Campus food more than meets the eye

When my sister the Food Nut invited me to attend a Food Focus Committee meeting at the University of Cincinnati, I was intrigued. A few weeks prior, I had written a column about the campus eateries lacking nutrition and received a very nice response from Katy Higbee, the program coordinator for housing & food services at UC. Since she had taken an interest in my opinions, I decided it might be interesting to see what the focus committee meeting was like. Plus, as my sister Morgan pointed out, we got a free meal and a gift certificate out of it.

The meeting was in Mick & Mack's, and the food was delicious (as can always be expected of M&M -- although it's a teeny bit pricy for regular eatin') -- meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans just can't be beat, as far as I'm concerned.

Once the 10 or so students had been wined and dined (minus the wine, of course!), the cluster of food services people (there were five or six of them) asked us what we thought about campus dining. We discussed ways to encourage people to eat at MarketPointe during the Center Court rush hours (my favorite ideas were the smoothies and take-out lunches), what sort of food we'd like to see in the dining halls, how to better advertise the independent meal plans and anything else students were curious about.

The thing that really surprised me, however, was how many things the food service team actually already do that most of us had no idea were available. And this isn't just some easy PR for them -- I was actually really impressed by how much effort these people put into our campus's dining experience. For example, did you know:

• The dining halls have themed days every couple of weeks, from Mardi Gras to St. Patrick's Day to a Parisian-themed bistro?
• You can view their weekly menus AND nutrition info online?
• These Food Focus meetings happen monthly and are open to any student?

 Also, I did a little more research into the independent meal plans, because I've heard before that they're pretty cost effective, but when you see the cheapest plan still costing $150, it seems a little hard to swallow. The bronze IMP includes 15 meals, plus $30 of Bearcat cash (which can be redeemed at most places on/around campus). So that's $120 for 15 meals, which equals $8 per meal. For unlimited food, drinks, coffee, desserts, etc.

Not too shabby, Food Services.

I must admit, I'm impressed. I'd love to see how the feedback from the focus meetings is actually implemented -- do these meetings actually make a difference? But overall, I walked away from the meeting with a full belly and an better understanding and appreciation of the program.

How do you think food services at UC could be improved? What do you think is great about them, already? Leave a comment or send a tweet to @arielfab!

Political journalism, explained

I'll be the first to tell you I don't know much about politics. I wish I did.

In the past few years, I've picked up a few things, mainly from drudgereport.com, "The Daily Show" and whatever I read on the nation & world page of The News Record. I know who Rick Santorum is and his thoughts on birth control, I crack up at Rick Perry's Unpopular Opinions ... but I couldn't tell you where almost any politicians stand on any issues.

Not that the media (mainstream, lamestream or otherwise) is all that much help. If we believed everything we heard, I'd be in fear for my life as the war wages on between the socialistic, unhinged Barack Obama and the religidiculous, pocket-stuffing Republicans.

So I don't really know what to do. I try to read up, but I either don't have time or get too discouraged by the blatant slanted articles that I give up.

Until I happened upon an article in The Atlantic by James Fallows examining President Obama's first three years in office. "Obama, Explained" is one of the articles I feel I would use when teaching a journalism class -- one of the rare few I'd proudly hold up to the class and say, "Be like this. Strive for this." ("Believeland", by Wright Thompson, is another).

Because I do need an explanation. I want to know how our president is doing, but I want the real story. I want the good and the bad, just as they are, so I can actually made an educated decision come November.

And I found that in "Obama, Explained." Fallows takes a look at Obama's term in office, from his brilliantly planned campaign to his international relations strategies to his battles with the Republicans. His hopes for bipartisanship and whether or not he realistically expected them to happen. Fallows asks the question, "For the seemingly huge number of people who sense that he has shrunk in office and that his administration has achieved less than it should or could have, and for scholars, historians, and political veterans who have matched it against presidencies of the past, is there an objective way to judge Obama’s competence and control?"

Turns out, there is. Fallows speaks with a handful of political historians, politicians and analysts to examine Obama's presidency, and the result is a cleverly worded, objective analytic article. 

This article made me want to understand politics. For the first time, I actually want to be able to write about politics. I also really want a subscription to The Atlantic.

So what do you think? Is the article objective? Does it differ from the "lamestream" media's attempts at political journalism? Or is it just the same old story, different reporter? Let me know what you think, and leave a comment!

An Awarding Experience

The News Record's 2010 (top) and 2012 ONA awards! A PYRAMID OF AWESOME!

Yesterday, The News Record staff journeyed to Columbus, Ohio, for the Ohio Newspaper Association's conference. This included the Collegiate Newspaper Awards, where TNR received five first-place awards (design, photojournalism, website, headline writing and arts & entertainment), one second-place award (editorial writing) and one third-place award (sports coverage).

Gin, Jason, Eamon, Sam, me and Brittany at the ONA conference.

This is the best our crew has ever done at the ONA awards (which are in their third year), and I really, honestly couldn't have been more stoked. We won the most first-place awards, and I've heard so many nice things from people congratulating the staff -- which, as far as I'm considered, is easily the best student newspaper staff in the whole darn state.

Partially why I loved the ONAs was it reminded me how great this year's staff (and last year's) really is. We've come so far in such a short amount of time, and, as former managing editor Kareem Elgazzar commented earlier today, the effort really shows all around.

The ONAs were also made totally awesome by our matching UC ties and lapel pins, kindly provided by TNR guardian angel Greg Hand. We wanted to make sure to Represent the C while in Columbus, and I have to say, we did a pretty good job.

My year as editor-in-chief is about half over now, and I can't believe how hectic and ridiculous everything has been, while at the same being the most fun I've had in years. The staff has grown so much in 1.5 quarters, and I am reminded every day of how great they are, and how special this newspaper really is.

Eamon, Sam and me with our UC ties. RTC!

Anyway, after hanging up our awards proudly, I started to wonder about some of the awards from past years. This lead to an afternoon of unwrapping old plaques from back before TNR was in 509 Swift and organizing a ton of certificates and awards. It was actually fascinating -- we even had some old awards from Clifton Magazine, which was the national SPJ Best All-Around Student Magazine back in the '70s. Stellar!

I made a list of all the awards, and I think we're going to hang up all the awards around the office -- which will look TOTALLY AWESOME.

For those of you who are curious (and as nerdy as me), I posted the list on newsrecord.org. Enjoy!

Role Model

Well, minus the sports anyhow. Journalist? Check. Chicago? Check. SUN-TIMES? Double check. Now I just need to polish up my poker skills and dye my hair blonde.

"My Boys" is my new favorite Netflix guilty pleasure (thanks, Mom). So what do you guys think? Interesting? Boring? What's it like to have a female lead in a show who doesn't care about what she wears or which girlfriend she's most jealous of? Also, the "Sex in the City" episode is HILARIOUS.

My favorite #NHdebate tweets

(Blah blah long excuse about not posting in forever. I figure if I just get back into the swing of things, we can all ignore my seven-month absence from the blogosphere.)

So I watched my first presidential debate yesterday FROM START TO FINISH. While I am pretty stoked about staying awake through the whole thing, what made the whole even worthwhile (as you'll see from my column tomorrow), was posting on Twitter throughout the live event. Here are my favorites, both of my own and from other tweeps:

@LOLGOP: "Imagine if Mitt Romney were running against actual candidates."

@arielfab (that's me!): Santorum: "We don't put people on classes unless they are in the middle class." did he really just say that? #NHdebate

@tcallinan: "#NHdebate hair rankings: Huntsman wins, Mitt shows, Perry places. Callista Gingrich ineligible or she would have kicked ass there."

@Dawn_KJ: Honey badger Huntsman don't care. He'll speak Chinese. He don't give a shit! #NHDebate

@arielfab: I'm surprised Newt Gingrich has time for the #NHdebate while he's also starring in "Up" playing on ABC Family. #commercialbreak

@LOLGOP: Mitt Romney is so confident that he's going to win Tuesday that he's already thinking about who in New Hampshire he's going to lay off.

@LOLGOP: Rick Perry. Reminding you why you love President Obama since September 2011.

@FranktheDoorman: In honor of tonight's GOP debate in New Hampshire, the state has changed it's motto to "Live Free or Die Laughing" #GOPDebate #NHDebate

@arielfab: Hard-hitting journalism at its best. RT @GStephanopoulos: The debate is two hours away- what tie should I wear? #NHdebate 

@arielfab: You know who else speaks gobbledegook, JHunt? ALBUS EFFING DUMBLEDORE. #NHdebate 


Anyway, you can read my TNR column about experiencing the Republican debate here. What did you think about the debate? Comment here or tweet @arielfab!

On the hunt

I just submitted my first application for a post-graduation job. I spent a day tidying up my website (took me 20 tries to get the logo to have the right color background!), updating my resume and getting all my ducks in a row. Tomorrow, I'll be getting some fancy schmancy paper at Office Max to start printing out my resume to send to newspapers across the Midwest (and who knows where else).

I should probably be terrified; after all, 90 percent of what you hear about the status of the journalism industry is pretty bleak. Honestly, though, I'm just thrilled to be finally taking this step. I was talking to my friend the other day about what it's going to be like once I graduate in June, and that was when I realized that I can go ... anywhere. These are the few years ahead of me when I have virtually no strings attached -- I'm free as a bird to go wherever I please. I've started referring to them as my Adventure Years, and I must say, I'm just tickled pink to stand on this precipice.

Meanwhile, 2011 is drawing to a close. It's been quite the tumultuous year, and I have to say, it's been a pretty great one. Of course, this blog hasn't seen much of it, and for that I am very, very sorry. But along with eating healthy and keeping my bedroom clean (ahem), I have one more resolution: to get back into the swing of blogging. I noticed just about all my photos on here have broken links, and I'm assuming it's because newsrecord.org switched domains in November. Once the archives get put back online, I'll go through and update my blog's photos ... until then, just imagine the stunning images that should be in place of the blank rectangles.

This could aptly be called the most exciting time of my life. I have no idea (literally, not a single clue) where I'll be six months from now, but I'm stoked to have you all along for the ride.

I hope your holidays are merry and bright, and I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty of each other as we round the corner into 2012.

Decisions

Making a decision about the newspaper's integrity, etc. is hard enough.

Making it at 2 a.m. with the printer on hold when your phone is dead? Nearly impossible.

Thanks to Sam and Eamon (and Odessie) for the advice, and a huge thanks to Gayle for the support.

Sigh. It's 3 a.m. What a night. What a paper.

It's a good thing I love what I do.