The College Perspective by Lindsey

The story I picked talks about a voodoo store in Topeka, Kansas and how the owner faces some backlash from the community but wants to expand her store and make it a center for entertainment and art in Topeka.

I would maybe start the story with this quote: “She pulls some surprising things out of the air. She can shock you.” The owner of Topeka’s only “botanica” shop has more to offer than voodoo magic according to her sister, Holly Regnier.

This lead could also work: Professionally trained “asogwe” Darlene Regnier is working to make Santeria and Voodoo accessible to followers in the Midwest.

I recently read a story about a blind man who uses echolocation to figure out where he is and where he’s going in addition to a cane. He’s been blind since the age of two, but that hasn’t stopped him from being completely independent.

This is the official lead to the original story: “The first thing Daniel Kish does, when I pull up to his tidy gray bungalow in Long Beach, California, is make fun of my driving. “You’re going to leave it that far from the curb?” he asks. He’s standing on his stoop, a good 10 paces from my car. I glance behind me as I walk up to him. I am, indeed, parked about a foot and a half from the curb.”

Because the title emphasizes that the man is blind, it was kind of shocking to think that he would know where this man parked his car. I wasn’t expecting it. It made me want to know how this was possible.

Potential new leads:

Blind does not equal helpless. At least that’s what Daniel Kish wants you to believe.

Everyone you meet seems to have an opinion on bats. Some find them cute, others find them nightmare-inducing, especially when they find one in their home. For one blind man, bats aren’t just cute or terrifying. They possess a useful skill that helps Daniel Kish live out his life in blissful independence.

Daniel Kish is a modern-day self-made man, paving the way for blind people and their quality of life.

On the longform stories site, I recently read the history behind the hideous bold-printed “grandma couches” of the 1950’s through the 1970’s.

This story has two primary characters: the “grandma,” whether that’s the author’s grandma or grandmas of the time, she is a major character in the setting and telling of the story.

The second primary character is the expert: Pam Kueber, who runs the blog Retro Renovation and offers insight into what influenced people of the time.

In terms of narrative structure, the author focuses on her own personal connection to the topic, an anecdote about her grandmother, and then leads to facts about the time period and what lead people to choose that particular style for their homes for so long. Then she brings the focus back to the grandmothers and how the couches had an impact on their lives and brought families together. I would say this structure most closely follows the Kabob style discussed by Harrower.

The author follows the themes of fashion trends, history, family, and human connections. It is sometimes rare that so many people can bond over something as simple as a couch design in their grandparents’ houses. Fashion trends will always be of interest to some, but the author takes it beyond that, explaining why it is important to know how this couch came about and the mark it left on a generation.

I recently noticed this article in The New York Times about new sexual misconduct rules on campuses that would give more rights to the victims.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/29/us/politics/devos-campus-sexual-assault.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Here are some stories that I think could branch off of that one:

1. Stories of students at Morningside who have been sexually assaulted and how they feel about these laws. (Potentially difficult)

2. How professors feel about their ability to keep students safe.

3. How can colleges address the fact that most students don’t want to formally complain about their attacker?

4. Are schools fully equipped to deal with a serious criminal matter like sexual harassment?

5. Chronology of sexual assault and college campus issues from the past 50? years. Are new rules a  beneficial byproduct of the #MeToo movement or continued issue for the foreseeable future?

A story is something that connects people, places, events, and cultures from all around the world. With stories, people can experience what they never have before, they can reach out to people they wouldn’t have met, and they experience the past.

Without stories, life continues in a bubble. People continue to go to work, talk to their neighbors, take care of their families, but there’s something missing: the ability to grow as people and connect through storytelling. Every civilization throughout history had its own form and purpose behind storytelling, but in the end, it brings people together.

It gives writers a creative outlet. It gives photographers and artists to show the human perspective. It allows us to be human.

In a time when nonfiction storytelling can be considered propaganda or fake news, it is important that we remember the power and importance of good storytelling.

1. What is causing a rise in school shootings?
2. What is the difference in Juul popularity in high school v. college students?
3. How do college students feel about the future of politics in America?
4. How are students dealing with crippling student debt after college?
5. What can journalism students learn from the current hostile media climate?

A fire in a warehouse called the Ghost Ship in Oakland, California has resulted in at least 36 dead. The warehouse was a place where concerts were regularly held and many artists lived there for lower rent prices than at a regular apartment building. The couple who ran the warehouse, not the owner, had several complaints filed against them at this location and others for hazardous living conditions as well as a buildup of trash outside of the residence. The couple also didn’t have permits for other people to live there or concerts to be held. Many of the residents reported that the place was a fire trap with improper construction and boarded up exits. However, an inspector can only enter the residence if the owner or a resident lets them in, which nobody would do for fear of being evicted, so officials have had a hard time getting things in motion. The couple also hid these living conditions from the owner of the warehouse. Besides these roadblocks, many of the other warehouses and similar buildings in the area have been used for illegal residences for artists and others who don’t want to pay full rent anywhere else, so officials are swamped with requests to check all of these buildings out for illegal issues.

I believe this story is newsworthy because when tragedies like this happen, people always look for someone to blame and it’s often the owners of the place who comes under fire but the system itself is what is barring officials from truly helping people. The audience is people outside of Oakland, California who don’t know much about the area, as there are maps and many descriptions of what the area is like, something people in the area would already know.

Since this story has been out for several days, I believe the lead was effective, because it sets a story about the complaints that have been piling up instead of talking about the blaze which most people already know the details of. This article is the story behind why the fire could have been able to happen in such an environment.

The story definitely has a point of view against people living illegally in the buildings, emphasizing how difficult it was for officials to make a difference because of the way of life the couple who ran the warehouse were helping promote, making a dangerous environment for their tenants. Not much is missing except the article could maybe use some more quotes from the couple who ran the place, as they only have their initial statements of sorrow at losing many close friends in the fire.

The link to the original story can be found here: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/05/us/oakland-fire-ghost-ship-warehouse.html?hpw&rref=us&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0

An explosion at the Mega City Mall this morning left two dead and less than 100 injured.

The food court of the mall was the center of the blast. Eyewitnesses recall the room filled with fire and debris littering the floor. People were screaming and trying to exit the building as soon as possible.

A member of Mall Security, Mikaela Livengood, saw suspicious activity before the blast. “I was walking by the food court when I saw a person dressed all in black with their hood up. They set a box on the table and walked away. I didn’t think much about it. About thirty seconds after that, there was an explosion.”

Livengood would continue to help people out of the building while off duty nurse Jared Martin attended to the injured.

Martin was waiting at the doors of Gamestop when the explosion occurred. He quickly rushed to the scene and saw the mall janitor, Kaycie Strobl, in distress.

Strobl explained her injuries, reeling from the effects of a mild concussion and debris in her leg. Martin rushed to her aid, “I pulled the shrapnel out of her leg, cleaned it and wrapped it up. I shined a light in her eyes to check for a concussion. When she was stable I moved on to the next person.”

Most of the injured were taken to St. Mercy and Jean-Luc hospitals. Many of the injuries were related to smoke and fire inhalation. The names of the dead have yet to be released.

Homeland Security will be working alongside local police to find the source of the explosion. No suspects have been named, but security footage will be heavily analyzed.

The mall will remain closed through the weekend.

An explosion occurred at Mega City Mall at 9:50 am today, resulting in two deaths and less than 100 injured.

The explosion occurred before the mall had opened, most of the people inside were employees or mall walkers. The blast affected a large section of the food court and parts of Ikea.

Before the explosion, a suspicious person dressed all in black wearing a hood was seen by a member of mall security, Mikaela Livengood, putting a box on a table. Livengood who was walking by the food court at the time estimated the time of the explosion to be about thirty seconds after the box was placed.

Livengood quickly went towards the scene of the explosion to help people outside before emergency crews arrived. She remembers there being multiple fires and debris everywhere, people were scared, trying to run out of the building as soon as possible.

Most of the injuries reported by St. Mercy and Jean-Luc hospitals are from fire and smoke inhalation, however other serious injuries occurred, involving a head and foot. The names of those who died have yet to be released. They were pronounced dead on the scene by the fire department.

The mall janitor, Kaycie Strobl, was in the center of the food court cleaning the floor when the explosion occurred. She suffered a mild concussion and had a piece of debris lodged in her leg before an off duty nurse, Jared Martin, cleared the shrapnel and patched up her wound. Martin stayed on to help members of the emergency crew after the initial explosion.

Mall security has reported no other incidents like this explosion in the past few months besides the regular shoplifting.

Investigative units and fire rescue teams from Mega City, Central City, Starling City, and Astro city have been dispatched to the scene. Homeland Security has also been informed, as is procedure, and will be conducting an investigation alongside the Mega City Police Department.

Video footage of the food court that wasn’t damaged by the explosion has been found and will be part of the investigative process. Police are also looking into the possibility of any disgruntled employees who were fired in the last few months.

According to Captain Fuglsang of the Mega City Police Department, there are no suspects at this time and no known cause of the bomb. In terms of an act of terror, Fuglsang reports there is not enough evidence to confirm terrorism at this time.

The mall will remain closed at least through the weekend.

The moment Brock Bourek’s life changed was the same moment he was handed a simple nail.

After his first role at his community’s theater his junior year of high school, he stood on the stage after all the props had been cleared off, thinking about all he had just accomplished. It was at that time that the director walked up to him, handed him a nail from the set and said, “Brock, you nailed it. Good job.”

At that moment, Bourek knew with every fiber of his being that he wanted to be an actor. He carries that nail with him as a reminder of all he has accomplished. And now, in the college world, he has achieved something that could open even more doors in his future.

Bourek now has the chance to showcase his skills on a broader scale than ever before, as he has been selected to participate in the Kennedy Center American College Festival’s Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition along with Jaden Lux. Bourek and a partner, Travis Metzger, will perform against other college students across the country.

Bourek was chosen after his most recent role in “True West”, where Morningside College asked a respondent from the Kennedy Center to come and watch the show to talk to cast members afterwards about all the different aspects. Then one or two actors were chosen based on how well they did in the show and how they answered the questions asked afterwards by the respondent.

Students will compete for a week in January where there are three levels with different time limits. The first level is where Bourek will perform a monologue and a scene with his partner, Metzger, all under three minutes. Only 32 groups advance after this round.

In the next round Bourek will perform two of the pieces he has prepared from the play “Death of a Salesman” with Metzger in under five minutes.

He will then perform the same two scenes and monologue with Metzger. This level has to be under six minutes.

Professor Clemens recognizes the challenge of working with such a short deadline, but recognizes how much talent Bourek has, strengthening his faith in his performance ability during the upcoming festival.

“What Brock’s real strong suit is is that he is willing to make choices…he likes to do the work, he’s a hard worker. He has a really good work ethic. And again, he’s young and he’s green yet, so there’s certain things that he needs to learn and just get used to doing, so I mean just the fact that he’s still so young is kind of a weakness. His strong work ethic is what will really help him out,” Clemens said.

Bourek will be in the first group of Morningside College students that are involved with the Kennedy Center Festival, and Professor Clemens hopes to make this year become the norm. He hopes to get funds for other theater students to go to the festival every year and get the insight, networking, and coaching from the workshops that are provided every year for students no matter what their involvement in the competition.

Bourek is beyond excited for the competition. He told his mom and girlfriend as soon as he knew and hopes he will make it all the way to the end despite the short timeline for preparation. He definitely believes he was born to be an actor, his life would be very dull without it.

Growing up in Columbus, Nebraska, Bourek performed many skits for friends and family, but it wasn’t until he was in third grade that acting became a real passion for him. His mom asked if he wanted to be a part of a children’s theater group and Bourek hasn’t stopped acting since, resulting in his involvement in over forty performances where he has been an actor as well as a director, with a particular emphasis in singing roles. His favorite part remains the response from the people who attend his shows.

“The most rewarding part is afterwards, um, just going out, you know, into the lobby and saying, ‘Hey’, you know, ‘thanks for coming’, and people just going ‘Wow, that was good, that was really good’, or ‘That was incredible, that was the best thing I’ve ever seen’, you know, and things like that. That just, that’s what brings joy to my heart is that I love the fact that my acting can inspire others, that it can influence people, it can get people to think a certain way, that they can change their mind about a certain viewpoint.”

Bourek often finds inspiration in Hollywood films for his acting today. He says “I love watching movies. Most people watch movies because they just love the enjoyment of what’s going on in the movie, where I love watching movies to find other things that actors do.”

In the world of specific talented celebrities, Bourek enjoys the acting abilities of several different male actors who inspire his own work. “One of my favorite people to watch is actually James Franco. A lot of people think that I have like a man crush on him or whatever but he is a phenomenal actor who is very underrated. He always brings something new to the table and has all these little quirks about him. And I also think Dustin Hoffman and Tom Hanks are phenomenal as well.”

Over the years as Bourek has found inspiration and grown in the acting world, he has struggled with memorization, but with the knowledge of new techniques, he gets more confident in his lines every day.

He also faces setbacks just by being very young in a world where experience and age can get you further in acting. Facing auditions where he isn’t sure how he will be perceived and how badly he wants to get certain parts also causes some issues for Bourek, but with his friendly and welcoming personality, it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like him. As his acting partner Metzger pointed out, “I met him last year when he was a freshman and my first impression was ‘Wow, this is a great guy.’ I don’t think I’m wrong, I think Brock is a wonderful person and he’s just very welcoming and warm and open.”

Professor Taylor Clemens echoed those sentiments, adding how much he believed in Bourek’s abilities. “You know, actually, honestly, my first impression was that there was actually quite a bit of potential in him acting wise, he just is very exuberant. He is a very happy kind of guy. It just seemed like he had a good attitude and the right attitude for this profession actually.”

With all of his years of experience, Bourek has acquired many strengths. He excels in improv and is always open to learning, a skill that both the assistant professor of theater, Taylor Clemens, and Bourek’s acting partner, Travis Metzger agree with, as Professor Clemens especially pointed out how Bourek is good at making decisions in acting and sticking with them, a skill accomplished actors need to have.

Because of his skills, Bourek’s dream job would be to work at SNL, a goal he believes is entirely reachable, but he has decided for more realistic purposes to pursue a job with Missoula Children’s theater, the same company that first got him started in serious acting in third grade.

As Bourek moves on to the competition, his advice to fellow actors is simple.