Final Article

To Work, Study, or do Both
Alx George
The Commuter

What you probably didn't know about work study: it's flexible, it's a great work experience and applying is easy as one two three. Beverly Gering, director of Financial Aid and Veteren's Affairs (at LBCC), took a break from the books to explain the mystery of how work study works.

To cut it down to size, work study is a program available to students who apply via their FAFA. All you have to do is check the box indicating that you're interested in doing work study. After that, the FAFSA will indicate to financial aid whether or not you would qualify for the program. Gering strongly encourages all students to "fill out their FAFSA early (asap)".

Once you've applied and then (hopefully) been accepted, you need to do a few more easy steps (listed in the How to Completely Apply box) before you can actually start working. Once those are completed and you're situated in your new job, you're all set to go for a term (or several). So where does the flexiblity come in? As you may have seen (in the box) you get to set up when you work and for how long (term wise). Gering explained that the managers (of wherever you work) are happy to work things out with you. After all, "school comes first".

Here's another thing Gering wants students to know about work study: "...it's a great learning experience". Considering you're working like you would at practically any other job, work study provides students with the opportunity to gain  work experience and job skills that they will be able to take with them wherever they go. You will have to perform the duties required of your position as well as exercise skills of being on time (though you probably already do that for your classes), working on a team (with your coworkers)...skills like that which are very valuable.

There's work study in a nutshell: it's a great flexible program that provides a good learning experience and applying is much easier than you probably thought. With the click of a button, you could be on your way to having some of your financial and time management problems solved. Why not give it a shot?

How to Completely Apply:

• click interested box on FAFSA
• wait for an email notification from LBCC
• turn in required documents (W-4, etc)
• wait to be awarded (six to eight weeks)
• check out your award on your SIS account
• go to the Career Center and pick a place to work
• set up your schedule with your manager
• get to work!

Important Websites:

• FAFSA: www.FAFSA.ed.gov
• LBCC: www.linnbenton.edu
• LBCC Financial Aid: www.linnbenton.edu/go/financial-aid

Possible Work Places:

• Courtyard Cafe
• Hot Shot Coffee Cart
• Library
• Student Union
• Learning Center
• Go to the Career Center and check out more

For more info, please either go to www.linnbenton.edu/go/financial-aid or go to the Financail Aid office in Takena Hall on the Albany Campus

Neighborhood Photo Essay

Chris Cochran (left), a sophomore at Philomath High School, looks busy with the register at the Philomath Dairy Queen. Brian Jones (center), plays around on his bike while at the Philomath Skate park. Thomas Garrettson (lower right) age 5, bounces a basketball during a Philomath High School boy's basketball practice.

 

Sport Photo

Jacob Erickson, a sophomore at Philomath High School, prepares to pass or shoot during a Friday after-school practice.

Delayed Summary of Journalism Conference in Wilsonville

Last weekend (Nov. 14) some staff and students from the Commuter (including myself) went to Wilsonville to hear a journalism textbook author  speak about how journalists (particularly those who work for newspapers) can be successful today.

The very first thing he talked about was that there are two things a journalist/newspaper needs to focus on: attracting eyeballs and delivering information as efficiently and effectively as possible. Today, that involves using multimedia (videos, podcasts, etc.). Another thing that may be involved is breaking up a story.

Now this took hours to explain, however I'm pretty sure most people got it. And quite a few were probably excited about incorporating it. And here "it" is: stop writing such long winded stories. Write a few paragraphs, and use other things to tell the story (interview boxes, question and answer boxes, fact boxes, how-to boxes, etc.). SCANDALOUS!!!!

Or is it? Today, most people are incredibly busy, so they rarely have time to sit down and skim the newspaper let alone read it. So how can we (as journalists of any kind) make people want to find time to look at the stuff we're pumping out for them? Attract their eyeballs and efficiently and effectively deliver the information (does this sound familiar?).

Take home message(s):

Go ahead and break up that story
Use multimedia
Take time to make your stuff attractive
And remember: journalism is about the readers, not the journalists.

Legendary Talent at the Hot Shot

Alx George
The Commuter

The Hot Shot Coffee House offers students real world experience.

Upon the creation of Hot Shots, management and worker positions opened up. With the aid of the Hot Shot Talent Grant and work-study positions, students have been running the Hot Shot Coffee Cart for about five years
   
The staff of Hot Shots consists of baristas, who are in a work-study program, and the student manager, who is supported by the Hot Shot Talent Grant. The talent grant presents the opportunity for one business student, with some assistance from staff in the student union building,  to run the coffee cart. Andrew Bowder is the current manager of the coffee cart and receiver of the grant.
   
“It’s a challenge I wanted to take,“ said Bowder.

In the job, Bowder gets to learn general management skills, such as creating proposals, ordering and  purchasing supplies and looking for ways to improve the flow at the coffee cart. He is also always looking for students in the work-study programs to be potential baristas.

“Every term is different,”  Explained Bowder.

What Bowder really wants students and staff to know about the Hot Shot Coffee Cart is that even though coffee service stops at noon, the Hot Shot is still open until about 4 p.m.

“It’s a cool place to meet new friends. This place is a really relaxing place for homework,“ said student Coddie Marshall.

According to Terry Gordier, department secretary for Student Life and Leadership, there used to be a little recreation area where the Hot Shot is currently located. This recreation area had pool tables, games and activities for students to use, all for a small fee that would go back into the school.    
Unfortunately, the funds generated by this student recreation area could not play their part in sustaining LBCC’s activities. So, students in the ASG put their heads together and came up with the idea of changing the recreation area into space for a coffee cart. With that, the Hot Shot Coffee House  was created.

Over time, to make it look more like a coffee house, furniture was added, along with the television and computers that are there now to make it more like a coffee house.
   
“It’s a really just laid-back hangout kind of place," says barista Jamie Butler. "And you don’t have to be into coffee to hang out here. We offer lots of other drinks besides coffee."

Photo Essay Brain Storm

I want to do something called People Behind the Register. I'd take pictures of people at a register (that would be the theme), but from a variety of places (restaurants, stores, etc). I need to make sure to get a variety of people and places. It'd be kind of hard to tell it in a story format, hence why the register is crucial for unifying the subjects.

Photo Critique

Like many others, I've fallen in love with the romantic idea of going to Italy. With that in mind, I searched Google Images for an interesting photo. I found this one and was taken away by the beautiful layering of the buildings (it looks like they're on terraces). I also love the beige/green colors that are constant the main focus of the photo. The water even gives a nice glow to the photo without glaring. As a photojournalist, I have to say that I'm disappointed about the lack of people in the photo. I know there are a few on the bank, but their faces aren't visible. As a tourist, I'd like to see more available pictures of people enjoying Italy rather than looking at pretty scenic photos.