Recap On SEAS February 23 Meeting

The Student Enivronmental Action Society met on February 23
at 5:30 p.m. in Building 13 in room 230.

At the meeting, there was anticipation to discuss the Save Our Sanctuary campaign that SEAS organized to stop the proposed construction in the UWF Athletics Facilities Master Plan on the the Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary located next to Village East and the UWF back entrance. The developments include a golf course,a driving range, IM fields, and two parking lots.

The meeting opened with SEAS President David Lee giving the itinerary for the group's planned April 19 trip to an environmental conference called Powershift.

Jeremy Kester, SEAS member and rain biology major says that Powershift not only gives students the opportunity to learn about environmental sustainability and climate change, but it challenges them to organize student activist groups to promote and influence legislation that supports sustainable energy.

"Powershift is a conference held biannually to engage students in lectures, workshops, and training sessions which are focused on aspects promoting sustainability and preventing further climate change in areas like legislation, community development, political procedures, the formation of more "green collar" jobs, and initiatives on American campuses," said Kester.


He adds, "One of the overriding themes of this conference seems to be organizing student activists for the purpose of initiating and motivating a shift in lawmakers-- or at least influencing them by lobbying or assembling large numbers of students (aka voters)-- towards enacting, or at the least, promoting sustainability initiatives and legislation for 'green' energy."

The other main topic raised in the meeting was the Save Our Sanctuary Campaign. For those who haven't been keeping up with campus news, SEAS has been featured in the Voyager recently for their Save Our Sanctuary campaign.

Lee encouraged members to conjure up their own definitions for what the Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary means to them and the community at large. In the current UWF Master Campus Master plan there are provisions which conserve certain natural areas on campus if designated as "environmentally sensitive" and used for "limited amounts of human activity such as pedestrian trails, boardwalks, outdoor education, etc." SEAS is planning several demonstratations on campus to ensure that students are informed about UWF's Athletics Facilities Master Plan and the SOS campaign to stop construction.

SEAS members were vocal in their responses to Lee's challenge. A few members already formed definitions of what the area meant to them. One commented that the area is truly a sanctuary for both students and its natural inhabitants such as the bald eagle that was recently photographed in its nest in the Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary.

Lee urged SEAS members to also come up with suggestions for revamping their website and Facebook page. The meeting closed with Lee showing off some of the posters that SEAS members have designed for the Save Our Sanctuary campaign.

Video Proficiency Test

It begins at the 24 second mark, sorry for the inconvienience.

Bottom Line: Abortion Is a Touchy Topic

Last Tuesday, the nonprofit organization The Center for Bio Ethical Reform exhibited their Genocide Awareness Project at the University of West Florida next to the Commons. The display featured graphic photographs of aborted and abused and neglected children.

I was taken aback by the exhibit as I walked from the Commons to the library. First, I had just eaten lunch so you can imagine the ramifications the images had on my not yet settled stomach. But more importantly, I was unsure of what to make of the graphic photographs, or moreso what to take away from them.

I have always been pro-life, however, I have never vilified those who oppose my stance on abortion. I believe that life begins at conception and that an embryo is a living human-being. My stance on abortion is undoubtedly shaped by my moral convictions and principles which are undoubtedly influenced by my Christian beliefs.

Though I believe that abortion is morally unjust, I don't know if the huge exhibit was entirely effective at driving that point across and convincing others to acknowledge the unjust factor though it certainly did exhibit the brutal nature of abortion and child neglect and abuse.

Every passerby had an opinion on the exhibit and that is for certain. While I sat on the bench in front of library, the students who walked pass me either proclaimed their outright disgust, utter indifference, or agreement of the message of the exhibit.

As for the subject of the exhibit, I can say without hesitation that I agree completely that abortion is immoral. I don't know if getting that message across by shoving it down everybody's throats via a huge graphic display was necessarily an effective approach.

UWF Is Reviving the Society of Professional Journalists Chapter

When we think of comebacks, one might reminisce on the powerful comebacks of two sports veterans, Michael Jordan and Brett Favre after they retired.

It’s been a long time coming for University of West Florida journalism students interested in re-establishing a campus chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, but the future for a comeback looks promising.

The original SJP chapter at the University of West Florida, called the Journalism Club, was established in 1985. As time progressed, the chapter became less active as student interest dwindled and was relinquished as a result. Last fall, however, a group of journalism students organized a movement to re-enact another chapter on campus.

The three founders of the new chapter, Kristen Dressel, Jodie Maddox, and Will Isern are determined to see that all requirements are fulfilled in order for the chapter to be approved by the University and the National Society of Professional Journalists so that UWF will have a SJP chapter once again.

Jodie Maddox explains the process of reactivating the club, “I first went online to the national website spj.org to research the process in becoming part of the national organization,” she says. “Because the school previously had a chapter we simply had to reactivate it. We only needed three student members and a faculty advisor who were all in good standing with regard to their national membership in order to reactivate the local chapter. As for getting the organization incorporated through the Student Activities Board, we had to go online and fill out their application which is currently under review and we are waiting to hear back from them sometime in the next week or so.”

Maddox sees the chapter not only as a vehicle to form a community of student journalists, but as a vehicle to enhance student and faculty relations since communication arts professors Gary Ghioto and Bruce Swain serve as advisors.

“I believe the chapter will help to unite both faculty and students through the unbreakable bonds formed by a love of journalism and a passion of the profession,” says Maddox. “Faculty members will be able to pass on their own experiences and knowledge gained only through real world applications of everything students are taught in classrooms.”

Kristen Dressel, who is also the Voyager Web Editor and Media Editor, says that this chapter will strive to strengthen the ties between communication arts students.

“This is exactly what needs to happen now. With the job market right now, we need to make as many contacts as possible,” says Dressel. “Especially when it looks like print journalism is advancing into more multimedia. But, the more we come together and realize that we have this common interest, we can bring more to the UWF Campus TV News and The Voyager.”

Dressel says that the mission of the campus chapter is to bring journalism students together and also encourage them to become more involved with their degree. Dressel adds that the chapter will carry this mission out by giving members the opportunity to participate in workshops and competitions, go to conferences, and listen and interact with guest speakers.

Will Isern believes that the campus chapter will benefit UWF’s communication arts department and greater academic community by presenting student members with network opportunities and hands on experience.

“We hope that an SPJ chapter here on campus will connect UWF students with journalism opportunities both in and outside the scope of the University,” he says. “Not only does it look good on a journalism major's resume, but we think that through attending SPJ conferences students will be able to get some real world journalism experience and networking opportunities.”

To join the campus SJP chapter, a student must go online to spj.org and fill out the national application which includes a $36 annual fee or a total fee of $100. Then you must contact a UWF SJP chapter member or advisor Gary Ghioto. You can also join the UWF SJP chapter Facebook group called spj@uwf.

The next informational meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 23^rd. It will be on the second floor in the Commons from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm in room 268. It is open to all students.

A Touch of Something Personal

Isn't it amazing when you have what Oprah calls an "aha" moment? The moment where you discover why things aren't going the way you would like for them to go. When you discover why you aren't getting the results you hoped for.

I got my "aha" moment a few days ago. I realized that I am lacking confidence in my abilities, in my strengths as a person and the scope of what I can achieve. I needed to reflect on the reasons why I am where I am right now. Is it because of God? Support from my family? My own self determination? The answer is all three.

I am currently in my third year of college because I asked God for guidance and I trusted in His promises and in His power. My family has always been my support system. If I ever had a problem, I didn't need to look too far for wisdom and sound advice. I am a part of the reason I am where I am because as the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

I had to make my own decisions at the end of the day, and I chose to be an advocate for my own success.

Because of my own drive and the influence of positive forces in my life, I am where I am. I needed to reaquaint myself with my own reality. I was and can still be an advocate for my own success if I wake up and realize that the only thing missing in the equation is the willingness on my part to advocate.

Everyone else is doing their share.

Lightening is Scary but Bats Are Creepy

 My biggest phobia is bats. Second to bats is lightening. I suppose if you put the two together that would cause a larger than life panic attack for me.

I wouldn't say that I hate bats but I surely would never pet one, NEVER. I know, I know, Justin Bieber tells us to never say never but he doesn't know my fear of bats. These weird looking animals scare me not because of what they are but because of what they aren't. Make any sense?

Let me share with you an anecdote. You see one night I was minding my business, just taking a late night stroll with my dog who I happen to not be scared of, when I hear an echo of shrill screeches, almost like cries. I look over to my neighbor's yard and I notice a white birdlike creature near her bush. I wonder why this lone bird is out so late in the wide open.

Then it takes off into the night sky, screeching as it flies. I notice that this bird is not a bird at all but, gulp, a bat. All of a sudden my heart races, my skin feels itchy, and I feel as if I am being closed in by a mob of bats. All of a sudden I see multiple bats emerge, swooping in around me.Naturally, I RUN homeward.

I ran so fast that I could have produced my second biggest phobia, lightening. I leave my poor dog in the dust to fend for himself, because if he were smart, he'd run too. He isn't much of a fighter, nor is he a threat to a fly, let alone a creature that could suck your blood.

Long story short, I am creeped out by bats and scared of lightening. I would rather be scared than creeped though. Bats make me shudder, quiver in my boots. They look like little hybrids of a bird, flying insect, and a rat and that is darn creepy.