Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, February 14, 2013.
Dr. Wendy Faughn has been playing the piano for over 35 years. For the past six years, she has organized the annual Foothills Piano Festival, a series of concerts, presentations, and Master Classes involving the piano.
Originally, events for the festival were held at a variety of locations in the area: the Anniston High School auditorium, the Anniston Museum of Natural History and JSU's Mason Hall.
"It started out as a three-day event, with concerts, master classes, and workshops for youth," says Faughn. "It's turned into more of a series, all held here at JSU; a series of three concerts and master classes throughout the year. I've learned that the community likes to have things spaced out instead of coming out each night for three nights in a row."
Although all of the concerts are focused on the piano, each one has had its own unique flavor. The concert tomorrow night, Feb. 15, will feature two performers playing the same piano.
Past concerts have showcased jazz pianists, classical pianists, and chamber music featuring piano, violin and cello. But there has also been plenty of non-traditional fare.
"There have been works that are very avant-garde and cutting edge, written in the past five years, which involve using different types of electronics," said Faughn. Nintendo's Wii gaming console has even been used in some performances.
One of the pianists performing Friday night is an Associate Dean at Florida State University, one of the biggest and best music schools in the southeast. He will be speaking with Music majors at JSU on Friday about careers in music and how to approve for music graduate schools.
At the end of this month, Jeremy Samolesky will give a recital and teach a master class.
Faughn explains that a master class is like a public music lesson.
"It's where three or four pianists are chosen to play, they get their pieces up to performance level, and then they play them in front of this artist. Then he gives them further input on how they can improve them, teaches them, and has them try these new suggestions in front of the audience."
Faughn and another piano professor at JSU, Dr. Gail Steward, select some of their best students to participate in the master classes.
There have also been times when Faughn has opened the opportunity to members of the Alabama Music Teachers Association, who select some of their students as candidates.
In past years, some 13- and 14-year-olds have participated in the master classes.
Faughn, who is president of the Alabama Music Teacher's Association as well as a professor at JSU, is also an active performer. She just finished a mini tour last week, giving three concerts across the south.
She encourages all students to attend the concerts the Foothills Piano Festival has to offer.
"I think some spectacular concerts have been offered over the years, and that these upcoming concerts are going to be terrific," said Faughn. "I think that our students, even if they have limited experience with attending classical music concerts, will find such an event to be relaxing."
This week's concert featuring Seth Beckman and Gail Steward will be held on Fri., Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m. at the Mason Hall performance center. The concert should last slightly over one hour.
Details on all the Foothills Piano Festival events can be found on the David L. Walters Music Department web page, www.jsu.edu/music.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Music student continues family tradition at JSU
Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, February 21, 2013.
Some things just run in the family. Just ask Jessica Lister, a second-generation music student at JSU.
Lister is a Vocal Music Education major, and her father, Roland Lister, was an Instrumental Music Education major when he attended Jacksonville State. According to Jessica Lister, her dad was a big reason she chose to attend JSU.
"He loved it," she said. "He actually went here in the 1960s and he was in the Southerners."
Lister has been involved with different choral groups during her time at JSU. She is a member of the A Cappella Choir, the Chamber Singers, has been in the Calhoun County Civic Chorale and is part of the Jacksonville Opera Theater.
She was in the chorus for JOT's production of Romeo and Juliet last spring, which was sung entirely in French.
"It was hard," said Lister, who didn't speak any French prior to the show. "We have to take diction classes where we learn to pronounce that stuff."
Lister is currently preparing for her first principal role in a JOT production, as Pitti-Sing in The Mikado this summer.
Lister says that she has been singing her entire life, but that she started taking voice lessons when she was a junior in high school. She will present a vocal recital on March 3 at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Anniston.
Lister's father taught music in the Gadsden city school system for several years, and she intends to follow suit.
"I'd really like to teach elementary music," she says. "Or high school or middle school choir. But elementary is where I want to be."
Although she says that she would be open to a teaching job elsewhere, she adds, "I think Gadsden would be pretty cool. I don't know that I would want to move way out. But if I had to, I would."
Lister intends to graduate this December and says that there are many things she has enjoyed about her experience at JSU.
"I love the feeling when you're walking past Mason Hall, and you hear someone playing music on the porch. It just gets you in the mood to learn." She adds, "I even loved taking basic classes and getting to know people outside the Music department."
On her career choice, Lister says, "If you love music, you won't be happy doing anything else. I sincerely considered doing something else, like History or English or even another Education field, but music was where my heart was. But that's what just about anyone will tell you; you just don't feel like you can do anything else."
Lister says that if a JSU student approached her and asked her about becoming a Music major, "I would tell them to just go for it, if their heart is really in it. It is a lot of hard work, but if it's really what you want to do and you're dedicated to it, you'll succeed. The faculty is wonderful and they will help you every step of the way."
Some things just run in the family. Just ask Jessica Lister, a second-generation music student at JSU.
Lister is a Vocal Music Education major, and her father, Roland Lister, was an Instrumental Music Education major when he attended Jacksonville State. According to Jessica Lister, her dad was a big reason she chose to attend JSU.
"He loved it," she said. "He actually went here in the 1960s and he was in the Southerners."
Lister has been involved with different choral groups during her time at JSU. She is a member of the A Cappella Choir, the Chamber Singers, has been in the Calhoun County Civic Chorale and is part of the Jacksonville Opera Theater.
She was in the chorus for JOT's production of Romeo and Juliet last spring, which was sung entirely in French.
"It was hard," said Lister, who didn't speak any French prior to the show. "We have to take diction classes where we learn to pronounce that stuff."
Lister is currently preparing for her first principal role in a JOT production, as Pitti-Sing in The Mikado this summer.
Lister says that she has been singing her entire life, but that she started taking voice lessons when she was a junior in high school. She will present a vocal recital on March 3 at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Anniston.
Lister's father taught music in the Gadsden city school system for several years, and she intends to follow suit.
"I'd really like to teach elementary music," she says. "Or high school or middle school choir. But elementary is where I want to be."
Although she says that she would be open to a teaching job elsewhere, she adds, "I think Gadsden would be pretty cool. I don't know that I would want to move way out. But if I had to, I would."
Lister intends to graduate this December and says that there are many things she has enjoyed about her experience at JSU.
"I love the feeling when you're walking past Mason Hall, and you hear someone playing music on the porch. It just gets you in the mood to learn." She adds, "I even loved taking basic classes and getting to know people outside the Music department."
On her career choice, Lister says, "If you love music, you won't be happy doing anything else. I sincerely considered doing something else, like History or English or even another Education field, but music was where my heart was. But that's what just about anyone will tell you; you just don't feel like you can do anything else."
Lister says that if a JSU student approached her and asked her about becoming a Music major, "I would tell them to just go for it, if their heart is really in it. It is a lot of hard work, but if it's really what you want to do and you're dedicated to it, you'll succeed. The faculty is wonderful and they will help you every step of the way."
Where do I vote? A guide for out-of-town students
Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, September 20, 2012.
Many Jacksonville State University students will cast their ballots for the first time in Nov., and it is now easier to register to vote.
A voter registration form for the state of Ala. can be downloaded at www.alabamavotes.org and mailed to the Secretary of State or the county's Board of Registrars. On-campus voter drives by groups such as the SGA and College Democrats have been helping students register over the past few weeks. Organizations such as Rock the Vote offer online voter registration at www.rockthevote.com.
But what qualifications does a person need to become a registered voter? And are students supposed to vote in their hometown or here in Jacksonville?
Someone at least 18 years of age on Election Day and a resident of Alabama may vote in this state. According to state law, a person who attends school in Ala. can establish residency here if he or she intends to make the Alabama school address a primary address for the time being. In other words, students can vote in their college town.
When voters arrive at the polls, they must present valid identification, such as a driver's license, U.S. passport or student ID card. A non-photo ID is also acceptable, as long as it contain's the voter's name and current local address. Examples of a valid non-photo identification are a Social Security card, birth certificate, paycheck or bank statement, or hunting or fishing license.
If students intend to vote in their hometown but will be at JSU on Election Day, they are allowed to vote via absentee ballot. To qualify for this privilege, registered voters must submit an application for an absentee ballot at least five days before Election Day. The absentee ballot must be returned along with a copy of identification that includes the voter's current Ala. address.
Absentee voters must also submit a signed affidavit that's either notarized or signed by two witnesses who are over 18 years old. Absentee ballots that are mailed must be postmarked by the day preceding Election Day, and absentee ballots that are hand-delivered must be received by the county election office before it closes on the day before Election Day.
First-time students face new health screening
Note: This article was first published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, August 30, 2012.
First-time students, whether freshmen, transfers, English Language Institute or graduate students, are now facing new requirements as part of JSU's health and wellness initiative.
Effective this semester, new students must be screened for immunizations and tuberculosis.
"In the past, those were required, but there was no means to track compliance," according to Amanda Bonds with the Student Health Center. "At this point, we are able to track it through the university computer system."
The forms are simple to fill out and are available on JSU's website, but the health center understands new students can be overwhelmed between meeting registration requirements and adjusting to college. Therefore, they allow a grace period to comply.
After students apply to JSU, they receive a letter stating the health center's requirements. From that point, students have until pre-registration begins for their next semester to meet those requirements.
Students may obtain those forms by visiting www.jsu.edu/studenthealth and clicking on the student health forms link.
There is also another change on the Student Health Center's website: a calendar listing all health and wellness-related events on campus, including when Stephenson Hall hosts various exercise classes and when physicians are available to see students.
"We're wanting to pull together things that happen on a weekly basis anyway," says Bonds. "We want it to be more visible and accessible, so that students won't have to click through several different buttons to get to what they're looking for, and also highlighting special events that might occur [such as the health fair in September]."
Currently, the Student Health Center offers free visits with physicians and only requires payment for services rendered, such as flu shots.
If students have any ideas for health and wellness-related events or services that they would like to see on campus, they are encouraged to share their suggestions with Student Health Services.
First-time students, whether freshmen, transfers, English Language Institute or graduate students, are now facing new requirements as part of JSU's health and wellness initiative.
Effective this semester, new students must be screened for immunizations and tuberculosis.
"In the past, those were required, but there was no means to track compliance," according to Amanda Bonds with the Student Health Center. "At this point, we are able to track it through the university computer system."
The forms are simple to fill out and are available on JSU's website, but the health center understands new students can be overwhelmed between meeting registration requirements and adjusting to college. Therefore, they allow a grace period to comply.
After students apply to JSU, they receive a letter stating the health center's requirements. From that point, students have until pre-registration begins for their next semester to meet those requirements.
Students may obtain those forms by visiting www.jsu.edu/studenthealth and clicking on the student health forms link.
There is also another change on the Student Health Center's website: a calendar listing all health and wellness-related events on campus, including when Stephenson Hall hosts various exercise classes and when physicians are available to see students.
"We're wanting to pull together things that happen on a weekly basis anyway," says Bonds. "We want it to be more visible and accessible, so that students won't have to click through several different buttons to get to what they're looking for, and also highlighting special events that might occur [such as the health fair in September]."
Currently, the Student Health Center offers free visits with physicians and only requires payment for services rendered, such as flu shots.
If students have any ideas for health and wellness-related events or services that they would like to see on campus, they are encouraged to share their suggestions with Student Health Services.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Honors in China
Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, August 30, 2012.
"The way the Chinese received us is probably the closest thing to Southern hospitality that I'll ever experience."
That is how JSU student Evan Mince describes the time he spent in China as part of the EH 399 course.
In May, Mince and nine other students from JSU's Honors program spent 12 days in China, studying at Taizhou University in Linhai, Zhejiang.
Greg Felch, Lea Isbell, Lauren McClendon, Whitney Gaut, Lance Hicks, Kailea Jones, Josh Wise, Ben Parr and Honors Board President Jenson Harmon were chosen to represent the university.
An application was available to all Honors students, and applicants had to write a 500-word essay on why they believed they should be selected to participate. 10 students were then chosen from the submissions.
The students took classes in cooking, kung fu, music, calligraphy and the Chinese language.
Taizhou is basically Linhai's equivalent of JSU. There is a big focus on liberal arts at Taizhou, but like most universities in China, they specialize in foreign trade and business.
Taizhou and JSU share a special relationship; starting this school year, Taizhou plans to send 10 students to JSU every year.
"The Taizhou students will take their first two years of basics at Taizhou, and then come over here for their last two years," explains Parr. "That's kind of why we went over there, as a diplomatic trip."
Each of the JSU students was paired with a Taizhou student to serve as a translator and guide during the duration of the trip, but they all ended up forming close friendships.
"When we had no more activities for the day, all the American and Chinese students would sit together and talk and play games and just get to know each other," McClendon reflects. "It was amazing to see how alike we all were."
According to Gaut, "By the end of the trip, we had grown so close that leaving was a tear-filled event."
In their classes at Taizhou, the JSU students were able to try their hand at making Chinese dumplings, doing scroll paintings, and even writing some of the Chinese characters.
"Each character has a certain number of strokes which have to be done in a certain order," says Isbell. "The whole process of learning how to write the characters was both fascinating and beautiful."
Wise was impressed by the demonstrations given by the Taizhou students in both the music and kung fu classes.
"It was really awesome to see younger people participating and being amazing at traditional Chinese customs. It seems like the younger generations in America don't embrace tradition the way the Chinese do," he says.
For all 10 JSU students who participated, the trip was one to be remembered forever.
"My favorite part of the experience, though others might enthusiastically suggest the food, was writing daily about the cultural differences that I noticed during our tour," says Hicks, an English major. "I'm very happy to have all those memories thoroughly catalogued in my journal so that I can revisit them and remember the subtle nuances of such a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
"The way the Chinese received us is probably the closest thing to Southern hospitality that I'll ever experience."
That is how JSU student Evan Mince describes the time he spent in China as part of the EH 399 course.
In May, Mince and nine other students from JSU's Honors program spent 12 days in China, studying at Taizhou University in Linhai, Zhejiang.
Greg Felch, Lea Isbell, Lauren McClendon, Whitney Gaut, Lance Hicks, Kailea Jones, Josh Wise, Ben Parr and Honors Board President Jenson Harmon were chosen to represent the university.
An application was available to all Honors students, and applicants had to write a 500-word essay on why they believed they should be selected to participate. 10 students were then chosen from the submissions.
The students took classes in cooking, kung fu, music, calligraphy and the Chinese language.
Taizhou is basically Linhai's equivalent of JSU. There is a big focus on liberal arts at Taizhou, but like most universities in China, they specialize in foreign trade and business.
Taizhou and JSU share a special relationship; starting this school year, Taizhou plans to send 10 students to JSU every year.
"The Taizhou students will take their first two years of basics at Taizhou, and then come over here for their last two years," explains Parr. "That's kind of why we went over there, as a diplomatic trip."
Each of the JSU students was paired with a Taizhou student to serve as a translator and guide during the duration of the trip, but they all ended up forming close friendships.
"When we had no more activities for the day, all the American and Chinese students would sit together and talk and play games and just get to know each other," McClendon reflects. "It was amazing to see how alike we all were."
According to Gaut, "By the end of the trip, we had grown so close that leaving was a tear-filled event."
In their classes at Taizhou, the JSU students were able to try their hand at making Chinese dumplings, doing scroll paintings, and even writing some of the Chinese characters.
"Each character has a certain number of strokes which have to be done in a certain order," says Isbell. "The whole process of learning how to write the characters was both fascinating and beautiful."
Wise was impressed by the demonstrations given by the Taizhou students in both the music and kung fu classes.
"It was really awesome to see younger people participating and being amazing at traditional Chinese customs. It seems like the younger generations in America don't embrace tradition the way the Chinese do," he says.
For all 10 JSU students who participated, the trip was one to be remembered forever.
"My favorite part of the experience, though others might enthusiastically suggest the food, was writing daily about the cultural differences that I noticed during our tour," says Hicks, an English major. "I'm very happy to have all those memories thoroughly catalogued in my journal so that I can revisit them and remember the subtle nuances of such a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
A partnership with Cintas helps JSU keeps up its green effort
Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, November 29, 2012.
How many landfills do you want to creep up over the next 30 or 40 years in the world in which you live? This is a question that Clint Carlson, Vice President for Administrative and Business Affairs, wants students to strongly consider.
Carlson is trying to bring attention to a paper recycling initiative that has been taking place at JSU this semester. In partnership with Cintas, the university is trying to eliminate waste on campus. Square boxes bearing the Cintas label are scattered throughout campus, allowing students and faculty to securely drop off their papers to be recycled.
"It was a way to dispose of sensitive documents as well, things that might have Social Security numbers on them and things of that nature, because the boxes are secured," Carlson said. "They [Cintas] come by weekly, they've got the key to unlock the box, and then they take them out and shred them. [...] By doing this, it provides security of sensitive documents as well as keeps this stuff out of landfills."
Carlson says that while attempts to create a campus-wide recycling program have fallen short in the past, he believes that the current initiative has been fairly successful thus far. He said that past initiatives, especially those headed by the SGA, have not worked in the long run because of the turnover of officers from year to year.
"It's hard to create continuity from one administration to the next," he explained. "One administration might have a priority on recycling, and the next one doesn't."
The short-term goal for the university was to recycle the paper products for around one year before determining the success of the program. According to Carlson, recycling of cardboard and plastic products may be in store for the near future.
"Look around and see what we're generating," he said. "A lot of boxes come to campus. We would like to do something with our cardboard waste, and probably plastic. Most of the vending machines now dispense plastic drink containers versus aluminum cans."
Carlson acknowledged that for any recycling program to be effective, a team effort must be made.
"You can't create a recycling program and expect one group to do it," he said. "It takes effort across the board. And if everybody's not willing to participate, usually it's not going to be successful."
How many landfills do you want to creep up over the next 30 or 40 years in the world in which you live? This is a question that Clint Carlson, Vice President for Administrative and Business Affairs, wants students to strongly consider.
Carlson is trying to bring attention to a paper recycling initiative that has been taking place at JSU this semester. In partnership with Cintas, the university is trying to eliminate waste on campus. Square boxes bearing the Cintas label are scattered throughout campus, allowing students and faculty to securely drop off their papers to be recycled.
"It was a way to dispose of sensitive documents as well, things that might have Social Security numbers on them and things of that nature, because the boxes are secured," Carlson said. "They [Cintas] come by weekly, they've got the key to unlock the box, and then they take them out and shred them. [...] By doing this, it provides security of sensitive documents as well as keeps this stuff out of landfills."
Carlson says that while attempts to create a campus-wide recycling program have fallen short in the past, he believes that the current initiative has been fairly successful thus far. He said that past initiatives, especially those headed by the SGA, have not worked in the long run because of the turnover of officers from year to year.
"It's hard to create continuity from one administration to the next," he explained. "One administration might have a priority on recycling, and the next one doesn't."
The short-term goal for the university was to recycle the paper products for around one year before determining the success of the program. According to Carlson, recycling of cardboard and plastic products may be in store for the near future.
"Look around and see what we're generating," he said. "A lot of boxes come to campus. We would like to do something with our cardboard waste, and probably plastic. Most of the vending machines now dispense plastic drink containers versus aluminum cans."
Carlson acknowledged that for any recycling program to be effective, a team effort must be made.
"You can't create a recycling program and expect one group to do it," he said. "It takes effort across the board. And if everybody's not willing to participate, usually it's not going to be successful."
Board of Trustees approves healthcare resolution
Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, January 31, 2013.
On Monday, January 28, the Board of Trustees at Jacksonville State University passed a resolution that will outsource student healthcare to Regional Medical Center beginning in the fall semester of 2013.
Services will include things at JSU's on-campus site, an off-campus office accessible via the Gamecock Express, and at RMC Jacksonville.
Services will also include family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, primary care, urgent care, women's health, men's health, mental health screenings, laboratory testing, radiology services, rehabilitation services, physicals, immunizations, medication management, check-ups and health fairs. There are also opportunities for education in infection control, safe sex practices, and campus safety, as well as nutritional and faith-based counseling, and wellness clubs.
It is not known at this time how the extended health services will affect students' pocketbooks, as the board is not set to decide on that matter until their April meeting. One possibility is that each student will be charged a health fee each semester, and another possibility is an increase in tuition.
While many students seem to agree that the decision is good for students without insurance, they are concerned about how it will affect them.
"Like myself, there are tons of people who have never used the school's healthcare services," says junior Alex Lang. "If anything, they need to find a way so that if you want to use the services, you can pay for it. All students shouldn't be charged."
Junior Curtis Holman says, "I feel that this proposal is going to help the students who don't have any health insurance. But for the ones who do have health insurance, it's not really going to matter. It will just be an extra charge on us."
"I think it's irrelevant for students who are on their parents' insurance," says History major Nicole Easterwood. "I think it's completely moronic to charge everyone the health fee when most won't use it. If JSU would offer affordable health insurance to students who need it, [...] things would be better and students who need to see a doctor can without the fear of incurring even more debt than they already have with student loans."
Students are hoping that extended hours at the center will mean that they will have access to doctors when they need them.
"I unfortunately have no personal insurance, and being a non-traditional student, am too old to be on my parents' insurance," says Art student Jeremy Bagwell. "I wouldn't mind paying a little extra on my tuition for affordable health insurance and be able to see any doctor, any day that I choose. But if I have to start paying to see the on-campus doctor, I better be able to see the doctor any day, any time and not pay the same as I would to see a doctor off-campus."
Another Art major, Ashlee Jones, echoes the sentiment, "Every time I have ever tried to contact the Student Health Center, no one would answer the phone or return my calls, so they felt ineffective and useless. Hopefully this decision will improve the health center for the better."
The on-campus facility will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the school year. Summer hours will be 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The off-campus location is at the office of Dr. Wyndol Hamer, which is on Pelham Road across the street from Jacksonville RMC hospital. Care will be available there from 7:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 12-5 p.m. on Sunday.
The emergency room at RMC Jacksonville is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
On Monday, January 28, the Board of Trustees at Jacksonville State University passed a resolution that will outsource student healthcare to Regional Medical Center beginning in the fall semester of 2013.
Services will include things at JSU's on-campus site, an off-campus office accessible via the Gamecock Express, and at RMC Jacksonville.
Services will also include family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, primary care, urgent care, women's health, men's health, mental health screenings, laboratory testing, radiology services, rehabilitation services, physicals, immunizations, medication management, check-ups and health fairs. There are also opportunities for education in infection control, safe sex practices, and campus safety, as well as nutritional and faith-based counseling, and wellness clubs.
It is not known at this time how the extended health services will affect students' pocketbooks, as the board is not set to decide on that matter until their April meeting. One possibility is that each student will be charged a health fee each semester, and another possibility is an increase in tuition.
While many students seem to agree that the decision is good for students without insurance, they are concerned about how it will affect them.
"Like myself, there are tons of people who have never used the school's healthcare services," says junior Alex Lang. "If anything, they need to find a way so that if you want to use the services, you can pay for it. All students shouldn't be charged."
Junior Curtis Holman says, "I feel that this proposal is going to help the students who don't have any health insurance. But for the ones who do have health insurance, it's not really going to matter. It will just be an extra charge on us."
"I think it's irrelevant for students who are on their parents' insurance," says History major Nicole Easterwood. "I think it's completely moronic to charge everyone the health fee when most won't use it. If JSU would offer affordable health insurance to students who need it, [...] things would be better and students who need to see a doctor can without the fear of incurring even more debt than they already have with student loans."
Students are hoping that extended hours at the center will mean that they will have access to doctors when they need them.
"I unfortunately have no personal insurance, and being a non-traditional student, am too old to be on my parents' insurance," says Art student Jeremy Bagwell. "I wouldn't mind paying a little extra on my tuition for affordable health insurance and be able to see any doctor, any day that I choose. But if I have to start paying to see the on-campus doctor, I better be able to see the doctor any day, any time and not pay the same as I would to see a doctor off-campus."
Another Art major, Ashlee Jones, echoes the sentiment, "Every time I have ever tried to contact the Student Health Center, no one would answer the phone or return my calls, so they felt ineffective and useless. Hopefully this decision will improve the health center for the better."
The on-campus facility will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the school year. Summer hours will be 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The off-campus location is at the office of Dr. Wyndol Hamer, which is on Pelham Road across the street from Jacksonville RMC hospital. Care will be available there from 7:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 12-5 p.m. on Sunday.
The emergency room at RMC Jacksonville is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Higher Education Day gives students a voice
Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, February 21, 2013.
College students who want to make their voices heard in the Alabama legislature will have the opportunity to do so next Thursday, Feb. 28.
Next Thursday is Higher Ed Day, on which college students from around the state are encouraged to travel to Montgomery and petition for lower tuition costs. This week, SGA officers and representatives from Alabama's public universities, including JSU, met with several Senators and Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Mike Hubbard to discuss the importance of higher education.
"The biggest thing we deal with every year is the state budgets," Hubbard explained. "In Alabama, we have two budgets. We have an education budget, which has most of the growth revenues tied to it, and it's earmarked just for education. Then we have a general fund."
Hubbard added that although "the education budget is in pretty good shape," new payroll taxes that were put into place on the federal level have cost the education trust fund about 60 million dollars.
Sometimes lobbying and petitioning can be frustrating, especially when results are not visible. But Gordon Stone, Director of the Higher Education Partnership, encourages students not to give up.
"The process is not a one-shot deal; never has been, never will be," Stone said. "You can't go to Washington and visit your Congressman and expect that to change the outcome of the vote. You can't come down here for one day and expect that to change the outcome of the vote. But if you don't come down here, you can be guaranteed that you won't have any impact on the outcome."
Higher Ed Day gives college students in Alabama the opportunity to show all 140 members of the state legislature that they care about how money is spent in the field of higher education, and that the decisions made by representatives affect them personally.
"I know it's easy for someone to say, 'Getting up and going down there, standing up, yelling for an hour, getting on the bus and coming back home doesn't make a difference,'" says Stone. "That's like saying that sitting in the stands doesn't impact the football game. It's like saying, 'I don't need to go to the church every Sunday and sit in the pew, because the preacher's not talking to me; I'm already saved.' It's seeing a limited perspective of what goes on. This is one major step in the process."
Hubbard encourages students to contact their legislators individually as well.
"People certainly recognize that you're here," he said of the Higher Education Day rally. "But the most important thing is when you talk one-on-one with your legislator. That's the most powerful lobbying that can be done."
Students who want to participate in Higher Ed Day can contact Jade Wagner, Vice President of Student Senate, at sgavpss@jsu.edu or 256-782-8493.
College students who want to make their voices heard in the Alabama legislature will have the opportunity to do so next Thursday, Feb. 28.
Next Thursday is Higher Ed Day, on which college students from around the state are encouraged to travel to Montgomery and petition for lower tuition costs. This week, SGA officers and representatives from Alabama's public universities, including JSU, met with several Senators and Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Mike Hubbard to discuss the importance of higher education.
"The biggest thing we deal with every year is the state budgets," Hubbard explained. "In Alabama, we have two budgets. We have an education budget, which has most of the growth revenues tied to it, and it's earmarked just for education. Then we have a general fund."
Hubbard added that although "the education budget is in pretty good shape," new payroll taxes that were put into place on the federal level have cost the education trust fund about 60 million dollars.
Sometimes lobbying and petitioning can be frustrating, especially when results are not visible. But Gordon Stone, Director of the Higher Education Partnership, encourages students not to give up.
"The process is not a one-shot deal; never has been, never will be," Stone said. "You can't go to Washington and visit your Congressman and expect that to change the outcome of the vote. You can't come down here for one day and expect that to change the outcome of the vote. But if you don't come down here, you can be guaranteed that you won't have any impact on the outcome."
Higher Ed Day gives college students in Alabama the opportunity to show all 140 members of the state legislature that they care about how money is spent in the field of higher education, and that the decisions made by representatives affect them personally.
"I know it's easy for someone to say, 'Getting up and going down there, standing up, yelling for an hour, getting on the bus and coming back home doesn't make a difference,'" says Stone. "That's like saying that sitting in the stands doesn't impact the football game. It's like saying, 'I don't need to go to the church every Sunday and sit in the pew, because the preacher's not talking to me; I'm already saved.' It's seeing a limited perspective of what goes on. This is one major step in the process."
Hubbard encourages students to contact their legislators individually as well.
"People certainly recognize that you're here," he said of the Higher Education Day rally. "But the most important thing is when you talk one-on-one with your legislator. That's the most powerful lobbying that can be done."
Students who want to participate in Higher Ed Day can contact Jade Wagner, Vice President of Student Senate, at sgavpss@jsu.edu or 256-782-8493.
Column: Lessons I learned from the kids this summer
Note: This column was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, August 29, 2013.
As any of my friends will testify, I am a little bit of a neat freak, especially when it comes to my car. I feel like I'm always vacuuming and washing to keep it looking clean, and I never, ever, under any circumstances, eat in the car.
But this was the summer of all-Kara's-rules-were-meant-to-be-broken. While cleaning out my car over the past couple of months, I have discovered, hidden under and between the seats, a Kindle Fire, a picture of Justin Bieber, a beef jerky wrapper, a pair of socks, and even a live cat. I learned how to steer with one hand while using the other hand to dig through the console, find a napkin, and hand it to someone in the backseat with a bloody nose or a dripping ice cream cone.
This summer, I was a babysitter. And as strange as it sounds, I feel like spending time with a bunch of kids made me more of an adult in some ways. Those kids taught me some pretty important lessons.
One thing I learned from my kids this summer was not to sweat the small stuff. There were times when I would break up a fight or listen to a dramatic he-said she-said story and stifle a laugh. To children, it's the end of the world if they have to be Player Two instead of Player One on the Wii, or, heaven forbid, if someone touches a book or toy that belongs to someone else. But as adults, we realize how petty these "problems" are. I couldn't help but think God probably thinks the same thing when I freak out over little things that seem big to me at the time: I spilled dye on my favorite shirt or my hot water heater is broken so I have to take cold showers for a day or two until it can be fixed.
These aren't the things that matter. What always matters is that in the end, no matter what conflict, difficulty, or inconvenience these kids handled each day, they always had each other. For every "I hate you," there were two "I love yous." The drama was over, everyone was friends again, and life moved on.
The second lesson the kids taught me was to shoot for the stars. I enjoyed the conversations I had with them about their dreams and plans, and admired the way they think that nothing is impossible. One of the girls is sold on the idea of being an actress and living in Paris. One of the boys is convinced he has a career in major league baseball. Even though very few people can actually make their living doing those things, their enthusiasm reminded me that I should always strive to be at my best.
Perhaps the most important lesson I learned this summer was that sometimes, life gets messy.
I realize that everything in my life isn't going to go exactly the way I plan. At some time or another, someone is going to come along with muddy shoes or a juice box (who invented red Kool-Aid anyway?) and make their mark on my perfect little pre-planned world. But that's okay. Some messes can be quickly attended to and forgotten, while some can leave a permanent stain. But behind each mess is a can't-help-but-love-them child who caused it.
I've met lots of people during my time at JSU, and now as I am on track to graduate in 2014, I am learning to appreciate every one of them.
Not that I'm comparing my friends to stains in the floorboard of my car, but so many of them have made lasting impressions on me.
In every phase throughout our lives, people will come and go. Some will leave lasting impressions: some positive, some negative. But each person who leaves their mark on you while you are here at JSU is helping to shape you into the person you will be after you graduate and make your own mark on the world.
As any of my friends will testify, I am a little bit of a neat freak, especially when it comes to my car. I feel like I'm always vacuuming and washing to keep it looking clean, and I never, ever, under any circumstances, eat in the car.
But this was the summer of all-Kara's-rules-were-meant-to-be-broken. While cleaning out my car over the past couple of months, I have discovered, hidden under and between the seats, a Kindle Fire, a picture of Justin Bieber, a beef jerky wrapper, a pair of socks, and even a live cat. I learned how to steer with one hand while using the other hand to dig through the console, find a napkin, and hand it to someone in the backseat with a bloody nose or a dripping ice cream cone.
This summer, I was a babysitter. And as strange as it sounds, I feel like spending time with a bunch of kids made me more of an adult in some ways. Those kids taught me some pretty important lessons.
One thing I learned from my kids this summer was not to sweat the small stuff. There were times when I would break up a fight or listen to a dramatic he-said she-said story and stifle a laugh. To children, it's the end of the world if they have to be Player Two instead of Player One on the Wii, or, heaven forbid, if someone touches a book or toy that belongs to someone else. But as adults, we realize how petty these "problems" are. I couldn't help but think God probably thinks the same thing when I freak out over little things that seem big to me at the time: I spilled dye on my favorite shirt or my hot water heater is broken so I have to take cold showers for a day or two until it can be fixed.
These aren't the things that matter. What always matters is that in the end, no matter what conflict, difficulty, or inconvenience these kids handled each day, they always had each other. For every "I hate you," there were two "I love yous." The drama was over, everyone was friends again, and life moved on.
The second lesson the kids taught me was to shoot for the stars. I enjoyed the conversations I had with them about their dreams and plans, and admired the way they think that nothing is impossible. One of the girls is sold on the idea of being an actress and living in Paris. One of the boys is convinced he has a career in major league baseball. Even though very few people can actually make their living doing those things, their enthusiasm reminded me that I should always strive to be at my best.
Perhaps the most important lesson I learned this summer was that sometimes, life gets messy.
I realize that everything in my life isn't going to go exactly the way I plan. At some time or another, someone is going to come along with muddy shoes or a juice box (who invented red Kool-Aid anyway?) and make their mark on my perfect little pre-planned world. But that's okay. Some messes can be quickly attended to and forgotten, while some can leave a permanent stain. But behind each mess is a can't-help-but-love-them child who caused it.
I've met lots of people during my time at JSU, and now as I am on track to graduate in 2014, I am learning to appreciate every one of them.
Not that I'm comparing my friends to stains in the floorboard of my car, but so many of them have made lasting impressions on me.
In every phase throughout our lives, people will come and go. Some will leave lasting impressions: some positive, some negative. But each person who leaves their mark on you while you are here at JSU is helping to shape you into the person you will be after you graduate and make your own mark on the world.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Engaging in college life
Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, August 23, 2013.
When new students arrive at JSU, they are flooded with opportunities to get involved with campus groups and events in order to enhance their college experience - to engage in what JSU has to offer.
A local college ministry has taken this idea to heart, and students are responding.
Engage JSU is a joint ministry of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville and Eagle Point Church.
"Our mission statement essentially is that we want our students to do exactly what they were told during orientation," says Will McGee, College/Teaching Pastor at First Baptist. "We want them to be involved on campus, in all spheres, whether that be Greek life, whether that be athletics, whether that be dorm life, et cetera. We want them to engage in all those spheres and pockets of campus as believers in Jesus, and be involved for the good of the university, for the good of their peers, for the good of one another; to proclaim the message that we believe is the greatest message on earth."
Although the church has had a college ministry for several years, Engage JSU as it is now began in August of 2011. What started out as a group of 11 students meeting in McGee's home has grown over the past two years to a group of over 70 students who meet in the sanctuary at FBC.
"I came essentially to pastor the college students who were already coming to our church," McGee says. "But what we saw was just the need on campus for more students coming to our events who weren't necessarily part of our church. They would go home on the weekends to their church, or they went to another church in the area, but they liked the community we were forming. That's when we decided, 'This is larger than just this church.'"
During the school year, Engage JSU meets on Monday nights at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church for a worship service that includes music and teaching. Throughout the week, they have small groups that meet to do Bible studies. There are co-ed studies, girls-only studies, and guys-only studies. They also have a Sunday school class that meets at FBC each week before the 11 a.m. service.
"We have, in my opinion, the best worship band in town," McGee says of the Monday night services.
"We play a mix of original songs and familiar songs. Then it's filled with about 20 or 25 minutes of teaching. Then typically, the students will go grab dinner or ice cream when we're done."
Engage JSU also hosts several events throughout the year, such as movie nights, game nights, and cookouts. But the students involved are not only engaging in JSU, but in the community and in the entire world.
"Throughout the months, we do mission trips," McGee explains. "We've done Baltimore, Haiti, East Asia, some students have gone to Thailand."
Students are also involved in Renovation Ministries in Anniston, International Justice Mission, and the WellHouse.
Because JSU is a college ministry of the Southern Baptist Church, the group's values and theology fit with that statement of faith. However, the services and Bible studies are really for all evangelical denominations.
"We have a contingent of Southern Baptist students, born and bred," says McGee. "But we do have a large number of Pentecostal students. We have a number of Reformed Presbyterian students that come and are a part of what we do. And on any given Monday night, we may have up to 10 or 15 countries represented at our Bible study. So that brings a whole sort of diversity, not just in language and ethnicity, but in worship styles and traditions."
For more information or to get involved, visit the group's website, EngageJSU.com, or the Engage JSU Facebook page.
When new students arrive at JSU, they are flooded with opportunities to get involved with campus groups and events in order to enhance their college experience - to engage in what JSU has to offer.
A local college ministry has taken this idea to heart, and students are responding.
Engage JSU is a joint ministry of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville and Eagle Point Church.
"Our mission statement essentially is that we want our students to do exactly what they were told during orientation," says Will McGee, College/Teaching Pastor at First Baptist. "We want them to be involved on campus, in all spheres, whether that be Greek life, whether that be athletics, whether that be dorm life, et cetera. We want them to engage in all those spheres and pockets of campus as believers in Jesus, and be involved for the good of the university, for the good of their peers, for the good of one another; to proclaim the message that we believe is the greatest message on earth."
Although the church has had a college ministry for several years, Engage JSU as it is now began in August of 2011. What started out as a group of 11 students meeting in McGee's home has grown over the past two years to a group of over 70 students who meet in the sanctuary at FBC.
"I came essentially to pastor the college students who were already coming to our church," McGee says. "But what we saw was just the need on campus for more students coming to our events who weren't necessarily part of our church. They would go home on the weekends to their church, or they went to another church in the area, but they liked the community we were forming. That's when we decided, 'This is larger than just this church.'"
During the school year, Engage JSU meets on Monday nights at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church for a worship service that includes music and teaching. Throughout the week, they have small groups that meet to do Bible studies. There are co-ed studies, girls-only studies, and guys-only studies. They also have a Sunday school class that meets at FBC each week before the 11 a.m. service.
"We have, in my opinion, the best worship band in town," McGee says of the Monday night services.
"We play a mix of original songs and familiar songs. Then it's filled with about 20 or 25 minutes of teaching. Then typically, the students will go grab dinner or ice cream when we're done."
Engage JSU also hosts several events throughout the year, such as movie nights, game nights, and cookouts. But the students involved are not only engaging in JSU, but in the community and in the entire world.
"Throughout the months, we do mission trips," McGee explains. "We've done Baltimore, Haiti, East Asia, some students have gone to Thailand."
Students are also involved in Renovation Ministries in Anniston, International Justice Mission, and the WellHouse.
Because JSU is a college ministry of the Southern Baptist Church, the group's values and theology fit with that statement of faith. However, the services and Bible studies are really for all evangelical denominations.
"We have a contingent of Southern Baptist students, born and bred," says McGee. "But we do have a large number of Pentecostal students. We have a number of Reformed Presbyterian students that come and are a part of what we do. And on any given Monday night, we may have up to 10 or 15 countries represented at our Bible study. So that brings a whole sort of diversity, not just in language and ethnicity, but in worship styles and traditions."
For more information or to get involved, visit the group's website, EngageJSU.com, or the Engage JSU Facebook page.
When in Rome, earn college credit
Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, August 23, 2013.
This past May, 17 JSU students got to have the educational experience of a lifetime.
The students spent three weeks in Italy, studying Rome in political, cultural and religious history for HY399: History Study Abroad. The 2013 May term class was worth three credit hours.
The trip was open to all JSU students, but only a limited number of spots were available. An interest meeting was held in September, where a raffle was drawn to determine which students could go.
One of those students was Allie Mosley.
"I's highly advise anyone considering an opportunity like this to jump on it," Mosley said. "These have easily been the best three weeks of my life."
During the trip, students were able to visit the Coliseum, the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, the Panthenon, and even the city of Venice.
"Some of the best memories I've made here were just wandering around at night and stumbling upon churches or statues or gardens, or even just meeting all of my classmates here and making a near-nightly ritual of hanging out in the courtyard," Mosley said.
The class featured a blend of guided tours with professors and free time for students to explore on their own.
According to Leinin Schuerr, another student who went on the trip, "Not only was the city amazing, being there with the professors that know so much about the culture was so much more enlightening and made you think about the history in a deeper and more thoughtful way."
Spending three weeks in Italy allowed the students to immerse themselves in the culture of the country.
"It's really different from being back home in a lot of really nice ways. Things are so laid back," said Mosley. "Most of the stores and restaurants here close for a couple of hours in the middle of the day for 'reposo,' a time to eat and take a nap. There's hardly any in and out, and they bring our meals to us by courses. Most of our meals take two or so hours, easily."
Dr. Donald Prudlo, history professor at JSU, says this is the third time the university has offered this class, and that the class has grown increasingly larger each time.
"The first time, we had five (students), the second we had 15, and now we have 17," Prudlo said. "We hope to offer the class every other May term."
Schuerr adds, "If I had the opportunity, I would hop on a plane right now and go back! I would just tell the students that are going in the future to not take it for granted. If you go, it truly is life-changing. Also, don't be hesitant about going; just get ready to have the time of your life!"
This past May, 17 JSU students got to have the educational experience of a lifetime.
The students spent three weeks in Italy, studying Rome in political, cultural and religious history for HY399: History Study Abroad. The 2013 May term class was worth three credit hours.
The trip was open to all JSU students, but only a limited number of spots were available. An interest meeting was held in September, where a raffle was drawn to determine which students could go.
One of those students was Allie Mosley.
"I's highly advise anyone considering an opportunity like this to jump on it," Mosley said. "These have easily been the best three weeks of my life."
During the trip, students were able to visit the Coliseum, the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, the Panthenon, and even the city of Venice.
"Some of the best memories I've made here were just wandering around at night and stumbling upon churches or statues or gardens, or even just meeting all of my classmates here and making a near-nightly ritual of hanging out in the courtyard," Mosley said.
The class featured a blend of guided tours with professors and free time for students to explore on their own.
According to Leinin Schuerr, another student who went on the trip, "Not only was the city amazing, being there with the professors that know so much about the culture was so much more enlightening and made you think about the history in a deeper and more thoughtful way."
Spending three weeks in Italy allowed the students to immerse themselves in the culture of the country.
"It's really different from being back home in a lot of really nice ways. Things are so laid back," said Mosley. "Most of the stores and restaurants here close for a couple of hours in the middle of the day for 'reposo,' a time to eat and take a nap. There's hardly any in and out, and they bring our meals to us by courses. Most of our meals take two or so hours, easily."
Dr. Donald Prudlo, history professor at JSU, says this is the third time the university has offered this class, and that the class has grown increasingly larger each time.
"The first time, we had five (students), the second we had 15, and now we have 17," Prudlo said. "We hope to offer the class every other May term."
Schuerr adds, "If I had the opportunity, I would hop on a plane right now and go back! I would just tell the students that are going in the future to not take it for granted. If you go, it truly is life-changing. Also, don't be hesitant about going; just get ready to have the time of your life!"
Column: The hardest part is getting started
Note: This column was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, September 12, 2013.
“It was a dark and stormy night.”
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
“Call me Ishmael.”
These are the opening lines of four books that I read when I was growing up, and I actually memorized all four of these beginnings. Not intentionally; they just left such an impact that I have retained them in my memory over the years. (For those of you who want to Google these lines right now to find where they’re from, the books I quoted from were A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, and Moby Dick by Herman Melville.)
These are great beginnings, some of the most famous in literature.
Fast forward to me sitting at my desk in The Chanticleer office, with pages of notes from an interview and me staring at my computer screen. My fingers hover over the keyboard, but the Word document in front of me is blank.
That’s because I’m not very good at writing leads. Once I get started, my words just start flowing out onto the page. But I feel such a pressure to make some profound opening statement with each article, essay or column that I write, it’s crazy.
The hardest part is getting started. Just like an artist learns to ‘conquer the power of the white’ and make the first marks on their canvas, a writer has to learn to just start writing. There will be time to create some catchy opening words during the editing phase of the writing process.
“It was a dark and stormy night.”
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
“Call me Ishmael.”
These are the opening lines of four books that I read when I was growing up, and I actually memorized all four of these beginnings. Not intentionally; they just left such an impact that I have retained them in my memory over the years. (For those of you who want to Google these lines right now to find where they’re from, the books I quoted from were A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, and Moby Dick by Herman Melville.)
These are great beginnings, some of the most famous in literature.
Fast forward to me sitting at my desk in The Chanticleer office, with pages of notes from an interview and me staring at my computer screen. My fingers hover over the keyboard, but the Word document in front of me is blank.
That’s because I’m not very good at writing leads. Once I get started, my words just start flowing out onto the page. But I feel such a pressure to make some profound opening statement with each article, essay or column that I write, it’s crazy.
The hardest part is getting started. Just like an artist learns to ‘conquer the power of the white’ and make the first marks on their canvas, a writer has to learn to just start writing. There will be time to create some catchy opening words during the editing phase of the writing process.
That’s how everything is at first, I guess; getting started is the hard part. Whether it’s learning a new skill, going into a relationship, starting a new job, or moving to a new city or state, the decision to change from the old, to create something new, is a difficult one.
As time progresses, you learn to adjust to the changes. You form new routines until the new becomes the familiar.
But when it comes to taking that initial leap-writing the beginning of your story-you have second (third, fourth, fifth) thoughts. You’re not sure if you are making the right decision.
I’m just going to be honest. Alabama is my home, but I’ve never really wanted to spend the rest of my life here. I enjoy traveling and exploring new places, and have always thought about how exciting it would be to live somewhere like New York City or Washington D.C.
But the more I think about the unknown, the more I plan for my coming-all-too-soon future, I feel that mix of excitement and anxiety that comes with the start of something new.
The beginning of a story sets the scene for the middle and the ending. That is both the beauty and the problem of it.
I’ll never know how my life will be different if I move away after graduation or stay in Anniston.
All I can do is sit at my computer and write.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Vacant Student Senate seat needs to be filled
Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, September 12, 2013.
There's a lot going on in JSU's Student Senate right now.
"The senators do much more than meet for an hour once per week," says Vice President of Student Senate Brett Johnson.
They plan, organize and operate tailgates, Homecoming events and philanthropy projects, meet with university officials and faculty to express student concerns on issues like academic policy and housing policy, and lobby the state Legislature in Montgomery for more funding, among other things.
Most of the senate's work is done through 10 standing committees, which each senator has to actively serve in two of.
At this past Monday night's senate meeting, a discussion began about possible changes to the parking violation appeals process at JSU.
"But it is going to be an ongoing process, and no legislation is being proposed yet," Johnson says.
The senate wishes to begin work with the University Police Department on recommendations that came from their assessment by the Virginia Community Policing Institute.
"What they have suggested is that the current parking violation appeals system is to outdated, biased, and multi-faceted," Johnson explains.
The proposal is that the appeals process is moved to an online-only format where those who receive parking violations can file an appeal and upload photos or video through a secure link. No names will be used in the submissions, as each case will only be identified by a number.
"The discussion we are going to have through SGA is how to best implement that and how to ensure student representation in the process," Johnson says.
He adds that altering the appeals process could ultimately lead to the removal of the chief justice as an executive position, but still maintain the chief justice and associate justices as checks and balances.
The Student Senate meets every Monday at 6 p.m. in the TMB auditorium. All students are encouraged to attend.
"They (the students) are our ultimate accountability, and their voice matters," Johnson says. "There is a section in each senate meeting for a 'student body report' in which any student can address the senate, ask questions, pose concerns, or provide input on policy. We love it when students take the initiative to do that."
There are 35 spots in the Student Senate, but only 34 of those seats are currently filled. Johnson says he is looking to fill that vacant seat. Students can apply for the position by visiting the Office of Student Life and picking up an application there.
In order to qualify for a senator position, students must have 12 credit hours at JSU and a 2.5 GPA.
There's a lot going on in JSU's Student Senate right now.
"The senators do much more than meet for an hour once per week," says Vice President of Student Senate Brett Johnson.
They plan, organize and operate tailgates, Homecoming events and philanthropy projects, meet with university officials and faculty to express student concerns on issues like academic policy and housing policy, and lobby the state Legislature in Montgomery for more funding, among other things.
Most of the senate's work is done through 10 standing committees, which each senator has to actively serve in two of.
At this past Monday night's senate meeting, a discussion began about possible changes to the parking violation appeals process at JSU.
"But it is going to be an ongoing process, and no legislation is being proposed yet," Johnson says.
The senate wishes to begin work with the University Police Department on recommendations that came from their assessment by the Virginia Community Policing Institute.
"What they have suggested is that the current parking violation appeals system is to outdated, biased, and multi-faceted," Johnson explains.
The proposal is that the appeals process is moved to an online-only format where those who receive parking violations can file an appeal and upload photos or video through a secure link. No names will be used in the submissions, as each case will only be identified by a number.
"The discussion we are going to have through SGA is how to best implement that and how to ensure student representation in the process," Johnson says.
He adds that altering the appeals process could ultimately lead to the removal of the chief justice as an executive position, but still maintain the chief justice and associate justices as checks and balances.
The Student Senate meets every Monday at 6 p.m. in the TMB auditorium. All students are encouraged to attend.
"They (the students) are our ultimate accountability, and their voice matters," Johnson says. "There is a section in each senate meeting for a 'student body report' in which any student can address the senate, ask questions, pose concerns, or provide input on policy. We love it when students take the initiative to do that."
There are 35 spots in the Student Senate, but only 34 of those seats are currently filled. Johnson says he is looking to fill that vacant seat. Students can apply for the position by visiting the Office of Student Life and picking up an application there.
In order to qualify for a senator position, students must have 12 credit hours at JSU and a 2.5 GPA.
Brotherhood and music: The three fraternities of the David L. Walters Department of Music
Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, September 19, 2013.
At Jacksonville State University, three fraternities focus on sharing music with the world with individual voices.
Sigma Alpha Iota is a professional international music fraternity for women.
“A lot of people call us a sorority, but we are actually a fraternity,” says SAI president Ellen Abney.
SAI was started by seven women at the University School of Music in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1903, but JSU’s chapter, Theta Beta, was chartered in 1993.
Everything that the fraternity does centers on the support and promotion of music. The Theta Beta chapter collects money for Music in our Schools Month, which is in March. Alumnae Christina Booker started the project two years ago. This past spring, SAI raised over $2,000 to donate to the music program at Pleasant Valley High School.
“You’ll see us carrying jars around campus in the spring, so save up some change for us, because we plan to donate to another music program this year!” Abney says. “Seeing faces when we can offer monetary assistance is an amazing feeling.”
Recently, SAI participated in a fundraiser for a student at White Plains who had earned a spot in a national honor band but didn’t have the money to go and participate.
“After donations from Southerners and the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha, the SAI sisters came together to finish raising money for him to go,” says Abney. “I had the honor and privilege of surprising him with the money at his school. He got choked up and was so excited that he was going to get to take his trip.”
Just like SAI is a fraternity exclusively for women, Phi Mu Alpha is a music fraternity exclusively for men.
“We try to promote the uplifting of mankind through music,” explains Phi Mu Alpha president Zack Davis.
The fraternity’s main philanthropy is the Mills Music Mission, in which the brothers sing for people in hospitals or nursing homes. JSU’s chapter, Epsilon Nu, visits Myrick Manor in Jacksonville at least once each semester. They are planning to sing there on October 6, which is the fraternity’s Founder’s Day.
“We are a social fraternity with professional ideals,” Davis says of Phi Mu Alpha, which is open to any type of musician. “I think that makes us different from most Greek organizations.”
Kappa Kappa Psi is a co-ed fraternity committed to service to JSU’s band program and is open exclusively to members of the school’s instrumental ensembles.
“All brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi have a common love for the band program and are willing to help out by doing anything and everything we can for a professor here in the music department,” explains KKY president Tim Chappell.
Because the musical ensembles themselves are the fraternity’s philanthropy, KKY gives water or goodie bags to the Marching Southerners, purchases music stands for the jazz bands, and
hosts cook-outs for Music Department faculty.
Chappell describes the David L. Walters Department of Music as “a department that has given so much to so many here at JSU.”
He adds, “The best part of being a member of KKY is the fact that I get to help out the band department with my closest friends and brothers while developing responsibility, loyalty, and leadership skills.”
At Jacksonville State University, three fraternities focus on sharing music with the world with individual voices.
Sigma Alpha Iota is a professional international music fraternity for women.
“A lot of people call us a sorority, but we are actually a fraternity,” says SAI president Ellen Abney.
SAI was started by seven women at the University School of Music in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1903, but JSU’s chapter, Theta Beta, was chartered in 1993.
Everything that the fraternity does centers on the support and promotion of music. The Theta Beta chapter collects money for Music in our Schools Month, which is in March. Alumnae Christina Booker started the project two years ago. This past spring, SAI raised over $2,000 to donate to the music program at Pleasant Valley High School.
“You’ll see us carrying jars around campus in the spring, so save up some change for us, because we plan to donate to another music program this year!” Abney says. “Seeing faces when we can offer monetary assistance is an amazing feeling.”
Recently, SAI participated in a fundraiser for a student at White Plains who had earned a spot in a national honor band but didn’t have the money to go and participate.
“After donations from Southerners and the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha, the SAI sisters came together to finish raising money for him to go,” says Abney. “I had the honor and privilege of surprising him with the money at his school. He got choked up and was so excited that he was going to get to take his trip.”
Just like SAI is a fraternity exclusively for women, Phi Mu Alpha is a music fraternity exclusively for men.
“We try to promote the uplifting of mankind through music,” explains Phi Mu Alpha president Zack Davis.
The fraternity’s main philanthropy is the Mills Music Mission, in which the brothers sing for people in hospitals or nursing homes. JSU’s chapter, Epsilon Nu, visits Myrick Manor in Jacksonville at least once each semester. They are planning to sing there on October 6, which is the fraternity’s Founder’s Day.
“We are a social fraternity with professional ideals,” Davis says of Phi Mu Alpha, which is open to any type of musician. “I think that makes us different from most Greek organizations.”
Kappa Kappa Psi is a co-ed fraternity committed to service to JSU’s band program and is open exclusively to members of the school’s instrumental ensembles.
“All brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi have a common love for the band program and are willing to help out by doing anything and everything we can for a professor here in the music department,” explains KKY president Tim Chappell.
Because the musical ensembles themselves are the fraternity’s philanthropy, KKY gives water or goodie bags to the Marching Southerners, purchases music stands for the jazz bands, and
hosts cook-outs for Music Department faculty.
Chappell describes the David L. Walters Department of Music as “a department that has given so much to so many here at JSU.”
He adds, “The best part of being a member of KKY is the fact that I get to help out the band department with my closest friends and brothers while developing responsibility, loyalty, and leadership skills.”
JSU welcomes former members of Congress for Constitution Day
Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, on Thursday, September 19, 2013.
Two former Representatives, Sue Kelly (R) of New York and Earl Hutto (D) of Florida, visited JSU this week as part of the Congress to Campus program. They spoke with many classes during their participation in the Constitution Day program on Tuesday, as well as with the student senate and Freshman Forum.
Referring to Dr. Lori Owens of the Political Science and Public Administration Department, Kelly
said, “Lori has set us up with a full schedule, and I love it. We are used to working hard in Congress.”
Kelly served as a member of Congress for 12 years, while Hutto served for 16 years. During that time, they worked tirelessly to represent their constituents.
“I don’t think I ever put in any less than at least an 18 hour day, seven days a week,” Kelly says. “I chaired subcommittees. To do that and hold hearings requires an enormous amount of work, because I didn’t want my staff knowing more about an issue than I did. I didn’t want them drafting my questions.”
She says that she would take stacks of law books home with her at night and would fall asleep on top of them around 3:00 a.m., then have to get up four hours later and make a speech. Regardless, Kelly also says that she loved her time as a representative.
"It's so much fun, because you get a chance to learn," she says. "You learn so much about how people feel about things, and what the government is really doing in their lives, and how things operate in the United States."
Hutto stressed the importance of college students meeting with public officials as often as they get the chance.
"The program that we're here under gives the opportunity to college students to see face-to-face those who serve in Congress and ask questions about what goes on," he says in reference to the Congress to Campus program. "I think I've seen better participation here than in most other colleges where I've been."
Two former Representatives, Sue Kelly (R) of New York and Earl Hutto (D) of Florida, visited JSU this week as part of the Congress to Campus program. They spoke with many classes during their participation in the Constitution Day program on Tuesday, as well as with the student senate and Freshman Forum.
Referring to Dr. Lori Owens of the Political Science and Public Administration Department, Kelly
said, “Lori has set us up with a full schedule, and I love it. We are used to working hard in Congress.”
Kelly served as a member of Congress for 12 years, while Hutto served for 16 years. During that time, they worked tirelessly to represent their constituents.
“I don’t think I ever put in any less than at least an 18 hour day, seven days a week,” Kelly says. “I chaired subcommittees. To do that and hold hearings requires an enormous amount of work, because I didn’t want my staff knowing more about an issue than I did. I didn’t want them drafting my questions.”
She says that she would take stacks of law books home with her at night and would fall asleep on top of them around 3:00 a.m., then have to get up four hours later and make a speech. Regardless, Kelly also says that she loved her time as a representative.
"It's so much fun, because you get a chance to learn," she says. "You learn so much about how people feel about things, and what the government is really doing in their lives, and how things operate in the United States."
Hutto stressed the importance of college students meeting with public officials as often as they get the chance.
"The program that we're here under gives the opportunity to college students to see face-to-face those who serve in Congress and ask questions about what goes on," he says in reference to the Congress to Campus program. "I think I've seen better participation here than in most other colleges where I've been."
Kelly added that she was impressed that the students at JSU had been asking questions of the Representatives that were obviously not just things they could find on Google. She said that it's encouraging the students are thinking for themselves.
Kelly had this advice to give to students who are considering a career in politics or public service: "Get a job. If you graduate from college and then you go into public service, you are doing the people you represent a disservice, because you don't know how the world works. The right thing to do is get a job, go to work, and get some gravitas under your resume. Do some things that count."
The two Representatives shared why they themselves decided to run for office.
Hutto was a journalist working with a television station in Panama City, Florida. The station would send him to Tallahassee during the legislative sessions to interview members of the House and Senate.
"That kind of whetted my appetite for it," Hutto says.
Kelly stated that she decided to run for office because, "I got mad at the Republican party."
She says that when a particular seat came open, she didn't feel like the candidates who were being backed by the Republicans would have been right for the job. But she also didn't feel that the Democratic candidate would be the right representative for the district either.
"I called 12 people, and I begged them to run," Kelly says. "Then I called my husband. Every single one, including my husband, turned me down. So I got mad. My husband said, 'You run. You care about it.' So I ran and I won."
"Did your husband vote for you?" Hutto asked.
Kelly replied, "I hope so."
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