Blog Post# 8

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Last week Julian started class off with a presentation about getting involved on campus. He gave us a list of clubs that might interest us. He also talked about other ways we can get involved on campus like joining a sport team or take advantage of the Recreation Center. I was happy to hear that CSUCI offers free kayaking classes for students at the Channel Islands Boating Center. I will definitely have to check that out next semester. Our first discussion in class was about the banning of Chick-fil-A fundraiser at Ventura High School football game. It is a shame that the principal got blamed for not allowing the restaurant to sell at the Ventura High School football game. Obviously the decision was not made by her only and there was more to the story that the article did not cover. It is not surprising that a story like this can escalate to something else especially at a high school. I believe the principal did the right thing to ban Chick-fil-A from selling at the game because they do have a well-known political stance on gay marriage and it would be discourteous for those students that are part of the LGBT community. Mainly, because students in high school are still discovering themselves and are more sensitive to this matter. Next, we had a discussion about women in higher education. We specifically talked about why there are less women in STEM fields even though there are more women in college. I think there are less women in STEM fields because of how society constructed the role of women in this society. I do believe women can be just as good as men in STEM field or any other field for that matter but society classifies job fields as feminine or masculine just the same as they classify roles.  

            I found the article From homeless to college grad: Story of B-CU student inspires, sad and inspiring. Joshua Williams was homeless for his first three years of college and was able to keep it a secret, only his closest friends new about his situation. I was sad to read that he had to go through homelessness struggles just to continue with his education at Bethune-Cookman University. He would rather be homeless than return to Miami. No person should ever go through such thing. Although he had too much pride to ask for help, I believe there should have been an outreach program that he would feel comfortable going to.  Despite his struggles he accomplished so much and soon he reached out to those who are dealing with homelessness by providing them with scholarships for books. Williams is an inspiration and a good example of how far determination and motivation can take you despite the obstacles you have to overcome.

The article Homeless: How Residential Instability Complicates Students’ Lives, by Ronald Hallet, had some interesting facts about homelessness in the United States. He mentions that “the term homeless to describe programs and services on college campus may discourage students and their guardians from seeking support.” I agree with Hallet because there are a lot of students like William, for example, that have too much pride to get help and such name to the services will discourage them. Students should be able to get assistance without feeling ashamed.

The article Where Are the Poor Students? A Conversation about Social Class and College Attendance, By Adam Howard, pointed an interesting notion about why less poor students are attending college. He stated, “Colleges are raising tuition and reducing financial aid relative to the tuition raises, and poor kids aren’t going college at the rates they used to, particularly poor males.” Although poor students qualify for financial aid, it is not enough to cover all expenses. I know a couple of people who dropped out of college because financial aid was not enough and although their parents would love to assist them financially, they cannot because they are too poor to help. It is an ongoing vicious cycle that keeps the poor from getting an education and keeps them from breaking the poverty cycle. Unless colleges can provide more aid, poor adolescents will be less likely to attend college.

Blog#8

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I thought last class section was interesting in the topics we discussed. I liked learning more about the various clubs on campus. I remember seeing some of them on campus during transfer orientation day and remember actually signing up for the track club (mostly for the free t-shirt and water bottle, but also I was running every day back then).  After tearing my knee again, I had to put the brakes on my running and the CI track club. The Kayaking sounds awesome through the waterfront club, and I have already gotten more information on it. I would also be interested in joining a math club down the line to meet others who may be interested in teaching math as well. Chick fil-a vs. Principal of Ventura High was interesting to me because of all the debate it stirred up. I saw many letters to the editor in the newspaper defending both sides, but mostly criticizing the principal. The criticism is fair in my opinion because in essence she is saying Chick fil-a may  discriminate and disapproves of same sex marraige, and here she is discriminating on who can sell food at her school on the basis of their personal beliefs. Had she have just kicked them out for “sneaking” in through the vendor approval process by going in through the boosters, and not telling the media that Chick fil-a is an anti gay rights company and the school does not do business with discriminatory companies then this would have not riled up so many people. For the record Chick fil-a in Ventura has publicly stated that they do not take a stand on gay rights issues and that is only a personal opinion of the companies founder.

The homeless articles were interesting and I’m glad we are spending a week learning more about how difficult it must be to come from a homeless or very unstable living condition and still make it to college and actually succeed in college. There are grants and waivers available for the poor and homeless to register and attend classes but to live on campus is very expensive and is not an option for most of the people in these categories.  I thought Howard and Levine brought up very relevant issues such as the fact that many of the poor students have a “sense of living in two worlds”. The home life for these kids is completely different than the higher educational lifestyle of college. Author Ronald Hallett  discusses  many possible solutions to help in this issue, such as establishing “safe spaces” where potential college students can receive the proper guidance to overcome barriers preventing them from entering higher education. In a study he did with two other associates he found that all the participants in his study had college aspirations, yet very few were able to navigate through the college admission applications. I know I will help my kids with the college application process, but many homeless or mobile students do not have the necessary help it takes to make the transition to higher education. And what an awesome story about Joshua Williams! It sure makes me feel very grateful for what I have.

Episode 8

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Although Survivor is a game show where individuals compete for the grand prize, they must all work together to ensure they will not be voted out. As a result, leaders step up to encourage their tribe and their teammates to win challenges throughout the show, while also stepping up to control the outcome of tribal council.

When the show first began, few individuals emerged into leaders. Jeremy from the original Hunahpu tribe got himself into the position by winning the tribe’s first challenge, and openly communicating and establishing relationships with the rest of the group. Josh from the original Coyopa tribe also made himself likeable to his tribe using the same strategy of being open with the tribe as a hole. In this sense, Jeremy and Josh both hold personal power that becomes extremely evident over time.

However, Josh expresses a specific type of leadership that is found in the Styles Leadership Theories. He is an autocratic leader, especially in the way he handles how his alliance votes. At the beginning of the show, he was in a close alliance with Baylor. This was split up when he and Baylor were later put into opposite tribes when there was the tribe switch. Now, as both tribes are merged, Josh is extremely direct with Baylor and in wanting her vote. He tries to manipulate her by explaining that she owes him a vote. Instead of using personal power, he begins to show position power – especially coercive. When Baylor expresses that she’s not sure if she should follow his orders, Josh convinces the rest of his alliance to vote her out simply because she won’t stand with him. Although this is his plan, it backfires and we see Josh voted out to the surprise of his alliance and the satisfaction of Jeremy and his alliance.

Blog Post #8

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Part II:

This weeks readings were about poverty affecting college students. The reading that was more meaningful to me was ” From homeless to college grad”, by Circelli. This article was a powerful because it covered the story of a poor college student name William. William grew up in poverty with his grandmother. Thanks to his grandmother, he was always encourages to go to school and be educated. After his grandmother passed away, he moved to Miami with one of his aunts. William lived in the ghetto and saw many things he shouldn’t had seen. He tried his very best to stay in school and continue with his dream. In high school he participated in many activities to be able to earn scholarships and thanks to a administrator he was helped with college applications. William was able to transfer to Bethune Cookman to study criminal justice. The part the got to me the most was bout him being homeless his first 3 years of college. He had no where to sleep, he would sleep in empty trucks, or spend the nights in the dorms couch, or crash in different friends dorms. He was to pride to ask for help and let people know he was poor. Days he didn’t have anything to eat, but he would get lucky enough to borrow friends meal card or cup of noodles. By Jr year in a speech he did, he admitted his situation and many people and faculty were surprised. William was a good student, so many faculty reached out to him and gave him a hand. They gave him a place to sleep and board. Eugeina Flores, an 1980 graduate, was touched by his story that she made herself his godmother and treated him like family. Today he is a role model for most people and even me. He graduated from college and is hoping to become a defense  attorney or a congressman.  This reading shows that education and dedication is very important. Anyone can make it, no matter of their situation. There are many people out there that take what they have for granted and not realize that they are being blessed more than others. I sometimes complain about school, or the drive home, or my job, there are days where i want to ditch a day at school to just relax but then i remember there are people who wish to be ins school and i’m not appreciating it. In the other reading,”Responsibility for Reducing Poverty”, by Edelman, he talks about how us as a community can help reduce poverty. In some ways i agree with him, to change something, we need to put effort and participate. He says the everyone is responsible in some ways for poverty. Any one can make a change, for example President Obama and the government are a huge part, they can make programs that can benefit communities in poverty. Obama made the Obama care, providing health assistance for the poor. Also big business get involve as well. They donate money to schools and help provide better education for the future of the USA. Churches do their part too, they offer free services for the poor, they provide food and shelter for those in needs at the house of God. For teenagers there are variety of help, for example, there are government programs like parent care for teenagers who get pregnant and have no way of raising their kids. I feel that the community tries their best to help each other out from poverty, if you don’t work hard you will never see a change for the future. The U.S. has many communities in poverty and there are many programs out there willing to help. Even though those in high class get bothered that they are taxed for programs that benefit the poor, I feel that it is fair. And i understand, because there are many people who take advantage of the help that is being provided when they don’t really need it. Poverty affects children who have dreams of education the most. It is hard to get out of the poor or the ghetto without any financial or family support. There are people like William who make it and other’s who don’t even graduate from high school. This readings help me understand and appreciate what i have and be grateful to not have to struggle to go to education like William did. Statistics says that African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans are who suffer in poverty the most. And as a Latina i can relate to some of the topics. for example I don’t have the money to be educated, if it weren’t for financial aid and my part time job, maybe i wouldn’t had the chance to be in school. So i put myself in the shoes of those who don’t receive financial air nor have a job to even consider school and it’s a sad feeling.

Project Abstract

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Change in Sediment Dynamics: Post-Grazing Restoration of Quemada Creek, Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands, California

            Excessive grazing degrades watershed efficiency including decreased channel stabilization, reduced function of riparian habitat, terracette formation and accelerated bank erosion. This is shown to reduce water infiltration rates and escalate surface runoff and erosion rates.  This research explores post-grazing channel characteristics of Quemada Creek Watershed on Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands, California.  Stream channel morphology is impacted by ungulates through soil compaction, and the prevention of floodplain development.  We re-surveyed ten stream channel cross-sections fifteen years after the restoration attempt began in 1999 to determine restoration success, watershed health and functionality. This report presents the survey data obtained in October and November of 2014 and compares it with the cross sections taken in 1999 and 2002. The objective of this research is to determine if removing cattle, elk and deer had a positive effect of the functioning of Quemada Creek.  We found the non-functioning watershed returning to pre-grazing conditions with increases in native vegetation and floodplain development.  Baseline data was established in two additional watersheds on the island for a future comparative study to determine rates of watershed recovery based on factors including different bedrock and geologic features.

Ho: Quemada Creek Watershed shows post-grazing bank stabilization and recovering riparian corridor functioning.

Graph of a Cross-section

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Example of what a cross-sectional graph looks like. From this graph you can see the deposition of sediment in the channel and the beginnings of a floodplain forming.