All The President's Men

Bob Woodward and Carl Berstein are the epitome of everything for which journalism stands. Their bust on the Watergate scandal is a perfect example of journalism as a "watchdog," keeping those in power accountable and making the truth known to the public that they would not be able to get any other way. They also show how important the discipline of verification is, as they have to get many sources to make their story solid, especially since their main source of information was anonymous. Another quality they possess is persistence. This story took two years to completely uncover, but they didn't give up because they knew its importance and knew they owed that story to the citizens.

A Minute Before Friday

The main character Jonna in Jo Kadlecek's novel A Minute Before Friday exemplifies some good and bad habits of journalism. It is clear that she has an obligation to the truth and a loyalty to the citizens. She persists with the story and doesn't give up, despite some dead ends. She gets multiple, reliable sources for a well-balanced, unbiased story. She is always prepared and professional in her reporting, and has a natural curiosity to the discover the truth and become a voice for the voiceless. She does run into conflict, however, when she lets her personal life and feelings for David interfere with the story. That's a big no-no for journalism, and while journalists are human, they have to put those human emotions behind them as they write their story.

Inspirations from the Newseum.

I had a marvelous time on our class trip to the Newseum last Tuesday. I could have spent another couple days there before running out of things to see. I was like a kid in a candy store--not to be cliche--but it's true!

Here's some things I wrote on my notepad that particularly inspired or interested me:

Vanessa Leggett was a freelance journalist, writing a non-fiction novel about a murder. Because she withheld anonymously provided information from the grand jury, she served 18 months in prison. How protected are journalists in using anonymous sources involving a crime?

Terminology:

"On the record" means the information can be used freely in the article, names included.

"Off the record" means means the information cannot be publicized at all.

"Deep background" means the information is used to help inform the journalist and give him a better understanding of the subject, but cannot be actually used in the article.

"On background" means that the information can be generalized and attributed in broad terms, but not directly.

"Not for attribution" means the journalist can use direct quotes, but must attribute them in more general terms, like the person's title or place in the story rather than using the person's name.

Nellie Bly was a pioneer reporter for women. This girl was a total champ! She went undercover as a patient in an insane asylum to write an exposé of the injustices happening there.

The O.J. Simpson trial got more airtime from 1987-1997 than any other event besides the Gulf War. This was interesting because it brought up issues of cameras being used in the court room. The lawyers in the trial were known over-act for the camera, which turned it into a media sensation.

Mark Twain was a reporter for the Territorial Enterprise, but got fired for making up stories! He considered journalism a form of torture for writers because it forced them to write the truth thus suppressing their imagination. Twain was such a quirky guy.

Ernest Hemingway, Stephen Crane, Winston Churchill, and Jack London were all war reporters at one time.

Don Bolles was critically injured in a car bombing because of a story he was writing on gangs. His obliterated car was at the museum. After he eventually died, his colleagues continued the story in his stead, showing that you can kill the journalist, but you can never kill the story.

Other highlights:

*The 9/11 memorial, consisting of the attena that was atop one of the towers, and a wall with newspapers from all over the world with a front page about the attacks. I watched the documentary about journalists that were covering the attacks as they happened. Though it was dangerous and horrifying to watch, they were so caught up in the moment that they had to stay and report on the story. Even after being urged by police and firefighters to leave, they felt as though it was their duty to show the public what was happening. If they didn't, who would?

*Journalist memorial--so many journalists, especially in more dangerous countries, are killed for their work. It was inspiring to see them memorialized and recognized for their dedication and ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the truth.

*The Berlin Wall--Yes, I got to touch a real chunk of the Berlin Wall, and that felt pretty cool. =)

*The Pulitzer Prize winning photo gallery. I'm not into photography at all, but I was so inspired by the ability of journalists to capture some photos that were really hard to look at, let alone be there to experience. I cried like a baby.

The Newseum was awesome! Everyone, go if you've never been!

Gordon’s Place in the Occupy Movement

While many students went home or just relaxed on campus during quad break, freshmen Isaiah Ray and Sam Jackson had a different idea.

“We just wanted something to do, so we hitchhiked to Occupy Wallstreet,” said Ray. “There was some tension. Whenever something happened, guards would run over and yell, 'Security check! Security check!'”

At night, the two slept under a bridge.

“We couldn't stay at Freedom Plaza because the police were planning on raiding in the morning, and they said we couldn't put up tents there," said Jackson.

Other students have been participating in Occupy Boston. McKenzie Watson ’15 and Stephanie Clark ’15 were in Boston for homeless ministries and thought they would check out the protests.

“Even though we weren’t camping out, I felt like I belonged anyways,” said Clark. “People were giving us signs and buttons. There were meditation tents and prayer tents. There were tents for free haircuts and selling food. It was just cool how everyone cared about each other.”

“It’s somewhat shocking to find people who don’t have necessarily have the firm grounded hope that we have as Christians being more committed to peace and love and goodwill and justice than we are,” said Watson.

Dr. Ivy George, Professor of Sociology, has been going to Occupy Boston every weekend, taking her 11-year-old daughter with her. Even if she can only stay for a few hours, she brings provisions for the protesters who are missing school and work to be there.

"It was about time for public expression and resistance to systematic failure,” said George. “I remember in the spring watching these outpourings of public angers in Tunisia and Egypt and thinking, ‘What will it take for anything like that in the US?’ And I'm very very pleased by the Occupy movement around the world. I think it will change things.”

Not everyone is so optimistic about the movement. Ian Isaac ’15 thinks the rallies are getting out of control.

“The despicable manner of the protests, especially in New York, will not promote anything positive,” said Isaac. “In Zucotti Park, for example, we see incidents of people defecating on cars, vandalizing public property, and even reports of rape. There is clearly an elitist attitude held by some that their cause is above the authority of the law.”

Chris Gavrielidis ’14 is against the protests as well.

“The Occupy Wall Street protesters are not all in poverty,” he said. “Most of them just want to be pitied. They themselves are as greedy as they accuse the millionaires and billionaires of being. After all, they're the only ones in the equation who want what isn't theirs.”

No matter what the views people hold on the Occupy moment, it is becoming too big of a current event to be ignored.

"I think that the Occupy Movement is the most significant historical movement in decades,” said Dr. Robert Talbot, an adjunct in the English Department. “I think we're all going to learn something about democracy from it."

"Gordon kids should go out and visit--see what's up!” said George. “They should take some aid out, donations, food. They would have an opportunity to educate themselves about what the issues are.”

Elements of Journalism 4-8

Two key points from Elements of Journalism chapters 4-8:

1. (pg. 89) The discipline of verification isn't just a nice, general goal to aim for; there is a distinct set of principals, a "science" per se, to reporting with accuracy. In short, the "scientific method" is 1) don't add, 2) don't deceive, 3) transparency, 4) originality, and 5) humility. Even with these key principles in place, it is the job of every journalist to develop them and make them his own.

2. (pg. 140) One of the main roles that journalists play is that of the monitor of power or "watchdog." The fact that the press even exists already prevents a lot of corruption, but when those in power still try to get away with misdeeds, the press is also there to report the incident to the people and keep those in power accountable. It is also the job of the press to inform the people about how those in power are supposed to function so that they can determine what is just and unjust, moral and immoral.

Student Response to Sexuality Week Mixed

For many Christian school students, the topic of sexuality can be an uncomfortable one. As a result, the topic is often avoided all together, and students are either left to wonder or become misinformed by the media and their peers. In response to this dilemma, the Center for Student Development organized a series of events October 17^th-21^st in what was known as “Sexuality Week.” The week consisted of discussions on love, managing sexual drives, building a bridge between the Christian and LGBT communities, Christian perspectives on pornography and masturbation, as well as reflections from single and married faculty and staff members on relationships and sexuality and a convocation dedicated to answering students’ questions.

“We will provide a factual, God-honoring, biblically-based understanding of sexuality, with opportunities to ask questions and to dialogue,” said Janice Holton, Dean of Counseling and Student Care, in an email informing students about the week.

The student response was mixed. Many students were neutral about the week, saying, “I just went for the chapel credit.” Others had stronger opinions.

“I think we should have something like this every year,” says Alinne DeOliveira, 20, of Boston, MA. “It’s an opportunity to talk about something that isn’t easily talked about at a Christian college. I think many students are scared that they will be judged.”

One highlight of the week was the Wednesday chapel at which Andrew Marin spoke.

Marin is the president and founder of the Marin Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to reconciling and creating understanding between the Christian and LGBT communities. After chapel, students were given the opportunity to further the conversation in an informal lunchtime with Marin in the Lion’s Den.

“As a gay person, I’m often discouraged by the way Christians and LBGT people are so often very wary of and quick to judge one another,” said one student who wishes to remain anonymous. “I thought that Wednesday’s chapel promoted a sense of togetherness between the LBGT community and Christian community, and that’s something I think is so very necessary.”

Some students were less than impressed with the week, finding the discussions to be too open-ended rather than drawing biblical conclusions.

“I think sexuality week overall and the message had no care on speaking on a spiritual level,” said Justine Guirguis, 18, of Milford, MA, “and if there was care for the students, there would have been a stressor on coming to terms with answers and less on pre-proposed reactions of an audience.”

Thomas Lake '01, Sports Illustrated Reporter Talks

Last week, Gordon alum Thomas Lake '01, a reporter for Sports Illustrated, spoke in our journalism class. Lake got an internship at a local paper while at Gordon and has worked at small newspapers before getting a position at SI. One thing that stuck out to me was his dedication and perseverance through the mundane parts of his career, particularly how he worked through writing for a daily and reporting on community events. He explained that even though journalists will inevitably need to cover boring stories, the best way to get through them is to find some aspect or angle that they can be passionate about. I was inspired by how he turned an uneventful assignment about town hall meetings into a "bust" of sorts, uncovering the story behind the unethical "executive sessions." Another point that hit home for me was what he said about getting away from your desk and out in the action. I struggle with this because, since the actual writing comes easy for me, I tend to just call or email people, get the facts, and write the story with no problem. However, I know that my stories could have so much more substance if I experienced the story first-hand or interviewed people face to face. There are details that you can't possibly include if you are just obtaining the information from second-hand sources behind a desk, and it's those details that make the story worth reading. Lake said that he has always been a shy kid, so the fact that he overcame that fear and dives into his stories gives me hope. It was such a treat to have Lake come speak in our class! It was interesting to hear how he has progressed in his journalism career, and hearing him talk got me excited about where I'm headed!

Great Scot Alumni Awards Show Possibilities for Students

Dr. Carrie Dahl Tibbles is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, the associate director of the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency Program, and the associate director of Graduate Medical Education at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. But amidst this mouthful of titles, there is one that hits home: Gordon grad. Tibbles ’93 is one of eight alumni that will be honored at the Great Scot Alumni Awards this Homecoming Friday, October 8^th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Ken Olson Science Center. The event will begin with hors d’oeuvres, followed by the presentations at 7:45 p.m., and will close with coffee and desserts.

“The awards are an opportunity for the college to honor alumni who have impacted their work places, communities, and the lives of those around them,” said Adrianne Cook, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, “work that is often done faithfully and selflessly, without fanfare.”

Alumni are nominated by faculty, staff, fellow alumni, friends, or family via the Gordon website. This year, there are six awards. Tibbles will be awarded the Alumna of the Year Award for her outstanding accomplishments in the medical field. Owen Webb, a graduate of '03 who has already achieved great success in his career field, will receive the Young Alumnus Award. Jason Revilla ’01 and James Grumbine ’01, co-owners of Faith & Fortune, a clothing company that helps promote non-profit organizations, will receive the Jack Good Community Service Award. As missionaries in France for years, Robert ’97 and Heidi Walker Winslow ’97 will be awarded the A.J. Gordon Missionary Service Award. A high school chemistry teacher for the duration of his career, Harry Hesketh Jr. ’63 will receive the Winifred Currie Alumni Award in Education. Professor Theodore Wood, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, taught for 30 years at Gordon in the Business and Economics Department and was the founding director of the Center for Nonprofit Studies as well as founder of the academic minor in Nonprofit Organization Management and Philanthropy.

The awards represent a wide range of possibilities that come with a Gordon education. It’s a chance for current students to see how their time spent at the college can affect the rest of their lives.

“It’s easy to put blinders on and focus only on the next paper or test or game,” said Cook. “Hearing the stories of these alumni serves to take those blinders off and expand the scope of what students think is possible.”

Page One Thoughts

Page One: Inside the New York Times is a documentary that follows the New York Times for a year through this time of drastic change for journalism. . Even through this transition, the elements of journalism remain as relevant and crucial as ever. As seen with the cases of Judith Miller and Jayson Blair, one bad journalist can ruin the reputation of the entire paper. Thus, papers can't afford to hire dishonest and corrupt journalists.

I was encouraged to hear that, while blogs and other online sources may be a more popular source of information at the moment, they are often unreliable. Newspapers will come out on top in the end if they continue to be a steady source of accurate news.I was discouraged to hear that, as part of this transition, the Times had to let go of a significant amount of its staff as well as begin charging for the online edition of their paper. I was surprised to hear that, despite this turbulent time for the Times, they have a new editor, Jill Abramson--the first woman editor of the paper. They have also been trying to stay afloat by making extensive use of blogs and Twitter. At this time in America, they don't have much of a choice but to conform to some technology fads. If they can adapt to the changing times while still maintaining their trustworthiness as a news source, I don't think they will shut down.

Faithful Leadership for the Common Good: Gordon’s Eighth President Delivers Inaugural Speech

The afternoon of Friday, September 16th, members of the Gordon community congregated on the sun-lit quad for the installation ceremony of Gordon’s eighth president, D. Michael Lindsay. Students and professors had the day free of classes so they could participate in the full day of events, which included a symposia and worship service in the morning, the robing ceremony in the afternoon, and a concert featuring Sara Groves in the evening. However, the installation service at 2:00 was the main event.

The ceremony commenced with a processional, accompanied by Gordon’s Wind Ensemble. Faculty members stopped and greeted students and friends beside them in the crowd. Many joined in singing hymns such as Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee and Be Thou My Vision before Dr. Nathan O. Hatch, President of Wake Forest University, delivered a speech. The Gordon College Choir gave a performance of Here I am, Lord before Gordon’s sixth and seventh presidents, Dr. Richard F. Gross and Dr. R. Judson Carlberg respectively, presented D. Michael Lindsay with the presidential medallion.

Finally, Lindsay stepped to the podium to deliver his inaugural address, entitled “Faithful Leadership for the Common Good.” He launched the speech lightly, making jokes about his struggles driving in Boston and his unpreparedness for the fickle weather. The rest of the speech focused on three main imperatives for Gordon: to expand the intellectual horizons of young people, and thus Global Christianity; to deepen faith and fully serve the Lord; and to elevate contribution to students, the community, and Gordon as an institution.

“I’m convinced that ‘good enough’ never is,” said Lindsay. “Going forward, if Gordon has been doing X, I want us to do X-squared.”

Lindsay ended the speech recognizing three people who have influenced and inspired him to take on this task as Gordon’s president. He reminded the audience that change is the process of individual efforts working together for a common mission.

“I pledge to do everything in my power to guide and equip the next generation of Christian leaders with a framework of faithfulness as they influence cultures throughout the world,” said Lindsay. “And I trust you will join me in this effort.”

The ceremony commenced with How Great Thou Art: a reminder that Gordon College cannot fulfill any mission without God’s help.

Meet Jay Lindsay: The Tartan's New Advisor

The Gordon Tartan is alive and in-print this year, but not without the help of its advisor Jay Lindsay. Lindsay, 41, of East Brookfield, MA graduated from Gordon in 1992 and went on to the Colombia University Graduate School of Journalism from which he graduated in 1998. His career in journalism includes working at the Boston Globe as a cooperative education student, the Community Newspaper Company, Daily News of Newport, and the Associated Press, where he is currently working.

Lindsay wasn’t always interested in writing. In fact, his gateway to a career in journalism was rather unusual.

“I played baseball my whole life and figured if I couldn't be a pro athlete, it would be fun to write about sports,” said Lindsay. “But I started reporting on high school sports, and just found news to be far more interesting.”

Throughout his career, Lindsay has conducted interviews with high-profile people, mostly athletes, including Pedro Martinez, Tom Brady, and Derek Jeter. He’s been on some interesting adventures in pursuit of a story, one being travelling to Riker’s Island to write about prison chaplains. Even apart from journalism, Lindsay has led quite the wacky life.

“I've dressed up as Barney the dinosaur for money, but just once!” said Lindsay. “And in college, I wore an industrial gas mask while driving because my 1979 Omni had a leak and I couldn't afford to fix it.”

So how did this man of the world with an impressive background in journalism end up helping Gordon with the Tartan? Jo Kadlecek, a journalism professor and Senior Communications Writer for the college asked Lindsay if he would like to help with the revival of the Tartan.

“I have a lot of loyalty to Gordon,” said Linsday. “There aren't a lot of journalists from Gordon and I viewed this as a chance to help strengthen the program by strengthening the school paper.”

The Tartan is honored to have Jay Lindsay as an advisor this year to help make its re-launch successful and instill honest journalistic habits in Gordon’s aspiring journalists.

“I hope the people who work for the Tartan start to see themselves as stewards of a proud legacy,” said Lindsay. “I really want to help students turn the paper into something they are proud of, and something the campus community trusts.”

Loving Our Religious Neighbors

Where were you on September 11^th, 2001? Kyleen Burke, 20, of Port Jefferson, NY was in a home economics class when she heard that two planes had flown into the Twin Towers. Burke’s uncle, a firehouse captain, was a first responder to the attacks. While helping people out of the towers, he came across a quadriplegic man and radioed for a helicopter. Before the helicopter could arrive, the towers collapsed.

“It really shook us,” says Burke. “I became fascinated with how my life in suburban America could be affected by something so far away.”

Now a senior at Gordon, Burke is double-majoring in political science and philosophy and minoring in Middle Eastern studies. Last semester she studied in Cairo, Egypt and hopes to take more trips to the Middle East and learn Arabic.

“We are misrepresented to Muslims, and Muslims are misrepresented to us,” says Burke. “There has to be a way to resolve that.”

Her vision for understanding between Muslims and Christians led her to form a club called Loving Your Religious Neighbors. Now in its second year, the club entails a 7 week curriculum designed to teach Christians about Islam and prepare them to work with the Muslim community. Last year, the club partnered with the MIT Muslim Students Association and hosted a technology day at an after-school program in Salem. The two groups went to a local church as well as a mosque and had a dialogue about their differences.

“The point isn’t to debate,” explains Burke. “We want to let Gordon students meet other young adults who believe in Islam the same way we believe in Christianity.”

This year, the club will be collaborating with the Harvard Islam Society, aiming for three joint service projects a semester. They will also be hosting a lecture series, tentatively planning six lectures: three from interfaith speakers (Islam, Jewish, Hindu) and three from ecumenist speakers (Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Quaker).

In an upcoming chapel, Burke will be saying a prayer for the families affected by 9/11 as well as for peace and resolution between Christians and Muslims.

“We need to accept the fact that there are rational, civilized Muslims in America,” says Burke. “At the end of the day, we are still going to believe what we believe, but that doesn’t mean shouldn’t strive to understand and learn.”

Interested in being a part of Loving Our Religious Neighbors? Email Kyleen at kyleen.burke@gordon.edu.

A New Year, New Events!

From dances and talent shows to coffeehouses and concerts, Gordon has an exciting year ahead! The Campus Events Council (CEC) is recharged with new directors and a full schedule of beloved traditions as well as fresh events. This year’s director Jordan Tymann, 21, of Stratham, NH and his co-director Tatyana Parson, 21, of Santa Barbara, CA are an ambitious duo with a passion for the Gordon community.

“We both share this desire to bring students together and create a sense of belonging on campus,” says Tymann.

The Council already has some big events planned for the fall. A concert, featuring Sara Groves, will be held on September 16^th in honor of President-elect Lindsay’s inauguration. An inaugural ball will be held on September 23^rd and will include ballroom dancing lessons by Linda and Steve White. “Gordon’s Got Talent” (date TBA) will be a talent show featuring students, faculty, and staff, as well as an interesting panel of judges. Gordon’s annual October Fest will also be held on October 1^st.

“Even though Gordon is a small school, the community is big,” says Parson. “We want events that involve everyone from students and alumni to faculty and staff.”

While most students participate in events and involve themselves with the Gordon community, there always remains a small fraction of students who are reluctant to leave their rooms and join in the fun. Tymann says that a major goal for CEC this year is to create more events that will get the entire campus involved.

“We’re ecstatic if we can get 90% of the campus to come to an event,” says Tymann, “but we still keep in mind that 10% and wonder what we can do to bring them out”

With a staff of only 20 people, CEC can’t function without the help of the student body. The council is always open to ideas, which can be emailed to cec@gordon.edu. Students can also follow them on Facebook (Gordon College Campus Events Council), Twitter (CECgordon), and their blog at cecgordon.wordpress.com. Another way to contribute is to volunteer for the Crew Staff, which entails helping CEC set up before and clean up after events. In return, Crew members get to meet tons of great people and earn special privileges and seating at events.

“We can’t read your minds,” says Tymann. “The best way for us to know what students want is for them to come to us.”

It's Not You, It's Me...

"Who is this elusive creature, the reader? The reader is someone with an attention span of about 30 seconds--a person assailed by many forces competing for attention. . . . It won't do to say that the reader is too dumb or too lazy to keep pace with the train of thought. If the reader is lost, it's usually because the writer hasn't been careful enough."

--On Writing Well, by William Zinsser

This quote was memorable for me because it opposes a conventional view of reading and writing: that if you as a reader cannot understand what you are reading, the writer is probably just smarter than you. This isn't true at all! If you are so overwhelmed by the complicated phrasing and elaborate vocabulary that you cannot even understand what you are reading, it's not your fault; it's the writer's! The writer's sole duty is to write in a way that is clear and understandable to the reader, NOT to show off their thesaurus skills. It's not that impressive. In fact, it's pretentious and inconsiderate. I know this is something I need to keep in mind when I write. Sometimes, as a writer, it's fun to get carried away with the "fluff" and the language, but if the reader is lost, I know I haven't fulfilled my purpose. I am continuously impressed with Zinsser's wisdom and boldness to blast the stereotypes that come with being a writer.

Reflections on My First Interview

Today I conducted my first interview of the year for an article I am writing about Gordon's Campus Events Council (CEC). I brought my tape recorder, which has helped tremendously with capturing exact quotes, but I did not limit myself to it. I used my reporter's notebook, but also tried to make eye contact and not stare down at my writing too much. It's a difficult balance to achieve, and the process is intimidating at first! However, "Uncle" William Zinsser says in his book On Writing Well that interviewing will become less awkward over time, so I have hope. I am trying to listen back to the interview and organize my notes now before I forget everything! I'm bad with procrastination, so I want to end that habit before I even start. The tricky part is, of course, representing my subjects with accuracy and respect. Though the CEC isn't exactly the juiciest, most controversial story, I still don't want to accidentally implement my bias or misquote my subjects to match how I view the story. There's a lot to think about and consider, but I already feel like I've learned so much. Well, I'm off to another interview. That's right: two in one day. Jo really is throwing us into the river!

Rock You Like a Hurricane!

While many Gordon students took refuge from Hurricane Irene in their dorm rooms, eating ramen noodles and surfing the internet, daredevil duo Rylee Rainwater, 19, and her roommate Katie Madison, 21, had bigger things to surf: the ocean waves. Though the girls were urged by their friends, parents, and Gordon public safety not to go out into the storm, they simply couldn't pass up the opportunity. "I have never experienced a hurricane and was curious to see what it was like," says Rylee. "I didn't know if I would have the chance again." Even in the intense winds, rain, and high tide, Rylee and Katie went swimming. Luckily, the hurricane was not as severe as anticipated, and the girls arrived back on campus safely later that day. "It was totally worth it," Rylee remarks. "I had tons of fun and we survived, so I'm glad we did it."

Journalism Student: Sarah MacDonald

Sarah MacDonald, 20, from Bangor, Maine, is a Communications major with high hopes for the expansion of journalism at Gordon College this year. Sarah usually gets her news from the websites of well-known news sources such as ESPN and CNN. As a student in an intro journalism class this fall, she is excited for the chance to report the news herself. Journalism students are required to participate in the new-and-improved Gordon newspaper, which will be published in print as well as online. "I would like to see the paper cover current and relevant news so the students feel more connected with each other and with the campus," says Sarah. Be sure to pick up a copy of the paper on September 9th and tell us what you think!