MADD Story

            MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, is a program that people join to fight against driving under the influence.

            On campus, in front of the Event Center, there is a display of the aftermath of a car that was hit by a drunk driver.

            In the car were husband and wife, Michelle and Steve Benjamin.

            The drunk driver ran through a stoplight going 70 miles per hour in Oakland, hitting the passenger side head-on, and killing Michelle Benjamin.

            Steve Benjamin is permanently injured form the accident but attends the program, Every 15 Minutes, frequently.

            Every 15 Minutes is a program that MADD puts on, to educate teenagers in high school of the real consequences of drunk driving.

            Natasha Thomas, the program coordinator for MADD in the Bay area, is in charge of five counties and 67 cities.

            Thomas travels to various schools to educate the public of the realities of drinking and driving.

            The culture of alcohol seems cool on television and in music, it seems to “Glorify the consumption of alcohol,” said Thomas.

            This week is especially important to Thomas because it is Red Ribbon week.

            The Red Ribbon represents alcohol and drug awareness and its dangers.

            The program is not limited to drinking and driving but it is “considered to be as impaired driving,” said Thomas.

            Thomas has many events this week and has spoken with over 3,300 students in the last two weeks to lead up to this week.

            In the display to her left, there was a clear trailer with a crashed car inside which is the exact car that the Benjamin’s were driving the night they got in their accident.

            “Is it real?” Is the most frequent response to the trailer, said Thomas.

            I spoke with a fellow attendee named Cody Murphy, and he was especially moved by the display because he knew someone who had passed from a drunk driving accident.

            “It’s hard to see it in person because it reminds me of my past friend who had been involved with a drunk driving accident. This is a powerful display that every one should see.”

Gordon Greb Story

                                                                       Gordon Greb    

            A legend comes back to San Jose State University to offer his wise advice to aspiring journalism students. Gordon Greb chose to study broadcast journalism over business here at SJSU because it seemed more fun and appealed to him more. Thankfully, that decision was the reason the broadcast journalism department is what it is now. When he was a student at SJSU, radio was the only form of news and entertainment for people in America. He landed an internship to have his own time slot on the radio that ultimately led him to start his broadcast journalism career.

            Greb became a world traveler after his role as a radio broadcaster. His travels brought him to appreciate the world in a new light that helped him grow very fond of the American Constitution. He values the system we are governed by so he advocates the children of America to be proactive the same way he was.

            The most interesting thing I thought about Greb was that after working for so many years in the newsroom and as a journalist, he is still a positive person. “Make love not war,” is a quote that he frequently used which was coined during the Vietnam War when he was a journalist. To live a life that consisted of young revelry made Greb the political youth activist he is. It exciting and powerful to hear the words of a person that has had an outstanding career and the words “You are the future,” took on a new meaning for me. His last words upon leaving SJSU were to “Take care of the children and we’ll be alright.”

            His accomplishments as a journalist and teacher are outstanding but to Greb his most prized accomplishment is “being a good father and grandfather.” Greb’s influence on the broadcast journalism department and in San Jose’s local news is unmatchable. 

Word Count: 312 

How Wired Are You?

I received 15 points so I am "plenty plugged in, but keep upgrading." I am very comfortable with online social sources which gave me a few points. I use Twitter, write on multiple blogs, use my smartphone to email, text, and surf the web. I can record edit and post a video online. Unfortunately, I am not very educated on making my own website or using interactive graphics which led to me have fewer points.

Professor, I'm sorry it's so late. I've had a really hard week with my friends funeral, and having a chest cold I have had a lot on my plate.

Copy Edit the World

http://spartandaily.com/44556/sjsu-falls-short-on-third-straight-loses-to-byu

"half-time" is supposed to be halftime: 4 points.

My photo did not send but it was a poster in your class and the mistake was "we are not responsible for any loss data." It is supposed to be "lost." 4 points