A Brief Update on My Stories for Class

Thus far I've only been able to complete one story for Advanced Journalism, and it's been on the effects that dopamine has on the brain when one listens to his or her favorite song.
A study was recently conducted that found that as much dopamine is released in your brain when you listen to your favorite song as when you have sex.
So I interviewed students across campus and the overall consensus was that nobody was at all surprised by the findings of this study.
I found this interesting, because I was kinda surprised by the study. But apparently I was the only one!
I spoke to a professor of behavioral neuroscience, who explained why the brain has this reaction.
I also spoke to a friend of mine who is a psychology major and music minor, the perfect combination for this story and she was very helpful.
Then I spoke with the Head Music Director of WUSO who explained his feelings on music and how he feels when he listens to a song he really likes.
Lastly I interviewed a music major who also wasn't at all surprised by the findings because he has enjoyed music his whole life.

The story was a lot of fun to write and I didn't have any difficulties getting interviews or reactions with this piece. I think a lot of students will read it when The Torch hits news stands this Friday.

Facebook...how I loathe thee.

Image courtesy of google


I want to take this opportunity to share my hatred of Facebook.

I feel like I'm one of a dying few who refuse to have a Facebook page.But I must admit, I had a Facebook page at one point. My friend made me a Facebook page my junior year of high school which I kept until freshman year of college.

I made the mistake of friending my dad, grandma, and aunt on Facebook when I went off to college. And they all started "stalking" me, particularly my dad. When I realized this was happening I got really uncomfortable and called it quits on Facebook. I didn't want my dad to realize I had "de-friended" him so I figured I'd nix the whole thing, it wasn't worth it anyway.

Speaking of which, the obligations that go along with having a Facebook are exhausting!!! You're obligated to "friend" someone who you only recognize for fear that ignoring their request would hurt their feelings. Making relationships "facebook official" has no doubt been the end of many budding relationships because one person jumped the gun. And can you "friend" your professors or is that crossing the line?? Should you remain "friends" with your exes or is that weird too?
I would rather not deal with it.

But avoidance is not an option. In my everyday interactions, someone will say "I'll friend you on Facebook later" or "Just look him up on Facebook!" and I have to stop them and foil their plans for communication. I always get a comment of some sort. Not a SINGLE person has been able to get past my Facebooklessness.

But, honestly, I'm proud of the fact that I don't have a Facebook page.

What's interesting is that every single person who has been shocked that I don't have a Facebook is equally as impressed that I have the nerve to go against the grain and have the ambition to reach out to friends and family in a more personal way. I skype and write letters to my friends at other schools. I make phone calls to my parents.

Call me old school but I prefer things this way. It's so much simpler, I can talk when I want to and I'm not bombarded by ridiculous status updates or obligations.

Wittenberg's Dirty Secrets...

A recent event on Witt's campus has caused quite a strong reaction from the student body, faculty, and administration. On Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an African American student found a racist note on his door saying "Whites only, no coloreds".

The administration responded with numerous emails. The students responded by picketing in the CDR during lunch time. Faculty responded by facilitating classroom discussions.

It seemed like everyone was responding in some way, so I felt obligated to respond as well.

This is exactly why I attended chapel hour today. Students, faculty/staff, and administrators all gathered in Weaver Chapel to host a forum for discussion--a way for everybody to talk about what was on their minds.

The chapel was standing room only, it was so packed. 

The reactions of the African American students and staff was completely beautiful. They were so moved by the sheer number of people who showed up to support them that it brought most of them to tears to think about it or look out into the crowd...

Furthermore, the young man who unfortunately had the note posted on his door stood up to speak, and when he was finished he received a long and tear-filled standing ovation from his Wittenberg family.

I attended chapel hour expecting a discussion about how wrong racist behavior is and how deeply it affects the lives of minorities on campus, but I walked away truly feeling like simply by my attendance, I impacted the Wittenberg community in a positive way. I did my part, I showed up and stood up against racism.

The first step to fixing this problem is understanding the we are ALL part of the solution. 

Pineapple Express

Everyone knows that college students in general don't make the best decisions, especially regarding drug use. I've been told that some Wittenberg students get stoned before class and some use hard drugs on a regular basis as well. I find this topic interesting and slightly depressing (because it CAN ruin lives). I want to know what is going through students' heads!
Do I know people who smoke regularly? yes. But this doesn't mean I approve of their actions or participate myself. I've never smoked anything in my life. Call me a goodie two-shoes or whatever you like, but I value my lung capacity and normal brain function. Besides, I don't feel the need to smoke something to have a good time or fit in. It's just not necessary.
Although I know people who smoke regularly, I don't know anyone who smokes CONSTANTLY. And I certainly don't know anyone who uses hard drugs....or if I do, they've kept it a secret. I find it amazing that some of my classmates and even my professors have spoken about students who have confessed to getting stoned before class regularly. That's really shocking. I came to Wittenberg to study, not get stoned. If students are getting stoned before class, then I think they really need to step back and take a look at themselves and their situation. Maybe even get some help, or at least a new group of friends.
I think peer pressure plays a large role in drug use on college campuses nationwide. Students want to fit in, it's difficult moving to a place where you don't know anybody! You hardly ever hear instances where someone smokes by themselves (unless they're addicts), it's a social behavior.
With that in mind I have to wonder what kind of friends pressure their friends into smoking. Certainly none that I want to keep...but maybe that's just me...

Testing....1...2...

I'm just testing my new blog site. Hopefully it works!