Engage, Learn, Grow

Patriots loss leaves food for thought

2007-01-22T00:25:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I know Pats fans are sulking over probably the most heartbreaking loss in NFL history (18 point leads just don't get lost in championship games).

But you see, Patriot fans, we need to re-gain some perspective (it's just easier to say 'we,' it adds a more engaged, personal flair to the analysis)...:

A.)Before we go into depressed mode, we have to remember our success. We've won three superbowls in like six years. Sure, we didn't win it this year....but it's not like we're a team that's never won a ring. We will be okay!

B.) Please be honest with yourselves. We didn't have the star studded lineup we won those rings with.

-Our Wide Receivers? Average at BEST, and Reche Caldwell is not a guy you go to when the game is on the line (hence two crucial drops with that deer in headlights wide eyed look..wait, he does that all the time). Gaffney played BIG time, but we really could have used a key player like Deion Branch today (yep, I said it). Troy Brown was our most clutch player, but he lost any breakaway speed he once had. Not good enough.

-Our Running Backs? Dillon has the speed of a handicapped turtle, and against a decent defense he doesn't have the speed to break open huge runs. He also seems to tire in the second half, making him very inconsistent. He has problems gaining decent yards on first and second down to keep us out of 3rd and 6 or so yard situations. That doesn't win many ball games. Maroney was a rookie who basically didn't show up, that's really all there is to it. Faulk is an amazing player, but we need a back we can go to 30 times a game.

-Our Defensive Backs? They played great vs. the Colts, but Harrison and Wilson were hurt, and Hawkins/Hobbs played to their abilities. Samuel can't cover everybody.

-Our defensive line? Out of shape and just painstakingly slow. They were exhausted by the end of the third quarter. Seymour got hurt early and was really not a factor. Wilfork looked like he needed an oxygen mask permanantly strapped to his face.

-Our linebackers? Sloths. I love them, but they are. The Colts succeeded in exploiting that lack of speed by creating matchups on passing plays where it'd basically be a sprinting contest between Indy RB's/WR's and our LB's...guess who wins? NOT US.

C.) TOM BRADY CAN'T PLAY EVERY POSITION. We can only ask him to win the game for us so many times, and in so many improbable situations. Down by 4 points with a minute left on your own 20, with two timeouts and absolutely ZERO go-to guys with a deafening crowd delaying play calling? He can't pull off miracles folks. He played a very good game tonight, and I'd still pick him over Peyton Manning. Manning has weapons...we have "options," yet Brady STILL played a major role in getting us to the AFC championship and his throwing gave us every chance to go to the Super Bowl. Give this man credit, and stop expecting him to be some type of super-human.

D.) I think the Patriots need this type of loss. A test of their character is to face this type of adversity and recover. This would be a crushing blow to many teams, seen as their 'only true shot' at winning it all...but the Patriots know this isn't their last chance. They need to come back with a new chip on their shoulder besides the "no respect" card, to fuel them for another run. Actually, they need to draft someone who won't flop like Chad Jackson, and sign some heavy hitter players to anchor this roster. We had a patchwork offense AND defense, and now we need to change that.

E.) The Colts outright beat us. Give them credit. Unfortunately, we beat ourselves too. Penalties. TERRIBLE pass coverage in the middle of the field. A pathetically soft defensive line toward the end of the game. Crucial dropped passes. Miscommunication. That's a team unraveling under pressure. Uncharacteristic of the Patriots, but one could technically say that the Colts actually winning when it counts is uncharacteristic too..all in all, it was a BIZARRE GAME.

That's all I have for now. Pout for a while, but then look these over in the morning.

Now the Patriots-Chargers feud makes sense.

2007-01-15T14:55:00.000-05:00

After the ESPN article I read this afternoon, I decided to research this whole POINTLESS issue further.
I am slightly annoyed that this article was so unbalanced...ONE Patriots player in response? That's not a balanced story. But anyway!

This article by John Tomase sheds alot of light on the situation:

"Instead, the Pats are steaming because of phone calls between receiver Reche Caldwell [stats] and some of his former Chargers teammates, who insist they’re going to mop the floor with the Patriots tomorrow. "

So, the Patriots, who absolutely love being called underdogs, and play the "no respect" card out like it's the ace in their sleeve, got fuel from a more indirect source than the media. SHOCKER THERE!

The underdog Patriots can use it as motivation, just as they’re aware of comments the Chargers made following last season’s 41-17 victory at Gillette Stadium, which ended the Pats’ 21-game home winning streak.
As the Chargers left the field, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips let out a whoop and yelled, “That’s an ass-whupping.”
The next day’s Providence Journal quoted cornerback Drayton Florence admonishing a group of onlookers in the bowels of Gillette: “(Expletive) New England and their team. Get the look of shock off your faces. Don’t be shocked. We beat your ass.”

Now, I can tell that the media is trying to put a little extra wood on the fire by quoting these comments...but if you say things like this, and it gets back to a professional football team in a Divisional Playoff game, what do you THINK they are going to do when they turn around and send you home? LT is talking about showing no class, what do these comments demonstrate? Sure, the Chargers can take the high road in the media to look like the poor losers who were disrespected, but from the actions I saw on the field combined with some of this information, this all seems like sour grapes.

Then, we have generalizing blogs such as this by Rob Zepeda, which don't help matters at all:

"Why the hate, New Englanders?Maybe us San Diegans might be viewed as laid-back, and maybe there is some truth to that. But are New Englanders really that pissed off all the time? I personally know a few guys from that area, and they are all real cool guys. But if you read some newspapers from the east coast, you might get the wrong impression."

I just don't get it...what does a newspaper's comments have to do with a region? As a journalist, I know enough about the business to never think that a reporter summarizes a HUGE group of people, especially with no verbal support or any type of evidence that shows he is doing so. Why...WHY say this?

Then there is the "classy" Charger actions like Merriman's on this rally video.

DO PEOPLE NOT THINK THE PATRIOTS HEAR ABOUT THESE THINGS? Merriman: "I'm going to smack Tom Brady in the mouth"..oh yeah? Really? I seemed to miss ANY Patriots rallies that demonstrated such "class." I found that on a message board, and this was the defense of Charger fans : you can do that before the game, not after. Oh really? So you can talk smack without backing it up..but if you celebrate your actions speaking louder than their words AFTERwards, it's not okay? Plus, if you pay attention to the very beginning of the first video I posted, you can see that only ONE Patriots player was mocking Merriman, and the rest were either shaking LT's hand or calming him down.

Now, let's take a look at Merriman's dance:

LT said in a press conference today that the Pats won three Super Bowls and should act like they've been there before. Look at what your own linebacker does when he records a sack, LaDainian. Can you really criticize other players when your own teammate gyrates like he's having a seizure every time he brings down a QB or makes a play? Is that classy? Doesn't this go against the so-called coaching philosophy you claim coach Marty has?

Another interesting point made by Michael Smith is that behind the Patriots success is the concept that they act like they have not been there before...because teams can get complacent after they realize "hey, I've already won three Super Bowls," and they stop wanting more. In a game where EVERYONE picked against them..where the other team was reportedly looking PAST the Patriots..where New England was losing by eight with five minutes remaining....why WOULDN'T they be elated like school children?

The fact is, folks..the Chargers got cocky, talked the extremely common NFL smack, then lost in their own house. Whatever the Patriots did, you can call it "classless" all you want, but it's no different than what San Diego was doing. The fact is, if you don't want to be embarrassed, don't set yourself up, and WIN THE GAME if you do!

The post-game comments of LaDainian Tomlinson

2007-01-14T21:11:00.000-05:00

I just watched a clip of a post-game press conference with LaDainian Tomlinson after the Chargers lost 24-21 to the New England Patriots and he cussed out the other team while leaving the field without shaking anyones hands....and his words were something close to this

"When a player comes to the middle of our field and does the Shawne Merriman hand thing, I can't let that go. That's disrespectful. So yes, I got upset...but that team has no class. Maybe that comes from the head coach, I don't know."

Maybe I missed something, but I most likely did not. I happened to notice both teams getting extremely physical and talking immense amounts of trash throughout the game. I saw LT talking trash. I saw the defensive back of the Chargers headbutt Daniel Graham which caused a crucial personal foul call. I noticed the late hit of one of the Charger offensive lineman that caused ANOTHER crucial penalty. Anyone with decent vision could have noticed the chippy nature of the Chargers during this game. The entire league notices the excessive celebration of Merriman, and he was no different today. With all of that in mind, it is shocking to me that Tomlinson had the nerve to say any team had no class except his own.

Granted, he did just lose perhaps the biggest game he'll ever play in his career, so it makes sense to lash out at others when you have no other outlet. I simply DO NOT find that as enough of an excuse to react the way he did, and make the outlandish statement of "maybe it's the head coach." What was he thinking? When would Bill Belichick ever endorse excessive celebrations, or anything close to mocking the other team (it's not like this isn't done on a regular basis when that player who is mocked has a show off celebration in the first place)? The entire Patriots Fifth Quarter show analyst crew agreed with me.

I like LT as a player, and he seemed like a really nice guy. I just find him a bit delusional on this comment, and it hurts his impression a bit.

Allen Iverson: Christmas Present or Coal in the Stocking?

2006-12-15T03:25:00.000-05:00

Let me just say this: I would absolutely love to see Mr. Iverson wearing Celtic Green. It'd be a festive color, representing the gift that keeps on giving for the Holiday season.

I've read both sides of the debate, and I actually listened to some of my co-workers at WMUA argue about the pros and cons on their talk show. Here are some of the arguments against the Celtics trading for him:

-He's a cancer in the locker room

-He's too old

-Trading away our youth for an older player is destroying the direction our team is going in, and he's not worth trading away "the future" of our franchise, Al Jefferson.

-He's not worth the players we're offering.

-He couldn't possibly make Boston a championship contender.

I'll address all of these, as they're common arguments for those who dislike the trade idea:

Here's Celtics.com's roster listing. Now. Please focus on the number of players with two years of experience or less. NINE OUT OF FIFTEEN. How...HOW, would trading away 11-year veteran Theo "Why am I here?" Ratliff, Al Jefferson, and maybe somebody like Telfair or Gerald Green suddenly make Boston an old team? I think people are forgetting that Ryan Gomes, Tony Allen, Rajon Rondo, and Delonte West would still be around.

As for Iverson being too old: he's no dinosaur folks. He's gotten better it seems EVERY year. His statistics are amongst the best in the league. He clearly has years left in him. He's better than players several years younger than him anyway.

As for the so-called "unfair trade" excuse. Let's put some statistics out there. First..Theo Ratliff is NOT the answer for the big man the Celtics have lacked since the Robert Parrish era. Look at his statistics:

22 minutes per game...3.50 TOTAL REBOUNDS per game....and a mind boggling 2.5 POINTS per game. To say Theo's underperforming is the understatement of all understatements. Theo's more past his prime than Iverson may ever be..oh wait...that means we'd be trading a garbage minutes player (no really, Theo's putting up bench warmer numbers) for an all-star MVP candidate!

Also keep in mind a contract comparison: According to ESPN.Com's "Trade Machine", Theo is raking in $11,666,666, with 2 years left on his contract. (remember..2.5 points a game. 3.5 rebounds.) Iverson makes $17,184,375 with 3 more years on his contract. That's about a

$5, 517, 709 and 1 year contract difference between a non-factor and an All-Star leading scorer. Please tell me how this trade would hurt the Celtics. If anything, the money would be in the right place for once. Keep in mind the Celts would be giving away other players, so this money gap would be MUCH smaller. In terms of dollar signs alone, this trade looks good.

Now let's look at Gerald Green, another player Boston may give away....12.8 minutes a game...5.7 points per game...1.8 rebounds a game. Yes, he is only 20...but Iverson was better than this at 20. MUCH...MUCH better. There's no guarantee Gerald will blossom into a leader. It's all POTENTIAL. Haven't the Celtics had enough of POTENTIAL?

As for Al Jefferson, his stats show he's the biggest loss if he were to be included in a trade package:

2006-07 Statistics
PPG
10.6
RPG
8.60
APG
0.8
EFF
+ 14.86

the last one is his effectiveness rating according to Celtics.com...not bad... I like him the most out of the possible people we'd trade for Iverson..but still..he's NOT Iverson. He does NOT have the intensity, nor the leadership ability that Iverson has. Nor does he have the sheer numbers of Iverson, as listed below:

2006-07 Statistics
PPG
31.2
RPG
2.70
APG
7.3
EFF
+ 23.40

What a fabulous effectiveness rating. Keep in mind that Iverson essentially plays by himself on a terrible team with an owner who has made no attempt to develop a good supporting cast like the Celtics would provide him with. Even with all of this in mind, people forget that Iverson brings intangibles: marketability, leadership, passion. Sound familiar? Jordan excelled in all three. Iverson is every bit as valuable as the players the Celtics would be trading for him. Again, there's NO GUARANTEE any of them would ever hold a candle to Iverson's performance level on a nightly basis anyway.

Now let's move on to Iverson being a "cancer." A cancer???? (practice?! we talkin 'bout PRACTICE!!!") Yes, he had a bad attitude about practice a few years back. I'd say he redeemed himself by playing his little butt off every night for an absolutely horrible team that shows no signs of improvement...I'd say he proved himself playing for Team USA. I'd definitely say he proves himself by nearly killing himself the way he recklessly attacks the basket.

I also think that alot of this criticism has to do with his "thug" persona that people accuse him of having. His tattoos frighten some sportswriters who don't know how to adjust to the streets meeting the court. I'd say that his body is Iverson's need for self-expression. Iverson NEEDS that toughness to play the way he does...pounding his tiny 5'11 160 lb frame against the big bodied seven-footers in the lane. What's wrong with his body reflecting the will that has gotten him this far in life? Has his tattoos ever caused any physical harm? No? Then who cares? Let his performance speak louder than his ink, because I thought we aren't supposed to focus on skin so much.

Yes, he has complained before..he's no Kevin Garnett in the sense that Garnett is so loyal to Minnesota he won't even speak the sad reality of his current situation...but he's REALISTIC when he does complain. Does his owner make bad decisions? YES. Iverson will say that. Does he complain when coaches try to deal with him through the media rather than in person? Yes. Sure, he has some flaws...but when he is on that court, he PLAYS HIS HEART OUT. What Celtic fan would not want a guy like that on the floor?

Look at the way Paul Pierce pouts and occasionally gives up when his team lets him down. Look at how easily his will can be broken. Iverson does not do that. Iverson can ask to be traded, but he still plays hard. HOW can we question the value of Iverson when he has all the emotion and passion Pierce lacks when things get tough? Maybe they'd make the perfect pair! A guard-tandem that goes down in history as one of the greatest of all time, because maybe Iverson puts Pierce's whiny attitude in check like Jordan kept Rodman at bay. Speaking of that comparison--I'm willing to bet that Pierce would try and keep Iverson in line in terms of practice discipline. I'd say Iverson would be more of a cure than a cancer.

And finally...he couldn't make the Celts a championship contender? Iverson led the Sixers to the finals on his own sheer will before, with a mediocre supporting cast. He may not be the big man the Celtics have longed for...but he PLAYS LIKE A BIG MAN, and even without him, we still lack that anyway. Crossing fingers and praying that the youth turn out exactly how Danny Ainge hoped may seem foolish years from now if a talent like Allen Iverson is skipped over.

I say if the Celtics add Iverson to their roster, they're an immediate threat to go deep in the playoffs. Doc Rivers may have to do a bit better of a coaching job, though.

And no, I don't think he's going to end up out West. From what i've read, he's refusing anything that isn't in the East. I HOPE for Boston. You should too, if you're a Celtics fan.

UMass Vs. UNH post-game debate: fan behavior

2006-12-07T01:58:00.000-05:00

Photos, Recap, and more

There seems to be a massive amount of bickering going on about the behavior of UMass fans at the Division 1-AA football semi-finals game against the University of New Hampshire on Saturday, Dec. 2. I was there, so I am going to offer my own honest account of these events and my thoughts on some articles.

This opinion/editorial article by Chris H. Baker in the Massachusetts Daily Collegian discusses how he and his family had to move to three different sections because there was so much profanity and drunkenness around him. Apparently, two drunken male fans fell onto his 9-year old son and thought the child's hand was broken. That, is terrible.

The problem with this article has to be the blatant generalizations about UMass students and UMass fans in general...claiming we should all "stay home," and didn't specify beyond saying "your obnoxious fans." I attended the game, and I find this insulting. I'm an honors student who loves the game of football, respects the University, and was VERY sober. I had many students around me who were just as respectful, and cheered their team on as any fan would. I don't blame this man for his anger, as the behavior he described was appalling. However, it accomplishes nothing to make sweeping generalizations like this. In fact, doing so simply turns off the readers you're trying to reach. If the fans were this bad as a whole, then why did so many football players and the head coach praise their presence?

There was also an article by Joe Sullivan on UnionLeader.com, which was much more critical and a bit more ludicrous. Cretins and Boors? A large number of us are Cretins and Boors? Let's discuss these terms.

boor (br) n.
A person with rude, clumsy manners and little refinement.
A peasant.
(Dictionary.com)

First, Watch a Duke basketball game and tell me if much of the students' behavior is anything less than "rude," as was the word Sullivan used to describe UMass fans. Nearly all Duke fans (within reach) put outstretched hands nearly ONTO the other team on every inbound pass during a home game...does anyone remember the chant "Who's your daddy? Battier!" ...please DO recall the Cameron Crazy "decorum" when many fans ALSO go without shirts and paint their bodies, as this apparently was considered a sign of our "boorishness" based on a photo in the article. Then, tell me how well-respected those Duke fans are, and how fans like the "Dukies" and the "Cameron Crazies" are considered the staple of their University. Wait a second here..what sports event goes without some rude fans? That's because this behavior is ingrained in sports culture. It may not be a good thing, but it's certainly not limited to the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

"UNH sucks" is not the most mature statement--but Mr. Sullivan used it as an example of UMass fan stupidity. Go to a Yankees versus Red Sox game, Mr. Sullivan. You'll hear MUCH worse than that. Actually, I was tailgating and had several UNH fans around me who uttered similar sentiments as the one this guy solely put on UMass fans' shoulders.

I will say that the fans behavior he described, the one calling him a "***king cripple," is embarrassing. I don't know how people forget to respect their elders.

However, Joe Sullivan Calling people cretins is certainly not an appealing concept either:

cre·tin
–noun
1.
a person suffering from cretinism.
2.
a stupid, obtuse, or mentally defective person.
(Dictionary.com)

So, Joe's calling the fan base as a whole mentally defective or stupid. Let's compare..cripple and stupid--a physical cripple and a mental cripple. Mr. Sullivan, how are you any better than that kid except for the fact that you left out a four-letter word? Does this somehow excuse your assertion because you left out a swear from your remark? You might as well have said the F-word for effect.

Again, as an honors student with a 3.7 GPA (not counting my GPA at Fitchburg State College my freshman year), I don't appreciate this generalization. There are thousands of UMass Honors or other ambitious, well-behaved students who would also find this offensive. I felt the environment was electric and the team fed off of the energy.

Nicholas Belanger agrees with me. I absolutely respect my elders and value their presence at these events, and I am truly sickened by some of the behavior these people described. However, having attended this game, sitting in the same section as the prestigious UMass Marching Band, listening to the fans come together and cheer this team to victory in unison..I cannot possibly agree with the complete condemnation of all the UMass fans that attended. Take some time to see the fans as individuals, and they will respect your individual opinion.

Oh..and the police were in riot gear because fans may have rushed the field, not because UMass fans were going to do anything other fans haven't done during big wins. Storming the field is pretty commonplace for upsets...the men in riot gear not only protects the goalposts, but the brand new field-turf they just put in at Mcguirk stadium. With 17,000 people ready to parade onto the field, this is actually pretty normal procedure. This isn't a reflection of fan behavior.

Losing My Religion?

2006-12-06T18:57:00.000-05:00

I am truly proud of my choice for the Honors Capstone course I've taken at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. It's theologically based, giving me an opportunity to answer my own questions about the religion that was the core of my upbringing.

I'm sure many Catholics out there can relate to the confusion I've been experiencing over the past few years. Having been brought up through Catholic schools until my sophomore year of High School, I didn't know any better than to take whatever religious doctrine was being thrown at me as pure solid fact.

Unfortunately, much of what this doctrine instilled in me was the belief that females were responsible for the fall of mankind (Eve and her 'inability to resist temptation'). Whether anyone wants to admit this or not--it established a sense of guilt in simply being a woman. As a result of this, sexuality, which also is tied in with Eve, came along with a sense of guilt. From what I was taught, men were to be in charge, and women were to submit. Just look at the church...do you see any men in the power structure? No..you don't.

Of course, by the time I was eighteen, having been at a public school for a few years, I started to realize that my religion was not so universally accepted. Little things began to stand out to me...such as the blatant hatred of those who didn't fit the so-called ideal "Christ-like" figure. Let's remember that females, technically, do not fit this figure either..this is why they aren't allowed to be true leaders of the church. The hatred, however was particularly directed toward homosexuals, which I could not identify with. I've never once thought that a person being homosexual made them undeserving of God...particularly when half of the people who claimed they were undeserving were committing "sins" too.

Then, I started to do research....and I started to pay attention to the news. I started to realize how this Patriarchal church system established females as inferior....I took notice of how many priests molested children...I noticed the exclusive nature of the church.....I realized I wanted nothing to do with A.) a church that made me feel like I was second-class, and B.) an organization that discriminated in GENERAL for things I found to be trivial.

This created a real wound that never quite healed. I felt that the entire foundation of my existence was false, and that I had to start over.....UNTIL my Gender Politics of Representation thesis course.

I've learned the EXACT foundation of misogyny and patriarchy in my religion (hello, Augustine)..I've learned how influential the Judeo-Christian culture has been on our society. Mary and Eve, for example, set the two standards for women...Eve as the representation of sin, death, and sexuality, and Mary as the "second eve," the redeemer and the standard for all women. This pulled us in two different directions and was really the core of the Madonna-whore complex which is prevalent today in our Judeo-Christian based American culture. I'm now empowered, and in control of my own representation on society. I analyze, instead of allowing what I'm taught to instantly shape my view of the world. What a powerful class.

There's another important realization too, for those of you who may be religious and are angered by what I've written. Now, I understand that the importance of my religion was to teach me a core set of values, that I feel are inherent in nearly any religion. These things are: compassion, love, patience, forgiveness, confidence and the ability to admit when I have flaws that need to be worked on. Yes, I was socialized...but in a way that lets me help others.

Now, I realize that I have to take these core values and apply them to my everyday life...this doesn't mean I need to study the bible and follow it to the letter. I refuse to do that (for reasons I won't discuss). Discrimination and exclusion will not be accepted in my life. What WILL be accepted is the proper treatment of human beings, and the ability to see beauty and potential in those one least expects to. This doesn't even have to relate to religion, or belief in God...it has to do with treating people like they matter.

If only more of us could take a course which truly changes your view on the world...that gives you answers you've longed for most of your life.

UMass North Apartments. No Cell Phones, No problem!

2006-12-06T15:07:00.001-05:00

Finally, Upperclassmen had on-campus living just for themselves. $93 Million was spent on these beauties. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen/living room area. UMass Juniors and Seniors should all be thankful that they no longer have to choose between 1970's styles dorms (and the Southwest towers are certainly an eyesore to boot), or party-worn off-campus housing. But for 6,750 dollars of living costs a year for these, you'd think that there'd be a few less problems.

A lack of cell phone service is one of the biggest issues. I caught onto this almost immediately when I moved into my dorm in September and saw that I had zero bars of service on my T-Mobile Razr (and I'm supposed to have full-service in this area). Asking around, it was clear that other students were having the same problem. My roommates got service, but it's only one bar at most. Once I had called T-Mobile and asked them to boost my service, they told me that this has been a major issue in the area and that they were trying to work out something with the towers to try to fix it. Some people had Blackberry phones which were not functional. Oh, and my phone still doesn't get service months later.

Of course, I foolishly did not pursue this as a potential story for a newspaper. A month later the story pops up in the Massachusetts Daily Collegian. According to several officials on campus, it's a problem with the structure of the building itself, meaning that this isn't a fixable issue. GREAT!

It's not a major issue for some people, but for others it is. Consider how many students use their cell phones are their primary source of contacting others. If one doesn't get service, they don't even know they're being left voice-mail, which could be from potential employers, or even important messages from parents. Can they use their dorm phones, you ask? For local outgoing or general incoming calls, yes. Everything else, you have to pay for. Phone cards, long distance programs, etc. So, students have cell phone bills to pay, on top of regular phone charges if they don't want to go down elevators, or flights of stairs and walk outside every time they need to make a call. Consider also how freezing it gets during New England Winter seasons...it's not pleasant to have to go outside every time communication needs to be made by phone, or voice-mail needs to be checked.

My question is: How did those who built these apartments not consider this major inconvenience? Is this a common problem with student apartments? After a while, these extra charges to do simple things add up.

There was also a story in the Collegian about how one of the head workers of the construction project may have expedited the process by leaving wires exposed, using questionable material, and in general using unethical methods. Could this be a much bigger problem than we all realize? Perhaps this cell phone issue is the least of student worries who paid something close to out-of-state tuition (I believe that cost is $26,000)..and I can only imagine how much money an out-of-state student has to pay to live here considering that UMass financial aid gets worse every year. Let's hope that the cell phone issue can somehow be resolved, and that more serious issues never arise.

Hello blog world!

2006-12-06T01:47:00.000-05:00

I've been posting blogs on MySpace for quite some time, but most of my friends pretty much don't care about any of the more serious topics I've discussed. They'd rather talk about their lives...which is fantastic and all, but sometimes one has to focus on the bigger picture.
After attending a Journalism Lecture Series at UMass with Sreenath Sreenivasan (WABC-TV, Columbia U. Professor), who endorsed blogs, I've decided creating a more searchable blog was the next step. Perhaps this may be my new favorite outlet.