Finally Ready for Finals!

THE NEWS
     With finals only two weeks away, students are beginning to take their studies more seriously.  John Bell, a retention specialist at OU, provides helpful tips and hints on how to study and succeed this semester.
THE IMPACT
     Bell explained a four step plan to prepare for finals.  This includes:
1. Gathering information
2. Making a plan
3. Implementation
4. Taking the test
     Bell explained each of these steps and broke down the logistics into simple terms and ideas.  He encouraged students to prepare early for the next few weeks to come.  "Taking action now will prevent cramming later," said Bell.  
THE CONTEXT
     During the lecture, Bell passed out a "VARK" packet to everyone in the room.  This packet contained a short quiz that would reveal the type of learner each person is.  The four categories are: Visual, Aural, Reading, and Kinesthetic.  After a student knows how they learn, they can take action by taking in information differently so that they retain it in a way that is best for them.  
THE HUMAN DIMENSION
      For freshman at OU, this is their first time taking college finals.  Katie Carroll is a freshman early education major who found this lecture beneficial.  "I know more about how to prepare for finals now.  I already started studying, but this helped break things down for me."  Carroll says her hardest final will be in philosophy.  Lindsey Jackson is a political science major, and she's also a freshman at OU.  Jackson said, "I really liked today's lecture.  I liked the learning test we took to help us find out what kind of learners we all are."  She says her hardest final will be in Constitutional Studies. "It has to do with my major so I really want to do well," says Jackson.  
WHAT'S NEXT
     Bell says his best piece of advice to students is: "Make a specific plan for your studying."  Students who are struggling in school or are just looking for ways to improve their study habits can visit Bell at Wagner Hall with an appointment.  

Be a Healthier Student

NEWS

Patti Landers sharing health tips with students

     "Has everyone eaten something today?  Food is a good thing."  These were the first words the room full of students heard from Patti Landers as she started the Student Success Series lecture last Thursday.  Landers gave a PowerPoint lecture presentation on eating right and being a healthy student.


IMPACT
   Landers informed the students that eating regular meals is very important.  "Breakfast is especially vital because it wakes you up and prepares you for the day."  She also discussed the importance of protein, fiber, and drinking enough water.  Landers provided the formula to figure out one's BMI (Body Mass Index) and one's ideal body weight.


CONTEXT
     Landers is the dietitian at Goddard and has been for the past six years.  She spent 14 years at the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.  She has been a dietitian for a total of 35 years.


HUMAN DIMENSION
      "I don't usually eat breakfast, but I think I'll try to start," said Shelbi Youngblood, a freshman business major.  She said, "it's really hard to get up and make sure I eat breakfast...I usually just get out of bed ten minutes before class."  Youngblood came to the lecture today because she's, "interested in learning more about health, especially because I'm a freshman and I'm still adjusting to college life."


WHAT'S NEXT
     Landers said, "If I could give one piece of advice to students who are trying to be healthier, it would be this: eat your fruits and vegetables."  She welcomes students to visit her and seek further health-related advice at Goddard.  "We have some really good services over at Goddard that students should take advantage of!"

Simple tips and instructions to help live a healthy life.

Cherokee Ballard Returns to OU

Students and professors listen closely to Ballard and Follett.
Photo by: Lauren Nevitt

THE NEWS
     Cherokee Ballard and Britten Follett spoke to a room full of Gaylord students and professors in the Hall of Fame room last Wednesday, November 9th.  They spoke about the importance of truth in journalism, and presented information on their experience of covering the Kelsey Briggs story.    

THE IMPACT
     They informed the audience on the opportunity that journalists have to hold people accountable for their actions.  The importance of truth was also discussed, "Be a truth teller.  I got into the journalism world because I believe in telling the truth," says Ballard.  While it may take time to find the truth, it's important to remember that in the end, the truth may help save someone's life.   


THE CONTEXT
     While working as reporters, Ballard and Follett both had an interest in the Kelsey Briggs story.  Briggs was a two-year-old girl who died in 2005 because she was abused.  The question remains today, who killed her?  Ballard and Follett had a strong interest in the case and finding a resolution.  Together, they gathered information, interviewed important people in the case, and eventually wrote a book titled,"Who Killed Kelsey?"  As they discussed the process of working on the book, Britten commented, "Through our role as authors, we were able to obtain information that we wouldn't be able to as reporters."  With the book, the two women were able to raise child abuse awareness, including details specifically pertaining to Briggs' case.      


THE HUMAN DIMENSION
     Ballard and Follett expressed to the students that journalists have a chance to help protect and save lives.  Although there is an opportunity to protect and save lives, it does come with some consequences.  Ballard mentions, "I think it's impossible to not become attached [to your story] in some way."      

WHAT'S NEXT
     Both women now work for companies outside of the journalism field.  Ballard works as a communications manager at the Oklahoma Natural Gas Company and Follett is a marketing manager for Follett International.      

Ballard and Follett discuss their thoughts on truth in journalism and the book they wrote together.
Photo by: Lauren Nevitt

Nutritious or Dangerous?

THE NEWS

      Complete Nutrition now sells a product called the CTS 360 kit that contains an ingredient “stronger than ephedrine without the negative side effects,” according to their website.        

THE IMPACT

        Brandon Kahre, an employee at Complete Nutrition, has seen many customers reach their weight loss goals with the CTS 360 product.  He believes the product is “safe and healthy.”  Kahre says, “I’m a firm believer that things in moderation are okay.”

         

THE CONTEXT

         Ephedrine is a central nervous stimulant that increases heart rate, decreases appetite, and makes the user feel more energetic.  In April of 2004, it became illegal to sell ephedrine in the United States.  One has to wonder if a product that is “stronger than ephedrine” is safe to use.  The CTS 360 kit speeds up the metabolism, making the process of burning calories happen a lot faster than the body naturally performs. 

THE HUMAN DIMENSION

        While Kahre thinks the product is safe and healthy, Allie Johnston has a different perspective.  Johnston is a psychology major with an interest in neuroscience and eating disorders at the University of Oklahoma.  She says that diet pills are a “gimmick” and thinks the CTS 360 product should be “taken off the shelves.”  She also says that “all diet pills are an unsafe way to lose weight.  If someone really wants to lose weight, they should do it the healthy way—diet and exercise.”      

WHAT'S NEXT

      People looking to lose weight should consider all of their options before beginning their lifestyle changes.  While a diet pill may help speed the process at first, diet pills do come with side effects, some of them long-term, and some of them very dangerous.