Pandemic Level 5!

I woke up today with stiff joints and major body aches, and I bet it's not because I went to the gym for only the second time this whole semester. I probably have the flu. And not just any flu. Swine flu. And I've also been slightly nauseous and my throat's been a bit sore. It's probably not from drainage due to allergies. It's probably swine flu.

The WHO vamped up the alert level to five, "meaning that it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent" (MSNBC). And, "'all countries should immediately now activate their pandemic preparedness plans,' [WHO Director General Margaret] Chan told reporters in Geneva. 'It really is all of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic.'" In a press conference, Chan said that "'it is important to take this very seriously' . . . but for the average person, the term 'pandemic' doesn't mean they're suddenly at greater risk.'"

Just how seriously have people been taking this swine flu? "Britain closed a school after a 12-year-old girl was found to have the disease. Egypt slaughtered all its pigs and the central African nation of Gabon became the latest nation to ban pork imports. . . . Cuba [is blocking] flights coming in from Mexico. And Asian nations greeted returning airport travelers with teams of medical workers and carts of disinfectants."
On a more personal level, this afternoon Dean Crance sent an e-mail regarding precautionary measures and what not, and there's information about hand washing at each table in the caf. And to think that my friends and I have been joking about this all along. I do understand the need to be concerned since so many are dying and the disease has spread, but no one seems to mention the fact that many of the people who have been diagnosed are getting better. It's not as though thousands of people die from the flu every year, after all.

It's a Perfect Day

The past two weeks have been incredibly hectic. It all started when a friend posted a link to the Westboro Baptist Church's schedule as her Facebook status. Lo and behold, the WBC has decided to grace Albright with its presence. On April 30th, Judy Shepard is coming to speak as part of the Diversity Week program. May 1st is the opening night of the Laramie Project. Within a matter of minutes, a Facebook event was formed and within a matter of days, the "People Attending" list grew to over 300. The dean was consulted, Public Safety became aware, organization began to spread throughout the chaos.
The event, Stand Up For Love, has since been limited to Albright students and a few guests (including groups from Kutztown University, Millersville University, and Hamburg Area High School). Silent Witness has agreed to attend, and the Reading Police will also be there to ensure that things don't get out of hand. Thankfully, the WBC has been limited to a street corner off-campus, which is on the opposite side of the property from the theatre where the Laramie Project will be performed -- that should eliminate issues Friday night. On Thursday night, however, we will be in the same vicinity, but they won't be within our line of vision. I don't think that will matter anyway, as we've been policing ourselves pretty efficiently. The main cause for concern will be passersby . . . but we'll leave them to the police.

Last night I took advantage of the pool for only the second time since I arrived at Albright. On my way back to my dorm after the Albright AM meeting, I passed my friend Aubrey. She said she was going to the pool, so, naturally I decided to ditch my homework for another hour and went swimming with her and two other friends. Afterwards, Tyler came over and we started watching "The Bank Job" so that we could write a response paper on it for Mass Communications & Society (due Thursday, no less).

Today was an epically wonderful day. The temperature was in the high 80s - low 90s, and my only class (Mass Communications & Society) was over by 10:50. I spent most of the afternoon lounging behind Mohn, doing homework and getting more than my daily dose of melanin and vitamin K. Afterwards, I went to the gym and ran for a bit. I really need to do that more often. I think I've gotten more exercise in the last twenty-four hours than I have all semester. Last semester I was so disciplined in going to the gym in the mornings before class. . . .

Super-long weekends, here I come!

I just finished scheduling with my adviser whom I love. Not only is she awesome, but she's also a military fiancee and a politics professor! Sweet.

CHI201: Chinese.
ART265: Computer Graphics and Art Design.
ENG222: Writing/Mass Media.
POS283: Obama's Foreign Policy.

First of all, I'm totally psyched about Chinese, which I love with a passion. And I'm excited about improving my skills in graphic design (although I've always used PSP8 and haven't even touched PS). Writing/Mass Media seems like it will be a really good class for me, considering that it's all about broadcast media and journalism. And I'm interested to see what I'll learn in POS283. Foreign Policy definitely interests me, and I know that it will be especially helpful for me to learn more about the current administration.

I can be on my way home for the weekend as early as 8:50 (though I promise I'd never be so cruel as to make my parents leave the house around 7:00 just to pick me up), which is nice. The only thing that annoys me (aside from having to be in class by 8:00 four out of five days of the week!), is the huge amount of time between classes on Monday and Wednesday, and the fact that I'm not going to have a chance to actually sit down and eat lunch with friends on Tuesday and Thursday. I'm going to be living on Grab 'n' Go. Yummm.

Five Weeks to Finals!

Today I received an e-mail with the schedule for final exams.

M: Chinese (1-3)
T: None . . . of course.
W: Women in the Middle East (1-3)
TH: Mass Communications & Society (8-10)
F: Islamic History (1-3)

I wish Friday would have been my off-day . . . but then again, exam weeks are always hectic and stressful and I never see my friends anyway, because we're all up to our eyeballs in work and hiding in either the library, common rooms or our dorms.
And I'll never forget the fun I had the morning of my Chinese final last semester. I set my alarm for 7:15PM instead of AM and woke up around 7:50 for an 8:00 exam. I sprinted the whole way to Masters Hall, made the class just ahead of my teacher, and spent the first fifteen minutes trying to calm down and catch my breath while simultaneously working on the 25-page exam. Well, at least I made Dean's List.

Take Back the Night

Last night I attended a Take Back the Night rally. Take Back the Night was originally started in 1978 in San Francisco after an anti-pornography conference (though some claim the first rally was almost a hundred years earlier). Women spoke out about their experiences of being adversely affected by pornography. Today, Take Back the Night rallies raise awareness for rape, human trafficking, violence against children, and domestic violence, among many other crimes.
Last night's rally was hosted by SHADOW (Students Helping Abate Destruction Of Women), and consisted of a candlelit vigil and walk from Mohn to Kachel Chapel in Teel Hall. Afterwards, several speakers discussed such topics as human trafficking, child sexual abuse, prevention of sexual violence and personal stories.
It was an incredibly emotional night for many of the people in attendance, and left a great impact on all (and I generalize because if it didn't leave an impact . . . well, I don't see how it couldn't).

Today is the long-anticipated day-before-Easter-Break. I decided to be a good student and not skip Chinese in favor of seeing my dogs (oh, and my parents and sister), although Thursdays are language lab days and we spend them watching Chinese films. This afternoon, we're finishing up "Joy Luck Club," of which I've only ever seen clips. And this morning, I need to remember to speak with Dr. Lehman about journalism.

I also need to e-mail Dr. King . . . yesterday I approached Dr. Schad with a question about some contradicting passages of shari'a law. He was perplexed, so I'm to ask Dr. King (who teaches Islam). I also e-mailed some of my friends . . . but the passages are in Arabic, and they're Persian. That's almost as fun as me asking Dr. Schad (who is fluent in Arabic) to translate some war propaganda . . . and then realizing that it was in Farsi.

Just kidding!

I walked into Chinese this morning, and Josh immediately asked if Chinese was messing with my schedule, as apparently it's messing with everyone else's ("everyone else" being Chieko, Jess and Josh) schedule, as well. So, Josh asked Xiaomei if we could change the time for Chinese. And she said she will. So now, instead of having Chinese from 10:00 - 10:50 MWTHF, I have it from 8:00 - 8:50 MWTHF. Oh. My. Just kidding, I'll stick with the 10:00 class and I swear I won't complain.

The sad part is that less than a year ago I was dragging myself out of bed at 6:30 every morning. And this morning in particular I felt that 7:45 was entirely too early to be shutting off my alarm. Just when I was getting used to not having an eight o'clock class. . . . So, it seems that next semester, I'll be waking up at 7:15 every morning (at the absolute latest).

And, now that Chinese has been straightened out, I think this is my tentative schedule:

Chinese (CHI201)
Forensic Science (CHE103) *or* Honors Reproduction and Genetics (BIO190)
Forensic Science Lab (CHE103L) *or* Honors Reproduction and Genetics (BIO190L)
Feature Writing (ENG319) *or* Writing/Mass Media (ENG222)

If I skip science for next semester (which I would love to do, but I fear the longer I wait, the more I forget), I could also consider Free Expression (ENG320). I should also probably throw in a Political Science or History course . . . considering my major. I wouldn't mind taking Dr. Schad's Modern Middle East (HIS256), since I'd planned on taking that first semester and was unable to after my American Politics credit was transferred from Bucknell.
Also, I think I should take a science course because both of the ones I'm considering are level 100 (not that means anything to my science-challenged brain). The rest of my classes will be either 200 or 300 level.

Chinese is interfering with my scheduling plans.

After class today I went to the gym for an hour. Instead of giving me a boost of energy, I've been tired all day. That would happen.

I signed up for an advising session with Dr. Freund, so I know what classes to schedule for next semester. I don't really even know what classes I need, but I made a list of classes I wouldn't mind/need to take. I think have six or seven starred; I can't take a few of them because they conflict with Chinese (which I love). I only need a minimum of four, but thankfully I won't be impeded by that rule anymore.
At least, that's what I'm thinking now.

Earlier, I e-mailed Dr. Lehman (my professor for Mass Communication & Society), and it was basically an epic flail for help in regards to journalism. I'm meeting with her after class on Thursday for a crash course in not failing, and she offered to review my article! I just need to calm down and stop stressing about this. This is my first real attempt at journalism, and I'm just a student. Besides, writing is what I love! Although I will feel absolutely horrible if this flops.

Crosswalk Concerns

I sent the following e-mail to Mr. Gerken on Monday. The original was sent on Thursday.

Mr. Gerken,

In light of the recent accident at 13th & Union, I was wondering whether you'd received my e-mail. I've attached it below in case it failed to arrive in your Inbox.

Mr. Gerken,

This evening I was walking to the Campus Center, and as I approached the four-way intersection near Mohn Hall, I noticed a van approaching towards me from the Quad. As we reached the intersection, he slowed to a stop, so I stepped out onto the crosswalk. I was perhaps halfway to the other side of the road when he began to turn towards me. Once I was directly in front of the van, I was startled when the driver honked his horn and yelled, "Get out of the way!"
I would like you to know that I was very upset and angered by this incident, particularly since state law states that vehicles must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. However, this is not the first time this sort of occurrence has happened.
The day we had icy weather but no cancellations, I was honked at by a woman at the intersection near Public Safety. Although I was in the crosswalk, I must admit I was paying more attention to not falling down the dip in the sidewalk to cross the road than I was to whether or not cars were nearby.
Earlier in the year, also at the Mohn intersection, I was a few feet into the crosswalk when a woman driving down Richmond towards N. 13th St. stopped at the intersection. However, instead of waiting for me to cross, she turned onto Linden St. towards Mohn and I was forced to retreat onto the curb to avoid being hit. Unfortunately, several of my friends can also relate similar incidents.
I am writing because I am concerned for my safety (and that of my friends). I no longer feel safe crossing the streets on campus, and I feel that I should be concerned with more important things (like maintaining a high GPA). However, I realize that this is, in part, our responsibility to be alert and cautious.
I would like to know if anything could be done to deter people from running stop signs or not yielding at crosswalks. Would it be possible, perhaps, to have local police drive around campus once in a while? I feel that cop cars always immediately make people rethink their driving habits.

Thank you,
Betsy Gordon



--
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

This was his reply, sent today:

Hi Betsy,
Thank you for your email and your concern. I, too, am very concerned about peoples attitudes and actions regarding our students. As you have seen over the past few months, we were able to obtain pedestrian crosswalk signs. After Public Safety put those in the streets, we began receiving complaints from some of our neighbors which eventually wound up in the office of both the Mayor and local State Senator. I then was visited by a member of the City Police Department and the City Engineer who informed me that I had to present a plan for approval, prior to installing the signs. No one at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation where we obtained the signs ever told us that we needed any approval. Just today, we put together a plan and will be presenting it to the City. I have also requested that the City re-paint the lines on the crosswalks. I am going to make contact with the Police Department and request that their Officers spend more time in our area, specifically in the area of the crosswalks.
Again, thank you for your concerns and for taking the time to contact me. If you have any other suggestions or requests in the future, please don't hesitate to stop in and see me.

Mr. Gerken

I like the quote at the end of your email.

The neighbors were complaining? Most likely because it's the neighbors who drive irresponsibly and speed through intersections entirely too fast. If I were as poor of a driver as some of them are, I suppose I would hate to have glaring reminders that I'm breaking state law, too.
This is a complete outrage. Just Friday evening the friend of an Albright student was hospitalized following a hit-and-run at a crosswalk just off-campus.

Persistence

After not receiving a phone call from the Daily Item for a week, I decided to take the initiative to call back and ask if they'd considered allowing me to cover an upcoming newsworthy (in my opinion) story. However, I was told that "if we wanted to cover that type of story, we'd probably just send one of our own [reporters]". As I am only a college freshman with no experience in journalism, I was hardly surprised by the editor's response. I was, however, surprised that the Daily Item is clearly not even considering covering this story. I then made a call to the Standard-Journal and was told to e-mail the editor. So, I'm still waiting to hear back from him. Even if he declines, I really hope that the Standard-Journal will at least send someone to cover the story.

[EDIT 6:30 PM]
The editor from the Standard-Journal e-mailed me back; I'm going to both cover the protest and play photographer! I'm both excited and nervous, having no journalistic experience . . . but that's what this is for, right? :]

That's Democracy.

I failed to mention yesterday that, despite the fact that I won an uncontested election against myself, one of my good friends lost the election for President . . . to a girl who has hardly attended any meetings, but trails the current E-Board like a lost puppy. I was so shocked and upset that my friend lost that I didn't even say anything to her, and she left the meeting about twenty minutes afterward. I wish I would have said something to her. I find it ridiculous that, of the eleven members present at last night's meeting, quite a few of them were Seniors and shouldn't have voted in the first place. I had so been looking forward to having the best E-Board ever with my roommate and my other friend (and a guy that none of us really know).

On a lighter note, I think I've finally figured out the gist of what I'm going to write in my thesis. Also, yesterday before class, some of the other students and I were "negotiating" the terms of our thesis, and then approached Dr. Schad about it. Seven pages is now the approximate length, as opposed to ten. Let's hope I can write ten pages. . . .

Anime Society Secretary

I decided to run for Secretary of the Anime Society.  I ran against myself and now have the position.  Did I mention that I'm a complete neophyte when it comes to anime?  Thankfully, my everything-Japanese-loving roommate also ran against herself and is now the Treasurer.

Mid-Term Crisis

I'm beginning to wonder if Politics and Middle-Eastern Studies (aka History) is really my calling.  While I have an A in Chinese (CHI102) and an A in Mass Communication and Society (ENG250), I have an A- in Islamic History (HIS255) and a B in Women in the Middle East (HIS283).  I realize that my history classes are nearing the 300 level and I'm a freshman, but even last semester, my lowest letter grade was an A- (and that was in International Politics!) and my GPA was a 3.918.  Am I simply being too unrelenting?  I'm still above average.  But my thesis in HIS283 is really causing me grief.  On the other hand, I'd probably be just as upset if I thought the classes were super-easy.

And when it comes to Journalism, I called a local newspaper and requested to cover an upcoming story (a story which, before I called, they had no idea about).  I called last week and have yet to hear back, so I'll call again tomorrow.  If they reject me, I'll call the other local newspaper.  I did, however, pray that if both newspapers reject me, I'm to consider that a sign from God that journalism is also not my calling (which, I later realized, was a bit hasty considering this is my first year of college).  But if Political Science, History and Journalism are not my callings, then God help this Political Science/History/Journalism major!

It's Spring.

On Sunday, we had some really insane weather. I always seem to be the last person to know, too, and I usually find out from my roommate either via text or Facebook (usually because she's letting me know she's spending the night at home instead of venturing out in the bad weather). No sooner had I received my roommate's message about bad weather than I looked out the window and noticed it was dark. Really dark. Scary dark. And then came the tornado warning, interrupting my regularly scheduled FOX News, and then the wind. Lots of wind. Strong wind. And then the hail, which I at first thought was rain. I ended up closing my blinds for fear that the hail would break the window. The sky was almost constantly lit up with lightning, and if I were at home, I probably would have thought it was cool. Funny how one's perspective changes all of a sudden when one is all alone. In the end, all was well, aside from a small tornado on campus. Thankfully, it was on a field, so there was no damage.


This is Albright Lake after the storm. Sometimes it gets bigger. Today I could have taken a photo of Albright River. My friend once lost one of her flip flops (and a pack of cigarettes) to Albright River.