Locals increase student concern Fall Colors: Does the season match your future? The News Argus www.thenewsargus.com Winston-Salem State University’s Student Newspaper Nov 13, 2006 Feast may lead to fat Photo by Sharrod Patterson If you’re not careful, comfort foods can do more than soothe your soul. Is the Freshman 15 fact or fiction? Tiffany Ross STAFF REPORTER An increase in obesity is plaguing America, and stu dents should become more concerned about improving their eating habits and avoiding weight gain. Researchers at a private northeastern university recently conducted studies' concerning the weight gain of college students. The study included 382 freshmen, with each stu dent being weighed once at the beginning and once end of spring and fall semesters. The study showed that during the same time span, male students gained more weight than female stu dents. Another recent study showed that the average amount of weight gained for males and females was less than 15 pounds within their first year. While researchers recog nized that students were not necessarily gaining the expected "Freshman 15", they noticed that students continued to gain addition al weight their sophomore year. Contributions to weight gain were drinking, more socializing that involved eating, and decreased physical activity. mentioned that food choic es such as fruit, vegetables, nuts and grains are among the variety of foods that students should eat regu larly. Exercising regularly also contributes to improved health and students should X Photo by Sharrod Patterson Poor food choices and lack of exercise can make the Freshman 15 a reality. Natasha Jeffreys, public health educator at WSSU, shared vital information for WSSU students concerning healthy eating habits and avoiding weight gain. "Students should watch their portion sizes, remain physically fit and drink lots of water," she said. Jeffreys do so at least three times a week for 15 to 20 minutes. "The key is getting a good cardiovascular work out — students can walk or run on treadmills or partic ipate in kick-boxing or cycling," she said." "Students should also remember that exercising includes warming up and cooling down in order to avoid straining muscles." Many students at WSSU who care about their health, influence their friends to do the same. This semester, Latoya McCluney, 19, sophomore, has been more concerned with maintaining better health habits. "My roommate and I have started going to the fitness center and plan to go at least two to three times a week," she said. "I think it is important to develop better health habits now because our generation needs to leam how to take better care of themselves, regardless of how fast and convenient life is now." "The Freshman 15" can be a myth or fact for stu dents according to the daily choices they make. Regardless of whether stu dents have or have not gained their "15," healthy eating habits can be an important part of every student's life. Photo by Sharrod Patterson Anyone caught parking illegally will be ticketed. No more parking tickets — please! Nathaniel E. Woods STAFF REPORTER /t is a white slip of paper with a red banner across the top tucked inside a yellow envelope. What is it? It is a parking ticket. "Enter to learn and depart to serve," one stu dent says sarcastically. We want to leam, but we have a hard time entering to get a parking space. According to WSSU's "Regulations Governing Motor Vehicle Parking" pamphlet, the school has 27 parking lots. Thirteen of those 27 lots are for stu dents, both commuters and residents. If there are so many parking lots, what is the real problem? "The problem comes from the people that don't purchase decals and park in areas that require decals," said Sgt. Norris Gullick, who has been with the Winston-Salem State University police force since 1997. "If students park in faculty parking lots which are designated by signs and the red markings at the end of the parking spaces, the student will get ticketed," Gullick explains while jump- starting a student's car. When faculty park in student areas, he said, "Faculty also get tickets for parking unlawfully." Resident student parking spaces are color coordinat ed with purple, brown, and yellow. Student com muter spaces are green, and visitor's, blue. While the plans for park ing expansion are being discussed there is an over flow lot available for per mit holders by Bowman Gray Stadium. Students who decide to use this parking area can take advantage of a shuttle service. Because the shuttle stops running at 6 p.m., the school has taken pre cautions and hired safety patrol to give escorts to students who have late classes and need to get to the overflow lot and retrieve their vehicle. According to the WSSU Website, there are 5,567 students enrolled, and according to Gullick there are 1,229 parking spaces and 37 handicap spaces. All drivers should avoid parking in front of fire hydrants and orange cones since the majority of traffic fines have doubled to show the seriousness of the rule. Photo by Sharrod Patterson WSSU campus awash in fall colors. WSSU to offer new master’s degree in teaching COURTESY OF MEDIA RELATIONS Winston-Salem State University will begin offering a new Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree starting January 2007. This is an alternative teacher certification program to initial teacher licensure for those with qualifying undergraduate degrees. It will address the teacher shortage in the Piedmont region and the state. The program provides advanced preparation in the fields of Middle Grade Education and Special Education. According to Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, dean of WSSU's School of Education and Human Performance, this program will provide indi viduals an opportunity to enhance or redirect their careers to the teaching profes sion, in turn increasing the teacher work force in the Piedmont region and through out the state. The program is divided into two phases. The first will consist of coursework designed to address the competencies for beginning teachers. Those who complete the first phase will qualify for a North Carolina A-level (initial) teaching license. The second addresses the advanced competencies for an M-level (master's) license. The curriculum includes a minimum of 39 credit hours, and these graduate-level cours es include course content and training consistent with guide lines prescribed by state and national accrediting agencies. Although the target group for the program includes those with baccalaureate degrees in Middle Grades or Special Education related areas, candi dates who do not have prereq uisite graduate-level courses will be able to complete the necessary academic courses through a combination of undergraduate and graduate coursework. Once graduates have suc cessfully completed the MAT program, they will be armed with the necessary knowledge and skills required to pass the Praxis II Specialty Area Examinations for North Carolina teaching licenses.