May 10, 2007

Well I finally did it. After four months of patting myself on the back, I dislocated my shoulder, and it hurts.

Ouch.

So what am I to tell you on this last blog? What wisdom can I possibly summon on this final soul plucking blathering blog? Is there something we have learned together about college life at the Kenai Peninsula College? Did we have an epiphany about our time together? Is there anything at all, ANYTHING that could possibly show that we obtained anything from the Spring Semester of 2007? Anyway, have a nice summer everyone (all four of you readers).

How about a list of topics I have covered? (since my arm is dislocated anyway)

January 23 – Welcome Back! Where did the Open House go?

January 23 – Showing up late to class is rude!

January 29 – Snowy weather and campus based clubs

January 30 – Joe’s Café and what other people bring for lunch

January 31 – KRC Student Union advocacy in Juneau

February 1 – Peer desk helps students

February 2 – Benchmark for student success and the KPC Connection

February 6 – Personal philosophies and First Friday Dialogues

February 8 – Ten rules for being human and the Citation Machine

February 13 – Valentine’s Day (Ugh) and the KRC Health Center

February 15 – Discovering boundaries and common sense

February 20 – There is nothing new and preventing burn out by visiting KPC counselors

February 22 – KPC Connection and chances for student success

February 27 – Your view on KPC and a mention of Kama Sutra chocolate bars

March 1 – Disorganized college life and the KPC Bookstore

March 5 – Reading books for fun….yeah right!

March 7 – Alaska Extended Life Animal Sanctuary and our own pets

March 13 – Fluctuating class attendance and poor excuses for missing them

March 15 – What some of us do to prepare for classes

March 20 – Early Daylight Saving Time and what we are doing with the extra light

March 27 – Comfort in our KPC classes and inspirational instructors

March 29 – Spring Break and what some of us did during it

April 3 – Fees attached to our classes, they are not really “sticking’ it to us

April 5 – “A” students, circular logic and study habits of “good” students

April 10 – That damned $2,000 Easter Egg Hunt and free scholarship money

April 12 – Best classes at KPC and the Student Engagement survey

April 17 – My response to the Virginia Tech shootings

April 19 – All the classes you want/need from KPC

April 24 – Crazy time with finals coming on!

May 1 – Commencement ceremony and how different it would be if I ran things

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May 8, 2007

There it is, the last whimper and cry of the final classes of the Spring Semester 2007.

Sigh. Maybe we should share a eulogy for our Spring Semester and share some praise for the last semester.

eu-lo-gy
–noun, plural -gies.
1. a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, esp. a set oration in honor of a deceased person or thing.

A few other people said these;

• Alan Houtz not being here next year...that sucks!
• It went so fast!
• Started a new graphic novel section in the KPC Library
• Made it through my first semester of the Nursing Degree!
• I will miss the laughter
• Merry Christmas!......wait, what?
• I get to graduate!
• Actually seeing students planning for next year, planning to stay here at KPC
• Now I don't have to worry about my car not starting!

What else do we need to remember? Hmmm, so much happened this semester what can we possibly talk about?

Anyone have anything fun to share?

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May 3, 2007

You begin to notice these strange little things around campus the longer you are here at the Kenai Peninsula College. Such as the strange sounds that the ATM in the commons makes which sounds like the Psycho movie sound. Or which teachers cry on their final class day, and no I am not saying who they are.....

So what other things deserve notice on our campus?

Maybe we should all pay attention to the services offered by;

The Learning Center. Services include:

• Peer Tutoring
• Group Study Area
• Computers and typewriter for student use
• Testing room for make-up or alternative testing
• Audio-visual academic support materials
• Tutoring in academic subjects
• Daily newspaper and much more

The Career Services Coordinator. Services include:

• Provide career counseling,
• Résumé and job search letter writing
• Interview preparation assistance, as well as to administer various career interest assessment instruments to individuals.
• Career development workshops, campus and community presentations, and mock interviews may also be arranged.

The Student Union.

• The KRC Student Union represents the student body statewide with the UA Coalition of Student Leaders,
• Advocates for students on campus and within the UA system,and is available and eager to carry the student voice to the community.

The Student Health Clinic. Services include:

• General Physicals
• Diet counseling
• Immunizations
• Birth control
• Analgesics
• Basic bandages
• Antacids
• Cough drops
• Basic health care and advice
• Limited prescriptions
• Referrals for further care
• Referrals for discounted lab work

The KPC Bookstore. Services include:

• Required textbooks
• A large variety of student supplies
• There are also cards, gifts, and clothing items with KPC and UAA logos

Student Services (where I work). Services include:

• Admissions, registration, and records offices,
• Financial aid office
• Peer advising program
• Night coordinator office
• Counseling and advising offices
• Student Services is where students can find help with any college related questions

KPC Library:

• Collection consists of more than 23,000 volumes and 100 magazine holdings
• Also available are audio and video tapes, local and national newspapers and maps
• Online catalog contains KPC and UAA Library holdings as well as the holdings of The Anchorage Municipal Library
• CD-ROM and Internet databases are also available to support student research

KPC Information Technology Services (ITS)

• Provides a variety of learning services for the University community to assist in the use of the University computer systems and the Internet
• ITS handouts and training are intended to help the reader get started in the subject area and provide information specific to KPC and UAA

Gosh, I know I am missing stuff but that is what is so great about the Kenai Peninsula College. There is always more to learn and discover while you are attending college at all of our campuses.

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May 1, 2007

So.....all Four of you that read my blog must have been PRETTY disappointed in me that I did not post on Thursday. Yep, of course, during crunch time, I didn't even think of it until this weekend. You think I can sneak that fact past my boss? Yeah, I didn't think so either.

Anyway, so favorite subjects for a big guy like me....um.....food, of course. How about the KRC Student Union Luau this coming Friday on May 4? It starts at 4 p.m. and they will have free food (a 300lb pig roasted by the Rotary Club) free drinks, dancing and music. It will be a nice wrap-up to a very busy semester. I am looking forward to the free drinks; I heard there would be Rockstar's.....the nectar of the heavens.

Let's see what else is going on? I probably should mention another traditional get together we are having soon. Commencement on Thursday May 10 at 7 p.m. Yes, a quaint little ceremony that marks a rite of passage between one stage of life into another. According to a website I totally plagiarized, America adopted modern Commencement rituals from 18th century English universities, where the history of academic dress dates back to the early days of the original English schools. Now, I also found a claim that the ceremony itself was handed down from Moses on Mount Sinai and blessed by the Loch Ness monster.

Actually the ceremony means many things and has traditions that differ from every campus. One of the few traditions I will miss at our Commencement in 2007 (and NO I am not speaking of the key note speaker speaking of vasectomies) will be the lack of plastic plants.

Sigh, I know stupid right? It's true, but I will miss them, especially the careful placement of them. Oh well it's probably a good thing I am not in charge of the ceremony! Otherwise......

• Key note speakers would all read carefully prepared scripts that I wrote, including the fake family history I made up for them
  
  
• A hosted bar with blended drinks and little paper umbrella would be available, from rehearsal through the reception
  
  
• ...with a demonstration from the Art & History of Beer Making class
  
  
• All the ushers and staff would wear cool little headsets and sunglasses, so we feel protected by the Secret Service
  
  
• One side of the stage would have the inflatable emergency exit slides (from big airplanes) so graduates could slide to safety
  
  
• We would play "Pomp and Circumstance" remade by either a punk band or heavy metal band, either way the tempo would be much faster!
  
  
• I would have graduation line fashion commentary by Joan Rivers and that brat of hers
  
  
• Parents, family and friends would HAVE to bring a gift in order to gain entrance
  
  
• Did I mention an open bar somewhere? Maybe another small one in the green room where graduates get dressed
  
  
• Slideshow with bloopers and other gag photos that we have taken in the last year or so
  
  
• A disco theme song, or at least one from the 70's. I am thinking "Grease is the Word"
  
  
• A line of employers waiting on the far side of the stage, to hire graduates as they descend from the stage
  
  
• A gift bag filled with hundreds of dollars of meaningless gifts from sponsors
  
  
• A dance routine from the Solid Gold dancers (whew, showing my age here)
  
  
• And PLASTIC PLANTS to decorate the stage.

Oh well.....life's better when I am not in charge of it!

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April 24, 2007

It's getting crazy!

You know what I mean right? The extra hours (maybe even days?) spent on writing reports, studying for finals or finishing those exhaustive projects. Why is it that Spring Semester always feels more harried and rushed than Fall Semester? I need to make an invention that soothes the burning sensation I feel between my ears. Brain-Burn Gel! Then I can market it to students, I can even make it in small convenience sized portable squeeze pouches that fit in the pocket.

Hmmm......yeah.

Besides the four reports, two projects, and two finals I am working part-time (well....working may be too harsh of a word) and I have a family and a business. So what! I know of someone who is taking 19 credits (with all those danged reports, finals and projects too) working full-time and has his own family. So I wonder why I feel stressed and he seems to be taking it all in stride. My stress should be nothing compared to his, right? Yet somehow it seems it is more than he admits to. So how do you deal with your stress?

• Play video games, but only as a stress reliever, than I get back to my homework
  
  
• Exercise
  
  
• Spend some time with the family
  
  
• Take a bath, eat a bowl of popcorn, while floating in the hot water to keep it warm
  
  
• Get a book and just read, anything but romance novels...ugh!
  
  
• Avoid watching or reading the news
  
  
• Journal
  
  
• Practice Yoga
  
  
• Denial
  
  
• Watch movies
  
  
• Swim
  
  
• Sex, let's face the facts, it works!
  
  
• I cry. (really?) Yep, I cry all the time, its a 9 out 10 chance that there is nothing wrong I just needed to release
  
  
• It builds up and builds up and builds up until Friday I sit and drink....a lot!
  
  
• Listen to music
  
  
• Sleep
  
  
• Play soccer!
  
  
• Make fun of Bloggers...........(HEY!)

  ---

April 19, 2007

Do you have all the classes you want?

Have you ever wanted a class that isn't offered here at KPC? Like a cranio-sacral class (what did I just say? What is that? Is that a real class?)?

When I worked as the KRC Student Union president I was heavily involved with statewide administration and UA President, Mark Hamilton. Once, in a lazy August afternoon, we were conversing about the ratio of class availability at KPC versus a larger campus such as UAA. He told me in very simple terms (and I paraphrase); Yes, Todd. It doesn't seem fair, but let me tell you something. The University is here to serve the students. You want a class? Just get you and 25 of your best friends and petition to get the class. President Hamilton told me that the toughest part is finding an instructor that can teach the class. I bet it's easy enough to find an instructor willing to teach the class, we just need to 'make' the class with enough students. KPC director, Gary Turner has offered the following tidbit as well (hope I get it right!). We need 14 students to 'make' a class here at KPC.

Really?

Ok, I want a paranormal and psychological aural photography class, and lets make it a 400 level class. Anyone with me? Ok well, I thought not. Sometimes we need classes that KPC offers, but it conflicts with another class we already have scheduled. Happened to me for Fall 2007. Yep, Rise of Civilization and College Algebra 107 are only available in the same time slots. Now unless I want to take 8 years to graduate, I need alternatives right?

How about the distance education classes? Easy enough to find classes at the Distance Ed website. Find it here don't forget to check out the specifically designated correspondence courses outlined at the UAA Distance Ed website. For the most part, it sounds like that it is easy to transfer credits.....super easy! You can always check out the transfer credit resource site, available off of the UAOnline site. Look for it in the list on the front page before you log in.

Maybe, just maybe it will only take me 6 years for my 4 year degree. Huh, wouldn't that be great!

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April 17, 2007

Shooting at Virginia Tech

At Least 20 Killed in Virginia Tech Shooting

Read more of the story here.

How does one react to headlines like this splashed across the news this morning?

Fear, empathy, compassion, sympathy, anger, loss, indifference, maybe even apathy (I hope not). We are far away from Virginia Tech, located in Blacksburg, Virgina. So what, if anything, can we do? Maybe we need to ask if we should do anything. Today is a black day. I feel sincere sympathy for the loss of the families of the victims and the anguish for an entire University. My thoughts go out to all of those personally affected today.

Even as far away as Alaska in a small campus of around 1,500 students with no dorms we feel their loss. We can certainly reflect on their loss and do what we can dialogue with those we love about it. We can dialogue with our community, in hopes that we can possibly prevent another such tragedy. There are many avenues that we can take to dialogue. We can make an appointment with the KPC counselor's Bettina Kipp or Stan Vogel. Or we can join the First Friday Dialogues with Dr. Gehrett and the CMCD. We can start a conversation with a stranger sitting in our commons, or failing that we can join an online forums of some sort and express our feelings (maybe even in a college blog??)

What else can we do? Could you possibly imagine this happening to our small, tight-knit campus? Want to talk, email me or call me.

I repeat and stress my condolences and sympathy to the families of all of those who lost loved ones. My prayers will include you.

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April 12, 2007

So what college classes are the best at KPC?

This is certainly a matter of opinion, isn't it? I mean I enjoy photography classes, but does that mean that Andy who sits on my right enjoys them? Nope, Andy (name changed to protect his identity) likes all of his EMT classes. How does a person actually choose their degree and classes? Do they just know? Is it trial and error?

Did you know you can view other's opinions of classes, via the end of semester evaluations, down in the KPC Library? Sure, all the opinions available to view. Heck even Student Services (including yours truly) is administering surveys on student engagement. It is called the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE). According to their website at www.ccsse.org in 2006, CCSSE completed a major validation research study that examines the relationship between student engagement and community college student outcomes. While the connection between student engagement and student success has been emphasized in a number of major studies and reports on the undergraduate experience, the extant literature has focused almost exclusively on students in four-year colleges and universities -- until now. This report on a three-pronged collection of studies validates the relationships between student engagement and a variety of student outcomes in community colleges [like KPC]-- including academic performance, persistence, and attainment.

Yep, they believe that "Research shows that the more actively engaged students are — with college faculty and staff, with other students, and with the subject matter — the more likely they are to learn and to achieve their academic goals. CCSSE benchmarks focus on institutional practices and student behaviors that promote student engagement — and that are positively related to student learning and persistence."

So that means when we (Student Services) invade your classroom (BTW, thank you very much to all students and instructors who give up valuable classroom for our survey) YOUR opinion matters, and not just locally but NATIONALLY. Interested in finding out the details of the survey? Come by Student Services and talk to Bill Howell, Student Services Director, or email him inwh@uaa.alaska.edu

Hmmm......awesome if you ask me (which you didn't, I just randomly provided my opinion there). So I found some great questions/quotes about opinions....wish I was this smart! Heck, I got quoted in an article I wrote that said I have "skillsematics."

1. If everyone's opinion is as good as anyone slse's does that mean Hitler had as valid a view of the world as you?
   
   
2. "Any clod can have the facts; having opinions is an art." Charles McCabe
   
   
3. If we refuse to tolerate people who refuse to tolerate others opinions are we refusing to tolerate their opinions?
   
   
4. My opinion is no one is entitled to their opinion (me included)
   
   
5. "If in the last few years you haven't discarded a major opinion or aquired a new one, check your pulse. You may be dead." Gelett Burgess
   
   
6. I told them not to impose on my life until I realized saying this imposed on their lives
   
7. Is everything being "only a matter of opinion" just another opinion?
   
   
8. "Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts." E. B. White
   
   
9. "Everyone is entitled to thier opinion" is the most subtle form of mind control ever invented. All ideas being made equally irrelevant
   
   
10. "Everyone is entitled to thier opinion" is just another way of saying "I can say whatever I want to". Of course when others do this it offends us.

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April 10, 2007

Easter Blog

Easter, a religious holiday for some, a day off for most and a nightmare for us who live near the campus. That's right...a nightmare!

First off, how is a plastic colored egg, stuffed with $2,000, associated with the Rising of Christ? Ok, well that's a rant for another day. Let me just say I am absolutely astonished at the idiocy of some people. To get us up to speed, I guess a local radio station has hidden an Easter egg worth $2,000 somewhere near the college. This weekend there were cars lined up, up and down College Dr. and East Poppy Lane. Most were barely pulled off of the road, but ALL of them obstructed two-way traffic. Young children were darting between the parked cars and out into oncoming traffic. Many cars simply just stopped IN the road and parked, left their vehicle unattended and walked off into the woods. People were walking in the road and some appeared to be upset at us, those of us who use the road to drive on, as we passed. Saturday was even worse. One lady had stopped in the right hand lane, with the nose of her car pointed at the ditch, but not really even pulled off of the road (she was still 3/4 in the lane). The driver had left an unattended toddler, unbuckled, in the front seat of the car. The parent? Nowhere to be seen. Amazing! I stopped and called out for the parent, I even asked her if $2,000 was worth damage to her vehicle, or harm to her child. She didn't have any answers. Another woman was actually parked IN the intersection of College Dr. and East Poppy Lane at a point you could not turn normally, we were forced to pull into the ditch with one wheel in order to maneuver around her. Over the course of the weekend the Soldotna Police were called at least twice that I know of and the response was the same both times. "We don't want to make a scene. So unless their IS an accident or a crime, we will not get involved."

Isn't it a crime to leave a child unattended in a vehicle? If not, maybe it should be.

So $2,000 is a LOT of money....I mean that could buy most of the tuition and books/supplies for a whole semester. That's a lot of spending power! It's quite amazing what $2,000 can buy. Free money is pretty darn cool, if you ask me. That's why I am happy to finally see the Financial Aid Scholarship Packet available on our front page. Free money, how can you go wrong? you don't even need to put yourself or your children in danger by parking illegally to get it.

$2,000......wow, the lengths some people will go.

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April 5, 2007

So I was just asked in an interview if I was an "A" student. I said, "Yes, of course."

*Pause*

After we stopped laughing and slapping our knees I told the person that I always strive to do my best, but life sometimes seems to intercede and I get less than what I know I could have. Does this mean the instructor is "mean" to me? No, of course not....well one was, but I won't name names.....

Anyway the interview went similar to:
Them: "Your GPA looks impressive but we need another reference."
Me: "Well Andy can give me a good reference."
Them: "Good. But how do we know that Andy is trustworthy?"
Me: "That's easy. I can vouch for Andy."

See Dr. Gehrett, I can use circular logic with the best of them. Hmmmmm......begging the question, what does that mean again? According to Wikipedia it is as follows:

Etymology:
The phrase "begging the question", or "petitio principii" in Latin, refers to the "question" in a formal debate—that is, the issue being debated. In such a debate, one side may ask the other side to concede certain points in order to speed up the proceedings. To "beg" the question is to ask that the very point at issue be conceded, which is of course illegitimate.

Form:
Any form of argument in which the conclusion occurs as one of the premises, or a chain of arguments in which the final conclusion is a premise of one of the earlier arguments in the chain. More generally, an argument begs the question when it assumes any controversial point not conceded by the other side.

Example:
A confused student argues: “You can’t give me a C. I’m an A student!”

Circular reasoning is problematic because the claim is made on grounds that cannot be accepted as true — because those very grounds are in dispute. How can a student claim to be an A student when he just earned a C?

To clarify, no one is an “A student” by definition. Grades are earned in every class and are derived from a variety of different methods. The requirements in one class are set by the school and the instructor, so the same class taught by a different teacher or in a different location should yield two very different results (final grades). Merely claiming to be an A student does not make the claim valid [which is too bad].

So what does it take to be an "A" student? Let's ask some random people; (s) = student, (i) = instructor

- (s) A LOT of study

- (s) Commitment (a lot of people are saying this)

- (i) Showing up to class, Todd! Meeting deadlines, Todd!, Participating in class, Todd! (oooh, ouch. Maybe I shouldn't have asked my own instructor)

- (s) Going to class

- (s) Having the right instructor beyond all that dedication, commitment and going to class stuff

- (i) Effort

- (s) Desire

- (s) Ambition, drive, heart and having no life!

- (s) Give up your life, you can have NO life. If you want to succeed you must be willing to sacrifice

- (i) Utilizing all the resources available at the campus, like the Counselors and the Learning Center tutors

- (s) Dedication and the "want", you gotta want it

- $100 a wink and a smile and don't forget to say please! (Hmmm, honestly the registrar did NOT say that!)

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April 3, 2007

The Thought of the Day, on my portal site said to me.....Does a leader cease being a leader when no one is following him or her?

That is a good question to ponder today....Instead of joining in on the grumbling and the mumbling about how no knows what the heck is really going on, I feel I should be more productive. Just having a good attitude is always a good start, right? Sometimes I wonder what else I should re-think, or re-look at in a positive manner. Hmmm, good attitude + controversial item.......how about the fees attached to our classes?

Does a fee cease being a fee when no one is looking?

Some people have had concerns about the fees attached to our educational experience here at KPC. Have you ever wondered why so many fees are assessed? Despite the fact that we have (I assume without any actual factual knowledge) a tenth of what UAA pays in fees, we DO have some hefty ones. It does seem that our instructors know exactly where these fees are going and what they are actually paying for. Every instructor has to submit a Fee Request Form with their Course Content Application (the form which earns a class official approval to be taught). The Fee Request Form includes a detailed fee justification and is signed off by the department head. So what happens next?

Sometimes the burden of these fees is felt acutely by students and they wonder where they go. Is my $100 lab fee actually being spent on me? Hopefully. But it’s pretty certain that the totality of the lab fees for that class as a whole is being spent on that class.

According to Marcie Zimmerman, Administrative Services Director, fees MUST be used for consumables, NOT equipment expenditures (those are paid for using department money from the college’s operating budget). Fees MUST be expended to support the class for which they are charged. At the end of the year, all fees are reviewed; any which were not fully expended are considered for reduction. Or if a given fee does not defray all the consumable expenses for a given class, it may be raised.

Other fees, those not associated with a class, are expended campus-wide. Technology fees cover the new computer lab, upgraded computers in our old computer lab and the nice new computer bar in our commons. Network fees cover upkeep on the local and statewide network which on average is a $30,000 bill we get from statewide.
So in the end it seems that our fees are watched carefully (both in the Business Office and the ever vigilant department Administrative Assistants). So if you ever do feel like your fees are not being spent on CONSUMABLES in your classroom, please try and talk to your instructor, then move up the chain into the department chairs and finally to the Business Office. YES, all your fees are tracked down to the dollar...and NO it is not true that the mythical "left-over" fees paid for a certain black Hummer sitting out in the parking lot. Really, I don't know where these rumors start.....oh right......probably from me.

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March 29, 2007

Spring Break, how did it go? Big question of the week right?

Well I have two questions...why did spring break ever come to happen and what did we do?

Well according to Spring Break DOT Com

Some people trace the roots of modern-day Spring Break back to the ancient rituals of the Greeks and Romans preceding the birth of Christ. Back then, men and women, particularly those who were of "mate-able" age, welcomed the return of spring, the season of fertility, in rituals celebrating Dionysus (Greek)/ Bacchus (Roman), the god of wine. Such rituals featured drinking and dancing until participants were in an altered consciousness, open to the irrational calls of this god of earthly pleasures.

The advent of Christianity put a stop to such pagan rituals, since the new, singular God was seen as an advocate of spiritual rather than worldly discoveries. Nonetheless, many believe that the essence of Dionysus/Bacchus lives on, and that Spring Break is one of the current incarnations of that drive in human beings. Some argue that Spring Break goes back farther and deeper than that--that it is the modern manifestation of an age-old rite in which young people celebrate the return of Spring. Thus, those who partake in Spring Break are actually adding their touch to the annals of the Spring Break tradition."

Wow, I can write so many rated R jokes about that, but hey....this is a PG-13 college blog right?

Ok, so how about what we did on the break? (Some random students)

• I worked, all day 9 to 5, well actually more like 8 to 6
  
  
• I worked part-time, but I refused to do any homework, ha ha ha....oh wait that sucks now!
  
  
• I went snowboarding, and crashed a lot!
  
  
• I got my survey ready for school
  
  
• Homework, homework, homework (ugh)
  
  
• Worked on my homework, worked part-time and um.....wove a shower curtain (What?)
  
  
• got my boat ready for summer commercial fishing
  
  
• I went to Mexico and went on a canopy tour (with the cables and trees and stuff)
  
  
• Stayed at home
  
  
• Worked on a brochure
  
  
• Went to a conference
  
  
• Went crazy (ok, that one was me)

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March 27, 2007

This blog is dedicated to Mr. Whitney, my ninth-grade English Instructor and Drama Club advisor. I miss you and think of you often and wonder how many other students you are having a tremendous effect on. I wrote what moved me and I haven't stopped, thanks to you! (Although I was going to absolutely cite those Pink Floyd lyrics!!!)

I think it’s important to try and find meaning in what we do, day in and day out. Oh man it's hard to do sometimes! Especially as if your life feels like it has been swept up into a tornado of events beyond your control. We worry so much about being lost in the maelstrom that we forget that we are flying! (OK, weird analogy. I have never even seen a tornado).

I am trying to somehow relate this to KPC. Sometimes I feel very comfortable in my classes at KPC and sometimes I do not. I wonder how many other students feel the same? Over the course of the last few years I have discovered that most of the classes I struggle in, or feel uncomfortable in, are the classes which require rote memorization. The classes in which the information is just handed down to be memorized and regurgitated later during a test. The classes I feel truly comfortable (excited, enthusiastic, awakened, inspired, piqued and enthralled) in are all about how to think. Sure they all have some sort of subject, but they don't just offer the facts and techniques, they offer entirely new (or at least reminders) ways of thinking.

I read a quote one day....hear let me just find it..........."It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts... it is to teach them to think, if that is possible, and always to think for themselves."-- Robert Hutchins

Do we think for ourselves or are we simply reduced to incontinence of the mouth? In high school I always complained about applying Algebra to "real" life situations, I could not even conceive of a situation to do so (and admittedly, I still struggle with that....sorry Mr. Amundson & Mrs. Pokryfki). How about painting those trees? Is there just one way to do it? Or did you show us how artists have done it historically and then describe multiple techniques and then celebrate our progress, Mrs. Anderson? Am I just pressing the shutter release or was I taught to pre-visualize my imagery and actually observe my world differently Mrs. Jones? Mr. Zagorski, did you just have me memorize random facts and business models, or did you ask me how the concepts related to me and my business? Dr. Gehrett, those names of ancient philosophers are difficult to remember, but I will always remember how to think during a difficult dialogue, thanks!

It is up to me to find the meaning in all these classes I have taken. I am not just taking them to jump through hoops.....(well some, so I can graduate)........I am taking these classes to learn.

I better stop rambling.....something I still need to learn (right Professor High??) And Mr. Whitney, I AM still quoting (of course, NOW I am actually using those little quote thingy's) lyrics in my writing...here is one from the group, Bread, from the song Guitar Man.

"Then you listen to the music and you like to sing along,
You want to get the meaning out of each and every song
Then you find yourself a message and some words to call your own
And take them home."

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March 20, 2007

So Daylight Saving Time was changed to an earlier date this year...why? Did anyone follow the reasons? Supposedly it is because the change was mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and is aimed at reducing needs for lighting and other energy costs. According to http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/b.html On August 8, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This Act changed the time change dates for Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. Beginning in 2007, DST will begin on the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November. The Secretary of Energy will report the impact of this change to Congress. Apparently Congress retains the right to resume the 2005 Daylight Saving Time schedule once the Department of Energy study is complete.

After researching this little tidbit I found a funny little thing about the spelling and grammar of the term, as follows;

"The official spelling is Daylight Saving Time, not Daylight SavingS Time. Saving is used here as a verbal adjective (a participle). It modifies time and tells us more about its nature; namely, that it is characterized by the activity of saving daylight. It is a saving daylight kind of time. Saving is used in the same way as saving a ball game, rather than as a savings account. Nevertheless, many people feel the word savings (with an 's') flows more mellifluously off the tongue. Daylight Savings Time is also in common usage, and can be found in dictionaries. Adding to the confusion is that the phrase Daylight Saving Time is inaccurate, since no daylight is actually saved. Daylight Shifting Time would be better, but it is not as politically desirable."

(Man, its a good thing we are in college now and know words like mellifluously right?)

Anyway so what do we expect from this change? More hours of daylight? Hmmm. What changes can we make? If there was one thing about KPC we could change what would it be?

• Add a gym (Two people so far have said this)
  
  
• More education opportunities....besides health & oil degrees
• Don't want to go to Anchorage....at all!
  
  
• Would have dorms.............(wasn't me this time Gary!)
  
  
• Move a booth in (to the Commons) for Kaladi Brothers
  
  
• All classes required for a degree program available at night as well
  
  
• Art studios with 24 hour access
  
  
• User Names and Passwords to access the wireless so we might bump up the bandwidth
  
  
• Have it where Business & Industry feel like they are not so seperated from the rest of campus
  
  
• Automatic flushers on the urinals in the men's restroom, they stink...(come on guys, it just takes a second to flush...I mean you have to wash your hands anyway, or should be!)
  
  
• Be careful what you wish for (change wise) because you might get it, but I can't think of anything I want to drastically change
  
  
• All classes for my degree are available here, so I wouldn't have to be in Anchorage (wow, is this a re-occuring theme or what?)
  
  
• Add Polka Dots (hmm, they must have been grasping)

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March 15, 2007

Apparently it is known (at least to some) that both golfer's AND swimmers shave their legs. It's true (well, at least I was told it's true), they shave their legs because they are preparing to do their best in their sport. Don't ask me how smooth legs help your golf game, but let's just concede that point shall we?

Anyway it got me started thinking about how we all prepare for classes in college. We can get prepared for college itself by attending new student orientation (listening to KPC director, Gary Turner gives his infamous "numbers" speech to the new students) or take the Survival Skills for College Students class from Bettina Kipp. However, how do we actually get prepared for a single class? Not daily but a new class coming up?

Many of us register early, taking advantage of the early web registration available to continuing degree students. I usually read everything I can about the course, talk to other students, I have even been known to buy the book early and get started in the assignments. Well let's just ask some students, and instructor's, how they get ready to do their best for an upcoming college class. S = student and I = instructor

• (S) Read the book in advance (and many more students said this as well!)
  
  
• (S) Investigate the teacher (Evaluations, ratemyprofessor.com, even MySpace.com)
  
  
• (I) Read the text, review the Course Content guide, finalize the syllabus, and set up community partners for Service Learning in advance
  
  
• (S) Start researching the subject online, or by reading articles in magazines
  
  
• (I) Nothing. Nothing at all.......(really?)......I have been teaching it for so long I don't have to prepare anymore..............(GULP!)
  
  
• (S) Buy supplies, l always ask for the supply list in advance!
  
  
• (S) Bought the software before the class and familiarized myself with it
  
  
• (S) I plan my daily schedule, including study time, around the class. Prepping for the study time is important!
  
  
• (I) attend Professional Development (like advanced E-Live training) courses during the summer
  
  
• (S) Plan my work and daycare around the class
  
  
• (I) Review my lesson plan, check new developments and breakthroughs in the area of the subject I am covering, check for new and improved class materials, and just as important just after finishing a class I review what I learned and what I want to do different next time
  
  
• (S) I try and stick to classes I took in high school so I have very little prep time
  
  
• (I) *HIC* I reely shtudied hard for my art an' hishtory of breery...um....bruuwary...*HIC*....introduckshun clash.....(ok I made that one up, just kidding Bill!)

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March 13, 2007

Ever wonder why classes go through the weekly fluctuation of attending students? The Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday classes seem to be the victim of purge and binge cycles. Classes engorged on Mondays typically are cavernously empty on Wednesday. Maybe a rather inappropriate analogy, but hey I think it is a solid one. The cycles of waxing/waning attendance can be as dangerous as the analogical equivalent. Malnutrition of the brain on the subject matter presented in class, followed by self-loathing and a calmness that belies the resignation you feel.

When I first came to college I asked if I it was mandatory to be present during the lectures. The instructor smiled and said, "Nope, but it’s not mandatory that I pass you either."

Hmmm, point taken. Some students claim that they know everything about the class and do not need to be there to "pass" it. They can just "test out of the class". I have never even heard of this option. Heck I would've tested out of.....um.....well never mind every single class I have taken have been valuable. That's right, I have spent money wisely.....sorry let me rephrase that. I have INVESTED money well in ALL of my classes. Sure… every dollar I have spent on tuition (as high as it may seem) has been an investment for my future.

Ok so what is the reason we tend to skip the second half of our bi-weekly classes? Is it that you have more money than I do? Do you not "need" the classes you pay for? Maybe a little pessimistic of me to assume that all of the people who "skip" the second half of the week's classes do it because they don't care. No, in fact, I understand that many things come up in our lives that prevent us from attending class. Hmmm, how about the worst reasons we have ever "skipped" a class?

And I will start the list with the first one;

• - It was my birthday (sorry Dr. Gehrett)
  
  
• - I was tired and I wanted to take a nap
  
  
• - I don't ever think of it that way, no matter the reason it IS valid
  
  
• - Because I was sick (Wow....she is dedicated!)
  
  
• - I slept in.......on purpose!
  
  
• - I went to lunch, had a few too many beers and didn't want to come back in (I guess that wasn't Bill Howell's class of Art & History of Brewing)
  
  
• - It was raining too hard.
  
  
• - Something came up... (What?)....something, you know, with my dad..... (What came up with your dad?)....I dunno, something.
  
  
• - Was going to a party and needed the time to get my nails done (said with a straight face)
  
  
• - We went shopping for Christmas decorations and I forgot..... (Well are you still going to make it for the last half?)......Um, no.
  
  
• - I couldn't find one of my shoes, so I just gave up.
  
  
• - My dog didn't have any food
  
  
• - I started to get out of bed, but I didn’t feel good so I just crawled back in and forgot about class.
  
  
• - I will be going to Vegas!

Ok, KPC instructor’s, want to share the best of the ones you’ve actually been told? E-mail me here

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March 7, 2007

The Student Union held a bake sale, this last month, to raise money for the Alaska Extended Life Animal Sanctuary (A.E.L.A.S.) pet shelter. The A.E.L.A.S. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the care of homeless pets on the Kenai Peninsula. Their main focus is a NO KILL animal shelter, a safe place for animals scheduled to be euthanized in other shelters. Unfortunately it IS month old news, however this does not prevent us from making donations or helping the shelter anyway. Why don't you call them (907-776-3614), or visit their website and donate something this month too?

Why would we do that? Well, in my humble opinion (well mainly humble) we are a condensed community. We (KPC) are the peninsula in microcosm bound by a commonality of purpose. Which means, since we already have something in common, we can reach out to each other for help. Does that make sense? We really do all have a reason to be here on campus....hopefully education for the most part.

But I wonder how many reasons we have to be at home. Despite Mom & Dad, siblings, children or significant others....some of us have pets awaiting our presence. They are the ones who curl up on our monitors (as we hunt & peck our way through those reports & essays) or in our laps as we read the last 40 pages from our textbook before the test the next day. Some times our pets are the ones we practice our speeches to or show them our PowerPoint presentations; heck I know of a cat who insists on helping with collages (especially if magazine pictures are cut out and just lying around). They endure the long nights (sleeping so we can remember what THAT was like), they enjoy eating our very important homework (or did they only do that in high school?) and they are the just-right comfort break so we can remain sane. Warm and cuddly, energetic

Here is some of the reasons we have to be at home (as reported to your truly)

• - an Akita dog by the name of Ally (with papers, and currently looking for a breeder)
  
  
• - Three mini schnauzers named Merlin, Taz and Kilee
  
  
• - a female Jack Russell terrier (hyperactive active but SO very smart) by the name of Daisy (because she is all white with a black face)
  
  
• - A Newfoundland and Lab mix (scared of everything) by the name of Jazmin, with long black hair
  
  
• - A menagerie of animals from a little red Hamster Hammie, an Akita dog by the name of Chatham to a calico cat (a pound rescue) by the name of Hunter
  
  
• - A tuxedo cat named Holly (who is scared of the fan, but enjoys company)
  
  
• - a mutt dog, part husky, part wolf, part german-shepherd by the name of Snickers (looks like a candy bar) and an aquarium with tropical fish
  
  
• - A snake named Husky (and he doesn't like being on planes)

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March 1, 2007

College can seem so disorganized sometimes.

Ever tried to take the suggested courses for your degree, but have to wait for 2-3 semesters (or longer) in between when they are offered? How do you keep track? The Student Services has degree planning sheets, but exactly HOW do you keep organized...heck not just across semesters but weekly and daily. Is your life a bulleted list, organized by importance or a pile of half-cocked ideas on slips of food stained napkins and old business cards piled in the corner?

Well your time can be spent more efficiently with some of the changes that KPC has planned for the near future. Such as;
The expansion of the library with study modules (small quiet rooms to study in alone or with small groups), connecting it with the Learning Center and putting the stacks on movable shelving to increase the utility of the space.

We also have Web Registration opening up earlier and earlier every semester. Fall 2007 public registration is open on May 1st. You can plan and organize your studies BEFORE summer break!

How about the many items in the KPC Bookstore? Such as; KPC notebooks, planners, the new Eco-tility bags, jump drives (as low as $14), highlighters and more office supplies than you can shake a ruler at.

Here are some tips from other KPC students:

• "I keep my syllabus in a real obvious place."
  
  
• Seperate subjects into different notebooks
  
  
• Keep a calendar of events (especially tests)
  
  
• "I am probably the wrong person to ask, but I usually print out my weekly schedule and tack it on my wall."
  
  
• Post-It Notes [I am a Post-It note fiend as well....]
  
  
• Good study space
  
  
• "I have a friend from California who calls me to bitch at me on the phone to keep me motivated."
  
  
• Write lists (every single class and everything I can possibly do for those classes, and I use stars by my priorities)
  
  
• E-mail my assignments (from class or the computer lab at KPC) to myself at home
  
  
• "Leave messages on my cell phone, or at home if I have to....and yes that means I am talking to myself."
  
  
• Keep a to-do list in an appointment book
  
  
• Binder for every different class
  
  
• Binder for classes, but organized by day!
  
  
• Use my laptop to take notes during class...(no solitaire honest!
  
  
• "I just remember everything, in this steel trap....um.....what was the question again?"

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February 27, 2007

What is your view of KPC?

Is it a micro-viewpoint or a macro-viewpoint? Dictionary.com (my second best friend in all of the internet, Google being first) defines the two terms as;

Is KPC a community college or a university branch? Well....to explore the quantity of the matter will take but a moment. UAA has over 14,000 students, and we have just about 1,400 or so. UAA has 10 times the students (demand) and offers quite a bit more classes than we do (supply). So let's move to quality. It is said that an English 111 at KPC is the same as and English 111 offered at UAA, while technically true (same course, same books) I differ in my opinion. At KPC we have unprecedented access to our instructors, and tailored resources (computer lab, library, counselors and more). Students can enjoy personal attention from individual tutors in the Learning Center, the employment opportunities in every department.

KPC is like the Kama Sutra made completely in chocolate bars.

Yes, the Kama Sutra, inscribed on chocolate bars (and yes I found it on StumbleUpon). College is a good thing, and KPC is even better. See the corollary? You take a good thing and make it even better....you see? The Kama Sutra AND chocolate.....ok if you don't get it then never mind I decline to draw the connection explicitly.

According to the Director's Welcome on our website here

"Our faculty and staff is top notch, student-oriented professionals who will do their utmost to make your educational experience a rewarding one. At KPC, you are not a number. We pride ourselves on small classes, outstanding student service, personal attention from our faculty and staff, and a warm family-like atmosphere. You won't get lost in the crowd here, unless you get caught up in a school of salmon or herd of caribou."

See?

Public Relations, administration and a sense of humor. See? A good thing made even better.....like chocolate and the Kama Su......oh never mind.

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February 22, 2007

Holy crud…

I have said many times that KPC is all about student success. Our classes are designed to foster real-world learning and hands on experience. From peering through telescopes (in the snow, in the dark) to chart stars, or our many Community Service Learning projects (Food Bank sign for example) to offering workshops and co-teaching young children.

Well KPC has done it again, and again, and again. We now have our student content newsletter, the KPC Connection, as an insert in the Peninsula Clarion, and the Homer Tribune. This is amazing, as it reaches over 10,000 readers. Your English classes, Journalism classes and student clubs, such as the KPC Media Group, are all involved in creating content for the KPC Connection.

Already community members across the Peninsula have written and called in to compliment KPC...which means that these articles are being read and enjoyed by many people already.

Does that mean you can be involved? Of course, the new deadline for the March deadline is March 7th. You can review the submission guidelines here at the Daily Digest.

You can also join us at the KPC Media Group meeting March 8th at 5pm. You can share your interests in writing, journalism, photography, and gaming. You can help develop the future of the club and have a venue for publishing your writing.

Have questions? You can email me or Professor High.

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February 20, 2007

So it occured to my Introduction to Philosophy class that there are no new ideas. Without arguing Platonian and Aristotlean logic and idealism, let us just say that it is rare indeed to have a new idea. That, "it has all been done before."

Wow, that's kind of depressing huh?

If we are nothing but the sum of all our experiences and there is nothing new under the (midnight) sun....then why go to college?

Ooops, am I supposed to ask that question in a college blog? Well sure (I hope)....it remains to be proven if there are NO new ideas. Here is my two cents, ready?

We are told that there are no new ideas, perhaps this is true, but I believe it is our journey of discovery that is new. NOBODY has experienced anything the same way as ANYONE else. A Red Delicious apple may taste entirely different to me then it does to you or I may have an entirely different understanding of Aristotlean Logic than my instructor (I hope not, since the instructor hands out the grades!!!!). Our time spent at KPC will be different for each and every one of us....even though we may be taking some of the same classes, presented with the same information, by the same instructors. Wow, that means that a class that is the basically the same in all ways to previous versions of itself is still different in numerous ways. Such as student dynamics like size, age ranges, interests and levels of involvement. Maybe its in a different classroom (ever pay attention the same when the sun is shining and you sit next to a window?) or its on a different day and time period. So how can we as students keep it all new and fresh?

Well we can become more efficient in our studies and prevent burn-out by visiting one of our counselor's in Student Services. Either Bettina Kipp or Stan Vogel (welcome to the team Stan!) can help guide a more efficient college path for you. We can prepare ourselves with carefully considering all financial options so we can avoid the grimace when we think we cannot afford to take that class we need/want. Just see Carrie Burford in Financial Aid, fill out the FAFSA and sign up for the numerous grants and scholarships that are available. OR you could take advantage of the short courses offered in the summer time....a full course offered in 5-7 weeks.

What other ideas can you think of? I see plenty of you that have graced the halls of KPC for numerous semesters. What has kept you fresh and discovering new ideas? What is your secret? Heck I had an instructor who told us that she has either been IN school or been TEACHING school all of her life. Yet she greets every class with a smile and a knowing....um.....vibe of positive energy as if all the ideas she presents are new and fresh.

Hmmm. E-mail me your thoughts at istmc2@uaa.alaska.edu

Random StumbleUpon of the Day;

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February 15,2007

Discovering boundaries - whew....I could write a book about these.

Instead of asking what boundaries we already have, let's discuss what boundaries we should have.

A few of them are easy, such as; when a male friend asks you to smell his pocket, that should be a common sense boundary, but then again it happened.....and recently too. Or when you are forced (by proximity or timing) to listen to vasectomy stories during commencement, again it should be common sense, but hey.....I have heard the thing about common sense is....that it ain't.

So how about the boundaries we should have on our campus?

• How about not destroying the furniture in the Commons by writing on them?
  
  
• Not taking up class time asking for instruction from the last class period (that you missed)
  
  
• Not following staff (or anyone) into the bathroom and asking them questions under the stall walls
  
  
• Not playing with R.C. cars while other classes are in session
  
  
• Not keeping a running commentary about your weekend while the instructor is talking
  
  
• How about actually watching your children instead of letting them run loose all over campus
  
  
• Cleaning up the melting snow puddles you leave on the tiled floor of the restrooms (or at least it better be melting snow)
  
  
• Returning your trays to Joe's Cafe
  
  
• Keeping conversational voices in the Commons
  
  
• Not touching the art in the gallery (even if it is only a student's work)
  
  
• Not using cell phone's in class, or screaming at your significant other or children while on the phone (no matter where you are)
  
  
• Not hanging out at your friends work station, especially when you should be in class yourself
  
• How about at least trying to hide your underwear when you sit down?
  
  
• How about wiping up the splattered tomato soup in the common microwaves by Joe's Cafe?
  
  
• How about NOT arguing the merits of Hewlett-Packard versus Dell computers (loudly while we are in class)?
  
  
• Not bringing in your small furry animals tucked in your jacket, no matter how cute you think they are (especially ferrets)
  
  
• Not having naked faeries as your desktop wallpaper
  
• How about posting signs in appropriate places, such as display boards, not above the urinals (although that IS pretty effective)
  
  
• Not bathing in perfume, just try a little bit at a time
  
  
• Not bragging about how many Long Island Iced Tea's you had before class....and yes especially when you think you are being subtle
  
  
• Not bragging about your Italy trip ad nauseum until even the people who went with you are sick of hearing about it
  
  
• How about not sending me junk E-mail and filling up my meager student E-mail account? (yeah right, I'm not holding my breath)

You have any you want to add? E-mail me

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February 13, 2007

I love and hate February.

Love it because of Valentine's Day.....yes guys I actually admit to liking the holiday, and you can too, just remember this simple rule = "Friends Don't Let Friends Buy Ugly Stuffed Animals That Sing When You Press Their Foot To Give To Their Significant Other For Valentine's Day", or "FDLFBUSATSWYPTFTGTTSOFVD" for short.

Hate it because of my birthday....ugh. Anyway this seems to be a pretty full month of fun stuff at KPC that will counter act all the negative vibes surrounding my birthday, and by fun I don't mean signing my son's absence slips with the reason, "because he had Mono". It is a good thing I now realize that signing his absence slips that way would not only be childish but also not funny. I have been told that the social stigma of the virus is all bunk, since you can catch it from drinking after someone else, or rubbing your eyes after touching a door handle that is infected. So why am I talking about it? Well because we have a Student Health Center that can help determine if you actually have it. The Health Center is a very helpful place that is available to all students who take 6 or more credits.....you might notice the rather hefty fee attached to your semester account.

The Health Center has many services available (although they lack an information page on our website at this time) including "educational, preventative, diagnostic and treatment services for health problems." I am not sure what that means exactly, but I fondly remember a headline from a commentary article from the KPC Connection October 2005. ****CONDOMS ON CAMPUS LIKELY?***** I still get a laugh from that every now and then.
You can access that archived Connection article here. (Scroll Down when page loads)

The KRC Student Union and the KPC Health Clinic are co-hosting the 1st Annual Wellness Fair on Wednesday, February 28th in the Commons. They will offer health screening, blood pressure tests and much more. It will be running from 12pm through 6pm and will have large purple apes dressed in pink tutus (ok, I am kidding about the last part, but I was assured that we will have guests from other health organizations as well). I want to make sure that the public is WELCOME. That's right, even your little brother with the constant nose-running-sniffle thing and Aunt Edna who aches in her elbow every time someone drives by with a snow machine (ok, now I am just making stuff up).

So stop by and get looked at, (by health professionals, not leered at by young high school boys) and learn how to be healthier. Maybe I will have that lazy bone looked at by a real professional.

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February 8, 2007

Citation....the bane of some of us in college.

Sure, we have all the resources available to us. The library has readily available copies of the APA Handbook AND the MLA Style book. They have online resources available from the KPC website. Gosh, I have had instructors hand out copies of the rules for citation before major papers were due (and yes, I still missed putting in the dang page numbers and it dropped me a whole letter grade). So why is citation so difficult?

I find it difficult because I have a bad habit of reading something, forgetting I read it and regurgitating it later as "original" Beyond that, sometimes it is just dang difficult to find your own voice when writing that paper after weeks of research and a mountain of information to trim down to something manageable. Arg, there is the actual rub....trimming DOWN to the page limit. Ok, well I am strange.

Here is one more resource that is a BOON to people like me and a random few other college students. It is called, the Son of Citation Machine, and it is an amazing online Java applet that allows you to enter the basic information of the source you are citing, then choose the style you need (MLA, APA, Chicago and soon Turabian - although I have NO idea what that is). The Java applet will then format the information and present you with cut & paste citations.

WOW, where was this when I lost that whole letter grade because of simple mis-formatting?

Speaking of citing sources (with NO formatting) the following seemed interesting:

TEN RULES FOR BEING HUMAN

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."
   There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."
3. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
4. Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
5. "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."
6. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
7. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
8. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
9. You will forget all this.

by Cherie Carter-Scott

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February 2, 2007

Ok, so I keep finding these strange little signs that I am not the only person on this planet.

One of them is the fact that writing for news and publications has become more accessible to the everyday person. No longer the bailiwick of the hard-edged journalist or the prolific romance….um….fiction authors, yep it is even available to keyboard monkeys like me. Perhaps in the avalanche of random ranting and hunt-and-peck meanderings a great literature masterpiece may be born, or perhaps not. Anyway, in this day and age of instant information gratification there are some traditional methods of writing that are important to notice.

Such as the KPC Connection, the Kenai Peninsula College student newspaper. Yes, it does STILL exist and yes it is actually student content driven. However there is news about the news; The KPC Connection will now be offered as an insert in the Peninsula Clarion seven times a year. Yes, that means that a student in the KPC Media Group, or any of the Journalism classes offered by Professor High, or selected English classes may be writing for an audience reaching over 10,000 readers. The first articles are being churned out as I write this and are in "the pipe" (Is that the right phrase?).

Another benchmark for student chances for success at KPC.

The second thing I found, and immediately became addicted to, is a little extension on the FireFox browser called StumbleUpon. Oh, man am I addicted….I seriously forget to go to sleep at night sometimes because I am click-surfing my way through all the categories of stuff I like. Yes, yours truly even made the KPC website a place to StumbleUpon. Seriously….you can find anything and everything on this fun button. Choose your interests, separated into nice neat categories, and then click the Stumble button. You can even rate the sites with a thumb’s up or down, guiding how StumbleUpon chooses sites for you to view.

Like this random StumbleUpon of the day;
“Three things can not hide for long: the Moon, the Sun and the Truth” -- Siddhartha - http://wikileaks.org/

Isn’t that random? Want to share your favorite random sites (PG-13 please)? E-mail me at istmc2@uaa.alaska.edu

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Feburary 1, 2007

So I work at the Peer Desk as well as writing the blog.

Every day I work I am comforted by a sign we have behind our desk that simply states; “Whitney-hearts-you!”

Me? No, of course not…..one because it was there before I started working at the Peer Desk and two because Whitney barely knows me. HOWEVER, this does not stop me from being comforted by it.

Go ahead; ask why…… (thank you)……it is because I actually know that the students who work at the desk actually want to help fellow students. They really do care….and not just because they are being paid. They care because that is the type of people that works at the Peer Desk. What is the Peer Desk? Well according to Dictionary.com the word peer is defined as;

peer1 –noun - a person who is equal to another in abilities, qualifications, age, background, and social status.

That’s right, we at the Peer Desk are students the same as you, and we care what happens on campus and to the students the same as you. We are paid to help you find any information, or at least the find people with the right information for you. We are considered as one of the many resources you have available as a student. We don’t just answer phones and talk about what happened over the weekend; we have most of the forms you will ever need as a student, we communicate class closures/changes and we dialogue with students to aid in their success at KPC. Simply put the mission of Student Services is to promote the success of students at KPC. The Student Services department includes Advising and Counseling, Career Services, Financial Aid, and information regarding student employment opportunities on campus. We at the Peer Desk are committed to informing students and helping them feel comfortable using the services and programs available to them. We are the first line of acceptance and assistance, being one of the first contacts for students seeking help.