Weekly Blog Post #20

A deadly Hazing

Weekly Blog Post

Context:

Nearly two dozen members of a Northern Illinois University fraternity were charged with hazing crimes Monday after a student died following excessive drinking at a party last month. On the night before his death, freshman David Bogenberger went from room to room in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, answering a series of questions in exchange for vodka and other liquor over a two-hour period, authorities said. It was a part of an annual ritual known as "parents' night," an alcohol-infused party in which senior members of the fraternity and associated sororities are assigned as mentors to new members" -Chi.Trib.

My views:

 This should have never happened, being in a fraternity’s should not be about getting wasted and drinking presumptuous amounts of alcohol. That’s not what college is about. This incident has left 6 students charged will felony’s due to the hazing death of Mr. Bogenberger. David had 8 times the normal driver alcohol limit in his system when he was found dead. At this time Pi Kappa Alpha has been shut down until the trials. Hazing is childish, dangerous and illegal. As a college applicant this recent news deters my likelihood to apply to this school. What are your thoughts?? For more issues updates follow me on twitter @brizzeymar

Weekly Blog #19

An American Tragedy

Weekly Blog Post

Breaking News:

Last Friday December 14, an American tragedy broke out in Newtown Connecticut. A 24 year old gunman broke into Sandy Hook elementary school and held the school hostage for a number of hours. By the end he had killed 28 people mostly kids and women. Adam Lanza the alleged gunman eventually took his own life. This story has been trending worldwide; this was a good school in a wealthy area with a recently purchased “lock in” security system. Lanza’s mother also worked at the school and the guns that Lanza used were registered to the woman. This shooting has taken more casualty’s then shootings in previous years. A large benefactor that is angering the nation is the fact that these children, mostly 8 years of age, were shot multiple times. Along with the children Adam also killed the school principal and psychologist.  What did these kids do to Mr. Lanza? Why was he prompted to do this? With such a school massacre like the one in front of us, in the future we can look for some new gun control laws and better security for schools nationwide. When these events occur I become sickened with the idea, not the facts. The idea of little children getting killed outweighs the fact that the man in no longer alive. An aspect like this also makes me think…. What if this man was still alive? Does the death penalty exist in Connecticut? What if it didn’t? Lastly I would like to take this time to offer my heart and sympathy for those lost in the shootings.     

Weekly Blog Post #18

Abortion Unit:

After the in-class mock clemency hearings finished up Deerfield High School Social Studies teacher Mr. Kramer announced that the next issue the class will be covering is abortion. With this touchy subject ahead I would most defiantly like to take a stand. Though out the unit I think my stance towards the issue will change but now I would like to go on the record as being Pro-Choice. Many different people in politics take a stand on the issue and I don't think that is morally just. This issue should be between a woman and her doctor. I don't think it should even be a choice to give woman a right to abort a baby, that should be a given. In the end if its not your body therefore it is not your business what choices the mother makes. Though out this unit I think seeing different views from my fellow student may sway my viewpoints. No matter what anyone says I will always stand by the fact that contraceptives should always be allowed. The plan B pill should never be questioned, it should always be legal on the market. This is a woman's body and overall a woman's choice. To all my followers...... what do you think??? What are your thoughts on this topic? Should be talked about in politics? 

Outside Reading Post 1

Outside Reading Post #1
Brad Martin
Book: Stuffed

Over the past two months I have really grown to enjoy this book. This book is a non-fiction novel that takes readers through the journey of what is making america fat. I am very interested in the growing obesity problems in america it is most definitely and issue. In politics there will always be problems, issues and conundrums but how often is the issue one that is the number #3 killer of Americans overlooked? A LOT!!! On a daily basis how many times do you hear about the recession, rising GOP and all that other stuff that may not have a great effect on you? Personally I hear about it on the news every day, why are we putting effort into this instead of making America healthy? At this point the book has raised a lot of questions from me that america has not yet successfully answered. We should no longer offer fried Greece filled food in schools. Schools should be our fist target to hit, setting out youth up for success. I'm very excited to finish this page turner and more blog posts are on the way. What are your thoughts, do you think that America should take this issue more seriously???? 
Check out this website for more mind blowing information.......
        http://www.obesityinamerica.org/

Weekly post #17 (the missing one)

In Class Clemency Hearings Gone Wild.........

Over the past week in Issues in America the class was split up into teams, each team given a different death penalty case. Every member of the class would be asked to participate in mock clemency hearing for the inmate. Half of the class assigned representing their specific inmate and the other half representing the state. At the end of each hearing the class (aka clemency panel) is given the opportunity to vote life or death. This has really changed my perspective on the death penalty. Never before in a class have we been able to hear the inmates story from both sides. What really scares me is when the high school mock clemency panel votes a different outcome then the court did. "We are the future of american" states high school senior Bradley Martin; we are the next members of the jury, judges and lawyers.  The fact that a high school untrained mock lawyer can effect the outcome of a case by bringing in there perspective is truly amazing. There was one case where the in class panel voted for the inmate to live and that inmate was killed by leather injection 4 year ago. Through out the unit my views on being for or against the death penalty have changed. I am ready to take a stance, I think that no state should be aloud to execute a man or woman. Too much is being left up to humans who make mistakes. Life without parole is good enough for me. Before taking this class I would have never thought it would get me so inspired to showcase my views on these issues. I am very pleased with the hearings as well as the class overall.