Athletes in the Media

This is my view of how the ways athletes are covered in the media have changed. It is not so much about their performance in their sport anymore; today it is all about their personal lives. 

Michigan Economy Leaves High School Students College Dreams Broken

Ashley White, a high school senior, has Michigan State Spartan green bolting through her veins, but in an instant the excitement and blood stopped flowing when her mother told her she had no money to submit the application.

Ashley is not alone though, as many high school seniors in Michigan have had to alter their college choices because of the affects from the dreadful economy.

According to a Noria Corporations article, Michigan’s job losses from July 2000 to July 2008 percentage-wise are worse than U.S. job losses suffered during first eight years of the U.S. Great Depression from 1929-1937 and Michiganders are still waiting for a change. 

“What has changed is the number of kids who submit deposits to admissions” says Lucinda Briones, an Assistant Director of Admissions at MSU.

Applications are being sent in, but when students find out the price of even in-state tuition the only way to look is community colleges, which has seen an immense increase in attendance, according to an ABC News article.

“I would not be here (MSU) if it wasn’t for this scholarship I received” says Sarge Foley, a MSU senior “I would be sitting right next to my dad on the couch attending Oakland Community College”

The change in the economy in Michigan has caused stress for most if not all parents of high school seniors because their only hope is that they can send their child to their first choice. Without a college savings there is only financial aid to depend on and even that has underwent a decrease according to current MSU students.

“The economy has caused a slight decline in all aspects of admissions at State” said John Ambrose, the Associate Director of Admissions at MSU.

The economy has not only caused declines at MSU, the recent closing of 45 Detroit public schools in order to save money has also affected students and college admissions.

 “Detroit high school closing has affected admissions by at least 10 percent” said John Ambrose, the Associate Director  

Detroit was one of the cities hit the hardest by the “recession” and now it is the hands of Detroit’s Mayor Dave Bing and Michigan’s Governor elect Rick Snyder. 

Citizens of Michigan continue to hope for a change and turn around in the economy. These are hard times and even harder for those paying for college tuition along with the bills they have at home.

One good thing though, during this time that seems to be nothing, but bad is that universities are trying to help out more students, by getting them to apply and get accepted.

“No one has a leg up during these times and that is one of the reasons we offer waivers for our application, as long as the student can prove they deserve or need one because of their financial situation” said Ambrose.

Maybe things will look better for the upcoming new year and 2011 – 2012 school year. Those in the Admissions office at Michigan State are hopeful after receiving a more applications than they have in past two years.

Until then we can only keep students like Ashley in our heart and do what she does every night before she lays her head down for bed.

“Pray for a blessing every night,” said White.  

Is the Economy and College important to YOU?

Next story is covering how the economy is affecting admissions into Michigan State University. This story will show you how bad Michigan's economy really  is and how in some ways it has improved. Stay tuned because this affects you!

The Enemy is America

This is just my view of how the treatment of  Muslims in America has changed after the tragic events on September 11th.

Thanksgiving Parade 2010

There is more to Thanksgiving than being with family and food. We cannot fo get about the parade. Here is a quick view of the 2010 Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, Michigan.

Click to view slide show below:
http://www.slide.com/r/GEVljqhIsz-CIUKRpDD1lGjGBQf5JWjh?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Going Loco for Four Loko

Michigan State students have been piling out of local liquor stores with cases of what the Michigan Liquor Control Commission calls “blackout in a can”.

Thursday, November 5^th marked the day of the banning of the deadly caffeine and liquor mixed drink, Four Loko, from all stores around Michigan. The company was given 30 days to remove their product from every stores shelf, but it seems like college students are doing it for them.

“It tastes like a really really bad tasting energy drink, but I still love it because it is cheap and gets you messed up” said Matt Neitzel, MSU senior.

It is like banning Four Loko was the best thing that could have happen to company because within the past 18 days their sales have soared through the roof.

“Obviously if it was banned I wanted to try it. I mean if someone tells you not to look you’re going to look, so obviously I was going to try it” said Michael Chamas, MSU junior.

Four Loko comes in a colorful 23.5 ounce can making it seem like any other energy and alcohol mixed drink, but it is far from it. This one is extremely different because it has a 12 percent alcohol content and as much caffeine as a cup of coffee inside, leaving many student with terrible after affects.  

“I kind of felt hyper drunk. It was a drunkness I’ve never felt before. I just had a horrible crash afterwards” said Michael Chamas, MSU junior.

Case after case student continue to drink Four Loko and even after hearing stories of how bad it is and what has happen to others around the nation after taking it, it seems they will not stop until something awful happens to them personally.

“I have heard other people say their heart was hurting and other weird things with their body, but nothing I noticed. Always seemed like a regular intoxication” said Ben Mueller, MSU junior.

Students 21 and up only have 12 more days to enjoy the stomach turning caffeine and malt liquor drink, Four Loko. After December 5, 2010, there will be one less product on the market from causing sickness, alcohol poisoning, and even death. Until then Spartan students will have the same mindset they had before.

“Time to drink some more before they are all gone” said Michael Chamas, MSU junior.  

College Students going loco for Four Loko

College students around the nation have been going crazy for the alcoholic energy drink Four Loko. I am going to travel around MSU asking many different students about how they feel about the product, what they experienced while on the product, and what their first impression was after they heard it was being banned. Stay tuned this should be a good one.