FRONT ROW SEAT
SHANAYA BUTLER
"rent"
With Valentine's day coming up in the February issue of front row seat I will take a look at a musical that represents love: Rent. This musical follows a group of young artists attempting to start a career and life in New York City. Not only are they connected through their passion for the arts, but are also in relationships with each other. We get a glimpse of their talents through the opening song which is ‘seasons of love’. The song questions how you can measure a year in someone's life. The conclusion is you measure it by the love they have given and received. This musical explores themes of love, as well as sexuality, HIV, and depression.
The title of the musical is inspired by the conflict between two roommates and their landlord/friend. Mark, a filmmaker, and Roger, a rock musician, are tenants of Benny. They aren’t able to pay their rent. So, on Christmas eve they are without power and struggling to stay warm. The first relationship we are introduced to is between Mark and Maureen. They recently broke up, but Mark went to see one of Maureen's shows. As he helps her set up the equipment he meets her new partner, Joanne. Unexpectedly they bond over their distrust of Maureen’s “outgoing” behavior. While the two discuss Maureen, Mark’s friend, Tom, has been mugged in an alley, but he gets help from a woman named Angel. She is a street drummer who also does drag, which is the reason she is walking past the alley. The theme of HIV/AIDS comes in to play when Angel and Tom find out they are both HIV positive. The other character with HIV is Roger. We are exposed to his condition when Mimi, their neighbor, asks for help lighting a candle while also flirting with him. Roger, however, is hesitant since his previous partner, whom he contracted HIV from, committed suicide once learning about her condition. Mimi’s determination to flirt makes Roger upset since he wanted to spend the time he had alone to write a song he will be remembered by before the disease kills him. These events are the platform for what happens in the musical.
To learn more about what happens in Rent you can watch the movie version or the tv show version that will be aired on January 27th.
The title of the musical is inspired by the conflict between two roommates and their landlord/friend. Mark, a filmmaker, and Roger, a rock musician, are tenants of Benny. They aren’t able to pay their rent. So, on Christmas eve they are without power and struggling to stay warm. The first relationship we are introduced to is between Mark and Maureen. They recently broke up, but Mark went to see one of Maureen's shows. As he helps her set up the equipment he meets her new partner, Joanne. Unexpectedly they bond over their distrust of Maureen’s “outgoing” behavior. While the two discuss Maureen, Mark’s friend, Tom, has been mugged in an alley, but he gets help from a woman named Angel. She is a street drummer who also does drag, which is the reason she is walking past the alley. The theme of HIV/AIDS comes in to play when Angel and Tom find out they are both HIV positive. The other character with HIV is Roger. We are exposed to his condition when Mimi, their neighbor, asks for help lighting a candle while also flirting with him. Roger, however, is hesitant since his previous partner, whom he contracted HIV from, committed suicide once learning about her condition. Mimi’s determination to flirt makes Roger upset since he wanted to spend the time he had alone to write a song he will be remembered by before the disease kills him. These events are the platform for what happens in the musical.
To learn more about what happens in Rent you can watch the movie version or the tv show version that will be aired on January 27th.
FUR-EVER FRIENDS
ANNA LIPPY
"SAM, I AM"
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is the largest and one of the most influential dog organizations in the world. Although the AKC is known for its sport of purebred dogs, they have established numerous foundations to support all dogs and their owners since its founding in 1884. The AKC Rescue Network is the largest network of rescue groups in the country, with over 500 participating members. The AKC Canine Health Foundation studies all of the top diseases in dogs to gather more information about how to prevent, treat, and cure these illnesses. The Club also promotes support for dog owner rights, advancements for the health and well-being of dogs, and education for the public on how to be a responsible dog owner.
This month we will feature Faustino Orozco’s Siberian Husky, Sam. Faustino got him from an elderly woman who wasn’t able to take care of him anymore. Sam loves to chow down on milk bones and enjoys chewing on broomsticks. He loves car rides and going to Stone Mountain on the nature trails, running and chasing his tail - whenever he runs too fast he’ll drop and let himself roll to stop, contrary to the gracefulness that their breed is known for. “Sam is my first pet, having a dog is not at all what I thought it would be, especially with his breed you have to brush him every day so fur doesn’t fly around all the time but he’s a loyal companion and he always wants to play and hang out so I love the dog to death, I definitely would get another pet in the future.”
Faustino didn’t get Sam directly from the American Kennel Club, in fact he’s not sure where the elderly woman got him from. But, they found their way to each other and have positively impacted one another. Every dog, purebred or not, deserves a loving companion with a safe place to call home. We are lucky to live in a time and a country that values our canine friends and rallies for resources to give them the love and care not only that they need, but that they deserve.
This month we will feature Faustino Orozco’s Siberian Husky, Sam. Faustino got him from an elderly woman who wasn’t able to take care of him anymore. Sam loves to chow down on milk bones and enjoys chewing on broomsticks. He loves car rides and going to Stone Mountain on the nature trails, running and chasing his tail - whenever he runs too fast he’ll drop and let himself roll to stop, contrary to the gracefulness that their breed is known for. “Sam is my first pet, having a dog is not at all what I thought it would be, especially with his breed you have to brush him every day so fur doesn’t fly around all the time but he’s a loyal companion and he always wants to play and hang out so I love the dog to death, I definitely would get another pet in the future.”
Faustino didn’t get Sam directly from the American Kennel Club, in fact he’s not sure where the elderly woman got him from. But, they found their way to each other and have positively impacted one another. Every dog, purebred or not, deserves a loving companion with a safe place to call home. We are lucky to live in a time and a country that values our canine friends and rallies for resources to give them the love and care not only that they need, but that they deserve.
“Always remember: We are a service organization. The dogs are not here for us, we are here for the dogs.”
- William E. Buckley, an AKC President in the mid-1900s
Information for this article was gathered from https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/siberian-husky/ and https://www.akc.org/about/
- William E. Buckley, an AKC President in the mid-1900s
Information for this article was gathered from https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/siberian-husky/ and https://www.akc.org/about/
FAKE NEWS
PARIA FORUGHI ARANI
"trump vs the government"
Donald Trump’s reputation of spreading fake news has made him “ the boy who called wolf ”. Endless lies and rumors have made him the figure he is today, a joke. However, out of all the ridiculous things he says and comes up with, this government shutdown nonsense is by far the absolute worse. Once, taken as a joke is now a living nightmare for many individuals and families who have been forced to work every day for the past few weeks with no paycheck to take home. Not only is this devastating, but it is also extremely absurd. This has put our country in a battle between a selfish, greedy, old man and the lives of many who are struggling to stay in their homes and feed their families.
Saturday, December 22, 2018 marked the beginning of the second governmental
shutdown in the US, labeling it the longest shutdown to take place. It all started out as a means to collect money to construct the wall that would separate Mexico and the US. When Congress refused to do anything to collect money, Trump decided it was time for plan B. His plan to shut down the government alerted thousands of lives and the attention of Congress. It has closed down all national parks, cut off the salary for veterans, air traffic control, TSA, the military, and the list goes on. Now, it has been almost five weeks for those who work for the government to go home empty-handed.
However, citizens have not surrendered so quickly. Not only have thousands of protestors marched up to the outside of the white house, but politicians are also taking a stance to defend this big bad wolf. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, stated in an interview stated that he would do whatever it takes to oppose any administration effort to use disaster funding for the construction of a border wall. He and others are taking actions to keep the hands of Trump off of any money either in Congress or from the people. “The President is now talking to his lawyers about whether he would have the authority to issue a national emergency and reprogram money that's been allocated for other purposes, but I will tell you that I will oppose any reprogramming of Harvey disaster funds. We worked very hard to make sure that the victims of Hurricane Harvey — their concerns are addressed, and Texas is able to rebuild. And I think we are all
together on that.”
Trump and his ridiculous commands have caused pain, misfortune, and debt for many Americans. This event has marked a standstill in the government and until he learns to stop being selfish and empty-minded, he might end up all alone surrounded by his most desired, precious wall.
There are 13 things deaf people have to deal with that you have never thought about. It’s interesting how difficult it is to understand exactly what it’s like to be deaf. This forces those who are deaf to experience the world in an entirely different way than the rest of the hearing population, and not always how you would expect. Ever tried to imagine what it would be like to be deaf or hard of hearing? Well even if you spent a whole day blocking your ears, deafness is unfortunately not something you can understand unless you’ve actually experienced it. What most people don’t realize is that deafness affects a lot more than just your hearing – it can actually have an impact on everything from relationships and learning to mental health. So, let’s learn about what being deaf is like, that we might be more compassionate in the future.
1- People Will Talk About You As If You Aren’t There
Some deaf people have also had to deal with hearing folks talking about them literally right in front of their faces. Not only can many deaf people lip read, where they are able to see what someone might be saying about them, but also talking about anyone while they are right there is a pretty hurtful thing to do. Whether or not you think they can hear you. This can make already difficult social interactions much more so, leading to feelings of alienation and anxiety on part of a deaf person.
2- Seeing A New Movie At The Movie Theater Is Always A Losing Battle
For the deaf, going to the movies to see a new film is even more of a pain than it is for other people. See, there really isn’t any movie theater that would be available with subtitles because it’s rare. Those who need closed captions will arrive at the facility and buy their ticket, only to find that the screening has no subtitles whatsoever.
3- Having People Avoid Talking To Them At All
Some people hope to avoid communicating with people when out and about. Those with hearing problems often don’t get a choice in the matter. Speaking about their experiences online, some deaf people have explained that individuals appear to be immediately put off when they see a hearing aid. Basically, they think it will take a lot of effort to communicate with them, or that they might embarrass themselves. Of course, this is not the case at all. Most deaf people would obviously rather others were not afraid to approach them.
4- You’re Constantly Jumpy, As You Never Know When Someone Is Approaching You From Behind
Anyone who has ever worn headphones while listening to music and had someone sneak up behind them will understand this everyday problem that impacts the deaf. With only visual clues and in some instances the vibrations of the ground deaf people can easily get frightened if a person comes up behind them unexpectedly.
For some, this leads to a constant "jumpy" feeling, as they can rarely be completely comfortable no one is sneaking up on them from behind.
5- Communicating In The Dark Is Next To Impossible
For most people, communicating in the dark is relatively easy to do. For those with hearing difficulties, nighttime and dark spaces such as bars or concerts pose their own unique problems. After all, the deaf rely almost exclusively on visual stimuli, like lip reading or sign language, to communicate with others.
Without adequate light, it can quickly become almost impossible to speak effectively with others. It's just too dark to see anything that could be interpreted effectively. Even dimly lit rooms can pose massive problems for the hard of hearing.
6- People Talking Slowly Throws Off Lip Reading
One of the first things people do when they realize someone is deaf is switch to a much slower form of speech. This is usually done as people assume it will help in lip reading, allowing for more deliberate pronunciation. The truth, though, is that this just makes life more difficult for anyone attempting to lip read.
The hard of hearing who use lip reading rely on people to speak naturally. This is how they learned to recognize the shapes humans make when they talk, so they can interact with others on a more comfortable level. Changing to a slower rate of speech also alters the way your mouth moves, and generally makes it harder to understand what is being said.
7- Not Getting Announcements At Public Places And Events
Anyone who has been to a public event or had to stand in a train station while traveling will be familiar with public address systems. These loudspeakers can give vital safety information to the public, and make sure that any changes or delays can be communicated quickly. For someone with hearing difficulties, though, this poses a series of problems.
As these messages are often not relayed visually, it is incredibly easy for deaf people to miss the announcements altogether if they're not constantly on guard. In the worst-case scenario, it can mean missed departures, especially if no one is around to let them know what's going on.
8- Having To Rely On Touch To Get The Attention Of Others
Getting someone’s attention when you want to speak with them is often as easy as calling their name. However, when you are deaf, this system is hardly appropriate. You would never be able to hear the call. That's why, in deaf culture touching each other to get attention has become much more normalized.
Firm but polite tapping on the shoulder is a common practice, but those who are not familiar with the deaf community may be unaware of this. It can lead to confrontations or misunderstandings when those born with hearing feel someone touching them without warning.
9- Deaf People Often Hide Their Hearing Devices
Sadly, a lot of us assume that if someone is deaf, it’ll be obvious – they’ll be wearing a big ol’ hearing aid, right? Actually, wrong. These days, hearing devices are often super discreet, so chances are you have never notice if someone is wearing one. Plus, some deaf people actively hide their devices because they don’t want to be treated differently.
Of course this is a reminder not to be judgmental – but you don’t need to gush with sympathy either. Just remember that you never know when you may be talking to a deaf person… so the best thing you can do is take the time and care to be clear with everyone! And if you do notice a hearing device, take care to make that person feel part of the conversation.
10- There’s Such A Thing As A “Deaf Person Nod”
You know when you’re talking to someone, and they’re nodding along like they totally get you, so you assume they totally do? Well, guess what: you may be talking to a deaf person who has absolutely no clue what you’re on about. The ‘deaf person nod’ is a common habit deaf people slip into – usually when they aren’t comfortable asking for clarification. It’s understandable really – no one wants to feel like the annoying person who’s constantly asking others to repeat themselves.
11- Hearing Overload And Exhaustion Is A Real Thing
Think about how your head hurts after a long day of learning. It’s tiring having to work so hard to listen and understand, right? Well, spare a thought for people who are deaf. For them, communication is ALWAYS hard work, even if they’re just at a party or ordering a coffee. Whether they’re frantically lip-reading, or straining to hear what’s being said, it’s flat out exhausting.
So next time you’re around someone who’s deaf or hard of hearing, try to speak clearly (and don’t let people talk over the top of each other). It’s not a bad idea to ask if there’s anything you can do to make communicating easier for them too. And if the deaf person needs some alone or quiet time, don’t be offended!
12- Hearing Is Not The Same As Understanding
Deafness doesn’t just affect hearing – it has an impact on general communication skills too. This is largely because people who are deaf or hard of hearing have often had a lot less exposure to language and vocab throughout their lives. Make no mistake: this DOESN’T mean deaf people are stupid! It just means they have to work much harder to comprehend a conversation.
With this in mind, never make someone feel bad if they ask you to repeat yourself, or don’t get the punchline of your joke. They may be hard of hearing (or your joke may just not be funny!). It’s important to remember you never know the lengths someone has to go to just to keep up with everyday chit chat.
13- Deaf People Are Often Accused Of Being Rude
Nothing’s more annoying than being ignored when you’re trying to talk to someone, right? But next time you find yourself in this situation and start getting irritated, take a moment to consider if the person you’re talking to may be deaf or hard of hearing. If this is the case, they may simply not have heard or understood you (and given how small hearing devices are these days, it’s not always easy to tell).
The lesson to take away? Take care to communicate clearly, be patient, and don’t jump to conclusions! Really, this is a good approach to take when you’re dealing with anyone (we all deserve a second chance!), but it’s especially important to remember when you’re interacting with someone who’s deaf.
1- People Will Talk About You As If You Aren’t There
Some deaf people have also had to deal with hearing folks talking about them literally right in front of their faces. Not only can many deaf people lip read, where they are able to see what someone might be saying about them, but also talking about anyone while they are right there is a pretty hurtful thing to do. Whether or not you think they can hear you. This can make already difficult social interactions much more so, leading to feelings of alienation and anxiety on part of a deaf person.
2- Seeing A New Movie At The Movie Theater Is Always A Losing Battle
For the deaf, going to the movies to see a new film is even more of a pain than it is for other people. See, there really isn’t any movie theater that would be available with subtitles because it’s rare. Those who need closed captions will arrive at the facility and buy their ticket, only to find that the screening has no subtitles whatsoever.
3- Having People Avoid Talking To Them At All
Some people hope to avoid communicating with people when out and about. Those with hearing problems often don’t get a choice in the matter. Speaking about their experiences online, some deaf people have explained that individuals appear to be immediately put off when they see a hearing aid. Basically, they think it will take a lot of effort to communicate with them, or that they might embarrass themselves. Of course, this is not the case at all. Most deaf people would obviously rather others were not afraid to approach them.
4- You’re Constantly Jumpy, As You Never Know When Someone Is Approaching You From Behind
Anyone who has ever worn headphones while listening to music and had someone sneak up behind them will understand this everyday problem that impacts the deaf. With only visual clues and in some instances the vibrations of the ground deaf people can easily get frightened if a person comes up behind them unexpectedly.
For some, this leads to a constant "jumpy" feeling, as they can rarely be completely comfortable no one is sneaking up on them from behind.
5- Communicating In The Dark Is Next To Impossible
For most people, communicating in the dark is relatively easy to do. For those with hearing difficulties, nighttime and dark spaces such as bars or concerts pose their own unique problems. After all, the deaf rely almost exclusively on visual stimuli, like lip reading or sign language, to communicate with others.
Without adequate light, it can quickly become almost impossible to speak effectively with others. It's just too dark to see anything that could be interpreted effectively. Even dimly lit rooms can pose massive problems for the hard of hearing.
6- People Talking Slowly Throws Off Lip Reading
One of the first things people do when they realize someone is deaf is switch to a much slower form of speech. This is usually done as people assume it will help in lip reading, allowing for more deliberate pronunciation. The truth, though, is that this just makes life more difficult for anyone attempting to lip read.
The hard of hearing who use lip reading rely on people to speak naturally. This is how they learned to recognize the shapes humans make when they talk, so they can interact with others on a more comfortable level. Changing to a slower rate of speech also alters the way your mouth moves, and generally makes it harder to understand what is being said.
7- Not Getting Announcements At Public Places And Events
Anyone who has been to a public event or had to stand in a train station while traveling will be familiar with public address systems. These loudspeakers can give vital safety information to the public, and make sure that any changes or delays can be communicated quickly. For someone with hearing difficulties, though, this poses a series of problems.
As these messages are often not relayed visually, it is incredibly easy for deaf people to miss the announcements altogether if they're not constantly on guard. In the worst-case scenario, it can mean missed departures, especially if no one is around to let them know what's going on.
8- Having To Rely On Touch To Get The Attention Of Others
Getting someone’s attention when you want to speak with them is often as easy as calling their name. However, when you are deaf, this system is hardly appropriate. You would never be able to hear the call. That's why, in deaf culture touching each other to get attention has become much more normalized.
Firm but polite tapping on the shoulder is a common practice, but those who are not familiar with the deaf community may be unaware of this. It can lead to confrontations or misunderstandings when those born with hearing feel someone touching them without warning.
9- Deaf People Often Hide Their Hearing Devices
Sadly, a lot of us assume that if someone is deaf, it’ll be obvious – they’ll be wearing a big ol’ hearing aid, right? Actually, wrong. These days, hearing devices are often super discreet, so chances are you have never notice if someone is wearing one. Plus, some deaf people actively hide their devices because they don’t want to be treated differently.
Of course this is a reminder not to be judgmental – but you don’t need to gush with sympathy either. Just remember that you never know when you may be talking to a deaf person… so the best thing you can do is take the time and care to be clear with everyone! And if you do notice a hearing device, take care to make that person feel part of the conversation.
10- There’s Such A Thing As A “Deaf Person Nod”
You know when you’re talking to someone, and they’re nodding along like they totally get you, so you assume they totally do? Well, guess what: you may be talking to a deaf person who has absolutely no clue what you’re on about. The ‘deaf person nod’ is a common habit deaf people slip into – usually when they aren’t comfortable asking for clarification. It’s understandable really – no one wants to feel like the annoying person who’s constantly asking others to repeat themselves.
11- Hearing Overload And Exhaustion Is A Real Thing
Think about how your head hurts after a long day of learning. It’s tiring having to work so hard to listen and understand, right? Well, spare a thought for people who are deaf. For them, communication is ALWAYS hard work, even if they’re just at a party or ordering a coffee. Whether they’re frantically lip-reading, or straining to hear what’s being said, it’s flat out exhausting.
So next time you’re around someone who’s deaf or hard of hearing, try to speak clearly (and don’t let people talk over the top of each other). It’s not a bad idea to ask if there’s anything you can do to make communicating easier for them too. And if the deaf person needs some alone or quiet time, don’t be offended!
12- Hearing Is Not The Same As Understanding
Deafness doesn’t just affect hearing – it has an impact on general communication skills too. This is largely because people who are deaf or hard of hearing have often had a lot less exposure to language and vocab throughout their lives. Make no mistake: this DOESN’T mean deaf people are stupid! It just means they have to work much harder to comprehend a conversation.
With this in mind, never make someone feel bad if they ask you to repeat yourself, or don’t get the punchline of your joke. They may be hard of hearing (or your joke may just not be funny!). It’s important to remember you never know the lengths someone has to go to just to keep up with everyday chit chat.
13- Deaf People Are Often Accused Of Being Rude
Nothing’s more annoying than being ignored when you’re trying to talk to someone, right? But next time you find yourself in this situation and start getting irritated, take a moment to consider if the person you’re talking to may be deaf or hard of hearing. If this is the case, they may simply not have heard or understood you (and given how small hearing devices are these days, it’s not always easy to tell).
The lesson to take away? Take care to communicate clearly, be patient, and don’t jump to conclusions! Really, this is a good approach to take when you’re dealing with anyone (we all deserve a second chance!), but it’s especially important to remember when you’re interacting with someone who’s deaf.
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JUST MY OPINION
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Last month members of the Technology Student Association (TSA) hosted an event known as a Winter light festival which is held all across the world in celebration of usually the end of Winter and celebrate lighter seasons, however, TSA held it at the beginning of Winter. To understand more of what a Winter light festival was I asked the President of TSA, James Bunting, for an interview to figure out more of what made them want to pursue a Winter festival at Tucker.
● Why did you decide to put on a Winter light festival?
“We wanted to engage the community and raise business interest and funds for TSA. A Lot of students were interested in lanterns for so we decided to bring the opportunity to Tucker. “
● Would you say the festival was a success in your goal?
“It was a mixed bag...planning was difficult and there were things we were not aware. However, the festival was successful because there was a lot of exposure to the community. The Tucker communications director came by and was actually impressed with us. When we thought of the idea of the festival we weren't looking for some huge success but after all the positives that happened, that gave us a lot of incentives to do this again.”
● Since this was your first festival do you believe future members of TSA member will keep up this tradition?
“I sure hope so. I tried to document as much as a had done and I made a project proposal about things we can do next time for future TSA Presidents and members to follow even when I’m not here. In addition, we are going to do more festivals this year to show off our ‘clout’.”
● If this tradition were to continue what improvements would you hope other members would include?
We manufactured some of our own carnival games for the festival and I would hope more members would join in participating in making more creative games. I would also like if we had better timekeeping and better scheduling. We should also be able to decorate more with the festival. I would also like for us to have a bigger demonstration of music perhaps having more members of the band or chorus joining us for later festivals. Overall we would like more partnership with other clubs.”
● Would you be willing to do something like this again...maybe a Spring festival?
“We ran into some Fundamental issues with the winter festival mostly because it was cold and dark and some people were dissuaded to participate. If we get the chance we definitely going to try for a festival next year because it would be warmer and people would be more inclined to visit next time.”
● What were some highlights from the festival for you?
“One of the highlights were the Tucker Brass Ensemble and Jazz quartet and a band called Two Note and they absolutely stole the show and it was awesome to see so many random people from the community join us. In the end, we had a parade it was fantastic to see all the lanterns while listening to the music.”
● What changes would you have made before the festival happened?
“I should've done more material runs for some supplies that we didn’t have much of. I also wish that we had done a dry run of the festival before beginning because before we actually set up everything was pretty theoretical and we assumed were stands would go. If we did that we could have solidified some of the opportunities we had. In the end, we learned a lot from this process and now having hindsight for these festivals we now know more about what to do in regards to other TSA events.”
● Before we go, anything else you want to say for the audience in regard to the festivals or TSA?
“If anyone is interested in engineering or design or manufacture, come down to the engineering room. Lookout for STEM day in January and a steam festival in May those are upcoming sponsored Chief Science Officer programs. Come to Tucker TSA for all your shirt and sign designs. We design animatronics we do phone repair. WE DO IT ALL!
● Why did you decide to put on a Winter light festival?
“We wanted to engage the community and raise business interest and funds for TSA. A Lot of students were interested in lanterns for so we decided to bring the opportunity to Tucker. “
● Would you say the festival was a success in your goal?
“It was a mixed bag...planning was difficult and there were things we were not aware. However, the festival was successful because there was a lot of exposure to the community. The Tucker communications director came by and was actually impressed with us. When we thought of the idea of the festival we weren't looking for some huge success but after all the positives that happened, that gave us a lot of incentives to do this again.”
● Since this was your first festival do you believe future members of TSA member will keep up this tradition?
“I sure hope so. I tried to document as much as a had done and I made a project proposal about things we can do next time for future TSA Presidents and members to follow even when I’m not here. In addition, we are going to do more festivals this year to show off our ‘clout’.”
● If this tradition were to continue what improvements would you hope other members would include?
We manufactured some of our own carnival games for the festival and I would hope more members would join in participating in making more creative games. I would also like if we had better timekeeping and better scheduling. We should also be able to decorate more with the festival. I would also like for us to have a bigger demonstration of music perhaps having more members of the band or chorus joining us for later festivals. Overall we would like more partnership with other clubs.”
● Would you be willing to do something like this again...maybe a Spring festival?
“We ran into some Fundamental issues with the winter festival mostly because it was cold and dark and some people were dissuaded to participate. If we get the chance we definitely going to try for a festival next year because it would be warmer and people would be more inclined to visit next time.”
● What were some highlights from the festival for you?
“One of the highlights were the Tucker Brass Ensemble and Jazz quartet and a band called Two Note and they absolutely stole the show and it was awesome to see so many random people from the community join us. In the end, we had a parade it was fantastic to see all the lanterns while listening to the music.”
● What changes would you have made before the festival happened?
“I should've done more material runs for some supplies that we didn’t have much of. I also wish that we had done a dry run of the festival before beginning because before we actually set up everything was pretty theoretical and we assumed were stands would go. If we did that we could have solidified some of the opportunities we had. In the end, we learned a lot from this process and now having hindsight for these festivals we now know more about what to do in regards to other TSA events.”
● Before we go, anything else you want to say for the audience in regard to the festivals or TSA?
“If anyone is interested in engineering or design or manufacture, come down to the engineering room. Lookout for STEM day in January and a steam festival in May those are upcoming sponsored Chief Science Officer programs. Come to Tucker TSA for all your shirt and sign designs. We design animatronics we do phone repair. WE DO IT ALL!
MODERN BUSINESS
NOOR UL HOODA
"Alleviating Poverty by Means of Business"
Alleviating Poverty through various approaches have been initiated for decades. Sadly, most of these attempts have only shown unfinished results.
Today, where the global middle class keeps on growing, and where many developing countries have created impressive financial developments, it is clearly obvious that there is much more work to be done. Underneath the 21st Century development, countries and NGOs are still in struggle to solve poverty on their own.
In the past few years, we have witnessed a trend of businesses partnering with non-profit organizations to help solve the poverty challenges. Now as to answer, How can Businesses Alleviate Poverty? The Solution might not be an overnight cure, but as we can see, "Market-based solutions" are now starting to show results as the world’s poor have always proven they want a stake, not dole outs, in their local water sources, environment, education and economy.
The question focus on how can the business sector work with NGOs, local governments and directly with the world’s poorest citizens on finding poverty solutions? The answers might be simply more that we can imagine. In this paper, let me discuss three ways:
First, Help build expertise and capacity:
Instead of issuing checks to foundations, an effective solution strategy that the business sector can launch is to lend their employees to non-profit organizations on a part- or full-time basis. An example of this would be in India, where they launched The World of Difference program, which allows company employees to share their insights and experience on a variety of functions, including information technology, communications, human resources and communications. The German enterprise software company SAP practices a similar program in which employees participating in a four-week sabbatical program work with social enterprises in remote areas of India, South Africa and Brazil. Building organization capacity and NGOs while inspiring employees? A win-win for Vodafone and SAP.
Second, Invest in Women and Education:
Women bear the burden of poverty in both the developed and developing world. But imagine in a case that 10% more of a country’s girls attend school, then the rise in social development can be expected. In prospect the same country’s economy can grow 3%. Women also are known to invest in their families and communities at a rate more double than that of men. This can be done through funding and staffing, investment and training programs for women in countries in which a company does business is one way that an organization can become an engaged and effective stakeholder. In line with this, a clothing retailer has trained artisans in Rwanda to make scarves sold in the company’s stores. Another example would be a Telecommunication Exxonmobil company which invested in programs that educate women how to navigate mobile telephone and other technologies. We can also take a cue from Avon, which has started various projects, including no-interest, low-capital program training women to sell its products. As for women empowerment, Avon through its foundation helped rally in Hungary to mobilize their country’s parliament to pass a law declaring domestic violence a crime. Avon made a stand and upheld that domestic violence was not just a moral issue, but a business and economic problem.
Lastly, partner on water and sanitation projects:
Without potable water nothing else is possible. In developing economies, the old days of fetching over a well or a public latrine are over. More companies are partnering with non-profits to tackle the programs of water scarcity and unsafe sanitation. Also, beverage companies and breweries find themselves at the forefront of projects that tackle microfinance, tap into water mains and the build safe and clean private toilets. WWF was supported by SABMiller in order to create groundwater recharge structures to give farmers a more reliable source of irrigation water. On the other hand, we have the collaboration from Pepsi Co. and Water.org which now offers microloans so citizens can pay for rainwater harvesting systems and gain access to municipal water supplies.
Alleviating Poverty is challenging, but with dedication and a heart for change, nothing is impossible. Training, water conservation, and women’s empowerment may just be a few of the tangible solutions that our business sector can do to find more poverty solutions. But if we all contribute our ideas and let the world know, then it won't be long until we push the great divide to an end.
Today, where the global middle class keeps on growing, and where many developing countries have created impressive financial developments, it is clearly obvious that there is much more work to be done. Underneath the 21st Century development, countries and NGOs are still in struggle to solve poverty on their own.
In the past few years, we have witnessed a trend of businesses partnering with non-profit organizations to help solve the poverty challenges. Now as to answer, How can Businesses Alleviate Poverty? The Solution might not be an overnight cure, but as we can see, "Market-based solutions" are now starting to show results as the world’s poor have always proven they want a stake, not dole outs, in their local water sources, environment, education and economy.
The question focus on how can the business sector work with NGOs, local governments and directly with the world’s poorest citizens on finding poverty solutions? The answers might be simply more that we can imagine. In this paper, let me discuss three ways:
First, Help build expertise and capacity:
Instead of issuing checks to foundations, an effective solution strategy that the business sector can launch is to lend their employees to non-profit organizations on a part- or full-time basis. An example of this would be in India, where they launched The World of Difference program, which allows company employees to share their insights and experience on a variety of functions, including information technology, communications, human resources and communications. The German enterprise software company SAP practices a similar program in which employees participating in a four-week sabbatical program work with social enterprises in remote areas of India, South Africa and Brazil. Building organization capacity and NGOs while inspiring employees? A win-win for Vodafone and SAP.
Second, Invest in Women and Education:
Women bear the burden of poverty in both the developed and developing world. But imagine in a case that 10% more of a country’s girls attend school, then the rise in social development can be expected. In prospect the same country’s economy can grow 3%. Women also are known to invest in their families and communities at a rate more double than that of men. This can be done through funding and staffing, investment and training programs for women in countries in which a company does business is one way that an organization can become an engaged and effective stakeholder. In line with this, a clothing retailer has trained artisans in Rwanda to make scarves sold in the company’s stores. Another example would be a Telecommunication Exxonmobil company which invested in programs that educate women how to navigate mobile telephone and other technologies. We can also take a cue from Avon, which has started various projects, including no-interest, low-capital program training women to sell its products. As for women empowerment, Avon through its foundation helped rally in Hungary to mobilize their country’s parliament to pass a law declaring domestic violence a crime. Avon made a stand and upheld that domestic violence was not just a moral issue, but a business and economic problem.
Lastly, partner on water and sanitation projects:
Without potable water nothing else is possible. In developing economies, the old days of fetching over a well or a public latrine are over. More companies are partnering with non-profits to tackle the programs of water scarcity and unsafe sanitation. Also, beverage companies and breweries find themselves at the forefront of projects that tackle microfinance, tap into water mains and the build safe and clean private toilets. WWF was supported by SABMiller in order to create groundwater recharge structures to give farmers a more reliable source of irrigation water. On the other hand, we have the collaboration from Pepsi Co. and Water.org which now offers microloans so citizens can pay for rainwater harvesting systems and gain access to municipal water supplies.
Alleviating Poverty is challenging, but with dedication and a heart for change, nothing is impossible. Training, water conservation, and women’s empowerment may just be a few of the tangible solutions that our business sector can do to find more poverty solutions. But if we all contribute our ideas and let the world know, then it won't be long until we push the great divide to an end.
FEATURED SHORT STORY
VICTORIA SANDERS
"LOVE"
Authors note: Being that this is a month the month and love and all that here is a story of sad hopeless unrequited love.
“I know that I should have told you this before you left but there was always something holding me back but now that I'm here with you alone I can finally say this to you.” I pull the old, crumpled sheet of paper out of my pocket and begin to read out the words from the paper. “ Okay, so let me start with I love you. That's the first time I've ever said that out loud to you or anyone really, and it's true I genuinely do. When I'm writing this I'm sitting alone in my room listening to some love songs thinking of the day that I’ll finally get the courage to read this to you. Hopefully day that day will be soon. I've loved you from the day that you saw me when no one else did and you helped me when no one else did and no matter how you feel about me after I tell you all of this I will still love you because you are my best friend and I will love you forever no matter what, but that's not the point of what I'm trying to tell you. The point of all of this is that I'm a huge sap and despite that I've never confessed anything like this to someone because I've never felt the way you make me feel. I could go on for hours and hours about why I feel the way I do. My reasons go from the little twinkle you get in your eyes when you help someone, your perfect smile, your honest heart, to the way you would do anything to help the ones you love. That last one isn't always good though, you know” I pause to let out a slight giggle in between small sobbs. “ Anyway this is basically just a letter to my first love. I need you to know how much I love you. Even though sometimes I’ll wish that I didn't and that I could just forget about you, remember that I will always love you. Thank you for everything you've done. Thank you for getting me out of my shell and helping open up more. I hope wherever you are you know all of my words are true and that I honestly truly love you.” I take a step back to look at the stone in front of me and lay the teardrop sprinkled flowers at the base as I finally turn to walk away.
“I know that I should have told you this before you left but there was always something holding me back but now that I'm here with you alone I can finally say this to you.” I pull the old, crumpled sheet of paper out of my pocket and begin to read out the words from the paper. “ Okay, so let me start with I love you. That's the first time I've ever said that out loud to you or anyone really, and it's true I genuinely do. When I'm writing this I'm sitting alone in my room listening to some love songs thinking of the day that I’ll finally get the courage to read this to you. Hopefully day that day will be soon. I've loved you from the day that you saw me when no one else did and you helped me when no one else did and no matter how you feel about me after I tell you all of this I will still love you because you are my best friend and I will love you forever no matter what, but that's not the point of what I'm trying to tell you. The point of all of this is that I'm a huge sap and despite that I've never confessed anything like this to someone because I've never felt the way you make me feel. I could go on for hours and hours about why I feel the way I do. My reasons go from the little twinkle you get in your eyes when you help someone, your perfect smile, your honest heart, to the way you would do anything to help the ones you love. That last one isn't always good though, you know” I pause to let out a slight giggle in between small sobbs. “ Anyway this is basically just a letter to my first love. I need you to know how much I love you. Even though sometimes I’ll wish that I didn't and that I could just forget about you, remember that I will always love you. Thank you for everything you've done. Thank you for getting me out of my shell and helping open up more. I hope wherever you are you know all of my words are true and that I honestly truly love you.” I take a step back to look at the stone in front of me and lay the teardrop sprinkled flowers at the base as I finally turn to walk away.
THANKS FOR READING THIS MONTHS ISSUE OF COLLAGE. WE HOPED YOU ENJOYED IT!❤️ |
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