Students, Teachers Pessimistic About Government Debt

When asked whether or not they believed the government would be able to pull the United States out of debt within this generation, not a single respondent answered positively. “Not unless they get rid of it magically”, said Lydia Schonadel, a junior from La Vale, MD. This attitude reflects a lack of confidence in elected officials to put aside their differences to work for the greater good.

Quintin Wright, a sophomore from Germantown, MD, had a more positive opinion, saying that the government is “taking steps” towards balancing the budget, but he believes that it will take more time to get rid of a deficit of more than $14 trillion.

Nina Forsythe, an adjunct English instructor, had a more concrete reason for her belief that the government would not be able to lift the country out of debt, citing current tensions between the political parties in Washington, D.C. “The Republicans oppose new taxes, and the Democrats oppose cutting social programs”, she said. She added that the average citizen seems to oppose both.

Forsythe also said that the last time the United States ran a surplus was under President Clinton, saying that it seems that there is less will to balance the budget now then there was then, a situation that was made worse by the financial meltdown in 2008.

The Library gets No Love !

If you ever want to get rid of a Frostburg State student, just blind fold them, and leave them in the library, most likely they will not be able to find their way out. It seems that Frostburg students stay away from the conventional place to study, and find other venues to do school work. Students’ attendance in the library has been very low this semester, but for what reason? When Travis Oliver, form Baltimore Maryland was asked how often he attends the library he answered “15 minutes, twice this week, just to check my Facebook.” Travis is sociology major, so he definitely has to find time to do his work. When Derrick Brown, an engineer major, from Baltimore was asked the same question and he answered, “2 times a week, with a total of 10 hours.” Brett Austin biology major, from Baltimore said he never goes to the library. There are other alternatives when choosing places to study on campus for example, Pullen Hall, as well as the 24 hour lab. Some study at home or with friends. The lack of people in the library may not mean that people are not studying, but could be that the library is becoming obsolete in the Frostburg way of studying.

The Library gets No Love !

If you ever want to get rid of a Frostburg State student, just blind fold them, and leave them in the library, most likely they will not be able to find their way out. It seems that Frostburg students stay away from the conventional place to study, and find other venues to do school work. Students’ attendance in the library has been very low this semester, but for what reason? When Travis Oliver, form Baltimore Maryland was asked how often he attends the library he answered “15 minutes, twice this week, just to check my Facebook.” Travis is sociology major, so he definitely has to find time to do his work. When Derrick Brown, an engineer major, from Baltimore was asked the same question and he answered, “2 times a week, with a total of 10 hours.” Brett Austin biology major, from Baltimore said he never goes to the library. There are other alternatives when choosing places to study on campus for example, Pullen Hall, as well as the 24 hour lab. Some study at home or with friends. The lack of people in the library may not mean that people are not studying, but could be that the library is becoming obsolete in the Frostburg way of studying.

Getting What We Asked For???

Joe Clingman
10/21/2010

Getting What We Asked For?

It is no secret that being the President of the United States is no easy job. Having to deal with the previous president’s mess and the process of cleaning it all up can be more than overwhelming. It is difficult and almost unfair to even try to make judgment on any president, because the situations and events that occurred before him. Though the job is tough, citizens have expectations that they feel should be met.
President Barak Obama is currently in office and as of right now, there are many mixed feelings on his progress as our leader. He has had to deal with problems like health care issue and Bp oil spill. Neither has greatly pushed America in to believing 100 percent that Obama knows what he is doing. Nonetheless, there are others who believe that under the circumstances, he is doing what he can. Devon Hill, a junior and political science major says, “I didn’t have high expectations of President Obama. He is doing as well as he could have done. He has to deal with Congress to make his changes and that is what’s holding him back. But I’m cynical anyway.” Markese Hayden, also a junior and exercise science major seems to agree. He says, “He’s doing okay for the position that he was placed in. There is a lot of opposition in Congress and it makes it hard for him to try to do anything that he wants.” Leona Atkins says, "he’s doing a good job because he is trying to make good changes.”
President Obama’s changes may not be as fast as everyone wants them, but there are other things that we all need to take into consideration. One can’t have any movement without a spinal cord, and Obama can’t quite make big changes without the approval of Congress. Electing any president into office is a risk, but that’s when faith and hope have to be primary factors.

Social Communication, A Benefit of Technology

Communication is a very important factor to the organization of American society. When asked, “If technology helps or hurts us when it comes to social communication?” everyone said it helps. Communication through technology has made it easier for people to be in touch with large groups. It has also helped with cost, emailing someone cost less than postage for a letter. It also is easy for people to communicate in long distances without paying for extra services on a phone bill. Pam Williams, the Director for Library User Services believes that technology helps social communication. When a family member is sick or there is an emergency, Williams likes updating others multiple times a day. “Technology helps that become possible.” Williams stated. Yolanda Moktoi, a senior here at Frostburg State University, working towards a degree in International Studies, also feels technology helps social communication. Moktoi brought up how keeping in touch with people in the military can be extremely difficult. “People at war don’t have to wait for letters because of email.” Moktoi stated. In addition, Moktoi expressed that social networking sites can hurt people when it comes to career, but people should advertise themselves as a qualified person if they are seeking a professional occupation. Moktoi said, “Social networks, like Facebook and Twitter could really help someone who is looking for a job in the entertainment field, like a comedian.” Internet allows people to keep intouch with one another with very little effort. Charles Courtney, a Library Tech here at FSU confessed, “I keep intouch with more of my friends then I would if I had to write letters.” Although technology has its good and bad, very few would say it hurts us when it comes to communication.

Tea Party Candidates vs Republicans

The Tea Party can cause issues for the Republicans in the upcoming election. When asked do you think the Tea Party candidates are hurting the Republican's chance at winning some seats in the upcoming election, many Frostburg students tried to find the right words to explain their opinion. "No. But I'm not big on elections", said Heather Adcock, a sophmore. Atleast she was honest. "Yes, because they're taking votes from the other political parties", Matt Harper, a freshman, said. "No, Tea Party follows the constitution, they're more like old school republicans, Republicans now are more moderate" said Dylan Hidey, a Junior. Although many students did not know much about the Tea Party, those who answered tried to give a good explanation. But most students felt the same as Heather, they just are not big on elections.

Is there diversity at FSU?

Located in a county where the majority of residents are White Americans, many would be surprised at the diversity that can be found on the campus of Frostburg State University. While Allegany County, MD is 91.4% White Americans, the campus is only 68.5%. Here at FSU, 23.7% of the students are African American, 1.6% are Asian, and 2.6% are of Hispanic origin. Overall, all majorities make up 28.3% of the campus population.

So, do the students here agree with these numbers? Some do and some don't, and some have mixed feelings on the subject. Beth Andrews, a sophomore from Hagerstown, MD, said, "Yes. For the location of the school there is a lot of diversity-at least more diversity than expected by many." Psychology major, Leanna Atkins feels a little differently however. When asked whether she believed there was a good balance of different race and ethnicities at Frostburg State, she answered both yes and no. She replied, "When it comes to the majority there are only two races, but other than that I think it is good."

Faculty members, like Lisa Fey of the FSU Admissions office, agrees with both students that there is a good balance of diversity. She said that yes she does believe there is: While she did not have any specific statistics herself, she stated, "Based on visiting other locations on campus, it is pretty obvious there is diversity."

Will all your money be spent before you can drive to work to make it?

“Gas prices are way too high!” said Bernard Wynder, the assistant vice president at Frostburg State. “I hope the population is not fooled by these prices. “ It was said that the gas prices were to go down after Labor Day. Well Labor Day has come and gone and the prices are getting higher. In Frostburg as of last night the cheapest gas was $ 2.85 9/10 at the Martians gas station. However, in Baltimore last night gas was $ 2.57 9/10 at the eagle mart. How can gas prices be that much different? Shaneka Baker a junior accounting major from Baltimore does not understand this either. “They are crazy how much they want for gas. It is crazy how it jumps from high to low.” There is no way gas can fluctuate from more than a few pennies every few days. Donna Sivic, the administrative assistant for the career center also thinks it is very suspicious. “I think they price gouge during holidays and the summer. They take gas prices up even when the prices of the barrels stay the same. We all should just stop buying gas and walk everywhere and I’m sure the prices will go way down.”

Proud to be a Bobcat

Drinking. Drugs. Campus that doesn’t care. Skipping class. Old, ugly campus. Food sucks. Too many parties. Fail out. Too Cold.
These are the rumors that circulate about Frostburg State University throughout high schools, youth groups, and parent-teacher associations. Maybe you have heard them yourself, and maybe you actually believed them. But when students attending the university were polled, results turned out much different than one would have thought.
When Annemarie Turner, a biology major from Crofton, Maryland, was asked the question “Are you proud to admit that you are a Frostburg student” she looked puzzled before saying “Yeah, I go here, so why wouldn’t I be?” Her answer reflects the same views of her peers and friends, especially Mary Biscoe.
Mary, from Prince Frederick, says she “loves Frostburg because of the diverse campus and the awesome alumni networking opportunities.” Her two majors, Law and Society and Sociology, have given her many opportunities on and off campus, which she appreciates. Like Latia Hopkins from Baltimore City, Mary is not afraid to say she loves her campus. Latia, a Political Science and Law and Society Major, agrees with Mary and Annemarie because she is not afraid to say she is proud to be a student at Frostburg State University.
So, where do you stand on the issue? Shouldn’t it be up to the students of Frostburg themselves to formulate an opinion, instead of people who do not even attend the school? Frostburg’s reputation is just another example of how you need to see something before you believe it.

What's For Dinner???

McDonald’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A or “the caf”??? Many college students may find themselves in this predicament just about every day. The idea of going to the cafeteria is most logical to some students, like sophomore and Business Administration major Troy Vermillion, who says, "There's no point in spending money when I spent money on a meal plan." He also said that although he doesn't really like the food, it's already been paid for. So it makes one wonder, if students were given the option to use meal plan in places like McDonald's, would they still go to the cafeteria?

Since the closing of The Lane Center, many students have been sustained by substitute in Tawes Hall, Sub Zero, and the cafeteria. However, students like freshman Catori Langley don't mind the expense of take-out on a regular basis. "Living in Edgewood makes it hard to get to
the cafeteria and Tawes, so I just order food because it comes to me," she said. Most students who live off-campus or in Edgewood like Catori may be more open to the idea of ordering food or going elsewhere to eat. On the other hand, students living on campus may see the expense as a hassle, so they rarely seek off-campus food. Sophomore Caitlin Moore eats take-out maybe once a week or less, stating, "I hate having to wait for the bus just to get something I could get by walking a few feet."

No matter where one may decide to eat, it is unanimous that all students enjoy the option to choose. So whether the final choice is Chinese, pizza, or Tawes, students are at least happy to have the freedom of choice, which seems the most important option of all.

The Student's President

"I talked to him all the time when I was a student" claimed Sarah Smith. Sarah adds, "I don't remember if I have talked to him while working here as a Grad Student though." Whether purely coincidental or evidence of a trend this answer seems to be common place.

Alex Ferintinos is a junior here at Frostburg State University. Her interactions with Dr. Jonathan Gibralter ( Frostburg State University's President) suggest a casual relationship, more that of new friends than a President and his student. "Oh hey I liked the show you were in" Alex recalls him saying. "Yeah I met you in the gym, Mark Bowling introduced us!" she responded. This common place meeting seems to be a regular happening between President Gibralter and his students.

Is Dr. Gibralter's close relationship with the student body mirrored by his relationship with Faculty and Staff? Barbara Stahl, Accounting 3 Clerk for Frostburg State University, " might have spoken to him once." Several employees like Autumn Brode, the Administrative Assistant fro Student and Community Involvement, claim that they spoke to him "when he first got here but not since."

One thing is for sure, Dr. Gibralter does make it a priority to communicate and involve himself with the student body.

Views on the War in Iraq

A majority of Americans would say that the war in Iraq is an important issue. Whether or not a person is for or against it, he or she would have to admit that it is a vital topic in today’s society. For some, however, it is difficult to formulate an opinion. When asked about her views on the war in Iraq, Courtney Smith, a senior business major from Bel Air, Maryland, resisted the question. “I’m not really a good person to ask,” stated Smith. She admitted to not knowing much and not being up-to-date on the happenings of the war. Many college students seem to be ignorant of this issue in the news. “I’m not really up-to-date,” says Tasha Murray, a junior/senior early childhood/elementary education major from Baltimore. However, she believes that the “war needs to stop so the soldiers can come home.” Murray mentioned that she has a lot of family in the army. This can alter someone’s opinion on the war as well. Rachael Keil, a senior athletic training major from Annapolis, Maryland, has a close tie to the war; her brother has been to Iraq twice. Keil believes we are fighting an “endless war” and that “we went with good intentions but now it’s a big mess.” It seems that the more the war affects a person, the greater knowledge and opinion he or she has on it.

To Rock, or Not to Rock The Vote? That Is The Question...

It's almost that time of year, where people are scrambling to their local elementary school to get in line and vote! Advertisements plague local television, picket signs are placed in your neighbors front yards, and t-shirts are being handed out to encourage you to go out and vote. Only...wait a second, the President has only been in office for two years, right? Who the heck are we voting for then?

It could be considered sad that most students don't even know that there is another four year cycle of voting that takes place for local and state government and legislation. Freshman student Doug Kendricks, a Wildlife Biology major from Cherry Hill was asked if he was going to vote in the upcoming midterm elections, and he responded "When is midterm elections?" After telling him when the upcoming elections were held, he then responded "Well, as long as there is a black guy running, I'll vote for him, haha." Though he may have said that in a joking manner, it was clear he had no knowledge of the candidates who are in the running and possibly no idea what they will be running for.

Another student who was interviewed simply replied with "No, I don't really care about these elections." Ashley Tilghman, a law major from Upper Marlboro, continued by saying "The Presidential elections are what's important to me." When told that these elections directly effect the state that she currently lives in, she had nothing to say.

To get another prospective, an English Department Professor was asked the same question as the students. Andy Duncan responded to the question, saying "Yes, I've always voted. Since I've turned 18, I haven't missed a vote. And if I do, I fill out an absentee ballot."

Through just these three simple interviews, it's clear that there is a lack of exposure of the importance of the midterm elections to students. Therefore, the lack of exposure leads to a lack of interest, resulting in a lack of voting participants. You can't be sure who to blame here. Do you blame schools for not better promoting mid term elections? Do you blame the election nominees for not reaching out to students more? Or do you just blame students for not showing the interest needed from the future adults of America?

The Green Goddess Vs. Do It Fluid

"That's some good shit man, stuff should light now." These words spoken by the artist, B-Real from Cypress Hill, are one of the many lyrics and opinions of various musicians in the world today. Marijuana is a common drug, not just among musicians, but among everyday people as well. Various opinions have been expressed by college students on campus about the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana, but a less discussed topic is about marijuana versus alcohol. Partying in general is a huge thing on college campuses. On the weekends it's not hard to find a kegger or a house with a juice jug in it, however, one never hears of open invitations to "hit a bong" or "share a bowl". This may be because the substance itself is illegal but some seem to think that this is because marijuana is more harmful than consuming alcohol. Daniyel Kent, a psychology major from Hagerstown expressed her opinion: "There are no regrets on weed." She claimed that alcohol is more harmful because it causes a person to make decisions that they would not normally make when sober. This is not the case with marijuana, she expressed, which is not likely to cause a violent act or a rape case. "Instead, you're more likely to sit on the couch and watch funny videos."

Brenda, an employee from Java City and Mary Biscoe, a law student from Prince Frederick, expressed different opinions then Daniyel did. Both expressed a more harmful effect of the "magic herb". "If alcohol is legal, marijuana should be too. However, I think that social drinking (such as not binging) is not as bad as marijuana or alcoholism," commented Ms. Biscoe. She believed that consumption of the herb was equivalent to alcoholism. Brenda expressed a negative opinion of it due to experience with a friend: "I know someone who died from drugs in general, but I'm not sure which." Though marijuana may not be the cause here, she expressed a negative outlook towards drugs in general.

Many different people have opinions on marijuana and alcohol and there is no one right answer. Some people have an opinion like B-Real or Dr. Dre, "Smoke weed everyday, hey hey hey," but others are totally against it. It just depends on the person.

Does "One" Vote Really Make a Difference?

Every year celebrities and different organizations spend millions of dollars on campaigns to encourage young adults to vote. But does it really work, are these campaigns actually enticing college students to register and vote in every election? Jennifer Fox, an Elementary Education major in her third year says she is currently not registered to vote and has no intentions of registering. She states, "There are people way smarter out there who know politics and know what's better than I do. I mean what's losing one voter really going to do?" One must wonder if more than one college student has this ideal than aren't we losing entirely more than just "one vote?" Alex Bishop, a sophomore Engineering major states, "Of course I'm registered to vote and I will be voting in the election. We are the generation that is going to be picking the leaders; every person we put into office will be impacting our lives, every day." Maybe there is hope after all for politicians to inspire young voters. However, Eleasha Phillips, a Senior Psychology major says that she is registered to vote, but only votes during presidential elections, because she feels, "Voting for the president is really the only election that counts. All the old people in a town will control who your mayor or governor or stuff like that is. Younger people really can't control that."

If you could go to another school other then FSU, would you?

Frostburg State University is a wonderful place to get an education. When asked students on campus about their opinion of this question, they all had similar responses. Melissa Ridgway, a senior here at Frostburg State University, originally from Pocomoke, Maryland studying Addiction Counseling states "No, I would never leave or choose a different school besides Frostburg. I like this school because it is a tight knit community that Frostburg offers. You know the majority of the people and the professor/student relationship is greater then other schools because of the student teacher ratio that is offered here."
Business Administration major Bryan Howell, also a senior here at Frostburg State and originally from Dunkirk, Maryland, has a different opinion then his fellow peer Ridgway. When asked the same question, Howell's response was, "Yes, I would have picked a different school besides Frostburg. Frostburg is such a small school, and to me personally, I would have loved to go to a huge school like West Virginia University. I have just always wanted to be at a school where the school spirit is crazy and the school is always coming together as one. It's sad that the only thing this school can come together for is for a candle lighting for a fellow peer's death. I feel as if this school is so separated amongst the students, nothing really brings us together. I know that school is for education, but it would just be a little more enjoyable if we were able to come together as a whole school."
Finally, my last interviewee was a freshman, originally from Frostburg with a biology major, Jackie Jefferies, who did not agree with that Howell said, but what Ridgway had said. "Frostburg is a wonderful school from what I have experiences so far. Everybody here is so friendly here and I feel very safe. I have good relationships with my professors and I feel as if I am able to go up to anyone on this campus and ask them questions about different classes."
Overall, students at Frostburg State University have very different opinions on their school. Most people at Frostburg seem to like the close connections they are able to gain with their instructors and their peers. The safety of the school also helps students and faculty feel safe while walking this campus. Frostburg overall had positive feedback which helps students feel at home when they are away from home.

What Do Americans Take for Granted?

After asking three Frostburg State University students what they think Americans take for granted, I received several responses. All three senior students each had unique answers, but they all agreed with one another.

Nikki Dascal, a local who is a Biochemistry Major, believes we take the Earth for granted. She says, "We destroy the earth... I could go on forever, I think we take how clean everything here in America is for granted. Everything is so sanitary, and not everything around us is so disgusting like it is in some other countries."

Erin Wheeler, of Southern Maryland who is a Music Major, simply states that "Americans take Freedom for Granted."

Jessie Ragland, also from Southern Maryland replies, "Money." She believes that most Americans don't realize how well off they actually are compared to most people in the world. Jessie is a Liberal Arts Major.

Of course there are many more things in this world that Americans are taking for granted such as running water, or electricity but atleast there are several things that Frostburg State University students have taken the time to think about and appreciate. Americans don't realize how much we actually should be grateful for and are lucky to have which is unfortunate.