How to Fix Hope

We have been talking about the Hope Scholarship a lot lately in class, offering suggestions from others, but I have not offered any of my own.

My dad and I were talking the other day about to fix Hope and he said creating more winners in the areas that buy them the most. That way they will win their money back. I thought that was interesting, because we came up with the same suggestion in class. I live in a urban community outside of Atlanta, and we see a lot of people at the gas station playing scratch offs constantly. Even scratching off old scratch offs to see if they are the lucky winners.

However, no one has ever won in my community, besides me. I won $50 from a scratch off I received at Christmas time and $25 another time. But no one has one any of the big tickets, and I think if someone did, it would boost my communities moral. Also, maybe Georgia needs to get off of its high horse and build casinos. The lottery is a form of gambling, so building a casino won't hurt.

Also, I think more money should be put in Hope. Only a small percentage goes into the scholarship, so it would be nice if more money went into its funding. Also, I am confused about how the scholarship is losing money if people who attend college lose the scholarship within the first year. I am one of the fortunate ones, I am def. not the norm.

I think fixing the scholarship is tricky, but I hope someone comes up with a solution fast. I am interested in seeing how this all plays out in the next few years.

Armstrong's new smoking policy

At the beginning of the semester, we were assigned to write three papers throughout the semester regarding local, state, and national issues. Before I settled http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifwriting my first paper about Atlanta's transit system, I was trying to decide between that and the new smoking ban on campus, which will start in August.

Last year, I was sent an email with a survey regarding the current smoking policy at Armstrong. I believe that people are not allowed to smoke inside the buildings, but can smoke outside 20 feet away. Though, I am not a smoker and I am not passionate about this issue, I do feel bad for the people who smoke.

Before I talk about why, I would like to give some background information provided by my school's newspaper The Inkwell.

According to the article, around 2010, The Georgia Smoker Free Air Act prohibits smoking in any building--including private offices--owned, leased or operated by any department in the state of Georgia.

In 2010, Armstrong's faculty Senate passes resolution to form a committee of faculty. staff and students to explore adoption of a smoke-free campus. Also, the Student Government Association (SGA) passes resolution to support adoption of establishing smoking stations prohibiting smoking in all other areas around campus.

In 2011, the city of Savannah enacts smoking ordinance which prohibits smoking within 10 feet of all businesses. And shortly after, Armstrong's Tobacco Task Force sends out a survey: the majority of participants were in favor of designated favors for smokers.

In 2012, President Bleicken sends a campus-wide email, declaring Armstrong a smoke-free campus.

To be honest, though I took the survey, I did not know Armstrong would actually become a smoke-free campus. While I don't smoke, I have friends who do, and I feel as though I do not have the right, especially to an adult, to tell them how they should live their lives. I also don't believe Armstrong should medal in the health of others, because it is simply not their place. Armstrong is a learning institution, people come to this university to learn, not have someone scold them on their health.

Also, I don't see the point in the original survey, if the president already made her decision. Don't ask for others opinions and act like you will take their vote into consideration, and then you don't. The president always wanted a smoke-free campus and just should have made it one.

I hope this issue encourages students to take more of a stand on future issues. I have no problem with people who smoke, especially if they are smoking outside. As long as it is not indoors, smoke away.

Hope Scholarship

To continue our discussion about the Hope Scholarship, I wanted to post a video from My Fox Atlanta. The reason I stayed in Georgia was because I received Hope, and now students attending college after may have to find other means to attend school.

HOPE Scholarship Faces Uncertain Future: MyFoxATLANTA.com

Let me know what you think.

Covering Public Affairs

For the past few weeks, we've discussed local government coverage and the challenges covering local government may bring. But before diving into that topic, let's look at the role/goals of the government reporter.

Some roles include, but are limited to: present news (facts), events, be objective, dig up dirt, promote the city, and present solutions. Which are all valid goals/ roles and I believe there is a time and place for everything.

I think the main issue with covering local affairs here at the local level is that there are new many branches, too many identities. For example, the Savannah Chatham Public School System is its own separate entity. Why? If funding is coming from the same pot, why separate it? Savannah is too small of a city, for all these different branches.

I think reporting becomes confusing, because the reporter has to separate all of the information even if it is under the umbrella of local government. I remember, Scott, who is originally from Waycross, GA and mentioned how Waycross consolidated its government and the huge uproar it caused, especially racial uproar.

Maybe since the city of Savannah is mostly African American, but Chatham County is mostly Caucasian, there could be different branches not wanting to associate with other branches, which makes reporting difficult, but race is never easy to report about, then you are accused of only reporting about race.

Lastly, since there is not unity, there are different personalities of different branches and information maybe taking out of context or become misconstrued, because no one is on the same page, causing the the reporter to get the run around when covering a story and the story ending up being bigger than it actually is.

At the end of the day, there is no unity, which makes it hard to make decisions if every branch is doing their own thing.