ECU/MU revised article

The East Carolina Pirates defeated the Marshall University Thundering Herd 37-10 on Saturday. About 50,000 fans attended the Pirates’ homecoming game at East Carolina University.

East Carolina thus far has had five wins and only two losses, while Marshall has suffered six losses and only one win. According to espn.com, the win Saturday kept East Carolina University at the top of Conference USA’s eastern division (4-0), Marshall holds the number five spot (0-3).

The Pirates started off with a touchdown followed by an impressive interception by Marshall University’s Donald Brown. Brown’s feet were almost out of bounds, but he managed to catch the ball and keep it in.

The Thundering Herd gathered all the points they would receive this game in the first half. Tyler Warner began with a field goal for Marshall.

Troy Evans ran in his first career touchdown in the second quarter, which made Marshall and ECU tied 10-10. ECU’s Jonathan Williams scored a touchdown soon after, pushing the Pirates ahead.

Dwayne Harris, wide receiver for ECU, was injured during the first half. Head coach Ruffin McNeill said he hoped that Harris could return quickly because Harris is like his son.

“It’s not about football, it’s about his life,” McNeill said.

Harris returned to the game in the third quarter.

The game was frequented with interceptions by ECU. Bradley Jacobs, Derek Blacknall and Michael Brooks intercepted the ball, which was costly to Marshall who needed to even the score.

Marshall was unable to keep up with ECU in the end. The final score was 37-10.

Marshall will play The University of Texas at El Paso in Huntington, W.Va., on Saturday at 3:00.

ECU/MU story

The East Carolina Pirates defeated the Marshall University Thundering Herd 37-10 on Saturday. About 50,000 fans attended the Pirates’ homecoming game at East Carolina University.

East Carolina thus far has had five wins and only two losses, while Marshall has suffered six losses and only one win. According to espn.com, the win Saturday kept East Carolina University at the top of Conference USA’s eastern division, Marshall holds the number five spot.

The Pirates started off with a touchdown followed by an impressive interception by Marshall University’s Donald Brown. Brown’s feet were almost out of bounds, but he managed to catch the ball and keep it in.

The Thundering Herd gathered all the points they would receive this game in the first half. Tyler Warner began with a field goal for Marshall.

Troy Evans ran in his first career touchdown in the second quarter, making Marshall and ECU tied 10-10. ECU’s Jonathan Williams scored a touchdown soon after, pushing the Pirates ahead.

Dwayne Harris, wide receiver for ECU, was injured during the first half. Head coach Ruffin McNeill said he hoped that Harris could return quickly because Harris is like his son.

“It’s not about football, it’s about his life,” McNeill said.

Harris returned to the game in the third quarter.

The game was frequented with interceptions by ECU. Bradley Jacobs, Derek Blacknall and Michael Brooks intercepted the ball, which was incredibly costly to Marshall who needed to even the score.

Marshall was unable to keep up with ECU in the end. The final score was 37-10.

Marshall will play The University of Texas at El Paso in Huntington, W.Va., on October 30, 2010, at 3:00.

The Salvation Army

Three websites I have visited for this assignment are guidestar.org, unitedwayrivercities.org and independantsector.org. When I conduct my interview I plan to ask for copies of their last three tax returns, their IRS tax exempt letter and their annual report. I also plan to ask five questions:
How did you become involved with United Way of the River Cities?
Name some of the best ways you've found the Salvation Army fund-raises.
When is your busiest time of year? When do you need donations the most?
What are a few of your most memorable success stories?

United Way Assignment #2

The United Way of the River Cities executive director was at Marshall University Thursday and said United Way has begun moving in a new direction.

            Laura Gilliam, the executive director of United Way of the River Cities said that United Way wants to begin aiding people with skills and opportunities before they reach a crisis point. The Student Government Association and Faculty Senate invited her to speak in the John Marshall Room of Marshall University’s Memorial Student Center.

            The money United Way has put into the community is for safety-net services, she said. These services provide people with food, shelter, medication and other basic needs.

            “Since 1922 we’ve put millions of dollars back into this area and we still are seeing the same problems,” she said.

            In early 2000 United Way participated in Community Needs Assessment. For the assessment they partnered with other organizations to poll service providers, residents and people who are recipients of services to find out what the major problems in the community are, she said. The results of the survey led United Way to the decision to focus on four major areas of improvement in the community: learning and earning, health and wellness, families and children and basic needs and unforeseen hardships.

            United Way has already begun the shift to community improvement. The substance abuse prevention partnership conducted a survey in the health and wellness focus area. She said the survey was about community awareness of substance abuse that was ranked one to 10, one being in denial of abuse and 10 being active and assertive to fix the problem.

“Cabell County was at a two. One of the things they (substance abuse prevention partnership) have done is raise the awareness and readiness of the community. Last year when they did the assessment it was up to a five,” she said.

            Marshall students can become involved with United Way and their partners simply by volunteering their time.

            “We have different opportunities that come up periodically, we will have one time events where we need a bunch of people to come and help,” she said.

            She said there are other ways to volunteer, such as taking pharmacy bags with substance abuse information to local pharmacies and helping people in the community with their taxes.

            Although United Way seeks to improve life in the community by new means, fundraising and monetary donations still impact the work. United Way Worldwide is practicing a one-on-one fundraising strategy she said. An individual relationship with the donor is becoming more popular. She said they can find out what each individual’s passion is and give them opportunities to invest in the work.

            United Way of the River Cities plans to raise 1.25 million dollars in fundraising this year, she said, but the new direction and community work are more important than the amount they want to raise.

            “We do want to lead with the work that we’re doing, not the dollar amount,” she said

Just a little something

Reality shows are one of the best oxymorons in pop culture.  The only thing that seems to be real is the fact that human beings are on the television.  One of the first contestant based reality dating shows is The Bachelor.  It seemed innocent enough, one ridiculously rich man chooses from a number of good-looking, attention seeking women.  They were routed for and against, but only one was chosen as his “true love” at the end of the show.  Is this all the closure the viewers need at the end of a season?  Apparently it is enough; several shows have since spawned from this idea.  But is it actually believable?  After a couple weeks of awkward and unreal circumstance he chose to be with her for the rest of his life?  Should these shows even be toying with the concept of love so freely?

Young viewers are easily influenced by what they see on television.  A hipper, younger reality dating show like Daisy of Love can lead those with less experience in the dating world to use that as a model for themselves.  The men are reckless and lustful and the women are loose and dramatic.  There is certainly a great chance that these situations act as representations of how relationships are supposed to be. 

Reality dating shows do not reflect reality whatsoever.  People do not live in a house for eight weeks together competing for one person’s affection.  People do not go on group dates, and they do not go through “challenges” where contestants have to fight against each other for a chance at a date. 

Reality shows should not be dubbed “reality.”  The only thing that differentiates these shows from others is that there are no official actors, supposedly no script, and there is no ongoing plot or storyline.  Is the American public aware of the lack of creativity and intelligence these shows emit?  Maybe it doesn’t matter, the shows continue to be made and we continue to watch.

United Way Visit

Two directors from United Way of the River Cities presented the new direction of United Way to Marshall University’s journalism 201 class.

Burnis Morris, Carter G. Woodson Professor, invited Laura Gilliam, the executive director of United Way, and Cassey Bowden, director of resource development and marketing, to Marshall University on Tuesday, Sept. 28. The two women said that their main focus is to go beyond just raising money; they want to specialize on specific areas of improvement. The 12 students of the Journalism class actively asked questions on the topic and the women provided a great amount of information.

United Way of the River Cities is a non-profit organization that aims to better the local community by joining with other non-profit organizations, raising money, and hosting local events. United Way has been active in the community since 1922.

“The initial intent and what we got really good at was going into businesses in the community and asking for money on behalf of these (non-profit) organizations…the hallmark of United Way’s work is the workplace campaign. Since 1922 we’ve put millions of dollars back into this area and we still are seeing the same problems,” Gilliam said.

The money United Way has put into the community is for safety-net services, she said. These services provide people with food, shelter, medication and other basic needs. She said she wants to be able to help people before they reach this crisis point; she wants people to feel secure by helping them obtain employment and the skills that they need to provide for themselves.

In early 2000 United Way participated in Community Needs Assessment. United Way partnered with other organizations to poll service providers, residents and people who are recipients of services to find out what the major problems in the community are, Gilliam said. The results of the survey led United Way to the decision to focus on four major areas of improvement in the community: learning and earning, health and wellness, families and children and basic needs and unforeseen hardships.

Learning and earning, for example, focuses on critical issues such as adults who don’t have basic skills to gain employment. Before these people lose their independence or end up on the street, United Way wants to help them gain the skills they need to live securely.

            One of the ways United Way has begun the shift from fundraising to community improvement is a survey the substance abuse prevention partnership conducted. She said the survey was about community awareness of substance abuse that was ranked one to 10, one being in denial of abuse and 10 being active and assertive to fix the problem.

“Cabell County was at a two. One of the things they (substance abuse prevention partnership) have done is raise the awareness and readiness of the community. Last year when they did the assessment it was up to a five,” she said.

Although United Way seeks to improve life in the community by new means, the fundraising events and monetary donations still impact the work. United Way Worldwide is practicing a one-on-one fundraising strategy she said. An individual relationship with the donor is becoming more popular. She said United Way can find out what each individual’s passion is and give them opportunities to invest in the work.

United Way hopes to raise $1.25 million and increase their donor base by 15 percent as their goal this year, Bowden said.

“The gift truly doesn’t matter; obviously we would love to see everyone come forth with $10,000, but the reality is if we all give a little it will come together to be a lot,” she said.

She said they would rather people focus on their goals in community work as opposed to the dollar amount.

“Our work is in community outcome and community change; our goal is to move away from band-aid fixes and to lasting changes in the community,” Bowden said.