Removing Harry Reid's name from SUU Building #4

COMM 1270, Eric Young #4
Dian W. Robinson

When I heard the news and read The Spectrum about the controversy surrounding SUU President Scott Wyatt's decision to name the Outdoor Engagement Center after Harry Reid, it reminded me of a familiar, similar  news story back in 1989.  James Sorenson offered to donate $15 million  to the University of Utah in exchange to have the  University of Utah School of Medicine named after him.  The circumstances between the two stories are different.  However, the decisions made by both University Presidents were similar in nature. I will further explain.

Back in 1989, then University of Utah President Chase Peterson persuaded James Sorenson (second wealthiest man in Utah next to Huntsman)  to donate $15 million dollars of stock to the University.  When the news hit the street,  President Peterson got flack from the community, from students and faculty.  It became an editorial free-for-all, even went as far to threaten to circulate a petition to remove the President's offer.  After weeks of  controversy, Sorenson, in anger, removed his offer to the University of Utah.  Sorenson became recluse from news sources for the next 14 years.  

Interestingly enough,  after Southern Utah University President Scott Wyatt announced his decision to have Harry Reid's name on the Outdoor Engagement Center,  concerned citizens lobbied for  Reid's removal, and won. In fact, $40,000 in pledges were raised by City Councilman Paul Cozzen.  This concern  was shared by the majority of not ony Cedar City residents, but also SUU alumni, and others.

The editorial written by Leigh Washburn in the Spectrum September 27th, "What were they thinking at university?" is cogent. The  article brought to light perhaps a more defined   perspective as the reason for offering this title to Harry Reid in the first place. Leigh is a Past Chair of the Iron County Democrates "Shortly, after the Reid Center was named, the legislature passed HB148, demanding the turnover of Utah's federal lands to state control.  Perhaps SUU offices worried about funding cuts and scaled the center's purpose to accommodate the far right legislature.  I wish SUU had been more candid and more courageous. All that this has accomplished is to make us look like fools."

From what I read,  President Wyatt was torn between potential alumni donations and expectations  Harry and his friends would provide for funding for  the new building. Also, could have been a possible 'hidden agenda.'  The bottom line, the President made a hard decision once consensus was reached.

I feel some compassion for these two University Presidents.  Unfortunately,  because of their high ranking positions and visibility in the community and State, their blunder will probably become part of their published history.

There are lessons we all can learn from the highly publicized decisions. We all make mistakes in life, some larger than others.  I have often said, we shouldn't judge others by the mistakes made, but what is done to correct those mistakes, and if we have grown from our mistakes.    I wonder how our histories will turn out and by whose perspective.

Alarming risk of Concussions for football players #3

COMM 1270, Young
Dian W. Robinson

There has been so much in the news lately about Football concussions with the death of 16 year old defensive back Chad Stover. This, among other factors  finally hit home on a reality check.  This is a cogent issue that we are putting our youth, families, and professional football athletes at risk by continuing the program as it now exists.

According to this same article, one-third of all NFL Football players have or will have lasting effects associated with brain concussions, including Alzheimers.   This staggering number has been concealed  and denied from the public and families of the players until just recently, when a lawsuit  settlement was reached with some 5,000 players and the NFL. According to researchers at the Colorado School of Public Health, 'found that football had the highest incidence of the brain rattling impacts....That are which accounts for games and practices, more than doubled for high school football players from 2005 through the 2013-14 school year. "

In years past, many Little league football players even  7-9 year old boys, were playing tackle football.
It is not cute, nor it is fun to watch these adorable children trampling on each other, and causing possible harm.

My seven year old grandson loves football, in fact he loves almost all sports.  He plays flag football on a city league.  It is nice watching these boys play without pulling at each other and dragging them to the  ground.

The football coach at the high school my youngest son Ben attended, encouraged us to have him play football as a kicker.  He said he would have a full ride scholarship with his talent.  I discouraged him
because of all the football injuries I have witnessed with my husband, brothers and others.  From time to time, I felt pangs of guilt for not encouraging him to follow his football dreams, but perhaps not too much since he followed his love for basketball.

Unfortunately, all the articles in the world, will probably not change playing football nor the  staggering revenue generated from the sport.  However, it has created more awareness, which has brought some change. Parents, kids, and coaches are more wiling to report head injuries.  Some high schools, and college football programs are cutting down the weekly practice hours spent in block and tackle.

According to this same article, " Perhaps the only paradigm shift that can be effective, is the upcoming, young athletes and their parents who have an unprecedented influence on these boys."  Let's hope it is enough.

Too much emphasis is placed on competitive sports today.  Football arenas all over the country are filled with fans, food and excitement.  I am in the minority.  I am not a football fan, even though I have attended a few and watched some with my husband and family.

Let's separate the fallacious issues surrounded by the prejudices and ignorance of those who think football is not a dangerous sport.  It is evident by facts, reason and research, football is dangerous.  and we have been ignoring it much too long.

Three in one professional players will have permanent brain injury. Parents need to take a stronger stand while their boys are still young enough to listen and understand the danger.  Football is not the sport it used to be. In reality, to be competitive enough to even make a team at the high school level and above, players need to 'beef up', step up their strength, and muscle capacity.  The interior lineman today are more like a semi truck, compared to thirty years ago, they were like a pickup truck.

It is clear we need to take a stand. "A no tolerance to violent football playing" will save lives of not only the players, but also the loved ones who hearts are broken.   We don't need to be on a crusade to have ambulances at each one of the high school games, as Chad Stokers' parents proposed.  Changing to safer drills, less frequency of contact practice , and training our players to keep their heads up instead of tucked under, may help, but in reality it won't be enough.

What would we do without a Smartphone or other electronic devices?

 Opposition Constructive-Smartphones/Handheld Devices Are A Necessity. 

Dian W. Robinson

Comm 1270  Eric Young

Who is our biggest threat?  Is it a phone or is it us? 

I agree with Adam Green that smartphones and other handheld devises are taking over our lives.  No matter where we turn, we see people with a phone either glued to their ear or cradled in their hands receiving and texting.  Smartphones used to be a luxury.  Not too long texting was expensive.  Now it is a necessity. Or is it?

I disagree these devises create a huge hindrance.  I contend that Self-control is the key with anything we do or not do in our lives. Just like anything else, we have the potential to abuse a number of our resources.  For example, if I habitually over-eat , I run the risk of not only gaining weight, but also losing my self-esteem, and, then I will need to purchase new clothes.

 Are smartphones a threat? When Dr. Jessica Grogans teaching psychology, one of her assignments required the students to go on a ‘media fast’.  She stated that many of them were uncomfortable and even showed signs of depression and anxiety.  She learned an interesting lesson from this assignment. Most of the students failed. She said a few felt more self aware of their surroundings. 

Now  if I were asked to go on a ‘media fast’, would I be able to successfully complete my assignment.  Currently, the answer would be no, because of my work demands. I love the instant access to my family and friends. 

These young people who have been raised on smartphones and other devices  feel isolated and  alone without the companionship of these devises.  To so many, it is their world.

Research was conducted by Phillip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland, College Park, where 200 students were unplugged from their cell phones, IPod, television, car, radio magazines, newspapers and computers, including no texting.A day without media

“The students wrote over 110,000 words in aggregate about the same number of words as a 400 page novel.  The students could live without their TVS and newspaper, but they couldn’t live without their iPods.”

You may say we have created a monster with the technological advancements,

However I contend this is one of the greatest blessings and miracles we have seen in our existence. 

I contend parental controls are absolutely essential.  Put away at a certain time of night. 

Our youngest daughter and her husband have four children and live on the Oregon Coast. They sat their children down and expressed a growing concern and agreed they would turn their phones off at meals and by 9pm all phones on the kitchen counter.

While we were back in New York last week, Our son, his wife, four

Children, our daughter, and husband and I were enjoying a meal at a local restaurant. Natalie, our daughter-in-law told the three teenagers to put their phones away!! They obediently did so, and their youngest daughter who did not have a cell phone, had a big grin on her face, because she felt left out.

Are you really a smartphone addict, according to –people really obsessed with the phones. If you’re not a smartphone addict, then I propose that smartphones are not only here to stay, but are not a distraction..  Since our devises are a critical element in the process of conducting business.  It becomes a necessity.  The question might not only be if he is texting in excess, or if he is  just bored?

I contend that the teenagers cannot live without their phones, and…why should they.  We don’t want them to feel isolated and alone.  Furthermore, it is a critical element in the way we conduct business.  In the educational process, and how we communicate socially, it is essential we need our phones, when we need them.

1st Constructive Oral Argument-Recorded

COMM1270, Young
Dian W. Robinson

Terrestrial Radio

Social Media Is The  Death of Terrestrial Radio. 

COMM 1270, Assignment 1-First Constructive, YOUNG

Dian W. Robinson

Satellite radio broadcast over the internet threatens Terrestrial Radio. Therefore, Radio needs to embrace  other channels of distribution to secure the future of profitable radio.  

For many years, Terrestrial Radio ( AM and FM signals broadcast over the air waves) has dominated listening both at home and in the car.

While traveling with my family to Moab, in the mid 50’s, I had my earliest experience listening to Terrestrial Radio. From the moment I heard Elvis Presley sing 'Love Me Tender' on KMOR radio, I was hooked.  I spent hours listening to the top 40 hits. My first transistor radio was created by my Uncle Ballard out of a small square 'tupperware' container.  

I fell asleep listening to my favorite tunes, much like teenagers do with their smart phones waiting for a friend's text or twitter post.  I often monopolized our 'party' phone line  to be the first caller to guess the hit tune, or trivia. I was a Terrestrial 'junky' 

So what’s happened to the Golden Years of radio in the  50’s and early 60’s? Programming has changed. Today’s radio doesn’t spin your favorite  45’s (records).

Delivery of radio has evolved.  When the Telecommunications Act of 1996 deregulated media ownership, several large radio conglomerates became greedy. While gobbling up hundreds of radio stations over the next 10-12 years, they created a less local influence.  According to John Reinan, "Terrestrial radio is increasingly homogenized, as corporate ownership and syndicated programming have destroyed the local autonomy of hundreds of radio stations nationwide.”

The recession, deregulation, debt, and introduction of satellite radio altered the dynamics of radio forever

Syndicated radio personalities, can be heard wherever you travel in the United States..  Today, FM music formats are massaged by contracted consultants hired by radio station clusters covering several geographic markets.

According to Great Speculations , “Pandora looks to challenge Terrestrial Radio’s Dominance in Cars.”  Pandora has captured one-third of all 2014 auto contracts.

Bunk Robinson has been in radio for 45 years and  states: “ Up until now,  I have always said radio will always be around as long as we are a mobile society. I can't say that any more because, over the last several years, I have watched with increasing concern the early onset of other forms of program delivery, such as the walk man, ipod and early development of the  internet.  Now, with the auto industry prepared to make programming available by way of the internet, unless Terrestrial Radio is willing to partner with the broad variety of other delivery services, it's future is very limited. .”

Even though internet will continue to have an impact on Terrestrial radio, they’re beginning to diversify their delivery by utilizing Social Media. Radio personalities are connecting with their listeners by Facebook and  E-blasts.  In addition to revenue generated by selling commercials to their clients, Radio can now promote their business  by Facebook, Eblasts and Web Banners delivered via the internet and smart phone radio Apps.  

New technological inventions will continue to challenge Terrestrial radio. However, the Terrestrial radio stations that have a future, will continue to be innovative with their delivery, content, and revenue streams.