If You Build it, They Will Come

Jennifer Iler

April 16, 2014

One public school’s arts academy is offering students a real chance to be the artist they want to be.

In a fiscally conservative state like South Carolina, arts are often one of the first things vetoed from state budget proposals every year. Gov. Nikki Haley is notorious for striking down funding for The South Carolina Arts Commission and education. School boards across the state are penny-pinching, pulling money to be used for teachers’ school supplies and allocating it elsewhere just to keep their programs running. Despite this, Goose Creek High School (GCHS), a public school located 25 minutes outside of Charleston, has a unique, blossoming arts program designed to give students specialized training in their desired field. And with no money in the budget set aside for the Berkeley Center for the Arts (BCA),  its success is astounding.

This is a stickup — Drop the punctuation!

“News, notes, stories, announcements, what do we got?” Nick Geary hollers above the dull roar of his freshman BCA creative writers. He slicks his shaggy brown hair behind his left ear and leans over his podium, carefully selecting which voice gets to pipe up first. A barrage of teen angst, drama and comedic accounts follows. Good writing, as Geary will tell you, doesn’t  begin when the pen touches paper. It stems from the gift and practice of telling stories, which is why every creative writing class he teaches, BCA or not, begins with story time.

The walls are covered by white boards and papers full of quotes by famous people, historical figures and original student words. His white board hasn’t been used for teaching in years; it’s covered in rainbow words that form the creative writing logo. 

During multiple writing exercises, Geary encourages each writer to vary the lengths of his or her sentences and attempt ignoring punctuation. He pushes them outside of their comfort zone by making them pick topics for each other to write about.

On the computers against the wall, senior BCA creative writers type away diligently on independent study projects. Geary spends significant amounts of time with each of these seniors to help them develop writing skills to his or her specific areas of interest — journalism, political writing, creative writing, screen plays, and others. Although time consuming, this one on one time is beneficial to the students, especially before graduation and declaring college majors.

The sight of them working is slightly different from what’s in Dorothy Smith’s freshman BCA drama class. Geary plays “Pale Blue Eyes” by The Velvet Underground softly in the background while his students work, but just one hallway over, Smith is rambunctious, loud, and everywhere at once.

A Doll’s House and a jacket pillow

Dorothy Smith is a teacher, actress, director and mother. Her high energy and melodic way with words inspires her students, BCA and regular, to appreciate the art of theatre and even  become thespians themselves. 

With two young kids and a “giant, man-child” of a husband, there’s no doubt she enjoys a good moment to sit down and soak in good theatre. What better way than to show her students clips of Patrick Garland’s 1973 version of A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen. Her students finished reading the play aloud and could analyze the different techniques Garland used as a director. 

They adjusted themselves across the room, getting comfortable as the lights dimmed and folded jackets to prop up their heads. Throughout the scene, a few students pointed out actors they’d seen before and scene changes that had been made.

Meanwhile, a group of five senior BCA students walked through the door, returning from the library after doing research on a makeup assignment. Senior Adriana Magalhães picked Frida Kahlo and her famous unibrow for her historical makeup transformation. Unfortunately, Magalhães admitted to having little makeup training, saying Smith’s attention is often split between the freshman and the seniors. 

“It’ll turn into a situation where I have to give my BCA students minimal instruction and then let them work on it on their own without my help, because I have 25 other drama kids and only four of those BCA kids,” Smith said.

The academy, however, has helped Magalhães realize that her original dream of directing doesn’t suit her as well as the stage. She now has experience in both fields, as well as costume and set design — everything colleges might expect of an incoming theatre major. This is exactly what the BCA is here to help students achieve.

From a “next step” program to a $2.1 million success

It all started rather quickly. Howe Hall AIMS (Arts Infused Magnet School), an elementary school near GCHS, was one of the first schools in the area to focus on arts programs to “enrich” students’ learning experience. Shortly after, Marrington Middle School of the Arts became the next step for arts students to continue their education. When those students transitioned to high school, however, there really wasn’t a place for that type of education. GCHS Principal Jimmy Huskey wanted to be the first arts academy in the area to offer them somewhere to go.

New GCHS athletic director Cynthia McBride served as the BCA advisor from the very beginning. She gathered the teachers to be involved in the academy, had them design curriculums for the multiple arts sections and placed it in front of the school board. Teachers pulled ideas to create programs and classes based on what colleges expected from arts students.

“It went like that,” she said, snapping her fingers.

In auditions, students tried out for dance, strings, choir, band, visual art, theatre and creative writing. The first class of BCA students attended Goose Creek in the fall of 2009.

This group of artists set the bar tremendously high for the next few classes in the program. They graduated last year with a total of $2.1 million in scholarship offers from some of the most prestigious universities in the nation. Not only is that stand-alone number astonishing, let me put it in perspective for you: Out of 346 graduating seniors with a total of $5.3 million in scholarship offers, 30 BCA students were offered almost half of that amount. With the only money for the program coming from McBride’s numerous fundraisers, the BCA’s success is somewhat of a Cinderella story. 

“I will not let it die,” she said. “You can’t cut a program where 30 students made $2.1 million.”

Bringing down the house

The 2014 Spring BCA Showcase Flappers and Fedoras was the perfect chance for a lot of new faces from the academy to shine. Guests packed the auditorium for the free show, which included live music, dance, theatre skits, and more. 

“We had people two-three deep along the back wall and all along the sides. It was unbelievable. It was packed.” McBride recalled. 

With the fire marshall turning guests away, McBride and the teachers realized that the next showcase could be a potential source of money for the program. Even charging just a few dollars for showcase tickets would help to put a little extra cash behind the academy.

“It’s hard not to recognize that we don't have the 'financial fortitude' that we'd like,” Geary said. “But we do know as a program that if we continue to work harder and continue to produce results, the gap between what we have and what we want will continue to shrink.”

It’s as if the first batch of artists got the ball rolling, and the second batch of artists picked it up and pitched nine innings with it. Showcases like Flappers and Fedoras can not only raise money for the academy, but also recruit new talent.  

The lack of applicants in certain areas of the BCA means that teachers like Smith and Geary have to split their attention between BCA students and regular ones. Once they have enough students to fill a single class, and the groups can be separated, life may get a little easier for all of them.

McBride thinks recruiting students for the academy and providing transportation for students who live outside of the GCHS zone are two ways to improve the program.

The BCA offers students a niche. Geary refers to the environment as “family like” and says the most rewarding part of the BCA is developing close relationships with the students. Magalhães agreed that “sense of community” and the development of skills for working in groups are two things the BCA offered her that she wouldn’t have found anywhere else. This formula will continue to refine the talent that comes through the program and is destined for success. McBride mentioned other areas of academic study may one day all be placed in academies similar to the BCA. Student success at the public school level could be redefined by such a movement.

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*This article was posted on a website used by my magazine article writing class. The website has since been taken down so I've placed it here on my blog.

7 Things Only Girls with Guy Roommates Understand

Jennifer Iler

March 6, 2014

Living with a guy roommate isn’t as taboo as it used to be, but it’s still a little socially awkward. It’s a completely different experience than living with roommates who are girls, and the list of seven things only girls with guy roommates understand is sure to point out what kind of experience it can be.

1. You will become his fashion advisor.

It’ll be an unspoken rule of the house (or apartment). Expect him to knock on your door at all hours of the day as he gets ready just to ask, “Do these pants go with these shoes?” Sometimes you’ll catch him wandering over with two different colored button-ups in his hands, questioningly raised in your direction. At first it’s really adorable, but after a while you’ll just wish he could dress himself.

2. You won’t have to take the trash out… ever.

It isn’t very hard to come to some sort of compromise about the household chores. Odds are that he hates doing the dishes just as much as you hate taking out the trash. So if you ask him nicely to split up the chores, there’s a large chance he’ll jump at the opportunity. And don’t hesitate to ask him questions about your car.

3. ENDLESS TOILET PAPER!

Girls go through a lot of toilet paper. With all of the eyeliner wiping, lipstick patting and other awesome uses for it, toilet paper runs out often - and usually when you desperately need it. Have no fear! Your guy roommate’s toilet paper will always be there, because guys just don’t have to use as much as girls do. 

4. People will think he is your boyfriend.

IT’S UNAVOIDABLE. In the multiple instances where you ask your roommate to drive you to Starbucks, to class or to wander around the mall with you, many people will assume he’s your boyfriend. Most of your friends will ask if there’s anything going on, what the deal is or if you’ll get married one day. The best thing to do is take a deep breath and laugh it off.

5. You really can get ready in 30 minutes.

Girls can take hours to get ready, which really cuts down on spontaneity. All guys have to do is throw on a pair of shoes and grab their keys when they get random cravings for ice cream or tacos. When your guy roommate asks you to take an impromptu trip to the store or to grab lunch, you won’t have the luxury of spending an hour on your hair. And the more these sporadic outings occur, the more you’ll realize you don’t need all of that time to get ready.

6. You’re always cooking for two.

GUYS EAT. And eat. And eat and eat and eat. Some girls are like this as well, but no one is going to put a dent in your freshly baked cookies like your guy roommate is. When you’re making lunch, dinner, or even a snack, it’s just much safer to make more than you’ll eat. Trust me, he’ll eat the rest.

7. You learn to let things go.

It can be really hard to live with other people, no matter what gender identity they are. But the way guys handle arguments and conflicts is much different than the way girls do. We tend to hold things in until they eat us up, and we stay angry for FAR too long. Guys are more easy-going, and they’ll be willing to laugh at you or with you only a few minutes after fighting over whatever-it-was. Life gets a lot easier when you pick up on this habit, and you’ll only have your guy roommate to thank for it.

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*This article was originally published on a website shared by my  magazine article class. That website has since shut down, so I've moved it to my own blog.

Graduation can be stressful... But it doesn't have to be.

by Jennifer Iler
May 5, 2014
Last Edited: May 5, 2014

University of South Carolina students, faculty and alumni have all pitched ideas to help make getting ready for the big day a little bit easier.

Graduating from college is one of the biggest milestones in some people's lives. As if being a full time student isn't enough, most young scholars often work part-time or full-time jobs to help pay their tuition. The last thing they want to worry about is filing graduation paperwork, and they definitely don't want to pay for extra classes if they can't graduate on time.

Never fear! There are a few easy things to keep in mind that may help preparing for your graduation ceremony a little bit easier.

Jim Haney, an academic advisor and professor at the University of South Carolina, says students need to take control of their academic progress early in their second or third year of college.

"It's the student's responsibility to make sure he or she graduates on time," he said. "It's just a simple matter of printing out a curriculum sheet and looking at your transcript."

Not only will checking the curriculum sheet make advisement appointments easier and more efficient, it will also help the student understand when he or she needs to knock out prerequisites or language classes. Haney said one of the biggest issues that can delay a student's graduation date is the student's "unwillingness to deal with language requirements."

Don't let classes like these pile up on you! Many language courses have to be taken one after another, which may require consecutive semesters of learning. If a student has three language courses to take and only two semesters to take them in, he or she is going to have to stay longer or take a summer course to get back on track.

The application process to apply for graduation is nothing to fear. According to Haney and senior Daniel Shelley, who graduates this May, it's just a check list to make sure all of the course requirements have been met. The deadline is also relatively flexible, but students should be sure to check their university e-mail to get all of the important information and updates. 

"The student services office created a Facebook page hoping that would solve some of the communication problem but it's a little bit difficult to get students to 'like' the advisement office on Facebook," Haney said. "We don't have a very good way of communicating with students."

It helps to plan ahead! Not only does the application deadline loom over many seniors, but other dates like the graduation fair, when to send out invitations or take photos can also cause stress. Write them down in a calendar or set a reminder in your phone.

"My mom received an e-mail about the graduation fair before I did, so I get this huge angry text message one morning," Shelley (shown right) admitted. "So I went to the Colonial Life Arena to pick out my cap and gown. Thanks Mom!"

If you miss the graduation fair, students can always pick up caps, gowns, and tassels at the Russell House University Bookstore. Jamie Hinson, USC graduate of the class of 2013, got all of his materials there, without going to the graduation fair.

Shelley, whose graduation photos were taken "last minute", recommends looking for options other than professional photographers.

"We have a lot of great student photographers here, like we have photography majors, there's photographers in the journalism school," He said. "Why not utilize that?"

Students who get friends or student photographers to take their photos can end up saving hundreds of dollars, and ultimately, having a more relaxed photo shoot. It's one tip that can significantly reduce the stress of graduating (and keep things easy on your wallet).

Don't give in to senior-itis. When a student is rounding the last curve of spring semester, it can be really hard to get motivated and stay on top of all of the coursework professor's expect from him or her. Senior-itis can even hit a student before their senior year, and this is something students must resist at all costs!

"They even tell you at graduation that if you don't pass all of your classes, then it's just a ceremony," Hinson said. "You may not have really graduated. You need to make sure you pass the classes."

Some students may take pride in the label "super senior," but participating in two graduation ceremonies is a definite no-no! Although it may sound nicer to go on a three-day Netflix binge than to do your final research paper, buckle down and get it done anyways.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you're unsure about a deadline or a requirement, wondering to yourself can waste valuable time.

Shelley said, "If someone is freaking out about graduation, I would tell them to go talk to an advisor."

Even if your advisor doesn't have all the answers, they'll have the contact information of someone who can help you. Getting ready for graduation can be stress-free if a student is willing to dot their i's, cross their t's, ask questions and remember the important dates. In the end, it'll be worth it.

"Graduation's just the first step," Hinson said. "Then you gotta go out there to the real world and that's another stress in itself."

Student government leaders at the University of South Carolina will focus tightly on student needs for the upcoming term

by Jennifer Iler
April 8, 2014
Last Edited: May 5, 2014

Both student body President Lindsay Richardson and student body Vice President Donnie Iorio agreed during interviews last week that Richardson’s campaign slogan ‘Let’s Reach’ directly embodies their wish to fulfill student needs to the fullest of their ability in the 2014-2015 year.

Student government does a lot of behind the scenes work, but also implements programs to benefit campus life for USC students. Last year’s executive office, led by former student body President Chase Mizzell, addressed student needs with programs designed to benefit them directly. 

Walk Home Cocky, currently in its pilot phase, addresses many student’s night-time safety concerns by escorting students back to residence halls from campus locations like the Thomas Cooper Library. The Gamecock Pantry, a University of South Carolina food bank set up as a resource for students who are tight on food money, is another program organized last term designed to ease the financial struggle some students face.

“People don’t understand until it’s explained to them, usually, that some of our fellow Gamecocks don’t have enough money to eat,” Iorio (shown below, left) said. “And so the Gamecock Pantry provides a supplement for those hungry Gamecocks. I think that’s really the work of student government at it’s best — is really helping our students.”

Both programs will continue to be developed throughout the next term. 

Helping out the students here at USC is the main reason President Richardson decided to run for office.

“Over the years I’ve figured out that I really did care about the students here and wanted to make sure the student experience is getting better and would be the best it could be before I left,” Richardson (shown above, right) said.

President Richardson is only the second African-American female to serve as the student body president at USC. It’s only fitting that she was elected on the 50th anniversary of the university’s desegregation.

Senator Phillip Allan of the College of Arts and Sciences said he is excited to work with President Richardson this term.

“She’s really wanting to make sure that on-campus students are really heard and their voices are heard,” Allan said. “I’ve really supported the way that she’s tried to make sure students have more  of a chance.”

With the new chapter system underway in the senate, Allan says they can finally get down to business and focus on what students want. Brainstorming ideas for the improvement of student living at USC should be right around the corner.

BGLSA students at USC discuss Sochi, LGBT issues

By Jennifer Iler 
February 28, 2014
Last Edited: March 5, 2014

The Winter Olympics brought plenty of Bronze, Silver, and Gold medal winners, but it also brought pages of news stories and articles about Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law and other discriminatory acts against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community.

 Some of the latest news to come out of Sochi, before the closing ceremony, were about the detainment of LGBTQ activists, like former Italian MP Vladimir Luxuria.

Two of the most prominent LGBTQ students on campus spoke about what Sochi means for the LGBTQ community locally and as a whole.

Mason Branham, a senior at USC and former President of the Bisexual Gay Lesbian Straight Alliance (BGLSA), identifies as queer, and said the only label he’d prefer to go by is his full name. 

“I think of [queer] as almost a label without a label,” he said. Branham thinks there was too much coverage of LGBTQ issues in Sochi, with some human rights violations obviously being more newsworthy than others.

“We’re sort of a culture here that is saturated with LGBT news, both positive and negative,” said Branham, who locally advocates for LGBTQ rights. “People love to talk about gay stuff, it’s polarizing.”

      One subject that isn’t getting a lot of media coverage, according to Branham, is gender identity, particularly transgender and transsexual identities. Equality for trans* people is something the BGLSA has been working on with the Residence Hall Association through the concept of gender neutral housing.

“I doubt an individual on the street could tell you the difference between a transsexual and transgender individual. You say Pre-Op and Post-Op to someone, and they would probably ask you to define that.” he said. 

“A lot of real change is always kind of an upheaval, and it’s realistic to know and to recognize that you’ll probably take two steps back for that one step forward,” said Kaitlyn Jones, current President of BGLSA. “And you have to be patient and keep persevering and eventually it will become three steps forward and maybe a half step backwards. And it’s just… it’s a realistic way to get to our goal.”

Jones thinks the key to achieving equality for LGBTQ individuals is by finding more allies - people who are willing to stand with the movement and be supporters regardless of their sexual orientation or personal preferences.

Branham also said the Olympics should be about the talents of the Olympians, not about anyone’s sexual identity. Jones agrees that the Olympics should have been centered more on the athletes than equality issues.

LGBTQ and heterosexual students alike here at the University of South Carolina can choose to join BGLSA where they can receive support from other students of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and allies. The student organization is a safe place to celebrate LGBTQ history and learn a multitude of skills to help deal with sexual health, identity issues, and other problems they may encounter while attending the university, while building a community among the LGBTQ individuals. 

USC prides itself on being an inclusive and diverse campus which abides by its Carolinian Creed. Last year, the BGLSA won the Student Organization of the Year Award.

A One-Two Punch

Goose Creek recovers from back to back loss of soldiers, friends

Jennifer Iler
November 26, 2012
Last Edited: February 22, 2014

            Two Goose Creek High School graduates and United States Army servicemen died this year, stunning the Goose Creek Gator Battalion cadets. Both Private First Class Julian Colvin, 21, and Specialist Francisco Serrano, 21, participated in GCHS's JROTC and served in the United States Army after graduation. Goose Creek is a community right next to the Joint Base Naval Weapons Station. The high school is only a few minutes away from the base, so military sacrifices are a usual part of the community. Losing two very young men, however, was exceptionally hard.       

               “I was extremely upset,” said Julianna O’Shields, a Booster Club Member for the Gator Battalion. “To hear that one of our cadets had lost their life defending our freedom, hit very hard.” Her son, Sean O’Shields, graduated with Colvin from GCHS in 2010, and also participated in the JROTC program as the school’s cadet battalion commander. He’s leaving for his first deployment to Afghanistan in a couple of weeks.


          "We've been putting all these kids in the military for all these years and I'm starting to think that it's not the right thing," said Lt. Col. John McInerney, Senior Army Instructor for the Gator Battalion.

            Colvin (shown right) joined the military out of Birmingham, Al. in 2011. He went to basic training in March. Afterwards, he went to Ft. Benning to Airborne School. Colvin was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while conducting a dismounted patrol in Afghanistan in July.

            “I still saw him as the little kid I used to play with,” said Alfred Colvin III, Julian’s brother, who also participated at GCHS’s JROTC program. “I couldn’t believe it. I can’t begin to tell you where it has led my life.”

          "He was a favorite of the children around the camp," said Lt. Col. McInerney. "He'd use extra money to buy candy and share with the kids."

          Alfred says Julian loved children and was a camp counselor at Camp North Star in Birmingham, Al. He also volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club and at the Naval Weapons Station’s Teen Center.

            Sergeant E5 JaChristopher Thompson graduated with Colvin in 2010 and was also a member of the Gator Battalion as the cadet battalion executive officer. He said, “[Julian] was the most respectful and humble person. Always smiling. He is a true hero and I wish I could be half the person he was.”

            Serrano (shown right) served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was home on leave when he died in a motorcycle accident.

            “Just because he didn’t die in combat doesn’t mean we weren’t going to include him [on Veteran’s Day],” said McInerney.

           The first cadet the Gator Battalion lost was Private First Class Dustin Yancey in 2007. His sister Kimberly was still in the JROTC program when her brother died, so it had a large impact on all of the kids.  Yancey was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. Since Colvin died in July, many of the students at Goose Creek and members of the Gator Battalion didn’t feel the full impact until the Veteran’s Day assembly, said McInerney.

            About half of the Gator Battalion is ruled out of joining the military due to medical conditions, such as asthma and heart murmurs. The other half will typically enlist after graduation or college, if they enlist at all. A select few will get ROTC scholarships, but it doesn’t happen very often.

         “The JROTC is not a funnel program for the service; the mission is to make better citizens,” said McInerney.

          The cadets of Gator Battalion have used the loss as a wake-up call. Senior Joshua Binnarr is worried about the possible sacrifice as he gets ready to attend Basic in June. Another GCHS graduate and four year ROTC scholarship recipient at the University of South Carolina, AJ Needler, said that he’s prepared to die doing what he loves and lives for. The heavy military presence in Goose Creek is also reflected at the school itself. McInerney said, “Those flags we hang out in front of the school - If they’re not up correctly, or up on time, the principal will get quite a few phone calls.” 


            “Mr. Huskey is a veteran. Most of the teachers are veterans.” he said.

            This year the Gator Battalion is made up of 380 cadets. It usually is made up of 450, but the new seven-block schedule required the program to drop a class. Last year, the GCHS JROTC was the largest battalion in S.C.

          Lt. Col. McInerney said the community has been very fortunate to have lost so few soldiers compared to the number of soldiers they’ve put into the military.

Media Habits From a Slightly Different Time

An interview with 74 year-old Thomas Kern

By Jennifer Iler
Last Edited: February 22, 2014

            Charleston’s Thomas Kern, 74, is a man with all the gadgets: surround sound stereo system, XM Radio, Android Smart Phone, and updated HP computer. He has embraced the technology into his advancing years, but travels no farther, now, into the world of news than he did in his youth.

Thomas, or Tom, was born in Tonopah, Nevada in 1938. The first time Tom should have noticed the impact of the news media in the world would have been the droppings of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, or the red scare with the Soviet Union. But he couldn’t even pinpoint a moment in his childhood when he realized what news was.

            When asked about himself, thinking in terms of a “news consumer”, Tom said, “I am not much of a news consumer other than for weather…”

            But was he always this disassociated with the news world? I asked Tom what news media he found most important to him as a news consumer in his youth. He said, “I delivered papers in Toledo Ohio in the 1940s so I guess it was the Toledo Blade and the radio. I still use satellite radio on the way to and from work.”

           Along with this question, I asked him to tell about what he likes or doesn’t like about the news media he currently uses.

            “What I don’t like is the way some newscasters broadcast information with their view on the item – not just the news [itself]. It is biased sometimes," Tom said.

            When it comes to his news habits, he told me he barely has any. “[Rosalie, my wife] did [develop habits]. She still reads the paper every day. I will watch the news very seldom because I catch most of it on the car radio.”

It’s interesting to find a man of such an older generation that can still keep up with the fast pace of today’s best technologies. To find out what drives Tom to keep the pace, I asked him how he felt about the new wave of technology and if he’ll ever stop pushing to keep up with modern generations.

            “I guess we just go with the flow. I know there are people [out there] that still want to use horse and buggies. Life with technology is so much easier and better. Sometimes it can be much more dangerous, [when] used incorrectly. [People need to] stop and think.”  

            But what does Tom really think about the fast-moving, web-browsing, 4G Network-ing of the latest gadgets? What does he think about the young people who use them? He simply said, “Sometimes I just wish the world would just slow down and smell the rose[s]. What I mean is – stop, look, and listen. Don’t jump to immediate conclusions. Think before reacting.”

            This kind of advice hits hard with a mobile quick shooter like me. When it comes to my news, I typically scan one source and one source only. Unless I hear it in public discussion, I barely analyze what information I’m taking in. The facts I’m shoveling into my brain should be taken with a grain of salt, and Tom realizes this all too well when it comes to the younger generation of mobile news consumers.

            “I am concerned about some of our younger people and their ideas about news. They are not interested in news if it is not sports. And a lot of the sports idols that you are supposed to look up to and model yourself after have put themselves out in a way that young people shouldn’t see.” He added, “Most of the youth don’t even look or care about whom is running for president or any of the big issues confronting this country or this world.”

            This is where he would be showing his gray hair, if he had any. Actually being a member of that younger generation, I know the social media that consumes most of our time can be covered with political activists and real life point of views about the issues that young people care about. Unfortunately, I do agree that the “public forum” of discussion that takes place on social media sites tends to be based entirely on unchecked opinion, instead of facts.

            Even though he has a smart phone, Tom strays from the mobile news sources.

            “We don’t have any news apps on our phones. The newspaper and XM Radio is about all we use… and sometimes, [but] very rarely TV.” He does, however, believe that today’s technology does a better job of reporting the news than the days of just newspaper and radio.

            “...Technology has allowed them to move information faster and more reliably around the world.”

Tom said he hasn’t given much thought to the level of integrity found in today’s news media. He said, “… I hope they have more integrity now because the issues are more demanding [today].”

It seems that Thomas Kern is in much of the same position as many of today’s young people are: They are surrounded by new technologies that they don’t use to stay connected to the news media. They simply don’t invest their browsing time into the world around them. And for many people, that’s okay. For 74 year-old Tom Kern, that’s the way it’s going to be. Although news and connection seems to be important, living life in comfort and at his own pace seems to be even more important. This is just more evidence that to be technologically savvy is not necessarily equal to being engaged in news media.