Tropical Storm Alex's Potential Effects on the Gulf

Journal #4: June 24, 2010

Topic: Tropical Storm Alex and the Gulf Oil Spill

Tropical Storm Alex is the first storm of the 2010 Hurricane Season.  It started forming sometime around June 14, and it instantly became a cause for concern for the relief efforts in the Gulf.  Early on the tropical storm was predicted to head towards Louisiana, meaning it would go right through the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

This causes serious concern for the people involved in the oil spill cleanup.  If the storm were to hit the Gulf area filled with oil, all relief efforts would have to be suspended and boats would have to clear the area.  This would be a very big setback in the oil cleanup efforts.  What’s equally as concerning is how much oil would be pushed ashore due to the tropical storm.  This would not only cause problems for cleanup in the gulf but onshore as well.  Many areas are not prepared for oil cleanup onshore of that magnitude.

So many animals have been harmed due to the oil, and it would only get worse if a tropical storm or hurricane was to pass through the area.  Animals who are not in oiled water would eventually be thrown into the area, either by the waves pushing them there or by the oil spreading into their non-oiled water.

As of today, weather forcasters no longer believe that the tropical storm is headed towards the Gulf, which is a good thing for everyone.  Cleanup crews can continue their cleanup and citizens of the Gulf reason don’t need to do anymore worrying.  Though they don’t believe it will pass through the oiled Gulf, it’s still too soon to tell.

Field Trip #1 - Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Journal #3: June 23, 2010

Topic: Reflections on Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

The idea of walking around the swamp in the Florida heat was not something that initially interested me.  Surprisingly enough, we spent most of our time covered in the shade of the Big Cypress Swamp area, and I really enjoyed my time there.  I found the trip to be educational and personally beneficial.  On the personal level, I reconnected with nature and found a lot of solitude in it.

Environmentally, the field trip to Corkscrew was very informative.  While on the trip we saw many different kinds of plants, including the Alligator Flags, Water Lettuce, Crinum Lilies, Saw Palmettos, Big Cypress Trees, and Swamp Apples.  All of these plants play a crucial part in our ecosystem.

Corkscrew is home to many different animals, and even though we didn’t get to see alligators and snakes, we saw many unique animals that I had never seen before.  Among my favorite were the Lubber Grasshopper, the Carolina Anole, and the Pileated Woodpecker.  Towards the end of the trip is when we saw the Lubber Grasshopper.  It was so close to us and I was amazed at how beautiful it actually was, especially since I hate bugs!

Wetlands are so important in protecting the quality of water.  When the water sits in the swamp area, it is able to purify itself before making its way to the watershed.  This area is a unique and diverse setting that is needed in order for many plants and animals to survive.

I found the trip to Corkscrew to be extremely informative and relaxing, and I learned a great deal about wildlife and plants on this trip.  I loved walking along the boardwalk in the Big Cypress swamp area.  I had such a great time that I’m considering taking a trip back there with my family!

Can Chi Omega be a Completely Sustainable Sorority?

Journal #2: June 22, 2010

Topic: What can Chi Omega do to be a “greener” sorority?

A few months ago, one of my sorority sisters asked a question on Facebook: “Can Chi Omega be a completely sustainable sorority?”  She was using this question (among others) for her final Colloquium project.  At the time, I sat back and watched other people’s answers.  Now I have a few answers of my own.

I do believe that it’s possible for Chi Omega to be a sustainable sorority.  It would take participation by all sisters, and it would require sisters to alter their lifestyles.  Is it realistic?  Probably not.

There are steps that we can take to reduce our ecological footprint and be ‘greener.’   One of the biggest things we can change is driving.  A big thing that worries people about the Ride2FGCU program is driving with strangers.  But in Chi Omega, we’re not strangers.  If we all just buddied up and drove to campus rather than drove by ourselves, we’d be reduce the amount of pollution we’re releasing into the air.  This also goes for socials.  Either we need to carpool to socials, use busses for socials, or have socials that are closer to the university.  When we’re at socials, I think it would be smart if we reused our cups instead of throwing them out and getting a new one each time.  We also need to make sure that there are recycling bins at the venues so that sisters can recycle their bottles.  Instead of printing out documents or forms, we could email them out.  If a sister needs to print it, then she could print it on her own.  A lot of times, papers that are passed out just get thrown out (not recycled).

There are many things that Chi Omega can do to be more environmentally friendly.  While I don’t believe we can be a completely sustainable sorority, I do believe that there are many things we can do to reduce our ecological footprint.

Initial Thoughts on Colloquium

Journal #1: June 21, 2010

Topic: Initial Thoughts about Colloquium

There’s so much negative stigma about Colloquium.  Many of my friends are older than me so they all gave me their opinions on the course. People told me that the professors were unqualified, the material is biased, the service learning is useless, and that the class shouldn’t be mandatory.  There’s even a Facebook group out there called “Colloquium: Give Us a Choice.”  I had a hard time forming my own opinion about the course since I was surrounded by a single opinion.  I always told myself, “just get it over with.”

It wasn’t until recently that my attitude toward the class changed.  A friend (who took the class during Summer A) told me how fun and awesome the class was.  She showed me her pictures from field trips and told me stories from her class.  She told me things I never heard before – you take really cool field trips that bring you close to Florida wildlife, you can do service learning with classmates, and the journals are submitted electronically.  After hearing all of that, my opinions instantly changed, and I’m really excited for the class.  I think the class will be really informative and actually kind of fun.

Welcome to my blog!!

Many professors have their students do their Colloquium in the form of a blog, but even though mine isn't having us do that, I figured I'd make one anyway.  I'm on Blogger a lot anyway managing my other two blogs (My Life in Wonderland and Project 365), so I figured I'd transfer all of my journals from a Word document to this blog.

Hope you enjoy reading abut my experiences in University Colloquium at Florida Gulf Coast University!!