By: Shabana Aqil
“Montgomery County Community College is proud to present a public art project, The Face of Mental Health Recovery,” Diane Haar, Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Partnership on Work Enrichment and Readiness, or POWER, Program says of the I’m the Evidence Mental Health campaign. This campaign celebrates individuals recovering from mental illness and their supporters. Part of the campaign is an exhibition displaying their photography and their stories in Parkhouse Hall at Montco’s Central Campus.
During the workshop, people from our community who are recovering from mental illness and people from their support networks learn photography, the art of self-portraits and sharing their personal stories the public.
“One in four people in the United States live with mental illness,” says Sue Walther, Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Pennsylvania. “People are also able to recover and live full lives.”
Creating art on Montco’s campus helps build an understanding of the impact these stories have by addressing and helping to correct the misunderstandings and stigmas that too often surround mental illness.
The exhibit will be on display from June 19 to July 9, 2014.
To get involved in I’m the Evidence campaign, visit their website itecampaign.org.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Money and Media Have Issues
By: Dave Aston
BLUE BELL, PA--All campus media must drop itself under the umbrella of all key media issues. Whether it is a Montco Radio broadcast and an issue of slander or CAPG and an issue of digital manipulation, the need to be wary of these issues will never go away.
Libel and slander, which are simply written and spoken versions of defamation, have caused many businesses and individuals to lose serious amounts of money. The famous libel case of New York Times Co. vs. Sullivan highlights such a large loss. Before the New York Times brought its case to the Supreme Court, Sullivan had already won a 500,000 dollar judgment in Alabama. This case is chump change in comparison to a 2012 slander case that won casino mogul Steve Wyn 20 million dollars.
Censorship, though in modern times doesn’t garner millions of dollars in judgments, is another core issue for media creators. We want our creativity but we must be self-censors or we can lose our livelihoods in the blink of an eye. According to the American Library Association, many cases in the early twentieth century were criminal not civil. Nonetheless those criminal cases still led to a loss of money for those convicted.
Digital manipulation, the ability to modify images and videos with computer technology, goes hand-in-hand with defamation. When images are manipulated significantly beyond their original, the individuals involved often sue for damages. However, digital manipulation can also come in the form of records alteration. A case involving Warner Brothers and Clint Eastwood was one such example. In the end, it was determined that Warner Brothers had manipulated the information stored on the data disks and also had submitted fraudulent documents.
These issues fall under one major issue that guides proper judgment and justice in all matters, including media. Fair trial. Fair trial is the legal concept “that people can be sure that [judicial] processes will be fair and certain.” A violation of fair trial means the wrong party can be awarded damages or have a rightful case thrown out.
In all aspects of media, like life, on campus or not, we encounter these issues everyday. To maintain the livelihoods we want to pursue and build the reputations we want in the media industry, we must keep our eyes on all of them. That way, our creativity doesn’t lead to poverty.
BLUE BELL, PA--All campus media must drop itself under the umbrella of all key media issues. Whether it is a Montco Radio broadcast and an issue of slander or CAPG and an issue of digital manipulation, the need to be wary of these issues will never go away.
Libel and slander, which are simply written and spoken versions of defamation, have caused many businesses and individuals to lose serious amounts of money. The famous libel case of New York Times Co. vs. Sullivan highlights such a large loss. Before the New York Times brought its case to the Supreme Court, Sullivan had already won a 500,000 dollar judgment in Alabama. This case is chump change in comparison to a 2012 slander case that won casino mogul Steve Wyn 20 million dollars.
Censorship, though in modern times doesn’t garner millions of dollars in judgments, is another core issue for media creators. We want our creativity but we must be self-censors or we can lose our livelihoods in the blink of an eye. According to the American Library Association, many cases in the early twentieth century were criminal not civil. Nonetheless those criminal cases still led to a loss of money for those convicted.
Digital manipulation, the ability to modify images and videos with computer technology, goes hand-in-hand with defamation. When images are manipulated significantly beyond their original, the individuals involved often sue for damages. However, digital manipulation can also come in the form of records alteration. A case involving Warner Brothers and Clint Eastwood was one such example. In the end, it was determined that Warner Brothers had manipulated the information stored on the data disks and also had submitted fraudulent documents.
These issues fall under one major issue that guides proper judgment and justice in all matters, including media. Fair trial. Fair trial is the legal concept “that people can be sure that [judicial] processes will be fair and certain.” A violation of fair trial means the wrong party can be awarded damages or have a rightful case thrown out.
In all aspects of media, like life, on campus or not, we encounter these issues everyday. To maintain the livelihoods we want to pursue and build the reputations we want in the media industry, we must keep our eyes on all of them. That way, our creativity doesn’t lead to poverty.
Change is Upon Us
By: Mathias Stangl-Riehle
BLUE BELL, PA--Change happens all the time. Climate change is something that should not be happening all the time. Montgomery County Community College offers a course that goes in depth into the fundamentals of climate change, green house gasses and opportunities for how we can help slow down the adverse effects of climate change.
This course, “The Science of Climate Change,” is taught each fall at Montco's West Campus in Pottstown by Professor Robert Kuhlman. Rob, as he is known fondly by his students, has a passion for teaching about climate change. He explains that he believes climate change is "probably the single most important science [and] technology topic faced by the next generation of humanity on a global scale." Rob Kuhlman’s strong belief makes this course an important one and should be considered by any student interested in science or in need of a science elective.
“The Science of Climate Change” needs to be taught at both campuses and during both semesters. Sadly, Professor Kuhlman is currently the only instructor for this course. I feel that another instructor needs to learn the material and teach this course at the Main campus in Blue Bell.
Rob pointed out another reason that this course is not offered on both campuses. “Student demand hasn't been all that strong,” he said. Student demand for this course must be greater. We, the students of Montgomery County Community College must realize “The Science of Climate Change” is an extremely important topic. Climate change effects us every day. It will have a big impact on us in our future if we do not start learning its harmful effects now.
BLUE BELL, PA--Change happens all the time. Climate change is something that should not be happening all the time. Montgomery County Community College offers a course that goes in depth into the fundamentals of climate change, green house gasses and opportunities for how we can help slow down the adverse effects of climate change.
This course, “The Science of Climate Change,” is taught each fall at Montco's West Campus in Pottstown by Professor Robert Kuhlman. Rob, as he is known fondly by his students, has a passion for teaching about climate change. He explains that he believes climate change is "probably the single most important science [and] technology topic faced by the next generation of humanity on a global scale." Rob Kuhlman’s strong belief makes this course an important one and should be considered by any student interested in science or in need of a science elective.
“The Science of Climate Change” needs to be taught at both campuses and during both semesters. Sadly, Professor Kuhlman is currently the only instructor for this course. I feel that another instructor needs to learn the material and teach this course at the Main campus in Blue Bell.
Rob pointed out another reason that this course is not offered on both campuses. “Student demand hasn't been all that strong,” he said. Student demand for this course must be greater. We, the students of Montgomery County Community College must realize “The Science of Climate Change” is an extremely important topic. Climate change effects us every day. It will have a big impact on us in our future if we do not start learning its harmful effects now.
So You Want to be a Game Designer?
By: Alexandra Dooley
BLUE BELL, PA--Few people have a chance to get their dream job. One of the hardest and most sought-after fields is game design. It may be difficult area to get into, but not impossible.
In 2013, CNN made a list of the best jobs and on that list was that of video game designer, which made the fifteenth spot. CNN said there were a total of 520,800 people were already employed in the game design industry in 2013 and the number is expected to rise by 27.6 percent in the next ten years. The average salary for a game designer is around 72,000 dollars. Depending on where he or she is working, it could be more.
Game design is a wonderful job for creative and artistic people but it takes time, research, and money. The job of a game designer is to create worlds to explore, tell stories, and set goals for players to reach. A game designer has to sit at a desk and work on a computer many hours a day, working on codes, creating prototypes and deciding what kinds of actions players must take. This job that requires a keen eye for detail, patience and a tolerance for heated caffeinated beverages.
In the being of 2014, thirteen new games were released for the PlayStation alone, with six more to be released later in the year. Independent game developers have released their own games, pooling their funding via Kickstarter.com, a crowd-sourcing website. Some independently-developed games include “Hyper Light Drifter”, “ROUNDABOUT”, and “Gods Will Be Watching.”
The life of a game designer is a tough one at times but many enjoy their work so much that the good outweighs the bad. Despite their hard work, some game designers’ work never makes it to market. There have been many games that have been pulled from stores or never get finished due to lack of funding. But as the game designer I interviewed put it, “It’s hard work but [it is] worth seeing people play what you worked so hard on.”
BLUE BELL, PA--Few people have a chance to get their dream job. One of the hardest and most sought-after fields is game design. It may be difficult area to get into, but not impossible.
In 2013, CNN made a list of the best jobs and on that list was that of video game designer, which made the fifteenth spot. CNN said there were a total of 520,800 people were already employed in the game design industry in 2013 and the number is expected to rise by 27.6 percent in the next ten years. The average salary for a game designer is around 72,000 dollars. Depending on where he or she is working, it could be more.
Game design is a wonderful job for creative and artistic people but it takes time, research, and money. The job of a game designer is to create worlds to explore, tell stories, and set goals for players to reach. A game designer has to sit at a desk and work on a computer many hours a day, working on codes, creating prototypes and deciding what kinds of actions players must take. This job that requires a keen eye for detail, patience and a tolerance for heated caffeinated beverages.
In the being of 2014, thirteen new games were released for the PlayStation alone, with six more to be released later in the year. Independent game developers have released their own games, pooling their funding via Kickstarter.com, a crowd-sourcing website. Some independently-developed games include “Hyper Light Drifter”, “ROUNDABOUT”, and “Gods Will Be Watching.”
The life of a game designer is a tough one at times but many enjoy their work so much that the good outweighs the bad. Despite their hard work, some game designers’ work never makes it to market. There have been many games that have been pulled from stores or never get finished due to lack of funding. But as the game designer I interviewed put it, “It’s hard work but [it is] worth seeing people play what you worked so hard on.”
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
CENSORED: Who is Spinning the World Wide Web?
By Paige Murray and Andre Wilson, III
BLUE BELL,PA--The First Amendment allows us many privileges. Most relevant to college students and media creators alike is the right to freedom of speech.
Many Supreme Court cases have upheld this right. Cox vs. Cohn, for example, determined that Georgia could not prevent the press from releasing materials that are considered to be public record. The Miller vs. California case there was overruled state laws allowing distribution of pornographic materials not contributing to art or science.
Today, however, there are few federal laws regulating social media websites as heavily as traditional media like radio and television. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other sites have the power to remove content that users or website administrators deem “inappropriate.”
Senior Producer and Technical Services Manager at Montgomery County Community College and self-proclaimed social media guru Matthew Porter says, "We rely mostly on self-censorship. Compared to other countries, we have the most freedom and can personally block and remove things from our social media sites that we don’t want to see.”
Freedom of speech in many countries on the other side of the globe is extremely limited. China is being challenged by the} popular search engine BING for providing only government-sponsored search results for phrases like “Dalai Lama.”
Similarly, Russia’s President Vladimir V. Putin locked-off access to internet websites to visiting athletes. They were barred primarily from websites that Sochi claimed had "offensive” material as defined by President Putin. It was later discovered that some the information blocked were websites containing photos of homosexual couples.
In a CBS news interview with Google executive Eric Schmidt said that in the next few years, censorship on the internet will be nearly impossible in our country because of breakthroughs in [the way software is implemented on the internet]. Nonetheless, the boom in the numbers of internet censorship investigators shows that in every country, some content may be hiding where we least expect it.
We have good reason to uphold our First Amendment Rights. But as Matt Porter put it, "We should be less worried about our government and more worried about other people and private organizations."
BLUE BELL,PA--The First Amendment allows us many privileges. Most relevant to college students and media creators alike is the right to freedom of speech.
Many Supreme Court cases have upheld this right. Cox vs. Cohn, for example, determined that Georgia could not prevent the press from releasing materials that are considered to be public record. The Miller vs. California case there was overruled state laws allowing distribution of pornographic materials not contributing to art or science.
Today, however, there are few federal laws regulating social media websites as heavily as traditional media like radio and television. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other sites have the power to remove content that users or website administrators deem “inappropriate.”
Senior Producer and Technical Services Manager at Montgomery County Community College and self-proclaimed social media guru Matthew Porter says, "We rely mostly on self-censorship. Compared to other countries, we have the most freedom and can personally block and remove things from our social media sites that we don’t want to see.”
Freedom of speech in many countries on the other side of the globe is extremely limited. China is being challenged by the} popular search engine BING for providing only government-sponsored search results for phrases like “Dalai Lama.”
Similarly, Russia’s President Vladimir V. Putin locked-off access to internet websites to visiting athletes. They were barred primarily from websites that Sochi claimed had "offensive” material as defined by President Putin. It was later discovered that some the information blocked were websites containing photos of homosexual couples.
In a CBS news interview with Google executive Eric Schmidt said that in the next few years, censorship on the internet will be nearly impossible in our country because of breakthroughs in [the way software is implemented on the internet]. Nonetheless, the boom in the numbers of internet censorship investigators shows that in every country, some content may be hiding where we least expect it.
We have good reason to uphold our First Amendment Rights. But as Matt Porter put it, "We should be less worried about our government and more worried about other people and private organizations."
Music to Make You Really “Happy”
By: Dani Moulton
BLUE BELL, PA--The popularity of Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy” has allowed it to spread in all media circles. But can student media creators use it as well? Despite the song breaking the records chart for becoming the twenty-eighth song to land at number-one on Billboard Music’s Hot 100, the simple answer is no. .
“I’ve had students use copyrighted music in their projects before,” says Allan Schear, Professor of Communications here at Montgomery County Community College. “Even though I told them not to, they uploaded those projects to Youtube, and it got them in trouble.”
Student media creators don’t get paid for this work, so that makes it okay, right? Wrong. Copyright laws protect intellectual property such as songs, images, and concepts from being used by other people, whether the media creator is being paid or not.
On the bright side, if you’re desperate to get Pharrell’s song, or any others, into your project, you can always buy the licensing rights to the song. Usually for a very high price.
Websites like PerpetualLicensing.com and GreenlightRights.com can help you get started on the process of obtaining these rights. However, the safer and cheaper choice for student media creators is to use royalty-free music websites to get unlicensed music and make them just as “Happy.”
BLUE BELL, PA--The popularity of Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy” has allowed it to spread in all media circles. But can student media creators use it as well? Despite the song breaking the records chart for becoming the twenty-eighth song to land at number-one on Billboard Music’s Hot 100, the simple answer is no. .
“I’ve had students use copyrighted music in their projects before,” says Allan Schear, Professor of Communications here at Montgomery County Community College. “Even though I told them not to, they uploaded those projects to Youtube, and it got them in trouble.”
Student media creators don’t get paid for this work, so that makes it okay, right? Wrong. Copyright laws protect intellectual property such as songs, images, and concepts from being used by other people, whether the media creator is being paid or not.
On the bright side, if you’re desperate to get Pharrell’s song, or any others, into your project, you can always buy the licensing rights to the song. Usually for a very high price.
Websites like PerpetualLicensing.com and GreenlightRights.com can help you get started on the process of obtaining these rights. However, the safer and cheaper choice for student media creators is to use royalty-free music websites to get unlicensed music and make them just as “Happy.”
Mobile Technologies: Nuisance or Necessity?
By: Dave Aston
BLUE BELL, PA--Like most modern technologies, mobile devices, such as smartphones, both assist and interfere with our day-to-day activities.
According to a Pew Research presentation, more than 85 percent of America is connected to the internet. Nearly half by smartphones.
This persistent mobile connection has created a culture of “got to have it now”, “got to know it now”. Combine this with the ability of a smartphone, and devices like it, to display ads and multi-task like a computer, distraction naturally comes into play.
Mike Giampaolo, a liberal studies student here at Montgomery County Community College, agreed that distraction is a problem.
“[Mobile devices] can really cut into your time,” he said. Mike uses his mobile device, an iPod touch, for a myriad things. Emails, the Blackboard app, contacts, music and homework highlight just a few of such things.
Chris Markopulos, a digital audio production student at Montco, echoed the sentiment. He uses his iPhone for just about everything from contact management to music playing to homework to writing and composing. Except Chris’s primary complaints of his device of choice that he uses “literally everywhere” are its short battery life and “lack of sync”.
The reaction from Montco faculty was a little more diverse.
Matt Porter, the Senior Producer and Technical Services Manager for Montco’s Arts and Humanities Division, loves his mobile devices. Of his iPad, smartphone and laptop, he said, “They connect you to anything...anytime.” Porter sees this as a blessing and a curse.
When asked about the downsides of his mobile devices, he replied with the same answer. He added that though it’s nice to be connected, it’s nice not to be connected. He said being too connected leads to something he hates: “Earphone Zombie Mode.”
Assistant Professor of Geology, George Buchannan, would make Porter proud. He uses his two mobile devices, a laptop and a smartphone, for specific, limited reasons. He uses his smartphone only “when needed.”
Professor Buchannan, who mostly uses his laptop, said these technologies make many things like disseminating information, writing notes and distributing exams easier. Unlike most that were interviewed, he sees no downsides to the use of mobile technology.
Colleges and universities don’t see any downsides either as they continue to push for a greater online, thus mobile, educational presence. This necessity is becoming a nuisance. Most students who use these mobile technologies every single day are pushing back in the form of wanting more in-person education.
A recent Educause study showed students, like ours, have an increasing desire to have more of their education face to face. Not online or mobile.
CNN backed this up with the opinion of business owners. “Being able to attend when you want means you have no face-to-face, so there are no real-time answers to questions you have," Dannie McClain, a New York business manager told CNN. "You...have to wait for...someone on IM that can answer you."
Montco does its best to strike a balance. As recently as this semester, an on-campus version of one of the Health and Wellness classes, ESW 235, was launched. Previously, this class was only available online.
One thing is clear, regardless of how we use, or how often we use, any mobile technologies, we always have to deal with their ups and downs.
BLUE BELL, PA--Like most modern technologies, mobile devices, such as smartphones, both assist and interfere with our day-to-day activities.
According to a Pew Research presentation, more than 85 percent of America is connected to the internet. Nearly half by smartphones.
This persistent mobile connection has created a culture of “got to have it now”, “got to know it now”. Combine this with the ability of a smartphone, and devices like it, to display ads and multi-task like a computer, distraction naturally comes into play.
Mike Giampaolo, a liberal studies student here at Montgomery County Community College, agreed that distraction is a problem.
“[Mobile devices] can really cut into your time,” he said. Mike uses his mobile device, an iPod touch, for a myriad things. Emails, the Blackboard app, contacts, music and homework highlight just a few of such things.
Chris Markopulos, a digital audio production student at Montco, echoed the sentiment. He uses his iPhone for just about everything from contact management to music playing to homework to writing and composing. Except Chris’s primary complaints of his device of choice that he uses “literally everywhere” are its short battery life and “lack of sync”.
The reaction from Montco faculty was a little more diverse.
Matt Porter, the Senior Producer and Technical Services Manager for Montco’s Arts and Humanities Division, loves his mobile devices. Of his iPad, smartphone and laptop, he said, “They connect you to anything...anytime.” Porter sees this as a blessing and a curse.
When asked about the downsides of his mobile devices, he replied with the same answer. He added that though it’s nice to be connected, it’s nice not to be connected. He said being too connected leads to something he hates: “Earphone Zombie Mode.”
Assistant Professor of Geology, George Buchannan, would make Porter proud. He uses his two mobile devices, a laptop and a smartphone, for specific, limited reasons. He uses his smartphone only “when needed.”
Professor Buchannan, who mostly uses his laptop, said these technologies make many things like disseminating information, writing notes and distributing exams easier. Unlike most that were interviewed, he sees no downsides to the use of mobile technology.
Colleges and universities don’t see any downsides either as they continue to push for a greater online, thus mobile, educational presence. This necessity is becoming a nuisance. Most students who use these mobile technologies every single day are pushing back in the form of wanting more in-person education.
A recent Educause study showed students, like ours, have an increasing desire to have more of their education face to face. Not online or mobile.
CNN backed this up with the opinion of business owners. “Being able to attend when you want means you have no face-to-face, so there are no real-time answers to questions you have," Dannie McClain, a New York business manager told CNN. "You...have to wait for...someone on IM that can answer you."
Montco does its best to strike a balance. As recently as this semester, an on-campus version of one of the Health and Wellness classes, ESW 235, was launched. Previously, this class was only available online.
One thing is clear, regardless of how we use, or how often we use, any mobile technologies, we always have to deal with their ups and downs.
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