Farewell Fall 2011 ;(

Dear class,

It's finally over! The semester that is, because I'm sure that none of you are glad that we will not be spending any more class days together, right? :)

What a crazy semester!! And what crazy, obnoxious, engaging, entertaining, and awesome groups of classes I had this semester. I don't think any semester has been as lively as it has with all three of my classes than this one. And I'm grateful for that...it makes my job so much easier and fun.

Teaching is a passion for me. I love to do it, and, I feel that teaching chose me; not that I chose teaching as a profession. It doesn't come with much monetary gains, but it comes with huge personal fulfillment. Having the opportunity to teach, inform, mentor and get to know anywhere from 60-120 students a semester, from all walks of life, is a humbling and rewarding opportunity. At times I wish there was more time to get to know each of you better, but unfortunately those are the dynamics of college classes. I do however, pride myself in the fact that as a college instructor I try to get to know each of you as well as possible. I am a strong believer that a teachers job does not consist of simply teaching in a classroom and it's crucial for teachers to treat their students as individuals and not blank faces or numbers.

Over the course of the semester we have had great conversations and arguments (sometimes distractions), listened to each others' perspectives and learned from one another. My hope is that through those conversations, blogs, powerpoints, group activities and presentations that I have equipped you with the tools necessary to continue through your undergraduate studies as strong critical thinkers who are intrigued and enticed to ask question after question after question; because it is the questions that lead to research and research leads to solutions and new ideas.

As you have become critical thinkers, you have in turn become stronger writers, and we all know that you did a lot of writing , granted some more than others, (a lot that you may have felt was "pointless" or "busy work") but I have seen the growth and the development in all of you. Some of you simply becoming more refined, while others have improved tremendously using every opportunity to revise over and over again. I would like to think that most of you have walked away with a better appreciation for the art of writing and the art of rhetoric and the ability to persuade. Additionally, now that you know the techniques involved in argument, whether it be to persuade, inform or entertain, you can appreciate the importance of knowing who your audience is, what your purpose is, how to appeal to your audience through the use of logos, ethos and pathos, what kinds of claims can be used, and how not to commit a fallacy. Heck, even if it's just to convince your boy/girlfriend or mom/dad to do whatever it is you want them to do! LOL!

For this final blog I would like for you to write an entry describing your experience during this semester in class. Tell me what you learned, how you feel as a writer after taking this course, and what you would recommend that I do differently or better. Touch upon whether or not the expectations you had of yourself and myself at the beginning of the semester were met or not.

My final thoughts...if you see me around campus don't be afraid to say hello or think that I would have forgotten you. One of the greatest aspects of teaching college is bumping into a student over the years and witnessing their growth and change (this year the first classes I taught began graduating and I'm still in touch with many of them). If you ever need to get in touch with me for help or advice or a letter of recommendation, please feel free to ask (but remember that I won't lie, so make sure I'm the right person you want to ask!). Feel free to keep in touch via twitter or Facebook (look up Natasha Olivera, I have an account just for my students) and of course you can always follow my crazy mom stories on my blog stumblesthroughparenthood.com :)

In one way or another you have all touched my life and you will not be forgotten. I wish you all luck with your future endeavors and college experience and that you make the most of it and your potential (can you tell I'm a mom!? :) ).

Peace Out!
Natasha

Paterno: Where does the line of responsibility end?

In 2002, then Graduate Assistant Mike McQueary, walked into the locker room to find coach Jerry Sandusky raping a 10 year old boy in the shower. Mike walked away, sat on this info for the night and reported it the next day to Penn State's legendary and iconic coach, Joe Paterno who in turn sat on the information for another day and then reported it to athletic director Tim Curley stating that McQueary had seen Sandusky "fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy." Curley discussed it with Penn State's senior vice president of business and finance and "took" Sandusky's keys away. Not a single one of these men reported this incident to authorities such as the police or child welfare services.

Over the course of what could possibly have been 20 years, Sandusky committed heinous sexual acts on young boys and is currently being indicted by a grand jury on 40 counts:

"Former longtime Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, known for his charitable work with at-risk children and for helping establish the school's "Linebacker U" reputation, faces 40 charges -- including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse -- in Centre County, in a scandal that has ended the 46-year tenure of football coach Joe Paterno.

The 40 charges against the 67-year-old Sandusky also include indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.

Sandusky was arraigned Nov. 5 in Centre County court and later released on $100,000 unsecured bail."

As a result of this scandal, that has brought negative attention to the renowned university, an ever lengthening list of men have lost their prestigious positions at the university for failing to protect innocent children, including university president Graham Spanier and the most revered man of the university: Coach Joe Paterno. In the aftermath of the press conference held by the board of trustees announcing coach Paterno's immediate resignation, Penn State students reacted in disgust taking to the streets and chanting:

“Hell, no, Joe won’t go!”

“One more game!”

“F—k Sandusky!”

Things got so heated that students overturned a news crew van and even threw rocks at police officers, leaving many throughout the nation wondering how the position of one man and his career achievements for the university can overshadow the safety and protection of children.

Here's a brief synopsis of some of the allegations against Sandusky:

Victim 1: Said he was 11 or 12 when he met Sandusky in 2005 or 2006. Beginning in 2007, he said, Sandusky began inviting him to stay overnight at his home. In a basement bedroom, Sandusky kissed and fondled him, performed oral sex on him more than 20 times and made the boy reciprocate once.

Victim 2: In March 2002, graduate assistant Mike McQueary walked into a locker room one Friday night and heard rhythmic slapping sounds. He looked into the shower and saw a boy of about 10, with his hands up against the wall. A naked Sandusky was having intercourse with him. The assistant left. The next day, he reported the incident to Paterno. On Sunday, Paterno told Penn State athletic director Tim Curley that McQueary had seen Sandusky "fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy." Curley and Gary Schultz, Penn State's senior vice president of finance and business, talked to McQueary about 10 days later. About two weeks later, Curley told McQueary that Sandusky's keys to the locker room had been taken away. The grand jury said police and child welfare agencies were never notified, and the officials made no attempt to identify the boy.

Victim 3: Said he was between seventh and eighth grade in 2000 when he met Sandusky. He was invited to spend the night at Sandusky's house, where he said Sandusky repeatedly hugged him, gave him back rubs, blew on his stomach and, twice, fondled his genitals.

Victim 4: Said he was 12 or 13 in 1996 or 1997 when Sandusky began inviting him to spend the night. He described repeated acts of oral sex and fondling, and said Sandusky gave him dozens of gifts and guaranteed him he would be a walk-on player for Penn State.

Victim 5: Said he was 8 to 10 when Sandusky began inviting him to events in 1996-98. He said Sandusky showered with him, repeatedly hugged and touched him and forced the boy to fondle him.

Victim 6: Said he was 11 in 1998 when he went to work out with Sandusky. Afterward, Sandusky showered with him in a college locker room, hugging and washing him. The boy later told his mother, who reported it to university police. They investigated, but dropped the case after the Centre County District Attorney decided not to file charges.

Victim 7: Said he was about 10 when he met Sandusky in 1994. He also was invited to events, and said Sandusky hugged him, showered with him and tried to put his hands in the boy's pants.

Victim 8: In fall 2000, a Penn State janitor reported he saw Sandusky in a shower room, performing oral sex on a boy who was pinned against the wall. He told other janitors and a supervisor, but made no official report. The grand jury could not identify the boy.

This issue is raising a lot of questions about our responsibilities in regards to human rights and has some proposing a law that would require any individual to report to the authorities if they are witness to these types of acts, while some are wondering why this isn't a law in place already. It also puts into question the decisions and choices individuals will make in order to protect the reputation of a universities football program of which rakes in 40-50 million dollars a year or even their own job, for as low on the totem pole as it may be, as was seen with the janitor.

People are inherently resistant to change. It is easier to pretend a problem doesn't exist rather than face the grotesque nature of atrocities that are being committed such as this. And more often than not it isn't until something of this severity calls the attention of people to realize that something needs to change or something different must be done.