http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=1067&mname=ArticleGroup FACES OF UWM: Who is the typical UWM student? What motivates him or her? Our reporters tell you. en-us 60 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Faces of UWM: Barbara Castonguay of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff April 20, 2009 By Kristin Lewis UWM journalism major Barbara Castonguay knows all about Milwaukee’s diverse music scene because she already has her Bachelor’s Degree in music from UWM. “Florentine Opera does a lot of cool stuff, but Skylight Opera does a ton of cool stuff and it’s all in English. The [Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra] is one of the better orchestras in the country. The pop music here, well rock really, the whole rockabilly thing, all the punk shows in Riverwest,” she explains. And that’s one of the reasons she loves Milwaukee. Barbara came to UWM from her hometown Eagan, Minn., a suburb of the Twin Cities. She came to specifically to work with music professor Dr. Bill Levonis. After she finished her degree, Barbara moved to Cleveland to study at the Cleveland Institute of Music, but left after one year. “I ended up feeling like I didn’t want to be a professional musician anymore,” she explains. “I had worked at it for so long and I was really dedicated but then, all of a sudden, I got really tired of the travelling and the uncertain finances.” So, Barbara moved back to Milwaukee and decided to pursue another degree, this time in journalism. But she hopes to be able to put both of her degrees to good work after college. “I would ideally like to be an arts critic for the Journal Sentinel or Milwaukee Magazine,” she says. For now, Barbara spends her time studying, working at Elements Therapeutic Massage in Whitefish Bay, and going to concerts with her boyfriend, Nate, a film major. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:18:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21945&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21945&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By Crystal Lewis Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff April 20, 2009 Tameka Smith is a fourth-year UWM student who is majoring in photography with a minor in broadcast journalism who started out at Alabama State University but found UWM to be a better fit. Smith’s father was in the Navy, and she often moved around when she was younger, but now resides in Kenosha, where she commutes to UWM Monday-Thursday. If you think commuting from Kenosha would be a bit overwhelming by itself, try adding being a parent to the mix. Smith is also a single mother to a 2-year-old boy. “It is very hard being a single parent and trying to raise a two year old can get difficult at times.” Although Smith does not find it easy to balance both school and being a single mother, she says she finds motivation in her son. Despite the added responsibility, Smith is wrapping up her final year here at UWM. After obtaining her degree, Smith plans on doing wedding photography, but is not opposed to doing some editing, putting her broadcast skills to use, or even starting her own business someday. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:13:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21944&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21944&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By Chris Kreager Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff April 20, 2009 Mini-profile of Rose Davis Most Wisconsin natives dream of graduation from one of their state’s great colleges. But for one of those lifelong loyalists, that nearly went in a different direction. Rose Davis, who hails from the city of Stoughton, had not been considering getting her diploma in the Badger State. “I originally did not want to go to school in state. I’ve been trying to get out of here for a while since I graduated high-school.” But those attitudes were all washed away when Rose got her first look at exactly what UW-Milwaukee had to offer. “Once I came to UWM, I really just fell in love with the campus. I really like the dorms and being by the lake, so I decided to come here.” After making one important decision, it was time for another- choosing the ultimate goal to achieve someday after graduation. “I’d like to be an investigative reporter. I would rather work for a magazine than a newspaper.” And why so? “I think magazine has a little bit more relaxed environment, and sometimes you definitely have an opportunity to stretch your writing, write longer features and investigate a lot deeper than you cab with a newspaper, so that’s where I want to go.” With that in mind, Rose knows what type of magazine would make her possible new life a blooming success. “I’d really like to work in a magazine where I have the opportunity to do in-depth, like make different stories I want to, I don’t know, bring light to situations that maybe haven’t been reported before.” Any specific ones come to mind? “Maybe magazines like ‘Vanity Fair,” which is a pretty big goal, but we’ll see. “Rolling Stone” has excellent articles, “TIME Magazine.” “Milwaukee Magazine” I think is an excellent publication as well, as far as like locally.” Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:11:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21943&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21943&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Timothy Mackenzie – Playing the Journalism Game By Jason Kopplin Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff April 20, 2009 Timothy Mackenzie has local roots but hopes to go far. Now in his third year, Mackenzie came to UW-Milwaukee from Bradford high school in Kenosha. He found the initial transition jarring, “I thought this place was enormous when I first arrived,” said Mackenzie. He has since adjusted to life in the city. After spending his first two years living in the dorms, he now lives near campus in his own apartment. “I feel like I’m managing myself much better and just getting into being actually living in Milwaukee and less feeling like I’m trapped in the dorm,” said Mackenzie. While he is a Journalism major, Mackenzie also studies Japanese. He hopes to combine his interests into a career involving his love of video games. Mackenzie will study abroad in Japan next school year. While there, he plans to attend the Tokyo Game Show, a major video game exposition covered heavily by industry press. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:08:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21941&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21941&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Joe Ford is not your average UWM Student. By Jake Kluth of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff April 20, 2009 Joe is 54-years-old, a Vietnam veteran and has recently returned from Alaska. Yet, he still acts like many of the young students who attend UWM. A family guy at heart, Joe is currently living and taking care of his mother. “Well, I tell you, right now, my mother is 80 years old. And she’s, you know, not really well,” Joe says with a sigh. “And so, that’s my part time job. In fact, I kinda take care of her.” After stating this, his eyes light up a bit, and he goes on. “And for taking care of her, I get to live at her house for free. So I got no rent, I get room and board, and I get to go to school. I’m 54-years-old, and I don’t have a freaking job!” Joe says with a laugh. Joe already has obtained a degree in photography from the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and is now interested in the journalism field to be able to write better. His love for the outdoors is what sprung his interest in photography. He and his dog love to do a bit of camping, hiking and canoeing, which are the different activities that he enjoyed while he was up in Alaska. Joe Ford is the case study for the truism that, even though you may be older, that doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel on life already. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:53:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21939&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21939&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By Samantha Jackson of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff April 20, 2009 Mini-Profile: Cayla Ganter Cayla Ganter is a UW Milwaukee junior at only 19-years-old. She graduated from Waukesha High School an entire year early and started her college career right away. Waukesha is a very rural area, so Ganter wanted to get out and experience a city life. While UWM is only a 25-minute drive from home, Ganter still lives off campus in Shorewood and commutes from there. While pricing is getting risky on campus, Cayla still drives to school every single day and pays the parking fees because she doesn’t like walking much. Milwaukee’s journalism program also drew Ganter into the school. Specifically, Ganter is focusing on broadcast because, “The only thing I really knew I was good at and that I liked doing was talking...so I thought it would be the perfect major for me.” Ganter currently works at Capital Returns three days a week where she destroys pharmaceuticals; however, she doesn’t plan on working there forever. Starting out lower in the company and eventually working her way up is Ganter’s ultimate plan for her future job. She hopes that she will be able to end up working somewhere with a talk show setting such as The Morning Show because of the hours and format. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:51:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21938&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21938&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} By Paul Imig of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff April 20, 2009 UW-Milwaukee: “A Natural Fit” University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Junior Tim Ostrander, 21, spent his entire childhood bouncing from city to city throughout Wisconsin. But when it came time to begin his collegiate career, Tim knew that he wanted to go back to the city where he was born; Milwaukee. In fact, it was the only “real college” that he applied to. But one small problem stood in the way. Tim took too long to apply for UW-Milwaukee in high school and had to create a new path on his journey to Milwaukee. After spending one year at Madison Area Technical College, Tim circled the application deadline on his calendar and was soon accepted into the University. “It just seemed like a natural fit,” Tim said. Tim’s original intention was to Major in History, but after one year he had a change of heart. Soon he was filling out his application and typing his 500-word essay for admission into the Journalism and Media Communications Major. Unfortunately, after a few weeks into his Journalism classes, Tim realized that this was not his calling. “I found out through these classes that I’m taking that I don’t actually like this stuff,” he said. Tim intends to finish his semester of classes and maintain his high GPA, and then switch back to his first love; History. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:48:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21937&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21937&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} By Tyler Greenblatt Of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff April 2, 2009 Junior Jessica Gaskey’s eyes drift off into space as she imagines what it would have been like to attend college in a warmer climate than that of Wisconsin. Slowly, her eyes wander back and the ends of her mouth start creeping up. She is recalling her reasons for coming to UWM. Jessica is originally from Cedarburg, and after exploring higher education opportunities in the Southwest, she discovered that Wisconsin offered something that no other state could, comfort. Jessica’s slight grin turns to an all out smile as she says one of her major reasons for coming to school at UWM was that many of her friends from back home were. For Jessica, the big city urban environment was a major factor in her choice to come to UWM and the fact that she didn’t have to fly halfway across the country didn’t hurt either. Jessica’s experiences did not stop there, however. Throughout her time here, she has discovered many opportunities in her field of journalism, and believes that Milwaukee has potential for her. The smile on her face quickly shudders away and her arms retract closer to her body at the mention of Milwaukee winters. “Hopefully after I finish my journalism program here I’d like to look at graduate schools in California,” She said. Nevertheless, Milwaukee has a place in Jessica’s future. “I wouldn’t mind coming back to Milwaukee but I would like to see what else is out there first.” Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:08:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21745&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21745&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By Erika Guenther Of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff April 2, 2009 For UWM senior Kaleb Schwecke and self-proclaimed “tech-geek”, pursuing a career in the Computer Science field always seemed like the logical choice. After graduating from high school in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, he began his studies in Computer Science and Business at the University of Minnesota at the Twin Cities. Two years into his college career, Kaleb realized he wasn’t passionate about his major, so he decided to move back home and take a few random classes at the local technical college. It was unbeknownst to Kaleb that one of the random classes he signed up for would ultimately change his life. That class was Creative Writing. The professor soon discovered that Kaleb had a natural ability with writing, and submitted some of Kaleb’s short stories and poems for publication. After some research, Kaleb found that he could further enhance his writing capabilities in the journalism field. His next step was to find a good school, and that’s when he came across UWM. “Milwaukee is probably the best school in the state for journalism, we have a great journalism department and I’m glad I made that choice,” said Kaleb. In addition to studying journalism, Kaleb is also a film-studies major. “In pursuing both of these degrees, I found a lot of similarities between fictional film and broadcast journalism. They’re both trying to tell stories, they’re both looking to reveal truth in some manner, and a good fusion of those is documentary work because you’re telling stories that are real, but you’re also looking to reveal some aspects of your life,” he explained. When Kaleb isn’t spending long hours in Johnston Hall working on class projects, he is highly involved with the regional and national-award winning Broadcast Club here on campus, which he says has been, “the best experience I’ve had here.” No matter how busy Kaleb might be at any given time, he still finds time to write. Some of his projects include fiction screenplays and short stories, which he hopes to get published in the future. Where does this future documentary filmmaker find ideas for his stories? “Really random places,” Kaleb laughs. “If I’m walking on the street and I pass an interesting person, I try running through in my mind how they live their life and sometimes you can get really interesting stories about that.” Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:06:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21744&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21744&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By Jessica Gaskey Of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff April 2, 2009 Tyler Greenblatt is a junior at UW-Milwaukee. He is a broadcast journalism major and sees new opportunities and benefits of living in a larger city and on an urban campus. He also benefits in having family in the area. He says that his teachers have many connections to internships and opportunities to gain experience in broadcast and other media work. “I worked for the communications director on a political campaign over the summer, and I really enjoyed doing that.” In a new environment full of new people and opportunities, Greenblatt has found Milwaukee to be a good school to gain experience in journalism, but he had a tough time adjusting to the weather change. “My freshman year, I was almost afraid to go out of my apartment for a week because it was so cold. I didn’t really know how to react to it.” He left New Canaan, Connecticut for Milwaukee but may return to the east coast someday to an even larger city. “I would like to eventually end up in New York because that is where I’m from. I like Milwaukee because it’s not as intimidating as New York where you have to be the best of the best. It’s a great starting off place.” Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:03:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21743&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21743&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Samantha Jackson: Never Stops Working By Cayla Ganter Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff April 2, 2009 Samantha Jackson graduated Waterford high school a semester early and came right to UWM. UWM was actually third on her list, but there were money problems at Marquette, and remodeling issues at Whitewater, and so UWM seemed like the perfect choice. It was an escape from the small town she grew up in, but still only a 45-minute drive if homesickness arose. Samantha says, “I chose journalism because I’ve always loved to write, and be like, involved in things.” She originally wanted to do print journalism but is now leaning towards broadcast. She says she would like to write entire packages for the people who are on the television. She is a little concerned about the major she chose due to our failing economy. “With the economy, and the way jobs are falling out of journalism, I am starting to second guess myself.” Samantha does not have much free time. If she is not at school, she is working hard at her job at Braeger Automotive. On her one day off, she does make time to relax and hang out with her friends. Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:00:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21742&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21742&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By Page Fortier Of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff April 2, 2009 You think growing up in De Pere, right next to Green Bay, would guarantee a football lover? Andy Ambrosius prefers soccer. He has for over a decade. “I tried football for a little bit in eighth grade, and it was really horrible…So I just went back to soccer and had the best time of my life.” He looks more like a soccer guy, tall and lean, better for running than tackling. Even his short brown hair is blowing about in winds of tornado proportion. When Andy had to choose between getting into the second generation family construction business or college, the choice was obvious. Besides deciding to choose his path by choosing college, it’s just not the right time economically to get into the construction business. Andy was accepted at UW-Madison but chose Milwaukee instead. Madison just seemed too big and too competitive, while UW-Milwaukee’s compact campus and proximity to the city is just right. All through high school, Andy loved the theater. He was in forensics and performed in many plays and musicals. When it came time to choose a major for college, Andy wanted something that would go along with what he loved to do. “And somebody suggested broadcast journalism because they said that it was like performing," he said. "You have to really think about what you’re doing much like theater. And it just clicked, it just made sense.” You can find Andy just relaxing on the weekends watching movies with friends and possibly sipping a Coors Light. Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:56:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21741&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21741&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By Joe Ford of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff April 2, 2009 Jake Kluth moved here from Madison to pursue an education in journalism. He chose UWM over Oshkosh because they wanted too much in the way of qualifications. Now that he’s three-fourths of the way through the program, Jake has soured on the idea. He’s in the process of considering other options. Jake lives with his younger brother, also a UWM student, on the east side of Milwaukee. The rest of his family still calls Madison home. This wasn’t always the case though; Jake says his younger days were spent moving between Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. His dad is an accountant and dedicated his life to engaging in interesting job opportunities, thus the travel. Of all the locations Jake’s called home, his fondest memories are of Madison, “It was an interesting place,” he says. Jake plays video games and strums the guitar for R&R. The music has been put on the back burner for now, though, as education takes up a lot of his time. What’s left his girlfriend gets. Any spare time you’ll find him a Paddy’s, his favorite east-side watering hole, but don’t ask him for a ride home, as Jake hasn’t owned a car in 4 years. Smart student. Jake expects he’ll succeed in whatever field he settles on; he just wants it to be interesting. Sounds like his dad, doesn’t he? Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:53:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21740&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21740&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By Paul Fladten Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff March 17, 2009 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was not Madison Seitz’s first choice, but she ultimately realized that it was her best choice. Seitz, a 21 –year- old senior from Racine, began her college career at Colorado State University-Pueblo. But after a short time out West, Madison decided that she wanted to come back to her home state. “I just missed it here, I guess,” said Seitz when asked why she decided to move back. Madison is now on track to graduate as a Journalism and Mass Communication major. She said that she chose this major because of the past experience she had while working on the yearbook committee in high school Along with the 18 credits that Seitz is taking this semester, she is also involved with the Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group. Madison listed her involvement with WISPIRG as her most memorable experience at UWM so far. She is a manager in the Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness. While Madison is very busy with a full school load and the hunger campaign, she still finds time to enjoy her favorite hobbies. Madison lists hanging out with friends, playing basketball, and watching March Madness as her favorite hobbies. Seitz has also played the piano for 14 years. Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:35:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21389&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21389&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By: Andy Fabitz of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff March 17, 2009 When Uko Etim arrived on the UW-Milwaukee campus, it was only a stone’s throw away from where he grew up. Etim, who is a junior at the university, grew up in Milwaukee and attended high school at Messmer, which is about a five minute drive from campus. Etim is a writer for the UWM Post and is majoring in Broadcast Journalism, and he hopes someday to get a career as a sports broadcaster or news anchor. UWM, however, was not Uko’s first choice in universities. “I didn’t get accepted at UW-Madison, so I was forced to attend UWM.” If Etim had one wish, it would be for UW-Milwaukee to have a better overall camaraderie. “First of all, the campus environment at Madison is just amazing. Secondly, the sports programs at UW-Madison are just amazing, Milwaukee doesn’t even compare at any level.” Despite the lack of camaraderie, Uko is happy to be a UWM student. “Yeah, it’s a lot of fun. I get to spend time with my mother and keep my high school job, so I guess it benefits me that way.” Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:33:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21388&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21388&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By: Uko Etim Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff March 17, 2009 Some life-long Milwaukee residents may see the city as boring and stagnant, however West Bend native Andy Fabitz is faced with new experiences on a daily basis. “Everything there is the same, conservative and Caucasian,” said Fabitz. “Milwaukee provides a change of pace.” Social aspects are not the only reason Fabitz chose UW-Milwaukee. The journalism program at UW-Milwaukee sold Fabitz on the university. “The program as a whole and outside clubs like the Broadcast Club are cool,” said Fabitz. “They don’t offer that everywhere.” Judging from Fabitz’s excitement about the journalism program, it is hard to believe he has any other interests. Surprisingly, Fabitz’s initial course of study was biology. “It was almost my major,” said Fabitz. “But I stink at math and unfortunately biology required to many math courses. So I am just going to minor in it.” English has always been his best subject and with that accompanied with his enthusiasm, Fabitz plans on making a career in journalism. Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:31:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21387&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21387&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By D’Andre Dawsey Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff March 17, 2009 MILWAUKEE - The world of sports reporting has been a prominent staple in modern society for quite some time. The audience keeps coming back to hear the the illustrative descriptions of the tremendous grand slam homer to win yesterday’s extra inning baseball game -or the enthusiasm in the radio announcer’s voice as he breaks down the local sports team’s chances to win the big game. For UWM Senior Brian Peckham, being a part of this world is a dream that shall soon become a reality. Growing up in Germantown, WI just a half-hour drive north of Milwaukee, Brian has always been around sports in the town that has produced many high school championships in football and track & field. As a high school athlete himself, Brian was able to develop a first-hand appreciation of not only the sports that he participated in but other notable sports as well. One sport that his hometown is not particularly known for, however, is high-level high school basketball teams. With basketball being his favorite sport, Brian began to follow the goings-on in the Milwaukee City Conference basketball scene. Doing this, Brian began to grow an even greater appreciation for the competition shown by these youth athletes and for the local writers who covered these teams - not just in Milwaukee but on a statewide level. It’s to the point that he decided that he wanted covering these teams to be his career. Brian plans to focus on print coverage of the local sports teams in Southeastern Wisconsin after graduation but is not ruling out the potential to broaden his career to a national level if the opportunity arises. Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:28:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21386&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21386&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By Rose Davis Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staffMarch 17, 2009 Chris Kreager has been a hockey fan since the first time he sat in the stands as a young boy and watched the Buffalo Sabers score the game-winning goal. Born in Buffalo, New York, Chris spent a lot of time at the hockey rink excitedly bouncing in his seat as his favorite team raced around the ice. Chris contributes his love for hockey, and sports in general, to growing up in Buffalo and his childhood exposure to the Sabers. “I love sports,” Chris says. “I grew up in Buffalo, a very hockey-mad city… I went to a lot of Saber games; I went to eight games, never lost a game. I went to eight Saber games, perfect record, eight win, no losses.” Chris didn’t play ice hockey growing up because he says he wasn’t a great skater. He did, however, enjoy roller hockey as he found it easier to skate on roller blades rather than ice skates. Chris’ passion for sports held strong when he moved to Wisconsin in 1994, after his dad got a job at the Kenosha medical center. As he got older, Chris decided that he wanted to go into a profession that would allow him to experience his love for sports on a daily basis. This led him to UWM. “Since I want to become a major in sports, working in sports writing and sports broadcasting, I need to major in journalism,” Chris says. “I heard UW-Milwaukee has one of the better schools of journalism, so I thought, ‘Hey the two go together, fits together, puzzle pieces fit together, why not go with the flow?’” Chris is currently a junior at UWM, anxiously waiting to find out if he will be accepted into the journalism program and take the next step in making his dream of being a sports reporter come true. Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:24:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21385&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21385&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By Dan Curtin of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff March 17, 2009 Sean McGraw is a 22-year- old junior at UW-Milwaukee who has found a purpose in college through the Journalism and Mass Communication program. Originally from Menomonee Falls, Sean spent a couple of years “messing around” at Waukesha County Technical College, but came to UW-Milwaukee to pursue journalism due to his skill at writing. Sean says that he was immediately scared out pursuing a potential degree in architecture at WCTC by his very first professorwho described long periods of unemployment in between jobs. Although he was initially put off by some of the earlier journalism classes, due to their “cookie-cutter story formats,” Sean now has found that the broadcast side of journalism speaks to his love of movies, music, and television. Sean gets very engaged when he talks about movies, and revealed that one of his life goals is to see every movie listed in the book “1001 Movies to See Before You Die.” He says that he doesn’t want to brag about this goal, but it is easy to see that Sean takes this quest very seriously. Aside from his interest in movies and broadcast journalism, Sean says he loves the atmosphere that UWM and Milwaukee provides. Although he doesn’t want to give anyone the impression that Menomonee Falls is a one-horse-town, Sean says that Milwaukee provides the perfect mix of opportunities and atmosphere while still being close to home. Like many students, Sean works, but he seems to thoroughly enjoy his job, whereas many college students mope about having to work and go to school full time. Sean is currently employed at the Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls. Aside from the hospital only being five minutes from his house, Sean loves the fact that he gets paid well for the work he does, and the flexibility in hours that he gets. A great big smile cracked on Sean’s face when he revealed that he was 45 minutes late for work while in class. Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:21:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21384&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21384&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By Shane Cuccia Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff March 17, 2009 Caitlin Smith’s academic career has been full of twists and turns. She has been a world traveler when it comes to picking out a major and choosing a university. Her current major, Print Journalism, is her fourth major. This is her second stint at UWM. She spent a semester at UW-Madison in which her major at the time was Interior Design. “I am interested in too many things to just focus on one career; I’d rather learn about all different kinds of things and write about them,” says Smith when asked about her multiple major changes. Smith is currently 21 –years- old and a first semester Junior. Her hometown of Oconomowoc is located 45 minutes west of Milwaukee. However, Smith looks to escape from the suburban atmosphere of her hometown. “My goal in life is to never end up in the suburbs again. I don’t know it is just not the environment for me. I love being in the city and feeling apart of the action and being able to walk places and taking public transportation. No, I definitely don’t want to live in a place like where I grew up.” Smith looks to incorporate her interests of art, design, and environmentalism into writing. Her dream job is to work for a publication called Dwell, which focuses on modern architecture and design with an emphasis on sustainability. Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:14:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21383&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21383&mname=Article Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} By Andy Ambrosius Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff March 17, 2009 Page Fortier (last name pronounced For-chay) is a sophomore at UWM and is unlike any other student her age. The petite, black-haired vixen with runway style has lived in Mardi Gras’ hometown and has recently moved to the cheese state. From New Orleans, to Florida to the chilly state of Wisconsin, Fortier has called more places “home” than most. Although she has moved across the United States, Fortier says she hasn’t had enough. She wants to utilize her major in journalism and mass communication to become a documentary film-maker. “I would love to travel the world and look at different tribes, figure out stuff in nature and then show it to the world. Or do little projects like Marijuana Nation; that is very informative.” Along with her passion for travel, Fortier also finds a love for the environment. While taking steps in her personal life to become a vegetarian, she also finds time to better UWM’s green-status. She is currently an intern for the conservation and Environmental Science department where she heads events like Recycle Mania, an international campus recycling competition. Fortier is also involved in UWM Unplugged, a residence hall energy competition to save energy at dormitories. Fortier has intense dreams for life after college, but don’t expect her to go anywhere soon. She says she loves the city setting, she lives close to her parents, and her radical views mesh well with Milwaukee. Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:11:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21382&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=21382&mname=Article By Hanna Anderson Of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff Feb. 10, 2009 What is Kristen Cooper’s most memorable experience since coming to UWM? “I got on the bus going the wrong way my first week here and ended up in a not-so-great-area . . . I didn’t even get off,” she says. Though she claims she was a little frightened that day, Kristen has grown to know and enjoy her experiences at UWM in and in Milwaukee. One of the things she likes most about Milwaukee? The diversity. A graduate from River Falls High School Class of 2005, Kristen came to Milwaukee hoping to get away from the nearby Twin-Cities area and experience the University’s Journalism and Mass Communication program that she had heard many good things about. She calls her UWM experience a positive one, and will be walking in a Spring 2008 graduation ceremony. She will be receiving her JMC degree in the summer, and is hoping to work as a freelance journalist covering topics such as sports and entertainment. Sports and entertainment are two of the things Kristen loves to do in her free time. When she’s not supervising servers at Turner Hall, she’s playing volleyball at Riverwest’s Tracks or is parked in front of her TV watching The Office. She also enjoys music, citing Lupe Fiasco, Common, and DJ Girltalk as her current favorites. Kristen states that her experiences at UWM have helped her grow as a person, and recommends the school and the JMC department to incoming students. Her advice to freshman: “See your advisor before registration.” Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:57:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=20790&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=20790&mname=Article By Emily Neibauer Of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff Nov. 18, 2008 Amber Gramza is a 19-year-old University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee sophomore, whose first pick for college was UWM. She is a broadcast journalism major and commutes to school from South Milwaukee by bus. Amber said she likes UWM because “it’s big, but not too big.” She also likes the fact that UWM has a very diverse community. To help herself through college, Amber works at a movie theater in South Milwaukee. She loves her job because of the people who work there and how much fun they have together. She also reaps the benefits of free movies, which is always a plus. She loves animals but doesn’t have any; however, she is in the search for a new puppy. Amber cares about her family and says in her free time she likes to spend time with them. Amber is a first generation college student because she was inspired by her parents to go to college. She wrote at a newspaper in high school and that helped her decide on her passion for writing. Her dream is to write stories and be a producer for a radio or TV station and her involvement in broadcast club at UWM should help her pursue her dreams. Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:50:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19895&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19895&mname=Article By Laura Kezman Of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff Nov. 28, 2008 Third-year University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student, Lauren Tracz, personifies the lifestyle of a typical college student. She takes the bus, she studies, and she is working towards a declared major. The oldest of three and a recent addition to the population of young adults now legally allowed in bars, Lauren defies a particular statistic hanging over most college campuses: She is not a partier. Instead, she finds planned Monday nights on the couch with friends watching such favorite shows as Chuck and Heroes just as, if not more fulfilling. “I was never a partier in High School at all,” Lauren explained. “And living at home makes it easier to get together and just hang out with friends.” She grew up a Milwaukee-county resident her whole life and currently resides at home in Hales Corners. While not knowing specifically what career path she wanted to embark on, she looked to UWM as being a logical choice after High School. Upon being accepted, she found herself attending introductory level journalism courses due to her best friend being involved in the advertising branch of the journalism department. There she found her area of interest. She was instantly drawn broadcast journalism, which is currently her major, and shows excitement for the what it may mean for her after graduation. “I’m just seeing how it all comes together,” Lauren said after thinking about what her expectations hold upon finishing her years of school. As it is for many, if not most college students, it is hard to make any definite assertions of what the future may hold. Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:45:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19894&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19894&mname=Article By Sarah Vanover Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff Nov. 9, 2008 Twenty-year-old UWM college student Sarah Kavouras showed her silly self one recent afternoon sitting at the Grind café. “Kavouras, Sarah Kavouras,” she pronounced with a Van Damme face before explaining her life pertaining to the University of Milwaukee. Kavouras applied at many other colleges in her home state of Illinois but decided on UWM after considering tuition and the architecture program. “I would be paying the same tuition back home as I do now being an out of state student.” Raving about SARUP, it is obvious why she has decided to continue earning her degree in Milwaukee. After meeting amazing people there is no way she would leave the area any time soon. She met her best friend and roommate for three years at UWM. She adores her new way of social interactions and has become more confident and outgoing causing a plethora of new friends. Living one and a half hours away doesn’t hurt either. She can drive home in a minimum of 50 minutes if needed. Although she does have times when she misses her family, she values her independence. Working at Aurora Sinai in downtown Milwaukee, she has learned even more about responsibility and helping others. She hopes to pursue her job in physical therapy after college. Thick with sarcasm she claims that all of her experiences at UWM are, “Always legal, always fun.” Coming from the small town of Johnsburg, Illinois, Milwaukee has been a good change. Loving the eclectic sophisticated style of café’s and campus life, Kavouras has opportunity for meeting varieties of people. Overall, she has enjoyed her time at UWM and doesn’t regret a thing. Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:03:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19788&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19788&mname=Article By Stephanie Schell Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff Nov. 9, 2008 His ideal day is spent relaxing outside, grilling burgers, and enjoying the company of his closest friend and family. Cesar Rojas is a Journalism and Mass Communications undergraduate student at UW-Milwaukee who says that beyond spending quality time with friends and family, his favorite hobby is catching up on sleep. Rojas sounds like your typical college student, right? In terms of attending classes, yes, but Rojas, 28, has a slightly different background than most. Rojas was born in Panama, moved to Chicago, and then ended up in Milwaukee by the time he was 2-years-old. After attending Riverside High School in Milwaukee, he moved to Madison, Wis., for the next six years to earn an undergraduate degree in Spanish Literature. After moving back home, Rojas realized he wasn’t quite ready to be done with school. “Curiosity influences me more than anything, you know, just finding out what I can all do,” said Rojas when asked what influenced him to go back to school for his journalism degree. Twenty years from now, Cesar Rojas wants to be living anywhere besides Milwaukee, preferably a bigger city, and be doing anything related to journalism. “I don’t want a job where I have to punch in and punch out, I just want to be able to write.” Although Rojas admitted that Madison had much more of a student-incorporated atmosphere, he said it just wasn’t the same as home. The journalism program, along with closeness to his family, brought Cesar back to Milwaukee to continue his studies. In terms of his top priorities in his life, his family is ranked number one. Rojas is the seventh of eight children in his immediate family, and he admits that they are what motivate him to continue his education and follow his dreams of being a journalist. “Being from an immigrant family, I have always been taught that the opportunity for education is everywhere and so important,” said Rojas. His glorified secretary position at Impact, a non-profit drug and alcohol counseling group, just isn’t cutting it for Cesar. He not only aspires to become a journalist, with the help of a graduate degree from UWM, but one day return to Panama to find his roots. But when it comes down to it, Rojas says, a home-cooked meal from Mom will do too. Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:49:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19787&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19787&mname=Article By Michelle Sauer Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff Nov. 9, 2008 Ten years from now, the public will see Stephanie Schell interviewing the new top dog in sports on EPSN, at least that’s what she’s hoping. Schnell is a 19-year-old sophomore from New Berlin, Wisconsin with both the will and the way. She came to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with the dream of making it big and trusting this university to take her there. Right now, she struts her stuff on the court for the UWM women’s basketball team, for which she received a full ride scholarship after numerous years of constant struggle. Schnell was brought up playing basketball since the young kindergarten years all the way to where she is now, mainly driven by the only coach she’s known until now, her dad. Family is at the top of her priorities when it comes to any aspect of her life. She hopes that no matter where life takes her, she can carry the family ties and values she was raised with, with her. Time off the court leaves little room for rest. School and teammates keep her much to busy to go back to the days of high school dances, social functions and trips to the Marcus Ridge Theater. UWM has helped her handle this battle to maintain her social sanity by giving her the diverse atmosphere she needs to not only pursue her career goals through school programs, but in a new environment. The suburban world is far from the new urban environment she has been introduced to at school, but she likes being outside “the bubble,” as Schnell refers to New Berlin. When asked to describe herself in a sentence, she once again struggles. “I guess the best way to describe myself is by what my friends and family say, since they are most important to me,” Schnell says. “I laugh and smile too much, even when it’s not appropriate. I find the good in situations.” With internships and almost year-round basketball on her plate, she is going to need that optimism. She is thankful for the experiences basketball has provided her. She claims responsibility, time management, and teamwork to be among the top skills she’s learned, especially as a team captain for such a young women. Now, Schnell waits for summer with dreams of the beach and sun at mind next to herself as an ESPN anchor, and UWM being her ticket to Bradford Beach and beyond. Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:37:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19786&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19786&mname=Article By Cesar Rojas Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff Nov. 9, 2008 If UW-Milwaukee is a commuter school, then 19-year-old Michelle Sauer definitely fits the commuter profile of the student body. But living in Franklin and working at full-time at Culvers in Hales Corners does not limit her involvement here on campus. Not only does she write three articles for the UWM Post a week, she is also an editor and has been since February. She’s in her second year, full-time, and so far this semester is going “pretty good.” Of all the schools in the UW system, UW-Milwaukee offered a more appealing Journalism program, and she is planning on focusing in print journalism. And it helps that the school is more affordable. She hopes to get outside of her small town and write for a magazine, perhaps Cosmo or Glamour and deal with current trends and feature articles. A native from Milwaukee, she went to Martin Luther High School in Greenfield. Besides her hectic schedule of work, school, and the Post, Michelle enjoys coaching and playing volleyball, and spending time with her boyfriend of four months who will soon be joining her here at UWM, after serving in the Marines in Iraq. Catching Friends, or Sex and the City, are among her favorite pastimes, as well as listening to rock music, particularly the punk group, YellowCard. When asked what could improve her experience here at UWM, she simply said, “More time.” Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:30:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19785&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19785&mname=Article By Josh Rank of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff Nov. 9, 2008 Edgar Mendez made the difficult change from high school dropout to a double major at a university. This decision was brought on by being “tired of dead end jobs” and “wanting to do something with my life,” he said. Mendez, 29, was born and raised on the south side of Milwaukee. After dropping out of high school and working various jobs for years, he decided to return to school at the age of 25. Mendez is now a senior with a double major in print journalism and sociology. After graduation, he plans to go back to graduate school for sociology. Simply going to classes isn’t enough for Mendez. He has busied himself by being Vice President of the Minority Media Association, a member of Loyalty Equals Brotherhood, and a participant in the McNair Program at UW-Milwaukee. Along with the school organizations, Mendez writes for the Spanish newspaper “El Conquistador”. When he’s not busy with these activities or school, he enjoys going to festivals and hanging out with his friends. UWM fits Mendez’s taste for life in a larger city. He is open to the idea of going to school in a smaller city but prefers the size of Milwaukee. Edgar Mendez has come a long way from his days in high school. When asked of his accomplishments, he says he’s simply, “Glad I made it his far.” Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:22:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19784&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19784&mname=Article By Edgar Mendez Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff Nov. 9, 2008 Kesha Packer, from Milwaukee, decided to come back to UW-Milwaukee for her second degree a few years ago. Packer, after already having obtained her bachelor's degree in criminal justice and working in corrections, decided that she wanted to add a new page to her long resume. That page was a degree in communication/journalism. With her newfound niche, Packer hopes to work in public relations and maybe even write press releases for the Department of Corrections. Packer, who grew up in Milwaukee, plans to bring integrity and her ability to utilize resources to her next profession. Kesha is so resourceful that she transferred to North Division from Greendale High School after hearing about a newly established scholarship from General Electric. The scholarship, which offers full tuition to any U.W. university, was being offered in three Milwaukee high schools that were plagued with high dropout rates. She chose UW-Milwaukee, her hometown school. When asked what type of individual it takes to attend UWM, she says that you need to be diverse and also extremely organized. Now in her second time around at UWM, Kesha feels that the biggest transition was in the technology now available here. At first she struggled with the changes such as Desire to Learn (D2L), but now Packer feels that the advancements have made researching easier. Kesha’s prime motivation is to obtain her master’s in communication. That way she has a hand in bringing accurate and important information to the public. “You wouldn’t believe how the media misinforms if the news is your sole source of information,” said Packer. Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:07:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19783&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19783&mname=Article By Tammy McCubbin Of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff Nov. 9, 2008 Kevin Lessmiller: Guitar and Campus Life Grooving to his guitar and hanging out with his buddies are a few of the activities Kevin Lessmiller, a Print Journalism major at UW-Milwaukee, loves to do on his free time. Spare time is a precious commodity for Kevin, seeing as though he is the News Editor for UWM’s Post and juggles a part time job at Mamma Mia’s. Kevin, who recently turned 21, is a native to Stoughton, Wisconsin, but currently resides on the east side of Milwaukee. Growing up, Kevin enjoyed mastering his guitar playing skills by picking up a guitar at the young age of eleven. His love of guitar stays with him to this day. He enjoys listening to Led Zeppelin, or, “Anything with good guitar”. A junior at UW-Milwaukee, Kevin chose UWM because he felt there weren’t too many options for him. His high school days were rocky with grades, so he felt UWM would be a great way to turn his mentality around. “I like the campus life,” Kevin exclaims. Getting a great job is what motivates Kevin to complete his education. He would love to work for a print newspaper in a big city or even locally, such as with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He knows his future is bright and that UWM opens many doors of opportunity. Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:00:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19782&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19782&mname=Article By Matthew Sliker of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff Nov. 9, 2008 McKenzie Gardner has always wanted to be a TV reporter. Her mom remembers her showing interest from a very early age; her dad works in the radio business. Gardner, who was born in Oregon but raised in Mequon, is a junior at UW-Milwaukee studying broadcast journalism. Although she is also passionate about education, she ultimately decided to focus on broadcasting. She lives near campus with several friends and works at the Wisconsin Club downtown. Weekends are usually spent working. But on occasional days off, nothing beats tailgating with friends before seeing a Brewer’s game at Miller Park. “I love when my two best friends come down from Oshkosh,” she says. She started her college career at Winona State University but transferred to UW-Milwaukee after her first year. This summer, she’ll be moving back to the West Coast with her family and will begin classes at Central Washington University, just outside Seattle. She hopes to ultimately get a job at the NBC affiliate in Seattle. Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:48:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19781&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19781&mname=Article By Antony J. Kamps of the Frontpage Milwaukee reporting staff Nov. 9, 2008 Family. It is a word that means a lot to many people. Jake Kluth is no different. Family means a lot to him and is what drives him to better himself educationally. Jake is a senior at the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin. As a Journalism Mass Communication major, with an emphasis in broadcasting, he has no preference which field he works in - radio or TV. “It really does not matter to me,” said Kluth. “Which ever one makes me the most money.” Not much has changed for Jake since high school. During his senior year at Middleton High School, he had no clue what he was going to do with his life after graduation. It was not until after he took a news broadcasting class, suggested by his mother, that he knew what he wanted to do with his life. “I loved it, just loved it,” said Jake. “I think my favorite part was the anchoring.” When Jake started his college search, he had two choices in mind, Oshkosh and Milwaukee. Oshkosh started to hammer him a little about the classes he was taking in high school, so when UWM accepted him, it was the guiding light he needed. “Looking back now, coming to UWM was the best choice possible,” said Kluth. All along the way, what drove Jake to get out of bed early in the morning after cramming for a test, writing a paper, or maybe a few drinks was family, in particular his father. His father grew up a farm boy in Madison. Jake describes his father as “an unbelievably intelligent man.” His father applied to Yale and was accepted, but on a farmer’s salary, it would not be possible to attend. Instead, he graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a Bachelor in Accounting. Coming to UWM fits the Kluth's personality perfectly. “A big city, but laid back,” said Kluth. Walking on to campus can be strenuous for anybody, especially someone who is not familiar with the surroundings. Making the move from Madison to Milwaukee does not sound like a big deal, but you are still transplanting yourself into a new environment. “They (UWM) did a good job to help me acclimate myself socially,” Kluth said. Family is still a huge part of Jake’s life right now as he lives with his brother Nate while attending school. Nate is also a student at UWM, a sophomore. As always with the Kluths, family sticks together. Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:36:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19780&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=19780&mname=Article By Molly VanNatta of the Frontpage Milwaukee Staff Aug. 5, 2008 Molly.Actually “Save-the-Dates or Lose-Your-Mind?” The end of summer means that lots of things are coming to an end: Trips to the waterpark, extra hours of daylight, afternoons at the beach, and….wedding season. For some twenty-somethings, it can feel as if suddenly every friend you had is getting married, and you’re invited to every ceremony. This summer I was invited to a record seven weddings over the span of six months. Preceding three out of four of them (the fourth invite came via e-mail as an afterthought so they may have sent one to others) was a relatively new item to add to the wedding planning checklist: The save-the-date. The save-the-date is a curious creature. It hasn’t always been a factor in inviting people to your wedding and it comes in a vast array of forms. But as a bride-to-be myself I have spent an unhealthy amount of time pondering the necessity of save-the-dates, and how it is that we as a society came to need a prequel to the official request of our presence. Are these handy little heads ups another branch on the tree of wedding business commercialism, or do we really need that much more time to arrange our schedules? When save-the-dates aren’t taken too seriously, they make sense. Given that over the half the weddings I was invited to this summer did not warn of their arrival by sending forth a save-the-date beforehand, they do not seem to be a requirement just yet. The first save-the-date I ever received was for a distant cousin’s wedding about four or five years ago. Back then it was a simple thing—just a tiny piece of paper asking that we keep our schedules clear on August 11. My mother was puzzled over the notion of an invitation before the invitation. She thought it was strange and a waste of paper. “She’s family,” Mom reasoned, “Of course we already know she’s getting married. She could have saved money on these stamps.” Then again, my mom is a simple small-town woman with a tiny social circle and no real agenda besides work, dinner, and dealing with her two daughters. But today the average person is much busier and likely part of the networking crowd. With a competitive job and Facebook friend list exceeding 300 acquaintances to maintain, it is no wonder some of us need a small reminder every now and then. The question though, is to what end? Do we really need them from friends and family? From co-workers and old acquaintances? Save-the-dates make the least sense when coming from family members. Two of my closer cousins got married earlier this summer and both issued save-the-dates that graced my refrigerator door for at least four months before the events. Aside from being nice keepsakes to tuck away for posterity (in case keeping the wedding program isn’t your thing) they seemed unnecessary. Yes, you’re my cousin; I know you’re getting married. It’s been on the calendar for months and I can patiently wait for the real deal, RSVP card and all. But you know, thanks for the creative little trinket anyways. On the other hand, two of my fiancé’s old college friends called him up rather last minute asking for his address so they could formally invite us to their weddings, which were scheduled for the next month. Had we gotten a little heads up from these people we haven’t heard from since his graduation, we could have better prepared for the extra gift, hotel room, and gas expenses, as well as more easily sorted out our schedules for the next month. Of course it wasn’t really the lack of save-the-date that caused the surprise, but the lack of a timely invitation instead. Not only do save-the-dates serve as an extra advance notice to busy couples and families, but they also serve as a creative outlet for the bride and groom—something to set the tone of the wedding and express the character of the couple. Having a chilly fall wedding? Why not order two hundred tiny crocheted sweaters with matching scarves and the wedding info pinned to the front? Or, if the couple loves board games and the like, a puzzle for the recipient to put together to reveal with wedding information might be right up their alley. One of the most popular and options seems to be the save-the-date magnet. This practical, blank canvas is relatively cheap, extremely customizable, and comes in virtually any size. Not only does it inform you of the impending wedding date, but can also hold up your grocery list at the same time. What a concept! While they are not expected of all couples, they are fun, reasonably cheap reminders that make planning in advance just a little easier for both the married couple to-be and their loved ones. Currently my fiancé and I are leaning towards the sensible magnet option. However, the temptation of putting that save-the-date expense towards a larger alcohol supply at the reception is still just a little too strong… Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:26:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17922&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17922&mname=Article By Cesar Rojas Of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff Aug. 8, 2008 In announcing the beginning of the Wisconsin State Fair, many local media outlets steer to the inevitable shot of interviews about what people like the best about the fair. With so many attractions, shows, rides, and food vendors to choose from, you’d think that every year there would be something new to see or hear about to spark a renewed interest for heading down this year. For those familiar with these stories, however, it usually means you’ll hear or see someone talking about the State Fair cream puff. Traditions are understandably part of the Wisconsin State Fair, but forced and monotonous media coverage of the cream puff every year is one tradition that most can live without. This year, we saw lines of cars of people who won the Fox 6 Cream Puff contest, with one person from New Berlin waiting since 5:15 a.m TMJ4’s Diane Pathieu reported on opening day that you don’t need a napkin to eat a cream puff, you need a towel. One TV spot had two local reporters asking people what they like about the fair. When no one brought up the cream puff, one of the reporters brought it up himself, pointing out the fact that his fellow reporter had never tried the legendary cream puff herself. WISN did its part to give us some history of the State Fair, including the cream puff, highlighting the fact that they have been sold at the State Fair since 1924. And, yes, one person they interviewed was first in line for a cream puff. This phenomenon is not unique to the TV medium. The Pulitzer Prize winning Journal Sentinel also believed that cream puffs being sold at the Wisconsin State Fair this year were news. They reported that 365,000 were sold last year. They even sent an intern, Tamara Vallejos, from LA to investigate the fair and the “beloved cream puff” for herself for the first time. Understandably, she didn’t seem too thrilled about that particular experience, and at least one other person at the fair she interviewed, was not either. She and her son had recommended the giant slide to Vallejos before the intern brought up the puff. Quite frankly, the last thing most want to see when they are at the fair is other people stuffing their faces with cream. Yet, the media outlets who cover the fair invariably decide that this is news worthy and cut to this particular image, lest someone miss out. It’s not that there is something wrong with the cream puff. It is just astounding that a story about the State Fair would be incomplete without mentioning the pastry. No doubt cream puffs are popular. According to the Wisconsin Bakers Association webpage, called originalcreampuffs.com, the cream puff is the most popular dessert item at the fair by far. Hands down, they sell more of this than any other item, year after year. Do we really need to be reminded of this fact every year? The average cream puff eater could care less how many were sold, and would care less to disclose how many of those they ate. But this does not stop reporters from asking. The Original Cream Puffs page also asserts that many people feel that “you haven’t been to the fair until you’ve had your cream puff.” Anyone would certainly feel that way given the coverage the pastries have gotten in the past. Maybe this is that certified moment when one truly has become part of a larger tradition expected of all who participate on the fair grounds, not those blue ribbon contests. An apartment manager said he took his fiancée to the fair for the first time last year, and the two were so busy with all there was to see that she totally missed out on the cream puff experience. She had heard so much about it, she began to cry that she didn’t get one. Perhaps if she had tasted it, she might have wondered what all the fuss was about. The media coverage has certainly created large shoes for the humble puff to fill. Hopefully by next year something new and interesting will be covered when the State Fair begins. As for this year, I’m only interested in going to cheer for those pigs that race for their own preferred cream dessert, an Oreo cookie. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:20:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17916&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17916&mname=Article By Ivory Scott of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff Aug. 8, 2008 Get ready Milwaukee, open your wallets; the city has passed a $20 wheel tax. As of Wednesday, July 31, the Milwaukee Common Council approved the wheel tax proposal, imposing a $20 annual registration fee on every car and light truck kept in the city. The goal of this tax is to raise $6.6 million dollars a year for street repair costs and eliminate the special property tax assessments. Now, in the grand scheme of things $20 may seem like a small price to pay, but is this really a fair way to raise money to improve our streets? I don’t think so. If the city of Milwaukee would be better at using the already budgeted money to keep up with general maintenance year around, we would not have had the huge “pot hole problem” this year, and we wouldn’t be looking for more money. I have owned a 1992 Chevy Corsica for the last three years. The last two years, I paid $55 to register my vehicle with standard plates. This year I had to pay $75, still with standard plates. I have no idea why the cost jumped $20 in one year, but if we add this wheel tax, we’ll be jumping a lot more than that. This tax may be $20 this year, but what will it be next year, or the next? Before you know it, I’ll be paying well over $100 just to be able to drive a car. And that doesn’t include the inflated gas prices and our poor economy. There’s nothing better than kicking a person when they’re down. Granted, the council has said it will back Ald. Jim Witkowiak’s amendment to put a cap at $20 through 2012. However Ald. Michael Murphy said that would have no legal impact, whatever that means. It sounds to me like we’ll be paying more than $20 before 2012. In the city of Milwaukee 2008 budget address, Mayor Tom Barrett proposed an increase of over $4 million for infrastructure. Within that, $1 million was allocated to for local street repair and maintenance, and $580,000 for major street and bridge repair and maintenance. That leaves me with a couple questions. Where is this money coming from for this increase, and why do we need a wheel tax if we can apparently get money from somewhere else? In addition, Mayor Barrett says that this investment in infrastructure will decrease the street repair and replacement cycle from 165 years to 65 years by 2013. So again I ask, why do we need the wheel tax? Some people seem to think that the wheel tax will decrease the street repair and replacement cycle to 0 years. Well, that may be true through eliminating the special property tax assessments, but do we really want that? If Mayor Barrett can find funds to decrease the cycle 60 percent in 5 years, that could have a major impact on the streets of Milwaukee. Not to mention that with the current 165 year cycle it feels like there is construction around every corner. Can you imagine Milwaukee with a 0 year cycle or even a 65 year one for that matter? Sure, we might have a lot fewer pot holes, but the streets will be littered with cones, gravel, unexpected lane changes, and delays. That could cause just as many accidents and damage to the cars as pot holes. Don’t get me wrong; I’m no fan of pot holes; I’ve had an alignment done twice on my car just because of them. Once, back in April, I saw four cars lined up on the side of the road with flat tires. I thought how in the world did all four people get a flat tire at the same exact spot? Just a block behind them, I saw the culprit, a pot hole the size of at least five basketballs. But we had a rough winter, and it took a toll on our roads. I don’t ever remember it being this bad. Yea, maybe it’s a sign of the times to come. Or we’re jumping the gun a little. Let’s just use the money already budgeted to street repair to effectively maintain the roads year round instead of finding more ways to dig into our wallets. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:10:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17915&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17915&mname=Article By Katie Krause Of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff Aug. 8, 2008 Facebook is addicting. I can’t tell you how many people I know who are clearly obsessed with it. I’ve found myself plenty of times just wanting to check it for a second to see if I have any new messages and then twenty minutes later I’m still on it. Every single time I’m shocked as to how I got sucked into it for so long. I’m even guilty of talking to my now ex-boyfriend more through Facebook than on the phone. Due to how much time college students spend on Facebook, it didn’t seem weird to me that the guy I was dating at the time, and I would spend more time sending messages to each other through Facebook than on the phone. However, eventually I started wondering if this was normal. Is it OK to talk to the person you’re dating more on Facebook than on the phone? The answer is as obvious as it seems. No, of course it’s not OK. Facebook doesn’t even come close to actually speaking to the person. However, when the person you’re dating doesn’t like to talk on the phone, or some other phony excuse, it makes sense that communicating more on Facebook is OK, right? Wrong again. Over the past few years, Facebook has skyrocketed to one of the most popular websites on the internet. Starting out as a way for college students to keep in touch with old friends, as well as meet new ones, it soon expanded out to kids in high school and eventually the general public. Obviously the point of it is to be able to see what old friends are up to; maybe even drop them a comment on their wall saying hello. But really, it’s not that hard to pick up a phone and just give them a call. Facebook has made it easy to avoid actually speaking to people-whether they are just friends, or a boyfriend or girlfriend. We have started making too many excuses for not calling the people we care about. Nobody should ever have to tell someone that is supposed to care about them to want to talk to them more. We shouldn’t have to tell people we are dating to maybe get off the computer and pick up a phone instead. In the book “He’s just not that into you”, by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, they polled a group of men asking them if they’ve ever been too busy to call a woman they were really into. 100 percent of them said they’ve never been too busy to call if they were really into that person. People are busy. Inconveniences happen. That doesn’t mean that dropping a quick note on Facebook is the answer. It doesn’t take long to make a phone call to tell the person you don’t have time to talk, but you will call them as soon as you can. That is much more meaningful than an impersonal message on Facebook. So, what about the really good excuses for writing on Facebook instead of calling? Maybe they aren’t a big fan of talking on the phone so in between phone conversations they would prefer to write on Facebook instead. This can be OK in some situations. It just depends on how often they are calling. If they are calling once every few weeks and writing once a week, that doesn’t really work. Staring at the phone willing it to ring because the person you’re dating hasn’t called in awhile is a pretty obvious sign that things aren’t working. What about if their phone is broken and they don’t have a lot of money to go and get it fixed? Is that when it’s OK to send messages on Facebook instead of talking to the person? Sure; but only for a certain amount of time. If it’s going on a few months and the person hasn’t put forth any effort into getting their phone fixed, it’s not OK anymore. Either they just don’t care enough about the person they’re dating, or they’re just lazy. And really, nobody wants to date someone who’s lazy. Here’s a little inside information about relationships: you actually have to speak to one another to have one. Shocker, I know. Call me crazy, but I would much rather hear someone’s voice than just read something they wrote; especially when it comes to the person I’m dating. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:53:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17914&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17914&mname=Article By Barbara Castonguay Of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff Aug. 8, 2008 Today’s opera world is vastly different from that of the Golden Age. Companies are struggling to survive in the music world, and problems from lack of funding to lack of patronage are bringing about drastic, some would say unfortunate, changes in casting and programming. Not only has competition among singers and companies increased, but the industry as a whole has moved toward a more marketable, youthful image. In today’s floundering yet increasingly demanding opera market, is it right that singers are expected to look like movie stars, as in the case of Deborah Voigt? Not only is this an overly-ambitious and potentially hurtful ideal, but many standard roles in the repertory are written for singers whose vocal prowess is aided by their extra weight. Many opera aficionados remember the 2004 production of Strauss’ Aridane auf Naxos at Covent Garden where Deborah Voigt was slated to sing the role of Ariadne, and was abruptly fired because they felt she was too large to play the role. Vocally, the role is highly taxing and demands a strong, large soprano voice in order to be heard over Strauss’ lush romantic orchestration. Already an international singing sensation, she was infuriated at the time that her weight received more attention than her singing. Nevertheless, soon after this incident, Voigt went under the knife for gastric bypass surgery in order to lose weight and maintain her high-profile career. She did not suffer any vocal complications from her consequent rapid weight loss, but other singers have not been so lucky. Maria Callas, perhaps the most famous soprano of the twentieth century, lost 66 lbs. in 1954. Her rapid weight loss actually did physical damage to her body, forcing her to use muscles which were in opposition to healthy singing, thereby cutting her career tragically short. When comparing her early recordings to her final recordings, one can easily discern a striking shift in tone, stamina, and overall quality. The stereotype of the “fat opera singer” may not be completely off-base. An article written in 2008 from New Zealand’s Sunday Star Times explains, “There is a reason why opera singers have traditionally tended to be on the hefty side; bigger people usually make better singers. It is believed that fatty tissue around the voice box and soft palate helps create a mellifluous, warm sound and increases resonance. The extra weight can also act as a pulley system helping drive the diaphragm and project the voice.” When larger singers come under fire for their weight, they may take extreme measures, and their rapid weight loss often changes their singing irreparably. Opera is, at its core, primarily a musical art. Composers have written operas for hundreds of years with specific voice types in mind to portray their characters, valuing vocal skill and accomplishment over size. How thrilling it is to hear Deborah Voigt sing the role of Ariadne, or Jane Eaglen sing Wagner’s Ring Cycle, or Pavarotti singing Cavaradossi in Tosca. The mastery of classical singing takes years of concentrated, dedicated practice, and these singers are masters of their craft. They are not only internationally recognized, but they are recording stars with major contracts. Their names garner high praise, and high ticket sales for any company, regardless of their size. Of course, one must realize that opera is a visual as well as a musical art, and that while the world’s standards of appearance for actors, musicians and other celebrities have been raised significantly over the years, the trend in opera has, out of necessity, followed. It is certainly hard to suspend your disbelief watching a 300-lb. woman singing the role of young Salome, dancing nude for King Herod in Strauss’ “Dance of the Seven Veils.” Certainly there are some standards of appearance in opera--but how far is the industry going to take this? Is appearance valued now over vocal prowess the case of Covent Garden, Voigt was replaced by a far lesser-known, much smaller singer, who could fit easily into the slinky black dress that the stage director felt was so integral to his vision. Do you think this is what Strauss had in mind for his heroine? The future of opera is uncertain. Ticket sales have fallen, and production costs have risen significantly. In order to appeal to younger audiences, many companies have taken to casting roles based upon a specific physical ideal. They’re not doing the industry any favors by valuing appearance over vocal ability--they are Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:46:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17913&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17913&mname=Article By Amanda Schenkenberger of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff Aug. 8, 2008 Vogue versus Vintage Water, Brady, Milwaukee or North? All of these major streets of downtown Milwaukee are well-known for the surplus of bars you will find on each one. The street you choose as the destination of the night can determine everything from what you will be wearing to whether you will be tipping back beers or sipping on cosmos. Does each of these infamous watering holes also determine what kind of guys you will find? Most of us ladies familiar with Milwaukee’s nightlife have come to find that venue is a key factor in determining its patrons. The major streets of Milwaukee each generate a very collective group of clientele, with its own distinctive façade. In fact, some locations even enforce strict dress code policies to maintain a particular atmosphere. The first step in setting the agenda for a night on the town is to determine the destination/s. If you are looking for a more laid-back atmosphere with an ample selection of beer and mixers you may decide on either Brady or Water. For a more upscale club scene the prime choice is Milwaukee Street and a few select spots on North Avenue. Once you have decided whether you are looking to polish off martinis while getting your groove on or jam out to some Indie rock while soaking up PBRs, you can begin your night. At the start of a girl’s night out is the tedious chore of surfing through the closet for “the outfit”, which is usually reflective of the group’s destination. Grab the party dress and a classy pair of stilettos with that matching clutch to slip into VIP at Kenadees or the newest trendy hot-spot, Apartment 720. Big hair is a plus and makeup is a given. The allure of Milwaukee Street’s high fashion and techno beats brings in many eligible bachelors dressed to impress the party girl. Ladies are sure to have a pass thrown their way and a possible free drink for their stunning wardrobe and ability to make it work on the dance floor. Guys found at the club seem to be a bit more forward and definitely not too shy to let a girl know they have been spotted from across the room. These smooth-talking gentlemen may have a more sentimental side buried under those pick-up lines, but that usually doesn’t show in the club. Many of these sharp-dressers carry a business oriented aura with them and aren’t very shy with money. Of course they aren’t alone either. With every eligible bachelor you are sure to find at least one or two of his wingmen cheering him on nearby. A girl has to be very careful when going for the club guy. Is this sharp-dressed bachelor single for the same reason you are and just hasn’t found his perfect match yet? Or has he been living the single life in the clubs since the day he turned 21, preying on every little party dress that walks in the door? Okay, so let’s revisit your closet. Not in the mood to put too much effort into your outfit tonight? You grab your favorite jeans, a cute top and a more modest pair of heels and hit the town. Starting off on Brady Street you can grab a late dinner and drinks at Hi Hat or Balzac, and then walk down the street to begin the night. Stopping in at the Up n Under for some great local bands, you won’t find a martini list but definitely a wide selection of local brews. The guys found on Brady definitely aren’t straight out of a Vogue shoot, but instead more eclectic. It’s not unheard of for a guy on Brady to rock a button-down; however, more often you will find them sporting vintage tees and possibly a pair of Chuck Taylors. Their wingmen are sitting at the bar more concerned with having a good time and enjoying each beer consumed than approaching eligible bachelorettes. Brady has a definite casual atmosphere compared to that of Milwaukee Street. The guys also seem to be a bit less forward. Rather than the pressure of looking their best, they can enjoy a drink and conversation with the underlying hope of meeting someone who can do the same. Brady Street guys tend to be a lot more laid back and open to whatever the night may bring. There’s typically no set agenda for these boys. The other night while out on Brady, I overheard a group of guys making cracks about some button-down polos that had just walked in the door. One asked his buddy if the polos were lost and had stumbled onto Brady by mistake. Although there was no dress code violation of any sort, the guys were implying that the polos belonged somewhere else in Milwaukee and not on Brady. Although it’s not the first time a button-down polo has strutted down Brady, the guys expressed their opinions of it not being a normality. Whether we wish to realize it or not, there is a hidden truth to the assertion that the personality of the guys you find in Milwaukee tends to match the streets you find them on. Even the guys are becoming more aware of the trend. So ladies, before you open up that closet to begin the night’s process, think to yourself: Vogue or Vintage? Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:31:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17912&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17912&mname=Article By Brett Blobaum of the Frontpage Milwaukee staff August 8, 2008 With three all stars, two ace pitchers, and a handful of potential big name stars on the roster, it is obvious that the success of the Milwaukee Brewers this season can be attributed to many factors. Ryan Braun is only in his second season as a major leaguer, but he is already making a strong case for himself as the National League (NL) most valuable player. Ace pitcher Ben Sheets received the honor of being named the NL starter in the 2008 All Star game at Yankee Stadium. Sure handed shortstop J.J. Hardy is posting the best numbers of his career and continues to improve as the season rolls on. However, anytime there is success at the major league level there must be a cornerstone holding it all together in order to make it possible. That cornerstone for the Brewers organization is owner Mark Attanasio. Attanasio formally took the reins of the then struggling club in early 2005. The story of the team has changed dramatically in the years since. The Brewers, a perennial basement dweller in the standings of the National League’s Central Division, are now, under Attanasio, a likely playoff team for the first time in over 25 years. The playoff type atmosphere at Miller Park during the recent four game series against archrival Chicago is a manifestation of the fervor both players and fans have about the turnaround. Attanasio’s role in this reversal cannot be overemphasized. He made the money available in 2005 to lock up “Big” Ben Sheets through this season. This move has provided the Crew with 10 victories and numerous other quality starts so far this year. It also marked a change in philosophy for the organization. This change, spending the big money needed to keep star talent, sent a clear message to fans and to players around the league that Milwaukee was no longer a place for other teams to go shopping to fill weak spots in their rosters; Milwaukee was a place to win. This attitude continues on, as Attanasio and the Brewers were able to reach a long-term deal with the 2007 Rookie of the Year, Ryan Braun. The fan favorite remarked after signing his contract that he hoped it would lead to other young talent signing deals to stick around the brew city for years to come. Prior to Attanasio, even the most diehard fans would have had to chuckle at such an idea. This season sees Brewer fans chuckling for another reason. Not only do the existing players want to stay here, but players from other teams are looking to get on board as well. Last season’s Cy Young winner, C.C. Sabathia, showed sincerity in expressing his happiness about playing the remainder of the season in Milwaukee after being traded. This trade would not have been possible without the cornerstone, Attanasio. He admitted that the team would probably be losing money this season because of the deal, but he made it clear that he felt that the fans deserved a chance to win. Also, Ray Durham recently waived the no trade clause in his contract in order to get out of San Francisco and join the good guys. It is important to note that Doug Melvin has had a big hand in all of this as well. He has an unprecedented eye for talent and has turned the Brewers’ farm system into the envy of the league. However, without Attanasio to invest in his decisions and to change the aura of the team, his genius would continue to be wasted. While Melvin is key, he and everyone else in the organization are able to reach their potential because of Attanasio. As the season continues on toward the climatic final series against the Cubs in September, Brewer fans should keep an eye on the past and remember how far the team has come. They should also be mindful of who made all of this possible. The success of the team on every level can be linked back to the owner and the mindset that came along with him. Mark Attanasio has opened up his checkbook so that fans could open up their hearts; he has changed the logo of choice for hats and shirts all over the city, and maybe most importantly he has once again made the national pastime Milwaukee’s pastime. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:17:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17911&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17911&mname=Article By Rose Davis Frontpage Milwaukee News Editor June 17, 2008 Privatization the Wrong Direction for Mitchell Airport When if comes to talk of privatization many people, especially Americans, become wary with just the sound of the word. Privatizing means giving up public control and moving it to the private sector. In a democracy, that can be a scary thought. Recently there has been talk of privatizing Milwaukee’s Mitchell Airport through a federal program in order to offset the deficit currently looming over the Milwaukee County Transit System. This time, people have a right to be cautious of privatization. Milwaukee should not allow Mitchell Airport to be privatized. There has been much recent discussion in Milwaukee County over how to solve the problem of the deficit in the transit system. The transit system is projected to suffer a $20 million-per-year deficit by 2011, and with rising fairs and many buses in need of repair, something must be done in order to save the system. Privatization, however, is not the answer. The presidents of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) and the Greater Milwaukee Committee have recently announced their support of a transit tax. The county has proposed a 0.5% sales tax increase in Milwaukee County in order to support the transit system. This would raise $65 million per year, leaving money left over for lowering fares, restoring routes and repairing buses. Investment firms estimate that privatizing Mitchell Airport will raise $500 million to $1.5 billion with a 50- to 99-year lease. However, with the transit tax raising $65 million per year, over 50 years the tax would bring in $3.25 billion, a much higher, and more stable, amount than the privatization is projected to accumulate. Even if privatization were to bring in an extra $1.5 billion to be put towards relieving the transit system of its debt, there are other problems. Privatizing often leads to increased costs for consumers, meaning not only passengers, but airlines as well. Although the program does not allow airport service to be compromised and limits increases in airline user fees to the rate of inflation, there is no way of knowing how the whole deal will actually play out. While user fees may not increase, once the county has given up control, who is to say that the private sector will not exaggerate other costs? With the economy in its current state, this could be devastating to an already struggling industry. To top it off, it could take up to five years for the privatization to go thorough, and time isn’t something we can take for granted. The transit system is steadily building up its deficit and we need a reliable answer now, not in five years when the deficit has reached more than $60 million. With a transit tax, the county could easily raise $325 million in five years, the kind of stable income the transit system needs to be able to rely on. Waiting for a program that may not even succeed is a risky move and one that could end up costing the city, rather than benefiting it. With support of a transit tax from MMAC and the Greater Milwaukee Committee the county should go forward with this pursuit of stable funding for the transit system. Privatization is not guaranteed to raise nearly as much money in the long term as the 0.5% tax increase, it could injure an already suffering industry and with a possible five-year timeline this decision could end up doing more harm than good. Mitchell Airport should remain in the control of the public sector. There are currently too many unanswered questions surrounding the privatization program and we need a solution now. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:50:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17900&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17900&mname=Article By Rose Davis Frontpage Milwaukee News Editor June 16, 2008 Sex and the City Director: Michael Patrick King Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis Run Time: 2 hours 28 minutes Rated: R “Year after year, twenty-something women come to New York City in search of the two “L”s: love and labels. Twenty years ago, I was one of them. Having gotten the knack for labels early…I concentrated on love,” says Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), a perfect line to describe what Sex and the City is all about. New York is the city of high fashion, where aspiring young people come to find their way to the top. It is a city of romance. With a combination like that, there is no better place for four single women to come together and try to find the loves of their lives while striving to make their own dreams come true. For those who have been Sex and the City fans since the beginning, this film has been the long awaited icing on top of the cake. Director Michael Patrick King had quite a challenge in front of him, making a film that could live up to the enormous success of the series. Fortunately, he did a great job. The Sex and the City movie is fantastic and definitely exceeded my expectations. Originally based on the book, Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell, the Sex and the City TV series began on HBO in 1998 and ran for six seasons. With its bare-all attitude towards sex and starring four powerhouse New York women, the show was something that no one had ever seen before. It became a huge success. Women (and even some men) of all ages could relate to the relationships, the heartbreak and the difficulties of dating. The biggest question I had going into the film was how well it would actually relate to the show. Fortunately, I was not disappointed. The women have played these roles for six years and they have it down. Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte come to life on screen with the same spice, sass and humor that they portrayed so well in the show. Many of the original actors from the series, including Carrie’s eccentric gay friend Stanford Blatch (Willie Garson) and Charlotte’s over-the-top gay friend Anthony Marentino (Mario Cantone), are in the film and having the original actors really makes a difference. I have always been a fan of the series and being able to watch the people that I’ve grown to love come to life on the big screen is so much more satisfying than seeing someone else take over a role that they don’t really belong in. For those who have never seen the show there was a short re-cap at the very beginning, showing where each of the four women began and how they reached the point of their lives where the film begins. It uses clips directly from the show and, although it isn’t the same as watching the entire series, it gives the viewer enough background information to have a feel for the characters and what they’ve been through. The film is set four years after the show ended. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), now a successful author, is finally with the man she spent the entire series fighting for, Mr. Big (Chris North). Samantha (Kim Cattrall) has made the move to Los Angeles with her actor boyfriend Smith Jarret (Jason Lewis) and is beginning to realize that relationships aren’t always about sex, that sometimes you have to make sacrifices. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and her husband Harry (Evan Handler) are busy raising their adopted daughter Lily. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) is still living in Brooklyn with her husband Steve (David Eigenberg) and their son Brady, but after Steve admits to cheating, Miranda isn’t sure if she can bring herself to forgive him. Carrie and Big have decided to move in together and agree that getting married should be their next step. However, this being his third marriage, Big is starting to get cold feet, and we begin to ask ourselves if Carrie will ever find the man of her dreams. The film follows the four women through a year of their lives. We see their struggles through friendship, forgiveness and love, and although they all have their ups and downs, in the end it can’t be denied that love conquers all. When the film begins, everyone seems to be happy in their lives, and when a movie starts off that way you know something has to go wrong, especially with a nearly 2 and a half hour run time. The movie was rather predictable in this aspect, but there was enough humor to carry it through. I laughed, and I cried throughout the film. The women play their characters with such raw emotion that it is impossible not to feel for them. Creating a film out of a TV series is no simple feat. Luckily, Director Michael Patrick King knows his characters well enough to write them a fantastic script, which they in turn turned into an amazing film. Not only does it appeal to the die-hard fans, but I believe it will also birth a new generation of Sex and the City fans as well. As the movie came to an end, I felt a smile on my face. It has been a long journey and I am happy to say that it ended with a bang. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:06:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17893&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17893&mname=Article By Rose Davis Rmdavis2@uwm.edu May 4, 2008 A small crowd of students, faculty and community members gathered in Merrill Hall last Wednesday to hear local journalist Dave Umhoefer speak about his experiences investigating and writing his Pulitzer Prize winning piece about the Milwaukee County Pension scandal. Umhoefer has been a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for over 20 years, covering the Milwaukee County government and politics. This is the first time a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff member has won this award, which is the top honor for journalists. Umhoefer was very gracious when talking about the award; he said it was a “thrilling and humbling experience” and was glad because he felt it “helps validate support for investigative reporting.” The story that won him this award, published in the Journal Sentinel on July 28, 2007, was about the Milwaukee County pension scandal, which revealed to the public that hundreds of Milwaukee County workers may have illegally obtained large pension payouts by “buying back” pension time from summer jobs they had had during their youth. Umhoefer gave an inside look at what it takes to write this kind of groundbreaking story. He said “It was almost the story that wasn’t.” Assigned to cover the Milwaukee County courthouse in 2001, Umhoefer’s interest in the questionable buyback pension dealings began in 2003 after Park Director Sue Baldwin was fired and controversy arose surrounding her pension. In the county pension system, workers who were hired pre-1982 receive higher pension benefits and payouts than those hired after 1982, and those hired pre-1994 receive free lifetime medical insurance while those hired after 1994 do not. Baldwin was receiving a higher pension than she possibly should have been because she was treated as if she had been hired pre-1982, although she had not been. Umhoefer knew this story had potential and began to ask himself: How many people were doing this, how much money was being used, and was this really legal? Unfortunately, Umhoefer had little time to dig deep into the story because of other important stories happening at that time, such as the serious financial meltdown at the Milwaukee Public Museum. In January of 2007, Umhoefer joined the Journal Sentinel’s Watchdog team. After hearing that the new County pension board had seen the problems in the actions and had said that no more “buybacks” would be allowed after one year, Umhoefer proposed the investigation into the pension buybacks. Umhoefer explained that buybacks are basically when a current county worker, hired after 1982 or 1994, who had worked for the county at some point during their youth—a summer job at the zoo for example—changes their date of hire from the actual date, to the date of when they had that summer or part-time job years ago. This allowed county workers to “buy back” those years in order to earn better pension benefits after retirement. When you start finding hundreds of people who have “bought back” this pension and are earning an extra $5,000-$20,000 a year this can quickly add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in a lifetime. However, it wasn’t a quick road to success. Umhoefer needed proof and numbers to back up his findings. He started looking through pension documents at the courthouse and making open records requests for meetings that had occurred years in the past. “It was rarely glamorous,” he said, “it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.” And just finding the data wasn’t enough. “We had to come up with a strategy for calculating buyback gain,” Umhoefer said. It took weeks for him to develop formulas to calculate buybacks. He had them checked by experts to make sure he was on the right track. Finally he gathered a significant enough amount of evidence to build a strong case. Although he said he disagreed with this decision at first, Umhoefer and the Watchdog team brought their findings to the Milwaukee County lawyers. Unbeknown to them, the county had already started filing with the IRS, admitting that they had done some of the things Umhoefer’s investigation proved. At first Umhoefer felt that this was going to hurt the story, but luckily it was helpful instead. “It takes out the doubt for the reader,” said Umhoefer of the County’s filings with the IRS. He said usually a reporter publishes his or her story and the public will either believe it or be skeptical. Because the County was already taking this action, Umhoefer’s story had the credit it deserved. But the story wasn’t ready for publication yet. “We hired professionals to take this around the final lap,” Umhoefer said. Actuaries took the numbers the Journal Sentinel had developed. According to Umhoefer, “The newspaper was doing what the county should have done 20 years ago.” After the final numbers were checked, and all of the evidence was reviewed countless times, the story was ready for publication. On July 28, 2007, Umhoefer’s story revealed that nearly 200 County employees managed to inflate their pensions and the total buyback cost was estimated to be at least $50 million. Umhoefer’s six months of hard work and investigation brought to light an astonishing scandal that shook Milwaukee County and led him to a greater reward than he ever imagined. At the end of his presentation, an audience member asked what advice he would give to aspiring student journalists. Umhoefer gave some Pulitzer Prize winning advice, “Go the extra mile and dig deep. Don’t forget the heart of stories is really just digging deep.” Sun, 04 May 2008 23:01:00 CST http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17874&mname=Article http://www.frontpagemilwaukee.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=17874&mname=Article