Show Working onThe Eagle: a positive and negative experience by Mary Ann Southards editor Having attended CEU for two years my experiences have been both positive and negative I stood up for what I believe and have been able to I cam skills that will help me in the future One of the best and worst experiences I have had would he working on the campus newspaper staff As an editor I experienced responsibility 1 also have sat back and held my tongue while others did things I didn't agree with Everyone thinks that having an editor title means you have control To some extent this is true but there arc times when you have no control of what others arc doing I devoted g many hours to producing an publication for the students staff and faculty In actuality I would have rather been somewhere else I remember a few times I went to newspaper on a Monday night and on Tuesday morning went home to take a shower change clothes and make it to class This was hard especially if you had a class such as biology Even though the long hours of work arc necessary we have fun Some nights it seems like we accomplish nothing but form staff award-winnin- friendships Everyone has a different personality One person may be into school or church while another enjoys life kicks back and drinks beer These difference caused conflicts and we overcame litem to become a close-kn- it team which usually works together I remember the first day of my freshman year when I walked into the newspaper room At least 30 people were in that room As we did introductions the editor Matt Gwyther stood up and said “If you aren't serious aNiut this leave" and sal back down I wasn't sure what to expect but I stuck it out and did what I knew best: layout and design Eventually the advisor talked me into writing sports Now I can honestly say if you can write sports you can write anything lor I have done it I remember the experiences of long hours spent in the CBB and talking laughing But the had experiences have made a greater impression upon me As a sophomore I spent fall quarter helping produce The Eagle in the CBB with the knowledge that we would be moved to Durrani during Christmas vacation I shared the pessimistic opinions of my staff members but as the time grew closer to move and people became high strung I couldn't understand what it was everyone was so upset aNnit Was it aNiut moving or was it that they had nothing better to do than complain? I remember how easily it was to turn my staff members against me by writing a few simple paragraphs While everyone else was writing aNiut the bad I hxik the opposite side Moving to Durrani wasn't as bad as everyone had made it out to he I think the only g heat and dirt which leaves grit negative concept is the on everything Some of the most frustrating problems were dealing with the old computers In a program such as newspaper we depend on technolWithout this equipment we do not properly ogy which is for a job that they may be seeking in the train our students communication's field I do have to admit a lot of complaining has taken place but at the same time I think the attitude of our staff has improved No one complains anymore we more or less laugh at the conditions of (he building There is nothing else you can do but laugh over the lorn carpet the '60s style drapes the smells the sounds and the other odd happenings within the building I believe as a newspaper that issues which are pertinent arc such as the thefts which have occurred in the past few reported upon never-endin- up-to-d- Administration On April IS my room was entered after 10 pm for a room inspection I was asleep and had been since 9:30 When I complained to Joe Glorioso CEU's housing director the next morning he told me to he reasonable Quiet hours begin at 10 pm when visitors arc required to he out of our rooms There was no emergency so it was an unlawful entry The RAs said tlicy were concerned about me because I was yelling and threw a can at the back of my door I awoke when my dixir was oKncd and my yelling was a result of the illegal entry into my room when my dtxir was locked Within a minute my door was opened a second time and I threw a can at the hack of the door I wrote a letter to Glorioso with copies to Jay Andrus Brent Haddock sind Colleen Quigley No response from anyone A question yet to be addressed is: the housing contract states maintenance inspections are allowed but why is that clause used to get in our rooms to duck for cleanliness and contraband? Eleven days after the room incident I was given a complaint by Glorioso about my dog's toileting area He'd been using the same area since September hut there was no complaint until after the illegal room entry The complaint said a designated area needs to be used Nit there was no suggestion as to where that area(s) might he By not working with me to select a designated area any area used can he reported as nonacccptahle if someone complains I feel the timing of the complaint gave the appearance of a retaliatory action Another letter was written to Glorioso with copies delivered to the same three people and again no response A third incident happened on May 4 at H: 10 pm when Vivian Mitchell knocked on my door and said "room inspection" When I opened my door I asked “when arc we going to be informed of the inspection schedule'' She said she told me two weeks before in Gloriosos' ofncc I said “I ' m sorry but you said you would not come in after 9 pm" She said 'fine' dosed my door and left ANiut a week later I was given a news letter which contained an inspection schedule I've been here since Sept 24 and that was the first Burtenshaw A Tucker Newsletter I've seen This incident spawned un other letter to Glorioso with copies to the same three people Again no response Frustrated by the flagrant violations of our ‘housing contract' and my concerns being ignored on May 6 I sent letters to the CEU Board ofTruslecs and the Board of Regents with copies of all three of Gloriosos letters enclosed I was told not to expect a response from them either The Eagle's forced move to the Durrani Elementary School involves three of five prominent safety issues Tlic CEU plant personnel made a curb cut at the west entrance to Durrani (across from the Career Building driveway which I cannot use because it's loo steep - I've been stuck in it three limes and one of those was at 2 am) The only way to access it is to enter (he street by the armory or nursing home Nith of which area half block away from Durrants' entrance As a result I travel to my dorm from Durrant on the dark streets in my wheelchair and with my dog Another issue the newspaper staff has pointed out is the inadequate lighting around Durrant Tlic staff works late at night and on the main campus we always had well lit walkways At Durrant we have a light on a wall outside our door and no street lights on the adjacent street Once outside the ikxir I turn my back to the light and if the moon isn't up I can’t even see the ground in front of my feet until I'm out to the street which sometimes takes awhile since it's not easy finding the gate in the dark The problem extends to other staffers who cross the same dark area to return to the dorms As if inadequate lighting isn't enough of a problem doors ami windows have a habit of being left open at Durrant With 90 of the newspaper staff being women it doesn't leave a person feeling very safe In an effort to gain property for the school our administrators have put students faculty and staff "at risk" I was leaving after dark one night and passed a room with lights on the outside ikxir propped open and a TV & VCR standing a lonely vigil over the empty room Another safely issue is the nursing home traffic using the parking lot in front of the dorms as a street My dog had a foot run over by a car on the way to the nursing home The lady in the cai said the dog ran out so fast (hat she didn't have time to stop If a student or children who live here ran out chasing a ball as Opi was would her excuse of "I wasn't going that fast" hold up? A student looking for a parking spot is ready to come to a stop whereas someone driving through is not thinking of stopping When I suggested to Andrus that the drive be chained off he suggested that since I have an electric wheelchair I should consider getting rid of Opi If a driveway must be provided why isn't that alley extended to the street across from the wave pool which would allow our parking lot to be chained off making it safer for the dorm residents Last fall after falling from my shower chair I told Glorioso that my shower wasn't built right He said it was built to ADA standards A week ago I asked Active to look at it and found I was correct my shower was not built to ADA standards Now the school is in the process of ordering materials to build the shower correctly 500-wa- tt Re-Ent- ry weeks but at other times I feel we use what power we do have to control others or form opinions It is up to you the reader to form your opinions I would hope that we simply educate you Many of the positive experiences have came with the awards which I have received in the past year We as a newspaper received second overall in the Rocky Mountain Cullcgiatc Media Association something never achieved before One of my best experiences was writing a feature story covering the Women's Conference in 95 when Stacy Bess spoke This story was not hard for me to write and touched me in a way I will never forget What made it an even better experience was winning a first place in feature writing at the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Media Association for the story I have given up almost two years of my life to work at something I actually enjoy hut I always left feeling frustrated and discouraged leave remembering Nith the positive and negative I would encourage all students to get involved in something whether it he newspaper the literary magazine church activities the SUN CenI ter or ASCEU Our campus needs strong student involvement to help students enjoy their time at CEU I feel that student activities need to be publicized better There arc other buildings on campus besides the Main Building and Student Activity Center Student government serves you as students and part of your $95 fee goes to help sponsor activities (and pay student government stipends) Why do we casually sit back and voice what we want or Niw we feel Here at The Eagle we are always open for rebuke and suggestions but it is almost like students would rather just complain to their friends then write a letter to the editor Remember you are paying for your education and it is only because of you the student that many things arc possible at this school so why not voice what tNisc things arc that you would like to sec changed As a staff we have all worked hard and long to produce an awardwinning paper and it is my Nipc that even though the paper in general has a hard time being optimistic and showing the better side of life at CEU they would have great success in the future Always improving and being “the voice of the students" reminding us of our right to freely speak and express ourselves Our campus police told me I have no grounds to press unlawful entry charges for the after hours and unannounced entry of my mom After Opi was hit I began silting in the driveway so traffic cannot go through while I have Opi outside Fhyl Johnson informed me that if anyone complains he'd have to arrest me for obstructing traffic If students will start speaking when our rights arc violated maybe we can draw our administrators out of the '50s & '60s attitudes The nation grows and changes with the times Regardless of what they do wc have a right to be treated civilly and not as commodities for them to use If anyone at CEU has or knows of anyone who has been unjustly 0 treated by CEU please contact me Randy Chandler at ext 4232 637-212- Remove Gibby: blasphemy or a much needed facelift Paul Covington staff writer It has been called sNxking blasphemy and a few other adjectives am afraid to print Recent controversy has been started over a little harmless rock What could he so blasphemous? The idea of removing it This is mi ordinary rock It's Gibby I Gibby has been a campus favorite since many can remember I remember someone referring to something that happened in the ‘60s with it It has been a tradition to paint Gibby in your favorite colors and sayings just for fun limes That rock has been used for wedding proposals and answers It has been used to welcome students back from long vacations to advertise ASCEU activities as well as a of other fun stuff So why take it away? It is true that the Gihby painting has got out of control at times but bunch what dticsn't? The answer isn't to punish students by taking away a tradition There might not be a clear solution to the problem Taking away the rock will definitely not solve any problems Tlic rock gives people a place to lag" what they want witNwt reprimand If Gibby were to leave persons wishing to express a little creativity might be forced to turn elsewhere such as fences overpasses or any smooth surface such as the case is in Salt Lake City and all its problems with see Gibby page 1 2 |