Nov
22
Journalism in Mexico: a dangerous profession
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I heard this interesting story on NPR about journalism in Mexico. The country is one of the most dangerous places to be a journalist. Five journalists have been killed so far this year, and many receive death threats. Crime reports are no longer published with bylines, and there is no in-depth reporting. Yet reporters continue to do their jobs. As one journalist said, “I’m addicted to journalism.”
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97331417
-Anna
Nov
22
We want to know what you think! Comment on this week’s staff editorial.
Today is Julia Child Day, one of many holidays and traditions that are unique and personal to Smith. Julia represents only one of numerous notable alums that we pay homage to throughout the year, and today we celebrate her through a uniquely “Smith” event. Smith works hard to sell itself as a college laced in tradition, legacy and pride. While at times this seems like another collegiate attempt at recruiting new students, Smith should be applauded for its continued dedication to preserving beloved Smith traditions.
The Sophian would like to note, however, that the college itself can only be held accountable for so much.
Otelia Cromwell Day is famous for its low attendance, and many Smith students take the afternoon free of classes to catch up on sleep instead of honoring an integral figure of Smith’s legacy as a college that prides itself on its diversity and dialogue. Rally Day is usually reserved for seniors who cannot wait another moment to wear their graduation gowns, but again is often taken gratefully as a half-day break for the rest of the student body. Even Julia Child Day is usually only attended because we all have to eat sometime – and the French cuisine is not a bad draw.
In recent years, however, it seems that the administration is taking more of an interest in increasing turnout at these events. They have added famous and inspirational speakers and notable alumnae to the guest lists and started house contests based on attendance. The administration is even unveiling a new school spirit mark in the coming days, after learning most Smith students do not quite consider themselves proud “Pioneers” anymore.
The overflowing Otelia Cromwell crowd this year was unprecedented, and Rally Day numbers have also been showing a steady increase in recent years. Even though Convocation was still a ruckus, the threats to cancel the event did not materialize. We struck a balance between the respectful tradition the administration asked for and our own spin on things, and in turn added to the legacy that makes Smith College the institution that we are so proud to attend. The Sophian applauds the administration’s attempts to increase interest in our own traditions and continually honor our many impressive alumnae. These traditions strengthen and reinforce our unique Smith identity; particularly, events honoring our alumnae, such as Julia Child Day, reveal that our time at Smith will influence the rest of our lives – and we could all use a reminder of this now and then.
Nov
13
Sophian Offices Clean-Out
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What: Cleaning our offices so that we can replace some furniture and get more organized.
Where: Capen Annex
When: Sunday, Nov. 16, 1-3p.m.
Nov
13
Staffers of the Week
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Michelle Steiner and Kelly Dagan for their dedication to copy editing.
Amy Yee for being an awesome sports editor.
Congratulations to everyone! If you have a nomination for staffer of the week, E-mail sophian@email.smith.edu.
Nov
12
Staff Editorial 11/23
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We want your feedback on our staff editorial this week! What do you think about Proposition 8? Do you agree with the Sophian?
While most of the country celebrated Barack Obama’s historic win as president-elect of the United States last week, many Americans were dealt a very personal blow on election night.
The Sophian would like to pay due attention to the irony that during the very same election that the United States selected a black man to serve as our president and consequently celebrated this as a testament to the end of racial prejudice, Americans in four states voted to take rights away from another group of Americans. Ballot measures in California, Florida, Arizona and Arkansas banned homosexual couples either from marrying or from adopting children.
It is tragic that the country can be so deluded by homosexual prejudice that it can recognize the ludicrousness of the previous ban on interracial marriage just a few decades ago, but not realize that millions of homosexual Americans are suffering the same prejudicial situation as interracial couples did 40 years ago.
Proposition 8 in California and the corresponding initiatives in other states are testament to the blindness that comes with prejudice. Americans can congratulate themselves for being able to look beyond skin color when it comes to electing a president, but concurrently have taken direct action to ensure that the rights of an entire demographic of Americans are denied based only on their sexual preference.
The Sophian believes not only that the passage of these initiatives is based in prejudice but that they are also unconstitutional, violating gay Americans’ rights to marry based on the religious beliefs of certain groups. It is unconstitutional to write religion into a state constitution, and barring homosexuals from their right to marry would be doing so. It is our hope that the Supreme Court realizes this, and that Americans everywhere begin to recognize that just as the interracial marriage laws of our country’s past were unconstitutional and based in hateful prejudiced notions, so would be constitutional bans against the rights of homosexual couples.
Nov
11
I saw this on the Smith eDigest and thought it sounded relevant to those interested in media and new technology:
“Net Work: the Web as Playground and Factory — On Tuesday November 11, Trebor Scholz will be presenting a lecture in Graham Hall at 7 p.m. Trebor grew up in East Berlin and is currently based in New York where he works both collaboratively and individually as an artist, media theorist, activist, and organizer. He is the founder of the Institute for Distributed Creativity (iDC). In 2005 he organized Share, Share Widely and in 2006 Architecture and Situated Technologies (with Omar Khan, Mark Shepard). He is the founder and facilitator of the iDC mailing list. He is Assistant Professor at the New School.”
According to the iDC’s website, “The research of the Institute for Distributed Creativity (iDC) focuses on collaboration in media art, technology, and theory with an emphasis on social contexts.”
Sounds interesting–hope to see you there!
Elizabeth
Nov
2
January Term Journalism Courses
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Over January term, Smith is offering some courses on Writing Nonfiction that are kind of related to journalism.
The Art of the Personal Profile: taught by Patricia Petro; meets Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00-10:30, January 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22
Writing from the Self: taught by Judith Hooper; meets Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 2:30-4:00, January 13, 15, 16, 20, 22, 23
Nature Writing: taught by Sam Samuels; meets Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 1-2:30, January 13, 15, 16, 20, 22, 23
Food Journalism: taught by Chip Brantley; meets Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10:30-12:00, January 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22
Culminated with Q & A on Writing Nonfiction with Alexandra Fuller, Thursday, January 22, 4-5 PM, Seelye 207.
For more information: http://www.smith.edu/jacobsoncenter/writing/writingcourses/wtg100.php
(Thanks to Maggie for the information!)
Nov
2
Christian Science Monitor Gives Up Print Edition
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Last week, the Christian Science Monitor announced that it would move from a daily print edition to an online-only publication with a weekend magazine. It is the largest newspaper so far to give up on print. Editor John Yemma described the move as, “a leap that most newspapers will have to make in the next five years.” In as little as five years, will we no longer have print publications?