Journalism Class - Monday September 26, 2005

[jerusalem-s.livejournal.com]

Professor Jerusalem looks old and cranky this morning - or as old and cranky as you can get at the ripe old age of 35. The cat is again playing beneath his desk, this time with something that it probably wouldn't pay to examine too closely.

The Professor is poking somewhat suspiciously at what looks like a perfectly ordinary sandwich.

On the screen behind him is the following message:

Announcement:

I don't want to talk about it. At all. I don't want to hear it, either. Foodstuffs of any kind and the shambling undead are both totally verboten subjects.

Instead, I want to hear about your thoughts as to the student elections - unrelated to the homework assignment. If you must gossip and chatter, let's stick to actual school business. Please.


ALSO: This professor has made it his life's work to make politicians live up to their promises or put them through an un-ending living Hell and will most likely be encouraging his students to do the same. Tomorrow we will discuss 'Monstering'. With inappropriate glee and possibly illustrations.

Political Hopefuls - Beware

Edit: For the benefit of my students, this helpful list of student gov't hopefuls courtesy of dbiers

Comments

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Well Sir, *Maia raises her hand slowly* What are your feelings on the election? The J.A. or Parker's Favorites?

[positive-angel.livejournal.com]

Chihaya moved stiffly into class and eased into his chair. His back muscles were still stiff from Friday and Saturday. With dark circles under his eyes, he rested his chin on his hands and just listened to the conversation around him.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of wondering how much of these elections will be students voting for a candidate due to their views and how much will be a popularity contest. If I don't like Max Fischer (I like Max, for the record), for instance, but I agree with his views, would I vote for him because I agreed with him or not vote for him because I don't like him?

Is there a way to make student elections not about popularity or is the voting due to popularity a typical symptom of student elections?

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

I agree, its all a big popularity contest. Its either Angelus' J.A.'s or Parkers Pets. *frowns* But in light of the fact we should vote or we cant complain. I'm going to have to vote for Max.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

I'm not entirely sure who I'd like to vote for as of yet just because I haven't paid enough attention and that's my own fault. I know the Junior Achievers have several candidates and they're well organized and well spoken even if I don't know them personally.

[positive-angel.livejournal.com]

Will there be a way we can find out what their platforms are before we vote? Otherwise, the voting will take place based on name recognition, which is simply another form of popularity.

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Maia pauses, "Yeah I dont like Angelus at all but I must say his club and candidates are the most organized of the lot. Max has a lot of good views. My trouble is my dislike for Angelus might cloud an otherwise perfectly good candidate in Max. Thats why I am going to force myself a vote for Max. I wish some other people would run."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

Very true. I haven't seen anything about a way of getting views out to the students. Not sure if there will be any kind of open forum or debates taking places to inform the students what the candidates are offering in way of a vote.

We should probably make sure there is some kind of way to get this information out to us, the voters, so we don't have to vote just recognition alone.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

I don't know Angelus that well but I know he was on the front lines this weekend when the stuff that wasn't school related took place. He didn't back down, that's for sure.

I think Max definitely has the intelligence to be a good president but, from what little I've seen, he's got an ego the size of Montana.

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Maia chuckles "Yeah he does that." Maia thinks for a minute "Most people do though dont they? Have egos that large I mean. Max just doesn't hide it like most people."

Maia's eyebrow raises "Yeah I heard about Angelus' bravery in the attack this weekend. Did you fight as well?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe walks in slowly and takes her seat at her desk. She looks bruised, and she's being careful with her arm, but other than she looks like she's the same cheerful person she always has been.

"In politics, sometimes it's people with the ego that surprise everybody and do an excellent job. I also wish there were some other people running."

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Maia turns and offers a weak smile at Phoebe. "Yeah they really need more people. Why dont you run? You'd be good at it."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

Agreed, most people do have some type of ego. If Max's gets in the way of his candidacy and, if he won, presidency, then it would be a problem for the school.

Yeah, I did. Library team. Saw the zombie stew. Didn't smell good.

[mycanonhatesme]

Chloe comes in and sits down near Phoebe. "I wish there were more people running too. I mean, what if you don't like anyone who's running? I like Parker, but I'm sure there are people who don't like her or Angelus and his friends. Are those people just screwed?"

She looks over at Phoebe and whispers, "Hey, how are you feeling? I heard you guys saw some action in the weapons locker."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John turns to Chloe.

"Do you happen to know if they're allowing write in votes? Not that a write in candidate would win but it gives the students a little more choice in who they'd like to vote for if they don't want to vote for those who are running."

[chasingangela]

Angela, who has found herself attending Jerusalem's class more often than she ever thought she would, lazily props her head on one hand.

"I wish we knew more about the candidates," she says "But I'm not sure student elections actually mean anything. Isn't it just, like, something for people to put on their college applications? So pointless."

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Maia smirks "Yeah I shot one, head exploded everywhere. I just threw my clothes away yesterday from it. There is no way I was going to get that smell out. Thats awesome, that you fought I mean." Maia smiled

[courier-gavin.livejournal.com]

Jake wanders in. He's looking unusally cheerful and carrying a huge cup of coffee. He goes to sit down at his usual place (ie as close to Phoebe as he can manage), puts the coffee carefully down and pulls out a notebook and a pen from his backpack. The backpack smells of booze and fire and looks like it's been through a war.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe smiles at Maia. "No one nominated me."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe smiles at Chloe. "Feeling much better...and got my entire adventure on tape for you. You left the camcorder in the weapons locker Friday night."

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

*Maia frowns* They are closed huh?

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe shrugs. "They might be, but I'm pondering JOhn's idea of a write-in candidate. I wonder if we chose someone to write in if we could campaign for them."

[positive-angel.livejournal.com]

A write in campaign. That's a good question. Professor Gandalf is the advisor for the student council. Someone could ask him?

[jerusalem-s.livejournal.com]

Spider frowned. "I haven't seen any platforms at all, truthfully. I think we're going to have to arrange some sort of public statement of position if we want to get anywhere, truthfully."

[jerusalem-s.livejournal.com]

"Public speeches? Debate? Campaign promises?" Spider waved a hand. "These people need campaign managers, I think, and a public forum to communicate in."