Filling the Shoes of a Journalist

Taking this class as my senior capstone was very challenging for me. I was not a journalism major entering this class, and at first found it very frustrating when I had stories returned to me for minor mistakes that any journalism student would have known better.

By the end of this course I noticed myself taking on more journalistic characteristics wherever I went. I couldn't have a normal conversation anymore without interrogating my friends trying to get every aspect the story entailed.

I struggled with sentence structures for the most part. I wanted to make everything long, flowing, and in my own words, instead of short, to the point, and unbiased.

I was really excited for my last beat to write a feature piece which really allowed me to get to know one of my favorite administrators on this campus and tell his story about his time here.

Throughout this course, I have really learned to become an observer. To sit down with someone I am interviewing, let the tape recorder roll, and have a one on one conversation while forgetting that I was actually doing work. I wanted to get to know the situation fully, like one of our class speakers mentioned, you have to become an expert at what you are writing your piece on, so once you sit down you can just write away. If you are having trouble with what you should be writing, you haven't done enough research.


--Seema A. Choudhary
Dec. 11, 2007

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Offensive display troubles Miami University

BY SEEMA A. CHOUDHARY
NOV. 6, 2007

Tuesday afternoon brought the town of Jena, LA., a little closer to Oxford, Ohio, and Miami University when seven noose-like ropes were displayed on a campus tree. Students offended by the display informed the police, who took it down.

That evening, Miami president David Hodge issued a university email, expressing that he was “deeply troubled by this incident and the insensitivity that it reflects.” A comprehensive plan then followed, calling for a complete report of the incident, meeting with students and staff to discuss the event, and community discussion.

Miami’s Associated Student Government, likewise, responded, in a two-and-a-half hour meeting where legislation was originally intended to condemn three student artists for their display. As the meeting continued, the Student Senate decided, instead, to discuss the matter to encourage debate, rather than denounce the students responsible. A representative on behalf of the artists, “James,” fielded questions at the ASG meeting.

The identities of the artists have not been disclosed on the grounds of protection.

According to their representative, the artists completed the project for an introductory art class. The specific idea was verbally approved by their teacher and another member of the art department. The display was set up in a tree across from the art building on Patterson Avenue. The display was meant to be viewed from 8a.m. until 5:30p.m. Police were notified and arrived on the scene at 5:20p.m.

The Student Senate questioned what the project was supposed to represent. James explained the tire swing represented childhood, and the scaffold knots represented death. The way they were attached to the tree was even taken into account. Internally, it was to be a reflecting piece on life, death, and why lies between the two.

Brian Wood, ASG vice president of management, asked “What measures were taken by professors to possibly change symbolic references of the project?” James responded that the project initially consisted of nooses hanging in the tree with plank swings. It was later changed to the tire swing in order to symbolize life and the circular motion of the scaffold knot.

In response to the incident, ASG will schedule discussions for the student body.

Jacque Rupert, a junior and off-campus ASG senator did not see the actual display. As president of Edun Live, however, she was appalled by it. Edun Live is a social entrepreneurship group on campus that was founded by U2’s lead singer, Bono. The group works with African-American workers to produce African cotton T-shirts, which are then sold in the United States. The goal of the organization is to teach individuals in Africa how to sustain a proper lifestyle for themselves and work for real wages to support their families. “For someone to display an action that goes against what our organization works for- - to give African Americans a chance to live a successful and productive lifestyle without racism and hate, - -I find intentionally hurtful,” Rupert said.

The historic symbolism of the noose dates to the 16 to 18 century in England as well as Colonial America. The symbol is known as the hangman’s knot or hangman’s nose which is the most common visual symbol associated with the act of hanging, especially, hanging associated with racial violence.

Events involving nooses in Louisiana increased the seriousness of and attention to events at Miami. On Dec. 4, 2006, six African-American teenagers were charged with the assault of Caucasian student Justin Barker at Jena High School in Jena, La. The town has been grappling with high racial tensions sparked by a symbolic tree at the high school. Three nooses were hung on what students know as the “white tree” which led to a black student asking permission to sit under the tree. The accumulation of these events grew to numerous protests and hate crimes in the months that followed.

These events in Jena generated widespread media coverage such as Congressional hearings and even a song called “Jena” by singer John Mellencamp. Coverage of the events at Miami quickly spread, as well, the Cincinnati Enquirer to TV in Cincinnati to nationally recognized media such as MSNBC.

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