Daoud Hari, somber as a sage, with skin so dark and shiny you can catch your reflection in it, spoke of his escape from the Darfur genocide while we all sipped Starbucks lattes and nodded empathetically. 

Hitchin' at the Crossroads

"Hitchin' at the Crossroads" is an excellent example of a human interest story. The story does a good job of seeking ordinary people and telling us how they are being affected. We are introduced to four different types of people and are shown a piece of their life. However, I feel like the story leaves the reader wondering what the long-term affects of hitchin' are. We are told why the people are hitchin' and how they are affected in the moment, but we are never told what happens to them in the end. It is clear that the reason the story is being written is for human interest. People are interested in different types of lifestyles and want to read about how other people live. There are no real bureaucrats in this story; the hitchers in the story are the only sources. Key questions raised by this story are why do these people feel they have to resort to hitching, is it safe, and how are other people affected by these hitchers? Overall, I enjoyed reading the story but felt that it seemed a bit irrelevant to most readers. Readers want to read about other people's lives in relation to their own lives. I think the story could have done a better job of letting the reader know how they could empathize with these hitchers and how hitchers can affect their personal lives.

Rose lecture

Like Bill Rose, I entered the world of journalism unintentionally. Rose calls his journey to becoming a journalist an "accident." Rose's story struck a chord within me; I never quite meant to be a journalist either. I was going to be a pharmacist, but the more I dreamed about a future spent at Walgreen's, the more I wanted to us pharmaceuticals, not make them. Like Rose, I found myself a freshman in college in need of some courses to take. Several of my friends were taking journalism classes, so I decided to sign up for some too. I was never interested in the media before I began taking journalism classes, but as the semester progressed, so did my interest in this foreign industry. What interested me the most about journalism was the fact that every day holds the opportunity for a new story or a chance to make something better. I found hope in the fact that everyday was going to be different, because I found my future as a legal drug dealer monotonous and dull. I like change and excitement, and journalism has given me that. Rose's lecture reminded me of why I am grateful I found the world of journalism.

Lab 1

Oxford schools need volunteers to help tutor and mentor students this year. 

Oxford High School needs at least 25 more tutors and Oxford Middle School needs 100. 

"The need is especially high for high school students at risk of dropping out and students in lower grades," school officials said.

Volunteers can make a difference in these students' lives just by encouraging them and helping them build an academic foundation.

Anyone interested may apply at the district office.