**Editor's note: This blog was written by UP staff writer Cierra Robinson
I woke up to my mother’s “My Fave Five” image buzzing in my ears.
“There was a shooting at your school,” she said, wide awake.
“Here?” I said, rubbing my eyes and looking at the clock.
“There!” she screamed back, forgetting it wasn't even 7 a.m.
My mother proceeded to blare the local news back home [in Sunrise, FL] into the telephone receiver. It was a few minutes past 7 a.m. and the story hadn’t been re-aired on the news channels in Boca Raton. I caught the back end of the latest broadcast.
When I learned as much information as was being offered, I intended on going back to sleep. But with sleepy eyes, I peered through my dorm room blinds as the sun cut into my corneas. I saw two people that I could not identify from my sixth-story room. They walked quickly, as if they didn’t get the memo. Normally the housing lawn was vacant at that hour.
I was confused. I hadn’t heard a single siren last night, even though I was awake when the sirens were apparently going off. I received no text message from the university but four from a friend in another dorm urging me to stay inside due to the shooting. I did receive the university-wide e-mail alerts from FAU police once I checked my e-mail the morning of the incident.
After learning the seriousness or the lack of seriousness about the shooting, students became more concerned with possible rescheduled final exams if the lockdown continued passed Wednesday, rather than their safety.
“Yeah, it is a big deal, but putting us on lockdown is a little extreme, but I understand people need to be safe,” said freshman Amanda Cohen.
Other students thought the shooting was not serious enough to call for a lockdown.
Freshman Marilyn Rios said, “It’s not even that serious.”
The waiting hours during the lockdown were confusing. I didn’t know whether to stay in my room or go down stairs. I wondered about work and the pay I was missing, whether I had to cancel my poetry club meeting, or if I should just go back to sleep.
Waiting there in my bed, I imagined that the gunman was in my suite because of irresponsibility. Our door is often left unlocked, and I couldn’t recall if I’d locked it that night. I finally gathered my courage from a friend over the phone and exited my bedroom because, it had been rumored, that food was in our dorm lobby.
After walking to my friend’s room on my floor, I looked out of her window and saw a lot of activity. Students were leaving the building in beachwear, or carrying cardboard boxes and bins to their trunks. It was said that we were able to leave the dorms but could not return.
When my friend and I had gone down to the lobby to check out the food situation, I overheard an RA announce to a group of boys if they had flights to catch they could go, but they were encouraged to stick around.
The rest of the waiting hours (until 12:30 when the lockdown was lifted) consisted of watching movies, sleeping, and consuming Ruffles, peanut butter and jelly and turkey sandwiches, bananas, fruit punch, doughnuts, and sponge cake.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Going Green is Harder than it Looks
**Editor's Note: This blog was written by UP Staff Writer David Shreve.
In an attempt for my first time to ever get involved in the national Earth Day celebration, I thought it would be a good idea to look no further than the events planned at the Boca FAU campus. There were many interesting activities to choose from: free burritos from Moe’s for using public transport, a campus-wide clean-up sponsored by Center for Civic Engagement and Service and a lecture from FAU's Dining Services on purchasing animal abuse free products. I can’t vouch for the quality of any of these events, though, because I chose to attend a tree planting ceremony sponsored by FAU Housing.
Like any other pseudo-environmentalist college student attempting to give a damn about global warming, I showed up ready to work in an organic green T-shirt and gardening gloves. The event, held in the Butterfly Gardens near Heritage Park Towers, was scheduled to follow with an ice-cream social combined with a lecture on tips to live more green.
I rode up to the tree planting event on my eco-friendly bicycle ten minutes before it began. With my pen and pad in my hand, I was ready to give the Housing Department their publicity for giving back to the campus and plant a tree or two myself. I originally showed up alone, but was joined a few minutes later by fellow student accounting major, Paul Baglio. The two of us stood around for a few minutes, talked about finals and our attempts at making our lives more eco-friendly, and waited for the Housing crew to arrive.
After 20 minutes of standing around, we began to question ourselves; maybe we were in the wrong place or had the times mixed up. Surely Housing couldn’t have forgotten about their own event.
Well, they did.
Whether this was an honest mistake, lack of planning, or simply assuming nobody would show, my pen and pad would now serve a new purpose: find out why there were only two students, no Housing, and no trees to plant. During that time though, nobody working for Housing in any of the surrounding dorms had the slightest idea what I was talking about. Even at the 7:00 p.m. ice-cream social, hosted by Village Apartment employees, Adrienne Patmythes and Nicolle Gale, which did in fact take place, but without the previously informed follow-up lecture on living green. They didn’t know there was any plan to plant a tree.
In a phone conversation with Larry Faerman, Assistant Director of Housing, he said that Housing Secretary Patricia Rossi was responsible for the event. Faerman also said that although he did not oversee the event, he was told by Rossi that the event began at Indian Rivers Tower (not as advertised) and eventually moved over to the Butterfly Gardens near Heritage Park Towers around 6:20 p.m. - 20 minutes later than scheduled. All attempts to contact Rossi have been unsuccessful and resulted in an endlessly ringing phone line.
“It’s really a shame that school employees cannot follow through with their own philanthropy events,” said Baglio. “Maybe we can hope for better next year.”
If you missed out on this Earth Day celebration, voice your concerns by calling Patricia Rossi at (561) 297- 5001.
In an attempt for my first time to ever get involved in the national Earth Day celebration, I thought it would be a good idea to look no further than the events planned at the Boca FAU campus. There were many interesting activities to choose from: free burritos from Moe’s for using public transport, a campus-wide clean-up sponsored by Center for Civic Engagement and Service and a lecture from FAU's Dining Services on purchasing animal abuse free products. I can’t vouch for the quality of any of these events, though, because I chose to attend a tree planting ceremony sponsored by FAU Housing.
Like any other pseudo-environmentalist college student attempting to give a damn about global warming, I showed up ready to work in an organic green T-shirt and gardening gloves. The event, held in the Butterfly Gardens near Heritage Park Towers, was scheduled to follow with an ice-cream social combined with a lecture on tips to live more green.
I rode up to the tree planting event on my eco-friendly bicycle ten minutes before it began. With my pen and pad in my hand, I was ready to give the Housing Department their publicity for giving back to the campus and plant a tree or two myself. I originally showed up alone, but was joined a few minutes later by fellow student accounting major, Paul Baglio. The two of us stood around for a few minutes, talked about finals and our attempts at making our lives more eco-friendly, and waited for the Housing crew to arrive.
After 20 minutes of standing around, we began to question ourselves; maybe we were in the wrong place or had the times mixed up. Surely Housing couldn’t have forgotten about their own event.
Well, they did.
Whether this was an honest mistake, lack of planning, or simply assuming nobody would show, my pen and pad would now serve a new purpose: find out why there were only two students, no Housing, and no trees to plant. During that time though, nobody working for Housing in any of the surrounding dorms had the slightest idea what I was talking about. Even at the 7:00 p.m. ice-cream social, hosted by Village Apartment employees, Adrienne Patmythes and Nicolle Gale, which did in fact take place, but without the previously informed follow-up lecture on living green. They didn’t know there was any plan to plant a tree.
In a phone conversation with Larry Faerman, Assistant Director of Housing, he said that Housing Secretary Patricia Rossi was responsible for the event. Faerman also said that although he did not oversee the event, he was told by Rossi that the event began at Indian Rivers Tower (not as advertised) and eventually moved over to the Butterfly Gardens near Heritage Park Towers around 6:20 p.m. - 20 minutes later than scheduled. All attempts to contact Rossi have been unsuccessful and resulted in an endlessly ringing phone line.
“It’s really a shame that school employees cannot follow through with their own philanthropy events,” said Baglio. “Maybe we can hope for better next year.”
If you missed out on this Earth Day celebration, voice your concerns by calling Patricia Rossi at (561) 297- 5001.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Artsy fartsy fun
Last night I got the chance to do three of my favorite things: look at art, talk to creative people and drink wine.
Thursday night was the opening night of the 2008 Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Show in the Ritter Art Gallery at the Boca campus. The show, dubbed “Peripheral Vision,” featured 22 graduating seniors from the College of Arts and Letters. The works are on display at the Ritter (above the Breezeway) now through May 2.
The show is the culmination of the students’ semester in the senior seminar class, a course required for graduation for all art majors. It’s also the first time all art majors – graphic design, studio art, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking and painting – come together for one class.
As part of their final exam grade, the students were required to feature a piece of their work in the show. Some students used their class projects, others created brand new works and some even made site-specific projects for the show.
Here’s a look at my top five favorite works:
“The Eighth Continent”
By Alex C. Mescher
Graphic Design
Materials: Resin, found plastic debris and sand
Time to complete: Four days
I might be a little bias because this artist also happens to be the assistant art director for the UP. Yet, I was not the only one to admire his work. Many other gallery onlookers agreed the piece was “very powerful.”
This molded number eight took nearly four 32-ounce cans of resin and cost around $120 to complete. The items inside the eight were all found at Boca’s Spanish River Beach and include a plastic bottle, lighter, toy car and plastic rope.
“Large Lidded Jars”
By David McKenna
Ceramics
Materials: Ceramic and stone ware
Time to complete: 20 minutes for each pot, almost three weeks total including drying time
In an attempt to join organic nature and mechanical techniques, McKenna said he decided he wanted to create lidded jars for his final project. The jars were created with perfect precision, all three incremental sizes were smooth and shinny. The lids from all four jars were also removable.
If these jars were on sale, I would have bought them on the spot.
“I am not confused, I am just well mixed”
By Natalie Nelson
Graphic Design
Materials: Aluminum
Time to complete: Four days
This metal wall-mounted piece was done entirely in aluminum. The jumbled letters represent all of the words (and letters) in the Robert Frost quote for which it was titled. All of the aluminum used was donated, but according to the artist it would have cost upwards of $500 to purchase all the materials.
“Introspective Nebuli”
By Chris Glanzman
Graphic Design
Materials: Digital print
This artist self portrait was made up entirely of words – all of which are lyrics to from songs that hold personal meaning to the artist. Lyrics from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coheed & Cambria and Jimmy Eat Word can be found around his eyes, nose and chin.
“Untitled”
By Filiz O’Brien
Ceramics
Materials: Ceramics and wire
Time to complete: On and off for two weeks
These 37 ceramic pieces represent the five main parts of the human digestive system. Each rectangular shape had a part of an organ. According to the artist, her interest in biology and anatomy has always helped her to be aware of how the body works and this work displays that structure.
Click HERE to view more photo's from the BFA Show opening night.
Want to check out their art for yourself?
The Ritter Art Gallery is located above the Breezeway on the Boca Raton campus and is open Tuesday through Friday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday night was the opening night of the 2008 Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Show in the Ritter Art Gallery at the Boca campus. The show, dubbed “Peripheral Vision,” featured 22 graduating seniors from the College of Arts and Letters. The works are on display at the Ritter (above the Breezeway) now through May 2.
The show is the culmination of the students’ semester in the senior seminar class, a course required for graduation for all art majors. It’s also the first time all art majors – graphic design, studio art, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking and painting – come together for one class.
As part of their final exam grade, the students were required to feature a piece of their work in the show. Some students used their class projects, others created brand new works and some even made site-specific projects for the show.
Here’s a look at my top five favorite works:
“The Eighth Continent”
By Alex C. Mescher
Graphic Design
Materials: Resin, found plastic debris and sand
Time to complete: Four days
I might be a little bias because this artist also happens to be the assistant art director for the UP. Yet, I was not the only one to admire his work. Many other gallery onlookers agreed the piece was “very powerful.”
This molded number eight took nearly four 32-ounce cans of resin and cost around $120 to complete. The items inside the eight were all found at Boca’s Spanish River Beach and include a plastic bottle, lighter, toy car and plastic rope.
“Large Lidded Jars”
By David McKenna
Ceramics
Materials: Ceramic and stone ware
Time to complete: 20 minutes for each pot, almost three weeks total including drying time
In an attempt to join organic nature and mechanical techniques, McKenna said he decided he wanted to create lidded jars for his final project. The jars were created with perfect precision, all three incremental sizes were smooth and shinny. The lids from all four jars were also removable.
If these jars were on sale, I would have bought them on the spot.
“I am not confused, I am just well mixed”
By Natalie Nelson
Graphic Design
Materials: Aluminum
Time to complete: Four days
This metal wall-mounted piece was done entirely in aluminum. The jumbled letters represent all of the words (and letters) in the Robert Frost quote for which it was titled. All of the aluminum used was donated, but according to the artist it would have cost upwards of $500 to purchase all the materials.
“Introspective Nebuli”
By Chris Glanzman
Graphic Design
Materials: Digital print
This artist self portrait was made up entirely of words – all of which are lyrics to from songs that hold personal meaning to the artist. Lyrics from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coheed & Cambria and Jimmy Eat Word can be found around his eyes, nose and chin.
“Untitled”
By Filiz O’Brien
Ceramics
Materials: Ceramics and wire
Time to complete: On and off for two weeks
These 37 ceramic pieces represent the five main parts of the human digestive system. Each rectangular shape had a part of an organ. According to the artist, her interest in biology and anatomy has always helped her to be aware of how the body works and this work displays that structure.
Click HERE to view more photo's from the BFA Show opening night.
Want to check out their art for yourself?
The Ritter Art Gallery is located above the Breezeway on the Boca Raton campus and is open Tuesday through Friday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Rock on
Two weeks ago a DJ from Owl Radio came into our newsroom to tell us about their annual Battle of the Bands concert. But this year, the station is teaming up with the Program Board – FAU’s student-funded concert committee – and bringing a Woodstock music festival feel to the daylong concert.
So this Satursday’s Battle of the Bands is FAU’s stab at Woodstock: Hootstock. No, we’re not in upstate New York and we’ve got a few hundred thousand less people, but hey, we can try.
The coolest part? They’ve asked me to be a judge.
Yeah, I may not look like a punk-rock or hippie band kinda chick, but I love music so this should be very exciting.
There will be 11 bands performing Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., all vying for the judges' votes. The winning band will get to be the opening act at Program Board’s Rock the Owl concert in fall.
And since I’m a judge, I’ve got the inside scoop on what we’re looking for. The bands will be judged on six categories: sound, voice, performance energy, interaction with the audience, audience response and overall performance. I think we even get a nifty score sheet.
After all the bands compete there will be a special performance by the Fort Lauderdale band, the Mission Veo. Then, I and my fellow judges - Paul Cohen, an Owl Radio DJ; Dan Ross, Program Board marketing director; and Joe Adams, SG student controller and former FAU Idol judge, will pick the Hootstock winner.
Be sure to bring your blanket and cooler to chill out and listen to some bands. And if one particularly strikes your fancy, be sure to come up and tell me.
Make it to the Show
What: Hootstock '08
Where: Boca campus Housing Lawn
When: Saturday, April 12, noon to 9 p.m.
The Bands:
Bell Tower Falls
Stone High
The Joyness
Man Down, Man Down
The Gist
A New Start
Lights Out
Aveo
Leading the Heroes
Leone
Meridian Sky
So this Satursday’s Battle of the Bands is FAU’s stab at Woodstock: Hootstock. No, we’re not in upstate New York and we’ve got a few hundred thousand less people, but hey, we can try.
The coolest part? They’ve asked me to be a judge.
Yeah, I may not look like a punk-rock or hippie band kinda chick, but I love music so this should be very exciting.
There will be 11 bands performing Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., all vying for the judges' votes. The winning band will get to be the opening act at Program Board’s Rock the Owl concert in fall.
And since I’m a judge, I’ve got the inside scoop on what we’re looking for. The bands will be judged on six categories: sound, voice, performance energy, interaction with the audience, audience response and overall performance. I think we even get a nifty score sheet.
After all the bands compete there will be a special performance by the Fort Lauderdale band, the Mission Veo. Then, I and my fellow judges - Paul Cohen, an Owl Radio DJ; Dan Ross, Program Board marketing director; and Joe Adams, SG student controller and former FAU Idol judge, will pick the Hootstock winner.
Be sure to bring your blanket and cooler to chill out and listen to some bands. And if one particularly strikes your fancy, be sure to come up and tell me.
Make it to the Show
What: Hootstock '08
Where: Boca campus Housing Lawn
When: Saturday, April 12, noon to 9 p.m.
The Bands:
Bell Tower Falls
Stone High
The Joyness
Man Down, Man Down
The Gist
A New Start
Lights Out
Aveo
Leading the Heroes
Leone
Meridian Sky
Thursday, April 3, 2008
I want big Jugs!
**Editor's note: This blog was written by Amanda Leth, University Press Staff Writer
Young women all around Boca have been talking about the dangers of plastic surgery since last week's 18-year-old West Boca High School cheerleader died because of a reaction to anesthesia during an operation to correct the teen’s inverted nipples, click here to read more.
Even though the surgery was corrective, not cosmetic, both procedures are equally as dangerous.
It seems like plastic surgery has gotten more and more common every day. A few weeks before graduation day in high school, a friend of mine told me that she was getting new boobs as a graduation gift from her parents. I wasn’t sure how to react — so I just didn’t react at all. I just sat there like an idiot and replaced the word “boobs” with the word “laptop” in my head so that we could get through the conversation as quickly as possible.
To me having plastic surgery was like smoking cigarettes — we've all sat through the D.A.R.E. program that tries to keep kids off drugs, and we’ve all seen the Montel Williams and Oprah specials about When Plastic Surgery goes horribly wrong. But like cigarettes, having plastic surgery seems popular despite all of the after school specials warning us against it.
I never did get to see Kelly after the operation, but a mutual friend later told me that she “really loves her new boobs.”
Even though it was barely four years ago — it seems like a long time ago. Four years ago it was rare for a barely 18-year old girl to get plastic surgery and be so open about it. Times have changed, and the trend for young women getting plastic surgery has increased by nearly 15-20% over the last few years, according to a Boca Raton plastic surgeon in this article from the Palm Beach Post.
One reason surgeries might becoming more popular, is because there aren't as many financial setbacks for women who want bigger jugs. Now women can put their silicone breasts on layaway. Thanks to some surgeons and medical companies who are providing load-type services to help every woman, even ones with bad credit, can now achieve an unrealistic standard of beauty.
This popular Web site is designed by women, for women, who are interested in getting plastic surgery. They use Jessica Rabbit as one of their icons — if your goal in life is to look like a cartoon that was obviously drawn by a perverted man, then a minor surgery isn’t going to help you very much.
On this Web site there are testimonials from women on what they did to save money for their surgery,
“Well, I stopped going to school for one whole quarter, and picked up a second job. I wouldn't even go visit my boyfriend as much because I didn't want to waste the gas!" wrote one woman.
This woman sacrificed getting her education and spending time with her boyfriend just to save up for plastic surgery--and I thought that the point of getting plastic surgery was to attract more attention from men.
Young women all around Boca have been talking about the dangers of plastic surgery since last week's 18-year-old West Boca High School cheerleader died because of a reaction to anesthesia during an operation to correct the teen’s inverted nipples, click here to read more.
Even though the surgery was corrective, not cosmetic, both procedures are equally as dangerous.
It seems like plastic surgery has gotten more and more common every day. A few weeks before graduation day in high school, a friend of mine told me that she was getting new boobs as a graduation gift from her parents. I wasn’t sure how to react — so I just didn’t react at all. I just sat there like an idiot and replaced the word “boobs” with the word “laptop” in my head so that we could get through the conversation as quickly as possible.
To me having plastic surgery was like smoking cigarettes — we've all sat through the D.A.R.E. program that tries to keep kids off drugs, and we’ve all seen the Montel Williams and Oprah specials about When Plastic Surgery goes horribly wrong. But like cigarettes, having plastic surgery seems popular despite all of the after school specials warning us against it.
I never did get to see Kelly after the operation, but a mutual friend later told me that she “really loves her new boobs.”
Even though it was barely four years ago — it seems like a long time ago. Four years ago it was rare for a barely 18-year old girl to get plastic surgery and be so open about it. Times have changed, and the trend for young women getting plastic surgery has increased by nearly 15-20% over the last few years, according to a Boca Raton plastic surgeon in this article from the Palm Beach Post.
One reason surgeries might becoming more popular, is because there aren't as many financial setbacks for women who want bigger jugs. Now women can put their silicone breasts on layaway. Thanks to some surgeons and medical companies who are providing load-type services to help every woman, even ones with bad credit, can now achieve an unrealistic standard of beauty.
This popular Web site is designed by women, for women, who are interested in getting plastic surgery. They use Jessica Rabbit as one of their icons — if your goal in life is to look like a cartoon that was obviously drawn by a perverted man, then a minor surgery isn’t going to help you very much.
On this Web site there are testimonials from women on what they did to save money for their surgery,
“Well, I stopped going to school for one whole quarter, and picked up a second job. I wouldn't even go visit my boyfriend as much because I didn't want to waste the gas!" wrote one woman.
This woman sacrificed getting her education and spending time with her boyfriend just to save up for plastic surgery--and I thought that the point of getting plastic surgery was to attract more attention from men.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Have you checked lately?
This week I found out I landed a new job I’ve been interviewing for at the Sun-Sentinel. But the process to get the job was no easy feat.
My interview was four hours, seven different higher-ups at the newsroom interviewed me and before they could offer me the job, I had to pee in a cup to prove I’m not a druggie. Oddly enough, the part I actually had a problem with was the background check.
No not because I have a record or because I’m a bad driver – although I have had a few speeding tickets – but because my FAU records are wrong. According to the FAU Registrar’s office I haven’t taken a class since May 2007.
Even better, the hiring editor for the Sun-Sentinel called to tell me the news and I missed her call because I was in class. Go figure. Luckily she believed me as I explained I wasn’t a fraud and tried to reason that the mistake could be because of FAU’s new self-service system.
Imagine if they decided to just not call me back since they believe I lied on my application? I would not have been a happy camper.
I logged on to MyFAU to check my “student records” and three screens and two tabs later I found my unofficial transcripts. They were current and up-to-date with all my information. Okay, good. At least it doesn’t say I should graduate in 2014 like it did when the system was first enacted.
In an effort to make sure my records at the Registrar’s office were corrected, I set out to get some answers. And after a day of being transferred through FAU’s phone mail and leaving messages I ended up in the same place I started – with nothing but a confused look.
Here’s how it went down:
The first lady in the Registrar’s office told me she couldn’t give out any information regarding student records and whom they have given information to. After I told her the deal and reminded her that I wanted only MY own information, she said I’d have to talk to someone named Shirley, grunted, gave me a phone number and hung up.
Then I tried Shirley, who apparently was at lunch, and another woman told me to call back in an hour. An hour later I left a voice mail for the infamous Shirley and – shocker – I never got a call back.
I called again a few hours later and no one else in the office seemed to be able to access records but her. Weird, isn’t that what they do all day?
So if it’s been a while since you checked your records with the Registrar’s office, you might want to jump on that. You can call them at 297-3050 on the Boca campus. And if you get a hold of Shirley, let me know.
You can also log on to FACTS.org and check your transcripts there. All the information on their site comes directly from your institution – so if they are correct on there, then FAU should have the right info. I stress the word “should.”
My interview was four hours, seven different higher-ups at the newsroom interviewed me and before they could offer me the job, I had to pee in a cup to prove I’m not a druggie. Oddly enough, the part I actually had a problem with was the background check.
No not because I have a record or because I’m a bad driver – although I have had a few speeding tickets – but because my FAU records are wrong. According to the FAU Registrar’s office I haven’t taken a class since May 2007.
Even better, the hiring editor for the Sun-Sentinel called to tell me the news and I missed her call because I was in class. Go figure. Luckily she believed me as I explained I wasn’t a fraud and tried to reason that the mistake could be because of FAU’s new self-service system.
Imagine if they decided to just not call me back since they believe I lied on my application? I would not have been a happy camper.
I logged on to MyFAU to check my “student records” and three screens and two tabs later I found my unofficial transcripts. They were current and up-to-date with all my information. Okay, good. At least it doesn’t say I should graduate in 2014 like it did when the system was first enacted.
In an effort to make sure my records at the Registrar’s office were corrected, I set out to get some answers. And after a day of being transferred through FAU’s phone mail and leaving messages I ended up in the same place I started – with nothing but a confused look.
Here’s how it went down:
The first lady in the Registrar’s office told me she couldn’t give out any information regarding student records and whom they have given information to. After I told her the deal and reminded her that I wanted only MY own information, she said I’d have to talk to someone named Shirley, grunted, gave me a phone number and hung up.
Then I tried Shirley, who apparently was at lunch, and another woman told me to call back in an hour. An hour later I left a voice mail for the infamous Shirley and – shocker – I never got a call back.
I called again a few hours later and no one else in the office seemed to be able to access records but her. Weird, isn’t that what they do all day?
So if it’s been a while since you checked your records with the Registrar’s office, you might want to jump on that. You can call them at 297-3050 on the Boca campus. And if you get a hold of Shirley, let me know.
You can also log on to FACTS.org and check your transcripts there. All the information on their site comes directly from your institution – so if they are correct on there, then FAU should have the right info. I stress the word “should.”
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Budget Business Unabated
**Editor’s note: This blog was written by Brandon Ballenger, University Press managing editor.
"Sometimes I have to throw up before I do this," my fellow presenter told me, meaning to reassure.
"You've got three minutes left to go throw up, then," I said, trying to make light of something besides my stomach — which was flutteringly filled with butterflies. I'd spent the last hour pacing like a man waiting urgently for the sounds of flushing toilet and unlocking door. Every minute was spent oblivious of reality, trying to frame the speech in my mind. It was all wasted time in the end: I couldn't remember five sequential words of it. You may have noticed.
A few weeks ago, 13 FAU students on the Boca campus organized an informational rally aimed at raising awareness of Florida's budget crisis and its potential impact on our school. If you're a regular UP reader, you already know that much. What you don't know is how simultaneously thrilling and terrifying it is to be part of something like what happened out on the Free Speech Lawn Feb. 28. You also probably don't know that we're not done yet.
What started as an off-the-cuff idea in my civic engagement class became an enormous project, and a great responsibility — members of the state legislature and FAU administration turned out, along with more than 200 students. Of course UPTV covered it, but we were also in the Palm Beach Post and Sun-Sentinel — and my dad first found out about the rally by hearing a 15-second clip of my speech aired on the local NPR station.
On Monday, President Brogan sent out an e-mail to notify everyone of FAU's budget Q&A. Yesterday, we got his signature to headline hundreds of others on our petition to the legislature, which we're sending off this weekend.
Are we proud? Definitely, but by no means are we stopping to congratulate ourselves. We're planning a follow-up event in the style of a town hall meeting, slated for April 15 at the Boca campus Traditions Plaza (in front of the bookstore). We want to get more legislators down here to hear us out and to tell us what's going on with the higher education budget up in Tallahassee, where they make all the big decisions. We also want to air student questions and broaden the dialogue — it is our education, after all.
If you've got a question you think deserves an answer, send an e-mail to sosprojectfau@gmail.com; we'll try to get as many answered as possible, and we'll also send you event details as they're finalized.
Oh, and please tell your friends. I'm not very good at roping people in the Breezeway into giving me the 20 seconds I need to make them care.
"Sometimes I have to throw up before I do this," my fellow presenter told me, meaning to reassure.
"You've got three minutes left to go throw up, then," I said, trying to make light of something besides my stomach — which was flutteringly filled with butterflies. I'd spent the last hour pacing like a man waiting urgently for the sounds of flushing toilet and unlocking door. Every minute was spent oblivious of reality, trying to frame the speech in my mind. It was all wasted time in the end: I couldn't remember five sequential words of it. You may have noticed.
A few weeks ago, 13 FAU students on the Boca campus organized an informational rally aimed at raising awareness of Florida's budget crisis and its potential impact on our school. If you're a regular UP reader, you already know that much. What you don't know is how simultaneously thrilling and terrifying it is to be part of something like what happened out on the Free Speech Lawn Feb. 28. You also probably don't know that we're not done yet.
What started as an off-the-cuff idea in my civic engagement class became an enormous project, and a great responsibility — members of the state legislature and FAU administration turned out, along with more than 200 students. Of course UPTV covered it, but we were also in the Palm Beach Post and Sun-Sentinel — and my dad first found out about the rally by hearing a 15-second clip of my speech aired on the local NPR station.
On Monday, President Brogan sent out an e-mail to notify everyone of FAU's budget Q&A. Yesterday, we got his signature to headline hundreds of others on our petition to the legislature, which we're sending off this weekend.
Are we proud? Definitely, but by no means are we stopping to congratulate ourselves. We're planning a follow-up event in the style of a town hall meeting, slated for April 15 at the Boca campus Traditions Plaza (in front of the bookstore). We want to get more legislators down here to hear us out and to tell us what's going on with the higher education budget up in Tallahassee, where they make all the big decisions. We also want to air student questions and broaden the dialogue — it is our education, after all.
If you've got a question you think deserves an answer, send an e-mail to sosprojectfau@gmail.com; we'll try to get as many answered as possible, and we'll also send you event details as they're finalized.
Oh, and please tell your friends. I'm not very good at roping people in the Breezeway into giving me the 20 seconds I need to make them care.
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