Meta Post III

I can't believe third quarter is already over!  So here's my meta post...
Doc OC and Bolos, please read "Black and Yellow". Thanks!

Junior Theme: Blog #2

Things have really started to pick up this past week regarding junior theme.  It was exciting to start collecting sources, reading books and articles pertaining to our overall topic.  However, finding the “right” why question proved to be more difficult than I expected.  Early last week, I thought I had my question all set; I planned on focusing simply on “Why do school shootings occur?” (specifically, the psychological explanation behind them).  However, this question was too matter-of-fact, and would only provide a paper full of lists of possible explanations, with no real argument.  My search in finding a better why question was difficult, and I struggled to find a question that was neither too broad nor too specific.  After talking to Ms. Eich, Doc OC, and Mr. Bolos, I finally formed my question:  Why are school shootings on the rise?  I plan on focusing on why they are more prevalent today.  I mean bullying has been going on for years, so that can’t be the main reason why school shootings are on the rise.  However, the way we communicate has changed drastically over the years through all of the media connections.  Many years ago, teenagers could go to school, and if they wanted, go home and “get away” from the other students.  Nowadays, there are so many ways to communicate, that even when students leave school, they are still immersed socially with other students.  There’s Facebook, texting, cell phones, TV, and more.  With more media ways to communicate, it can end up being a negative factor to some teenagers: it means more ways to get bullied (i.e. cyber bullying).  However, this is only one hypothesis I have regarding the issue, and am continuing to research deeper into other possible reasons school shootings are more common now.

When I was talking to Mr. Bolos, he recommended the book The Copycat Effect.   The book is all about how media and pop culture trigger the mayhem in our society.  While I am just beginning to read this book  (after going to the Skokie library for the closest copy), it focuses on how if one person commits some action or crime, it may subconsciously allow others to think such action is okay for them to commit.

I still have a lot to work on, and am working on finding more articles before I can come up with any such thesis.  I have definitely made some progress, yet have a lot still to do…

Pure Madness

March is always an exciting time of year, and the NCAA tournament is definitely the highlight.  It connects so many people, even those who don’t particularly follow the collegiate teams during the regular season (which is basically me; I watch a few games here and there, but when it comes to March Madness, I follow it religiously).  It is a very anticipated tournament.  Beforehand, friends and family put together brackets and have fun picking who they think will win.  And it can be pretty competitive.  What’s so exciting is that there are almost always upsets (which can also be very frustrating when trying to fill out brackets).  However, the upsets make it all the more exciting.  I mean, who would have predicted that Morehead State (number 13 seed) would beat Louisville (number 4 seeed)?!  It shows that the “underdog” can win, it’s just a matter of which team wants it more.  Who works harder, who has the passion, the perseverance.  (I blogged earlier about the drive and determination a team needs to succeed with my personal experience of our team winning the field hockey state tournament here.)

Junior Theme: Blog #1

Day 1.  Today was the first official day of Junior Theme.  I have to say, after hearing so much about this project for so long and anticipating for it to come, I was actually kind of excited to get started with it.

I have to say so far I haven't found the process too frustrating or overwhelming.  Maybe I took too narrow of an approach, I don't know, but I was able to come up with a theme I really wanted to focus on pretty quickly.  It all happened when I was brainstorming for topic ideas last week, and looking at books around my house, when I came across Columbine by Dave Cullen.  I immediately thought of focusing on school shootings.  While such rampages are so horrific and devastating, I think it is interesting to study.  I think it would be cool to learn and understand some of the psychology behind it, and what explanations it may provide.  I plan on looking at specific incidents and incorporating some of the psychological explanations to why a teenager would commit such a horrific crime.  Why does such a thing happen?

Day 1 is over, and I have a lot of work to do.  Let the research begin...

Black and Yellow

We have been studying racism, and where it is seen in our society today.  In the sports world, racism is still prevalent.  One report mentions the following:

“African-American head coaches make a million dollars less than their white counterparts.  In college they make 400,000 less.  While there are some black head coaches, the percentage is significantly smaller… blacks are significantly under represented.”

Evidently, whites are more represented in the head coaching spots, specifically regarding the NFL.  Briefly in class someone mentioned the Rooney Rule, an NFL rule created by Dan Rooney in 2003, that states that “any team with a head coaching vacancy must interview at least one minority candidate in good faith or face commissioner sanctions.” Thus, this rule was intended to promote diversity among the head coaches in the National Football League.  Later, the rule was changed to cover general managers’ spots as well.

Dan Rooney-- Steelers owner and founder of the Rooney Rule

While some claim this is an example of affirmative action, it is not exactly the case.  One article says that, “ Diversity did not increase because teams were required to hire a person of color; after all, the Rooney Rule requires only a meaningful interview, nothing more. Diversity increased because team decision-makers who took the rule seriously opened their minds to candidates who had previously been overlooked, and with open minds, they saw talent that had theretofore gone unrecognized.”

Clearly it is not exactly affirmative action because the teams is not “required to hire”, just simply to “interview”.  A few years after the rule was implemented, diversity increased amongst the coaching staff.

There have definitely been steps toward eliminating the apparent racism in the coaching world.  In fact, take a look at the five most recent Super Bowls.  “Seven out of the ten teams in those games had either a head coach or general manager of color.”

Mike Tomlin-- Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, has lead his team to 2 Super Bowls, and one victory.

These people of color have just as much talent, and it’s great that because of the Rooney Rule, more minorities will get the chance to be interviewed for coaching jobs.