10 Most Corrupt College Athletic Programs

March 8th, 2011

Let’s face it, our favorite college programs cheat. That thoroughbred running back who’s expected to anchor your school’s offense over the next three or four years didn’t come cheap. Sure, your school may not have been caught lately, but that’s probably because the coaches and boosters do it more discreetly than others — and kudos to them, because getting away with it isn’t always easy. According to Insider Higher Ed, almost half of all big-time college sports programs have been punished for major violations by the NCAA during the last decade. These days, even the Ivies aren’t immune to major infractions. The following programs are the most notorious repeat offenders, the blatant cheaters who always seem to have NCAA investigators breathing down their necks. This is where the phrase "lack of institutional control" becomes redundant.

1. Arizona State — Nine Major Infractions: The Sun Devils would be the biggest cheaters, but because they aren’t a consistent football powerhouse, their misdeeds have gone mostly under the radar. Arizona State is primarily known for its baseball program, which has won five national championships and produced legends such as Reggie Jackson and fittingly, Barry Bonds. Last December, it was penalized for major secondary violations, resulting in three years probation and a one-year ban from NCAA postseason. The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions cited the athletic program for, most notably, improperly recruiting one player and giving improper benefits to multiple players. Arizona State was a repeat offender — in 2005, ASU was given two years probation for a lack of institutional control and impermissibly giving financial aid. The litany of problems led to the forced resignation of coach Pat Murphy, who led the Sun Devils to four College World Series appearances.
2. SMU — Eight Major Infractions: Holding the unfortunate distinction of being just one of five programs in NCAA history to suffer the death penalty, SMU football is still the poster child for corruption in major college athletics. Its capital offense was maintaining a slush fund to pay players from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, even when the program was already on probation — from 1974 to 1985, it was penalized on five separate occasions. Because SMU was under such intense scrutiny from the NCAA, the powers that be had little choice but to levy the harshest penalty. As a result, the entire 1987 season was canceled, SMU was forced to cancel the 1988 season, 55 scholarships were docked and the team was permitted to hire just five full-time assistant coaches instead of the regular nine. The program was crippled for almost two decades, but it has finally experienced a resurgence over the last couple of years. In 2009, head coach June Jones guided the programs its first bowl game since the 1984 Aloha Bowl.
3. Auburn — Seven Major Infractions: Seven major infractions for now, anyway. The Cam Newton situation aside, Auburn has had a difficult time playing by the rules over the years. Its most embarrassing incident occurred in 1991, when 60 Minutes aired recordings of head football coach Pat Dye arranging a loan for a player. The series of incriminating tapes were provided by former star defensive back Eric Ramsey and unveiled a player payment scheme involving the coaching staff and prominent booster "Corky" Frost. For its wrongdoing, Auburn received a two-year bowl ban, a one-year television and ban and lost 13 scholarships over a four-year period. Dye was replaced by Terry Bowden, who became the first Division 1 coach to go undefeated in his first season but had nothing to show for it.
4. Minnesota — Seven Major Infractions: During his 13-year stint as Minnesota’s head basketball coach, Clem Haskins oversaw runs to the Elite Eight, Final Four and NIT Championship. Today, however, only the Elite Eight appearance remains in the NCAA record books, as everything Haskins accomplished from 1993-1994 forward was vacated. Prior to the Golden Gophers’ appearance in the 1999 NCAA tournament, a former basketball office manager revealed that she had written more than 400 papers for numerous basketball players over several years. Haskins’ contract was bought out over the summer and he later admitted to paying her $3,000 for her work. As the NCAA investigation unfolded, he was accused of paying players, persuading professors to inflate players’ grades and ignoring sexual harassment concerns. The NCAA administered massive sanctions, notably docking five scholarships over three seasons and instituting recruiting limitations. The entire athletic department suffered, as athletic director, associate athletic director, vice president for student development and athletics and academic counselor were all forced to resign due to the scandal.
5. Oklahoma — Seven Major Infractions: Barry Switzer inherited a program on probation — it forfeited nine games from the 1972 season because of violations that resulted from the alteration of players’ transcripts — and left it on probation in 1988. The Sooners had garnered the reputation of being an outlaw program in the 1980s. During one rough patch, a shooting and rape occurred in an athletic dorm, a player attempted to sell drugs to undercover agent, and a player robbed Switzer’s home. The latter player probably didn’t receive person checks from Switzer, scalped game tickets, free airline tickets, or a boatload of money from a bidding war during his recruitment. All of that happened, and it resulted in a two-year bowl ban, a one-year live television ban and recruiting restrictions. More recently, Oklahoma’s basketball program was penalized when former basketball coach Kelvin Sampson, the same guy who later crippled the Indiana basketball program due to unethical recruiting practices, made 550 illegal calls to 17 different recruits.
6. Texas A&M — Seven Major Infractions: The Southwest Conference is probably the most corrupt entity in the history of college sports. If you competed in the SWC during the 1980s and weren’t cheating, you didn’t have a pulse. Not coincidentally, Texas A&M enjoyed quite a bit of success during the decade, winning three consecutive conference titles under Jackie Sherrill, who Joe Paterno once lumped with Barry Switzer when bemoaning that era of college football. Sherrill resigned in 1988 after the NCAA discovered that assistant coaches and boosters were providing improper benefits to recruits — one was given a sports car and another’s father was offered medical treatment. The Aggies were given two years of probation, banned from the postseason for one season and docked 10 scholarships. Additional violations by the basketball program in 1991 and the football program again in 1994 — a booster employed and overpaid nine players who didn’t really work — almost caused A&M to suffer the same fate as SMU.
7. Wichita State — Seven Major Infractions: Programs from smaller conferences are just as capable of skirting the rules as the big boys. Although Wichita State doesn’t have a football program, its baseball and basketball programs have flourished. The baseball program has been one of the most successful in recent history, winning the 1989 College World Series and finishing second in 1982, 1991, and 1993. The basketball program reached the Final Four in 1965, Elite Eight in 1981 and Sweet Sixteen in 2006. Of the program’s seven infractions, perhaps the most disheartening one occurred in 1982, not long after the team had reached the Elite Eight. Violations involving the promises of cash and airline tickets resulted in the stripping of two basketball scholarships over two seasons and the program’s ban from the NCAA tournament and NIT. At the time the penalties were imposed, Wichita State led the NCAA in major infractions.
8. Wisconsin — Seven Major Infractions: Just months after its basketball program reached the Final Four in 2000, the Wisconsin athletic department was embroiled in controversy. Twenty-six football players were suspended prior to the season opener after the NCAA uncovered that members of the Badgers’ football and basketball teams were given special credit arrangements at a shoe store. A year later, Wisconsin began serving five years of probation, which included scholarship reductions in both football and basketball, for giving recruiting inducements and extra benefits and its overall failure to properly monitor its athletic program. The Badgers have managed to survive the last decade without any other major violations, and the football and basketball programs have enjoyed consistent success.
9. Florida State — Seven Major Infractions: Former rival coach Steve Spurrier once referred to FSU as Free Shoes University, a zinger derived from a 1993 scandal in which nine Florida State players went on an agent-funded shopping spree at Foot Locker. Six years later, also during a national championship run, all-American wide receiver Peter Warrick and Laveranues Coles were charged with felony grand theft for receiving $412.38-worth of clothes from a Dillard’s cashier — they only paid $21.40. Warrick was suspended for two games and Coles from thrown off the team. In 2009, Bobby Bowden was forced to vacate 12 victories because of an academic cheating scandal that also involved the men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and men’s track and field programs — a 2007 men’s track national championship was vacated as well. The penalties ensured Bowden wouldn’t catch Joe Paterno as the FBS’s all-time winningest coach.
10. Memphis — Seven Major Infractions: The good feelings that accompanied Memphis State’s 1985 Final Four run diminished in the ensuing years as karma, tragedy and bad luck befell various member of the team and coaching staff. Head coach Dana Kirk was fired in 1986 after the NCAA uncovered recruiting violations and vacated the 1985 Final Four appearance. He later served a prison term for tax evasion, a crime he committed while he served as the head coach. Star center William Bedford was drafted sixth overall in the 1986 NBA draft, but his career was derailed by drug addiction, and he’s currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. Reserve guard Aaron Price was killed in a carjacking in 1998. Small forward Baskerville Holmes committed a murder-suicide in 1997. Assistant coach Larry Finch suffered a series of strokes that have left him debilitated. All of that was forgotten in 2008, however, when John Calipari had the Tigers positioned to win the national title. But that run was vacated by the NCAA in 2009, as Memphis was given three years of probation for Derrick Rose’s fraudulent SAT score and the $1,700 in free travel and lodging provided to his brother. Before penalties were levied, Calipari bolted to Kentucky, which could soon find its way on this list — the athletic program has six major infractions and the basketball program narrowly escaped the death penalty in 1989.

Top 10 Career-Ending Blunders of All Time

February 21st, 2011

Anyone who has spent significant time in the real world understands that one misstep can ruin a promising or even established career. It’s why we choose not to become too comfy around our coworkers, speak our minds in the office, or behave in any manner that indicates we’re unprofessional. The fear of what could happen is enough to keep most people in check, especially if they live in the public eye. Just look at the prominent people listed below — their successful careers were gleefully guillotined in public by the merciless, blood-thirsty lynch mob that is the media. Of course, in some cases, these people were already suffering career declines, and their so-called "career-ending" blunders didn’t really end their careers, but crippled them. Semantics aside, we can all agree that their falls from grace were cringe-worthy.

1. Mel Gibson’s Voice Mail Revelations: Gibson’s anti-Semitic rant during his 2006 DUI arrest didn’t kill his career — after all, his project Apocalypto was well-received, ranking No. 1 during its opening weekend. The second episode, however, pretty much sealed his fate as a Hollywood has-been. During the summer of 2010, Gibson’s girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva filed a domestic violence-related restraining order barring him from coming near her or her daughter, of whom Gibson is the father. What’s more, previous assertions that Gibson harbors racist and sexist feelings were confirmed when recorded phone conversations between him and Grigorieva were released to the public. His most notorious comments are so vile that it’s difficult to imagine him becoming a marketable star again if he’s bitten by the acting bug — his impending return notwithstanding.
2. Gary Hart’s Monkey Business: Hart isn’t the first or last man in power to be hamstrung by his lust for women — see Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. But the aspiring president, who was the frontrunner heading for the 1988 Democratic nomination, has never lived down his candidacy-sinking extramarital indiscretions with model Donna Rice. His ultimate downfall, even more so than the affair itself, proved to be his cavalier attitude toward the press. When speculation arose about the matter and questions poured in, he responded by saying "Follow me around. I don’t care. I’m serious. If anybody wants to put a tail on me, go ahead. They’ll be very bored." The Miami Herald took him up on the dare and exposed his monkey business, famously printing a photo with Rice seated on his lap aboard the appropriately-named luxury yacht Monkey Business. Hart subsequently dropped out of the race, lashed out at the media, returned to the race, withdrew again after Super Tuesday and went on to have a much lower profile career in politics.
3. Jimmy the Greek becomes an Amateur Anthropologist: The Las Vegas bookie turned national sports commentator built his career on accurate prognostications and controversy. Jimmy is credited with making sports betting mainstream, most notably providing his weekly picks on CBS’s The NFL Today alongside an all-star cast consisting of Brent Musburger, Irv Cross and Phyllis George. The high school dropout possessed excellent street smarts that enabled him to ascend to a position of fame, but his lack of education became most apparent when he offered his views on anthropology. Infamously, he told a Washington DC television reporter on Martin Luther King Day in 1988 that "During the slave period, the slave owner would breed his big black with his big woman so that he could have a big black kid — that’s where it all started." He was immediately fired by CBS and spent the remaining years of his life in relative obscurity.
4. Don Imus Talks Street: Much like Jimmy the Greek, candor is the reason Imus’s career both burgeoned and collapsed. Known for his irreverent Billy Sol Hargus character and general propensity to offend, Imus became nationally relevant after Imus in the Morning was syndicated in the early 1990s. He came under fire in 2007 when he made what he thought was an innocuous comment, referring to the Rutgers University women’s basketball team as "nappy-headed hos" while discussing the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. The conversation had devolved to making fun of their appearances, particularly their tattoos, and contrasting them to the perceived "innocent" look of the Tennessee Vols, one of Rutgers’ competitors. Despite his best efforts to undo the damage, sponsors pulled their ads, MSNBC dropped its simulcast and CBS canceled the program. Imus in the Morning returned shortly thereafter, but on a much smaller stage.
5. Pee Wee’s Porn Adventure: By the time the 1990s rolled around, Paul Reubens had grown tired of being Pee Wee Herman, even after the success of The Pee Wee Herman Show, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and Pee Wee’s Playhouse. So when he was arrested in 1991 for masturbating in a Sarasota, Florida, adult movie theater, and consequently suffered backlash that included the removal Playhouse from CBS, Reubens experienced somewhat of a catharsis, no longer being a slave to the character. But that didn’t make the episode any less traumatic. He was ravaged by the media, including late-night talkshow hosts who he considered his friends, and refused to speak about it for years, essentially retreating from public view. Reubens has reprised the character in recent years, but it’s obvious that Pee Wee is well-past his prime.
6. Milli Vanilli Lip Syncs, Returns Grammy: The music-buying public was swindled by Robert Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, the pair who superficially comprised Milli Vanilli. Their U.S. debut album Girl You Know It’s True went six times platinum and each of their next three singles topped the charts. Ironically, it was during their live MTV performance of the song "Girl You Know It’s True" in 1989 hat their lip-syncing became public knowledge, when the recording repeated "Girl, you know it’s" several times, causing their downward spiral to begin. Charles Shaw, one of the three real singers on their debut album, later disclosed his involvement and Frank Farian, the architect of the group, admitted that Pilatus and Morvan didn’t actually sing. As a result, the duo’s Grammy was revoked and numerous lawsuits related to consumer fraud protection were filed. Their attempts to come back failed and sadly, Rob Pilatus battled drug addiction until he died in 1998.
7. Ashlee Simpson Lip Syncs, Sinks Career: Ashlee may have been riding her sister’s coattails, but she cultivated a nice little career for herself in 2003 and 2004. Her debut album Autobiography went triple platinum, the best-selling of any female artist in 2004, and she starred in her own show, The Ashlee Simpson Show, which followed Jessica’s popular show, Newlyweds, on MTV. Considered by critics as just your typical manufactured female pop star, she did little to disprove their assertion, purporting to be content with her identity. Rightly or wrongly, that criticism worsened after her Saturday Night Live lip-syncing fiasco, in which the vocals for "Pieces of Me" played instead of the song "Autobiography." Ashlee awkwardly danced and left the stage, apologizing at the conclusion of the show. She later explained that she was advised by her doctor not to sing due to her severe acid reflux disease and opted to use a vocal guide track. The public reaction was encapsulated during her performance in the 2005 Orange Bowl, when she was resoundingly booed by the crowd of more than 72,000. Her next album I Am Me debuted at No. 1, but since 2005, she has only released one album, which was far less successful.
8. Howard Dean’s Bloodcurdling Scream: It was the death knell of his already foundering campaign. Dean, who entered the 2004 Democratic primary as the favorite due to his remarkable grassroots and fundraising efforts, disappointingly finished third in the Iowa Caucus behind Jon Kerry and John Edwards. In an effort to rally his supporters, he delivered the now infamous Dean Scream Speech. Battling the flu, he struggled to shout above the raucous crowd of Deaniacs. Television viewers, however, could hear him loud and clear, which is why he seemed like a raving lunatic to the rest of the country. His bloated, sweaty and red-faced appearance didn’t help either. The media had a field day with the "Dean Scream," dancing on his campaign’s grave weeks after it had essentially ended.
9. George O’Leary Lies: Although the job has lost some of its prestige in recent years, many still aspire to be the head football coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. It’s an honor to hold a position previously occupied by all-time greats such as Knute Rockne, Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz. Certainly the program is worthy of hiring a coach who’s secure with his accomplishments. O’Leary, at least earlier in his career, wasn’t. After he was hired away from Georgia Tech, where he compiled a 52-33 record in eight seasons, by Notre Dame in 2001, falsities were found on his resume. He claimed that he had lettered three times at the University of New Hampshire, which the school denied. He also claimed that he attained a master’s degree from NYU-Stony Brook University, a place that doesn’t exist. Once it was discovered that he falsified academic credentials, he was fired. The embarrassing episode didn’t completely kill O’Leary’s career — he landed the head coaching gig at the University of Central Florida in 2004 and has since enjoyed moderate success. But UCF ain’t Notre Dame. It’s not even Georgia Tech.
10. Dan’s Rather Large Oversight: "Memogate" effectively forced Dan Rather, who anchored CBS Evening News for almost a quarter century, into an early retirement. The blunder occurred two months before the 2004 presidential election during an airing of 60 Minutes Wednesday, in which documents critical of President Bush’s service in the Texas Air National Guard were displayed. They were said to have been discovered in the files of Lt. Col. Jerry B. Killian, Bush’s former commanding officer. Once the documents became accessible on the internet, Republicans and other skeptics questioned their authenticity as their typography wasn’t consistent with the style used by typewriters in the 1970s. After claiming the documents had been authenticated by experts, CBS retracted the story, fired four producers and, for all intents and purposes, made Rather irrelevant on the national news scene. Gone from the anchor’s desk were those folksy Ratherisms, such as "When the going gets weird, anchor men punt."

10 Ways Nationwide Teacher Cuts Affect You

February 20th, 2011

It’s never easy to let go of teachers because of limited educational funding, but many school districts have been forced to cut back over the last few years. Every time a teacher is laid off, a valuable educator is lost and students suffer. Whether or not you have a child in grades K-12, teacher cuts affect everyone in one way or another. Here are 10 ways nationwide teacher cuts affect you:

1. Undermines the Quality of Education: Many school districts are cutting teachers based on the number of years they’ve been teaching, not how well their students perform or how effective they are in the classroom. This layoff system not only puts young teachers at risk for losing their jobs, but students are also getting the short end of the stick. Making layoffs without considering performance can be detrimental to student academic performance because the teachers who stay may not be the best educators. Just because a teacher has been at a school for multiple years doesn’t necessarily make him or her better educators — they just have more experience. Falling academic performance may cause students to lose interest in academics, drop out of school or give up on their dreams of going to college.
2. Loss of School Programs: Nationwide teacher cuts will result in the loss of many important school programs. Traditional school programs, such as physical education, family and consumer science, art and music are being cut from school districts of all financial levels to save money and shift the focus toward weaker subjects like math, science and reading. Unless the school can find another position for these teachers, they’ll likely be cut. These traditional classes have stood the test of time because kids love them and they work. Without these essential programs, students may flounder in school and lose sight of their dreams to be a musician, artist or athlete.
3. Hurts the Profession: Teacher layoffs will undoubtedly hurt the profession by causing potential educators to shy away from the field. In addition to layoff risks, prospective teachers may be subject to pay cuts, furloughs and less healthcare coverage. Since most educators already feel they’ve been shortchanged in salary and job security, prospective teachers may opt for different professions that don’t have these ongoing problems. A decline in new teachers will put added stress on current teachers who may have more students to teach, and keep schools from gaining fresh, new talent. The education profession will continue to suffer if changes aren’t made to preserve teaching jobs and maintain reasonable salaries.
4. Increases Job Competition: Layoffs will cause thousands of teachers to explore alternative careers, therefore increasing job competition across the board. Laid-off teachers are seeking a wide variety of full-time and part-time jobs to stay afloat. Some are waiting out the budget storm and hoping for a teaching job when things get better, while others are moving on to other careers and not looking back. Employers of all fields will see an even greater amount of applicants competing for the same job. Laid-off teachers with advanced degrees, specialized skills and years of experience will give other applicants some serious competition.
5. School Closures: In addition to teacher layoffs, budget cuts and program cuts, many districts have no other choice than to close certain schools. Many times smaller and older schools are closed down and joined with larger and newer institutions so that students, teachers and faculty have somewhere to go. However, these school closures almost always come with severe teacher cuts to accommodate for the move and lack of funding. Even those teachers who get to keep their jobs will have to give up seniority and may end up teaching a completely different subject. School closures also negatively affect students, who have to pick up and move to an unfamiliar setting that can be both mentally and emotionally draining.
6. Raises Taxes: Some states have taken the initiative to raise taxes to avoid cutting jobs and services that hurt residents and the economy. The taxes are intended to be used for increased education funding. The states that didn’t implement a tax raise chose to make larger teacher cuts, reduce state funding, shorten the school years, suspend programs and eliminated preschool.
7. Undermines Economic Development: Teacher cuts can have a devastating effect on the country and your state’s economic development. Not only can a lack of teachers damage education and limit student achievement, but it may also compromise the quality of a state’s workforce. Without these teaching jobs, states could see a significant decline in the standard of living and quality of life. More students may struggle academically and choose not to graduate or attend college. Teachers play a key role in the development and success of students. If teachers’ jobs and resources are cut down any more, it could seriously undermine our economic development.
8. Increases Class Sizes: Fewer teachers means larger class sizes. When student-to-teacher ratios increase, it significantly reduces the amount of time teachers can spend working with each student. Teachers will be maxed out trying to teach 30 or more students and may not be able to perform to the best of their abilities. The same goes for the students who are in these large classes. Large classes typically come with a slew of behavioral problems, and students have trouble excelling in such distracting settings. Struggling students who need more attention and advanced students who need more challenges will also be negatively affected by larger class sizes.
9. Widens Achievement Gap: Teacher cuts are only doing students a disservice, especially when referring to the achievement gap. Layoffs keep the achievement gap from narrowing because students aren’t receiving the kind of education they need to improve their standardized test scores. Limited resources, program cuts and larger class sizes only worsen the problem. The education system will need more teachers to improve student performance and narrow the achievement gap between students of different races.
10. Shapes our Future: Teacher cuts will shape our future and the future of today’s students in more ways than one. It could strengthen the occupation as a whole or cause a decline in interested applicants. It could make teaching a more selective career or a desperate field. Students are also impacted by teacher cuts and will most certainly experience the effects of a struggling economy. Only time will tell if these teacher cuts damage the education system or make it stronger.

10 Best Colleges for Aspiring Presidents

February 15th, 2011

If you’re an aspiring U.S. president, you may need to be a little more selective than others when choosing your college. Most U.S. presidents embark on their political careers by attending Ivy League or prestigious universities. There, they study a number of subjects, participate in debates and join political groups. With hard work, excellent grades and an unbeatable resume, you too can be on the pathway to becoming a U.S. president. Here are the 10 best colleges for aspiring presidents:

1. Harvard University: All you have to do to know that Harvard University is one of the best colleges for aspiring presidents is look at the stats. Harvard has churned out more U.S. presidents than any other university. The eight presidents who attended Harvard for either undergrad or graduate school include: Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. This prestigious Ivy League university is the oldest higher education institution in the country and by far the most selective. Aspiring presidents who attend Harvard will have excellent opportunities to get involved in politics at a young age. Students can jumpstart their political career by getting a prestigious political internship through the Institute of Politics, attend campaign events, join a policy group or write for the Harvard Political Review. The options are endless for those who are smart and lucky enough to get into Harvard.
2. Yale University: Yale grads have excellent opportunities in politics, especially if you’re aspiring to be a U.S. president. Take it from these five Yale grads – Presidents William H. Taft, Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush, William Clinton and George W. Bush. Yale competes with Harvard in just about every aspect of academics, endowments and admissions; however, Yale is distinctly different in its level of political activism because it has America’s oldest and most respected student debating society. Hopeful presidents will also be able to partake in Yale’s various political and special-interest groups that focus on today’s biggest issues. From the exciting political climate on campus to the countless political organizations, Yale’s got a ton to offer aspiring presidents.
3. Princeton University: Princeton University is another place where young political hopefuls can find their calling. Presidents James Madison, Woodrow Wilson and John F. Kennedy are the only U.S. presidents to attend Princeton, but there are plenty of political opportunities for students in this quiet college town. This Ivy League university has several different majors that cater to the aspiring president, such as public policy analysis, international affairs, government and economics. Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School fuels political activism even further by allowing students of all ages and degree levels to participate in policy seminars and workshops to enhance their diplomatic skills.
4. Dartmouth College: Dartmouth College is an excellent Ivy League college in which to plant your political roots. Aspiring U.S. presidents will enjoy the wide variety of academic programs Dartmouth has to offer. Dartmouth is also home to The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center, which provides undergraduate students the opportunity to expand their interest and experience in public policy through academic programs, internships and jobs. Aspiring presidents can jumpstart their political careers with a public affairs and public policy internship, or a unique program that enables students to study the U.S. Presidency and Congress in Washington, D.C. This is your one-way ticket to the White House.
5. Stanford University: Aspiring presidents will take the bull by the horns at Stanford University. California is a sprawling state with many political opportunities, and Stanford has all the resources to help you achieve your goal of becoming a U.S. president. Stanford is known for its wonderful array of majors, especially ones that prepare you for law school or politics. Aspiring presidents may even want to stay and pursue their JD at the prestigious Stanford Law School to increase their chances of entering politics.
6. Columbia University: Not only does Columbia have a wide variety of degree programs that will boost your political knowledge, but its student body is serious about political activism. Columbia has over 50 political groups that focus on the biggest and most ignored issues affecting Americans today. Here, you can hone your diplomatic and debate skills, while discovering new passions you can use in your future presidential campaigns. Columbia is so good at drawing political attention that even world leaders, politicians and other public figures frequent the school to spread awareness and see what these fiery students are up to.
7. University of Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League college with many exciting opportunities for aspiring presidents to get their feet wet as young politicians in the making. UPenn has a wide variety of undergraduate majors and minors such as history, political science and economics, which will give hopeful politicians the basic understanding of public policy and inspire them to make a change for mankind. After all, Philadelphia is the birthplace of the United States, where history was made and dreams came true. The same can be said for the intelligent and determined students that come out of UPenn.
8. The College of William & Mary: The College of William & Mary is the second oldest college in the U.S. and one of the best places to embark on your political career. William & Mary knows a thing or two about teaching aspiring presidents, since it has educated everyone from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler. This college has many political-oriented majors and minors to choose from, as well as impressive internships and job opportunities to jumpstart your political career. Aspiring presidents will thrive in William & Mary’s community of movers and shakers, and enjoy the "Public Ivy" accessibilities and culture of the university.
9. Johns Hopkins University: Johns Hopkins University is may be best known for its terrific medical school and hospital, but it’s also a great college for undergraduate and graduate studies. John Hopkins students have a wide variety of majors to choose from and expand upon through internships. Aspiring presidents will certainly find their niche at Johns Hopkins, especially if you’re interested in public policy and public health laws. The sky is the limit for John Hopkins University students.
10. Georgetown University: Georgetown University may not have any U.S. presidents for alumni, but you can rest assured that this competitive college can certainly pave the way for an aspiring president. Georgetown students are nicely positioned to embark on a political career because the school is nestled in the middle of our nation’s capital. Georgetown has ample internship and job opportunities for students to get their feet wet in various political fields. It’s also an extremely political active university with a strong student body that have been known to argue their way to raising university employees’ salaries, increasing financial assistance and bringing influential leaders and guest speakers to the university.

10 Things You Need to Know About Egypt

February 3rd, 2011

Many Westerners, if not most of them, greeted the news of the current Egyptian protests with a mixture of sympathy and confusion. Americans always root for foreign citizens to protest against dictators, but the news of the past decade has been preoccupied with Iraq and Afghanistan, leaving many here in the States uncertain about what’s going on in Egypt and why its citizens have taken to public forums during what are being called the Days of Rage. If you’ve found yourself in the dark, don’t worry. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know. (Photo credit: Associated Press.)

1. Egypt has been under Emergency Law since 1967: Enacted during the Six-Day War, Egypt’s Emergency Law has been in effect almost continuously for more than 40 years. (There was an 18-month respite ending in 1980.) The law grants law enforcement officials extended powers, and it also legalizes censorship and deprives citizens of certain constitutional rights. Basically, any anti-government demonstrations or publications are verboten, a dictum that’s led to the internment of more than 17,000 political prisoners. The law also extends the power of the president, in this case Hosni Mubarak, letting him restrict citizens’ right to assemble and to arrest anyone suspected of "posing a danger." This restrictive set of rules is one of the many things Egyptian citizens are protesting.
2. The protests were sparked by similar uprisings in Tunisia: In mid-December 2010, Tunisian citizens took to the streets to protest government corruption, poor living conditions, and laws that restricted their freedom of speech. The protests led to the eventual resignation of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in mid-January, who fled to Saudi Arabia, ending his 23-year rule. The Tunisian revolt spurred citizens in many other Arab nations to stand up for personal freedoms, including the people of Egypt.
3. The Egyptian protests began on a national holiday: The unrest exploded on January 25, dubbed the Day of Anger, but the 25th was already a marked day: it was National Police Day, a federal holiday commemorating the Egyptian police officers killed in 1952 when they refused to hand over their weapons and station to the British Army. The 25th was chosen as the first day of protests specifically because it was already a holiday, meaning people would be more free to participate.
4. The U.S. and Egypt have a tricky relationship: President Obama’s administration has handled Mubarak’s regime with a blend of private exhortation for change and public non-committal when asked whether the U.S. supports Egypt. It’s a balancing act that mixes diplomacy with global rule, and it’s one that’s gotten tougher since the protests began. Obama publicly spoke of Mubarak’s need to allow his people to participate in reform, but he likely sent much tougher messages via envoys and diplomats. Even in press conferences, Obama used the phrase "the Egyptian government" instead of calling Mubarak by name. The U.S. has worked with Egypt for years and provided financial and military assistance, so it’s not easy for U.S. officials to merely pick a side and stick with it.
5. China has blocked its citizens from searching for information: Ever wary of outside influences that could lead to civil unrest, China blocked Egypt as a search term on its Twitter-style microblogging platform. Users who search for "Egypt" on the site are met with this: "According to relevant laws, regulations and policies, the search results are not shown." Chinese media have also downplayed the events in local coverage.
6. Al Jazeera has spearheaded the media coverage: Between constant online streaming and massive chunks of airtime on DirecTV, Al Jazeera has been dominating the coverage of the Egyptian revolt. But Al Jazeera English isn’t available in many parts of the U.S., which has led many commentators to note that a majority of U.S. citizens are deprived of the option of watching the news network that has put American media to shame with its Egypt stories. It’s not that U.S. outlets have presented slanted coverage; it’s that they haven’t covered it, period, or not to the extent of Al Jazeera.
7. Egypt is too crowded to survive the stresses placed on its people: Egypt has more than 79 million citizens, and most of them live along the banks of the Nile River. Their population has tripled since 1950. Better health care but a lack of education, especially for women, has led to a glut of children and younger people, and the resulting crowds are even more unstable when you factor in the growing unrest from living under a fickle and unfair political regime. In a way, the protests were only a matter of time.
8. The government attempted to block all Internet and social media: In an attempt to disrupt the protests by making it harder for people to communicate their plans to organize, the government pulled the plug on the Internet and text messaging services. The move wasn’t 100% effective, but it did make it tougher for citizens and journalists to use Facebook, Twitter, and other services.
9. Most Egyptians are very poor: One of the contributing factors to the growing unrest has been the swelling numbers of Egyptian citizens living in poverty. About 40 percent of the population can be categorized on the continuum from "near poor" to "extreme poor," living on the equivalent of $2 per day. Basically, what an average working on American spends on coffee could power an Egyptian for three days.
10. President Hosni Mubarak has been in office since 1981: Egypt’s current president has been in office since Ronald Reagan was sworn in, and he’s continued to win elections with more than 85 percent of ballots. Unsurprisingly, there have been many strong claims that Mubarak has tampered with the election outcomes in order to ensure that his administration stays in power. Mubarak has also imprisoned citizens without the benefit of a trial, his administration has faced countless corruption charges in recent years. He is seen by the protestors as the public face of a regime that needs to change or die. On February 1, he announced he wouldn’t seek another term. Omar Suleiman was sworn in as the country’s first vice president in 30 years.

Plan out Your Spring Break Early!

February 1st, 2011

It’s never too early in the year to start thinking about Spring Break. With a little advance planning it can truly be a trip to remember, but thrown together at the last minute your trip can be a complete flop. To get you started on your epic Spring Break adventure planning, we’ll explore some tips for effective spring breaking.

Save Your Pennies

Now is the time to start saving money for Spring Break. It’s not nearly as much fun to go out to eat or go clubbing over Spring Break if you’re broke. So in the weeks leading up to your break, ask yourself if you really need that Starbucks coffee or that new PlayStation game. It could be money better spent having fun over Spring Break. Depending on your plans, you may need extra dough for airfare or your share of gas, hotel costs and entertainment.

Ask for the Time off Work

If you live in a college town, chances are there are other college students working where you work. If you don’t want anyone else to put in for time off before you do, I suggest putting in for time off early. If you don’t, not only will you be battling your fellow college students for time off, but you’ll also be battling older adults whose kids are out of school for the week.

Gather a Posse

When it comes to Spring Break accommodations, it’s always cheaper when you have a big group. Now is the time to talk to your friends, see what their plans are, brainstorm and get as many of your friends to commit to the place as possible. This way you have time to shop around for the best deals and discounts for hotels, airfare and rental cars. The earlier you book, the better. Be careful when gathering a group for Spring Break, though. You don’t want to invite anyone who might create drama for the rest of the group.

Get in Shape

Finally, beaches are a popular Spring Break destination, whether it’s the Florida coast or one of the many beaches in Mexico. If you’ve been doing a bit of "hibernating" over the winter (stuffing your face and staying in from the cold instead of exercising), then now is the time to start working out so you can look your best soaking up rays at the beach.

Quick Tips on How to Study for an Online Class

January 30th, 2011

While one may think that studying for an online class is entirely different than studying for one at a brick-and-mortar institution, the truth of the matter is that traditional studying techniques work just as good for online exams. For example, setting a block of time to re-read notes and articles and staying on track with course readings is an excellent way to achieve success in an online course. But there are some studying techniques that are designed just for online students. Continue reading below to find out what they are.

One of the easiest ways to review material for an exam is to organize a study group. While this may seem difficult to do since the sole reason most enroll in an online class is because they need flexible schedules and can not meet at a physical building, study groups can still be created via the web. In order to do this, it’s best that you start getting to know your classmates via email and through the discussion boards and forums. Try to see if anyone would be interested in joining a study group. From there, your group can continue to chat via the discussion boards, forums, and email or you can step it up a notch and video chat with each other or exchange phone numbers. No matter your form of communication, utilize your time to quizz each other on the lessons and chapters in the book.

This next tip may not be necessarily eco-friendly but it does release some strain on your eyes. Starring at the computer screen for hours on end studying for an exam can sometimes make you tired—which can ultimately affect the amount of information that you actually absorb. So instead, give your eyes a break and print out hard copies of some of the important studying materials that can only be located online. Printing out a hardcopy of your study materials will also allow you to highlight important information and attach sticky notes where appropriate.

Lastly, it’s important that while you’re listening and viewing lectures online, that you treat it as if you were sitting in a traditional classroom setting. Meaning, write notes and jot down questions while you are listening to the lectures. These notes will help you when exam time comes and going back to find answers to your questions will also help you study. Since lectures are comprised into digital files, another good idea would be to download them on your iPod so that you can re-hear them on your drive to work in the car or while at the gym.

How an Online Degree Program Can Help You Change Careers

January 28th, 2011

By Pamelia Brown

While many students enroll in an online degree program in order to better their earning potential in their current career path, another group of students use online degree programs to help them gain new and different knowledge that could help them change their career. If you’re considering joining this second group, here are a few things to consider as to how online degree programs can really help you do this efficiently and with the least amount of stress.

The great thing about enrolling in an online degree program to help you change careers is that the flexibility of the program and the nature of the online courses allow you to keep your current job so that you have a steady income. You can work your courses and education around your current job, and then, once you have complete the degree, you can begin the transition into a new career. Other schools, such as traditional graduate programs, often require their students to study full-time, which would make it hard to earn an income as you prepare to change careers.

As part of this flexibility, you also gain the benefit of keeping quiet about your inevitable job change. This is important if you feel the need to protect your current job security while actively seeking a way to find a new career. The flexibility of online degree programs allows you to schedule your online classes at night, or to take them only when you are at home. You don’t need to let the online degree program into your place of work. If you were taking courses at a traditional school, you might have trouble keeping that separate, as you would probably have to devote more time to driving back and forth to class during the day. Even if you took night classes, you would still have to leave early to get to campus on time. The flexibility of online degree programs simplifies that anxiety of having your boss find out that you’re planning to leave.

And lastly, on online degree program can help you change careers by providing you with the knowledge needed to understand the nature of the new career and properly navigate its pathways. This is especially useful if you are completely new to the field. Yes, of course, other traditional programs give this to you, but online programs allow you to process the new knowledge at your own pace without having to worry about your income, expenses, and current job security. Online degree programs are definitely worth your time if you are interested in getting an education to change your career.

10 Movies That American History Buffs Love

January 27th, 2011

Plenty of individuals who don’t necessarily study history still nurture a love of the subject, with many focusing mainly on that of the United States. In spite of its relative youth when compared to its myriad predecessors, the country boasts a rich, multicultural past packed with triumph, tragedy, victory and some world-shatteringly egregious mistakes. Creative types from all mediums flock to the field, finding inspiration in the millions of interconnected narratives available for consideration. After all, many movies crop up every year boasting their "based on a true story" status.

Most films, even those hewing closely to real events and people, still end up dramatizing stories to some degree. This list does not pretend to hold the following movies up as completely accurate depictions. They’re not, but that doesn’t mean they have nothing to offer. And please take no offense to any inclusions or exclusions. It’s just an internet list, meant for a bit of fun. Nothing to be taken so seriously a massive debate ensues.

1. Sergeant York (1941): This highly regarded film by Howards Hawks and starring Gary Cooper tells the story of the very real Sgt. Alvin York. In spite of his pacifist viewpoints, the rural Tennessean still ends up drafted to fight in World War I, eventually becoming the most highly-decorated American soldier of the conflict. His Christianity and politics greatly conflict with his astonishing skills with firearms, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive challenges him to follow orders while simultaneously killing as few Germans as possible. The Sergeant himself even offered up his diary for adaptation after much badgering from the staff, but some inaccuracies still slipped through, especially in regards to his religion and family life. All the same, though, the film still landed two Academy Awards (for Best Actor and Best Film Editing), nine nominations in other categories and entered into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 2008.

2. To Hell and Back (1955): Although Major Audie Murphy insisted on casting Tony Curtis, he still ended up playing himself in the cinematic adaptation of his own (ghostwritten by David McClure) bestselling autobiography. During World War II, he felt compelled to enlist in the Army in spite of his slender stature. Promotions and a Medal of Honor followed his extensive service on the Western Front. The film itself, directed by Jesse Hibbs, runs from Murphy’s early, failed attempts to join either the Marines or the Army as a paratrooper all the way to his Medal of Honor ceremony. In between, he forges some deep friendships with his fellow soldiers and proves himself a fighter of great strength, fortitude and a willingness to risk everything (including death) for the sake of victory.

3. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969): Like most adaptations of real events and people, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid played very loosely with the source material. Unlike countless others, though, this classic by director George Roy Hill, legendary screenwriter William Goldman and stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford actually spins an incredibly compelling, enjoyable, artistic yarn. The film landed plenty of awards and considerable acclaim from critics and audiences alike for its humor and engaging action. And for the American history buffs out there, still offered them plenty of interesting content for discussion. After all, it takes place during one of the nation’s most turbulent eras, where industrialization and imperialism characterized its westward swelling. Those responsible for the fantastic film allowed the setting to grow into a viable character itself.

4. Patton (1970): Even those who never saw Frank McCarthy’s Patton, with George C. Scott as the eponymous general, still recognize its oft-parodied, oft-referenced opening speech. It landed a plethora of honors (including the Academy Award for Best Picture) for its heavy portrayal of incredibly dark moments in World War II. Patton stood at the forefront of some of America’s more successful battles, but still garnered some controversy for his rather gruff — if not outright cruel — treatment of soldiers. Because his family understandably did not wish to fork over his private correspondence and diaries, screenwriters Edmund H. North and Francis Ford Coppola turned towards a few of his more notable biographies to piece the story together.

5. The Right Stuff (1983): Writer Tom Wolfe penned The Right Stuff in 1979, relating the exciting true story of astronauts training for NASA’s very first manned spaceflight. Though it unsurprisingly took some creative liberties with the original story, audiences and critics embraced the film’s portrayal of a truly exciting moment in science, technology and American history. Director Philip Kaufman even inserted actual archival footage of the era’s most notable names — including Ed Sullivan, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Nikita Khrushchev — for added context and verisimilitude. Viewers are transported to Edwards Air Force Base to watch dramatizations of such household names as John Glenn and Alan Shepard prepare themselves for the life-threatening, yet amazing, voyage into a (then) completely new frontier.

6. Glory (1989): Civil War aficionados know that the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was one of the very first fully African-American units in the United States. Edward Zwick’s Glory adapts their historic tale, slowly allowing the narrative to unfold and reflect the political and social climate at the time. Under the tutelage of Captain Robert Gould Shaw, the company grew in spite of many criticisms both within and without the military. The film builds towards the regiment’s failed attempt at capturing Fort Wagner, which actually led to a pivotal moment for the Union Army. Inspired by the sacrifice of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, thousands of African-American men enlisted, providing the North with enough soldiers to propel them towards eventual victory.

7. Goodfellas (1990): Goodfellas is rightfully considered a cinematic classic, but most viewers not up on their American or film history don’t realize it’s actually based on a true story. Nicholas Pileggi’s Wiseguys formed the core of this multiple award-winner, and he even co-wrote the screenplay with director Martin Scorsese. Covering a span of over thirty years, the quintessential gangster film takes viewers deep into the queasy inner workings of the Mafia. Sicily’s infamous international organized crime syndicate grew to impact the United States, particularly during and after Prohibition. It’s become an inescapable component of history, economics and politics alike, and anyone studying America in the 20th Century would do well to try and understand how La Cosa Nostra perpetuated its stranglehold.

8. Amistad (1997): In 1839, the slaves forced onto the America-bound ship La Amistad mutinied against their captors in protest. A legal firestorm ensued, escalating all the way up to the Supreme Court and garnering the attention of John Quincy Adams and Martin Van Buren. Historians’ reactions to Stephen Spielberg’s film were mixed, but it did attract plenty of awards and kudos from audiences and critics. In spite of the inaccuracies and liberties taken with time, however, it’s still a fascinating peek into the attitudes regarding one of the United States’ most ethically questionable eras.

9. Good Night, and Good Luck (2005): Much like The Right Stuff, George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck incorporated actual footage of historical figures in order to reflect the people and philosophies that characterized an era. In this case, real video of Joseph McCarthy were spliced seamlessly into interviews. Test audiences unaware of this little device actually complained that his statements were too extreme and asked that the acting and dialogue tone themselves down a bit! The central narrative, however, centers on CBS journalist and host of See It Now Edward R. Murrow, stunningly portrayed by David Strathairn. Amidst the panic and paranoia of the Red Scare, he pleaded for sanity and education at the risk of losing both his career and his reputation. Thanks to the archival inclusion of the infamous Wisconsin Senator, American history buffs have one more conduit to explore the influence he held while the Cold War was only just beginning.

10. Frost/Nixon (2008): Director Ron Howard and playwright and scriptwriter Peter Morgan freely admit that some dramatic licenses were taken with the original drama and screenplay. Even then, though, history fans greatly enjoyed this take on David Frost’s series of interviews with disgraced President Richard Nixon. Taking place after the Watergate scandal, but prior to his resignation, these discussions brought to light many of the leader’s philosophies that led him to shock and offend an entire nation. In spite of its inaccuracies, it does serve as a nice supplement to lessons in mid-20th Century American history.

Be Careful What You Post on Blogs and Social Media Sites

January 26th, 2011

The use of social media and blogs is prevalent among college students, and these days you must be careful what you post online. Not only are debt collectors using information they find on social networks to try to ascertain a debt-dodger’s whereabouts, but college admissions officers have even taken applicants’ social networks into consideration when deciding whether or not to admit them.

When you’re in college, it’s tempting to blog and use social networks to rant about your college frustrations, but you should be cautious. This venting can all too easily get back to your professor or instructor. Even if you up your privacy settings on Facebook to keep your prof out of your social network, a friend from class could easily forward your frustrations to your teacher to spite you or get you in trouble.

Or let’s say you decide to play hooky from a class and you come up with an elaborate excuse for your instructor for why you had to miss class, like the death of a family member or a phony illness. If you post pictures on your blog or social network of your adventures or write a post about all the fun you had on your day off, it’s possible it could get back to your professor and you could end up in hot water.

According to USA Today, college students, high school students and even middle school students have been expelled, suspended, turned down for jobs, fired, kicked off of athletic teams and sometimes even arrested for the content they post online. Students have been arrested for posting incriminating pictures of their drug use or posing while holding a firearm, and denied jobs and internships because their profile photo depicts them scantily clad or drinking from a beer bong. Whether it’s compromising photos from a weekend party or status updates and blogs hurling insults against a professor or coach, your postings can land you in serious trouble.

The bottom line? Once you post something online, it’s out there on the Web forever. Be careful that the things you post don’t put you in the spotlight in a bad way during your college years.