Major Perusasive Project

• Title of Project: Alcohol License Project; Alcohol Research for Seattle University
• Genre: Grant proposal
• Publication Venue: I hope to present my case to Seattle University, the College of Arts and Sciences to help start up a student-run research department combining all the different majors together. Psychology, sociology, communications, etc. to do intensive research on underage binge drinking (specifically on college campuses) and to begin the discussion on possibly lowering the drinking age to eighteen and implementing either a nationwide or statewide license program. When someone turns sixteen, before they can drive on their own, they have to take classes and be under strict supervision—a program like that to slowly move the drinking age down to eighteen would give kids enough time to learn the consequences of drinking and driving or binge-drinking.
• Audience: students, faculty, administration
• Brief Analysis: For this certain grant proposal, I intend to demonstrate the strategy of “possibility” and the type of change that could be different in the future as proof. I also hope to utilize the strategy of hierarchy and what is important in society as well as giving conducive and convincing enough evidence to show how important this topic is.
• Works Consulted/Cited:
Choose Responsibility; http://www.chooseresponsibility.org/
Why 21?; http://www.why21.org/


click here to view the grant proposal.


• Title of Project: Legalize 18
• Genre: Facebook
• Publication Venue: Facebook Group, word of mouth
• Audience: college students, high school students, common interest groups
• Brief Analysis: I created this Facebook group to hopefully give it more exposure. I invited as many people as I could with the hopes that they too would invite more people and it would create this change. I came up with a catchy title (Legalize 18) that I thought would be easy to say so people could talk about the "movement". So far I have over 50 members of the group and it seems to grow almost every 5 hours someone will join. I even have a post from someone that I do not know (though his comment is unrelated to the topic) I am hoping for a more lively discussion on the group to occur.

*Update--as of March 18, 2010
So far I have an estimate of 84 members with two responses from people I do not know. My hope is that this Facebook group becomes a forum for a lively debate and discussion on the topic of lowering the drinking age to 18 in the near future. It has grown exponentially since I created it a few days ago. One of the newest comments is from a guy who said: "If i can be drafted and go die for my country then i think i should be able to drink a beer while doing so." This was one of his concerns and another person had posted about his concerns about the gambling age as well (one issue at a time though!).

• Works Consulted/Cited:

Choose Responsibility; one of the major players for lowering the drinking age: http://www.chooseresponsibility.org/
watch the 60 Minutes video segment on the current debate on lowering the drinking age: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/19/60minutes/main4813571.shtml
Take a look at the opponents viewpoints:
Support 21 Coalition
http://www.why21.org/
and
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
http://www.madd.org

The Facebook Group for Legalize 18 can be found here.

To Dean Powers

If there was one thing that I found lacking at Seattle University it was the fact that the communications and journalism departments were somewhat lacking compared to the other departments within the College of Arts and Sciences. I do not condone splitting up the communications department and moving different majors to different departments (i.e. journalism will be moved to the English department). There is a reason why students specifically choose to go into a communications field--and that is to study and analyze it in depth and be able to walk out of four years with the skills to be able to think and speak critically and logically.

As a student of the media and journalism, I find that journalism has nothing to do with English. To write beautifully is one thing, but to do intensive reporting and being able to navigate the turbulent waters of the digital world is whole different genre than sitting and analyzing literary symbols in a novel. In order to excel in the world of communications, one must be out there constantly practicing it either on campus or actual field work.

I vote that we keep all different majors separate and in their own departments. But I am not stubborn, I am fully aware of the hard times that we are in and believe in making budget cuts that will not only improve the fiscal year but bring good change to the communications department.

I advocate that each journalism student be required to work for The Spectator for a quarter (to give them basic training) and be given at least 3 credits for it; this will not only save the school money by not having to pay student writers a stipend, but it will quickly get students faster towards a degree. Not only will this help improve their writing skills as a journalist but it will also help the community by giving fresh perspectives each quarter. I also would like to combine programs within the department. If I were to major in strategic communications, I would also like to get a degree in mass communications. Since there are only three majors offered in the department, I find it entirely possible to mix all three together to give students more of an education for their money--I could potentially walk out of here with a degree in journalism and say public relations with a minor in mass communications. By combining classes and getting credited 10 credits for that one class, it would save a lot of money and time for everyone involved. I believe that college should be three years and not four years, and by making classes larger but with professors that are willing to give in more time and students that are willing to do more work, we should all be able to graduate in three. I believe that we should make cut backs on ALL departments--meaning specifically the core requirements. I believe that every freshman should come into Seattle U and that their first year be devoted entirely to core courses and for the next two years, it should be devoted to their major and minor of choice.

For right now, the only things that I can really recognize as effects that the Communication and Journalism Department have on campus and in the community would be through The Spectator, The Spectator and Capitol Hill Seattle Blog's partnership, and the Gates Foundation Family Homelessness student fellowship as well as the up and coming SUTV. I think we should go beyond this. I am a big advocator of volunteering and working in our local community, reaching out and utilizing the communication skills that we've been able to acquire in our classes--but I also know that we should be given an incentive. Seattle U' mission is dedicated to educating the whole person, to professional formation, and to empowering leaders for a just and humane world. And I believe that we are lacking that direction in the communication department--especially if there is a hypothetical scenario in which cutbacks will be made to our department. I vote give us class credit to be part of the community, make tuition for us lower and everyone will benefit from this.

MAP Rough Draft

Carolyn Huynh
Major Persuasive Project


• Title of Project: Alcohol License Project; Alcohol Research for Seattle University
• Genre: Grant proposal
• Publication Venue: I hope to present my case to Seattle University, the College of Arts and Sciences to help start up a student-run research department combining all the different majors together. Psychology, sociology, communications, etc. to do intensive research on underage binge drinking (specifically on college campuses) and to begin the discussion on possibly lowering the drinking age to eighteen and implementing either a nationwide or statewide license program. When someone turns sixteen, before they can drive on their own, they have to take classes and be under strict supervision—a program like that to slowly move the drinking age down to eighteen would give kids enough time to learn the consequences of drinking and driving or binge-drinking.
• Audience: students, faculty, administration
• Brief Analysis: For this certain grant proposal, I intend to demonstrate the strategy of “possibility” and the type of change that could be different in the future as proof. I also hope to utilize the strategy of hierarchy and what is important in society as well as giving conducive and convincing enough evidence to show how important this topic is.
• Works Consulted/Cited:
Choose Responsibility; http://www.chooseresponsibility.org/
Why 21?; http://www.why21.org/


click here to view the grant proposal.

Letter to Senator Ed Murray

Dear Senator Murray,

With the recent skyrocketing budget cuts that has been implemented for higher education in Washington state, I am appalled at how unjust the whole thing is. Education is always the first to be cut, and I believe we should correct this wrong.

By raising tuition, you are turning colleges and universities more and more into a business. Do not assume that the middle-class can take care of their own and that the most need will be geared to those with deep financial aid needs--everyone needs help; especially during this time.

I propose that we address and approach each university differently. Figure out what needs to be cut and what is excess. Don't just look at a quick fix solution--look at it in the long run. Getting rid of workstudy for a year won't solve the problem that students need to work--they need money for certain things, whether it is food, transportation or buying books--students need money.

Give out more scholarships; reward students that have worked hard to get to college--do not make scholarships an even more intense competition. People that work hard deserve to be in college and they shouldn't worry about making ends meet.

Nation-wide College budget cuts

The problem:
Tuition increases are rising, class sizes are getting larger and over the board huge budget cuts have been made. Work-study has been cut and on hold for a year. There is basically no money and the state is getting more into debt.

The solution:
While I am all for freedom of speech and voicing protests--I do not think that cutting class is the right way to do it. Nor is making a mockery by hosting a 'faux funeral' and singing 'amazing grace' at the Capitol steps any way to make a student seem serious or wanting to fix the problem go any quicker. It wasn't really a mature thing to do. I believe that solidarity and getting your voice heard are great methods on how to address the problem.

As for possible solutions on the gigantic budget cuts and skyrocketing tuition increases: I do agree with what the student suggested in the article. By putting a cap on how much a president, dean or professor makes is an efficient way--though it doesn't necessarily solve the problem; it barely makes a dent. I don't believe in paying for public education and that it should be free. I am also a big believer in incentives--the propositions that I would suggest would include some pretty radical minds to agree to it.

One radical idea that I have are that there are certain students that just simply don't care for being in college and that "they are doing it to kill time". I believe that if students don't maintain at least a 3.0 GPA then they should be suspended for a year or two or however long it takes for them to figure out their lives--whereas allowing more students who truly want to be there to come in.

Problem Solving Letter

Letter to address and correct a problem

Dear Roommate,

I currently live with three other people--making it a total of four people living in a two bedroom apartment on Capitol Hill. You are well aware of this, considering you are one of those people. What's worse is that I share the living room with another person. The issue, or beef, I had with you lately is that you never seem to remember to turn the bathroom fan off after you leave. Since I, and another one of your darling roommates, live in the living room, we are able to hear everything. And I mean everything.

I've kindly told you a few times to remember to turn off the fan, I even wrote a post-it note on the fan so that you will remember to turn it off. You were good the first few times that I mentioned it, then it completely slips your mind and you just plum forgets about it. After 7 months of living with you, I just simply can't take it anymore. I've raised my voice to roommates in the past, but this time, it's gone too far. I cannot sleep or concentrate. I live in the living room for cheap rent, but you're driving me insane with that ridiculous fan that you INSIST on turning on!

Last Friday night, you and I decided to go out to a bar. I bought you a couple of drinks to ease the tension. After you were a little past sober, I changed the topic rapidly and immediately told you that you had to learn to f**cking turn off the bathroom fan otherwise there will be an uprising and it wouldn't be pretty. Our other roommates appeared right on time and came through the door, up to us, and the bashing began. It wasn't necessarily the best solution, but so far, it's been pretty effective. We bought you more drinks, told you about the situation (as well as your other living quirks) and told you to either shape up or move out. We began to talk it out and we all eventually compromised to give up one of our quirks for the sake of peace in the house.

You eventually agreed, though in what state you agreed, I really don't know (or remember) but so far, day 5 and all is well in our little humble abode.

I also agreed to not sing while I play guitar--I understand that my singing voice isn't the most soothing voice to hear while one is attempting to take a nap.


Roomie love--remember that!


Carolyn Huynh

Weekly Writing Assignment #8

Seattle Times opinion piece

Editor, The Times:

As a college student in her third year at Seattle University, I can attest the amount of over the top binge-drinking that goes on on college campuses as well as off-campus drinking soirees.

I can speak the most about the topic of lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 because I am a student at a Jesuit university--where it may not exactly be a 'dry' campus but the consequences of getting caught with alcohol will have harsher punishments than any other campus (i.e. Washington State University or University of Washington). Along with the obvious legal reasons that comes with getting caught with underage drinking, the idea of getting caught by public safety is more terrifying to someone under 21 than getting arrested. There is a fear of getting kicked out of school or being suspended--a plethora of reasons that results in the student avoiding getting caught at all measures--even if it means making poor choices.

I can cite stories where the fear of getting caught has exponentially increased to the point where students do absurd things. Reports of a freshman year girl jumping out of the fourth floor of Campion residential dormitory because she didn't want to be caught drinking beer has been gossiped throughout campus. There are many stories like this and even more ridiculous and dangerous incidences like this that occur nationally.

The ex-president of Middlebury College in Vermont, John McCardell--who was infamous for starting the petition and the debate to lower the drinking age to 18; McCardell was able to get over 100 college presidents to sign the petition and he was speaking out on his own personal stance from witnessing what goes on college campuses.

The level of binge-drinking on campus has gone on long enough--it is time to either change with the times or to come up with a better plan on stopping excessive drinking.

We know that kids won't stop drinking, but we should find ways to control or supervise it as best as we can.

I can speak as someone that has seen and witnessed friends who were under 21 that have no control when it comes to alcohol--the idea of procuring free alcohol or drinking it as fast as possible just so they can achieve the stage of being drunk, is something that students view when it comes to alcohol--it is not simply for the enjoyment or social aspect--the whole purpose is to get drunk and get drunk fast.

Maybe lowering the drinking age isn't necessary the best answer, but I do think change needs to happen. Whether it is through more education or a license of some kind where kids can be supervised about alcohol... something needs to happen and soon before more deaths occur.