Interview a Xavier senior about his/her thoughts on Xavier’s mission and blog about what they say. Friday, Dec 9 2011

Daniel McCoy is a senior pharmacy student at Xavier University. Daniel is from Marietta, Georgia but currently lives in an apartment in New Orleans. “I choose to come to Xavier to take advantage of the notoriety of the pharmacy program. Growing up in a house full of women gave me the determination to work harder because I was the man of the house and it has always been my nature to do well for my mother and sisters. My interest in medicine lead to the Xavier and Xavier has providing everything that I expected and more.” “Their mission represents the belief that a strong educational background is the pathway to a successful life. The students at Xavier uphold to those beliefs by striving towards academic excellence. Xavier is a school of excellence that provides the right materials for each student to be successful and participating in the opportunities that are available. The Expectations in Xavier mission makes it nearly impossible to attend this school and not achieve any academic accomplishments. I am very pleased with Xavier and what it has to offer. With its professors being experienced in each field that they teach, it makes it possible for all the students that attend Xavier to get feedback from an expert in the field. With Xavier’s sense of tradition and history the students get to experience a rich background of a college whose atmosphere has been known to be ideal for education. There are very few universities that offer the type of experience offered here at Xavier. After hearing the opinion of Lamar Peetie, a senior, at Xavier, I was also convinced that Katherine Drexel would be pleased with the education that Xavier provides to its students. It is Daniel’s belief that Xavier University means business when it comes to ensuring students receives a quality education.

Leave a Response »

 

What did you think of the book Fast Food Nation? Friday, Dec 9 2011

My thoughts about the book Fast Food Nation are mostly very positive. The book was very informative, providing me with an insight on how fast food industries operate. It took me a little while to truly get interested in the book, but overall it was pretty interesting to see what goes on in our beloved McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and other major fast food restaurants. Schlosser did a good job at providing history behind the forces that led that to the creation of these food restaurants. The author was very descriptive, using detailed language to speak on subjects that are often neglected or pushed aside. Schlosser effectively conveys the truth about the industry that is oftentimes covered up or misrepresented by using real life testaments from people who work on both sides of the industry. He shows how large companies usually take advantage of the small business owners who provide them with their products. It is very unfortunate that people have to endure such treatment with little to no benefits. I credit the author with not striking the fast food industry, but providing solid facts that uncover the truth. I like how the author is honest about what goes on behind closed doors, letting the reader into the world of the fast food industry. The conditions that workers who work in the industry have to endure to produce the food that we enjoy are very appalling. The way that they slaughter the cattle is also very disturbing. The author also effectively showed how the food is prepared. I knew that the food was processed, but I did not know that the flavors were constructed in factories. Reading this book has certainly changed my outlook on fast food and it definitely has me thinking twice about ordering a quarter pounder from McDonald’s.

Leave a Response »

 

How do automobiles and interstates play a role in spreading the fast food culture? Friday, Dec 9 2011

The role that automobiles and interstates play in the fast food culture is a major one. During World War II, the Goodyear plant began to produce a large number of automobiles. They were not only to be used in the war, but they were also for the personal use of average citizens. Automobiles provided people with the opportunity to be more independent and free to go wherever they wanted. They were very affordable, therefore, everyone had one. This influx of automobiles reshaped the fast food industry by inspiring the development of the drive-through restaurants. Drive-through restaurants allowed people to experience the same service provided at a sit-down restaurant at a more convenient and fast pace. Customers could pull up to the restaurant, put in their order, and pick up their food without getting out of their car. This fast service has attracted numerous customers and has been incorporated into many fast food giants, such as Wendy’s, Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Burger King. In the fast food industry, location is a key component in attracting customers to support the franchise. The restaurants have to be located in areas where customers can see them and easily access them. Most fast food restaurants are built alongside interstates and highway exits across the country. Fast food companies strategically placed them here in order to provide a meal service to those who were traveling. Having access to the restaurants allowed travelers to eat a quick meal, while also providing the industries with a profit. When an open space becomes available along the interstate, it is often a competition among different food chains to claim these areas. Catching the eye of passing motorists was so important that architects came up with new designs for the restaurants being built so that travelers moving at a fast pace could notice the restaurant.

Leave a Response »

 

Send an email to your favorite teacher at Xavier thanking them for their work, and post the text of the email in your blog. Sunday, Dec 4 2011

Dear Mr. Shade,

I am writing this email to you today thanking you for all the help and insight that you provided as my English teacher. At the start of high school, during 9th and 10th grade, I had a teacher that wasn’t really able to help me build my writing skills. As a result, I was not prepared and on the level I should have been. Thankfully, I had a teacher like you, to help me pick up the pieces. At first it was very discouraging to see that most of the other students were very advanced in their writing, but you made it so that I was comfortable in that environment. I enjoyed our in class discussions and reviews. Through our discussions I learned to analyze and look deeper into what seemed like simple topics. Also during review, we looked through the good writing as well as the writing that needed work, so that those, like me, would know how to polish their essays. Not only were you an awesome teacher, you were always available to help and talk after hours. Your personality makes you approachable about any problem, a perfect trait for any teacher. All of this helped prepare me for my next college course. Right now a have a B in your class which makes me feel as though I have come a long way from high school with so much improvement. Thank you so much for the foundation you have instilled in me, I know that I will remember your tips and teachings always.

Sincerely,
Ariane Sip

One Response »

 

Katherine Drexel… Do you think she would be happy with Xavier today? Why or why not? Sunday, Dec 4 2011

Katherine Drexel was a nun that did a lot within her community. Her family has a large amount of money from banking. Her uncle was actually the founder of Drexel University. When she became a nun, she gave herself the name Sister Katharine. She voiced the opinons of African Americans and Native American across the United States. She then started a religious order called the Sister of the Blessed Sacrament. She gave money to at least 60 schools around the United States. She also founded our beloved University: Xavier University. I do think that she would be happy with Xavier and what it stands for now. Xavier University is still the only historically black and Catholic University in the world. Xavier University is also the nationally rank #1 for African American students getting into medical school. I think that she would think that Xavier is doing a fine job of helping out minority races to gain an education. Xavier has no changed much from their academics and still teaches that basic principles that I believed that she stood for. Xavier mission statements states: “The purpose of the University is to contribute the promotion of a more just and human society by preparing its student to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society. This preparation takes place in a diverse learning and teaching environment that incorporates all relevant educational means including research and community service.” I believe that if she was still alive that she would love this mission statement and would support it. She would want her beloved students to learn about community service and leadership and help out within their communities. She would want us to tell others and pass on our knowledge that we learn from Xavier. She would want to see how we take the fundamentals that we learn here and turn the world into a better place for minority of all races.

Leave a Response »

 

Does the author have a political agenda? Give examples to support your claim. Tuesday, Oct 18 2011

I do think that that author has a political agenda. I think he is trying to warn us about the many fast food restaurants and what is happening at most of them. Fast Food Nation is the book to tell us about what exactly is going into our food. It’s also telling is what we are putting in our bodies. An example of this is the E.Coli cases that are mention in Chapter 9. Lee Harding is one of the cases mentioned in Chapter 9. He said that he got chicken tacos from a Mexican Restaurant. About a hour later, he started suffering from bad cramps and also had diarrhea. It continued through the whole weekend. He then went and checked his self into the emergency room. He was then tested positive for Escherichia coli or E.Coli for short. This is a lethal foodborne pathogen. There are many cases around the United States about many pathogens just like E.coli. These pathogens are extremely dangerous and can cause food poisoning. Many foodborne pathogens can cause many of diseases. It can precipitate long-term aliments like heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, neurological problems, autoimmune disorders and kidney damages. The author tries to tell us through chapter nine about these harmful pathogens. There are many other names within the chapter like Campylobacter jejuni, Cryptosporidium parvum, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Listeria monocytogens and Norwalk like virus. Many deaths that happen in the United States that are food related are caused by pathogens that are probably not identified. Many of these pathogens are carried and shed by health animals. The author warns us and tries to tell us to be careful about what we eat. We also need to make sure that we clean our food that we cook and pay attention to cook food that we buy from fast food restaurants

Leave a Response »

 

In The Reading for last week, Schlosser writes about a man name Kenny. Write about someone you know who has suffered parallel misfortunes. Tuesday, Oct 18 2011

In the book Fast Food Nation, Kenny was a worker of Monfort who was deeply loyal to his company. Unfortunately however Monfort didn’t feel this way at all about Kenny. Instead the company would essentially use him, as if he was another piece of cattle. The ‘use’ almost used up all of Kenny in that he could have very well died many of times from the company being negligent. By being an Monfort employee, Kenny was subjected to blood tanks, gut bins and hazardous chemicals to name a few. I personally don’t know anyone that has gone through what Kenny did, but I do know many people who have in a sense been taken advantage of by their job. My father for instance worked as an construction worker for a very well-known company. In the beginning of this job my dad was happy to be given this better opportunity than what she had before. However as time went on I would see him begin to come home stressed, over-worked and unable to sleep at night. This was for the most part due to the fact that my dad’s boss put more pressure and work on him than most of the other employees. For example when bad weather would come, the company would allow the employees to take sme time off from work. However when my dad would put in his request, it was rejected most of the time. I found this very unfair that that his boss would deny his request when the others would have time off multiple times a week. My dad was later un-expectantly laid-off, after having to go on a business trip and miss our normal of the first day back to school. Given situations like Kenny’s, I feel that more needs to be done in order to improve the conditions of workers from; safety to fairness at all levels of the work force.

Leave a Response »

 

What is your favorite class at Xavier and why? Thursday, Oct 13 2011

My favorite class here at Xavier right now would have to be English. I love the atmosphere in that class! Its so relaxed and I like we spend class time discussing the essays that we are assigned. I think that it is very important that we have the chance to voice our opinions and in that class we are allowed to do that. Dr.Shade is very down to earth, not having a stuck up professor is aways a big plus. He makes me feel comfortable in his class to the point where I’m not afraid to give my opinion to the class. Lately, the essays have been pickng up, like one every 2 weeks, but it hasn’t become stressful or overwelming yet. I’m actually surprised that English is my favorite right now because in high school I wasn’t a fan of writing essays at all! I guess things change as time passes… I hoping the best in this class for the rest of the semester!

One Response »

 

How did Sinclair’s The Jungle (1906) dramatically change the food industry? Will this book Fast Food Nation do the same? Why or why not? Monday, Oct 10 2011

The Jungle changed the food industry in many ways. It can be said that this novel brought out the establishment of what is now known as the Food and Drug Administration. However I feel that this book mostly brought forward awareness. Before this novel most people had no clue what went into their food. This is similar to today where most Americans still don’t know what they’re eating, especially when it comes to processed foods. In Fast Food Nation, I feel that the book makes a good point. It brings forth an aspect of awareness to the public. Just like The Jungle, Fast Food Nation also in a way questions the politics that control the major food industries. Fast Food Nation personally made a strong impact on me, I’m now more aware about the food that I eat. The book also left me feeling somewhat outraged by the conditions workers go through and by the fact of food safety. I also feel that this book will not impact everyone. For instance in our society we tend to ignore things that we don’t want to hear. Most everyone has some idea that fast food isn’t healthy but yet they still eat it for various reasons. Also I feel with the economic problems of today choose fast food because of the low cost and availability. In order for this book to have a profound impact I feel that our government needs to make food safety and health a bigger issue. Schlosser and Sinclair, I feel were each trying to do something similar.

Leave a Response »

 

What factors have hurt small family farmers and benefited giant corporate farms? Wednesday, Sep 28 2011

One of the negative factors that have affected small family farmers is that they aren’t paid correctly for the amount of potatoes they give to big processing companies. For example, Potato growers are being run out by the processors of the “french fry.” When fast food restaurants sell fries to the consumers, the processors are paid all the money for every order of fries, while the growers will only receive a small percentage from that sell. If the small family farmers want to survive they have to become bigger and better than all the other companies and process potatoes for themselves which would probably cause them to go into debt because that’s not something that they can afford. I believe that the big companies will also begin to lose profit because if the farmer don’t have the money to grow any potatoes then they won’t be able to sell any, so how would any one gain profit? The large processing companies will then begin to get cheap poor quality potatoes that will hinder consumption and begin to kill the potato business. Another thing that harms potato farmers is that the people who run processing plants have no knowledge of potatoes, unlike the spud mogul JR Simplot, they wont be able to know what’s right for consumers or processing plants. Schlosser quotes a Multon in saying that “companies are now run by men with ‘MBA’s from Harvard who don’t know if a potato grows in a tree or underground’”. I believe that if farm workers band together and become a union of some kind they will be able to achieve better profits and not get undermined by big time growers

Leave a Response »