A Different Perspective on Trump

By Sherry Zuege

Mother-In-Law calls him “Comb-over”, Ivana called him “The Donald”, and I call him my first opportunity to see a presidential candidate in person. Donald Trump was in the Fort Howard room at the Weidner Center on the UW Green Bay campus recently for a town hall meeting that aired that same night on MSNBC.

The event was invitation only. I heard through the grapevine that faculty and staff were invited and some were able to share tickets with a few students. I think the students who were asked to attend were the over-achievers that typically excel. I begged to go and I promised I would write a story about it afterward. Ta Da.

In order to attend, my name was given to the powers that be and then I got an official email from the media representative from MSNBC. She wanted my complete legal name, social security number, date of birth, and place of birth. I offered it up and about two hours later I had a response that instructed me to print the email to be used as my ticket. I also had to show photo identification at the door. After I divulged all of this super secret information I wondered about the person I just gave it to so I googled her. She is a tall, thin, well-dressed, beautiful New York business woman. She was the junior publicist for the Dr. Phil show and The Doctors. She moved up to senior publicist at NBC. From there she did publicity for Fox and now media relations for MSNBC. This big-city woman intimidated me just from her LinkedIn page. Imagine all of the famous people she’s met.

On the day of the big event I left home early in anticipation of heavy traffic, secret service, road blockages, and car searches. There was nothing of the sort so I sat in the parking lot fiddling with my phone for quite a while to waste time. A group started to gather in front of the Weidner an hour before the doors would open at 10:30 a.m. I joined them at 9:45 a.m. Walking up I saw a group of about 50ish protestors in their cattle-like holding area singing “Let it Be”. It reminded me of the old movies about college protestors in the 1970’s. I snuggled into the crowd because the wind was chilly.

While I was standing there eaves-dropping on various conversations, I spotted a middle-aged man carrying several camera bags and a camera with a lens the size of an assault rifle. “Aha, he must be a national media person,” I thought. I went over and introduced myself.  He was from Getty Images here to take photos. He worked for the Milwaukee Journal for many years but now freelances as a photographer. I thought if I stick with him it will be a piece of cake to get in early. He called the media relations lady (the intimidating New Yorker) and sure enough, we were in about 20 minutes before the doors opened to the invitation only crowd.

I had a bag with my notebook, pens, phone, car keys, and a bottle of water in it. The secret service man with weapons and radios dangling all over was wearing medical gloves. He dug through my bag like a kid looking for gum.  He passed my bag onto the next person. I had to walk through the metal detector and it lit up in red. Uh oh. Next they used the hand wand to detect where the metal was. I’m not sure, but I think it was my underwire bra.

Once inside I was ushered to the media viewing area. Little did I know all the media people were supposed to sit in the lobby in front of two big-screen TVs. There was supposed to be a full house in the Fort Howard room so we were confined to the “holding tank”.  I met Ellery McCardle from WBAY. She’s a tiny, little thing. I also met a man from the Associated Press. I have a sneaking suspicion that he may have been the first to break the news about Trump’s stance on abortion. After a few minutes we met the media representative from MSNBC. She was an intimidating New Yorker but very nice. She had just gotten done with an event in Miami with Marco Rubio and she didn’t know where they would send her next. She talked for a minute and darted away. She looked very busy and important.

I got bored sitting in the holding tank so I started to poke around. I walked down the hall toward the Fort Howard room to see what was going on. I introduced myself to security and asked to peek inside the room. I was directed to the chief of police then to the secret service then to the MSNBC floor director. I just wanted to look in the room. The place was crawling with secret service, paramedics, ambulance, fire and rescue, local law enforcement, and campus police. I tried to talk with a secret service officer who told me everyone is from Washington D.C. Then she turned away to stop any conversation. She’s probably trained to do that.

The MSNBC crew came in and put their computers, cameras, and video equipment on the floor all spread out. The door from outside into the holding tank was guarded. Everyone in the area was told to move back because the K-9 dog is coming in and he bites. In sprang the most beautiful Belgian Malinois with his handler from the Green Bay Police Department. The dog worked and checked all the equipment and gave the all clear. Being an insane animal lover I just knew the dog wouldn’t bite me. I nonchalantly wandered over to the officer and asked him if I could sit next to him and the dog. He said yes but don’t touch because he bites. The officer told me the dog’s name is Cops and he is the largest K-9 dog in the state. The officer gave me Cops’ business card and the giant Malinois got right into my face and started sniffing me. I held perfectly still and fought the urge to hug him. The officer said Cops was very tired because he was working on campus all morning in advance of the big event.

About 11:00 a.m. the doors opened and the invited guests began to filter through the metal detector, hand detector, secret service, and other security. They were brought in in small groups, briefed, and escorted to the Fort Howard room and were told where to sit. I decided to meander out of the holding tank and back to the Fort Howard room for another peak. This time I stood in the doorway for a few minutes and overheard Mayor Jim Schmitt talking to who I believe was the chief of police. The floor director came near the door and I made eye contact with her and introduced myself. She offered to have me go in and occupy a seat. I jumped at the chance.

I took my seat and watched the swarm of activity. MSNBC had a large crew of people all dressed in black and with credentials hanging around their necks. They looked like a bunch of ants with a disturbed nest. Some were doing microphone tests and others were adjusting cameras. A camera man with equipment strapped to his waste was practicing his shots with a little guy following him around holding the electrical cord. He was winding and unwinding the cord and staring at the floor. I could picture the camera man stopping abruptly and the little guy just running into his back.  Another person was making sure the back drop was hanging properly and yet another kept adjusting the chairs for the moderator and Mr. Trump. Several people were in charge of seating the audience.  The floor director would have people switch seating assignments and at first I wondered why. Soon I realized she was moving people around so the audience looked more diversified.

A man came around handing out pens and index cards. If you had a question you had to write it on the card along with your section number, row, and seat number. He collected the cards when we were done. Every time he talked, you could hear his heavy New York accent.

The floor director told people that once the taping of the show starts you cannot leave so go to the bathroom now if you have to. She warned that in the event you need to leave the room you must get an MSNBC person’s attention. They have a way to get you out without disturbing the taping of the show. But, then you cannot return.

Moderator Chris Matthews was brought in and introduced to the crowd. He talked for a few minutes and tested his clear plastic high chair. He commented that the chairs were too close to each other. The whole time he was talking a woman was lint rolling his suit and then combed his hair with a tooth brush. He went about his conversation as if she wasn’t even there. He left the room and within seconds someone was moving the chairs a bit further apart.

The floor director finished arranging people and said it was almost time to begin. Secret service swarmed the room and took positions throughout. In walked Chris Matthews and took his seat. In walked Donald Trump, waved to the crowd and took his seat. His hair looked crisp, his face looked full of makeup, his voice was hoarse, and yes, his hands are small. He looked just like he looks on TV.

The show began and ran like a finely choreographed dance number. On commercial breaks the lint girl came out and quickly and rolled Matthews and Trump. The camera man ran over with a bottle of water for Trump. Matthews looked over his notes. People chosen to ask questions were moved to the floor and their seats were filled with someone else so there wouldn’t be empty seats on camera. I had the impression the questions were hand-picked and the people were chosen based on diversity.

The show finished and Trump was quickly ushered out by his secret service men. We had to remain seated for a “live shot” Matthews had to do for MSNBC. When it was all said and done it was fascinating to watch the activity before, during and after the show. But I have to say in all honesty, I enjoyed meeting the K-9 dog the most.

 

 

Finals Week: Where college students bring multiple tips and experiences to the table

By Dylan Buboltz and Dan Norman

With the holidays around the corner, college students have one last hurdle to overcome before their much anticipated Christmas break. That hurdle: finals week. Every student has their own ways to study, tips they  follow, and previous experiences to guide them through that stressful week.

Photo courtesy of Chris Buboltz

Chris Buboltz, a senior, sport and recreation management major at Marian University (WI), prefers to study for finals the night before every final. Buboltz highlights that he comprehends the information better the night before, and fears of forgetting the material if studying over multiple nights. “While I think studying for multiple nights is effective and has its benefits, studying the night before has helped me in the past. It is definitely works for some and doesn’t work for others.”

Emily Witte, a senior, communication major at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, has her own effective ways of studying for finals as well. Some of the tips Witte mentions is that she asks questions to better understand the material. She also mentions about explaining the material to someone who doesn’t know it and that it would show how much she really knows the information.

Photo courtesy Emily Witte

While there are students who may study the night before a final as their approach, there are some students who take studying for finals as a multiple night approach. Allyssa Novak, a senior, communication major at UWGB, takes a different approach to how she prefers studying for finals. “I always make a point to review questions or key points that I’m not as familiar with. Sometimes studying with friends and classmates is also effective. Bouncing ideas off one another is a good source of inspiration.”

Some college students have  received some beneficial tips on how to study for finals as well. Witte has received tips that have helped her in the past. “Make friends with your professors, they will help you succeed,” Witte said.

Studying for finals and having a successful routine can lead students to great success in their educational lives. Kelly Derwinski, a Physical Therapy student at Northwestern continues her studying habits she developed during her undergraduate career at UWGB. “I make a schedule every day for myself of what I need to get done and try and stay on top of all work during the week so I have some free time on the weekend, I also study every night.” Derwinski tends to begin studying before finals so she doesn’t have to cram and learn new material the night before.

Being prepared for finals week and not procrastinating until the night before is very beneficial because students will get better grades, being prepared will also decrease the level of stress that comes with finals week. Derwinski offered her solution for studying for multiple subjects at once, “I would tell students to start studying in advance and switch subjects every few hours. You won’t retain the information if you cram for 10 straight hours.”

Buboltz has also taken tips from upperclassmen throughout the years and has incorporated it into his finals week approach. He talks about the importance of intervals and specifically mentions about studying for an hour and then taking a ten minute break. He also highlights that studying for hours straight doesn’t help him and that he loses focus on the material in hand.

Photo courtesy Allyssa Novak

Like Buboltz, Novak has also received  beneficial tips studying for finals in her own right. Novak mentions “Do whatever you feel comfortable with. Don’t try to take on too much at once. Pace yourself.” Being comfortable and sticking with a routine when studying for finals can make it easier to prepare for finals.

An article posted on the UW Credit Union website offered five tips for coping with the stress of finals week. 1. Create a study schedule, 2. Study strategically, 3. Form a study group, 4. Treat your body right, 5. Picture your success and the end of finals week. Implementing these tips for overcoming stress during finals week would be beneficial for all college students.

Finals week can also be hectic for students that have multiple finals in one week. Novak specifically mentions that it is all about being comfortable and doing what works for the individual. Novak states “Again, do what you feel comfortable with. Create a study schedule and map it all out. I create a strict lesson plan two weeks before finals happen to stay on track.”

Welcome to the stressful life, and good luck during finals week.

Flash’black’ friday: Remember the Furby

By Sarah Seifert and Taylor Navis

After its inception in 1998 and resurrection in 2012, does Generation Y’s favorite toy of the ‘90s, the Furby, still have a market this Black Friday for college students?

The ‘90s ushered in a decade of iconic toys. The New York Post details Beanie Babies’ meteoric rise and fall; the Huffington Post reminisces about Tamagotchis, Polly Pockets, and Easy Bake Ovens. But one of the most polarizing toys of the decade was a chattering Gremlin-like robot with multiple personalities and a voice loud enough to wake the dead. The Furby required a level of attention similar to babysitting a two-year-old, and often sounded like one: giggling, burping, moaning, and screeching if not fed and petted. It featured on children’s Christmas lists and their parents’ nightmares.

Angela Navis, a native of Waupun, Wisconsin, bought her twin girls each a Furby when they were in grade school in 2000. “I don’t think the girls expected them to be so alive. You had to feed them at a certain time and I remember them walking around with them and holding them.” Navis added, “They drove me crazy. I would hear them (the Furbies) talking and didn’t know where it was coming from. I would have to find them because the girls hid them.”

Photo courtesy of Laura Belen Tudela./Flickr Creative Commons

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Furby was the hot gift of 1998’s Black Friday and holiday season. “The Furby originally cost less than $50, but because of great demand, prices soared into the hundreds.”  With its owlish features and an adorably irritating voice, the Furby had all the hallmarks of a classic. In the year following its launch, 27 million Furbies were sold, according to Furby Toy Shop.

“Mark 2” Furbies were released in 2005 with improved facial movements and voice recognition, Furby Toy Shop says. This version wasn’t as successful as its predecessor, however, and by 2007 was rarely seen on Black Friday shelves. Millennials turned to interactive toys like Tickle Me Elmo, and parents everywhere breathed a sigh of relief as the Furby’s nonsensical babbling was put to rest.

But in 2012, Hasbro brought the Furby out of its five-year retirement, according to Marc Graser from Variety. The Furby Boom comes with its own set of updates, an app, and a promise of increased interactivity, according to HNGN. Pop culture sites immediately released strongly-worded reviews. Gizmodo called it “insanity incarnate,” saying, “Furby 2040 is inevitable, and Furby 2012 is a significant step in this dynasty’s evolution.” PCMag cited it “a good update for the Furby aficionado…(but) the novelty wore off just as quickly as it did with the last iteration.”

By its redesign, Hasbro is attempting to market the toy to a completely different audience: the kids of the ‘90s, who are now in college. “A national television campaign will focus on today’s kids. Hasbro will try to sell Furby as a retro toy via Facebook and Twitter to shoppers in their 20s, who were kids when the toy debuted in 1998,” according to Matt Townsend of Bloomberg. But is creating an app enough to reboot a fixture of millennials’ childhoods? Is Hasbro really going to sell Furbies to 20-year-olds?

Cody Von Ruden, a theatre and graphic design double major at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, says if the toy was cheap, he would buy a Furby for nostalgia purposes. His fellow theatre majors Jena Tolksdorf and Abby Stuckey agreed. Even though Stuckey never experienced the toy as a child, she says, “Hearing so much hype about them, I feel like I’d buy one and just keep it in a shoebox and see what would happen.”

The Furby is making a comeback, but not as the comforting robot aimed at children – it’s returning as a pop culture phenomenon. Millennials are embracing the adorably obnoxious robot for its eccentricity, and although it may not be what Hasbro was aiming for, the toys continue to sell.  The newest iteration, 2015’s Wookie Furby tied to the resurrected Star Wars franchise, is part of a $1 billion surge in retail toy sales, says John Kell of Fortune.

Furbacca the Star Wars Furby./podracerdave/Flickr Creative Commons

However, Hasbro’s optimism may be in vain. Not only have toy sales declined in 2012, but even an association with one of the most successful film franchises in history doesn’t seem to be helping sales. Ean Baker, a Target employee, commented on Furbacca. “We haven’t sold many of the [Star Wars] Furbies since their midnight release on September 4.” Baker wasn’t optimistic about Target’s future sales of the Furbacca, either.

If Hasbro’s younger audience is gone, there’s clearly twenty-somethings that will at least buy the toy for old times’ sake. Search “funny Furby videos” on YouTube and thousands of hits appear. There’s something about the Gremlin-like toy’s immature, stubborn charm that appeals to Generation Y, and if Hasbro embraces that image, Furby may re-emerge.