Spreading The Awareness About RHA

When Shaun Huffman came to The University of Tampa, he had no idea that he would be highly involved with campus life. He just wanted to fit in and be social with everybody but getting involved with Residence Hall Association changed his life. As Assistant Director of Residence Life Ciarra Joyner said “Picture this it’s Fall 2007, I am waiting in the Vaughn Community Room to start the first Hall Council Meeting in walks amongst all of the girls a tall, slender male. He is silly and outgoing and asks if he can be the SG [Student Government] Rep. Fast forward two years later he is the President of RHA, had attended and presented at national conferences and helped make change at UT and he is just beginning.”

Huffman started off his freshmen year being involved with his hall council, he then started attending RHA meetings as a part of his position on the hall council board, he gained even more interest in RHA when he attended his first conference through RHA. “I remember being nervous about how the conference was going to go, but seeing the highly motivated and fun environment at these conferences you just want to make a change on campus.” Huffman states, when asked about what his plans for the upcoming year were he mentions “I want RHA’s name to be out there, and this year our theme is Diversity. I am in the process of talking to all diverse organizations on campus to plan something big for the students.” He also plans on building a better resident community on campus, and spreading awareness about RHA so that residents can come and discuss their concerns and suggestions.

Huffman still enjoys hanging out with his friends and socializing in the Vaughn Courtyard, but he definitely enjoys being a leader on campus and encouraging freshmen as well as returning students to join and be a part of the Residence Hall Association. As Senior Nikkia Parchment states “Shaun is always around people, he likes the attention but at the same time he always thinks about RHA first, that is one of his major priorities.” Huffman is not only involved with RHA but Student Government as well. “I have to head up the residence and commuter life committee, I am pretty excited about it because my committee members seem fun and they have a lot of enthusiasm so I know that it’s going to be a good year.” said Huffman. Many are very impressed by Huffman’s excellent leadership qualities as well as his ability to make people feel comfortable around him. As Director of Residence Life Krystal Schofield said “Shaun has a positive attitude and the and ability to get people to work together. He is working to get RHA’s name out there and is already off to a great start for the coming year.”

Huffman held the position of Vice-President for his first year in RHA, he accomplished a lot while he was in this position. He appointed members from each hall council to be on the food committee, this committee met every month to discuss any issues on campus regarding the food, the staff or any other complaints. If you ask some of the executive board members on RHA what they thought of Huffman, they had nothing but good things to say. As Sophomore Kaneesha Heath [who holds the National Conference Chair – In Training position] states, “Shaun is a good campus leader and RHA president, I think the best qualities are that he is able to be sociable with everyone. He never seems to block out a group of people or anything of that matter. He is very approachable and always has a smile.” Another one the members on the board, Director of Public Relations Senior Mike Seitzler states, “Shaun’s best quality is his charisma and friendliness, he's always easy to talk to and very approachable. Within the last year I have seen Shaun grow in a very professional manner, he knows how to present himself in a very professional way to the staff of our school and higher.”

When asked who can attend the meetings, Huffman states that "Anyone who lives on campus is more than welcome to attend our meetings. Residence Hall Association meets every Tuesday at 8:30PM in the Brevard Community Room. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at rha@ut.edu or add us as a friend on Facebook - Residence Hall Associationtampa."

Obama's Inspires Student With His Speech

On September 8th 2009, President Barack Obama stood in front of thousands of students and their families in Arlington, Virginia at the Wakefield High School to discuss the importance of education. As President Obama put it himself, “The future of America depends on you”. After hearing, Obama’s speech a majority of parents and students applauded his efforts to encourage all the students across the country to pursue their education and that “every single one of you has something to offer”. On the other hand, President Obama’s speech was met with some concerns and uproar amongst the more conservative citizens who accused him of “trying to indoctrinate their children with socialist ideas” most of them were worried that this may influence their kids in the wrong way.

After hearing President Obama’s speech, a UT junior Samantha Harlan was very impressed by Obama’s efforts and a little perturbed by the uproar that some parents were causing around the country “I do not understand what the problem is, I mean he is doing something useful and we still refuse to accept it? I just think that people that do not like him want something to pick on!” She was not the only one with the same belief, Senior Nikkia Parchment stated “I believe that Florida made a big mistake by not accepting the money that Obama offered to us for our education system, he is making an effort and doing something good for the country why can’t we just accept that?” When asked what they thought of the speech both Harlan and Parchment had similar views. “I really loved his speech; I definitely wish I was there because I was staring in awe at the television. It was inspirational. The President just has a certain charm about him.” Harlan stated.

The President’s speech caused uproar in many different states, but the one most reported about was in Texas. As reported in the New York Times, many parents in Texas refused to send their children to school that day as they did not want them to be influenced, a big fear was that they did not want the schools to start influencing their children with “socialist movements”. Some parents were concerned that “the speech had not been screened for political content. Nor, they said, had it been reviewed by the State Board of Education and local school boards, which, under state law, must approve the curriculum.” Senior Jessica Whitney was not very happy about this report, as she said, “being an education major, I was very excited about the Obama’s speech he was extremely inspirational and encouraged all students to stay in school. Looking at it from a teacher’s perspective there is absolutely no underlying socialist themes in his speech.” Whitney was not the only one who seemed disturbed by these reports. As a recently hired teacher and UT alumni Christina Gandia said “I think it is understandable why some parents might presume that Obama was trying to influence some socialist ideas, however I feel like that they media is trying to make this into a controversial news item when it doesn’t need to be. Obama delivered a fantastic speech and the parents should be happy that he is trying to keep their children in school.”

President Obama’s speech was very effective. As he states in his speech “I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don’t let us down. Don’t let your family down or your country down. Most of all, don't let yourself down. Make us all proud.” Students all over the country should be inspired and motivated by this speech instead of criticizing the President’s efforts. Each and every individual who is pursuing his or her education has been given a chance to re-evaluate what they are doing and have been encouraged to succeed in life and aim for nothing but the best. In today’s world that is something that every student requires and President Obama delivered it with extreme ease and charisma.

References :-

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/us/04school.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=obama%20school%20speech&st=cse

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-in-a-National-Address-to-Americas-Schoolchildren/

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/obama-coaches-students-to-get-serious-and-study-hard/

Lack of team does not hinder spirit & love for the game!

If you walk around UT’s campus on weekends you will notice many students wearing a variety of football jerseys or t-shirts. Generally, students can be seen supporting their favorite football teams during on and off-season. Since UT lacks a football team, students find different avenues to enjoy the game. Contrary to popular belief amongst a majority of UT students, the university did have a football team back in 1933. Granted it did not last that long, however they did have an excellent stretch and boasted of “some great players and well known coaches from the days of UT football that produced an all-time record of 201-160-12.”

    The University of Tampa “played its first football game in LaGrange, Georgia on October 12, 1933.”  When the team first started out they generally played other small college teams. They did lose quite a number of times to a variety of teams; however, they did win a quite a few games too. “While it was not known at the time, the University of Tampa played its last game on November 30, 1974.” Since 1975, many football fans around the Tampa Bay area especially at the university enjoyed games at The University of South Florida. A major reason for the close of the football program at UT was the fact that they were facing extreme financial difficulties. “In 1975, University President B.D. Owens reported that over the last three years $755,000 was taken out the endowment fund to support the football program.” President Owens also stated, “The elimination of football was "Vital to the institution's fiscal health."   
    For a majority of college students the decision to attend a university is usually based upon how high the athletics department is rated, more specifically how well known the football team is. A lack of a football team does put UT at a disadvantage; however, students still enjoy participating in all activities that coincide with the game. As senior, Dwayne Duke states, “Like another red blooded American, I pick up an 18 pack of my favorite beer and start drinking regardless of whose playing every Saturday or Sunday, it’s a tradition.” 
    For some students it is more about the game and the teams. As senior Jessica Whitney states, “I grew up in Gainesville so football is in my blood. I do not miss any Gator games; I get really passionate during some of the games.”  Whitney along with other avid football fans generally enjoys games at different sports bars to catch some of the games that are not easily accessible on the ESPN or NFL network. As senior, Courtney Perazzo states, “There are times when I cannot find an Auburn game on the television as the Gators are playing or the game is not available in our area, that’s when I go to the Pressbox.”  
    Many students take advantage of the fact that UT is near The University of South Florida, and the games are easily accessible. As senior George Allendorf states, “I enjoy going to the Bulls games as they are a lot of fun and I get to see friends from USF that I haven’t seen in awhile.” Allendorf and his friends take advantage of the cheap tickets that offered to students from time to time. Many students spend their Saturdays enjoying the Bulls game at USF. As Allendorf states “I like that it is so close by and I get my football fix since I clearly cannot afford to go to the Bucs game even though I would like to at some point.” Even though UT students lack the luxury of enjoying home games, they find alternate ways of enjoying football and maintaining their own tradition.

Source:

University of Tampa Football History. Retrieved September 7, 2009, from Tampa Bay Football History Network Web site: http://www.geocities.com/colosseum/pressbox/8121/dabucsdb/ut_hist.htm

Kelly 'Phillies Fanatic' Bates

Kelley Bates is a junior at The University of Tampa. Bates originally started off her college journey at the Westchester University in Pennsylvania, however after Bates's first semester she decided to transfer to The University of Tampa. When asked what made Bates take this decision she replied “I came down to visit my brother and that’s what me decide to transfer to this school.” Bates’s brother Colin is a senior at UT. When asked how he felt about Bates’s decision to transfer, she stated “He didn’t like at first, but it’s better now because we are closer since I have moved down here.” Bates’s major at school is Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Communications, when asked what Bates wanted to do after she finished her degree; she stated “I love the Phillies [Philadelphia Phillies]! I really want to work for them eventually.” Before heading back to classes for the fall semester, Bates was interning at a Marketing Agency back in Pennsylvania over the summer. Bates is part of the Delta Zeta sorority at school, when asked what made her decide to join a sorority Bates said “When I first came here I really didn’t know anyone and my other two roommates were transfer students too, so I just wanted to try and see what happens. I like it now.” Currently Bates lives with three other sisters in a apartment style dorm on campus. As she said “I like living with them, we are all best friends and two of them are seniors, so it’s nice.”