8 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(02/23/15 5:00pm)
Some of the biggest highlights of the Super Bowl tend to be the entertainment. Whether viewers enjoy football or not, they always crowd around the couch at the announcement for halftime or they sit down to watch bands perform before the game commences. This year, ASU’s very own marching band had the honor of being part of the Super Bowl experience and performed on the football field before the kickoff.
(12/03/14 11:22pm)
What do movies, songs and television shows all have in common nowadays? It’s fair to say that most of them contain adult language and humor. It seems that this type of content is needed these days in order for a show to become a part of popular entertainment.
But what if I told you that this type of humor was not needed in order to create an impact in the industry? That clean humor could last a lifetime? Well this is precisely what the late Roberto Gomez Bolaños, more commonly known as Chespirito, achieved. Bolaños was a Mexican writer, producer, actor and comedian who transcended generational gaps and reach out to audiences of many different ages and cultures in a number of countries.
Bolaños’s early life did not include writing at all. In fact, he went to college to become an engineer and boxed during his teenage years. He slowly emerged into the television industry by writing plays and dialogues for films and TV shows in Mexico while studying. After a couple years of writing comedy shows and dialogues, he wrote, acted and produced what would become his two most famous shows, known as "El Chavo del Ocho" and "El Chapulin Colorado."
After the shows did amazingly well in Mexico, they found immense international success. But what was the real secret to success behind the works of Chespirito? It is something that is hardly heard of in the television and music business of today: clean humor — meaning no sexual references or adult language is used. Chespirito stuck with this ideal all throughout his writing, and it was the one clear objective he had since the beginning of his career in comedy. He wanted his shows, music and movies to be family-oriented, relatable, and understood by people of all ages, so he stayed away from adult humor and made jokes that both kids and adults could laugh about.
In his journey to become the great writer and comedian he is known as today, people attempted to persuade him to include racier content to recruit more viewers. Chespirito never swayed, however, and his commitment to the vision he had for his shows gained him the fame and incredible legacy he now has all over the world. The clean humor he incorporated into his many works is what made him transcend generational gaps and is what will keep people watching his shows for years and years to come. Bolaños alone proved that it is possible to maintain the innocence found in the little things in life and used it to bring laughter to millions of people around the globe. He will never be forgotten, and his humor will always live in the hearts of many.
Reach the columnist at tnunez1@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @TayNunz
Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
(12/02/14 11:30pm)
Many people strive to be leaders in their society so they can make a difference in the world and improve people’s lives. As many of us know, it takes just one person to create even the most significant of changes around us — this thought alone should push everyone to develop their inner leader, no matter what their personality may be.
A leader needs to have passion, determination, positivity and, above all, great communication skills. But how should these communication skills be expressed? Most people tend to think that the position of a leader belongs to those who are extroverts; those whose voices are always heard and tend to be noticed first. What about the people who are introverts? Can these people not possess character traits that make them just as competent leaders as those who are loud and outspoken?
Karl Moore, a professor at McGill University, has been running leadership programs for the past 10 years and has researched the character traits of both introvert and extrovert leaders. His findings led to an interesting idea: “If an introverted CEO must ‘become’ an extrovert to be an effective leader, then might the opposite be true? That an extroverted leader must ‘channel’ their inner introvert in order to be an effective leader?” asks Moore.This idea brings up an excellent point in that many times introverts are told they must become more outgoing and approachable in order to have greater success as a leader. However, introverts possess many positive qualities which extroverts should apply if they want to increase their productivity as leaders.
Introverts tend to listen more effectively to the ideas of those around them, which gives their team a stronger sense of belonging in the work place. This provides the individuals with a greater sense of satisfaction in their work because they feel like what they say is of value and serving a purpose to the overall goal of a project. Extroverts on the other hand, tend to talk more than listen which does not allow them to be more open to new ideas that people around them might have.
Introverts also possess the great quality of being more analytical than extrovert leaders. Introverts tend to sit back and think about things more deeply before contributing to the conversation or saying what they think. This allows them to get a more well-rounded view of an issue or idea before they propose a solution. Extroverts tend to be more spontaneous and state whatever thought is on their mind, which might not always allow them to think things through completely.
The idea proposed by Moore is true in that both personalities can increase their effectiveness as a leader by incorporating traits of each other; however, this also proves that a great leader does not need to have the base personality traits of an extrovert in order to be a successful one. People can have a variety of qualities that may differ from the leadership stereotype. As long as they realize what their strengths and weakness are, and learn how to use each of them to their advantage, being a leader should not be a position reserved only for those who are seen as more sociable or friendly compared to those that are quiet and reserved. Fortunately, this stereotype of extrovert leaders has been slowly diminishing and people are starting to realize more and more that great leaders can come from any type of personality, including introverts.
Reach the columnist at tnunez1@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @TayNunz
Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
(10/19/14 11:25pm)
Football games and their traditions are a staple of any college experience. The thrill of a touchdown, the spirited environment of people in the stands and the excitement of dressing up are all parts of the ritual. Recently, however, one of these traditions has been linked to terms such as disrespectful, selfish and demeaning. Our student government is considering banning face paint at football games because of its possible negative connection to blackface — but is this a good enough reason to ban face paint entirely?
Yes, it can be offensive, and yes, it may seem like it can target a specific race, but is this really the reasoning behind students painting their faces on game day? Of course not. Unless people specifically write, speak or act in a way that is offensive to a specific race, why should face painting be seen as something negative? This is something that has been done for decades and is seen as a way of supporting a team, not hurting peers.
Would students really engage in a negative action in public when they have careers, future employers and résumés to worry about in college? It doesn’t seem right that students would want the term "racist" to be attached to their name with things like these at stake. If students really thought their reputations were at jeopardy, these types of actions would not even occur.
So why do students do it? For the same reason students paint their faces at basketball and soccer games, why students do it at high school sporting events and why people around the world engage in it during the Olympic games — to support their team and show pride. Sporting events divide along team lines, but there is no intention of dividing people of the same team or country. They bring people together to celebrate a good time, their teams and the athletes' effort.
During the Olympics, do people really think about the race they represent when painting their bodies or faces? No, they think about their country colors or the colors of their flag. The same applies to the football games at ASU. When students paint their faces for football games, it is tied to a theme of the game, colors of the teams or school pride. Never is it intended to be seen as racist or offensive.
Football games and showing pride for the school you attend are things all students can relate to. It is prime among the things many students refer to when describing what they look forward to in their college years.
Blackface has led to problems with ASU school activities in the past, so that may be an understandable reason to ban black face paint at football games. However, if students cannot even use school colors on their faces, this also seems to limit student’s freedom of expression. Face painting is a tradition performed among all universities in the nation and it is difficult to believe that all students at every university engage in this type of behavior to enforce racism and negative stereotypes.We should have the liberty to express school pride and spirit.
Reach the columnist at tnunez1@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @TayNunz
Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
(10/05/14 9:30pm)
A recent Facebook controversy has brought up a good question: Should legal names be enforced on social media sites? If we take a look around in our own social circles and list of friends, the majority of them use their real names on profiles and accounts they make. So why is this an issue, you ask? Well, Facebook recently upset the drag queen community because of its policy requiring users to display their real names on profiles instead of alternative names. The problem came about because Facebook discovered that some of the profile names being used on the site, including names on drag queens' profiles, didn't meet this standard.We know that some people use alternative names like middle names or some sort of variation that still incorporates a part of their real name on their account. Some do this as a security measure, to protect their identity online or to avoid giving away all personal information. However, not all social media sites see this as an acceptable means of security. Facebook, for instance, believes that by requiring users to display their legal name, it reduces the risk of things like identity theft, or being talked to by unwanted people. Facebook attempts to keep fake accounts off of the site as a measure to keep it a safe environment free of stalkers, sexual predators, or other random creepers. Considering somewhere between 5.5 percent and 11.2 percent of Facebook accounts are fake, the company is certainly justified in these measures.Where does one draw the line with how much information to give? Let’s think back to the old days of Myspace. One of the biggest concerns with the site was its lack of security and a popular perception of immaturity due to ridiculous fake accounts. People were allowed to put down whatever name they wanted to, add whomever they wanted to, and display all sorts of private information about themselves. Yes, it was fun and addictive, but from a security point of view, it was just awful. Facebook is wise in avoiding the mistakes Myspace made with its name policy.However, Facebook was faced with a sensitive issue, considering members of the drag community found themselves "silenced for allegedly breaking a company rule and left without meaningful recourse."Instead of loosening its real name policy, Facebook "promised to improve its reporting, enforcement and appeals processes." This was the correct course of action, because it protected the foundation of its site, while guaranteeing a means of expressing the wide range of identities people may have.It is something to keep in mind, however, that there may be reasons why companies require some private information for our benefit that we may not understand. Contacting the company itself is always a great option to getting any questions answered that you may have even after reading about its policy. Maybe preventing the days of Myspace are in our own hands by being more honest in our identities online. So should you use your real name online or not? Well, that’s up to you.Reach the columnist at tnunez1@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @TayNunzEditor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
(09/29/14 9:59pm)
Take a moment and think about the stories told by your grandparents. Most likely, the things they did, how they behaved and the way they thought is different from you. Now think about the stories told by your parents. The way they talk about their childhood probably varies a little from that of your grandparents, but most likely encompasses some of the same morals they held. But now think about your stories — what you have experienced, seen and thought. These thoughts are probably not close at all with that of your grandparents and your parents.
(09/17/14 10:06pm)
When discussing their education, most ASU students expect the dreaded eye roll and soft “oh” after answering “What college do you attend?” This type of response makes it seem as if an education provided by ASU is not valid and does not suffice in the real world. But if someone were to respond with an answer such as “I'm a student at Cronkite” or “I'm attending the W.P Carey School of Business," all is right in the world. Why must students put up with this? Being a part of one of the many exceptional programs at ASU is the same thing as being part of ASU, is it not?Before learning about any of the programs offered at ASU, people's knowledge of the University is limited to its bad reputation of crazy partying and abundance of alcohol around campus. These are characteristics spread around by word of mouth, stories on the news, sitcoms, and random sites on the Internet saying "there are parties everywhere!" People are always ready to speak badly of the University, but when it comes to looking at the facts, these thoughts don't add up.People agree there are excellent academic opportunities for students in specific schools, but never admit this openly when speaking of ASU. Among all the negativity, the perception of the separate academic programs at ASU have become much more esteemed than the reputation of the University as a whole.
Let's look at some of these prestigious programs offered at the University. The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering rank in the top 25 percent for undergraduate programs of its kind. The faculty members exceed 300 and many of them have been given some of the highest awards in their fields. The Herberger School of Arts is home to five different specialties, including art, music, dance, film and design. It has been nationally recognized for its excellence and is also home to the nation's first digital culture bachelor's of arts degree, which is a field becoming more prominent within the arts. The W.P. Carey of School of Business is the "only school in Arizona among the top 30 in the nation" and in the "top five graduate schools of the West."The students of Walter Cronkite School of Journalism have placed in the top 10 nationally in the Hearst Journalism Awards for the past 13 years, and the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College moved up to No. 18 of graduate programs in education. Not only that, but ASU is among the top producers of U.S. Fulbright student scholarship winners, which is not something people are aware of when giving students the “dirty look” for attending ASU.
Now what about after college? Does ASU produce hard-working and successful professionals in the work field? According to a survey conducted by The Wall Street Journal, ASU ranks No. 5 on a list of universities that produces the best qualified graduate students as preferred by employers. It is also home to Barrett, the Honors College, which has more National Merit Scholars than MIT, Duke, Brown, Stanford or the University of California-Berkeley and was named the “Best Honors College” in the nation.
ASU is a leader in student entrepreneurship and community partnerships, and it continually offers new degrees in emerging fields. So perhaps the perception of ASU is being negatively influenced by the party reputation and crazy drinking stories. However, it is not possible to attend a horrible, yet brilliant school at the same time. Either ASU is a terrible school, or it is a school with remarkable academic programs — pick one.
Reach the columnist at tnunez1@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @TayNunzEditor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
(08/22/14 12:22am)
“I nominate…” have been the beginning words to almost every video watched within the last couple of months. It involves ice, water, a cameraman, and just a hint of dramatic screaming. All these elements combined create what is known as the Ice Bucket Challenge, which began with the intent of raising awareness for ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in a fun way that would get people involved, but at the same time raise money for the cause. As simple and insignificant as it may seem, The New York Times reports this challenge has raised around $41.8 million from July 29 to August 21, which is "more than double the $19.4 million in total contributions the association received during the year that ended Jan. 31, 2013."