Newspapers / Gardner-Webb University Student Newspaper / Oct. 24, 2007, edition 1 / Page 3
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The Phot Wednesday, October 24, 2007 Page A3 Opinions Blogs connect people, spur creativity, provide honest look at life By Rebecca Clark Pilot editor Technology is an amazing tool. In the past, most citizens lived out their lives in rela tive anonymity, but thanks to the wonders of e-mail or Facebook or Myspace, an in dividual’s ordinary voice can be heard around the globe, opinions voiced nationwide and friendships established across continents. Now, with the rising pop ularity of weblogs, or blogs, your personal opinion on su shi or global warming or gas prices can be published for literally billions of people to read. According to Wikipedia, com, as of September 2007, there are more than 100 mil lion blogs on record. That’s a lot of blogging. I was first personally in troduced to the blog world when I took a media class at GWU. One of our assign- The Pilot Nancy-Pat Dire Faculty Advisor Rebecca Clark Editor and Chief Stephanie Kay Designer Ashiey Carter and Haley Black Photo Editors Jacob Conley Sports Editor Jared Graf Kory McNair Christopher Shaver Staff Writers Sarajane Burroughs Kate Gazaway Jessica Jones Tyler Kucifer Rachel Tucker Staff Photographers Phone Number: 704-406-3844 P.O. Box 5192 pilot@gardner-webb.edu ments was to start and main tain a blog throughout the semester. The theme for my blog was journalism, my chosen career I ended up dropping the class but keeping the blog, and which morphed into something more person al. It chronicled my journey through a difficult year and gave me a creative outlet to express myself anonymous ly- I discovered that there is a unique blogger community where ties between strangers are forged and connections are made between posters. It was a fun way to be heard and it allowed me to glimpse other people’s lives in a per sonal way. Blogging can be so much more than an online diary, though, and can impact peo ple in important ways. Over the years, it has become an important news tool, able to reach a varied audience and giving a wide range of opin ions on topics that might not be covered by regular media. According to Wikipe dia, since 2002, blogs have gained increasing notice and coverage for their role in breaking, shaping and spin ning news stories. The second Iraq war is called the first blog war be cause so many soldiers wrote about their experiences. These warblogs gave new and personal perspectives on the realities of war, as well as often offering viewpoints that differed from those of official news sources. Blogs are also used by politicians, policemen, housewives, teenagers and everyone in between. Different genres have even evolved, giving us po litical, fashion, travel, proj^?* ect and niche blogs; and legal ones known as blawgs. There are blogs devoted to spam ming, called Splogs. Video, links, audio, pic tures and other elements can be added to blogs giving us ers the ability to combine media into one source. Ultimately, I gave up my blog, but it was a fun way to publish views, opinions or things that were going on in my life. I still haunt the pages of my favorite blogs and keep up connections forged in my blog neighborhood. If you haven’t tried blog ging yet, I suggest giving it a try. Wisdom on Wheels Miracles come in all varieties and sizes By Jacob Conley Pilot editorialist People have often asked me • if I pray for miracles, and I assume they are talking about my disability. To be honest, I don’t ask for those types of miracles any more- But that doesn’t mean that miracles don’t happen in my life. These miracles are not of biblical proportion, of course, but they are no less important. Two such miracles have happened to me this past week and I am just as excited about them as if I suddenly leaped up from this wheel chair and onto the football practice field. The first miracle is that I have a date for the Home coming dance. I know this seems com monplace to most people, but dates come around for me about as often as a Duke victory on the gridiron. Secondly, my cousin is coming for the weekend. Again, no big deal, right? But my cousin never comes to see me. He has been to Rutherford County once in his life. With all these things go ing on, to can say that my weekend will be a little hec tic. So you as my readers can sympathize with me here is idea of ray schedule for this weekend Friday: As soon as I get classes out of the way. I’m headed to my room to catch a few hours of sleep; probably the only sleep I will get the entire weekend. Then it’s time to get ready for the powder puff football game. I’m going to be a cheer leader. Why? Is it for school spirit? Partly. Is it to have fian? Conley Partly.But it’s mostly because I look good in a skirt. I just hope it’s not cold enough for my wa ter balloons to freeze. In order to thaw my next stop will be the bonfire. Then I’m going to help roll the campus. Yes, that pun was intended. Feel free to laugh. Saturday: I’m getting up early so I go to the swim meet at .9 a.m. I am excited that we have a men’s team, but I’m going mostly to see the ladies. Can you blame me? Next, I’m off to help with the Dawg Pound float. By the way. I’m going to need some help because we are trying to become a club instead of people who simply sit in the stands. Please come out and help with the float and sellingT- shirts at the game, or else we might have to dissolve the club. Then it’s time for the game. While the game might be considered secondary dur ing all the other activities, the Bulldogs will be fighting for a conference title. Be there; be loud; and be proud to be a Bulldog. After we win it’s time to celebrate with some danc ing, or in my case, rolling in circles while trying not to run over feet or dresses. Sunday: Up early once again. I’m going to the Pan- thers-Colts game. I hope the Cats start Vin- ny Testaverde. I haven’t seen an Italian that old perform so well since the last “Rocky” movie. Have a great Homecom ing, everyone! News Noel groups another road to success By Samba Fall Special to The Pilot The Noel Program for the Disabled, which began its mission of accommodating disabled students in 1977, now offers a new way to help students achieve academic duties. Our mission as a program, said Director Cheryl J. Potter is to provide reasonable ac commodations in order for qualified students to receive adequate tools for suitable college education. The latest tool is a weekly academic support groups for students who choose to par ticipate. The Noel program has a fiill-time staff of five who now serve an average of 100 students with a wide variety of disabilities. To assist them more efficiently, Potter and Senior Disability Special ist Cindy M. Rochester each lead a 90-minute academic support group on Thursdays. Our academic support groups are more turned to wards interactions sessions than anything else. They are periods during which we provide encouragements and supports, but also provide specific study sfrategies, and things like tests taking strate gies, said Rochester. During those academic support groups, time man agement is emphasized the most, she said. Thirty years after its in ception, the Noel program has helped many graduates integrate into society with skills for many kinds of job. We have a graduate who is a lawyer and another who is a professor at East Caro lina today, said Rochester. But at Gardner-Webb Uni versity today, talking about the Noel program’s success includes talking about the new building that will house it, Frank Nanney Hall. The program is looking forward to getting into its new location for better facili ties and adequate rooms, said Rochester. The new building, located near O. Max Gardner Hall, will provide far more space Photo by Rachel Tucker The Noel Program wel comes new disability specialist IVIichele Wallen (right) to the team. She is standing with fellow specialist Parrish Wals- burger. Each specialist provides a wide range of assistance to the aca demic support program available at Gardner- Webb University through the Noel House. than the current one. Plans call for it to be completed in the summer of 2008. Instead of concentrating all of our activities in one single room, the new build ing will offer three main rooms for activity purposes, said Rochester. Plus, we will have a resource room, a test ing facility and a career cen ter Potter, too, is eager for the new building to be com pleted. “From time to time, I drive by just to see how the construction is going,” joked Potter “But I think that with a more adequate building, the program, which recently added Michele Wallen as a fifth disability specialist, will be able to work reasonably well towards helping these students. “Today, technology has opened up the world to disabled people out there looking for jobs,” said Pot ter “But I think that here at Gardner-Webb, the com munity of students, faculty members and staff members are already doing a great job of accepting and integrating these disabled students into the society.” Homecoming festivities are in the air as weekend comes By Jared Graf Pilot staff writer Gardner-Webb Universi ty Homecoming is a weekend for football games, parades and alumni coming back to cheer their alma mater to vic tory. This is the first year that Jeremy Fern, the new direc tor of Alumni Relations, is in charge of Homecoming. Fern has been working as director for only two months and he feels that the job is “ humbling and exciting at the same time.” He has made sure that there are plenty of campus- wide activities to keep cur rent and former students busy. Friday’s activities start with a luncheon and golf tournament at River Bend Golf Club, which serves as a fundraiser for the GWU golf teams. In the evening there will be a reception and ban quet for the alumni being in ducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. There is also a choice of athletic events to cheer at: a men’s soccer game or the Powder Puff football game. Saturday full schedule begins with a luncheon and induction into the Gallery of Distinguished Gradu ates. There’s an opportunity to feed hungry alumni and entertain younger and older visitors alike before the foot ball game - just attend the Tailgate Bash. There will be food, music and inflatables from 4 to 6 p.m. At 5 p.m. the Home coming parade will travel down Main Sfreet in Boil ing Springs and head down Stadium Drive to Spangler Stadium, where the Running Bulldogs will play Charles ton Southern University. If the parade doesn’t in terest you, the women’s vol leyball team will take on East Tennessee at 5 p.m. in Lutz- Yehon Convocation Center. Grapevine Osed ~ ~ Viv±a^t Aecessortes “ITie Grapevine” IS Kings Mt^s Best Kept Secret! “Hadioal Reruns*’ at Thr, Grapevine is not yowr typical secondhand clodiing shop. We offer Abercrombie & Fiteh, Aeropostale, American Eagie, Banana Rep., Gap, Hollister and J.Crew, just to name a few! 'llie Grapevine also carries vintage ami retro accessories to complete your outfiti So if you like dressing “rich* for kss, you need to conic check us out! We’re located at 225 SoMth Battleground Ave. in Kings Mt (two doors up from Papa John’s). Wednesday thru Friday 10-7 and SatJurday 10-4 Bring in this ad for free gift! Wednesday is GWU Students Day! Get 10% oft your purchase w/your student id! s25fs:y> ' tobce.com {704)7841081 Practice makes perfect Photo by Kate Gazaway Dr. Terry Fern leads cast members of the opera “The Birthday of the Infanta,” which will be performed on campus Nov. 8 and 9. Business manager Needed EIarn money selling pilot ads CONTACT THE PILOT AT NDIRE@BARDNER-WEBB.EDl
Gardner-Webb University Student Newspaper
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