Final J305 Story (#6)

During dead week and finals week, students spends most of their time studying at a local coffee shop in downtown Pullman. But when the Daily Grind closes at 11:30 p.m., the students pack up their books and head over to the Compton Union Building on the Washington State University campus.

The CUB is the center of activity on campus. Students are always flowing in and out of its doors to grab a snack from the food court or print off a last minute paper before class.

The CUB is extending its hours during dead week and finals week. During the other 13 weeks of the semester, the CUB is open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. However, during the final two weeks of the semester, the CUB opens its doors for 24-hour operation starting the Wednesday of dead week through Friday of finals week.

According to Ashley Fagerlie, Assistant Director of Marketing Services, this strategy was implemented in the fall of 2008 when the new building opened.

“We are open 24/7 during these weeks to better accommodate students as they are studying for their finals,” said Fagerlie.

One of the accommodations the CUB offers besides the 24-hour open doors, are complimentary cookies and coffee between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Many students are very ecstatic about the 24/7 policy. Cat Holm, an intercultural communication and human development major absolutely loves the new hours.

“It makes it easier to study, especially when the library closes but I want to able to continue to study instead of going home,” said Holm. “And if I need a break, I can go watch the TV in The Lair and take some time to relax a bit.”

Courtney Clark, a criminal justice major, agrees with Holm. She is sitting at a table in the CUB flipping through her study guide for her final on Monday.

“I really appreciate getting away from a busy house and having some quiet time to concentrate,” said Clark. “The 24/7 policy gives students a place to study when other places are closed.”

She wrapped her hands around a cup of coffee, took a sip, and laughed. “Did I mention the free coffee?” said Clark.

While many students take advantage of the CUB’s late hours and free refreshments, many student employees dread the extended hours. Andrea Burke, a facility operations manager, is used to the late shifts normally scheduled.

“Most of my shifts are from 11 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. which is fine, but I have class at 9 a.m. so sometimes I will skip it because I am so tired from work.”

Burke is scheduled to work the Friday before finals week from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. She has a study group for one of her finals at 7 p.m. but will have to skip it because she could not find anyone to cover her shift.

“Many people are not willing to come in so late on Friday, especially when Ludacris is performing at Beasley Coliseum tonight,” said Burke with a shrug.

The CUB student employees are responsible for managing and exchanging their shift times. If a student has a shift during a final, they are accountable to find someone to cover that shift.

“As a student, I appreciate that the CUB is open and available to students,” said Burke. “But as an employee, it is a bit more stressful because we are the ones who have to make those free cookies and coffee.”

Kayla Griffin, a broadcast major, is satisfied with the 24/7 policy starting on the Wednesday of dead week rather than Monday.

“I think Wednesday of dead week and on is when most of the finals week studying gets done,” said Griffin. “I don’t think many students start studying on Monday or Tuesday.”

Nicole Van Dyk, a civil engineering major, does not agree with Griffin’s statement.

“I think the 24/7 policy should start the Monday of dead week because many students have lab finals, presentations, and projects that are due during dead week,” said Dyk. “The CUB’s later hours make it easier to get group projects done because you can work with group members’ schedules.”

The CUB has been serving student’s needs since 1946.

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The Secret

I like making myself miserable sometimes

Answering a question next to Bill Gates

Why do we use Facebook? Are we seeking content or connections?

I believe many people use Facebook in order to seek connections. Many people use Facebook to find old friends from different high schools or colleges,to find colleagues at work and potential clients. Facebook can also be used for networking. I do no believe many people use Facebook for content. There is a lot of content on Facebook that could not be considered reliable or even newsworthy.

Who/Whom

Post your answers on your blog.

1. (Who/Whom) did you go to the game with? Whom

2. She’s the student (who/whom) writes the best articles.Who

3. (Who/Whom) did you vote for? Whom

4. (Who/Whom) failed the quiz? Who

5. We know (who/whom) pulled that prank.Who

6. We want to know on (who/whom) the prank was pulled. Whom

Libel or Not?

It is not libel because the tabloid newspaper did not knowingly publish false information.

Best Lede for J305 section 3

WSU student Miranda M Crowell, 21, runs her fingers anxiously through her hair and chews her bottom lip as she stands at Chevron, watching the total price of her gas purchase rise higher and higher.

News Feature

Imagine getting a bus ride to Washington State University, eating lunch at a dining center, getting a grand tour of the campus and residence halls, attending an academic workshop, and getting to work out at the Student Recreation Center. All for free.

This is a typical day at a Future Cougars of Color visit. However, according to Anthony Smith, a Clerical Assistant for FCOC, this was not how the program was when he first attended a visit.

“Currently, FCOC has been focusing on the recruitment aspect rather than the retention aspect.” said Smith.

According to the “Visitation Attendance Trends” graph from 2005-2011, the 2007 FCOC visit turnout consisted of 120 students. Comparatively, the 2011 FCOC visit had a turnout of 580 students.

FCOC students who have been retained without assistance from the program are in the 90^th percentile. This was because those students were carefully selected and brought to the university. Currently, this number is dropping to the 80^th and 85^th percentile because FCOC is not bringing in the quality students the program was originally seeking; now, anyone can sign up.

Smith said that FCOC is all about growth, networking and making sure students are appropriately prepared for a college level education and atmosphere.

“We lose sight of that when we bring in a lot of people,” said Smith. “FCOC should bring it back down to 250 students maximum. Students want that small intimate feeling, to know there is a support network here to support them along the way.”

Monica Palmer, who attended the FCOC visit in 2007, agreed with Smith. She said when she received a letter from the FCOC about a scholarship, she felt special.

“Having a more close knit group kind of made us feel important, that we were chosen to come,” said Palmer. “I definitely felt everyone was kind of a family.”

Smith experienced a similar situation. “We did a lot more bonding because we were such a small group and we had the opportunity to do more activities at a faster rate,” Smith remembered fondly.

Andre Jensen, who also attended the FCOC visit in 2007, disagreed with both Smith and Palmer.

“I feel like FCOC being a recruitment tool definitely has more ups then downs,” said Jensen. “I understand the basis for using a merit based scholarship program. But at the same time a lot of people don't realize their full potential until they get to college. A person who really didn't shine much in high school could come to WSU and be a total badass.”

The closing ceremony at the end of past visits was very formal compared to recent closing ceremonies. The scholars used to have a nice sit down dinner at SEL Event Center where WSU faculty and current students could mingle and answer any questions or concerns the scholars had.

In addition to the smaller number of FCOC scholars, there were also ten extra scholarships handed out, including a $10,000, $5,000, and $3,000 scholarship.

The program has crossed hands fives times in the past four years alone. Michelle Henely of Student Affairs and Enrollment is next in line to take over the FCOC program for the following year. However, it will still be focused on recruitment rather than retention.

“I definitely think FCOC would benefit more from keeping it a hand-picked, small-applicant scholarship,” said Palmer. “However, I understand their goal is to bring in as many people as possible. But I do wish they had kept it to a select few and kept it that family oriented special feeling kind of program.”

An FCOC focus group was conducted to discuss potential improvements to the program. They decided selecting students to attend the FCOC visit was a more effective option for admitting motivated students rather than letting anyone join.

However, no changes have been made yet. Donors are leaving the program and scholarships are becoming scarce.

“In reality, the FCOC program is just a visitation,” said Smith. “No one wants to deal with it. This will lead to the demise of the FCOC program if no one steps up to change it.”