Magazine Cover

I chose to only use two pictures because they were the two most powerful that were provided. Using only two makes the reader focus their attention on the two images and the sections of the mag.

Story 2

In broad terms, white individuals see progress, while black and multi-cultural individuals see frustration and constant barriers when it comes to race relations. Lee Anne Bell, professor and director of education at Barnard College grew up in the 1960s and always believed that from that time of social turmoil, things would continue to move forward for the better. Bell believes that in some ways a backwards motion has happened in our society and is interested in “finding ways to make genuine dialogue about these issues possible so that collectively we can find ways to move forward,” she says.

            Bell has been teaching about racism and other social justice issues since she began teaching and her expertise was something that the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department was very interested in sharing with the students and faculty at UGA. Corey Johnson, an associate professor at UGA, knew about Bell through her book, Storytelling for Social Justice. “Her book is like a bible to me in relation to some of my core values for teaching,” says Johnson, “and social justice is a fundamental core value of our department, so we’re always looking to bring in speakers.”

During her speech, Bell touched on different aspects of her research about race issues. Through this research, she has found that the stories about race are different depending on the individual’s perspective race. Andrew Nelson, a senior at UGA, found her theories interesting, but not eye opening. “I can see the ‘progress’ that white people harp on, but as a black male, I am constantly shown the barriers put before me,” Nelson states. “It’s not a new theory, at least not for black people, but it’s the first time I’ve ever heard it put onto paper and explained so candidly.”

            Prior to her research, Bell had uninformed theories on the progress of race relations, however; after her research, Bell changed her mind on the progress of racism in America and began to work toward ways to think and speak about racism in a new way. She began exploring art as a method for unlocking the ‘concealed stories,’ as she’s named them. Her storytelling is centered around a counter story-telling community and includes four classifications of stories: stock, concealed, resistance and emerging/transforming stories.

            Storytelling methods, she believes, remove some of the risk behind sharing concealed stories. Johnson agrees that the storytelling is “a great way to start and get individuals to open up.” With these methods, individuals are able to share repressed stories of personal experience or second hand account with the risk and shame removed from the possible repercussions. Instead, the usual backlash that stems from controversial conversations is replaced with healthy conversation and analysis.

            One goal of Bell is to build new ‘emerging stories:’ stories that tell the truth of the situation as it is actually happening. Stories that help to “generate new stories for catalyzing our efforts,” she explains. Bell used a quote by Toni Morrison to exemplify how storytelling is going to make a difference in changing the ways racism is viewed:

 “Make up a story, narrative is radical; creating us at the very moment it’s being created.”

Video

This is a video about an odd friendship between an elephant, Tara and a dog, Bella. They have an inseparable bond and that is only made more apparent through the video footage. If the article had been done in traditional written format, the reader understanding of the friendship would not have been as powerful. Having the images and video footage really make the story unique and capture a different perspective than traditional formatting. It's totally heartwarming- Check it out!

http://www.popmodal.com/video/2046/Elephant--Dog-Best-Friends-Tara--Bella

Ethical issues

It's certainly a question of ethics when it comes to how any publication handles a scandal within their own organization. Earlier this year, Red & Black editor-in-chief, Daniel Burnett, was asked to resign following an alcohol related incident at a UGA football game.

The paper previously headed by Burnett published several follow-up articles detailing the incident, including quotes from Burnett himself and excerpts from an apology letter to President Michael Adams from R&B publisher, Harry Montevideo.

The publication is a student newspaper and it would have been easy to ignore the situation and disregard the ethical principle to report on controversial situations involving the paper. It's definitely a difficult decision for any paper to make - national or local; however, I believe that the decisions of the Red & Black were unbiased and fully forthcoming with relevant, factual information - and that comes from a student who doesn't often agree with the Red & Black's reporting.

In Power 50 Years Later

“I’m now able to appreciate shared traditions that wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for the desegregation of UGA,” says Josh Delaney, student body president at the University of Georgia.

This year, UGA marks the 50^th anniversary of desegregation at the institution. Josh Delany campaigned in 2010 and after an intense competition, Delaney, along with his running mates, Stephen Thompson and Maddy Adler won the majority of student vote and therefore, the election.

Delany, who is black, doesn’t believe that his race affected his run either positively or negatively. “I don’t think that there was any major reaction to my running as a black candidate or to my subsequent election,” Delaney says.

Shreya Desai, a member of the campaign team for Delaney’s party in 2010, as well as a minority on campus also saw no difference in student opinions stemming from wholly race related reasons. “I didn’t see any extreme opinions either way about Delaney’s race. Of course, it was a heated race, but the tensions rose from healthy competition and wanting to provide the campus with an SGA that could best serve their needs as a student body.”

On a campus that is less than 15 percent multi-racial, there were undoubtedly reservations in electing a black student as the voice of the white-dominated campus, however; Delany believes that “it’s definitely a sign of the times. Being in office as we mark the 50^th anniversary of desegregation is amazing.”

Being black and in power is slowly becoming a usual occurrence. In 2008, Barack Obama became the U.S. President and Delany believes that this is “truly a tangible reminder of how far we’ve come.”

Of course, despite his optimism, Delany has no disillusions about the state of the campus body when it comes to race relations, “I will say that 50 years later, desegregation has happened, but the campus as a whole is not 100 percent integrated.”

With that reality in mind, one of the biggest platform pieces for Delaney’s campaign team, The Snapshot, was “bringing people together,” according to Delany. “Our goal was to express the opinions of many and to ‘bring everyone into the picture’ with our platform.” Delany considers his term a success.

“We were able to accomplish a lot and I was able to work with some of the most talented individuals on campus,” he states. “Everything we came into office wanting to accomplish was worked on and the diversity within the senate has risen.”

In addition to being student body president, Delaney is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, a traditionally black fraternity. “It’s really given me a deeper historical context of African Americans on campus.”

When it comes to his actions a president, Delaney believes that his race isn’t a factor, just as it’s become a  non-issue as a minority on an extremely under populated minority campus. “During my first year on campus, I was extremely aware of my race and I allowed it to stifle my interactions on campus, but now that feeling is non-existent. I’ve made great friends on campus and we’ve helped each other learn.”

Desai, however, has a different opinion. “Josh is black. Race undoubtedly affects the way that the world works and it is no different with his presidency. His character as a person affected his presidency and that character was built from his experiences as a minority,” she explains

My Photo

I like this photo of Laynie, because it's a candid shot that really captures the spirit of what a passionate and energetic person she is. Although the picture isn't framed perfectly, the really attraction to the picture is her emotion and I think that this is a photo is one that would get a second look from viewers.

Three Pictures

This photo was shot by Alfred Eisenstaedt. He also took this photo and although it is much more famous, I really like this one, too. Eisenstaedt is famous for his spontaneous WWII photos. Part of the spontaneity behind his work is that the individuals were never named, so this couple still goes unknown, as far as I am aware. There's something really cool about being insanely famous and not having any idea about it.

http://twink.tumblr.com/post/147366013/a-serviceman-gets-a-goodbye-kiss-before-shipping

This fireman saved the doberman from a house fire. There is so much genuine emotion behind this thank you and its all caught in an instantaneous moment on film. So sweet. Also - I stumbled upon this photo from a forwarded email from my mother back in 2005 (when forwarding email chains were still slightly acceptable...). It just goes to show you how you can find good art, good stories and good inspiration anywhere.
http://nyc_dog_blog.downtownpet.com/2007_09_01_archive.html

Who knew a multi-colored afghan and a one-piece red swimsuit could continue to defy the standards of sexy in modern society. This photo catapulted  Farrah Fawcett to fame, but was just a spontaneous moment that was set-up by total accident at the photo shoot that particular day. It's a natural photograph from top to bottom and really captures the spirit of something beautiful.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/dp-nws-farrah-swimsuit,0,2812458.story

Brainstorming - Nikki Welch

1. Traditionally black fraternities and sororities on campus - when were they formed and did they have any special founding anniversaries this year.
2. SGA President Josh Delany - to be black and in office during the 50th anniversary.
3. ALL the buildings named after African-American students who came through UGA and why the buildings are named after them.
4. Did it snow that year, too? This could be a good humor story about snow and significant things that have happened on snow years.
5. What happened on the 1st and 2nd anniversary of desegregation? We all know about Hunter and Holmes, but did any other African-American students join them the next year?
6. The ratio of black students who are athletes on campus and how many of them are scholarship students.
7. ASF of the admissions ratio for African-American students admitted in 2010.
8. Efforts of UGA to promote multiculturalism with multicultural classes, events, etc.
9. Did the first students finish their degree and what's the ratio of multi-cultural students who are admitted, but choose to finish their degree elsewhere? - Find out why.
10. First black athlete at UGA? First black SGA President, etc. Find out the firsts and get some background info.
11. Black faculty members, community members who are employed by UGA, the Athens area and how it contributes to the multiculturalism of UGA.
12. Did we really desegregate? Do black and white students on campus co-mingle? What schools and degrees to black students typically study toward vs. white students? Is there an overlap of black and white students within many organizations, or does everyone continue to magnetize toward their own race? Why?