Blog 8

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This week’s readings were about social economic status in higher education. The articles were about the difficulty of students in lower social economic position. They were divided into three sections homeless, working poor, and non working poor.  The articles were filled with statistics about each group and also provided real life examples of students in the lower quartile in higher education.

The first two articles that I read were about poverty and higher education. The authors provided plenty of stats about the individuals in the lower quartile of economic stability in relation to attendance and completion of higher education. The numbers were scary! One of the article reveals that students in poor conditions have no inspiration to receive a college degree. In many cases they hope to get at best some high school education, even more alarming is that their parents feel the same way. When poor individuals do attend school they often do not complete their schooling, because of lack of support and resources.

The last article that I read was about homeless students in higher education. The author points out that there are different categories of homeless people. Most of us consider homeless people to be beggars that live in the streets but the reality is that homelessness is much more complex than the stigma that our society has placed on the matter. There are families that live in shelters, some of those shelters provide residency until the tenants could find something permanent, others are day to day bedding that is not guaranteed, there are couch hoppers, families that live with many people or other families in a home designed for a small family, and people who live in hotels. The author argues that distinguishing between each category is imperative for two reasons; firstly, so that entities who assist students in each category will be better equipped to do so, and secondly, to cease from repelling students from receiving support because of the unapealing title of “homeless” that they may not identify with, even though they may fit in one of the categories, or simply to prevent shame.

I really enjoyed the readings for this week because they were informative and very relatable to me. The Homeless article provided so much insight into a world that is neglected. There are many students who experience the difficulty of fighting to attain an education that could give them a better life while facing instability. The story about the student who had to make accommodations to have a place to live in as her semester came to an end was a tear jerker. I can’t imagine the added anxiety she faces around an already stressful time of year for a student, because of finals, to have something most of us take for granted.  The articles on poverty were so easy to relate to because I am poor. I find myself facing many similar obstacles that were mentioned in the text. Also understanding that people are working towards solutions to a tremendous problem gave me hope.

Blog #8

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Part I: I was unable to attend class last week.

 

Part II:  The articles this week I found very interesting, they focused on how homelessness affects students’ higher education. The article about Joshua Williams was very interesting, it was incredible to see that although he did not have a permanent type of housing, he never gave up on achieving his bachelor’s degree from B-CU. It was amazing to see that he did whatever had to be done in order for him to continue his education, he knew that returning back to his hometown was not an option, because it would only provide him with a lifestyle that did not have a future whatsoever. The other articles focused on the main points of how residential instability affects their lives as a whole. The article also stressed on how important it was for homeless students to earn a post secondary degree, and not only stop there but actually make sure they do have a stable place they can live at after earning their degrees. I feel like this is a very important issue, how much are you truly helping if its only to a certain extent? It is crazy to think that although this issue may affected these students in a big way, there is no real help that is provided by the schools themselves. It would be great if these students had somewhere they could go in order to get help and try to find a solution to this problem.  It was also stressed on the article by Howard how important it is to educate the campus as a whole about student characteristics and student needs so that the campus as a whole can better serve them. This is a issue that can better the way that campus’ deal with issues like homelessness and other factors that may jeopardize an individuals education. I really enjoyed learning about the type of issues that these individuals have to overcome on a daily basis it really made me be more thankful that I have roof over my head and I don’t have to worry about a big issue like not having a stable home.

Poor and homeless students

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Peter Edelman suggest that in order to reduce poverty groups like ,government, business, unions, foundations, churches, civic leaders, ordinary citizens, and poor people must join the battle to find ways that everyone in such groups help poverty.  Edelman also believes that poverty plays in a form of a cycle, where children follow the same pattern of choices as their parents so in order to prevent the cycle form replicating young children must be educate and learn about options and resources available to overcome poverty.  However this is very difficult especially for families with very little resources. They often don’t belief or view school as important instead they see school as an obstacle that prevents them from working and providing food in their table. In the reading “where are the poor students” the author exposes a different view of how children in poverty communities view education.

 

Howard makes a significant observation that I before assumed was true. He said that everyone was under the belief that students today don’t face obstacles in perusing a college education as long as they work really hard. He explained that there were bigger realities like the quality of k-12 education that many in low income communities or the lack of role models in their communities. Everyone assumes that it’s simply money that prevents poor children from attending school but the reality is not only money but additional circumstances.  I’m sure there are more people who believed that the obstacles poor children faced were much smaller. I still can’t belief what I was reading and how issues like such affect most of the poor communities and only few students try to overcome to achieve more in life.

 

Students that are homeless for example like Tenisha in the article “Homeless” definitely faced difficulties and struggles deciding whether to attend college or not simply because meeting more urgent needs like food and shelter were far more important than education. Unfortunately theirs not many resources that can help homeless students, they can apply for financial aid but that will only cover partial of the cost that the school demands throughout the year they can try speaking to administration but only small amounts of universities are able to accommodate homeless students. Similarly a student form Miami named Joshua Williams faced as finish his education. He was homeless for almost the entire time he was at the university he went without telling anyone about his circumstances of being homeless until the very end. Luckily Joshua obtained help from the school and community groups and completed his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is able to tell his story to others.  Being poor does not make it easy for those trying to better themselves in life and it’s really sad to know that we all know many students who had the opportunity of going to college but decided to work instead for pleasure knowing that around the nation we have lots of poor students who would really appreciate the opportunity of attending college.

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.

Blog #8

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In our previous class, Julian informed us by getting involve in club at university. It was very useful information for knowing some activities at university. I really like to join to sociology and psychology clubs, and I also like to join to sport club, but my problem for this semester is that I don’t have enough time for spending my times to those clubs. I have 14 units and one of my classes is held at Thousands Oak campus which makes really hard for me to join to those clubs. When I was at college, I was an active member of sociology, philosophy, and psychology clubs, and I can not wait to join for one of those clubs for next semester at Channel Islands. After that we change our subject to discuss about one of  the articles that we read, and  it was about anti-homosexual discussion. I really liked that the principle stood up against the Chic-Fil-A restaurant chin’s because they were advocating anti-homosexuality explicitly, and there is no place to be against gays in any forms at this era.  If I were the principle, I would do the same, and I also educate the students by telling them, there is no differences between gays and heterosexual people and more than 80% of the gay people are not practicing same sex activity or chose to be gay, however, most gays born like this. Although students are about age 13, but by providing facts or statistics and good arguments, they could grasp what was going on. Giving students knowledge and good argument can nurture their critical thinking and is the best way to make them think differently not just to think like teachers.

I did not like Ronald Hallett’s article because he was arguing about financial aids problems and how some homeless students did not want to go home for holidays.  For instance, Tenisha did not want to go home for holiday because she was homeless. Ronald Hallett just argued about some federal laws and financial  aids problem, but he did not argue about the underlying problems of poor people and give a practical solution for homeless people. For examples, he argues that many homeless students do not pursue education because they do not believe that earning a degree is a realistic possibility, however, I believe that 9 out of 10 homeless people do not have access to basic needs for life. Homeless people are struggling for surviving. Most of the time they think about shelter and food; how come they could pursue for education, and most of them drop the school during the high school. I really liked the article A Conversation About Social Class and College Attendance by Adam Howard because the writer argued about real world that poor students were facing everyday. For instance, he argues that examples of success don’t exist in most poor communities any more, and I do absolutely agree with him because for poor people success is something to have more food for a week. I believe, as long as there is no safety and security, the education and  success is meaningless for most of humans. For poor people and poor communities who are most advantage, the success means to be a gang leader, pimp, and a successful drug dealer. Unfortunately, this is the real world for poor people. In the Responsibility for Reduction Poverty article, the writer argued about social class and problem sophisticatedly. He claims that social problems cannot be solved by social engineers, and he is right because solving social problems needs to have a deep knowledge of social problems and know how society works. Therefore, poverty cannot be eliminated by government or blaming the poor for being poor, rather it needs a verity of responsibilities from the whole society including poor themselves.