By: Nesha David
ST. THOMAS -- From its inception in 1963, the Communications Program in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of the Virgin Islands, has come a long way. Fighting to keep its head afloat, the program is now making an indelible mark throughout the university’s community.
“I want to make this into a program where we can teach our students not from a book, but through hands-on experience that will allow them to go directly into the work-field,” Alexander Randall V emphasized as he tapped away at his keyboard in his “hole” as he affectionately calls it. “That is my aim and that is what I am going to do,” he finished.
Beginning his tenure in 2001 as adjunct staff, the professor said the communications lab at the time, was barely equipped with the technology and tools to suffice an all-round knowledge of what was being taught from the text book.
As the semesters waded in and out, the program has shown tremendous growth, and exhibits no signs of slowing down.
When the university introduced journalism courses in 1982, with Basic Reporting, Editing, Journalism Law and Ethics, they had an unconscious mark to press towards a goal-- a newspaper.
Four years later, Journalism Program became Journalism and Mass Communication. It took some time before more courses were added, in 1988.
In fact, Advanced Reporting and Newswriting, the newest members to the family, helped to set precedence for what was being formulated.
Then, UVI Voice came to life. The Voice is just one example where the students are at the helm, running the paper as editor, publisher, reporters. This can arguably be the Communications Program’s first public appearance.
Introduced early in the curriculum, the paper began to struggle with its function as the school’s mouthpiece, where it features not only news related to the school, but students’ opinion and entertainment sections.
So much so that, during the 2006-2007 academic year, in order to aid the paper, Journalism Workshop was added after careful revision was done by Randall and Robin Sterns, program coordinator during that period. The two decided to add a few more core journalism courses like Desktop Publishing and Newswriting: Editing and Feature Writing.
So, with the ever changing tides of technology, The Voice went digital later in 2008. That same year, Gillian Royes joined the team as Associate Professor of Communications, and lent her expertise to the department and ultimately took over the paper. Royes, on her unwavering path to better the standards and upkeep of the paper, foresees a dramatic change on the horizon, for both print and internet-based newspaper.
In the old sailor’s quarters, now modernized into the Classroom Administration Building, another set of students utilized and implemented their newly acquired skills in television broadcast. Students were armed with video cameras, tripods, microphones, and sent out beyond the classroom walls. For the first time ever, their finished products were aired on the local television station, TV2.
This is something the program never saw, when the course was added in the 2006-2007 school year as Broadcast Communication II.
Sometime later, stretching across yet another semester, the program reached out to the community once more, this time across the waves of the local radio stations. This time, Liza Margolis, UVI Special Events Coordinator, partnered with Randall. Together, they gave birth to a brainchild of having the students host one of the university’s radio show, The Afternoon Mix.
Although added much earlier during the school year 1992-1993, Radio Broadcasting as it was introduced, has tread from having students mangle with little to no equipment. Now they have the malleability to incorporate into their course of study, equipment and a Radio Laboratory, in which to doctor their work. Something the students could relish in, since it was absence from the onset, more than a decade ago.
Fast forward to the present!
With all this newly found technological advances, this gave light to the students adding their up and coming expertise in the news broadcast world. So much so that, at that point in time, the news coming from K-UVI, as they [the students] dubbed their class, at the time “…the most original news coming out of the Virgin Islands,” boasted Randall.
By this time, Spring 2010, Randall, who came on staff full-time in 2006, decided to have students of the Advanced Production class, work in partnership with Angela Gordon, former executive producer of Hollywood’s Talk Soup. When stirred, the pot produced a final product, a 10-minute documentary showcasing the success of UVI students.
Despite a few technical setbacks the video was well accepted during its debut on Charter Day, Tuesday March 16, before a crowd of well-wishers at the Administration and Conference Center, during celebrations for the inaugurated president for the university, Dr. David Hall.
With so much going on, the communications program is on a mission to do greater things and prepare its students to be the next Katie Couric or Dan Rather.
Ava Gumbs, a senior in the Communications Program, said confidently that in her opinion, besides the nursing program, no other program had literally reached out and touched the community. “In fact,” she pointed out, “it has had a direct impact on the people outside of the school’s compound. That is one sure way of having it recognized, and perhaps get better funding for expansion.”
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Over-the-top performances, under the stars
By Jáedee S.K. Caines
ST. THOMAS --The sky is filled with stars and you are looking at your favorite performing artist. Your eyes stare straight ahead. Your hands are in the air, swaying from left to right and you are tapping your feet without even realizing.
You are nowhere else but in the theater of the Reichhold Center for the Arts located on the St. Thomas Campus of the University of the Virgin Islands.
Dazzling audiences for decades, the Reichhold Center for the Arts is known to many as the premiere performing arts venue in the United States Virgin Islands. With its unique blend of jazz, rhythm and blues, reggae and calypso performances, the Reichhold Center continues to be the venue of choice for the people of the USVI.
It’s very detailed mission statement includes “enriching the cultural and social life of the University of the Virgin Islands and its community with programs and performances drawn from across the globe that exemplify the best human artistic expression and, in so doing, to be recognized as a center of excellence of the University.”
Acts such as Beres Hammond, R. City, Michael McDonald, Oliver Samuel, Patti Austin and Ramsey Lewis have taken to the Reichhold Center stage and performed for hundreds of appreciative Virgin Islanders, particularly members of the UVI community.
Still to perform at the Reichhold Center this season are Soca King Machel Montano High Definition (HD) and Grammy-award winners Musiq Soulchild and Vivian Green.
Machel Montano HD is scheduled to star in the Reichhold Center’s “Carnival J’ouvert Warmup” on Wednesday, April 28, alongside members of his HD family, St. Thomas’s first Party Monarch, Rudy and VI soca band Daddy Jones and Crew with Pumpa.
Meanwhile, Musiq Soulchild and Vivian Green will collaborate on Saturday, May 22, at under the stars as they perform their most memorable hits.
With an exciting 2009-2010 season underway, Co-Director of the Reichhold Center, Pamela Toussaint, and her team are already making plans toward the launch of its 2010-2011 season.
“We are looking at an Aug. 19, 2010 launch date. At Reichhold, we meet for two weeks to discuss which talents will fit best.
“Everyone’s input is important because we need to know what will work from a marketing standpoint, from a technical standpoint and from an operational standpoint,” Toussaint said.
The 2009-2010 season began last October with an energizing performance by live rhythm performing arts group: COBU.
By January 2010, the Center was filled with music lovers from across the territory who listened and danced to the music of the Soweto Gospel Choir from Africa.
The biggest highlight thus far came in March when Florida natives Wilner “Wil-B” Baptiste and Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester of Black Violin stunned audiences in St. Thomas and St. Croix with their unique blend of classical music and hip-hop beats.
The Reichhold Center for the Arts is an auxiliary, nonprofit organization located opposite UVI’s Brewer’s Beach. It was given to the university by Henry H. Reichhold for the purpose of “supporting programs that preserve and enhance the artistic heritage and cultural foundations of the Virgin Islands, the wider Caribbean and the Americas,” according to the Center’s website.
Senior Communications student Nesha David has been attending shows at the Reichhold Center since 2009. David spoke of the Reichhold Center’s impact on the Virgin Islands community as she sipped her cup of Root Beer in the lobby of the South E Residence Hall.
According to David, the Reichhold Center has brought positive recognition to the island of St. Thomas. “Generally speaking, it brings performing arts to a whole other level: putting St. Thomas on par with any upscale theatre worldwide. Ultimately, making available to the VI community, performances to match what we view on television. It's like Reichhold brings it to our backyard,” David said.
While David has attended numerous shows at the Reichhold Center, she recalls one of Oliver Samuel’s many plays as her most memorable Reichhold show. “Oliver Samuel is hilarious! Just hearing his accent makes you laugh out loud. From his facial expressions to his voice intonations…I just love Oliver,” David said.
Among other things, the Reichhold Center is known for its residency programs geared towards promoting the arts in the schools. Hundreds of elementary, junior and high school students have met, sang and performed with some of the top stars in the music business.
Most recently, 30 students received insightful advice from the members of Black Violin. The students were handpicked by their students after showing a special interest in the performing arts.
Critics and well wishers continue to applaud the combined efforts of the staff, sponsors and donors of the Reichhold Center for the Arts. “The Center is a fine example of tropical architecture, a building suited to the character, climate needs, and a personality of the Virgin Islands," says the San Juan Star Magazine.
In a contest hosted by the Virgin Islands Daily News this year, the Reichhold Center for the Arts was voted the “Best Performing Arts Center in the VI.”
With over 30 years of providing entertainment to the people of the VI, the Reichhold Center never gets weary of providing over-the-top performances under the stars.
ST. THOMAS --The sky is filled with stars and you are looking at your favorite performing artist. Your eyes stare straight ahead. Your hands are in the air, swaying from left to right and you are tapping your feet without even realizing.
You are nowhere else but in the theater of the Reichhold Center for the Arts located on the St. Thomas Campus of the University of the Virgin Islands.
Dazzling audiences for decades, the Reichhold Center for the Arts is known to many as the premiere performing arts venue in the United States Virgin Islands. With its unique blend of jazz, rhythm and blues, reggae and calypso performances, the Reichhold Center continues to be the venue of choice for the people of the USVI.
It’s very detailed mission statement includes “enriching the cultural and social life of the University of the Virgin Islands and its community with programs and performances drawn from across the globe that exemplify the best human artistic expression and, in so doing, to be recognized as a center of excellence of the University.”
Acts such as Beres Hammond, R. City, Michael McDonald, Oliver Samuel, Patti Austin and Ramsey Lewis have taken to the Reichhold Center stage and performed for hundreds of appreciative Virgin Islanders, particularly members of the UVI community.
Still to perform at the Reichhold Center this season are Soca King Machel Montano High Definition (HD) and Grammy-award winners Musiq Soulchild and Vivian Green.
Machel Montano HD is scheduled to star in the Reichhold Center’s “Carnival J’ouvert Warmup” on Wednesday, April 28, alongside members of his HD family, St. Thomas’s first Party Monarch, Rudy and VI soca band Daddy Jones and Crew with Pumpa.
Meanwhile, Musiq Soulchild and Vivian Green will collaborate on Saturday, May 22, at under the stars as they perform their most memorable hits.
With an exciting 2009-2010 season underway, Co-Director of the Reichhold Center, Pamela Toussaint, and her team are already making plans toward the launch of its 2010-2011 season.
“We are looking at an Aug. 19, 2010 launch date. At Reichhold, we meet for two weeks to discuss which talents will fit best.
“Everyone’s input is important because we need to know what will work from a marketing standpoint, from a technical standpoint and from an operational standpoint,” Toussaint said.
The 2009-2010 season began last October with an energizing performance by live rhythm performing arts group: COBU.
By January 2010, the Center was filled with music lovers from across the territory who listened and danced to the music of the Soweto Gospel Choir from Africa.
The biggest highlight thus far came in March when Florida natives Wilner “Wil-B” Baptiste and Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester of Black Violin stunned audiences in St. Thomas and St. Croix with their unique blend of classical music and hip-hop beats.
The Reichhold Center for the Arts is an auxiliary, nonprofit organization located opposite UVI’s Brewer’s Beach. It was given to the university by Henry H. Reichhold for the purpose of “supporting programs that preserve and enhance the artistic heritage and cultural foundations of the Virgin Islands, the wider Caribbean and the Americas,” according to the Center’s website.
Senior Communications student Nesha David has been attending shows at the Reichhold Center since 2009. David spoke of the Reichhold Center’s impact on the Virgin Islands community as she sipped her cup of Root Beer in the lobby of the South E Residence Hall.
According to David, the Reichhold Center has brought positive recognition to the island of St. Thomas. “Generally speaking, it brings performing arts to a whole other level: putting St. Thomas on par with any upscale theatre worldwide. Ultimately, making available to the VI community, performances to match what we view on television. It's like Reichhold brings it to our backyard,” David said.
While David has attended numerous shows at the Reichhold Center, she recalls one of Oliver Samuel’s many plays as her most memorable Reichhold show. “Oliver Samuel is hilarious! Just hearing his accent makes you laugh out loud. From his facial expressions to his voice intonations…I just love Oliver,” David said.
Among other things, the Reichhold Center is known for its residency programs geared towards promoting the arts in the schools. Hundreds of elementary, junior and high school students have met, sang and performed with some of the top stars in the music business.
Most recently, 30 students received insightful advice from the members of Black Violin. The students were handpicked by their students after showing a special interest in the performing arts.
Critics and well wishers continue to applaud the combined efforts of the staff, sponsors and donors of the Reichhold Center for the Arts. “The Center is a fine example of tropical architecture, a building suited to the character, climate needs, and a personality of the Virgin Islands," says the San Juan Star Magazine.
In a contest hosted by the Virgin Islands Daily News this year, the Reichhold Center for the Arts was voted the “Best Performing Arts Center in the VI.”
With over 30 years of providing entertainment to the people of the VI, the Reichhold Center never gets weary of providing over-the-top performances under the stars.
UVI Takes on New Weight Loss Challenge
By Ava Gumbs
SAINT THOMAS--The rush of anxiety flushed Jeanine Blyden’s face as she slipped off her sandals and stepped carefully onto the scale. She knew it: 200 pounds. Her head hung in shame, but she looked up, thankful it was not more. At 5 feet 5 inches, Blyden knew she was overweight.
She was one of 20 female students randomly selected to step up and weigh in to the University of the Virgin Islands’ fat burning challenge, called Fat Zappers. The students were not alone in their journey to their slimmer, healthier bodies. Princess-Onesha Stuard, group director, said she too was also taking on the challenge.
“I think it’s really important for the members to see a real example of what it takes to successfully lose weight, especially since I just had a baby and needed to lose a few pounds myself,” Stuart said.
In her quest to lose her “baby fat,” Stuard recognized other young women around campus having difficulty losing weight. This Nursing senior was compelled to design the first trial weight loss program at UVI for her senior assignment. Students meet for seven weeks, every Thursday, gaining tools to make positive changes for an effective weight loss plan.
Fellow Fat Zapper, Diane Thomas, said, “I also noticed the pounds piling on after having my kids, and I’m glad to be in a program that can help me maintain my weight and be healthy.”
From day one, the young ladies had to calculate their body mass index (BMI), utilizing measurements of their weight and height. “When it said I was obese on the chart, I said now I have to get to work,” Blyden said after calculating her jaw dropping BMI results.
“Many people throw around that word ‘overweight’, but when you calculate your BMI, you get a clearer picture of your true weight category,” Stuard said. Students roared in protest to just how much they would have to lose to reach ‘normal.’
“I can’t lose all that weight, you crazy,” one young lady blurted out. “I’m going to be a stick.”
Stuard calmed the wave of snarls by requesting the young ladies to document their ultimate weight, and compare it to the BMI chart. “If I reach 180 pounds, at least I won’t be obese anymore,” Blyden said.
The weight loss program leader took the group a few steps further, handing out folders filled with charts and graphs for these ladies to map their progress. A thick stack of papers clamped together, listing a point system for almost every food known to man or woman, was also included.
This stack was the heartbeat of these young women’s weight loss success. The goal was to count the food points daily of everything they ate based on the daily allotment of points designated for their weight category.
For example a breakfast consisting of pancakes (2pts), bacon (3pts), eggs (5pts) and herbal tea (2pts) would be a total of 12 points. However, at 175-199 pounds the recommended daily points range is 22-27. “It may appear like that’s not a lot of points so far, but the numbers add up,” said Stuard’s Project Advisor, Dr. Maxine Nunez.
“The goal is to reach the lower number of the daily range, not the higher, and not to go over the specific amount listed,” Stuart said. One participant questioned if she ate less grapes can she reduce the points. Nunez strongly disagreed, “No, eat what it says, that way it’s easier to count your points, and don’t forget to write it down.”
Grumbles echoed around the room, but Dr. Nunez gave everyone some good news, “Not all the food has points. A salad topped with a ‘no fat’ dressing is zero points and water too.” Stuart chimed in, “And yes, many nights I went to bed hungry because I was committed to not going over my points, and so far I have lost ten pounds.”
The hour-long session ended with a reminder from Stuart to be accountable, honest, and motivated. “The scale doesn’t lie and I’ll be here alongside you to keep you on track,” Stuard emphasized. “Plus, every week you get a new tasty recipe and progress reports on your weight loss, because we are a team.”
Seven weeks later, Blyden won top “loser” for her regimen of daily walking, eating smaller well balanced meals, cutting out carbohydrates, and drinking water all the time. “I am now down to 187 pounds, only seven pounds away from 180,” Blyden screeched with joy.
One week before the weight loss challenge came to an end, Stuard presented the project to the University of the Virgin Islands’ Community Engagement for Lifelong Learning (UVICELL) and the Sports and Fitness committee as a program that can be offered to students and the wider St. Thomas community. The Head Fat Zapper hopes her project will be a stepping stone to promoting a healthy lifestyle for all.
Blyden said the program has changed her life and the people around her, but warns newcomers, “If you’re going to try it, be honest with yourself and you’re going to get honest results.”
By Ava Gumbs
SAINT THOMAS--The rush of anxiety flushed Jeanine Blyden’s face as she slipped off her sandals and stepped carefully onto the scale. She knew it: 200 pounds. Her head hung in shame, but she looked up, thankful it was not more. At 5 feet 5 inches, Blyden knew she was overweight.
She was one of 20 female students randomly selected to step up and weigh in to the University of the Virgin Islands’ fat burning challenge, called Fat Zappers. The students were not alone in their journey to their slimmer, healthier bodies. Princess-Onesha Stuard, group director, said she too was also taking on the challenge.
“I think it’s really important for the members to see a real example of what it takes to successfully lose weight, especially since I just had a baby and needed to lose a few pounds myself,” Stuart said.
In her quest to lose her “baby fat,” Stuard recognized other young women around campus having difficulty losing weight. This Nursing senior was compelled to design the first trial weight loss program at UVI for her senior assignment. Students meet for seven weeks, every Thursday, gaining tools to make positive changes for an effective weight loss plan.
Fellow Fat Zapper, Diane Thomas, said, “I also noticed the pounds piling on after having my kids, and I’m glad to be in a program that can help me maintain my weight and be healthy.”
From day one, the young ladies had to calculate their body mass index (BMI), utilizing measurements of their weight and height. “When it said I was obese on the chart, I said now I have to get to work,” Blyden said after calculating her jaw dropping BMI results.
“Many people throw around that word ‘overweight’, but when you calculate your BMI, you get a clearer picture of your true weight category,” Stuard said. Students roared in protest to just how much they would have to lose to reach ‘normal.’
“I can’t lose all that weight, you crazy,” one young lady blurted out. “I’m going to be a stick.”
Stuard calmed the wave of snarls by requesting the young ladies to document their ultimate weight, and compare it to the BMI chart. “If I reach 180 pounds, at least I won’t be obese anymore,” Blyden said.
The weight loss program leader took the group a few steps further, handing out folders filled with charts and graphs for these ladies to map their progress. A thick stack of papers clamped together, listing a point system for almost every food known to man or woman, was also included.
This stack was the heartbeat of these young women’s weight loss success. The goal was to count the food points daily of everything they ate based on the daily allotment of points designated for their weight category.
For example a breakfast consisting of pancakes (2pts), bacon (3pts), eggs (5pts) and herbal tea (2pts) would be a total of 12 points. However, at 175-199 pounds the recommended daily points range is 22-27. “It may appear like that’s not a lot of points so far, but the numbers add up,” said Stuard’s Project Advisor, Dr. Maxine Nunez.
“The goal is to reach the lower number of the daily range, not the higher, and not to go over the specific amount listed,” Stuart said. One participant questioned if she ate less grapes can she reduce the points. Nunez strongly disagreed, “No, eat what it says, that way it’s easier to count your points, and don’t forget to write it down.”
Grumbles echoed around the room, but Dr. Nunez gave everyone some good news, “Not all the food has points. A salad topped with a ‘no fat’ dressing is zero points and water too.” Stuart chimed in, “And yes, many nights I went to bed hungry because I was committed to not going over my points, and so far I have lost ten pounds.”
The hour-long session ended with a reminder from Stuart to be accountable, honest, and motivated. “The scale doesn’t lie and I’ll be here alongside you to keep you on track,” Stuard emphasized. “Plus, every week you get a new tasty recipe and progress reports on your weight loss, because we are a team.”
Seven weeks later, Blyden won top “loser” for her regimen of daily walking, eating smaller well balanced meals, cutting out carbohydrates, and drinking water all the time. “I am now down to 187 pounds, only seven pounds away from 180,” Blyden screeched with joy.
One week before the weight loss challenge came to an end, Stuard presented the project to the University of the Virgin Islands’ Community Engagement for Lifelong Learning (UVICELL) and the Sports and Fitness committee as a program that can be offered to students and the wider St. Thomas community. The Head Fat Zapper hopes her project will be a stepping stone to promoting a healthy lifestyle for all.
Blyden said the program has changed her life and the people around her, but warns newcomers, “If you’re going to try it, be honest with yourself and you’re going to get honest results.”
Career or Essential Child Care? That is the Question
By Sondria Pemberton
ST THOMAS-- In the heart of Wintberg, deep in the countryside of St. Thomas, Latoya Walsh awakens to the routine of another day as a stay-at-home mom. Her one-year-old son pokes her with a bottle to remind her that it is time for breakfast; she dwells on the thought that she will soon be faced with two bottles, for there is another child on the way. After breakfast, she proceeds with her daily customs of bathing, training, and equipping her son for the world through educational videos and activities.
Meanwhile, in Bolongo Bay, on the east end of St. Thomas, Yolanda Titus hurries off to work at the Bolongo Bay Resort after ensuring that her five children have been fed, properly clothed, and sent off to school comfortably for the day.
Will there be a significant difference in the results of the upbringing of these children?
“My experience prepares me for the future, when I have my own children,” says Waneka Douglas, the eldest of Titus’ children. She is a prime example of the scope of effects associated with being the child of a working mother. Douglas tells of having to “mother” her four younger siblings, while her mom often works late shifts to make ends meet.
Surprisingly, Douglas views her experience as beneficial, and she further attests that the cooking, cleaning, and nurturing gives her optimum training for the future.
Alternatively, Walsh whom we met earlier, feels that the time spent at home with her son, Jayden, is priceless and will be of great benefit to him.“At the daycare, there are always one or two kids who will be left out. As a stay-at-home mom, I am able to give Jayden total attention and teach him things that he would not learn from a daycare,” says a pensive Walsh.
James Pemberton, whose mother was also a stay-at-home mom says, “I appreciate the fact that I could always come home and receive parental help.” This kind of help is well needed in today’s society, where children face various forms of peer pressure such as drugs, sex, and criminal activities often around the time when school is out, and parents are off to work.
Yet, in today’s society, staying at home just isn’t an option for most moms. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, every three months, 250,000 new families enter into foreclosure, and one child in every classroom in America is at risk of losing his home because parents are unable to pay their mortgage.
For a child, it can be devastating to have to see a parent fight for the very roof over his head. Some children can experience a pang of guilt resulting from them believing that they are the cause of their parent's inability to pay these bills because of their added expenses.
The current state of our economy plays a huge role when determining if a stay-at-home mom is actually more competent than a working mother. Many families are struggling trying to make ends meet with an extremely high and still increasing cost of living.
Michelle Esdaille, a working mother, says, “Working just to maintain stability in the household is essential. You have to provide financial needs, life insurance, and medical insurance.”
In the United States today, childrearing is a major issue especially among working mothers who are single parents. It is a difficult task for working mothers who are single parents to cope with their occupation, children, and household responsibilities.
Gloria Jacobs, a single working mother, says “Parental responsibilities are not easy tasks.”
By Sondria Pemberton
ST THOMAS-- In the heart of Wintberg, deep in the countryside of St. Thomas, Latoya Walsh awakens to the routine of another day as a stay-at-home mom. Her one-year-old son pokes her with a bottle to remind her that it is time for breakfast; she dwells on the thought that she will soon be faced with two bottles, for there is another child on the way. After breakfast, she proceeds with her daily customs of bathing, training, and equipping her son for the world through educational videos and activities.
Meanwhile, in Bolongo Bay, on the east end of St. Thomas, Yolanda Titus hurries off to work at the Bolongo Bay Resort after ensuring that her five children have been fed, properly clothed, and sent off to school comfortably for the day.
Will there be a significant difference in the results of the upbringing of these children?
“My experience prepares me for the future, when I have my own children,” says Waneka Douglas, the eldest of Titus’ children. She is a prime example of the scope of effects associated with being the child of a working mother. Douglas tells of having to “mother” her four younger siblings, while her mom often works late shifts to make ends meet.
Surprisingly, Douglas views her experience as beneficial, and she further attests that the cooking, cleaning, and nurturing gives her optimum training for the future.
Alternatively, Walsh whom we met earlier, feels that the time spent at home with her son, Jayden, is priceless and will be of great benefit to him.“At the daycare, there are always one or two kids who will be left out. As a stay-at-home mom, I am able to give Jayden total attention and teach him things that he would not learn from a daycare,” says a pensive Walsh.
James Pemberton, whose mother was also a stay-at-home mom says, “I appreciate the fact that I could always come home and receive parental help.” This kind of help is well needed in today’s society, where children face various forms of peer pressure such as drugs, sex, and criminal activities often around the time when school is out, and parents are off to work.
Yet, in today’s society, staying at home just isn’t an option for most moms. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, every three months, 250,000 new families enter into foreclosure, and one child in every classroom in America is at risk of losing his home because parents are unable to pay their mortgage.
For a child, it can be devastating to have to see a parent fight for the very roof over his head. Some children can experience a pang of guilt resulting from them believing that they are the cause of their parent's inability to pay these bills because of their added expenses.
The current state of our economy plays a huge role when determining if a stay-at-home mom is actually more competent than a working mother. Many families are struggling trying to make ends meet with an extremely high and still increasing cost of living.
Michelle Esdaille, a working mother, says, “Working just to maintain stability in the household is essential. You have to provide financial needs, life insurance, and medical insurance.”
In the United States today, childrearing is a major issue especially among working mothers who are single parents. It is a difficult task for working mothers who are single parents to cope with their occupation, children, and household responsibilities.
Gloria Jacobs, a single working mother, says “Parental responsibilities are not easy tasks.”
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Lunch and a Movie at the Humanities
By Amber Knight
“Songs Around the World,” a film by the group Playing For Change, was the feature presentation of the Humanities Department’s first “Lunch Hour Film Festival”, held last week Thursday at noon in room 200 of the Humanities building.
This film was chosen by Mary Alexander, the administrative assistant for the Humanities Department. Alexander could not resist the “urge to share” after discovering the film and the group through YouTube and late night television, Alexander siad.
Experiences like these are what led Alexander to create the Lunch Hour Film Festival. “I have been thinking of doing this for some time now,” Alexander said. She will be showing films with a humanitarian focus, on the last Thursday of every month to any one on the St. Thomas campus who is attracted to interesting films that are not always shown at the Market Square Theater.
The people in attendance last Thursday enjoyed their lunch as they were taken to 22 different countries around the world. Street and professional musicians contributed their talents for one mission. Their mission is to inspirer each other and come together as a human race through music. These musicians have never meet, yet there voices and instruments are united for twenty minutes as they playing five universally known songs.
Some of the upcoming films include “Short cut to Nirvana” which portrays the Kumbh Mela, a spiritual festival in India that more than 70 million pilgrims attend every twelve years, and “Rivers and Tides” about Andy Goldsworthy, an artist whose specialty is ephemeral sculptures made from elements of nature according to the IMDb website
By Amber Knight
“Songs Around the World,” a film by the group Playing For Change, was the feature presentation of the Humanities Department’s first “Lunch Hour Film Festival”, held last week Thursday at noon in room 200 of the Humanities building.
This film was chosen by Mary Alexander, the administrative assistant for the Humanities Department. Alexander could not resist the “urge to share” after discovering the film and the group through YouTube and late night television, Alexander siad.
Experiences like these are what led Alexander to create the Lunch Hour Film Festival. “I have been thinking of doing this for some time now,” Alexander said. She will be showing films with a humanitarian focus, on the last Thursday of every month to any one on the St. Thomas campus who is attracted to interesting films that are not always shown at the Market Square Theater.
The people in attendance last Thursday enjoyed their lunch as they were taken to 22 different countries around the world. Street and professional musicians contributed their talents for one mission. Their mission is to inspirer each other and come together as a human race through music. These musicians have never meet, yet there voices and instruments are united for twenty minutes as they playing five universally known songs.
Some of the upcoming films include “Short cut to Nirvana” which portrays the Kumbh Mela, a spiritual festival in India that more than 70 million pilgrims attend every twelve years, and “Rivers and Tides” about Andy Goldsworthy, an artist whose specialty is ephemeral sculptures made from elements of nature according to the IMDb website
Friday, September 4, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Tourists Hold on to their Pennies: What Happened to the BIG Spenders?
by Louise Mitchell
“NO DISCOUNT?” is the cry of many tourists as they browse through different stores on the tourist based streets of St. Thomas. They spot a lovely ray of unique souvenirs, the prices, however, attached to those eye-catching items are not as attractive to their “empty” pockets. Whatever happened to the tourists who would buy tee-shirts from welcoming vendors who sold them, 3 for $10.00? In addition, even a unique sea shell design belt for $15.00, is too much for budgeting tourists. They would rather spend $15.00 in a local restaurant, like Cuzzins on the back road of Main Street. Seems like they come out to eat and enjoy the weather, forget souvenirs!
This limited spending behavior is having a great impact on the Virgin Islands yearly revenue.
Charmaine Thomas who has been working in the tourism industry for the past ten years said, “The way tourists spend nowadays is not quite the same way they use to spend before…everyone is looking for a bargain.”
Mrs. Thomas and many other vendors, who own a tent by the water front on Vendors Plaza, are suffering from the effects of tourists spending less money on tee-shirts, jewelry, and attractive art sculptures. Some tourists tend to compare the currency rate of the other islands that they visited in the Caribbean before the United States Virgin Islands. Then they figure that the prices on those other islands are much cheaper. However, those tourists fail to realize that an island like St. Martin, for example, is a Freeport, which means that some taxes are exempted when products are imported. Unfortunately, taxes must be paid in the USVI.
In addition, tourists this year are walking in the blazing sun with fewer bags in their hands compared to at least two years ago.
Although some restaurants are doing ok with their businesses, Jennifer Berry who is the manager at Jane’s Café and Deli Shop has had a moderate flow of tourists this year. On the other hand, she has also been feeling the effects of the decreasing big spenders. As a result, Mrs. Berry said, she had to let four employees go due to this effect. In addition, this impact has thwarted Mrs. Berry’s ability to keep up with utility expenses, and increasing costs of running a business in the USVI.
“We have no EDC funding… the cost of running a business in the US Virgin Islands has increased, while the flow of income has declined,” calmly expressed by Mrs. Berry.
Tourism is the main source of economic movement in the United States Virgin Islands, especially in St. Thomas. It accounts for 80% of GDP and employment, according to an online Business Opportunity Report. St. Croix’s main source comes from having one of the largest petroleum refineries in the world. However, St. Croix contributes about 12 percent to the GDP. St. John feeds off of the tourists who visit St. Thomas, but it is well known as being a honeymoon sight.
So is the United States deflation having an impact on the USVI economy?
The Department of Tourism commissioner, Beverly Nicholson-Doty says yes, in a luncheon meeting she held last year with Hotel executives and Governor John Dejongh’s financial team. According to St. Thomas source online newspaper, Mrs. Nicholson-Doty said, “the U.S. economic recession has finally hit the Virgin Islands, causing a projected $43.5 million drop in government revenues… forcing the need for "well-timed" economic policies and initiatives, including strong tourism-marketing campaigns.” Mrs. Nicholson-Doty expressed great concern about the decline in tourists traveling via air, which the percentage of travelers dropped by 2.9 percent in September of last year. She is, therefore, targeting flight services in order for there to be more incentives offered to “attract visitors with strapped pocketbooks.”, she states. Other ideas include a travel –agent- training program. People who complete this program will be rewarded after selling the required amount promotions offered in the territory to bring in more tourists. In addition, the source article states that the commissioner also announced the 24- hour answering service for tourists to call regarding information about the United States Virgin Islands.
Nine years in the tourist business, Tony who is the manager of Havensight Royal Caribbean, one of the largest stores specializing in watches, jewelry and cameras, suffers from the economic hardship. Tony said, “The ships are coming in, but there are more onlookers.” Most of the tourists browse through each store and become drawn away from attractive items because of the “unbelievable” prices. Tony disappointedly said, “The economy is weak, therefore, people don’t want to spend the money.”
Hotel occupancy numbers on St. Thomas and St. John also dropped off, with a 48.6 percent occupancy rate - down 11 percent from the October 2007 rate, says the Bureau of Economic Research. In addition, big hotels like the Marriot, and the Wyndham Sugar Bay and Spa Resort are suffering from a decline of tourist bookings. Both hotels have had to lay off hundreds of employees due to the drastic drop in guests booking hotel rooms. An article in the VI Daily Newspaper says that hotel room revenues have dropped in November of 2008. Last November, a total of $580,205 in revenues was collected, which is $104,040 less than in 2007. According to an anonymous Marriot hotel employee, people are being laid off from left to right because of the decreasing flow of guests. Hotel managers are keeping a close eye on employees who are careless on their job, and also employees who disregard company policies. Those employees make themselves an easy target to either getting laid off or even fired. The result, more and more people are looking for other jobs, which is not easy to find in the territory presently. Statistics show in an online Business Opportunity Report, that the estimated rate of people unemployed in St. Thomas was 5.9 percent in 2007. Considering the hundreds of people who have lost their jobs this year so far, that rate has obviously increased.
October and November are the leading months of the year for tourism to increase in the Virgin Islands, however, statistics from an article in the Virgin Islands Daily Newspaper show how much the number of visitors to the territory traveling by cruise ships and by aircrafts, has drastically dropped. Comparisons were made of the leading months from 2007 to 2008.
“October saw 39.4 percent fewer visitors in the territory - the largest tumble in visitor arrivals so far in 2008. November's arrivals also did not meet the 2007 mark but were not quite as lacking as October's figures. The visitors in November were down 14.6 percent from a year before…” according to the VI Daily newspaper.
The VI Daily newspaper also reports that 51,681 fewer visitors were brought to the territory on those 28 cruise ships in contrast to the 48 ships that came a year earlier.
St. Thomas also saw 60 cruise ships in November of 2008, which were 16 less than in 2007. Those cruise ships brought 155,791 people to St. Thomas in November, down 16.2 percent from the 185,857 passengers who arrived by ship in 2007.
Sources from the Daily Newspaper also note that air arrivals have declined. In October 2008, 19,861 people flew to St. Thomas. However, 2007 brought 13,869 more people, which mean in October 2008, 41.1 percent fewer people landed on St. Thomas.
The neighboring island of St. Croix had a huge decline in air arrivals in October. A total of 6,211 people flew to St. Croix in 2008, which is 26.6 percent less than the previous year. St. Croix also had 9,561 visitors arrive in November of 2008, which are 821 fewer than in 2007.
Furthermore, the article states that air arrivals were down about 10 percent at each airport. On St. Thomas, 37,853 visitors landed at the airport in November - 4,358 fewer than in 2007. In turn, hotel occupancy was down 13 percent in St. Thomas and St. John in November - 57.2 percent, as compared to the 70.2 occupancy rate in 2007.
“Robbing Peter to pay Paul,” is how Mrs. Berry describes the hustle of those in the tourism industry. From “back to the ship!” taxi drivers to dazzling diamond co-operations, everyone is trying to scrape pennies together to keep up with the Virgin Islands’ high cost of living. Therefore, the unemployment rate is flooding the labor department because of laid off workers. So what are some other alternatives if tourism in the United States Virgin Islands continues to plunge downhill?
“I’ll go back to the mainland.” said the manager of Royal Caribbean in Havensight. However, working for 20 plus years as a tour guide, Jose said “I hope for better”. In addition, Mrs. Nicholson-Doty hopes to develop an increase in the flow of air arrivals. Therefore, targeting traveling agencies is her main goal to increase the VI’s pertinent source of revenue. The only positive outlook for the Virgin Islands economic growth is to be optimistic that tourists will bring back the revenue there was two years ago.
“NO DISCOUNT?” is the cry of many tourists as they browse through different stores on the tourist based streets of St. Thomas. They spot a lovely ray of unique souvenirs, the prices, however, attached to those eye-catching items are not as attractive to their “empty” pockets. Whatever happened to the tourists who would buy tee-shirts from welcoming vendors who sold them, 3 for $10.00? In addition, even a unique sea shell design belt for $15.00, is too much for budgeting tourists. They would rather spend $15.00 in a local restaurant, like Cuzzins on the back road of Main Street. Seems like they come out to eat and enjoy the weather, forget souvenirs!
This limited spending behavior is having a great impact on the Virgin Islands yearly revenue.
Charmaine Thomas who has been working in the tourism industry for the past ten years said, “The way tourists spend nowadays is not quite the same way they use to spend before…everyone is looking for a bargain.”
Mrs. Thomas and many other vendors, who own a tent by the water front on Vendors Plaza, are suffering from the effects of tourists spending less money on tee-shirts, jewelry, and attractive art sculptures. Some tourists tend to compare the currency rate of the other islands that they visited in the Caribbean before the United States Virgin Islands. Then they figure that the prices on those other islands are much cheaper. However, those tourists fail to realize that an island like St. Martin, for example, is a Freeport, which means that some taxes are exempted when products are imported. Unfortunately, taxes must be paid in the USVI.
In addition, tourists this year are walking in the blazing sun with fewer bags in their hands compared to at least two years ago.
Although some restaurants are doing ok with their businesses, Jennifer Berry who is the manager at Jane’s Café and Deli Shop has had a moderate flow of tourists this year. On the other hand, she has also been feeling the effects of the decreasing big spenders. As a result, Mrs. Berry said, she had to let four employees go due to this effect. In addition, this impact has thwarted Mrs. Berry’s ability to keep up with utility expenses, and increasing costs of running a business in the USVI.
“We have no EDC funding… the cost of running a business in the US Virgin Islands has increased, while the flow of income has declined,” calmly expressed by Mrs. Berry.
Tourism is the main source of economic movement in the United States Virgin Islands, especially in St. Thomas. It accounts for 80% of GDP and employment, according to an online Business Opportunity Report. St. Croix’s main source comes from having one of the largest petroleum refineries in the world. However, St. Croix contributes about 12 percent to the GDP. St. John feeds off of the tourists who visit St. Thomas, but it is well known as being a honeymoon sight.
So is the United States deflation having an impact on the USVI economy?
The Department of Tourism commissioner, Beverly Nicholson-Doty says yes, in a luncheon meeting she held last year with Hotel executives and Governor John Dejongh’s financial team. According to St. Thomas source online newspaper, Mrs. Nicholson-Doty said, “the U.S. economic recession has finally hit the Virgin Islands, causing a projected $43.5 million drop in government revenues… forcing the need for "well-timed" economic policies and initiatives, including strong tourism-marketing campaigns.” Mrs. Nicholson-Doty expressed great concern about the decline in tourists traveling via air, which the percentage of travelers dropped by 2.9 percent in September of last year. She is, therefore, targeting flight services in order for there to be more incentives offered to “attract visitors with strapped pocketbooks.”, she states. Other ideas include a travel –agent- training program. People who complete this program will be rewarded after selling the required amount promotions offered in the territory to bring in more tourists. In addition, the source article states that the commissioner also announced the 24- hour answering service for tourists to call regarding information about the United States Virgin Islands.
Nine years in the tourist business, Tony who is the manager of Havensight Royal Caribbean, one of the largest stores specializing in watches, jewelry and cameras, suffers from the economic hardship. Tony said, “The ships are coming in, but there are more onlookers.” Most of the tourists browse through each store and become drawn away from attractive items because of the “unbelievable” prices. Tony disappointedly said, “The economy is weak, therefore, people don’t want to spend the money.”
Hotel occupancy numbers on St. Thomas and St. John also dropped off, with a 48.6 percent occupancy rate - down 11 percent from the October 2007 rate, says the Bureau of Economic Research. In addition, big hotels like the Marriot, and the Wyndham Sugar Bay and Spa Resort are suffering from a decline of tourist bookings. Both hotels have had to lay off hundreds of employees due to the drastic drop in guests booking hotel rooms. An article in the VI Daily Newspaper says that hotel room revenues have dropped in November of 2008. Last November, a total of $580,205 in revenues was collected, which is $104,040 less than in 2007. According to an anonymous Marriot hotel employee, people are being laid off from left to right because of the decreasing flow of guests. Hotel managers are keeping a close eye on employees who are careless on their job, and also employees who disregard company policies. Those employees make themselves an easy target to either getting laid off or even fired. The result, more and more people are looking for other jobs, which is not easy to find in the territory presently. Statistics show in an online Business Opportunity Report, that the estimated rate of people unemployed in St. Thomas was 5.9 percent in 2007. Considering the hundreds of people who have lost their jobs this year so far, that rate has obviously increased.
October and November are the leading months of the year for tourism to increase in the Virgin Islands, however, statistics from an article in the Virgin Islands Daily Newspaper show how much the number of visitors to the territory traveling by cruise ships and by aircrafts, has drastically dropped. Comparisons were made of the leading months from 2007 to 2008.
“October saw 39.4 percent fewer visitors in the territory - the largest tumble in visitor arrivals so far in 2008. November's arrivals also did not meet the 2007 mark but were not quite as lacking as October's figures. The visitors in November were down 14.6 percent from a year before…” according to the VI Daily newspaper.
The VI Daily newspaper also reports that 51,681 fewer visitors were brought to the territory on those 28 cruise ships in contrast to the 48 ships that came a year earlier.
St. Thomas also saw 60 cruise ships in November of 2008, which were 16 less than in 2007. Those cruise ships brought 155,791 people to St. Thomas in November, down 16.2 percent from the 185,857 passengers who arrived by ship in 2007.
Sources from the Daily Newspaper also note that air arrivals have declined. In October 2008, 19,861 people flew to St. Thomas. However, 2007 brought 13,869 more people, which mean in October 2008, 41.1 percent fewer people landed on St. Thomas.
The neighboring island of St. Croix had a huge decline in air arrivals in October. A total of 6,211 people flew to St. Croix in 2008, which is 26.6 percent less than the previous year. St. Croix also had 9,561 visitors arrive in November of 2008, which are 821 fewer than in 2007.
Furthermore, the article states that air arrivals were down about 10 percent at each airport. On St. Thomas, 37,853 visitors landed at the airport in November - 4,358 fewer than in 2007. In turn, hotel occupancy was down 13 percent in St. Thomas and St. John in November - 57.2 percent, as compared to the 70.2 occupancy rate in 2007.
“Robbing Peter to pay Paul,” is how Mrs. Berry describes the hustle of those in the tourism industry. From “back to the ship!” taxi drivers to dazzling diamond co-operations, everyone is trying to scrape pennies together to keep up with the Virgin Islands’ high cost of living. Therefore, the unemployment rate is flooding the labor department because of laid off workers. So what are some other alternatives if tourism in the United States Virgin Islands continues to plunge downhill?
“I’ll go back to the mainland.” said the manager of Royal Caribbean in Havensight. However, working for 20 plus years as a tour guide, Jose said “I hope for better”. In addition, Mrs. Nicholson-Doty hopes to develop an increase in the flow of air arrivals. Therefore, targeting traveling agencies is her main goal to increase the VI’s pertinent source of revenue. The only positive outlook for the Virgin Islands economic growth is to be optimistic that tourists will bring back the revenue there was two years ago.
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