Meeting rewritten

A vote of 13-1 by the Albany Common Council, Nick D’Antonio was chosen as commissioner of the Department of General Services on Monday.

The Department of General Services, as stated on the main website of Albany Council County, “increases efficiency and cost effectiveness, streamlines operations and maximizes existing County resources by providing centralized, coordinated services to other departments of County government.”

In spite of allegations made by Elise Van Allen, an Albany resident and previous employee of Johnson and Johnson against D’Antonio regarding stealing the city of Albany’s trash money, Mayor Gerald D. Jennings’ nominee was chosen.

Van Allen would agree with the one vote against D’Antonio. “They have stolen from the city of Albany” she said. Van-Allen claims that the allegations made against D’Antonio and his crew were not fully investigated. According to her, the Times Union wrote an article called “Trash for Cash” about two years ago which accused D’Antonio and co-workers of taking the cash value of metal trash. Certain metal garbage has a high cash value which should have been returned to the city of Albany but somehow it disappeared. “It was not being remitted to the city, it was being used for pizza parties” said Van-Allen. Additionally, Van-Allen mentioned that D’Antonio had claims against him for threatening a certain employee’s family member’s jobs.

Van Allen believed that what mattered were morals and the law. “I was always brought up that you did the right thing” she said. “If you hold the law you wouldn’t nominate someone with allegations against them” said Van Allen. Stealing from the city of Albany is most definitely not the “right thing.”

Although Van-Allen strongly stood by her decision, the Common Council had to agree with Cory Johnson, supervisor of the sanitation department who said, “This man stepped in and made a remarkable transformation.” Throughout the course of the public comments which were extended for 15 minutes, many of D’Antonio’s co-workers rooted for him. Almost all said, “I hope the vote that takes place in this room is a positive one.”

Unfortunately for Van-Allen, D’Antonio is now the new commissioner and all accusations against him have been disregarded.

Final Paper

Classes are closed. Seats remaining: Zero. At the University at Albany where nearly 17,000 students attend, access to classes have become limited and almost impossible for students to obtain.

Every semester, all students are required to pre register for classes. Each student, depending on their status and year at the university, receives a different registration date. Athletes normally get first pick. Although it may seem as if athletes deserve the privilege due to their busy schedules, some students disagree. Julie Kim, a freshman at the University, said, “It is unfair that athletes get first pick; it should go according to students’ G.P.A because it is academics.”
There have been instances in which athletes not only reserve seats for themselves, but for their non-athlete friends as well. Jessica Savitt, a freshman, said, “Sean held a class for me because he signed up for classes on the first day of registration; the second he drops it, I add it.” Such occurrences are problematic to other students at the University who are trying to sign up for classes they need.

Aside from the athletes’ privileges, first semester freshman have availabilities to almost all classes as well. Faith Sampson, another freshman said, “Fall of freshman year was the easiest because everything is open to you.” This vast amount of availability for freshman leaves fewer seats for students who are further in their college career.

It is safe to say that the University does worry about students’ education; but do they worry more about freshman? Incoming freshman are scared and worried they won’t have the experience they want. The school guarantees them a great education; by doing so, they must have extra seats open for freshman only. With an incoming class of 2,500 students, where does the school draw the line? William R. Rainbolt, Director of the Department of Journalism at the University explained that it is as if the school has everything available to freshman but then once they are sophomores, it goes downhill. He said, “It is not fair, it’s a disservice to students” when talking about classes being unavailable to many.

For 2008’s fall registration, the University’s website shows seats remaining for classes. The list almost always goes as such: “Seats for Freshman- 25, Seats for Sophomore- 0, Seats for all others- 3.” The availability for freshman is so immense that in The Oceans, taught by Michael G. Landin, there are 290 seats remaining for freshman and zero seats remaining for sophomore. Brett Benjamin, Director of the Undergraduate Department of English who has been working at the University for 9 years said, “We do our best to try and protect seats for sophomores.” However, many are left with fewer classes than required to be considered a full time student. Students must resort to attending the classes they want to take even if they are not enlisted in them. Adam Bakhash, a junior, said, “I have had to sit in for a while and beg.”

Every department gives out permission numbers which are given to students who show they really want to take the class. When asked about the amount of permission numbers given, Debbie A. Bourassa, Secretary for the Communications Department who has been working at the University for 20 years, said, “hundreds.” Rainbolt said he has “325 permission numbers” for the fall. Even when students sit in on classes they are not enlisted in to receive permission numbers, one is never guaranteed. Should students have to resort to such measures? Every university should make it possible for their students to gain the best education possible. Tiffany Degraff a freshman, said, “Yes, I have tried to sign up for classes and they have been closed.”
Alexandra Stevens, a junior, explained that she has an internship lined up for the fall and may need to switch around class times. However, she is unable to do so due to the lack of seat availability, which may risk her opportunity as an intern.

Sean Bailey, a junior said, “Just about every semester, I get locked out of a class that I need.” But how far does this “locking out” really go? He said, “It’s caught up with me because now I have to take summer classes and maybe even an extra semester. Because of the minimal seating availabilities for students, Bailey along with many others students are required to continue their education at the University for longer than originally planned.

Students should be given options so that they can graduate within four years. This is not the case in the Communications Department. Out of approximately 17,000 students, 606 are declared communication majors and 371 are intended majors. There is only one 265x class offered for the fall. Jen Meth, a freshman, said, “Find more professors who can teach a class.” But according to Bourassa “We will probably never offer more than one section for 265x.” With the great amount of communication majors, the lack of faculty affects everyone. Gwendolyn Moore, Department Chair for Women’s Studies who has been working at the University for 20 years said, “We’d like to have more faculty; ideally, students should be able to choose what they need and want.”

Students need and want greater access to classes. Rainbolt said, “It’s a tight budget.” Instead of the University paying teachers more to teach extra classes, money is being spent on expanding the campus center and renovating the dormitories. These are important needs for students but the school’s first priority should be the academics.

The University’s Website, Albany.edu states, “Students are encouraged to challenge themselves, to explore the world about them, and then to accept the responsibility that comes with scholarship and freedom.” With so many classes closed, challenging oneself is nearly impossible. Students and parents want to know their money is being well spent and they are getting all the school has to offer; in this case, the school has a lack of seats to offer. Rainbolt said, “It is a problem and I think it’s one the University needs to address.”

Lucy Dalglish

Lucy Dalglish is the Executive Director of the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press. The University at Albany had the honor of having Dalglish speak at the Sciene Library last night. After listening to her speak, it is safe to say she is an amazing person who had accomplished great things in life. Even with the fact that she suffered from cancer, she still managed to get back on her geet and continue being the great reporter she is.


During her speech she spoke a lot about Toni Locy. Toni Locy wrote an article about Steven Hatfill being a suspect for the spread of Anthrax. Unfortunately, she threw away her notes and was later sued by Hatfill. She now has to pay $5,000 a day and is not allowed to be reimbursed. Toni Locy’s case lays out an excellent example of reporters’ issues. Reporters try as best they can to be truthful and inform the public of current events. Today, mentioning a name can lead to bigger problems than imagined. Dalglish mentioned in her speech that it is better to have confidential sources than to not have sources at all. She said that reporters should “do the best you can at the time.” Locy’s case was unfortunate but it is common with reporters around the world. Dalglish is trying to get a shield law to be passed so that reporters won’t be limited to information.


When questions were being asked, one student argued that Locy should have not published a story with Hatfill’s name because it is unnesecarry and unethical. Dalglish answered, “We don’t do ethics, we’re lawyers.”

Tom Toles

Tom Toles is a very famous cartoonist who works for the Washington Post. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1990 for being the best editorial cartoonist. He draws cartoons that tell the truth about public figures. Additionally, he told the Poynter Institute that he is a liberal but he does like to look at situations from different angles as opposed to one direct view. He draws very quickly and starts off with a draft in pencil, then moves it to nice paper and sketches his final works. His cartoons show up in about 200 newspapers. He took the place of another very famous cartoonist, Herblock. He is very successful and loves what he does. One of the many cartoons of his which I liked is this one. It shows the real issues going on with the war.

http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=7196

( I couldn't put another picture on the first blog so I had to write two)

Cartoonists

Sean Delonas is a cartoonist for the New York Post. He is an award winning painter who is very successful. He has worked for magazines, newspapers and even broadway. He painted the Altar Painting for Church of St. Agnes and he just finished his first childrens book with his son and is working on the second. Sean Delona usually draws funny cartoons for the Post. His cartoons represent current issues. After looking through many of his cartoons I thought the funniest was this one about Britney Spears. I like that he makes a joke out of both situations. One being the fact Michael Jackson is "into" little boys and two, that Britney Spears would leave her kids with him regardless.

http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=7196

Swift Boating

In 2004 John Kerry ran against George Bush for President of the United States. John Kerry however, had resentment against him from Swift Boat veterans. The Washington Post wrote an article regarding this situation published in august of 2004. Apparently, Kerry was considered a Hero for saving Jim Rassmanns life in Vietnam in 1969. He was named a hero and from then on was considered one until recently. Three of the swift boat skippers who were present on the same day Kerry was called a hero, said that Kerry was not even shot at and he left when it became the most dangerous. Swift Boat veterans were angry with Kerry because they were sprung with accusations while Kerry was seen as a hero and went onto a political career. The exact story of what occurred that day is a blur. Some say Kerry left after the situation got out of hand and others said he helped as much as he could. The Post mentions that when Kerry reunited with Rassmann, he won over the Iowa democratic vote. There are still people who do not agree with his doings and believe he shouldn’t have been commissioner.

Journalism

Both Bruce Squires and Jo-Ann Armao are two completly different types of journalists. Jo-Ann Armao spoke to our journalism class about writing editorials which I did not even know was a type of journalism. Before Armao spoke on Monday afternoon to the class, I thought editorials were people writing their opinions to the newspaper as opposed to actual journalists. She helped my fellow classmates and I learn a lot regarding editorials. Bruce Squires taught the class much of what there is to know about being a photojournalist.

Jo-Ann Armao, an editorial writer for the Washington Post, passed around a couple of editorials she wrote and expalined that although at times she may not agree with the position the newspaper she works for takes, she loves her job. Before becoming an editorial writer, Armao was a reporter and she said that by writing editorials she can get her voice heard. She loves being an editorial writer because when she interviews people, they open up to her more than to reporters due to the fact that everything is off the record. In editorials, no names, titles or background information is required. Armao loves her job and said she can never imagine going back to straight news reporting.

Bruce Squires, although not an editorial writer, he is a great photojournalist. He spoke to the class about his passion for taking pictures. Not only does he do it for his job but he finds himself taking pictures all the time. Squires said that he loves photography because "good pictures happen everywhere." Even though he does not have a favorite picture, he loves taking pictures which he is proud of. An example he gave the class was a picture he took of an elderly man walking in Johnstown and he took his name and did not think much of it. Six months later, he got a call from a woman saying "that picture was my father and he died." All types of journalism can have enormous affects on people's lives. Even if it is a small picture, it can change a person's life.