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Enrolled and prospective students alike weigh in on college

As the next school year approaches, many high school students are about to make the transition to a university, whether they like it or not.

For some, college presents an opportunity to meet new friends and study interesting courses, but for others it’s a difficult move accompanied by anxiety and fear of the unknown.

“I come from a really small, conservative school,” said Tatiana Melendez, a 16-year-old student in between her junior and senior year of high school attending a summer program at American University. “So, going to college is going be like an ocean of new things.”

A majority of students interviewed on American’s Northwest Washington D.C. campus this week are excited to attend college but some like Jonah Gelfand, 16, a rising senior from Westchester, New York, had their doubts about how easy the jump would be.

“I think it’s a good mix of both, I don’t really think there’s one that’s outweighing the other,” Gelfand said.

Jonah Gelfand, 16, looks ahead toward college.
Jonah Gelfand, 16, looks ahead toward college.

Current college students including 20-year-old Matthew Wilson, a junior at American University studying economics and political science, understood Gelfand and other high school students’ fears.

“I was naturally apprehensive about going,” Wilson said.

“I wish I could tell myself to just relax a lot more and trust the process,” Wilson said later. “Every other student entering college is probably feeling the same way that you are.”

Wilson, a native of Wethersfield, Connecticut, said he never felt like he couldn’t handle the distance to Washington D.C., which is a 6.5-hour drive from home. Even before arriving on campus, the fear of eating alone in the dining hall troubled him more than any potential academic challenges.

“A lot of schools have orientation programs,” Wilson said. “When I came to orientation I met a lot of people. I met my best friend.”

Meenal Goyal, 19, a sophomore and psychology major at American University, had very few doubts about college when she was a prospective student. In addition to specifically seeking out a school far from home, Goyal also said she focused on getting a good scholarship from the beginning of high school.

“I was all gung-ho about it,” Goyal said.

In Washington D.C., Goyal is 10 hours from her home in Hudson, New Hampshire, but she said it was what she wanted. She offered advice to prospective college students: College is incredibly diverse and that everyone can and will find their niche.

Many students interviewed this week noted that in the end they felt like college has or will be a positive experience.

“Have fun,” Wilson said. “Everyone is in the same boat.”

 

 

 

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Social media brings risks and rewards

With increased technology and mobility, social media has become a staple of everyday life and teenagers and young adults this week in Tenleytown voiced their opinions about the positives and negatives of the trend.

A majority of people interviewed this week in Northwest Washington D.C.’s Tenleytown neighborhood use outlets such as Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook strictly for social interactions. Many said that they have become more aware of both national and international events because of these applications.

“With the burning of churches or police brutality, the youth are starting to become more informed because it’s always on Twitter first,” said Stephanie Reyas, 18.

For 19-year-old Gabriela Berrios, the positives of social media outweigh the negatives and it’s a personal accountability issue.

“If more people are intelligent with the way they use social media there wouldn’t be any problems at all,” Berrios said.

Gabriela Berrios, 19, texts while eating lunch at a Panera in Northwest Washington D.C. Photo by Geena Provenzano
Gabriela Berrios, 19, texts while eating lunch at a Panera in Northwest Washington D.C. Photo by Geena Provenzano

But, others interviewed stressed the darker side of social media including anonymous users causing harm. A 2015 Pew Research Center report on teenagers and social media found 11 percent of children aged 13 to 17 who own a cell phone use anonymous sites or apps like Ask.FM.

That had some in the district worried.

“You don’t know the people you’re talking to so it could get you in trouble,” said 25-year-old Jeff Ninson.

Olivia Renee, 14, saw social media as a gateway to cyber bullying.

“I have been a victim of bullying online,” Renee said. “If people don’t bully in person they automatically turn to social media. I think that’s a problem at my age.”

Renee is not alone.

According to a 2014 Pew Research Center report, younger adults are more likely to be harassed online than older users. But, regardless of age, roughly 40 percent of Internet users have experienced some form of online harassment.

Some interviewed this week in Washington D.C., believed that social media has become a way for children to isolate themselves and said kids have become too dependent on technology.

“They use it instead of communicating with people in real life,” said John Belisario, 17. “Kids text on their phones instead of going outside.”

 

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Feminism surges but some thinks there’s no need

P1000417A modern resurgence of feminism and belief in gender equality has sparked controversial discussions on whether or not feminism is necessary in today’s society.

In interviews conducted in the Washington, D.C. area, conflicting ideas about the importance of feminism emerged. Opinions on certain topics were agreed upon by all, specifically the wage gap in America between men and women.

“Women of color are paid even less than white women and I think that’s wrong,” said Michelle Nowak, 19, an advocate for the Human Rights Campaign.

The oppression of women of color and the struggles they face in particular were also touched on by Mone Williams, 21.

“I don’t think that any other race or gender can do anything better than another,” Williams said.

Modern feminist issues go beyond the wage gap, also encompassing the right to have an abortion and raising awareness about the hyper-sexualization of women, especially in advertising and the film industry.

Throughout history, feminists have worked to gain women’s rights and become equal with men, their most well-known success being in the suffragist movement to gain women’s voting rights. When asked about the future of feminism, of the 10 people interviewed, all believed that feminists will continue to fight for their cause.

Dr. Nicole Cox, a professor of mass media at Valdosta State University in Georgia, believes that both raising awareness about feminism and spreading the goals of the movement are vital to ensure it continues to grow.

“I think that it’s more accessible for the younger generation,” Cox said. On the topic of complete gender equality, Cox added, “I don’t think it’s going to happen in the next five years, but maybe 10 or 15.”

A few people interviewed did not believe that feminism in today’s world is necessary, or believed that those who advocate for it and call themselves feminists are too intense in their endeavors.

“Feminists just tend to take it a little far,” said 19-year old Dana Foley.

The majority of those interviewed, however, viewed feminism and its goals in a positive light, although most agreed that the struggle for equality is far from over.

“I think the movement itself has a real challenge in terms of defining what it wants,” said Jermall Keels, 19. Later, he added, “I think our generation is just a really social movement-driven generation.”

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District residents tense, concerned as Navy Yard goes on lockdown

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Reports of a possible shooter and hours-long lock down Thursday at the Washington Navy Yard left many residents in Washington D.C. concerned, according to interviews.

A couple of hours after initial reports of a possible shooter flooded social media and metropolitan news sites, authorities gave the all clear. But, that didn’t stop residents from feeling confused or concerned about what was happening in the southeastern part of their city at the Navy post that was the site of a mass shooting in September 2013.

“After hearing about all of these shootings, people become desensitized,” said Sajlaya Henson, 27.

Metropolitan district police announced shortly after 10 a.m. no gunmen were on scene and no shots had been fired.

Leonaro Roy, 27, stood behind the counter at a Tenleytown smoothie shop. He heard the initial buzz on Facebook.

“This is very concerning considering it was the second time it happened,” Roy said, before police had released updated details.

On Sept. 16, 2013, former Navy veteran Aaron Alexis, 34, opened fire at the Navy Yard killing 12 people.

The former shipyard is currently the ceremonial and administrative headquarters for the U.S. Navy and operates for the Chief of Naval Operations, according to its website.

The Navy Yard is not the only place on U.S. soil to experience events such as mass shootings; they have become a trend in America’s headlines over the last several years.

This has become a leading point in the bipartisan debate, striking debate and heated emotions on both sides.

On one side, proponents of gun control argue the weapons industry needs to be regulated to ensure these occurrences cease. Citizens are calling for action and turning to officials to make changes.

Melissa Hoghtlin, 55, said: “Why aren’t we doing anything about gun control?”

 

 

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Some District residents think Trump’s run “hilarious”

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Donald Trump (Photo Courtesy Associated Press)

Businessman and reality show host Donald Trump’s 2016 Republican presidential bid stirred strong emotions among District residents who, two weeks after his announcement, found a Trump White House unlikely.

“I think it’s stupid,” said American University student Emily Smith, 19. “I honestly just think he’s running for the publicity of it.”

Trump, 69, announced his intent June 16 to run for the Republican presidential nomination during a press conference at Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan. The 45-minute speech, featuring Trump making provocative statements on immigration policy, has been watched nearly a million times on YouTube.

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” Trump said in the press conference. “They’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists.”

Since his controversial campaign announcement, both NBC and Macy’s have cut ties with Trump in the respects of his television show, The Apprentice, and clothing line, Donald J Trump Collections.

Many interviewed this week in Washington D.C.’s Tenleytown neighborhood and on the campus of American University said Trump’s launch remarks were troubling but also noted his lack of a clear policy plan worried them, too.

Dan Bell, 21, found Trump’s candidacy comical.

“I think it’s hilarious,” Bell said. “It makes my day.”

Dan Bell’s sister, Amelia Bell, 24, added that America under Trump would be “like the Hunger Games,” referring to the popular dystopian fiction trilogy written by Suzanne Collins.

Both of the siblings expressed interest in voting for Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Rachel Nadelman, 38, took a break from an afternoon jog to answer questions about Trump’s candidacy.

“I don’t think in the end that anybody would really vote for him because he doesn’t have any substantial policy plans,” Nadelman said. “While he can speak in racist language because he’s not trying to get donors, overall he’s not going to get much of a following.”

 

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U.S. Women are in the Final, but are the fans invested?

soccer
A Soccer Net on the American University Campus. Photo by Sam Goldfarb.

Many people on the American University campus are enjoying the U.S. women’s success in this summer’s World Cup, but some are not paying close attention as the U.S. prepares for the final against Japan.

While multiple students and professors knew of Tuesday night’s game against Germany, some were unaware of the big semifinal showdown.

Carolyn Turkaly, 19, said that the U.S. Women are not getting enough attention despite their consistent success.

“It’s a structural problem,” Turkaly said. “People in sports are mostly men, so they’re biased.”

Turkaly, who does not have a television set, says she follows the results by reading Facebook and news articles about the matches.

Some Americans did not watch their country’s 2-0 semifinal win over Germany for different reasons.

Anila D’Mello, 25, says that she didn’t watch the game because she was busy and had her cousin in town. D’Mello claims that she watched the U.S.-Sweden match last month. She also believes that the men’s World Cup generated more interest from Americans than the women’s tournament.

“This happens across the board in sports,” D’Mello said. “People think that men are greater athletes, whether or not that’s true. There is also less funding in women’s sports.”

While the men have played their World Cups on grass, the women played this summer’s World Cup on artificial turf, which takes a toll on player’s bodies when they make contact with the ground.

Despite all of the people who aren’t paying attention to the women’s World Cup, there are many who watched Tuesday Night’s game.

Emily Davis says she enjoyed the match. “It was an exciting match to watch. We have a really good team,” Davis said.

Tanesha Singletary, a 23-year old grad student, also watched the U.S.’ victory. “It was a pleasant surprise,” Singletary said. Germany is ranked number one in the world by FIFA’s world rankings and was favored over the second-ranked United States.

Many people on the AU campus also said that soccer in general is a growing sport in our country and remain confident ahead of the big final on Sunday.

“Go USA. Yeah, we’re gonna win,” Turkaly said.

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Social media helps students and grads network, stay informed

Students on American University’s campus use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat to obtain news, contact others and even find jobs, ushering in a new era of social media unknown to past generations and even foreign to some millennials.

Journalism and Arab World Studies major Jacquie Lee, 20, interned for a Republican senator from Ohio and wrote for Street Sense, a district publication that advocates for homeless rights. In both positions, social media was a small part of the job. She composed tweets and posted on Facebook.

“It is assumed since you are young, you are good at writing for social media,” Lee said. “But this may not always be the case.”

For Lee, who is headed to study abroad in Jordan in August, Twitter is a great way to see top headlines. It also allows  stories that wouldn’t receive coverage to gain international recognition. Lee talked about the Arab Spring and women in the Middle East.

“Citizen journalists are reporting stories that they see instantly,” Lee said regarding the way news breaks over Twitter.

Not only do students use social media to find out information about the world, but they are also capable of giving the world information about themselves. Many students agreed that the use of Facebook and Twitter is a great way of branding themselves and getting recognized .

Business and entertainment major Toye Adenekan, 20, uses social media to help him stay fresh in his industry.

“I use it for tidbits of news but I am able to put my name out there,” Adenekan said.

Yolanda Martinez, a 26-year-old who earned a graduate degree in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley, uses social media to find news, sources and jobs.

“I definitely view it as a positive,” Martinez said.

College students know the importance of making connections to get ahead. Seventeen-year-old AU student Cassie Castro is pursuing a path in political science and keeps up with others in her field. She uses social media to branch out and make relationships with others.

“Networking is huge, especially in college,” Castro said.

 

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Students and graduates struggle, worry about loans

Student loans are controlling the lives of many college graduates in the Washington D.C. area with current students already worried about when their loans are due.

For Samantha Garrison, 20, an American University student, loans are a huge problem.

“I am probably going to spend the rest of my life paying loans,” Garrison said.

Garrison, who identified as low income, receives financial aid but noted she’ll still graduate with between $22,000 and $28,000 in college loans.

Her debt mirrors that of the typical U.S. college student.

Students walk the campus of American University. Photo by Nima Padash.
Students walk the campus of American University. Photo by Nima Padash.
U.S. students graduated with an average of $33,000 in student loan debt, according to a 2015 report from Debt.Org, a part of Bright Horizons Financial Services.
There was a 77 percent increase in average balance size in student loans between 2004 to 2014, according to the 2015 Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Student Loan Borrowing and Repayment Trends.
After college graduation, Garrison said she’ll be the main breadwinner in her metropolitan-area household, but she fears her loans will hold her back. Even with a post-college job, those loans will cut into her income and the family’s quality of life.

“I am still going to have those loans for a while,” said Garrison, who hopes to pursue family law.

But Tommy Bennett, a 19-year-old American University student, is more hopeful about his student loans, saying he is confident a well-paying job out of college will help him start paying them back with little issue.

“I have brothers who have college loans, who are now out of college and are living nice lives,” said Bennett, who thinks repayment will take 15 years if he stays on budget and gets a good job.

Femsu Movaelane, 18, who lives in Washington D.C., is not yet a college student like Bennett, but she already has concerns about the future debt.

Student loans can affect every aspect of a student’s life, from marriage to depression and home buying.

“The burden of student debt is the key factor in young graduates not starting a business and the marriage rate for millennials is down 12 percent,” according to the 2015 Debt.Org report.

Another 2015 report from the Brookings Institution said students with more debt reported lower levels of psychological health.

Cameron Nichols, 19, identifies more with the reports’ findings and sees college loans as something that will hold him back.

Nichols, who attends college in California, does not think that the loans will last long but he said that while he has them his quality of life will suffer, he said.

“It controls your life, takes all your time, and cripples you,” Nichols said.

 

 

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Flower Power: Newark Street Community Garden makes a neighborhood blossom

WASHINGTON —The Newark Street Community Garden, on the corner of 39th and Newark streets, is celebrating its 40th year. And despite the recent consecutive days of over 90-degree weather, gardeners are still out planting and maintaining their plots. Susan Akman, a senior gardener and former president of the board. loves to come to the gardens between 5:30 and 6:30 in the morning.

“It is very peaceful,” Akman said. So much so that she recalled one woman’s immediate reaction to 9/11 was to come to the gardens, she said.

The garden may be a quiet, tranquil space, but a lot of hard work goes into the upkeep of the plots, Akman said. Many of the 190 gardeners come out on the second Saturday of every month in order to remove weeds and plant new crops. The garden community is extremely diverse.

“We have people from all over the world,” Akman said, with community members bringing unique crops and agricultural techniques from regions including Portugal, Lithuania and parts of Africa and Asia.

Gardeners have the freedom to make their plots as colorful and creative as they want, so long as none of their crops are invasive species. The work pays off. The garden is the “largest, and probably the oldest” of its kind in the area, Akman said.

To find out more about the Newark Street Community Gardens, visit their website here.

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Arboretum good for AU, student life

The McKinley building is surrounded by gardens. Photo by Meagan Pruitt
The McKinley building is surrounded by gardens. Photo by Meagan Pruitt

WASHINGTON — American University’s arboretum and gardens not only made it the 4th prettiest urban campus in the nation, according to one website, but has also served as a promotional piece to potential students and faculty.

Throughout campus, there are 75 different species of trees, including the Franklin tree at McCabe Hall, the white oak at the president’s office building and the Maidenhair tree overlooking Jacobs Field and in the amphitheater. It also includes 10 gardens, which are surrounded by a mixture of perennials, ornamental grasses and shrubs. The location of the plants and trees in the arboretum are selected based on soil, drainage and view.

Many of the trees and plants display a sign to tell the observer the formal and common name of the plant, where it originates and if it has a donor. There are many benches underneath these trees and beside the gardens for those who want to sit and enjoy their surroundings.

Some parts of the arboretum, such as the area next to the amphitheater, are certified wildlife habitats because that property provides food, water, cover and a place for wildlife to raise their young.

The arboretum and gardens have been apart of the university’s campus for 18 years, and provide educational opportunities. Some parents thought that the gardens showed that the university would take care of their children, Landscape Architect Michael Mastrota said.

“It’s good for publicity,” Mastrota said. “Having a pretty campus attracts students and faculty.”

The landscape has also brought alumni back to the community and become a fundraising tool. The landscapiing allows students and professors to take class outside, as well.

Juan Ruis, who has been working for the gardens for 10 years, agrees with Mastrota that the landscape attracts students. Students come back after graduation to see what’s new, he said.

Ruis began his job as summer help and has been working here ever since. During the summer, he weeds, edges the trees and waters the gardens. Even if it is in the upper 90s, Ruis is out working to make the campus uphold its standing on Kelsey Fox’s “The 50 Most Beautiful Urban College Campuses.”

And Chris Mooney’s article, “Why green spaces are good for your kid’s brain,” published recently in The Washington Post, reported that students showed improvement in testing when exposed to more greenery than the average.

Students improved, on average, “in working memory, higher order ‘superior working memory’ and attentiveness…it was the greenness of the commute and especially the school that made all the difference.”

To make the entire campus attractive, Mastrota not only works on the gardens, but the parking, walkways and light bulbs as well. The addition of the arboretum and gardens to the university’s campus attracted TV and news publicity, Mastrota said.

“I think it represents a good face for the university and community,” he said.