So, this year is my third year as an RA at Mercyhurst and although I live in an area where not too much ever happens, I have been to some student apartments that really are going downhill. And I don't mean the mess that some students have in their apartments (my room is a complete mess every day) but the living conditions in those apartments. Built in the 1950s, the Briggs and Lewis apartments really need some work in order to make them worth the money we pay for them here at Mercyhurst.
Before I came to Mercyhurst I looked at the webpage to find out everything possible about the campus. I found some pictures that showed what the apartments look like. Well, typically every website wants to advertise with only the best things, so I found out pretty soon that the apartments did not look the same IN REALITY! So, I moved into an apartment my Freshman year (because I am an adult student) and well, I thought that as a Freshman you pretty much don't have any rights to a nicer looking apartment. OMG, I was so wrong. Well, of course you can try for the townhouses when you're an upperclassman, but only if you also pay even more than we already pay.
I am a Senior now and I have been to quite a number of apartments on campus. The list of all the things that make these apartments not worth what we pay for them goes from windows that don't shut properly (which is nice during the Erie winter) all the way up to leaking gas stoves (!!!). Not to mention the big problems with mold in the Wayne street apartments, which gets overpainted every year.
And here comes the big hit: The school is announcing on their webpage that they are spending $32 million to construct two new buildings (http://www.mercyhurst.edu/construction/). I'm just wondering why!
Of course Mercyhurst wants to attract new students with a nice look, but how about KEEPING current students who just had to suffer through the shock of learning that tuition was bumped up to 31K!!! I just wonder what we pay this money for if noone seems to care about the living conditions in current student housing. It seems like the school only cares about the West side of campus; not the East side. PLUS, word is out that they are planning to build a better, larger Ice Rink for a couple million dollars as well. Sure, we have a Division 1 Ice Hockey team, but what about the rest of the students? Just like every parent should care about ALL his or her children the same way, I think that every school should care about EVERY student as if they were all Division 1!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Hurst TV vs. The Merciad
With the first week of school, the Merciad has been up and running again through the hard work of dedicated writers and editors. The fourth week of school has just started today and not only has Hurst TV not started the production of shows, but some producers have already started to cancel productions for this week and moved them to the fifth week. Somebody who is not an insider, like students who are not involved in Hurst TV, the people in the community, or President Gamble, might wonder why.
The biggest reason for such a difference is, as usual, money. While the Merciad writers get paid $10 per article (which is equivalent to a paper for class) the producers of a whole 30-minute TV show (which is equivalent to a six to 8 hour work day including all the preparations) get paid $0! Hence, working in a TV studio might be attractive, but earning money keeps you alive and happy; at least in our society.
Every year, the Communication Department staff and faculty have tried to make Hurst TV more attractive, but were denied any help from the Walker School of Business, which the Communication Department is part of. They fought for the replacement of old (and not working) technology, such as editing machines and cameras, with new technology and succeeded only through the involvement of the President of the College. However, new technology does not convince students to give up some of their free time and work on TV shows that give them nothing else than one more line in their resume.
In the past three years I have seen many good attempts for shows, but however enthusiastic, they failed in producing a continuous show because of the lack of team members. Since TV production is team work and they knew that Hurst TV has very few viewers, they decided to quit as well. Only a few people succeeded in producing shows that are somehow reoccurring, but nevertheless, the shows do not attract any new viewers yet.
Why does a school that places so much focus on the intelligence of the students (to go to Mercyhurst you have to have an SAT score of at least 1100) and so much importance on looks and prestige not care about the life and well-being of one of its departments? The Communication Department is part of the Walker School of Business (what it has to do with business remains unanswered), one of the richest schools at Mercyhurst. However, Hurst TV does not receive any funding to pay for its producers and staff; not even to buy enough tapes for its few productions.
However, the few people who fight for the survival of Hurst TV have not yet given up their fight. This week is the official first week of productions and the Hurst TV staff is trying to look at this year as a new beginning. We now have a GA who is monitoring the show productions an we have two new station managers who are responsible for TV productions. With the few that are willing to work without money and who do not mind spending their free time for the good of Hurst TV, we strive to keep Hurst TV alive and make this year a year to remember.
The biggest reason for such a difference is, as usual, money. While the Merciad writers get paid $10 per article (which is equivalent to a paper for class) the producers of a whole 30-minute TV show (which is equivalent to a six to 8 hour work day including all the preparations) get paid $0! Hence, working in a TV studio might be attractive, but earning money keeps you alive and happy; at least in our society.
Every year, the Communication Department staff and faculty have tried to make Hurst TV more attractive, but were denied any help from the Walker School of Business, which the Communication Department is part of. They fought for the replacement of old (and not working) technology, such as editing machines and cameras, with new technology and succeeded only through the involvement of the President of the College. However, new technology does not convince students to give up some of their free time and work on TV shows that give them nothing else than one more line in their resume.
In the past three years I have seen many good attempts for shows, but however enthusiastic, they failed in producing a continuous show because of the lack of team members. Since TV production is team work and they knew that Hurst TV has very few viewers, they decided to quit as well. Only a few people succeeded in producing shows that are somehow reoccurring, but nevertheless, the shows do not attract any new viewers yet.
Why does a school that places so much focus on the intelligence of the students (to go to Mercyhurst you have to have an SAT score of at least 1100) and so much importance on looks and prestige not care about the life and well-being of one of its departments? The Communication Department is part of the Walker School of Business (what it has to do with business remains unanswered), one of the richest schools at Mercyhurst. However, Hurst TV does not receive any funding to pay for its producers and staff; not even to buy enough tapes for its few productions.
However, the few people who fight for the survival of Hurst TV have not yet given up their fight. This week is the official first week of productions and the Hurst TV staff is trying to look at this year as a new beginning. We now have a GA who is monitoring the show productions an we have two new station managers who are responsible for TV productions. With the few that are willing to work without money and who do not mind spending their free time for the good of Hurst TV, we strive to keep Hurst TV alive and make this year a year to remember.
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