8 The Voice, For Students, By Students | November 2, 2011 | www.fsuvoice.com | send news tips to the editor; thevoice.fsu@gmail.com
Flea Market switches to pay-as-you
by Tiffinei Lee
Voice Staff Writer
Is charging an entrance fee to the Bragg boulevard flea mar
ket a bad business move?
Finding something for cheap is on everyone’s mind these
days. Good thing there are flea markets to help out with that.
The Bragg Boulevard Flea Market has been a staple in the
community for several years. Two months ago, the flea market
started charging its customers a one dollar entrance fee. Upon
payment, your name was entered into a drawing for a new 32
inch TV.
When visiting the Bragg Boulevard Flea Market you are
surprised at the sprawling array of items available. Tables are
filled with everything from clothes to toys.
“I can pull a dollar worth of change out the bottom of my
purse,” said freshmen, Liz Schaffer.
Ms. Schaffer feels that her shopping experience at the
Bragg Boulevard Flea Market has always been a good one
and that she would not stop going just because they charge
a dollar,
“I won’t stop going just because they charge a dollar now,”
said junior, Christopher Delong. “I buy a lot of my clothes
from there. And for someone like me, who works a part-time
job and has his own place, I need to save all the money I can.”
Mr. Delong went on to talk about the benefits of the flea
market and how they have many desirable items available to
students on a budget.
So, why did the Bragg Boulevard Flea Market start charg
ing a one dollar entrance fee? The owner was unavailable for
comment, but from the turn out this past weekend, it doesn’t
appear the change was bad for business. Some of the vendors
said that by charging a fee to enter, it will assist in keeping the
theft rate down and the customer base growing.
One market vendor stated that “The fee keeps those who
are uninterested in buying away, and gives more room to
those who are purchasing.”
Along with the abundance of items to choose from, there
are also tables fiill of fresh fruit and vegetables that one can
purchase at cheaper rates than the grocery store.
Students should take full advantage of the Bragg Boulevard
Flea Market as it is only three miles from FSU and open on
Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Disability is ability, in a different light
Voice photo by Jennifer Lucas
Associated Professor Bradley Kadel hard at work in his office on Oct. 24.
by Shante Denice EllioR
Voice Staff Writer
Imagine going blind at the age of 30.
For Fayetteville State University history
professor, Dr. Bradley Kadel, this was some
thing he did not have to imagine, this became
his reality.
At age 30, Dr. Kadel became blind, yet he
refuses to let his disability stop him. He runs
marathons, travels alone internationally, sings
and plays classical guitar.
At first glance, one may never realize that
Dr. Kadel is blind. In short distances he walks
without a cane, and amazingly he acknowl
edges all of his students by name, although he
has never seen their faces.
Bom in Geneseo, Illinois, Dr. Kadel is one
of two children. Unsure of his interest upon
completion of high school, he declared music
as his major when he first began college. It
wasn’t until he realized that he didn’t want
to be a music teacher, that he declared a dou
ble major in English and History. His deci
sion to pursue a career outside of music was
made because he “didn’t think he was good
enough,” he also was not “comfortable with
classical performances.”
However, his fascination with history did
not come until he studied in Ireland. This
trip charted him on the path of continuing to
study history in graduate school, ultimately
earning his Ph.D. and becoming a history
professor. This allowed him to continue to
follow his love for stories, by “studying the
stories of people.”
One setback Dr. Kadel has encountered is
his disability. Growing up. Dr. Kadel suffered
from congenital glaucoma, a disease usu
ally present and diagnosed at birth. Already
knowing the “skills of blindness,” such as be
ing able to read Braille; when he completely
lost his vision at age 30, he was still able to
continue on with his life, without seeming
hopeless.
He describes losing his vision as a “relief”
“It meant no more doctors, no more surger
ies, and no more being anxious and fearful.”
He would finally be able to live.
“It is not the disability that is a setback,”
said Dr. Kadel. “It is the prejudices that peo
ple have, or the preconceived notions that
people have about blind people that is more
diflicult to overcome;”
He encountered this prejudice during a re
search trip to Ireland. A professor told him
that “he didn’t see how a person like him
could do this.”
To compensate for the lack of support due
to his disability. Dr. Kadel turns to his friends
who are also blind, and continues to consider
his blindness as “part of’ his identity and
not something he should be ashamed of, but
proud of
Dr. Kadel said, “I try to hold onto that posi
tive outlook despite what society may tell you
[that] you should think of yourself”
To help with this. Dr. Kadel gives presenta
tions to high school students on blmdness. He
hopes that this will decrease the prejudices
against the disability and increase under
standing of the disability. This is a very im
portant part of his community service efforts.
He wants to educate students on the proper
ways to communicate with people who are
blind.
If given the opportunity to see something
today. Dr. Kadel would like to see the beauty
of nature, such as the newly revealed histori
cal landmarks, and people, most importantly
their facial expressions. Although he may
never have that opportunity again. Dr. Kadel
does not let his lack.of vision confrol his life.
He is an eligible bachelor who enjoys
“treating women nice.” He plans on travel
ing to Ireland this summer to play with Peter
Brown, a famous Irish musician. The Apple
iPhone 4 allows him to utilize the latest tech
nology. He catches the bus home every day
from campus. He refuses to live his life inside
a shell, afraid to step out.
It’s obvious he’s blind. But often times
when people feel pity for him, Dr. Kadel
smiles and thinks “I may be better off than
you.”
Dr. Kadel is excited about his latest ac
complishment. The upcoming publication of
his first book: “The History and Role of Irish
Pubs in History in the 1800’s.” His book is a
continuation of the dissertation he completed
as part of his Ph.D. curriculum. He conducts
his research during his trips to Ireland. Even
after that professor told him he didn’t see
how he could do it. Dr. Kadel continued to
possess the heart of a champion.
He has labels sewn into his clothes to help
him know what he is wearing. Dr. Kadel says
that misplacing something is the worst. “I can
search long for it while all the while it was
right in my face,” he says jokingly.
Dr. Kadel fosters an open environment in
his classes by showing students the technol
ogy he uses. He uses a JAWS Software Pro
gram. The price for the program ranges from
$900-$ 1000. The university purchased it for
him along with a Braille printer. JAWS reads
aloud what is on the PC screen. He states that
students only get upset when they raise their
hand and he ignores them, however it’s not
on purpose.
Triumphing over an obstacle that most
would shutter to think of. Dr. Kadel admits
that he would love the opportunity to see
again, but is more focused on enjoying his
life as it is today.
“I’d rather see then not see, but I hope that
I’ve been able to reduce that to a minor foot
note in my life.”