Pinellas County Schools held its national history day festivities at USF St. Petersburg’s Campus Activities Center on Feb. 20.
In its 14th year, Pinellas History Day had over 600 students involved. Students submitted projects including exhibits, plays and presentations.
“It’s wonderful how it turned out,” said Coordinator Alan Kay. “More schools than ever before won awards and are going to states … The staff at USF St. Petersburg was incredibly welcoming and supportive.”
Kay said the process takes months of planning with numerous people are involved. Groups from both the schools and USF St. Petersburg meet throughout the year, and communication becomes almost daily within a month of the fair.
“There are all kinds of coordination with parking and technology and 22 schools, both public and private,” Kay said.
Kay’s experience with the event spans 14 years in Pinellas County. He said funding is being cut and they are nervous how it will affect the program. Kay said the history fair helps students feel important and empowered in the community, while also rewarding their work and getting them excited for college.
Megan Wood, who teaches history at Baypoint Middle School, is in her second year of being involved with the program. She said the program is a positive opportunity for students to learn how to compete and also how to research and write research papers.
Wood’s students won third place for a group exhibit. She said another student from the school won an award for her documentary on Title IX, which targets gender equality in academic programs. It became mostly associated with sports.
“It’s a little tiring, but I can’t but help really get into it,” Wood said. “I’m happy. I won two different awards.”
Another winner was Johnalynn Gordin, who won for her performance telling the story of former British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain.
“I just felt that Neville Chamberlain was the hallmark of appeasement in a failed diplomacy,” Gordin said. “I was originally going to take the side that he was naïve and it was a big mistake. However, as I began reading, I realized how much of a humanitarian he was. I really feel like he should not have been treated like he was.”
Gordin worked on her project for almost a year.
“It’s been a very interesting experience,” Gordin said. “I’m glad to be here. It was a lot of hard work, a lot of research, a lot of patience, [and] a willingness to forgo a bit of my sanity.”
Student Rachel Salzman performed her interpretation of the events portrayed in the movie “Vengence,” about the terrorist attacks in Munich, Germany at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Student Mary Reischmann portrayed writer, political officer and archaeologist Gertrude Bell.
“[Bell] was stubborn and determined,” Reischmann said. “I think that’s how she was able to accomplish so much, because when no other woman was doing what she was doing, you really had to be determined.”
She enjoyed the project once she got started.
“Once you start researching and learning, it’s so interesting,” Reischmann said. “I don’t want to stop. As I do more research, I feel like I know her.”
Competition in the fair is open for students in grades 6 through 12. The history fair is part of Pinellas History Day, which is a local part of National History Day.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
SG approves bike rental program
Student Government approved $7,300 to start a campus bike program to allow students to check out biking equipment from the campus fitness center.
“That is something that James [Scott] and I, when we were running, thought would be an important service and aspect to bring to campus,” said SG Vice President Jon Ellington.
Since the bill’s approval, SG President James Scott forwarded the bill to Kent Kelso, regional chancellor for Student Affairs, for final approval.
“Whenever we spend money out of that account, when we do large expenditures throughout the year, the administration has a check on that,” Scott said. “I think it should be approved by [mid-February] by the chancellor.”
Once approved, the bike rentals will likely take place in the parking garage.
Scott said the idea was in place for over a year, but SG only recently got to it. Senator Danny McDonald sponsored the bill.
“I helped draft the bill and come up with ideas for the program,” McDonald said. “But I mainly introduced the bill to [the] committee and the general assembly, and I voice the representation of the students that want to see the program.”
Ellington said they have tentative plans to store the biking equipment at the parking garage.
“Right now, we’re going to need to create a compound within the garage just because of cost,” Ellington said. “By having it anywhere on campus that pretty much wasn’t there, we’d have to go through facilities planning and have them create drafts and bring in outside contractors to do the work. This is a much quicker, easier and cheaper approach to take.”
Once the program is in place, students will be able to check out bikes during the campus fitness center’s operating hours.
“Personally, I love biking and I was talking to the students and they felt like having this as a service on campus,” Ellington said. “It’s something they thought they could take advantage of and support. The main thing was the students saying that this was something that we think would be a good aspect to bring to campus.”
Ellington said when students check out the bikes, they will be also issued a U-lock and a helmet. The rental policy will be similar to the kayak rentals. If students keep the equipment beyond the hours of operation, they will incur a $5 overnight fee. SG plans to purchase 20 single-beach cruisers. If the program is successful, Ellington thinks SG will allocate more funds in the fall.
“I think the campus provides the opportunity to promote active outdoor activities for students,” Scott said. “For students who don’t have a bike, it will offer a chance for them to say, ‘I want to check out downtown.’ This area is well-designed for biking.”
“I think the bill is a new opening for the university in seeing healthier lifestyles, clean transportation and more outreach to the community, especially downtown,” McDonald said.
E-mail: tmchang@mail.usf.edu
http://thecrowsnestnews.com/?p=492
“That is something that James [Scott] and I, when we were running, thought would be an important service and aspect to bring to campus,” said SG Vice President Jon Ellington.
Since the bill’s approval, SG President James Scott forwarded the bill to Kent Kelso, regional chancellor for Student Affairs, for final approval.
“Whenever we spend money out of that account, when we do large expenditures throughout the year, the administration has a check on that,” Scott said. “I think it should be approved by [mid-February] by the chancellor.”
Once approved, the bike rentals will likely take place in the parking garage.
Scott said the idea was in place for over a year, but SG only recently got to it. Senator Danny McDonald sponsored the bill.
“I helped draft the bill and come up with ideas for the program,” McDonald said. “But I mainly introduced the bill to [the] committee and the general assembly, and I voice the representation of the students that want to see the program.”
Ellington said they have tentative plans to store the biking equipment at the parking garage.
“Right now, we’re going to need to create a compound within the garage just because of cost,” Ellington said. “By having it anywhere on campus that pretty much wasn’t there, we’d have to go through facilities planning and have them create drafts and bring in outside contractors to do the work. This is a much quicker, easier and cheaper approach to take.”
Once the program is in place, students will be able to check out bikes during the campus fitness center’s operating hours.
“Personally, I love biking and I was talking to the students and they felt like having this as a service on campus,” Ellington said. “It’s something they thought they could take advantage of and support. The main thing was the students saying that this was something that we think would be a good aspect to bring to campus.”
Ellington said when students check out the bikes, they will be also issued a U-lock and a helmet. The rental policy will be similar to the kayak rentals. If students keep the equipment beyond the hours of operation, they will incur a $5 overnight fee. SG plans to purchase 20 single-beach cruisers. If the program is successful, Ellington thinks SG will allocate more funds in the fall.
“I think the campus provides the opportunity to promote active outdoor activities for students,” Scott said. “For students who don’t have a bike, it will offer a chance for them to say, ‘I want to check out downtown.’ This area is well-designed for biking.”
“I think the bill is a new opening for the university in seeing healthier lifestyles, clean transportation and more outreach to the community, especially downtown,” McDonald said.
E-mail: tmchang@mail.usf.edu
http://thecrowsnestnews.com/?p=492
Poll: Majority of Students Want Designated Smoking Areas
Tom Chang
Contributing Writer
Student Government passed a survey regarding the pending smoking ban around campus. The results polled from 115 students stated the majority preferred designated smoking areas on campus.
“Basically the results that came back were pretty skewed towards not having a ban of tobacco on campus,” said Chuck Terzian, SG senator and University, Community and Government Affairs chair. “They were more in favor of having designated areas. I think if you look at it and ‘no change to the policy’—which is kind of designated smoking areas, but not really.”
Terzian said designated areas out-weighted a complete ban 2-1 among all polled. Many non-smokers were in favor of having designated areas.
“We just got the results in as the semester broke,” Terzian said. “From what I understand, it’s not an open dialogue. It’s not something up for discussion.”
Terzian said administration initially asked SG to pass a resolution in support of the ban. Rather than drafting one, SG opted to conduct a survey.
“We had a problem doing that,” Terzian said. “Most of our committee was in support of it at first. Then we started hearing from people and their arguments swayed a lot of us. We needed to do a survey, because we don’t know and we can’t actively represent even with just a sampling.”
“I think not all of us were supportive, but it was pretty evenly split amongst us,” said Senator Courtney Parish. “We just didn’t feel right without asking the students first.”
Terzian said the senate would make a non-binding resolution that reflects the results of the survey.
“They wanted to change the policy to where they could have a little more control and … adhere under Florida law because you’re not supposed to smoke under anything covered,” Terzian said. “I think since they were going to change the policy, why don’t they change it so it’s like this? The way it was presented [was] that it was a good idea. It was for everyone’s health. There will be some resources available and we found out those resources weren’t very extensive for smoking cessation.”
Terzian did not personally endorse the measure but he agreed with designated smoking areas.
“So with that in mind, we just we couldn’t completely support it,” Terzian said. “Personally, I had a issues with it with the freedom thing. We’re all adults here. It’s not the university’s place to tell us if we can or cannot hurt ourselves. I agree with making it designated areas away from hurting someone else with second-hand smoke. I completely agree with that, but chewing tobacco, which is gross—I don’t support it, but I support your right to do it.”
“We share the same views,” Parish said. “I’m glad we did the survey, because I think it was wrong for administration to try to go over the students’ heads.”
“I think their main argument for taking someone’s freedom of choice is when your choice hurts somebody else,” said Senate President Christian Haas. “I agree with that, but like [Terzian] said, ‘tobacco-free campus.’ Chewing tobacco doesn’t hurt other people unless you’re spitting on someone.”
Parish said she understood the measure in regards to cigarettes because it would cut down on littering from the cigarette butts, but Terzian countered after attending the American Student Government conference in Washington, D.C., that while there is heavy enforcement in some campuses as high as a $75 fine, he said in one case, it created a bigger problem. He said it created a worse litter problem because smokers did not have places to properly dispose of the butts.
The measure at USF St. Petersburg will not levy any fines for tobacco use.
“There seems to be a sentiment among the student government, perhaps the student body, that is looked at pretty negatively towards the administration for this [smoking ban] policy,” said Mark Weber, Legislative Affairs Chair of Student Government.
Weber said that the university is not a democracy.
“We don’t elect the chancellor or the upper administration. It’s more of a business. There are many policies and procedures that are made without student body input,” Weber said. “I think it’s more of a courtesy, which they had more reason to do. They’re just trying to be nice and I just don’t think we should look at this negatively or give them any slack for not taking their input, when I’m sure they do that all the time.”
E-mail: tmchang@mail.usf.edu
http://thecrowsnestnews.com/?p=386
Contributing Writer
Student Government passed a survey regarding the pending smoking ban around campus. The results polled from 115 students stated the majority preferred designated smoking areas on campus.
“Basically the results that came back were pretty skewed towards not having a ban of tobacco on campus,” said Chuck Terzian, SG senator and University, Community and Government Affairs chair. “They were more in favor of having designated areas. I think if you look at it and ‘no change to the policy’—which is kind of designated smoking areas, but not really.”
Terzian said designated areas out-weighted a complete ban 2-1 among all polled. Many non-smokers were in favor of having designated areas.
“We just got the results in as the semester broke,” Terzian said. “From what I understand, it’s not an open dialogue. It’s not something up for discussion.”
Terzian said administration initially asked SG to pass a resolution in support of the ban. Rather than drafting one, SG opted to conduct a survey.
“We had a problem doing that,” Terzian said. “Most of our committee was in support of it at first. Then we started hearing from people and their arguments swayed a lot of us. We needed to do a survey, because we don’t know and we can’t actively represent even with just a sampling.”
“I think not all of us were supportive, but it was pretty evenly split amongst us,” said Senator Courtney Parish. “We just didn’t feel right without asking the students first.”
Terzian said the senate would make a non-binding resolution that reflects the results of the survey.
“They wanted to change the policy to where they could have a little more control and … adhere under Florida law because you’re not supposed to smoke under anything covered,” Terzian said. “I think since they were going to change the policy, why don’t they change it so it’s like this? The way it was presented [was] that it was a good idea. It was for everyone’s health. There will be some resources available and we found out those resources weren’t very extensive for smoking cessation.”
Terzian did not personally endorse the measure but he agreed with designated smoking areas.
“So with that in mind, we just we couldn’t completely support it,” Terzian said. “Personally, I had a issues with it with the freedom thing. We’re all adults here. It’s not the university’s place to tell us if we can or cannot hurt ourselves. I agree with making it designated areas away from hurting someone else with second-hand smoke. I completely agree with that, but chewing tobacco, which is gross—I don’t support it, but I support your right to do it.”
“We share the same views,” Parish said. “I’m glad we did the survey, because I think it was wrong for administration to try to go over the students’ heads.”
“I think their main argument for taking someone’s freedom of choice is when your choice hurts somebody else,” said Senate President Christian Haas. “I agree with that, but like [Terzian] said, ‘tobacco-free campus.’ Chewing tobacco doesn’t hurt other people unless you’re spitting on someone.”
Parish said she understood the measure in regards to cigarettes because it would cut down on littering from the cigarette butts, but Terzian countered after attending the American Student Government conference in Washington, D.C., that while there is heavy enforcement in some campuses as high as a $75 fine, he said in one case, it created a bigger problem. He said it created a worse litter problem because smokers did not have places to properly dispose of the butts.
The measure at USF St. Petersburg will not levy any fines for tobacco use.
“There seems to be a sentiment among the student government, perhaps the student body, that is looked at pretty negatively towards the administration for this [smoking ban] policy,” said Mark Weber, Legislative Affairs Chair of Student Government.
Weber said that the university is not a democracy.
“We don’t elect the chancellor or the upper administration. It’s more of a business. There are many policies and procedures that are made without student body input,” Weber said. “I think it’s more of a courtesy, which they had more reason to do. They’re just trying to be nice and I just don’t think we should look at this negatively or give them any slack for not taking their input, when I’m sure they do that all the time.”
E-mail: tmchang@mail.usf.edu
http://thecrowsnestnews.com/?p=386
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