I heart CSU

I heart Chicago State University!!!!!

And I want the world to know!


I heart Chicago State University and others may not but they should. Being raised in a small home on the other side of the tracks from Chicago State University, I feel that I have an imitate relationship with the state school. When I was at the tender age of five my mother decided to further her education and began her journey in the halls of the education building. During the several years it took her to obtain a bachelors and a graduate degree, I had the pleasure of spending many hours in the Reynolds Recreation Center being supervised by caring primary education majors and gracing some classrooms trying desperately to understand what was being discussed.

When my mother graduated she transitioned into the Chicago Public Schools seamlessly and went on to have a successful career until she retired a few years ago. In the last months of my high school career I made the incorrect decision to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I went to U of I and had the misguided fortune to face some rude realizations. In high school I was in a special program tailored to prepare students for rigorous collegiate programs and I became accustomed  to small classrooms and encouraging attention the teachers gave their students. I realized while sitting in a lecture hall with 2,000 other students that having a teacher only know me by a number and taking a calculus test with 10,000 students in drafty auditoriums was not something I wanted to pay for. So when that bill of 6,000 came for the spring semester this student began packing and went home.

After some debate and worry, I marched myself across those tracks and signed up for Chicago State University's fall semester. I thought that attending here I would not go through any of the emotions and events that any other college students have ever experience. Chicago State offers lots of work, challenging classes, stress, projects, workshops, seminars, and any other challenge you can think of. Speaking with several other students I always hear how the other schools that they attended never seemed to challenge them like CSU. My mother always says that when people who are in the know hear that you graduated from CSU they know you worked and know your stuff.

At no other school have I been taught by professors who care so much and actually create more work for themselves in order to give their students all that they need. It is now after three years at Chicago State and working towards the completion of my bachelors of science in chemistry with a minor in writing that I find my-self completely inamoured with the students, teachers, and curriculum of Chicago State. I firmly believe that everyone should come here and see just what love and blessings wait for you here. Of course this school has room for improvement but not as much as all the other schools in this state! But seriously what school's tuition actually goes down? What school actually has small classes and not some random lying statistic? What school has students and teachers spending hours and hours to perfect the process of education? What school is such a diamond in the rough? What school offers every club or sport that you could think of on a idealistic campus in the middle of a world-class city?

The school that answers all those questions is none other than Chicago State University!

Just an Opinion: The Festival Seedling that Could Grow

The Harambee Harvest Festival took place October 15 and 16, 2010 in and near the Cordell Reed Student Union and also in the parking lot behind. The festival took place from 9am to 6pm on Friday and 10am to 8pm on Saturday. The festival was intended to bring cultural awareness to the campus of Chicago State University. Honoring cultural identity which can be seen throughout the architecture of the Student Union Building is why Chicago State University is an honorary historically black university.

The festival brought the city’s south side farmers selling fresh vegetables and other produce, but there were so few! Is it that hard to find black farmers? If the committee in charge tries harder to connect with the community they might have had a larger turnout for both the vendors and the visitors. Vendors selling various merchandise s   et up tables on the quadrangle adjacent to the cafeteria for the second day of the festival.  However very few actually represented any culture with the items sold. Many vendors were selling item crafted to be “cultural” but were things massively produced in India and China! Where is the jury that weighs the vendors sell list to prevent vendors selling items that are completely contradicting the point of the festival?

Many visitors of the festival were extremely pleased by what was on display and were moved by the music but all seemed to agree that the potential of the festival was endless and should be improved for next year.  “There was some confusion about the festival dates due to faulty information”, the Office of Media and Events explained.  Many students of the university had no idea about the festival, which made turnout low and many expressed disdain for the handling of the distribution of information regarding the festival. There was also no communication in the community that surrounds the campus. None of the alumni were informed. There were no flyers in gas stations, grocery stores, or the bulletins of surrounding churches. This is the major contributing factor as to why the festival ended early on Saturday somewhere around six instead of the documented eight.

 Another festival in Chicago that celebrates the cultures represented in the student body of Chicago State University is the African Festival of the Arts that happens every Labor Day weekend in the city’s beautiful Washington Park. This festival in its beginning was very small and somewhat unorganized like the Harambee Harvest Festival but through many years of trial and error it is now an internationally recognized festival. Some will agree that with more work and dedication CSU can also be the host of a major festival since celebration of both the culture of the students and residents of the south side can and will bring unity in to the community. With expressions of culture Blacks who have a very limited view of their personal culture need every and any event that can showcase our culture. Other cities like Philadelphia and Washington DC do a very good job of hosting events celebrating culture. It would be wonderful to have that experience based out of my school, Chicago State University.

The Harambee Festival (broadcast script)

The Harambee Harvest Festival at Chicago State University took place October 15 and 16, 2010 in the Cordell Reed Student Union and the parking lot behind. It was from the hours of 9am to 6pm on Friday and 10am to 8pm on Saturday. The festival was intended to bring cultural awareness to the campus of Chicago State University. Several of the students of the university were not informed about the festival and expressed displeasure for the handling of information regarding the festival, which may also be the major contributing factor for why turnout was low and the festival ended early on Saturday. “There was some confusion about the festival dates due to faulty information being exchanged”, a statement made by the Office of Media and Events.  There was also no communication in the community that surrounds the campus.

Harambee Festival: a Celebration of Culture and Unity

On an uncharacteristically beautiful and warm weekend in Chicago farmer markets have mostly ended and only a few remain. On the lush and green campus of Chicago State University the celebration the cultural identity for the majority of the students enrolled this semester took place.  The Harambee Harvest Festival was on October 15 and 16, 2010 in and near the Cordell Reed Student Union and also in the parking lot behind the building. The festival took place from 9am to 6pm on Friday and 10am to 8pm on Saturday.

Celebration of cultural awareness to is why Chicago State University is considered an honorary historically black university. The festival brought to the city’s south side farmers selling fresh vegetables and other produce. The following day was dedicated to arts and crafts by bringing in dancers, music, ethnic food and retail vendors. Vendors of several mediums set up tables on the quadrangle adjacent to the cafeteria. Lots of decorations were abundant which created a festive atmosphere. Strong rhythmic sounds permeated the area from large speakers for several hours.

Many visitors of the festival were extremely pleased by what was on display and were moved by the music but all seemed to agree that the potential of the festival was endless and should be improved for next year. There was some confusion about the festival dates due to faulty information being exchanged the Office of Media and Events explained.  Many students of the university had no idea about the festival which made turnout was low and many expressed disdain for the handling of the distribution of information regarding the festival. There was also no communication in the community that surrounds the campus.  This may also be the major contributing factor as to why the festival ended early on Saturday.

 Another festival in Chicago that celebrates the cultures represented in the student body of Chicago State University is the African Festival of the Arts that happens every Labor Day weekend in the city’s beautiful Washington Park. This festival in it beginning was very small and somewhat unorganized like the Harambee Harvest Festival but through many years of trial and error it is now an internationally recognized festival. One attendee named Vivian shared, “that with more work and dedication Chicago State can also be the host of a major festival”.  Events like this can bring unity between the school and  the community.

Harambee Harvest Festival: Cultural Celebration at Chicago State University

The Harambee Harvest Festival at Chicago State University took place October 15 and 16, 2010 in the Cordell Reed Student Union and the parking lot behind. The festival took place from 9am to 6pm on Friday and 10am to 8pm on Saturday. The festival was intended to bring cultural awareness to the campus of Chicago State University. The Harambee Harvest brought the city’s south side one of the last farmer’s markets of the year. The following day was dedicated to arts and crafts by bringing in dancers, music, ethnic food and retail vendors. Vendors selling diverse merchandise set up tables on the quadrangle adjacent to the cafeteria. Lots of decorations were abundant which created a festive atmosphere. Music and dancing occurred on the last day of the festival featuring African dance and music.

Many attendees expressed pleasure and excitement by items on display and were also moved by the music. The opinions of the attendees when asked briefly all seemed to agree that the potential of the festival was endless and should be further improved for next year. “There was some confusion about the festival dates due to faulty information being exchanged”, the Office of Media and Events explained.  Many students of the university had no idea about the festival which made turnout was. This may also be the major contributing factor as to why the festival ended several hours early on Saturday. There was also no communication in the community that surrounds the campus. Hopefully with some improvements the festival will return next year.

A csu student Interview September 15, 2010 4pm

The concept of success has morphed over the years and so has the American dream that has been collectively dreamt by our elders. To gain an insight into the new definition and dream I sat down with a classmate, Tiffany Johnson. In our conversation we briefly spoke about what sets one apart from others and what personal goals are needed to obtain success.

At first I asked a few questions to get to know more pass the assumptions made about someone else in a journalism class at Chicago State. I learned quite a bit about her while sitting in that hard chair/desk combo things found at every institution. It was while I was wiggling around on that hard bench I learned that as an American military brat her childhood was scattered all over bases here and around the world. To this day she comes to a pause when asked where she grew up. She was born in Georgia and then began her journey through military bases with her mother, two brothers and one sister.

 Moving from place to place she turned to books to find entertainment and passion. By being an introvert and a bookworm she finds it has lead her to life of a loner and “perpetual singleness”, but she is happy as any other person by keeping her life peaceful and free of confrontations and drama that goes along with that. She makes her life exciting by challenging herself to achieve her goals. As a “senior in limbo” she has almost finished her degree in professional and technical writing but has desires for more schooling. Although she was a monster in school as a child she has found new passions in learning and understanding the world around her. Fascinated by the world of science she has set the goal of simultaneously attaining a master’s in media science and taking up science in order to one day head a research library.

When she thinks about success and whether she has achieved it she said “No, I haven’t done anything. I just figured out the plan. I should be so much further along.”  Even though when I asked her whether or not she would see herself as successful once her goals have been achieved I got a “Hmm…” I am completely confident that she will find success and fulfillment. This gives a new look into the old American dream and new reference to the definition of success.

Strategies for Success at Chicago State University

Summer has come to an end and now you find yourself at a new beginning: you are starting your first semester of college and now here you are g g going from the total control and re-enforced structure provided by family and secondary schools to complete freedom.  You have heard probably a million times that you can do anything that you put your mind to and become whatever you desire. Now here you are at the place that defines the ‘what’ of the hundred year old question: what will you be when you grow up? This feat can probably be the source of about ten new pimples if you spent enough time truly trying to comprehend the situation. However you are in luck because millions have been in this very same position and there is advice and guiding hands to help you through this period of your life.

The very first step to being successful in college is defining what success will mean to you. Take some time to figure out your interest and then look through the majors offered at Chicago State University (CSU) and see if there is an overlap. This may even mean that you might have to admit to yourself that you have no idea what it is that you want out of life. Or you might even realize that what you want to do will not bring millions but will bring satisfaction. Being in a field of study that may not necessarily bring bountiful monetary rewards does not mean that you will not be successful. Success is a definition that changes for every person.  Luckily, CSU provides services to their students to help them narrow the possibilities that lie in front of them.  There are even counselors that can help assess your interests and the best possible routes to accomplish your goals.

            With success there will always be struggles. These struggles can deter you from achieving your goals and even the most disciplined person can succumb to what most would call the four D’s. The four D’s that can railroad even the best plan for success are distractions, disinterest, depression, and dissatisfaction. Each of these categories has tools and strategies that can be implemented and will allow one to persevere and move successfully towards the goals that were set.

Distractions run rampant in everyone’s life unless maybe you live isolated in a dark cabin with only a fireplace. The fun thing about distractions are its ability to come in several forms. Sources of distractions can range from the hum of the ceiling lights to the screams of a new born daughter or from Facebook to dull pencils. One huge cure to this problem is to simply identify what are major distractions for you and then to eliminate them. If there is something that you cannot necessarily cut off or ignore, try finding ways to limit the amount it interferes with your plan. Life is not easy and usually not all that accommodating to someone who is trying to go to school. A strategy for dealing with life outside of school is to identify what is and what is not pertinent and adjust accordingly. Use the help of loved ones to lessen burdens you might face while in school.

Disinterest is a huge struggle for many attending school. There are requirements and classes that may not necessarily pique your interest. The best advice for this is to be positive and find what it is that you can take from each situation and also to push yourself through the rough patches.

You do have to be very careful with disinterest. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and lose interest in things that are near and dear to who you are, you can be experiencing symptoms of depression. Depression and mental health are very important and can seriously derail your advancement towards your goals. Be sure to use all the services provided to you at the Student Wellness and Counseling Centers. The two centers can make sure that you are healthy and mentally fit to handle the challenges that come with school and this life building process.

The last D is dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction sneaks in when you cannot complete anything because it does not match up to impossible standards that you have set. Dissatisfaction can quickly take you off your course. To combat this, remember that you are human. You will make mistakes and make wrong decisions. You cannot always be perfect and you might not do well in some areas. However completing any goal       is hard and will be filled with learning opportunities. It is very important that you give everything your best effort. If you do fail you then have an opportunity to learn from it and grow as an individual.

People all over the world endure these obstacles so remember to take this time to enjoy shaping your life into whatever it is that you personally wish it to be, and before you realize it you will have made the journey and find yourself successful. Now take a deep breath and begin your journey.