hOU5e in Fayerreville, N.Y., outside SyraOJSe, links me rwo women. Wagner first heard the name Gage in the summer of 1973. A friend, who was doing research about the women's suffrage movement, menrioned Jewell Gage to her. Jewell, Matilda Gage's granddaughter, like Wagner, lived in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and was friends with Wagner's mother. Matilda became an imporralH figure in the women's rights movemenr during the late 1800s. Wagner, a women's and gender studies professor at
The house was built along the "Votes for Women" and the New York State's Women's Heritage Trail. It was too historically important to ignore. Syracuse University, is a nationally recognized lecturer, author and inrerpreter of women's rights history. She received a doctorate in women's studies at UC Sama Cruz. In 1997, Wagner visited Matilda Gage's old home. The house had unstable, crack-filled walls and desperately needed repair. Although restoring the privately owned house would cost more than $1 million, Wagner decided it was toO historically important to ignore. The hOU5e was built along me "Votes for Women" and me New York State's Women's Heritage Ttail. Runaway slaves used me Gage home as a safe poim on the Underground Railroad. It was also home to L. Frank Baum, the author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," who lived there with his wife Maud Gage - one of Matilda Gage's granddaughters. The two exchanged vows in the house's from parlor. 6
Fundraisers and donations made the restoration financially possible. Feminist Gloria Steinem held a fundraiser in her house, where she charged between $500-2000 for a cup of tea. All the proceeds went to the Gage Foundation. With the help of these effortS, Wagner raised nearly $300,000 in nine months. With time, she raised the necessary $1 million and workers starred repairing the house in Septembet 2009. The home opened to the publiC as a museum in April 20 I O. The grand opening; however, will be in October 20 I o. In the house, visitors can view the historic rooms to learn about the women's suffrage movemenr, religious freedom, the Underground Railroad and local history of the Haudenosaunee indigenous tribe ("People of the Longhouse" who resided in Onondaga Counry in the 16th century). Guests can also stop by the home's gift shop, located in the Matilda Joslyn Gage Research Library. Restoring me house was often challenging for Wagner. In times of hopelessness, Wagner found herself visiting Gage's grave in Fayetteville Cemetery and saying, "I don't know if] can do mis." Bur mer each visit, she felt strong again, she says. Wagner often imagined Gage's spirit saying, "Help me, Ids do this together." "I think Gage will be happy by the changes we've made so far," Wagner says. Wagner now focuses on raising money for furure exhibits and programs. She encourages students to cominue Gage's legacy by interning and volunteering at me museum. For more information, visit me foundation's Web site at matilda;oslyngage.org. ..
Role
versal
Stay at home dads find joy In childrearing By Carolyn McChesney Illustration By Bernard Lee
S
rephanie Bennerr, a junior biology major, wallfS ro become a docror. Afrer graduarion, she plans on enrering a M.D./Ph.D. program. Bennerr's boyfriend of rwo years, Chris Card, has a less focused life plan. He dropped our of college and lives back in Bennerr's home srare of Colorado where he worked as a waiter for four years. Now Card is considering going back ro school ro major in English. Based on their career choices, Bennerr knows she will be rhe breadwinner in rhe
"I think the shift is also taking place where people are understanding dads want to be more involved in the family." family. She expects her boyfriend ro take on household responsibilities and possibly become a stay-ar-home dad. The days of the alpha male may be over. According ro a January 20 I0 study by rhe Pew Research Center, rhe workplace is experiencing "rhe rise of rhe wives." As more women enrer rhe workforce, more men are staying home. Some of these working women are ruming ro the "bera male," a more sensirive and nurruring breed willing ro rake on more household work. Bennerr firsr broughr up rheir furure roles when rheir relarionship began gerring serious. "He hasn't gone ro college and I wanr ro be a docror," says BennetL ''I'm going ro make more money rhan him, and I've [become] comforrable wirh being rhe breadwinner. I had ro make sure he was okay wirh rhe siruarion as well." Bennerr says rhar in rhe furure Card could stay ar home and wrire while she is ar rhe hospiral. 10
"He'll be a great dad eirher way," she says. Women are now more financially independenr than they were 30 years ago. Berween 1970 and 2007, women's earnings increased 44 percell[, whereas men's earnings only increased six percem, according ro rhe Pew Research Cemer. The difference is largely due ro an increase in higher education - more women rhan men are currenrly artending and graduating college - and a greater acceptance of women in what were once considered "male roles." Sevenry-five percenr of Americans do nor believe women should return ro rheir uadirional domestic housekeeping roles. Most oelieve ooth husband and wife should conrribure ro rhe family income, according w Kim Parker, a senior researcher ar rhe Pew Research cenrer. Lance Somerfeld, a sray-ar-home dad in New York Ciry rhinks dads should be more involved in rheir children's lives. "L thi'nk the shift is also raking place where people are understarrd'ing dads wall[ ro oe more involved in rhe family," Someyfeld says. "Dads arc changing diapers. Dads are taking a vesred interesr and showing up ar rhe pediatrician's office." After becoming burnt our wirh corporare America, SomerfeJd says rhe decision for him to stay ar home while his wife worked was narural. Somerfeld, who became a sixrh-grade reacher afrer leaving his job, says he always enjoyed being around kids. His enrhusiasm, plus rhe supporr of his wife, allowed him to evenrually become a stay-at-home dad. Somerfeld's decision comforred his wife. She had peace足 of-mind knowing rheir son would be in rhe care of his
farher should he ger injured or faJl ill, Somerfeld says. Somerfeld says rhe experience of sraying ar home wirh his son has been rewarding. "The quaJiry rime wirh my son is by far the besr," he says. "I ger the benefir of warching my child progress daily." Somerfeld admirs rhe days could be lonely, and there were rimes he missed interacring in rhe workplace. "My son is ar rhe poinr now where he rakes one long nap a day. Life can be prerry lonely," Somerfeld says. "] rruly miss rhe camaraderie and adulr conversarions wirh my employees." Somerfeld joined organizarions like Mommy & Me, which offers child development and enrichment classes as well as playgroup opporruniries, bur found he preferred bonding with other dads. "~I would ofren be the only guy among 12 orher moms and nannies," Somerfeld says. He decided ro create NYCDads.com as a resource for sray-at-home dads. The group has grown ro include abour 160 members. Some sray ar home full time while others work parr-time or from home. Ten ro 15 dads show up for different planned events each week and others come ro rhe monthly dad's nighr our. "One dad walking on the srreer doesn'r ger much of a look Or response," Somerfeld says. "When ir's anorher dad and' going somewhere somerimes rhere are comments like, 'Oh, it's dads' day out' or 'Hey, ir's Daddy Daycare.' Bur once you hit rhree dads going anywhere, there's always a lot of looks and responses, most of which are very positive." W
o 4 % of working wives earned
working wives earn more
25% than thei r husbands
more than their husbands
of women in labor force
36 %have college degrees 11 % of women aged 25 to 64 in labor force had college degrees
57% of students in college are women
41% of stud~nts (under 25) in college were women
59.5% of women in the labor force
43.3% of WOmen in the labor force
51 % of workers in high-paying managernen t, professional and related jobs are women (outnumbering men!)
medleymagazine 'Nordpre$5 cOm
SU student discovers the world one mountain at a time
By Akshay Nanavati
B
etween October 2007 and April 2008, I served in Haditha. Iraq with the u.s. Marine Corps as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was forced into a world where a thin line existed between friend and enemy. Although I struggled with a constant suspicion toward the: locals and tb inevitable fear of death, I still came home with a deep respect for the Iraqi people. Any stereotypes Americans have about Iraqis were squashed during my time there. When we entered their homes during rand m house searches. they 't ueat us with hostil· .embraced tl$ an ed us chai tea.1bay qdiib·teO e:xtraordinuy level ad kept t waitin at checkpoUltB and roadblodcs. walked intQ t1lcir towns with 5 flak jackets. kaVlars an d6:l Ml et, somehow they WCDt abO\lt thtir lives with an ting smile and a wekO gilttim ~ward us. lth the mon i n . rlecided to start .~~J!J'••" W not let life pass me by.
we
a
Jd
fun,
r
b 8, I found myself exploring the highest tain range in the world, the Himalayas. My goal was to climb Mera Peak (21,247 feed, the tallest trekking peak in Nepal. With some resemblance of a plan, I flew from the capital. Kathmandu, to the Tenzing-Hillary Airpon in Lukla. where I would begin my climb. I thought I was strong since I was an amateur mountaineer and Marine. But from the first day of the hike, my guide Dorje and the seven other Sherpa exhibited more strength than I could ever imagine. These men carried at lea.~t twice as much weight as I did in a wicker basket with a cloth strap wrapped around their forehead. They navigated their way through little rocks .and colossal boulders as they scurried up and down steep hills at a pace that made
a hard day of climbing. Instead, we talked. Eduardo and Andres taught me more about themselves and the BoJiyian culture than I would have ever learned over a beer in a bar. The Ol1ntail1s gave me a glimpse of myself. In Bolivia, I revived the love for uncertainty that disappeared in the last year of my life. Every morning, I stumbled out of the bright yellow tent not knowing what would lay ahead. The mountains never guaranteed e their summits. They did not promise that I would
With the possibility of death and faJlure, each day became an exhilarating adventure.
e co id ~o elg t months prior. is onslaught of ut it, I am sure it will be Indian des , Bolivians thought I ed a local than an American; however, my southern accent gave away my adopted nationality. In my: previous experiences abroad, people seemed to care more about my personality than my accent or the color of my skin, so I remained comfortable with the prospect of hostility. I lived in Bolivia for two weeks with Eduardo and Andres, an Alpine guide and a cook who spoke little to no English. Despite this, I came away with a great understanding of the Bolivian culture. In the evenings, we didn't have television and music to distract us when we sat down to eat dinner after
be to crawl back into the warmth of my sleeping bag that night. With the possibility of death and failure, each day became an exhilarating adventure. Much to my family's satisfaction, I came home alive, but in some ways I did fail. Although, I planned to climb nine mountains, I only reached the summits of ve. But my successes outweighed my failures. From both journeys I determined the real lessons in life are in the journey, not the destination. The Bolivian Andes reminded me of a lesson forgotten in a life of ease and comfort: only when I leap into the unknown, will I discover how to By. I went to these places because they forced me out of my comfort zone. For me, inner peace is impossible when living a monotonous life. I wanted to live, not just exist. Bolivia, Nepal and Iraq each presented unique challenges. By overcoming them, I learned my limits and how far I could push them. Next year, I wilJ spend one month crossing Greenland on skis. The journey continues. W
os
oun
One ESF student takes a semester's leave to explore South America By Andrea Alemaiiy Photo by Jinyan Xu
W
eilin Chen was 10SL He Jooked around from his kayak and didn'r recognize his surroundings. His friends and guides warned him abour rhe dangers of exploring rhe Amazon River by himself, bur he didn'r lisren. Now, he was re-evaluaring his decision. Four hours had passed. He was all alone. Wim no cell phone or radio on hand, he couldn'r ask anyone how ro ger back. When Chen, a sophomore environmenral srudies srudenr ar rhe Srare Universiry of New York College of Environmenral Science and Foresrry (SUNY-ESF), rold his guides in rhe morning rhar he wanred a few momenrs of solirude wirh narure, rhey rold him ro paddle upsrream. He promised ro do so, knowing if he gor rired, he could easily Roar down rhe river. Bur when Chen sar in his kayak, he began paddling downsrream insread.
"If you open up your heart to others, they know that you are sincere, and they open their hearts back."
WeilinChen
14
In a few hours ir was going ro ger dark and he was far from where he rold his guides he would be. He knew rhe guides would nor look for him afrer dark. He also knew rhe warers housed many alligarors and piranhas. This wasn'r rhe hrsr rime Chen followed his own rules. In Seprember 2008, he visired Peru for a seven-day yourh conference. Chen fell in love wirh rhe counrry and was eager ro learn more abour rhe resr of me conrinenr, so he decided ro sray longer. He lied ro his parenrs, relling rhem his visa expired, rook a leave of absence from school and srayed in Peru for rhe remainder of me year. Wirh rhe hel p of PacihC Universiry in Peru - and his parenr's waller - he found a place ro live for me nexr seven monrhs. Nor many 18-year-olds decide ro live abroad by memselves for an indehnire period of rime. Bur Chen felr mar life's grearesr experiences came from exploring me unknown. Chen rraveled rhe conrinenr and mer people of differenr culrures. He discovered rhar making friends wirh mangers made 30-hour bus rides
pass much quicker. Besides rraveling, Chen rook Spanish classes. He also volunreered ar a non-prohr in Peru, reaching English ar a local high school. Despire rhe language barrier, he ofren srarred conversarions wirh anyone rhar crossed his parh. Ir was one of rhese conversarions rhar inreresred him in Huancavelica, one of me pooresr rowns of Peru. "Everyone warned me againsr visiring Huancavelica because of irs high robbery and AIDS rares," Chen says. Bur after speaking wim someone who had grown up in rhis rown, he wanred ro see ir for himself. For ren hours, he rode on a cargo (fain nexr ro farmers from Huancavelica, along wim cl1eir pigs, chickens and llamas. By rhe rime he reached me rown, he checked in ro a $2-a-nighr horel mar one of cl1e farmers suggesred. Despire me warnings againsr his visir, Chen felr righr ar home. "Mosr people wanr ro learn abour orher culrures," Chen says. "If you open up your hean ro orhers, rhey know rhar you are sincere, and rhey open rheir heans back." He srill keeps in rouch wirh rhe people he mer and was even invired ro one of rheir weddings, which he arrended while srill on rhe conrinenr. AJrhough Chen made many friends during his rravels, norhing could change rhar he was now alone in rhe middle of rhe Amazon River. Chen rried w comfon himself by saying rhis was jusr anorher one of his advenrures. His journey ro Huancavelica, jusr a monrh earlier, rurned our hne. The Amazon River shouldn'r be any differenr, he rhoughL Back in his kayak, Chen suddenly sropped paddling, srood up in rhe kayak. and lisrened. Silence. He rhoughr he found peace. A few momenrs larel', he heard a dull rumble in rhe disrance and realized ir was rhe mowr of his guide's boar. They came ro rescue him. AJI rhe way back to camp, Chen's guides yelled ar him. Their jobs, nor to menrion his life, were ar srake. Chen apologized profusely bur felf no regrers. He learned a valuable lesson our in rhe Amazonia. "I knew I could have died, bur I wasn'r scared," says Chen. "You have ro be a Ijrde advenrurous if you wanr ro hnd yourself." W
Education
How Otto
By Jinyan
IS
inspiring kids to go to college
Xu
n a Tucson, Ariz. elementary school, students recognize the name Otro. The gym at Prince Elementary is covered with Syracuse University posters. Teachers there hope early exposure ro college will encourage the children ro continue with higher education. Last fall, Prince Elementary School joined the No Excuses University Network, a national network of70 schools. This program placed students in classrooms filled with inspiring college symbolism. Damen Lopez, former principal of an elementary school in San Diego, Cali., created the program with two goals in mind: every child has a right to be prepared for college, and adults are responsible for developing systems to make that dream a reality. Prince Elementary joined the network because of a simple question. During a school assembly in Ocrober 2008, Principal Tassi Call asked her srudents, "What is college?" "Students were nor sure what it [college] was," says Phil Tilicki, the instrucrional support assistant at Prince Elementary School. "Those who had heard of it didn't think it was for them." This was a concern ro teachers since the school is down the streer from rhe University of Arizona. The school rook action. In fall 2009, the teachers, students and parents signed a three-way pledge that defined their roles in the No Excuses University program. All rhree parties pledged rheir commitment ro focus on the education of the student. The teachers helped the Students set goals ro perform bener in school and helped them ro understand how ro achieve higher grades. Also, each teacher selecred a college ro represent in their classrooms. Larrisa Goldman, the physical education teacher, chose SU in hopes that rhe smiling picrures ofOno will inspire her Students. "I thought it would be nice for the kids ro learn about a school we normally wouldn'r talk about," Goldman says, referring ro the geographic distance between Tucson and Syracuse. Upon Goldman's request, SU's alumni association in Arizona sent her a bag of SU memorabilia, including a
banner, stickers, posters and pictures of Ono. Goldman hung the posters in the gym, where the kids could see them every day. In her gym class, the students talk about SU spons. "My studenrs also come ro me ourside of class ro ger a weekly update on what is going on wirh Syracuse University," Goldman says. "We were all very excited ro see the rise of the Syracuse basketball ream in the nation." In addition, Prince Elementary School gave the students an early graduation gift: T-shirts stamped with their anticipated college graduation dares.
â&#x20AC;˘Students were not sure what (college) was. Those who had heard of it didn't think it was for them." says Phil Tilicki, the instructional support assistant at Prince Elementary School. Prince Elementary School wanted to creare an environment where parents, studenrs and reachers could talk about college. "Some students do not have the chance ro talk about college at home," Tilicki says. "Now they are talking about college in classes, in the gym, in the hallways - everywhere." More studentS have a positive ani rude abour education and are working harder in their classes, Tilicki says. Students are beginning ro understand that a lack of money should not make them give up on college. They now know scholarships can help fund education. Prince Elementary School also srarred the No Excuses Parent University, which offers free monrhly night classes for parents. Parents learn abour nurrition, discipline issues and saving money for college. Each class covers a different ropic proposed by rhe parents. At the beginning of the school year, parenrs receive a set of questions they can ask their kids after school. Such rips help rhem become more engaged in their children's school and lives. "We named it No Excuses Parent University ro ease rhe parents ro participate in me class," Tilicki says. The program anracrs many parents, he says. Perhaps in 2018, Prince Elementary School students will be welcomed inro the freshman class at W
su.
medleymilgilzine.wordpress.com
ag This Tweet That l
How the rest of the world uses social media
By Melissa Savignano
A
ndrew Chernoff, a sophomore broadcasr journalism major, can't go an enrire class period wirhour posring picrures on Twirrer. Julie Rich, a junior hisrory major, checks Facebook every half hour while wriring a paper. The rise in populariry of social media nerworks, such as Facebook and Twi[[er, have allowed rhe public ro reconnecr wirh old friends and meer new ones on rhe Web. Some use rhe media as a form of procrasrinarion, orhers ro make polirical sraremenrs. The Neilsen Company reponed an 82 percenr increase in social nerworking usage in rhe pasr year. According ro Universal McCann's "Media in Mind" study, nearly half rhe popularion in rhe Unired Srares uses ar leasr one rype of social media sire and rwo-rhirds of adulrs ages 18-34 have eirher a Facebook or a MySpace profile. "Social media is where people look ro build and conrinue relarionships. It is a way ro connecr over common imeresrs and lifesryles," says Sruan Thorson, a professor of poliries in rhe eyber age and imernarional relarions in rhe Maxwell School ofCirizenship. "Ir's a way ro value your diversiry and creare a wider range of ir." Social media Web sires are as popular abroad as rhey are in rhe U.S. Facebook is rhe mosr popular social media sire in Europe. Brirain has rhe highesr percemage of users in Europe, wirh 47 percenr of irs popularion logged on. According ro CMSwire, Ausrralians spend close ro seven hours per monrh on social-nerworking sires. Globally, 16
Inrerner users average around 5.5 hours per monrh on rhese sires. Anyone can use social nerworking sires - if rhey live in rhe righr counrry. In some counrries, social media sires remain off limirs. The Chinese governmem repearedly blocks sires ro conrrol cirizen journalisrs' coverage of conrroversial evenrs. In summer 2009, Chinese aurhoriries shur down Inrerner services in rhe wesrern parr of Xinjiang afrer deadly erhnic riors. China's version of Facebook, QQ, has 300 million users, making ir rhe world's mosr popular sire, bur rhe governmenr monirors cirizens reponing on "sensirive" ropies. The sire's owner, Tencenr, sends IP addresses of perperrarors ro governmenr officials. While many American reenagers appreciare Twirrer and Facebook for rheir recrearional and nerworking value, cirizens of coumries wirh srricrer freedom of speech policies see rhem as powerful polirical rools. Twi[[er became rhe voice of many during rhe 2009 Iran elecrions. Since rhe governmenr censored newspapers and because cirizens lacked a popular forum ro freely express rhemselves, Iranian cirizens expressed disdain abour rhe elecrions on rheir personalized profiles. American news affiliares, such as CNN and The New York Times, used rhose rweers ro repon on proresrs of rhe elecrion. "[Tweering abour rhe Iranian elecrion] is a perfecr example of how social media is becoming a news source. Similarly wirh rhe plane crash in rhe Hudson (in Jan. 2009)," Thorson says. "There were picrures posred on sires before ir was even reponed. These sires are changi ng our concepr of whar's news - for be[[er or for worse." While social media is a valuable news source, users can suffer from informarion overload. People can posr mundane informarion, such as whar rhey are for breakfasr. Sophomore Marissa Levy says rhis informarion overload can ger overwhelming. "I like Facebook for rhe imeracrion wirh people you wenr ro school wirh, bur rhere is some inform arion I don'r need," Levy says. "Any informarion disrriburer can suffer from roo much informarion. Thar's why Facebook consrantly changes irs privacy serrings. Ir helps us ask ourselves - do we wam rhis ro be around ren years from now?" Thorson says. People can find imponam ridbirs by following rhe righr Twirrer profiles. CNN's Twiner accounr, for example, allows followers ro receive rexr messages insrantly on breaking world news. Wherher people use social nerworking sires ro share informarion abour rheir day or ro repon on rhe news, social media sires aren'r going anywhere. A1rhough some counrries srilllimir rhe informarion flow on social media sires, large usage in rhe U.S., Ausrralia and Europe helps propel rhe 21sr cenrury public forum . . .
Follow medley on Twitter @medleymagazine
Helpin Hands
SW students pitch in to help earthquake vitrtims
By Jennifer Cheng
On Jan. 12, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook Haiti. The storm left the capital, Port-au-Prince, and its surrounding areas in ruins. It killed thousands of people and rendered more than one million people homeless. Almost seven weeks later, on Feb. 27, an earthquake of 8.8 magnitude struck Chile. It was the seventh strongest earthquake in [recorded] history, according to MSNSC. As these two countries continue to cope and begin to rebuild, Syracuse University students lend a hand.
The Haitian American Students Association
T is just i ... en espa - 01
CitrusTV Noticias brings news to the local spanish-speaking community By Allie Leogrande
I Photo by Jinyan Xu
D
edication, hard work and respect. The members of Syracuse Universiry's Spanish-speaking program, "CirrusTV Noticias," share rhese values. Michelle San Miguel, a senior broadcasr journalism and inrernarional relations major, and executive producer of "CirrusTV Noricias," says all 26 members wanr (Q reach our ro the growing Latino communiry on and off campus. The idea for a Spanish-speaking news broadcasr
"There's something about reading off the teleprompter in Spanish. but there's something else about the knowledge of the Spanish language, culture and the Spanish community." srarred in 2006. Afrer ralking ro srudenrs, professors and community members, jason Tarr, a sophomore broadcast journalism major at rhe rime, realized thar rhe SU Larino communiry needed a media outler on campus. He wenr on ro creare "CirrusTV Noricias." "I wanred (Q unire people and bring a differenr group (() the TV station," says Tarr, who graduared in May 2009. In spring 2007, Tarr decided ro pur his idea inro acrion. He wrote a formal proposal ro SU's television srarion CirrusTV, bur ir was roo late in rhe year. The show had ro wait anorher semester. Tarr spenr rhar summer developing a plan rhar would convince orhers of his vision. When he rerurned ro campus in rhe fall, he e-mailed groups on campus and visired differenr universiry offices. Tarr made a formal presentation ro rhe execurive staff of the National Associarion of Hispanic journalists (NAHj) and Larino Undergrad uates Changing Hisrory in America (La L.U.C.H.A.). Tarr "CitrusTV Noticias" tapes on Sundays says borh grou ps responded well, and airs on Orange Television Network and gave him their support. throughout the week. You can also The founder of CNY Larino catch full episodes on their Web site, www.citrustv.net Newspaper, Hugo Acosra, expressed 18
inreresr as well. SU and rhe surrounding communiry needed "Noricias" because rhere was "no or her program like ir," Acosra says. Acosra helped Tarr wrire rhe proposal, and in fall 2007 ir was resubmirred ro CirrusTV. In December 2007, CirrusTV raped rhe pilor show "CirrusTV Noricias en Espano!." The following january, Cirrus reviewed rhe rape, and in February 2008, rhe show became a permanenr parr of CirrusTV programming. In doing so, "Noricias" became one of rhe only srudenr-run Spanish television news broadcasrs in rhe counrry. Bur "Noricias" isn't juSt about gaining broadcasring experience. "There's something abour reading off rhe releprompter in Spanish, bur rhere's something else abour the kJ10wledge of rhe Spanish language, culrure and the Spanish communiry," Tarr says. Now in its fifrh semesrer on campus, "CirrusTV Noricias" conrinues ro grow. Since April 1 I th, the show is Streaming live on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. San Miguel says she's noriced changes since she starred working on rhe first show twO and a half years ago as a producer and anchor. She says "Noticias" is now more of an established newscasr rhan before and members berrer undersrand how ro execure a successful show. "I rhink rhere's more commirmenr now because our newscast has been around longer. People are more familiar wirh our newscast. Theywanr ro be a parr of conrinuing ro make ir berrer every week," she says. Acosta is impressed with rhe program's focus and presenration. '''Noticias'' has done a good job in presenring what is going on in a differeru language," Acosta says. "CirrusTV Noticias" has reporred on srories about a Larina soccer player ar SU, Hispanic Herirage Monrh, and La Mesa de Espanol--a Maxwell School program with Spanish-speaking roundtable discussions focused on Latin American and Caribbean culrure. Srudenrs irueresred don't need ro be Latino. Syracuse junior Alicia Arterberry, an economics and relevision, radio, film major, says she was raking a Spanish class her sophomore year and wanred ro improve her abiliry ro speal< rhe language. Arrerberry wenr ro rhe firSt general inrerest meering wanring ro do somerhing wirh TV. She is now a direcror and ediror at "Noricias." "One and a half years ago, I never thought I'd be direCting a news show and now I'm doing it," Arrerberry says. All you need ar "CitrusTV Noricias" is commirmenr, and belief in whar the program stands for: bringing arrenrion (Q Latinos and bridging rhe gap between their culrure and the resr of rhe communiry. W
f
its Compiled by Lilian Chan I want to apply to America's Next Top Model, meet Tyra Banks, win and model in a huge fashion show for Ellie Saab or Calvin Klein.
Lcnab HassabaJlah, junior; BrondcflStjouma.lism, Egypt I would like to go cage diving with sharks. It seems like a thrill to be that close to such an incredible creature without it being able to harm you while you're in its underwater world.
Joshua KJein, Sophomore, Political Science, NewJersq
I want to go on a bonding trip with my father-he wanted to climb Kilimanjaro in Africa.
Bridgetre Brady, Sophomore, Childand Family Studies.. Long island
I want to be a doctor without borders before I die.
Tianyi Zhou. ophomore, Psychology & Pre-Met/, Middle East
What would do if there was nothing stopping you? SU students express their wildest dreams