A Farewell to Blogging

 

       With the semester coming to a close, so this blog will end along with it.

     Blogging has been a challenging, yet rewarding experience for me because I have learned more about my writing style, and gained  a bit of confidence as a writer.  In the end, I was happy to be given these types of assignments because it provided me with more skills as a journalist that I can put to use at a future job.

      Blogging has become a medium in which I enjoy writing in, but I don't think I could ever get used to the time commitment it takes to keep up with a blog.  

       While the time commitment was the most difficult challenge for me, as a whole, this class broadened my knowledge of political issues that I would never have actively searched out on my own.  To future students of this class who don't follow politics, I think there will be a love-hate relationship developed with keeping up on current issues that aren't celebrity or gossip-related.

     Keeping up with current issues was my biggest issue in the beginning, but now it has become a habit of mine to check on current affairs locally and nationally. While, I won't continue with blogging, this class has taught me that there's an interesting and vast world of blogs and bloggers out there who write on an array of topics that people can find with a few clicks of a button.

UNC Women's Volleyball: Proud Champions

      The University of Northern Colorado's women's volleyball team had a trying season, but in the end, were able to call themselves Big Sky Conference Division I champions.

      The Greeley City Council honored the team and its coaches Tuesday night with a plaque for their achievements. Coach Lyndsey Oates, was honored that the Council and members of the Greeley community awarded them with such a recognition.

    "We appreciate this honor, as we continue to grow and continue to win championships," Oates said.

     The volleyball season, which began in August, resulted in a total of 24 wins, 11 losses and 14 conference wins.

     Marissa Hughes, a senior sports and exercise science major, and one of the captains on the team, couldn't be more proud to have ended the season the way the team did.

   "This season was a rollercoaster ride," Hughes said. "We were so fortunate to host the Big Sky championship this year and win it on our own floor; I am very proud of our team."

    This year, the women's volleyball team was ranked as a number four seed coming into the Big Sky conference, hosted on Nov. 23,  but the team fought to bring themselves to victory against number two seed, Idaho State.

   "Our team battled through the rough times together and we never gave up," Hughes said. "Winning three Big Sky tournaments in my time at UNC was a great way to end my volleyball career."

Fractured Colorado: Josh Fox and the Effects of Hydraulic Fracturing

 On Thursday, November 15, members of the Greeley community and University of Northern Colorado students gathered in the University Center Ballrooms to listen to Josh Fox, the director of Academy-Award nominated documentary film, "Gasland", speak about hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" in Colo.

"Gasland" debuted at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and became something bigger than even Fox expected.

"What was going to be a five- minute YouTube video for my friends and family, turned into a film shown at Sundance," Fox said.

Fox became more aware of fracking when he received a letter from his gas company in 2008 offering him money to lease his property for drilling.

"I thought I was the only one, but it was pretty terrifying to learn that all of neighbors in upper Del. were getting these letters," Fox said.

Fracking, as Fox explained, is when two to seven million gallons of water are injected in the ground at such high pressure that it fractures the rock underneath and could potentially contaminate the water supply a community uses.

This potential contamination, could cause potential life-threatening health effects to the people affected by drilling.

"It is an issue that continues to be in deep, deep crisis," Fox said. "I've met people who had brain lesions, cancers, peripheral neuropathies; all within communities affected by fracking."

Fox made it a point to say that in 2011, the UNC Board of Trustees signed an agreement to approve drilling on campus for $123,000 up front. Fox said that what the oil and gas companies are doing to our own communities is wrong and we need to change it.

"Our level of comfort is an ideal that people around the world aspire to," Fox said. "What I'm trying to say is that the social contract has been completely fractured and mauled by the oil and gas industry."

Wes Wilson,  retired EPA environmental analyst and guest of Josh Fox, urged people to not stand idly by and watch the oil and gas industry destroy Colorado for the purpose of making money.

"We the people of Colorado have been so asleep that we're letting the state impose mineral rights upon our human rights," Wilson said. "You have to create policy and enforce that policy. Every social movement on the face of the planet never got anywhere without those fundamental tools."

While Fox urged for action and having an active voice against fracking in our community, the effective nature of his talk remains to be seen.

Kassidy Wille, a junior English major at the University of Northern Colorado and member of campus initiative, Student LEAF, said that Fox's banjo-playing and activist sentiment, may have turned people away from Fox's message.

"I do think he might have turned people off by playing the banjo," Wille said. "He could have done a few things differently to reach out to UNC students."

Whether or not the Greeley community are proponents of Fox's activist message, those who knew nothing about fracking before, walked away with more knowledge than they came in with and Fox hopes people will share that knowledge.

"Talking to the person sitting to you at dinner, that's what the key is," Fox said. "That's how we create change."

Democratic-Fueled Support for 2012 Election

          The Kress Cinema and Lounge, located on 8th Ave., is brimming with excitement from crowds of Democrats; waiting with drink in hand on the results of the 2012 presidential election. Citizens are showing their support for President Barack Obama by wearing buttons, stickers, and there's even a two-year-old girl named Emily with a bedazzled  black Obama t-shirt. Munching on an assortment of free food provided by the Kress, everyone is glued to the numerous televisions and movie theatre-sized screen that is displaying live election coverage from MSNBC and CNN.

            Democrats of Greeley are out in full force and are excited every time a Democrat state senator, like Elizabeth Warren from Mass., is elected. Filling up on popcorn and pints of Blue Moon and glasses of red wine, the crowd here is decidedly an older generation who supports what President Barack Obama has done for the past four years. Paige Ball, from North Carolina, said that even though Weld County is looking red, she hopes that Colorado will support Obama for four more years.

            "I've been in a low-level panic attack all day," Ball said. "I hope my vote counts for something." Ball's friend, Sarah Curtis from New York felt a similar way.

            "I had a nightmare last night that Romney won," Curtis said."I pray it doesn't come true."

            In spite of Curtis's election day nightmare, most are confident that Obama will be re-elected.

            Matt McCullough, decked out in a white pinstripe suit with a large Obama button, has been a field organizer for Brandon Shaffer for the past five months. McCullough is confident that Obama will win, but it won't be easy.

            "I'm confident that Obama will win," McCullough said. "Obama has played some smart electoral politics; we've already won Pennsylvania and California."

            McCullough, a  citizen from Greeley, Colo., had an outburst in the middle of the interview when a Democratic candidate, Elizabeth Warren from Mass., overtook Republican Scott Brown for a spot in the U.S. Senate.
            "Yes! That's a big f---king deal!" McCullough said. "Yes we can!"

            After his excitable outburst, McCullough voiced his opinion on Amendment 64.

            "I voted yes, McCullough said. "I smoke pot and I'm tired of everyone who lights up getting arrested for it. Colorado can be the leader for change and legalization; I support that."

            The abundance of Democrats and Obama supporters here are supporters of the passing of Amendment 64.  Dave Loftis, who first introduced himself as Mitt Romney; supports Amendment 64 wholeheartedly.

            "I fully support the mess for Colorado's government if  64 passes," Loftis said. Legalizing marijuana will only do positive things for Colorado; I think it will pass by 4 percent."

            Most predict that an Obama re-election won't be easy, but many people are confident in another four more years.

            "I predict a 303 for Obama; after all, I voted for him three times," Loftis said with a smirk.       

Colorado Up in Smoke: The Debate About Amendment 64

            Colorado lawmakers and professional organizations are in the midst of a great debate about the legalization of marijuana. Most college students and young adults are in favor of passing Amendment 64, but there are still many opponents to passing this law.

           The amendment states that marijuana would be regulated in the same manner as alcohol for adults 21 years of age and over. Amendment 64, officially titled, "Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol Act of 2012", would make it legal to possess up to an ounce of marijuana as well as allow up to six marijuana plants to grow in a household.

            For proponents of the amendment, there seems to be many positives for its legalization; however, it needs to be recognized that opponents to the legislation think voting yes would be a negative outcome for Colorado.

        Victoria Fregoso, 22 a UNC Sports & Exercise Science major from Aurora, Colo. is strongly opposed to this legislation.

       "I understand it for medicinal purposes, but beyond that I don't think it should be legalized," Fregoso said. " Do we want everyone in the U.S. to be stupid?"
Opinions run rampant when it comes to Amendment 64. However, for Jacob Parsons, 23, a UNC alum from Medfield, Mass. doesn't seem to have a strong opinion on the matter.

 "I don't use or smoke marijuana, " Parsons said. "Regardless if the law passes or not, I don't see how it could affect me in anyway."

 Whether you're opposed to the law, or ready to check yes on election day, residents of Colorado have opinions about Amendment 64 and those opinions aren't going away regardless of the outcome.

Bridging the Gap Between Education and Community

Greeley City Council held a meeting on Tuesday, September 20. Councilmember Robb Casseday discussed his recent visit to Madison Elementary, where he took a tour with other school board members.
Councilmember Casseday visited Madison on Thursday, September 15th where the topic discussed was weekly assessment and data teams.

"They had a program I had never heard of before, but I was really impressed," Casseday said. " Individually, each student is being assessed in their assessment and then teachers meet to discuss how to help that student progress; I thought that was pretty cool."

Theresa Myers, director of communications for Weld County School District 6, said  the program has been running for a few years.

"The school  initiated the program to provide an in-depth look into the school district as a way for our community to get involved," Myers said.

The school tours are structured as a one-hour session where a specific program at the school is highlighted and a presentation is given on that topic by the school principal. Rising Star awards are given out to one teacher and one student during the presentations. The recipients are chosen by school officials to recognize recipients for outstanding academic achievements academically or a variety of other reasons.

"It helps the school district get a little PR with the community," Casseday said. "I have a little more positive expectation about District 6 now."

School tours are open to all community members and the next presentation will be at 8:30 a.m., Oct. 11, at Jackson Elementary School where the presentation will be on Elementary Writing. To register to attend a school tour, please contact Bernee Barea at 970-348-6012.

Getting Started

      Hello!

     My name is Lauren King and I am currently a senior at the University of Northern Colorado, where I am taking a journalism class called "Reporting Contemporary Issues." This blog will focus on politics in Greeley as well as the upcoming presidential election. Our class will be attending Greeley City Council meetings every first and third Tuesday of the month and writing blog posts about topics during those meetings. I will also be covering the upcoming presidential election, which I am pretty excited about!
     I have never written in a blog before, so I'm pretty nervous about my thoughts being out there for for any Internet user to see. However, I think this will be a great experience and a nice change from most college assignments that I'm usually working on: research papers.
      Having no previous blogging experience, I'm looking forward to this awesome world. People from all over the world can write and post about virtually anything that interests them all with the click of a button.
    I hope that through this assignment, I will enjoy blogging and want to continue it after the class is finished with my own personal blog. I may even write a cooking blog. I look forward to this upcoming semester and hope to write a few stories that will get readers talking about politics, and maybe even Greeley, Colo.