Elite Colleges: Response

I really liked Charlie's pick for this week with the article "Elite Colleges Open New Door to Low-Income Youths" by Sara Rimer in The New York Times. I think that this piece is a great example of something short, sweet, and interesting.

First, the lede is fairly interesting. It could have been done better and more artful, but I also like the fact that it gets down to business quickly. It is a great lead in to the theme and subject of the piece and overall serves its purpose. The piece begins with a close up of Jack, zooms out to a portrait of his family, and zooms out again to the issue at hand: that elite colleges are taking measures to attract and invite low-income individuals. This type of cinematography is quite simple, and again, serves its purpose to use Jack's story as a door into a more widespread issue.

The piece begins to get factual, but the author does a good job of interspersing the boring (but important) details with those "gold coins". For example, after dealing with the facts of the socioeconomic status of students at the elite colleges, the writer inserts a great, funny, true statement about Jack to bring the focus back to him: "The only debt he says he owes is the $41 it cost to make copies of his 107-page honors thesis.

The piece then flashes back quickly, which does a good job of providing personal background information. The flashback is inserted at just the right moment to allow the reader to continue building Jack's character.

A few times I was disappointed in the lack of efficient transitions. For example, the story about Jack's run-in with the police seems out of place.

I like the conversation with Jack near the end of the piece, because I felt like I really got to know him better. I wonder if any of his dialogue wouldn't have been more effective more toward the beginning, though, instead of diving right into the issue and then returning to Jack to finish up.

The kicker, like the lede, is generally interesting, but I do think it could have been done better. The writer uses a good quote from Jack, but it seems like a forced quote that, after getting to know him through the piece, I wouldn't expect him to say - at least not in those exact words. I like the idea of quoting people how they talk, and I didn't get a feel for Jack's voice in any of the quotes used in the narrative.

Overall, I thought this was a great piece among some of the shorter, more brief ones we have read for class. After having read it, I get a pretty good feel for character, I am introduced to a broader issue, and I care. Good pick, Charlie!

Feature: First Draft

Get Up, Get Out, Get Active

by Jenny Thomson

In about 30 minutes per day, it is possible to reduce the risk of a heart attack, diabetes or stroke, reduce the prevalence of anxiety and depression and reduce the occurrence of illnesses. In that same thirty minutes, a contribution can be made toward building healthy bones, muscles, and joints. These 30 minutes can also provide therapeutic benefits for people suffering from physical limitations or chronic disorders. Thirty minutes.

The answer isn’t the elixir of life or the fountain of youth. It’s not a magical cure-all pill or miracle gadget. It’s an hour that can be spent in- or outside the home, alone or in a group, morning or night.

It’s physical activity.

Yet despite the countless obvious and proven benefits, over half of the adults in the United States don’t participate in the recommended amount. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests that 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, at least five days per week is essential in order to maintain a healthy body, both physically and psychologically. Still, most Americans don’t bother to get up and get out. In fact, a report published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 24% of American adults are inactive during their free time.

This trend is not just affecting adults. Though often ignored because they are assumed to be healthy, college students are not immune to the damage inflicted by lack of exercise. In fact, current research is showing quite the opposite: college students are unhealthy.

A recent study of 937 students conducted at Ohio State University found that the majority of those surveyed were physically inactive or exercised irregularly.

The impact is being felt nationwide. An ongoing study at the University of New Hampshire showed that almost half of male students and almost 30% of female students are considered at least overweight. A report from the University of Albany revealed that 23% of subjects were overweight while 11% were obese.

The negative effects of physical inactivity are staggering. The recent rise in obesity has also increased the prevalence of many chronic disorders, such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Obese individuals also suffer psychologically, from social discrimination and decreased self-esteem.

The list goes on.

The heath problems that result from inactivity are well documented. The CDC has devoted an entire national health objectives program, called Healthy People 2010, to improving the health of Americans by the year 2010.

According to the report, a major problem is that most college students simply aren’t provided with accurate information. The CDC estimates that a mere 36% of university students were given facts about inadequate physical activity.

Compounding the limited instruction about the importance of physical activity is the ever-growing presence of the “obesigenic environment”. More and more, students are spending their time in front of the television or the computer, watching their shows and playing video games. This is not to mention the fast food joint at ever corner whose purpose seems to be to lure penniless, busy college students to buy cheap, quick and most importantly, unhealthy, food.

Just take a stroll up to the Bronco Mall: universities like Western Michigan are even incorporating fast food choices into their meal plans.

Nutrition aside, the main obstacles preventing students from actually partaking in physical activity itself are the lack of convenient facilities and the lack of safe environments in which to be active.

This is where colleges have the ability to fight back.

In the study conducted at Ohio State University, it was found that a major contributor to whether or not students exercise is their own self-efficacy: their motivation to participate despite complications or obstacles, such as the weather. Universities can help motivate students by providing them the opportunity to be active in a pleasant and convenient setting.

It hasn’t taken long for colleges in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference to catch on.

Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan is planning a $35 million dollar expansion to their physical education and athletic facilities. The hope is that by increasing in size and in resources, students, faculty, and staff will have more opportunities to focus on recreation and holistic health.

Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan has built extensive new athletic facilities and added numerous sports teams in an effort to recruit more student-athletes to the school. Adrian’s efforts have resulted in a higher student academic profile and an increased retention rate. The addition of active people to the college has even increased overall morale.

Kalamazoo College is not slow to follow suit, either. During the Spring Quarter Campus Forum, President Eileen Wilson-Oyelaran announced that the next capital campaign for the college will be for a new, upgraded fitness facility. The facility, comprising the current natatorium and the open area just to the east of it, would feature a brand new, 50-meter Olympic-size swimming pool, a number of new dance and yoga studios, and an auxiliary gym for intramural and student use.

The most important step, though, is to educate students about the importance of regular physical activity so that they may make informed choices about becoming and staying active.

This is where Kalamazoo College fell behind. A Nutrition course is offered to students only once per year and required physical education credits only span five of a student’s 10 or more quarters on campus. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, this is just not enough.

And, all it takes is 30 minutes.

**This is not quite 1,000. I have been trying since the end of last week to get the interviews I wanted to start with, but unfortunately with my busy Triathlon planning schedule, I couldn't meet with anyone before I needed to post this. The interviews are now set up, so I will be doing some extensive reportage during the revision period to fill this in. I'm hoping my workshop group will be able to guide me in that process!

Profile: Final Draft

Reliving a Legacy

by Jenny Thomson

Bruce Johnson, K’76, doesn’t walk anymore. He limps.

A recent knee surgery attempting to reverse years of strain left him with a slightly impaired gait.

He still bikes and swims. He is still active at Gazelle Sports, the store he co-founded in downtown Kalamazoo, where he is forced to master a set of stairs each time he travels between the store on the first level and his office above.

He doesn’t talk about it, except to explain why he needs someone to run for him in this year’s Kalamazoo College Triathlon.

“I can bike and swim, but I can’t do the run,” Johnson said.

The Triathlon is an event he looks forward to every year. He won in 1989.

This year, he won’t be able to participate.

Worse still, Johnson can’t play the sport he loves, his passion. It is the same sport that took his knee from him so early, the same that left him a legacy at ‘K’. Ultimate Frisbee.

Johnson’s Frisbee legacy began the summer before he arrived at ‘K’ when he bought a bus ticket to Atlantic Mine, Michigan. Traveling 14 hours to the heart of the Keweenaw, he was attracted to the International Frisbee Tournament.

The event hosted teams from all over the country, as far as California and Boston. People competed in Guts Frisbee and throwing and accuracy events. They also competed in Ultimate.

“There were these guys there from Maplewood, New Jersey. I remember they had these shirts on that said CHS – Columbia High School. These were the guys that invented Ultimate. It seemed like a cool game, so I learned to play,” Johnson said

He had the right idea. A couple guys donning maroon and gold – Calvin College colors – learned to play with him.

Johnson hitchhiked back to ‘K’ with Ultimate on his mind.

He became passionate about starting an Ultimate team. For him, nothing was better than playing a team sport in which he got to use his running ability.

“It looked a lot like running. From the standpoint of running, I can do better than most people. I loved to throw a Frisbee, so to combine my passion of Frisbee throwing with a sport I was good at – I mean, you’re going to like something you’re good at.”

At first, no one knew who he was.

“At a freshman dorm meeting,” Johnson remembers, “I made an announcement that I was starting an Ultimate Frisbee team. I told anyone who wanted to play to stop by my dorm. Later, in the middle of the night, this guy came and knocked on my door – probably drunk, you know – and yelled ‘Hey Frisbee guy, I wanna sign up for your game! Hey Frisbee I wanna play!’ The nickname just stuck.”

Soon, “Fris” was notorious across campus for the Ultimate team and for the discs he bought and sold to students from his usual spot on the quad. The Ultimate Frisbee team kept practicing, and was finally ready, Johnson thought, for a game.

He contacted those guys from Calvin, and ‘K’ played the first Midwestern Ultimate Frisbee game versus Calvin College at Angell Field.

He doesn’t even have to think twice about the date. It was the summer of 1974.

His passion for Frisbee continued throughout his four years at ‘K’. In 1975, Ultimate Frisbee was offered as a physical education credit during the since terminated summer quarter.

Johnson encouraged people to play Frisbee whenever, wherever, and however they could.

“Frisbee golf, the most popular Frisbee sport here at K, is simple,” he wrote in The Index in 1975. “Just pick a tree or a sign, give it a par, and you’re in business. There’s even a 36 hole course here around campus.”

Despite his excellent reputation at ‘K’, Johnson couldn’t find his niche after he graduated in 1976.

When the owner of the local sports store he worked at was looking to sell, Bruce offered to buy.

“I got the loan, and then the owner decided he wanted $5,000 more. I quit on the spot.”

Johnson was stuck. He didn’t want to work at a corporate store that didn’t care about its customers. He wanted to sell the stuff he knew best – sports gear – at a local place where patrons could get quality service.

His persistence paid off. Gazelle Sports was born.

More than 30 years later, Johnson continues to be passionate about athletics at ‘K’.

Through Gazelle Sports, he sponsored one of the “4 and Forever” events and donated – more than once – toward the Homecoming 5K and the Triathlon. The Gazelle sports logo is sported by students all across campus on T-shirts acquired at these events.

“I could tell Bruce was one of those who really enjoyed his time at ‘K’,” said Heather Jach, a Major Gifts Officer at the college. “He is very concerned about his own community, and is willing to do something about it.”

Though he can no longer play himself, Johnson has stayed invested in the Ultimate team.

“I first met [Johnson] when he came to see us play at practice,” said Kyle Shelton, one of the team captains. “He just stood to the side and watched us play. And he got us our jerseys at wholesale, which was pretty cool.”

But most people don’t know how Ultimate at ‘K’ got started, or that the first Ultimate game west of Pennsylvania was played here, or that the Disc Golf course actually has 36 holes. For most ‘K’ students, Johnson’s legacy lives on silently.

“I guess passion is the legacy I left there,” he said.

It is a passion that is evident in everything he recounts. His story lets others relive that legacy. But few, besides those like Jach and Shelton, have had the privilege to hear it.

“Stories go so far,” Jach stressed. “People sharing their experiences help us relate to each another. Stories are such a great part of what happens, but we don’t use that to our advantage, because people want to hear them, including me.”

Mass Extinction: Response

The first thing I noticed about the article in Mother Jones by Julia Whitty was that it didn't seem to follow any of the narrative lines described by Blundell in our reading for this week. I suppose that the entire story follows a common theme - that of the looming possibility of a mass extinction - but many of the topics and the flow of time in the narrative weren't well planned. I didn't like how the mountainous area near the U.S.-Mexico border was brought up at the beginning and then again after the discussion of the deep sea divers. This seemed disjointed to me and I was constantly having to stop and assess where I should orient myself. I think this piece could have benefited from Blundell's advice that a block progression line works really well a lot of the time. Since this piece involves so much from so many different sources, angles, contexts and scenes, I think that it would have been wiser to keep all the information about the same place together in the story.

What I did like about this piece was its focus on science. I thought the writer did a great job of explaining biological systems and concepts, using metaphors to describe the way species relate to one another. Although she did use a few technical terms, I think that overall the texts explained the concepts well enough for any non-science lovers to get a good idea of what the piece was trying to get across. I agree that it is hard to get at the 'emotional heart' of something if that 'something' is about science. What emotion is there in something so concrete? I think that by describing in a lot of detail and painting an elaborate and accurate picture of the issue, Whitty got across the emotional aspect of the story as she intended. After reading, I felt a sense of loss and a sense of urgency to act. I also liked how she brought in the issue of border patrol and building a border securing-fence and how that affects the heart of the issue. I really liked the idea that, "All the new fence will really arrest is the flow of nature's immigrants." This is definitely a big, messy story, attacking the problem from a variety of angles and providing all the information necessary.

I recognized the lede was anecdotal. It brought me into the story well, and by the end, I had a good idea of what the piece would be about. I found the kicker a bit too editorial, and I wonder if the piece wouldn't have been better if the author had left the 'I' out of it, and only brought up 'we' in the sense of 'we human beings' as a species. I agree with Lauren that the writer should have maybe removed herself from the writing process.

I, too, admire this piece's complexity. Good find, Lauren!

Ria Cortesio: Response

I wanted to respond to this feature story because it was the most interesting, in my opinion. I think I can always relate to a story about a woman in a non-traditional sports setting, and looking closely at a piece of writing is much more interesting for me if I enjoyed the narrative. I also thought that Roger make a great analysis in his post and I wanted to build on some of the things that he brought up.

First, I thought the lede was a fairly interesting anecdote, but it definitely could have had some more "umphf" to it. What it did do, though, was give a good introduction to character and theme. I always appreciate stories getting to the meat more quickly.

I also think the nut was interesting enough. It adds substance to the story to flash forward to Ria's possible future as a major-league umpire. However, it seems like somewhat of a stretch to me at the same time. I wonder, would there be a story there if the writer didn't reach so far for a newsworthy theme? Nonetheless, as I said in the first paragraph, the subject matter is interesting to me, and I was again glad to see the writer get to the point so quickly.

The middle moves well, and the only major flaws in structure I could point out were the *maybe* important details that seemed to be out of place (as Roger commented on his blog). For example, the story explaining her wry sense of humor doesn't really seem to fit where it is inserted. It is an interesting and telling anecdote, but the placement could have been more carefully scrutinized. I was also pleased throughout the piece with the many sources interviewed on the subject. The quotes were decently placed and worked well in the narrative. It might have been interesting, though, to explore the other side of the story: people that think that only men should be out on the field. I also liked how the specifics of how one becomes an umpire were incorporated into the piece. For me, fact is a good edition to pieces like this, and kept my attention steady just before the turn.

The kicker, like the lede, is interesting enough, but could have been spiced up as well. It ends on another theme that wasn't touched on during the piece: that of women role models for young girls, especially in sports and positions where women aren't that prominent or noticed. I don't think it fits in with the tone and theme of the piece to bring something like that in right at the end, so the kicker should have ended on a different note.

Overall, the piece worked fairly well for me. The short paragraphs, brief anecdotes, and well-placed quotes kept the narrative moving along smoothly. The "parts" of the narrative were clearly laid out in an organized structure that was easy to follow. For me, the piece wasn't as "big" or "messy" as I imagined a "big, messy story" would be. This seemed more like a profile at times. It would be interesting to hear other peoples' thoughts on the issue; specifically, what could have been done to make the piece more "big" and "messy"?

Profile: Writing Process

I found the writing process to be actually somewhat fun! Since we finished class on Thursday, I was not looking forward to reportage and writing before the deadline Tuesday. I had a million things to do this past weekend (as always) and I honestly wasn't sure that I would be able to fit everything in. But, I tried my hardest, and I got into quick contact with Bruce and set up some times when I could observe and/or interview him. I was able to conduct two interviews with Bruce and an interview with Heather, from the Office of Advancement, before I sat down to write. I was scared at first that even though I got some good interviews, I still didn't really have a theme for my story. I got the idea to talk to Heather from a whim that I should take the story in that direction, and I think that it was a good idea to trust my instincts.

I still wasn't looking forward to writing, though!

The task seemed quite daunting when I was staring at my notes, which ended up amounting to over 10 pages. I tried to create an outline, as Jon Franklin suggested, but from what I had, I couldn't find a problem and a resolution (or at least I thought I couldn't find one). So I ended up just reading over my notes one more time and then sitting down to write. Surprisingly, the words came quickly, and I recognized a theme for myself after only a few minutes. From there, I thought that everything came together really well, despite the fact that I didn't have an outline. I could tell I was writing toward a common theme, which kept me going. I finished the piece and was happy with what I wrote as a draft.

I am looking forward to workshop because I got so much excellent feedback last time.

Profile: First Draft

Reliving a Legacy

by Jenny Thomson

“Have you heard the story about the runner guy?” Bruce Johnson asks me, smiling.

“No, I haven’t,” I reply. “What runner guy?”

It’s 7:00 AM on a Saturday morning, and Bruce, Kalamazoo College alumnus and Co-founder of Gazelle Sports, recruited me to help him set up the “world’s longest aid station”. The Borgess Half-Marathon is this morning, and 2,000 runners are going to be rejuvenated, resuscitated, and reenergized as they speed by mile three hidden somewhere along the Kalamazoo Mall.

Bruce is obviously used to this, because I yawn as he gives me one of those life lessons that is sneakily concealed in a story about “some guy”.

From what I gather, “some guy” started running in his late 30’s or early 40’s. He was a decent runner for his age, achieving 32 minutes for ten-kilometers. As he got older, he became slower, so he stopped running. He figured that if he couldn’t run fast, he shouldn’t run at all.

Bruce Johnson, I realized, is still running. Despite the fact that he recently underwent knee replacement surgery, he planned on loading eight banquet tables and sixteen jugs of water into a van himself. He never doubted that he could do it. The “world’s longest aid station” is a Borgess tradition, a legacy started by Gazelle Sports and maintained by Bruce and numerous volunteers.

Bruce Johnson knows from experience, you can’t forget a legacy. You have to keep telling your story until everyone knows it.

Bruce’s legacy began in the summer of 1973 when he bought a bus ticket to Atlantic Mine, Michigan. Traveling 14 hours to the heart of the Keweenaw, Bruce was attracted to the International Frisbee Tournament, hosted there since 1958.

Something must have caught his attention to drag him close to 500 miles, to a little known town, to attend a little known event, to participate in a little known sport.

The tournament was started by a local family, who, horsing around with a Pluto Platter flying disc, invented the game of Guts Frisbee. The cutthroat game pins two teams opposite each other, each one zipping the Frisbee at the other. Teams score by making a difficult throw that isn’t caught. Scoring is prevented when the receiving team catches the disc.

The event hosted teams from all over the country, as far as California and Boston. Besides Guts, people competed in throwing and accuracy events. They also competed in Ultimate. That was what really got Bruce excited.

“There were these guys there from Maplewood, New Jersey. I remember they had these shirts on that said CHS – Columbia High School. These were the guys that invented Ultimate. At that time, Ultimate was only played on the east coast. It seemed like a cool game, so I learned to play.”

Bruce had the right idea. A couple guys donning maroon and gold – Calvin College colors – learned to play with him. They kept in touch, and Bruce hitchhiked home with Ultimate on his mind.

He kept in touch with those guys from Calvin, and Kalamazoo CollegeCalvin College at Angell Field. played its first game versus

Bruce does some quick math to figure out the date. I can’t believe he remembers. It was the summer of 1974.

After returning from study abroad in Munster, Germany, Bruce changed his major.

“I was on campus for five quarters in a row. I only got to go home for a day or two. It was really hard.” Never one to miss an opportunity, Bruce used his presence on campus to recruit freshmen for the Ultimate team.

Little did he know that his recruiting efforts would soon pay off.

In 1979, Bruce attended the wedding of one of his younger recruits. He sat down at a table, and everyone moved away, except for one girl – the groom’s sister. They got to talking. She worked at The Athlete’s Shop in Ann Arbor.

Once again, Bruce didn’t miss the opportunity. He called her soon after the wedding and set up a visit to Ann Arbor. He spoke with her store manager and dropped off his résumé.

They called him on Monday and offered him assistant manager.

Bruce was there for four months before the stores were sold. Knowledgeable about running and retail, Bruce was eventually put in charge of the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids stores, now under new ownership.

When the owner was looking to sell, Bruce offered to buy the store.

“I got the loan, and then the owner decided he wanted $5,000 more. I quit on the spot.”

Scoffing the possibility of working at MC Sports or another corporate store, Bruce began brainstorming. His friends wanted to buy their gear at a local store that had good service. He knew he could deliver. At that moment, Gazelle Sports was born.

Through Gazelle Sports, Bruce ensures that legacy can continue at Kalamazoo College. You would be hard-pressed to find a student on campus who doesn’t know about Gazelle’s. The store’s logo is sported by students all across campus on T-shirts acquired at different college-sponsored events.

“I could tell Bruce was one of those who really enjoyed his time at ‘K’,” says Heather Jach, a Major Gifts Officer at the college. “He is very concerned about his own community, and is willing to do something about it.”

But legacies aren’t just monetary.

“Stories go so far. People sharing their experiences help us relate to each another. Stories are such a great part of what happens, but we don’t use that to our advantage, because people want to hear them, including me,” Jach said.

Bruce’s story has lasted, even today. The Ultimate team can be seen practicing almost every day. Students are often spotted tossing discs across Academy, hoping to make par on one of the campus’s Disc Golf holes – the very same that Bruce set up 30 years ago.

“Passion is the legacy I left there,” Bruce says.

It is a passion that is evident in everything he recounts. Bruce’s story helped me relive his legacy. And, he loves to tell it. You should listen.