Hi, can i ask you a few questions.....

Students have always seemed to express dissatisfaction with Drexel University’s Public Safety Department. In an attempt to cast a better light on the officers who “protect” us, I have been investigating the department and the officers.

What most students are unaware of is the amount of training and precautions Drexel takes before employing an officer. These officers are not actually employed by Drexel, but contracted through an outside company. Roughly, 100 officers are currently employed and divided into three shifts in order to best secure campus.

The first bit of my investigation went surprisingly well. I was able to interview Anna, who works in Human Resources. She works with an outside contracting company who hires all the DPS officers. She was very open and willing to talk to me and answer questions. After this interview, I was lulled into a false sense of security because of the lack of classic Drexel “red tape.”

The first myth I was trying to disprove of Drexel officers is that they are untrained and uneducated. Anna informed me that all applicants go through an extensive process to become a Drexel Public Safety officer. Upon filling out an application, a prospective officer is subject to a background chest, a drug test, past employment verification and finally an interview. After the interview process if a job offer is extended there is then an extensive training program the new officer must complete. First there is a two day training and orientation session by the contracted company. After this, the officers are brought to Drexel for a one day second orientation session and special training for job specifics. Anna’s interview provided me with a lot of useful information, but when I tried to interview DPS officers to verify this, I was rejected.

Rejection:
I attempted to talk to several different DPS officers in the dorms and on the street, and got turned down repeatedly. With some officers they spent more time talking to me about how they cannot partake in interviews, then it would have taken to answer my actual questions. An overnight desk officer in East Hall actually told me that he was not able to answer my questions because he does not know what I would be asking him, and he wouldn’t know how to answer them. I contacted the University Public Relations department to find out if any orders have ever been given for a D PS officer to not speak to students about their job, and as far as I found there has never been a statement issued.

On campus, everyone sees the officers that patrol the streets. Foot patrol officers are cross-trained on bike and the segways. After initially purchasing three Segways in the beginning of 2005, each costing about $5000, Drexel now owns six. In addition to the six segways, the university has also acquired six chariots to aide in patrolling campus. Seeing segways on campus are a rare occurrence, which leads most students to believe that they were a waste of money. Once again, I tried to talk to some officers to see how much cross training the

y have undergone, and no one would speak with me. You probably have not seen any recently due to the snow. In addition, the patrol areas of the segways are limited mainly because of the uneven sidew

alks and the community areas around Drexel’s campus.

A recent poll in the Drexel Triangle stated that over 40% of the student population was not confident in the level of security provided by Drexel Public Safety. After not being able to access DPS officers for interviews, I turned to the student population of Drexel University. Students overall do feel safe on campus, but when trying to use some of the features offered by DPS they run into problem

s. Jackylyn Rivera, a sophomore, tried to call D

PS to report an incident in and got their answering machine. Several other students have had problems contacting DPS to report incidents. Felicia Williams, another sophomore living in Calhoun smelled marijuana on her floor. The DPS officers told her that she needed to tell the RA on duty and there was nothing they could do about her situation. These events did not strike me as terribly disturbing, but my next two stories are probably part of why DPS has such a bad name.

Ashley’s story:

Kara’s story:

Kara is a junior currently living off campus. Her freshman year as a resident of Calhoun, she went out one night and attended an off campus party. Late into the night, he friends wanted to stay longer but Kara was ready to leave. She did not feel safe trying to get back to campus alone. Someone told her to contact Drexel’s Escort Service and a Public Safety officer would come get her and take her back to Calh

oun. She gave the address of the party to the DPS officer, and she was told they did now know where that location was, and would not come get her.

Conclusion:

The Cleary Act has done a lot to improve the state of DPS and other security initiatives of college campuses. Their only crime reports are just a small step towards making Drexel have an outstanding security program. Posting this information on websites is a good start, but in order to get those statistics down they need to get a better handle on their security team.

DPS SAFETY QUICK FACTS:

*Drexel contracts over 100 officers.

*There are 99 blue emergency light poles that get checked every 24 hours.

*Shifts run from 6:45 am-3 pm,

245pm- 11pm,

and 10:45 pm -7 am.

*Drexel owns 6 segways and 6 chariots

*Emergency Number: 215-895-2222

I have been neglecting my blog for quite some time now
As everyone else has, I have been steadily pushing thru to the end of the term, working on a zillion final projects, papers, and group assingments all at once.

And since i have missed several key Tuesday releases, I guess I should start making up for it. Super lots of cd reviews!

Released on:
Artist: Fall out Boy
Title: Infinity on High
Rating: Buy it
I cant believe Im saying this. But yes, enjoy Fall out Boy. Rock out to this one with your 12 year old kid sister, or the boy across the street whos pants are entirely to tight. Damn the catch melodies and lyrics that wont get out of my head, that has kept me listening to this one fairly consistantly since its release. With a special cameo from Jay-Z, the album opens with a song entitiled "Thriller" where the boys lament about fame, and becoming poster boys, yet somehow make me wish to be famous. The first single off the cd "This ain't a scene, its a god damn arms race" has already blown up all over commercial (and satillite) radio. Other songs on the album give lead vocalist Pete Wentz a chance to showcase his vocal ability, or let his audiance know that his pants are also a bit to tight. All in all, the cd is good. The songs are good. Fall out Boy is pretty damn good. Dont be to embarassed if your trendy friends see you this one, you know they are secretly hiding it too.

Release Date: Feb 20
Artist: The Ataris
Title: Welcome the Night
Rating: Dowload it...maybe...
For their first release in years, I wish i could say better things about this album. They are still amazingly lyrical. I hate to use the cliche music snob line, but "theyre not what they used to be." For the ammount of hype (ok, maybe it was just between me and my friends) that this album produced it fell short of my expectations. The first single "Not capable of love" is a solid song, with they typical melodic feeling of The ataris, but isnt strong enough to carry the album. Its not all bad though, the title track "Welcome the Night" is quickly becomming one of my favorites. As the band matures so is their sound and their listener base with it, and this cd is good for a relaxing day, maybe some background music for doing homework. Sadly, its not terribly great. Maybe Ive just been listening to to much Fall out Boy...

Release Date: March 6
Artist: Various
Title: Stomp the Yard Sdtk
Rating: Download it
I know primarily everything in my blog has been aimed more towards the rock scene, but this was something worth mentioning. A nice collection of songs you can just dance to and have fun with. From Ne-Yo to Chris Brown to the Roots, the collection of HipHop, R&B, and Rap artists on the album make a solid soundtrack for the movie. I cant really say much else about it except that after Chris Browns Grammy performance, you should look to see alot more from him in the future.

Other notable relases:
Date: Feb 20 --Anberlin released their 3rd cd "Cities" ...amazing (and a band on tour supporting TWLOHA)
Date: Feb 27--John Denver released a double disc collection "The essential John Denver" Im a sucker for oldies sometimes, but yes, essential is the word.
Date: March 6--The Notorious B.I.G--Greatest Hits. In all fairness i havnt listened to this, or even part of it....but hasnt he been dead for 10 years?

grammys tonite!

8pm on cbs....go watch!

Purple Rain

Super Music Bowl?

Ah, the Super Bowl. always one of my favorite days of the year... football, family, friends, drinks, food, and of course hilarious commericals. so wheres the music connection? Oh, its there.

In my opinion there has not been an amazing halftime show since Janet and Justin stripped down. but thats just me. Come on, Paul McCartney? Nothing wrong there, but with all the hype going on with the Super Bowl, who wants to watch a relaxing half-time show? I want lights! loud noises! explosions! rain?
Ill admit, Im a bit of a closet Prince fan, so I (unlike almost everyone else in my house) liked the halftime performance a little bit more then most. I think that Prince's performance in the pouring rain was better then previous very dissapointing performances (most dissapointing halftime show: Rolling Stones) but still does not measure up to the past blow out performances of artists such as Aerosmith, Justin Timberlake, Gloria Estafan, the Blues Brothers and even U2

Even better then the halftime show? Billy Joel singing the national anthem. For the entire day my house was a screaming mess of people --this was the only thing that made everyone silent, mainly because my mother started threatening everyone. But his performance was fantastic, and despite showing his age he proved he can still sing and exhibit his piano playing abilites.

Believe your voice can mean something

If million dollar-recording artists were not supporters of certain charities, would we even care? Large artists draw fans to pour their money into charities overseas, but with the exception of Hurricane Katrina, I found that very few big name artists associate themselves with charities that help those in America. There are a number of great non-profit organizations in America that support things such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease and diabetes, but there is a lack of big named artist who support these things. These foundations have a solid foundation and have made an impact with out the over hype of having a famous face promoting them constantly.

Have you ever felt empower(red)? How about inspi(red)? These are just a few of the catchphrases printed across the new (RED) line, which you can purchase solely at the GAP. Of course, if you do not already know, a portion of your purchases will be donated to help those who suffer from AIDS in Africa. Within the past few months, the organization has raised money to treat those with HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Slowly everyone is hearing about the new (RED) campaign. Headlined by Bono and friends, the effort which was designed to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. The launch of the crimson hued product line promotes awareness. With the variety of products available in this high profile line, the founders of (RED) made sure there is something available to satisfy the many target markets. With each product sold an average of 40% of the profits go to support the fight against AIDS. The money is put into The Global Fund, where the aim is to help women and children with HIV/AIDS in Africa. Brand awareness for product (RED) is now around 20 percent in most major markets. For an idea that is less then a year old this amount of awareness is a really great thing.

The launch began with products which include a (RED) American Express Card, iPods, RAZR’s, Converse sneakers, Armani sunglasses and accessories, and a full line of Gap clothing for men, women and children. All the electronic products are the color of a candy coated apple. The Apple corporation also offers a $25 gift card, sold only in the color red. The Gap line, although not all red in color they still declare that the consumer has been inspi(red). With Valentines day approaching new styles promise that the wearer is treasu(red), ado(red), or enamo(red). In addition to Bono, Penelope Cruz, Kylie Minogue, The Scissor Sisters, and Georgio Armani have all attached their names to the (RED) campaign. Just last week, Kanye West and Sheryl Crow have agreed to join up with Motorola to promote the cherry colored RAZR. It seems that wherever Bono decides to send his money, big name stars and the American public will follow in his footsteps.

Does a lesser-known organization even have a chance at helping others if there is not a big name attached to it? Around this time last year, I stumbled across a MySpace profile, which seemed to reach out to me. "To Write Love on Her Arms” was created to help generate awareness and help young adults in America who suffer from depression. The mission of this organization is to prove that with love, rescue is possible. In addition to raising money, offering support and care to those who suffer, the site offers help to those who seek it. TWLOHA started with the story of a 19-year-old girl who had hit rock bottom. From this one person, spawned a movement.

The artists that support this include a list of small bands. Nothing comparable to U2, but TWLOHA has a few smaller named artists such as Switchfoot, Anberlin, and Thrice. The product line is nowhere near as comparable to (RED) including only a few variations of T-shirts, hoodies, stickers and hats. (RED) has Converse and Armani, TWLOHA has Hurley Clothing Co, where one of the founders used to work. In addition to speakers and bands playing shows to raise awareness, the sales of their small merchandise line help support treatment centers.

Just comparing the names and the numbers prove how much of an impact “big names” have on charities. Obviously media attention has fueled the fire behind (RED) but it seems that the names behind have become more meaningful then the message. TWLOHA has collected $150,000 in roughly a year. The RED campaign has raised roughly $4.7 billion since its official launch in March of 2006. Roughly 6,500 people die in Africa everyday from AIDS or AIDS related causes. Over 17 million Americans suffer from depression. Over 2/3 never get treatment. Suicide is the third leading cause in deaths in young Americans. It is easier for Americans to donate money to charities to fix the problems in another country, and ignore the problems that affect our everyday lives.

The (RED) blog (created May 17 2006) cites stories of young African children who need help for have benefited from the monies donated by purchasing (RED) products or services. The (RED) blog is a news source, with updates on how the campaign is growing and who it is helping. There are no personal stories in the blog from the people who have been affected by others purchasing (RED) products, only reports of it. The blog and websites for TWLOHA, which was first created in March of 2006, cites stories from American young adults who have been looking for someone to reach out and found help through this website and organization. The blog for TWLOHA allows users to comment and share stories about how they have found help from those who have succeeded in beating depression. They list sites where those who suffer can find help and try to make things better. Both blogs serve as a consistent source of news and updates for the organizations.

The Gap website begs the question, “Can you send love to someone you’ve never met?” Of course, the easy answer is yes. Sending love to someone whom you have never met seems like the easy answer to make you feel good about yourself. I asked several people this question, and the answer was always the same. When I brought up weather or not they would donate to a charity which focused helping people beat depression, the entire tone of the conversations changed. Some of my interviewees became uncomfortable at the thought of depression and suicide. Kate Bowen, 19, has been diabetic since she was 12. Her family has done many things to donate to the American Diabetic Society and participated in fundraisers to help find a cure. In high school, Kate also battled with bouts of depression from time to time. When asked if her family ever found any charitable organizations for that her response was as follows: “It was easier to deal with the diabetes on a daily basis” she said, “no one wants to know if you’re a little bit depressed.”

Reading through some of the stories found on the blogs of course you are expected to feel bad for those who suffer from living in impoverished third world countries in Africa, where healthcare and medications are not readily available. Who can fault Americans for not seeking proper treatment for depression when there are psychiatric help centers around the country? For tax write off purposes or otherwise, it always seems to look better if a person says they donate to AIDS charities, to help those in other countries, as opposed to the ugly reality of American youth. It seems like a twisted comfort, to send your money overseas and hope that it helps someone who you never see your meet. Someone whose pain you never have to feel.

After talking to a few people about the (RED) campaign, it seemed that everyone knew about it. Only a few close friends of mine know that I support TWLOHA, and that is probably the only reason that they knew such an organization even existed. Lauren Zervos, a senior at Drexel University said she first heard about (RED) on Oprah. She also has thought about trading in her pink RAZR for a new (RED) one.

Now I do not want to discourage anyone from donating to a charity or shopping at the Gap. I am not that heartless. Before you donate to a charitable organization do some research as to where your money will be going and whom you can really help. If you want to make a difference in this country, it may take a bit more work to find something in your community or state. If you chose to be informed about your decision, put your money where it matters to you, an issue that hits close to home. If not? Well then, I guess whatever helps you sleep at night.

Promotional video for TWLOHA:

pirates of the internet

RIAA

You know you do it too. Well...heres to fighting back(and not getting caught)

Please Come Home

Late post /review but something I have been meaning to get to since Thursday. Video files are to large to post on youtube, but i have them...I will figure that out and add more later.

I went up to NYC for the only acoustic performance Dustin Kensrue was doing on the east coast for his new album. The hole in the wall venue called the Knitting Factory was a very “cozy” place to say the least. The main room could not hold more then 300 max.

Being in NYC was definitely an experience. Doors for the show opened at seven. I got there at 630. “Accidentally” got myself through the doors. Sat quietly in a corner and listened to the sound check of the two opening artists. Very cool. I felt special. Once doors finally opened, I claimed my spot on the left corner of the stage, prime place for taking pictures.

Both opening acts were very good, singing a variety of originals, covers, and songs of the bands they both play with. When Dustin took the stage he was just as amazing as every other time I have seen him. Mixing his originals off his new album along with a few classic covers, he commanded the stage with his voice. His guitar held out the twang a little more then usual, and everything was much less electric then when he performs with Thrice.

“If you think you hate Bruce Springsteen, go listen to my album….and I feel your opinion may have been changed for you.”

--Dustin, before he covered “State Trooper” a song off Springsteen’s album Nebraska

When I left the Knitting Factory that night, despite the 11-degree weather, I felt warm inside. Just a guy with a guitar, nothing special right? I know it is odd to say that one persons music can change how you feel, but some artists have that power. This show left me with such a good taste in my mouth (no, not an alcoholic taste) that I would recommend to anyone checking out Dustin Kensrue when he tours in the summer…or at least his new album.