A Professor's Perspective on Modern Education

College is a much different institution than it was decades ago. From my perspective as a student it is quite clear that many students don't exactly make productive use of their time here, as participation is quite low during classes, and overall there are many students who just don't seem interested in learning. Many people seem to go and get out, maybe it's because it's not as much about learning for them as it is about simply doing enough to get the grade and, eventually, the degree. Well, this is at least how I see it at the Community College that I attend. I could be wrong in regards to other schools, and I hope I am, but I don't have a frame of reference for that.

It led me to wonder how a teacher feels about the situation, so I interviewed Lori Maida, a Sociology Professor at Westchester Community College, whose course (Intro to Sociology) I took during this past Fall 2013 semester and whom I developed a rapport with. As a Professor she was enthusiastic about what she taught and encouraged participation through discussing the topics we learned about. I spoke to her in order to gain insight into the state of modern education and what is happening to it from the perspective of a modern teacher.

Crisis Reporting in Jamaica

    Steve Sapienza and Micah Fink are journalist who have worked with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting to shed light on under reported issues in our world. They visited Westchester Community College to share their experiences and present their work. This presentation dealt with the issue of homophobia and the AIDs epidemic in the Caribbean. Micah Fink also gave a special screening of his full length documentary, The Abominable Crime. Below is a video of their presentation, including student reactions, and highlights from Steve's work on a project called, Live Hope Love. 

NFL is too expensive

       I interviewed Daniel Johnson, A former professor at Manhattan College. We discussed how the price of NFL tickets are rising every year, and how he simply cant afford to go to games anymore. This is the case for many fans around the country. Here are the numbers to prove it.

GET INSPIRED!

I sat down with Wbff Pro Eillen Vent to talk to her about her journey throughout bodybuilding. Over the past year Eillen has participated in three shows winning her pro card in her most recent one. Not only is Eillen a Wbff pro she is also a mother of two! I have personally trained with Eillen and I must say I have never been more motivated. If anyone is interested in getting their butt kicked I would absolutely suggest having a training session with her!




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Award Winning Journalists Visit WCC

Students got to enjoy a very touching intro to a piece they did in Jamaica about HIV/Aids. If you would like to see it for yourself visit their website. http://www.livehopelove.com/

Two Young Guns in the NFL's Latest Arms Race

In 2012, rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks, and second-year quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, established themselves as two of the NFL's best young quarterbacks taking both their teams to the playoffs. Kaepernick brought the 49ers to the brink of a Super Bowl title while Wilson nearly had the Seahawks in the NFC Championship, falling one game short in a loss to the Falcons. With both teams playing the NFC West, Kaepernick's 49ers and Wilson's Seahawks will play at least twice per year, fighting for the division title. With a division rivalry brewing, comparisons were bound to be made. I went to New York City to find out who the public thinks is the better young quarterback - the answer was overwhelmingly one-sided!

America's Violent Pasttime

Inspired by the scathing NFL documentary League of Denial, take an in-depth listen to the protocols and procedures required to properly prepare our children for the game of football.  From the NFL on down, all levels of football have implemented new coaching techniques and new sets of penalties to make the field a safer place to play.  Parents have to decide wether to allow their child to play this fast paced, often violent game.  Each individual must weigh the pros and cons in order to decide if their child should play.

Additional credit: Anthony Visci