When you think of a police officer what's the first thing that comes to mind? Parking tickets, traffic violations and extreme, high speed car chases, right? If you have watched a few too many episodes of COPS you probably think being a police officer is really intense and exciting all the time; however, that isn't the case.
During my seven-hour ride along with Fort Worth Police Officer Jon Romer, I quickly learned life, as an officer isn't always as exciting as I thought it was. I had high hopes of a drug bust or gang activity, but I was soon informed with a smile from Officer Romer, that it's a hit or miss while patrolling his beat. Some nights it is really intense and extremely busy and other nights, like last night, it was unbelievably slow.
While I was cruising the streets of Fort Worth I learned how to scan license plates, read and reply to calls and the e-mail system that officers use to communicate while patrolling together.
We were able to respond to a couple calls. These included a disturbance call and a noise complaint. The disturbance call was about 20 children playing basketball in the middle of the street and not moving for cars. (They certainly moved once they saw us pull up in a police car).
We also responded to a call regarding a lady who had a complaint about a dog barking. Once we arrived on the scene the dog had stopped barking, leaving little for us to do to help the woman who called complaining. She was aggravated with us and threatened to keep calling every hour the barking continued (we were at the scene for about 25 minutes and never heard a dog bark). Officer Romer apologized gave her the case number and we left.
Police officers are here to keep people safe and more importantly make people feel safe. At times calls seen basic and of little importance, but an officer showing up after someone has called in a complaint makes them feel safe. This builds respect among the community, which helps the officers do their jobs effectively.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Community Involvement
She started working in Career Services at TCU, but it wasn't for her. Mary Kathleen Baldwin, better known as MK, has always be involved in community service, so about a year ago when a position opened up in TCU's Community Involvement and Service-Learning center opened up, she knew it was for her.
As the assistant director for the center she manages community service projects for higher education. Overseeing projects such as, service spring break projects, volunteer fair, LEAPS and alcohol violations.
"Alcohol violations are the least fun part of my job," Baldwin said. "People come here with the misconception that we are the bad guys, but we just follow through on their community service requirements. It's hard to get them interested in community service. I love community service, so it's discouraging when students come in hating it."
Baldwin's favorite part of her job is being able to work with energetic students who are really energetic and have a passion for what they are doing.
"I can connect with people who really want to get involved in the community and it just makes me happy to be a part of it," Baldwin said.
As the assistant director for the center she manages community service projects for higher education. Overseeing projects such as, service spring break projects, volunteer fair, LEAPS and alcohol violations.
"Alcohol violations are the least fun part of my job," Baldwin said. "People come here with the misconception that we are the bad guys, but we just follow through on their community service requirements. It's hard to get them interested in community service. I love community service, so it's discouraging when students come in hating it."
Baldwin's favorite part of her job is being able to work with energetic students who are really energetic and have a passion for what they are doing.
"I can connect with people who really want to get involved in the community and it just makes me happy to be a part of it," Baldwin said.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Headphones and Housework
Yanet Ortic always has her headphones in and a smile on her face while doing housework around Frances Sadler Hall. The music keeps her busy and her spirits high. She greets everyone with a "hello" when they cross her path.
Ortic has worked as a housekeeper for TCU for three years. She has worked in Martin Moore Hall, Samuelson and Frances Sadler Hall. Ortic chose to work at TCU because of the good benefits and hours they offered.
"My favorite part about housekeeping is cleaning the chapter rooms. They are the easiest for me to clean," Ortic said.
At 24, three children and a husband at home, it was important to Ortic when she took the job that she was home to spend time with her family. Being home at 3:30 each day helps her create time to spend with her eight-year-old boy, three-year-old boy and one-year-old girl.
On the weekends she cleans her own house and takes the kids to the park so they can spend some time outside.
Ortic has worked as a housekeeper for TCU for three years. She has worked in Martin Moore Hall, Samuelson and Frances Sadler Hall. Ortic chose to work at TCU because of the good benefits and hours they offered.
"My favorite part about housekeeping is cleaning the chapter rooms. They are the easiest for me to clean," Ortic said.
At 24, three children and a husband at home, it was important to Ortic when she took the job that she was home to spend time with her family. Being home at 3:30 each day helps her create time to spend with her eight-year-old boy, three-year-old boy and one-year-old girl.
On the weekends she cleans her own house and takes the kids to the park so they can spend some time outside.
Monday, April 20, 2009
A Friendly Face
She has two teenagers of her own, but that doesn't stop Linda Matthews from being a cheerful and loving person towards the students of the College of Education at TCU. As the administrative assistant the most rewarding part of her job is when she can help a student who comes to her distraught and with a problem they don't think they can fix.
"I just enjoy helping people and love interacting with the students," she said.
Her office is a popular place for students who need help, need someone to listen and for children of professors who want to catch a glimpse of one of the three fish tanks in her office. It creates a tranquil atmosphere on the third floor of Palko.
Matthews has a true passion for helping students. You can see it in her smile as she talks about leading a small group at Frog Camp Casa A each summer. She encourages her small group to be her Facebook friend, keep in touch and ask for help when they need it, even if it isn't related to the College of Education.
With an inconsistent routine, Matthews is ready for anything during the day. She answers phones, returns e-mails, unlocks rooms, collects paperwork, files paperwork and keeps forms in order, but she always leaves time for students in need of a friendly face.
"I just enjoy helping people and love interacting with the students," she said.
Her office is a popular place for students who need help, need someone to listen and for children of professors who want to catch a glimpse of one of the three fish tanks in her office. It creates a tranquil atmosphere on the third floor of Palko.
Matthews has a true passion for helping students. You can see it in her smile as she talks about leading a small group at Frog Camp Casa A each summer. She encourages her small group to be her Facebook friend, keep in touch and ask for help when they need it, even if it isn't related to the College of Education.
With an inconsistent routine, Matthews is ready for anything during the day. She answers phones, returns e-mails, unlocks rooms, collects paperwork, files paperwork and keeps forms in order, but she always leaves time for students in need of a friendly face.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Frustration
Frustration about the Neely School of Business and only end results led Lane Lamb to the College of Education his sophomore year at TCU.
"Once I transferred to the college of education I had every intention of being a high school teacher and coach," Lamb said.
However, his vision changed. After visiting high school around the Fort Worth community Lamb realized that the educational means aren't there and it frustrates him.
This frustration has led him to a different career path. He wants to be a Congressman. He is applying to law schools in the fall in hopes of attending the University of Texas at Austin.
"If I get a perfect score on the LSAT then I look elsewhere, but UT is my top choice," Lamb said with a smile.
Business major turned secondary education social studies major turned Congressman...how and why?
Lamb wants to better education in the U.S. and the best way to do it is from the top down.
"I want to gain experience before I enter the classroom and teach students how the government works," Lamb said.
As a Congressman, he wants to increase funding and make sure funds go to more specific places in order to directly benefit education. He also wants better incentives for teachers in order have the best people teaching our youth.
"Besides, there aren't many education majors on Capital Hill," Lamb said laughing.
"Once I transferred to the college of education I had every intention of being a high school teacher and coach," Lamb said.
However, his vision changed. After visiting high school around the Fort Worth community Lamb realized that the educational means aren't there and it frustrates him.
This frustration has led him to a different career path. He wants to be a Congressman. He is applying to law schools in the fall in hopes of attending the University of Texas at Austin.
"If I get a perfect score on the LSAT then I look elsewhere, but UT is my top choice," Lamb said with a smile.
Business major turned secondary education social studies major turned Congressman...how and why?
Lamb wants to better education in the U.S. and the best way to do it is from the top down.
"I want to gain experience before I enter the classroom and teach students how the government works," Lamb said.
As a Congressman, he wants to increase funding and make sure funds go to more specific places in order to directly benefit education. He also wants better incentives for teachers in order have the best people teaching our youth.
"Besides, there aren't many education majors on Capital Hill," Lamb said laughing.
27 Outs
The diamond is perfectly manicured. The lush green grass mowed to the appropriate height, the infield freshly watered and baselines neatly raked. The batters boxes painted with procession, marked and remarked to insure perfection.
The cool breeze blows towards left field and country music fills the stands loud enough to be heard, but without being a distraction to the couple dozen fans that have already arrived, the true diehards.
The blank score board symbolizes a new beginning for the TCU Horned Frogs. That paired with their crisp, white jersey's brings a calm to the audience as the team huddles for a pre-game pep talk.
The smell of hotdogs fills the air and a few clouds spot the sky; this can only be one place, Williams-Reilly Field.
The stands continue to fill, starting line-ups are announced and the National Anthem sung. Then time stops, for baseball isn't about time, it's about the 27 outs that follow.
The cool breeze blows towards left field and country music fills the stands loud enough to be heard, but without being a distraction to the couple dozen fans that have already arrived, the true diehards.
The blank score board symbolizes a new beginning for the TCU Horned Frogs. That paired with their crisp, white jersey's brings a calm to the audience as the team huddles for a pre-game pep talk.
The smell of hotdogs fills the air and a few clouds spot the sky; this can only be one place, Williams-Reilly Field.
The stands continue to fill, starting line-ups are announced and the National Anthem sung. Then time stops, for baseball isn't about time, it's about the 27 outs that follow.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Greek Week Opening Cook-Off
The smell of mesquite BBQ filled the air as members of 30 fraternal groups on campus gathered on the grassy knoll to learn who made up their teams for Greek Week.
The fraternal organizations were divided into five teams, all named after Greek Gods and Goddesses. As a unified group each team will compete for the next week to earn the most points through Greek Olympics, spirit, a can food drive and community service. The money raised by all groups will be donated the Boy and Girls Clubs of Fort Worth.
Six white tents were set up on the healthy and lushes grass, five are the new homes to each Greek Week team and one for those who over see the events.
The opening ceremony task was to cook and present the perfect hamburger for a panel of five, including Carrie Zimmerman, Bill Moncrief, David Bedford, Mike Hackemack and Bob Akin.
Team members of Artemis quickly grabbed their iphones, once teams were announced, trying to gather the appropriate and essential ingredients (bacon bits, shredded cheese, garlic salt, mesquite smoked flavoring, dry rub and an egg) quickly in hopes of winning the hamburger cook-off. After a short twenty minutes all burgers were turned in and judged.
As students awaited the results they gathered in clumps waiting for their own burgers as they battled the wind trying to keep paper plates, paper napkins and condiments on the wooden folding tables.
After much anticipation team Artemis was announced the burger cook-off winner and took the lead for day one of Greek Week.
After the success team Artemis chanted, high-fived and talked about continuing the victory the following day at Greek Olympics.
The fraternal organizations were divided into five teams, all named after Greek Gods and Goddesses. As a unified group each team will compete for the next week to earn the most points through Greek Olympics, spirit, a can food drive and community service. The money raised by all groups will be donated the Boy and Girls Clubs of Fort Worth.
Six white tents were set up on the healthy and lushes grass, five are the new homes to each Greek Week team and one for those who over see the events.
The opening ceremony task was to cook and present the perfect hamburger for a panel of five, including Carrie Zimmerman, Bill Moncrief, David Bedford, Mike Hackemack and Bob Akin.
Team members of Artemis quickly grabbed their iphones, once teams were announced, trying to gather the appropriate and essential ingredients (bacon bits, shredded cheese, garlic salt, mesquite smoked flavoring, dry rub and an egg) quickly in hopes of winning the hamburger cook-off. After a short twenty minutes all burgers were turned in and judged.
As students awaited the results they gathered in clumps waiting for their own burgers as they battled the wind trying to keep paper plates, paper napkins and condiments on the wooden folding tables.
After much anticipation team Artemis was announced the burger cook-off winner and took the lead for day one of Greek Week.
After the success team Artemis chanted, high-fived and talked about continuing the victory the following day at Greek Olympics.
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