Cait and her boyfriend ran the 5K race to support the fight against breast cancer. Here is what I documented from the event. Enjoy.

The OWS Web site provides information on grammar, punctuation usage, includes over 300 exercises with answer keys and a series of 13 self-teaching units. The site is free for all students, available 24-hours and includes links to additional resources on and off campus.

“It began on a very small level in 2003, but it has grown exponentially over the years,” Margaret Benner, director of the writing support program and manager of the site, said.

The site has already received over 330,000 hits from viewers since 2004. A 24-hour hotline was added, which can be accessed from the homepage. It allows people to send in their questions.

“I guarantee them I will get back to them within 24 hours, and I do,” Benner said. “This is used not just by Towson University students, but by people all over the world.”

However, there is one issue that may keep her from accomplishing her future goals for the site.

“In 2005, the University updated the home page at www.towson.edu,” Matt Wynd, director of information technology support centers, said. “The focus was directed to include fewer items in order to improve readability and navigation of the site. The Online Writing Support link was one of more than 50 direct links that were not included in the updated homepage.”

Microsoft FrontPage is a web offering program that the University’s home page supported. David Dayton, assistant professor in the English department, who has been trying to help Benner find a solution since last spring, explained that this system was built using WebBots throughout its framework.

Benner’s over 300 interactive quizzes use these Microsoft-specific WebBots, which means, according to Dayton, once the server discontinues supporting the system, her quizzes will be useless.

The Center for Instructional Advancement and Technology has been working with Benner and the College of Liberal Arts to help find a solution and research ways of adapting the site to current technologies.

“The goal was to find the best process for allowing Dr. Benner to create and update interactive exercises on her Web site without the need for higher level web skills,” Wynd said.

The OWS Web site still aims to remain a useful tool for any student writing a paper or just curious about the basics of grammar. Benner feels that her online material is beneficial to students and offers them several resources to improve their writing skills.

“These are self-based interactive quizzes students use to enhance their knowledge,” Dayton said.

Terry Cooney, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, said he expects the site will continue to run for students’ use for the remainder of the academic year, but there is no exact timeframe to when FrontPage will be removed.

He discussed with OTS the possibility of going outside of the University to find software that would make the site work, but was given an estimated cost of about $50,000 to pay for the software and hire an expert to re-code the site.

“We would like to explore by talking with other vendors for other options,” Cooney said.

Article originally published in The Towerlight

URG Table by Ana Martinez Chamorro-The Towerlight

If you’re a resident on campus, you may already be familiar with Towson’s University Residence Government that makes up the governing body of the residence halls on campus.

URG members fill the positions of residence hall building councils and aim to host programs throughout the year, enhance community centers, divvy out supplies and try to be a voice for residents.

“Our initiatives include promoting diversity, increasing school spirit, green initiatives, promoting URG, and advocating to residents to our fullest capability,” Matt Sikorski, president of URG, said.

With a new URG executive board taking charge, several events and initiatives are in store to make changes that they hope will benefit residents. Programming and advocacy are two of their main goals.

“Our main [goal] is to build community within the residence halls through our programming as well as the building council,” Sikorski said.

Building council is one of the first steps many of them take for leadership opportunities to meet different leaders and administrators and gain higher positions on campus. According to Chris Guzman, director of special projects, he found being a part of URG is a great way to meet people, get involved and still have fun connecting with people.

“We try to program for everyone. One of our initiatives this year is to start including diversity by cooperating with other groups on campus to program even better,” Guzman said.

URG’s texting service has just started up as one initiative this year. This allows residents to text concerns or issues they are having. It is also a tool that URG executives are using to announce events on campus. So far approximately 120 people are signed up and it has already made an impact.

One text was sent out about “The Price is Right” event and it drew a crowd of about 400 people. The 72-hour film festival last year also opened up to commuters being involved in URG events.

“We’re really looking for bigger scale goals and we can reach those through our individual programming,” Sikorski said.

Another initiative for URG is to increase school spirit. Sikorski said this year; they will be keeping track of residents that attend Towson’s football games and tracking the percentages from each residence hall. The winning building will have a huge party thrown for them, which will include raffles and free prizes.

Mark Droter, director of recognition, said he tries to keep up this school spirit and positive energy by looking for opportunities to get residents recognized for their achievements. “Of The Months” allow students to submit their OTM for someone they think deserves this type of recognition.

“He’s the glue that holds our executive board together because he is always the positive one and that’s something you really need,” Guzman said of Droter.

Sikorski said anyone could be involved in URG by attending the general assembly meetings held every Tuesday in the Chesapeake Room I, 7 – 9 p.m., to voice input or concerns to the board, or discuss the programs. They want to make sure residents are being included in as much as they can in order to benefit their riences on campus.

“We have a lot of deep rooted traditions and we’re really starting to bring them back as well as start our own,” Sikorski said.

Article originally published in The Towerlight

Three Towson University students are sacrificing these summer pastimes to keep the waters safe as they watch through tinted shades.

Photo by Eric Gazzillo, The Towerlight

Towson junior Samantha McElvaney is an education major and member of the field hockey team. She is also a surf rescue technician in Ocean City, Md.

The average day for McElvaney begins with morning workouts, to which she always brings her buoy, whistle, medical kit and radio.

“Beach patrol is nothing like pool guarding and you’re always working out,” McElvaney said.

“It keeps you in shape… and you meet so many people living down here for the summer.”

McElvaney said preparation to be certified is often an extensive and thorough process in which you learn CPR, first aid basics,and the “Hawaiian Swing,” a maneuver used to aid someone with a broken neck and prevent causing any further damage.

This is McElvaney’s second year as a lifeguard.

Eighty percent of swimmers fall victim to “active drowning,” or getting caught in a rip current, McElvaney said.

Surf rescue technicians always have to be scanning the water and keeping an eye on other guards in case they may need assistance on a save as part of their “coverage system.” According to McElvaney. She averages about five rescues a week.

Photo by Eric Gazzillo, The Towerlight

Sophomore Chris Bateman is a lifeguard at York Manor Swim Club in Timonium.

Although he said he’s never had to rescue anyone from anything serious, he has treated minor falls and frequently helps novice swimmers when in need of assistance.

As part of his training, he went through Red Cross certification and CPR classes as well as swimming exercises and lessons on how to approach victims. He has been a lifeguard for four years.

The 4th of July event is always a big deal for the community and members of the pool, who come to enjoy free beer, ice cream and a cookout all day.

“We have a greased watermelon, which we throw… in the middle [of the pool] and they have to take it to one side,” Bateman said.

“It’s my all-time favorite.”

The event often draws crowds in the hundreds, Bateman said. This means the lifeguards must be constantly alert and aware of their surroundings, even if everyone is there to have a good time.

Yet another lifeguard, Megan Ryan, is a sophomore mass communication major and also works at a pool: The Residence at Waterstone Luxury Apartments in Pikesville. She said her job is very relaxed, low maintenance and an ideal summer job for any student looking for something laid-back.

Being a lifeguard is an opportunity to hang out and get to know people every day.

Ryan has been a lifeguard for 15 years and although she also has not had to perform a rescue, she still thinks positively about it.

“I like to think I prevent these things before they happen,” Ryan said.

Sometimes, others are not so lucky. McElvaney said she still remembers one rescue that was particularly challenging.

“My worst rescue was a snapped ankle on the shore break, and it was a pretty big man, and I was carrying him out by myself, but you get an adrenaline rush and everything’s okay,” McElvaney said.

Whether they were certified two years ago or 15 years ago, these students continue to look out for the safety of others as they watch over waters this summer.

All three recommended it as a summer job.

“You have to have a passion for it, love the job, be sociable with the public, come out with a smile and be physically fit, of course,” McElvaney said.

“It’s a great job and I’ve always wanted to do it.”

Article originally published in The Towerlight

Campus Crusade for Christ’s worship team talks about their spiritual influences on the music they love and play at Towson University.

Courtesy photo

Joseph Peter Gutkoska, a prominent face on the Towson University campus for so many years, has passed away, leaving behind his stories and many accomplishments he has made on behalf of the University.

Gutkoska, a longtime professor and creator of Towson University’s reading clinic, died Tuesday at St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

He was 81 and a Korean War veteran, having served in the Army where he earned a bronze star for valor and three purple hearts.

“He was always very engaging as a teacher,” Karen Blair, assistant dean for the college of education, said.

In 1967, he joined what was formally known as Towson State University, where he served the next 27 years, as director of the masters in reading education program. He retired in 1994, but not before making an irreplaceable impact on the students and faculty there.

“By power of his personality, he got his graduate students to learn,” Blair said. “Most professors probably couldn’t make that happen, but that was his style and it worked beautifully for him and very effectively.”

Gutkoska established the TU Reading Clinic in 1968.

Blair said it has become an important service that the University provides the community, both on campus in the spring and fall semesters, and off campus in the summer.

Blair worked with Gutkoska for more than a decade, as a student and then as his assistant.

She said she had many stories of his teaching ethics and how much he connected with his students.

“My eye opener was when I was his student.

We had learned all kinds of different approaches, but I think that was the first time I had seen the power of your own persona in influencing students. He was just such a clear example of what we bring to the learning experience for students,” Blair said.

Sharon Pitcher, associate professor in educational technology and literacy, said Gutkoska was her advisor and teacher during the 1970s. During her semesters with him, she recalls the stories he always told about his ballroom dancing. Pitcher describes him in one word, unique.

“I still quote him in my own classes,” Pitcher said.  “He always had the cutting edge ideas that were practical.”

In October, the University celebrated the 40th anniversary of the masters in reading program.

People had a sense of Gutkoska through his assessments that are still being used today in the reading program.

“I didn’t realize his influence on faculty he had never met,” Blair said. “Everybody knew him because of the influence he had on the program. They got to meet the legend.”

Blair said she hopes Gutkoska will be remembered for benefiting the reading program at Towson University and the connection between the academic institution and the greater community.

Article originally published in The Towerlight

Burdick Gym was transformed into an atmosphere of peace on Sunday for the Your D.O.P.E event, hosted by Towson’s Alpha Phi sorority.

Students paid a $5 entrance fee to participate in an afternoon yoga program.

Vendors were set up to promote this idea of peace as well.

Herbal tonics, oils, raw foods, organic samples, yoga mats, yoga pants and T-shirts were all available.

“We’re hoping people will realize to take peace over violence and provide alternatives through yoga,” Nicole Ravettina, president of Alpha Phi, said.

The event’s proceeds will go to The Nicole Schiffman Foundation and The Carol Kestenbaum Foundation.

They were both set up to honor the memory of their lives and promote anti-violence and proactive lifestyles for children and teenagers all over the world.

Many of the officers of Alpha Phi helped in coordinating this event. Some even knew Nicole Schiffman personally, so this event hit a personal note for them.

“We want to gain awareness, help people feel good about themselves, have a good state of mind and not resort to violence.” Jennifer Gold, Alpha Phi officer and a close friend of Shiffman’s, said.

Sid McNairy, yoga instructor for Lifeline Power Yoga, agreed with Gold.

“This is Your Day of Peace Experience [was] created so college kids can have another avenue to release energy,” McNairy said.

Over the last three years, McNairy has traveled to college campuses to promote this atmosphere of peace through his program.

In 1996, he was a football coach at Northern Illinois University where he interacted with college athletes and students and was inspired to take this to the next level.

“We live in a world created and based on fear… It’s all about this fear of the future, but it’s really all about finding that peace in the moment,” McNairy said.

This event aimed to turn the tragedy that took the lives of Nicole Shiffman, who was a sophomore at University of Maryland, and Carol Kestenbaum, a sophomore at Arizona State University, on February 18, 2007, into a positive event of remembrance for everyone.

Rita Kestenbaum, Carol’s mother and founder of The Carol Kestenbaum Foundation, said when her daughter passed, she had to figure out what to do with all the energy within her.

“I wanted to do something good in her name,” Kestenbaum said. “I wanted to keep her beautiful spirit here with us.”

Article orginally published in The Towerlight

Khalid Srour, Tim Martin, Demar Pitter and Lindsey Newman, all either molecular biology, biochemistry or bioinformatics majors at Towson University, have started a petition to change the requirements back to the original standards based around GPA instead of class percentage. In this petition they are stating their arguments consisting of how this will negatively affect their futures, how this change has not been communicated properly to students and how this will be a disadvantage for students with “more rigorous” majors along with many others.  

“[The University doesn’t] communicate well with students at all,” Pitter said. “They said they didn’t have to put it in the catalogue, but they didn’t tell us until last fall. I saw on the Web site that they were changing the requirements and I was pretty pissed, but there was nothing I could do.”

Martin said he was frustrated with the University because he feels students are all being robbed of these honors.  He also said that it would be almost impossible for him, and others with similar majors, to even receive Cum Laude, whereas under the original requirements he would have received Summa Cum Laude.  In his opinion, each major has a different level of difficulty.  

Srour said Latin Honors are important if you’re going to graduate school or if you’re applying for a job with a future employer.  An ‘A’ student may not look like they were as hard of a worker without the official Latin Honors title on their transcript.

“Summa Cum Laude means with highest praise. Now they’re taking us, who’ve worked four years, we’ve worked so hard, and now they’re going to take that praise away from us,” Srour said.

Although these students said they assumed the catalogue was like their contract with the University, Cecilia Deems, director of graduation enrollment services, said it states in the disclaimer that the information in the catalogue may be amended at any time and does not constitute a contract.

Deems said that the University hopes this change will make getting Latin Honors more competitive and hopefully reduce grade inflation.

“Students are asking a lot of questions,” Deems said. “I would think for sure they’re not going to like it. Any change is hard.” 

Most students are saying they haven’t even heard of these changes.  

Deems said students were notified through mass e-mails that were sent out periodically, through the course catalogues since 2006 and on the school Web site, among others. 

Even with these announcements, there are still students who said they just found out this past fall about the change and said it wasn’t communicated to the entire student population very well.

“The problem for the graduation office is that the application process is ongoing, so you never have a moment in time when the class is tight,” Deems said. “So if I sent that e-mail today and you applied tomorrow, then you’re going to be upset because I didn’t tell you. So it’s very hard to make sure everyone knows, but we did our best to get it out in a variety of forms.”

Along with the change of requirements for Latin Honors, students will also not have their preliminary honors recognized in the commencement program, but instead will be notified by mail once the percentages have been calculated. 

Srour said he thinks with these changes, students who are applying to colleges and universities will see Towson’s new requirements and “will think ‘hey, it’s pretty tough to get honors in the first place, so why am I going to apply here?’” 

Srour said it will make it more competitive, but also asked if this should be at the cost of the student’s four-year education. So far, almost 150 students signed the petition in just five days. These students are trying to solidify their arguments before submitting it to the provost, and possibly the Student Government Association, before finals. 

“If all the University knows that we’re doing this, I’m pretty sure we’ll get a lot of signatures,” Srour said.

Article originally posted in The Towerlight

“You don’t see a camel on campus every day,” Weber said.

Photo by Matthew Sprague, The Towerlight

The event was co-sponsored by Hillel, Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, and Achot. The event focused on the culture and experiences of Israel. The day’s festivities included taking a ride on Malachi with a friend, as well as browsing the makeshift Shuk for jewelry or information on Towson’s Jewish organizations and Israel trip opportunities. The Shuk is an Israeli marketplace where individuals sell their own goods.

“There was a giant camel drawn in chalk outside the [Glen] Towers which brought me to the event,” sophomore arts major Natalie Goodmuth said.

Ilana Carduner, a member of Hillel, said that different parts of Israel’s culture were present at the event to represent different aspects of Israel. The Hillel organization at the University of Maryland, College Park hosted this event in the past and recommended bringing Malachi the camel to Towson’s campus from his animal park in Virginia.

According to Carduner students were quick to sign up for the camel ride, however “riding the camel is not my cup of tea,” she said.

Students also sampled sesame noodle salad or hummus. Students also tried out Dead Sea products, visited an archeological dig, and visited a mock exhibit of The Western Wall, where you could write a note and stick it in the wall to later be taken to Israel. Israel’s Independence Day originated from a moment in history when the British gave up Palestinian territory based on the U.N. charter. Now, this day is a time to embrace aspects of the Israeli culture.

“We’re hoping for overall a positive Israel promotion on campus. That’s one of the missions of all three of our Jewish organizations,” Matt Scher, event chair and coordinator said. “And we’re hoping that students can take away from this experience all the amazing aspects of the country that there are.”

Article originally published in The Towerlight

The panel included Andy Schotz, SPJ Ethics Committee Chairman, Paul Milton, Executive Editor of Patuxent Publishing, and Michelle Butt, News Director for WBAL-TV. Each gave their input on the state of today’s media and how ethics and credibility are being questioned by the general audience.

Why is there a need for the media to restore its credibility? “There are a variety of sources and types of media that audiences are getting their information from,” Schotz said. This includes blogs, podcasts, Wikipedia, late night entertainment, etc. By looking to these forms of media instead of sources like The New York Times or The Baltimore Sun, WBAL-TV or WJZ, we are allowing the credibility of journalism to become a blur.

Some bloggers or commentators like Bill O’Reilly talk like journalists, but are often just there for entertainment, not to give the general audience reliable facts on current news. Paul Milton said sometimes this can also be blamed on the media because there is competition to appeal to more audiences by telling them what they want to hear and sensationalizing news.

Are journalists to blame for the decline in media credibility?Currently, not as much time is dedicated to developing beats. Many reporters must branch out to photography, editing, fact-checking, etc. to fill in the gaps during this economic crisis. In a haste to put the information for their beat online, many reporters don’t even stop to question the credibility of their sources for their news. This may be another reason for the decline in media credibility because journalists are not being curious enough to see holes or biases in their own story.

Is network coverage credible if the audience only watches one or two networks? It is the audience’s job to be able to distinguish between national and international news. We shouldn’t blur them together when they appeal to different audiences and approach news differently. We need to be open to a variety of news networks in order to get a balanced look at the news and avoid biased network coverage.

“The ethical standards we place locally are so important, so different than what national news does…’cause we’re your neighbors, we’re your co-workers, we’re your friends, we’re in your carpool lines, and we’re behind the Girl Scout cookies. And our standard has to be different and our standard, frankly, has to be a little more human,” Butt said.

Towson University’s Society of Professional Journalists hosted this event led by Lori Aritani, a Poynter Ethics Fellow and reporter for the Washington Post.