Jocelyn's Comm 303 Blog

I found this story on The New York Times Web site. It is about suicides in India. Along with it, there were readers comments, a link to a biographical page about India, and a few pictures of people devastated by the loss of family members or friends. I like the reader’s comments and the link that lets the reader know more about India. The pictures used were vivid and showed a lot of emotion. These elements help to bring the story full circle and give the reader as much information as possible.

This story from The L.A. Times about the offshore drilling is another good new package. It has more different kinds of multimedia to go with it, including a map of drilling plan. It includes related stories from outside The L.A. Times, which gives readers the option to see what other news outlets are reporting.

This story found in The Dallas Morning News is not a good news package. The only visual aid it has is a picture of someone using an iPhone. It has links to related stories about Apple, but it also has links to stories about IBM. I don’t think those IBM stories belong there.

Two men attempted to rob Delia Moss, 83, at gunpoint, yesterday, outside of the McDonalds on Pickett Road.

Fairfax Police Sgt. D’Andre Shields says the old lady swung her purse and knocked the gun into the bushes. One suspect, Josh Auerbach, 40, is in custody. His accomplice, a white male in his mid-30s with a buzz cut and a short gray beard, wearing glasses and a pink sweater, is still at large.

Three students from the Alpha Beta Zeta fraternity were admitted to a local hospital early Sunday morning and were diagnosed with alcohol poisoning. One is listed in critical condition.

Press Martin, a junior, engineering major from Shethar, N.D. and Rob Smith, a sophomore, business major from here in town were released on Monday morning, but freshmen, liberal arts major Al Amalek, from Nashville, Tenn. is in critical condition.

University president Harvey Smithville restated the previous policy that banned alcohol from any fraternity house located on campus property or within campus environs. The policy states: “any fraternity in which the members have alcohol will be immediately suspended. A second offense with a year will result in the banning of that fraternity for five years.”

Interfraternity Council president Bart Addison said the council agrees with President Smithville and alcohol should not be allowed at fraternity parties.  The university also released a statement saying witnesses saw the young men drinking and the fraternity will be suspended. Jan Mize, representative from the university’s public relations department, said that a one-year suspension usually results from these circumstances and actions.

Addison believes the entire fraternity should not be blamed and he hopes the president will reconsider the suspension of the ABZ’s.