Red Is The New Bond

The leaves might be falling but shows are just blooming. Fall marks the start to new series, returning seasons, and all-around excited viewers. Among the hype of ABC's new #TGIT line-up, FOX has a story of its own to tell.

Or should I say Charlie has a story to tell?

Fox's newest hit, "Red Band Society," based on a true story, came to life on Sept. 17 through the voice of Charlie (Giffin Gluck), also known as 'coma boy'. This Steven Spielberg creation tells the story of six kids battling different types of illnesses, bound to an Los Angeles hospital, all told through a series of voiceovers from Charlie who has been a coma for quite some time now.

A little strange right? Not necessarily.

The cast and their "also known as" names
Courtesy of spoilertv.com

There are six individual stories to be told. Jordi (Nolan Sotillo), the 'new guy,' Leo (Charlie Rowe), the one who has been through it all, Dash (Astro), the one who thinks he can even get the nurse the like him, Emma (Clara Bravo), the girl who needs to close her text book and eat a meal, and Kara (Zoe Levin), the heartless cheerleader in heart failure. And what better way to capture all these characters' stories than by someone who can see everything that is taking place from above? A reliable outsider who is literally on the outside...outside the realm of life. 

Evaluating Recent and Ongoing Crime In Charleston

Here in Charleston S.C., there are many reports of crime. Students at the College of Charleston receive emails from the school's president and Campus Safety regarding recent occurrences that they believe we should be aware of; whether it's campus related or a city-wide issue. This helps students stay aware of what is going on in the city they call home. 

There poses the first issue. Because students have made Charleston their home, it is hard to keep in mind that at the end of the day, Charleston is still a city. And because it is a city, city-like activity will take place. 

The two most recent incidents that have occurred, and that helped spark my desire for this topic, deal with West Ashley and Burns Lane downtown near C of C's campus. 

Charleston County Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph Matuskovic, was shot and killed Monday Sept. 8 by a man who was causing disruption in the Gardens at Ashley River apartment complex. To me, this was just another awful situation that lands West Ashley above the fold on our newspapers in the morning. But it was one that gained so much attention and frightened me for students I know who live off the peninsula. This made me want to find out more about how students felt living in places that are notorious for making the headlines. Do we have the wrong impression about these communities because of the news?

The other recent incident was an armed robbery on Burns Lane.

Email sent out to students and staff regarding the incident on Burns Lane

A Deputy Discovery

In the wake of the shooting of Deputy Joseph Matuskovic, I learned something. I came across this discovery the morning of his funeral.

Charleston County Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph Matuskovic, was shot and killed Monday Sept 8 by a man who was causing disruption in the Gardens at Ashley River apartment complex.

Patriot Guard Riders lining the road
in honor of Deputy Joe Matuskovic
Courtesy of Twitter

Now on the day of the funeral, I had a revelation. My Twitter feed was covered up with coverage. Everything from road closures to the Patriot Guard Riders who were lining the sidewalks was being talked about--all in light of the funeral.

Among all the posts, it was one tweet that really caught my eye...

Her Campus, "Campus Celebrity"

Image acquired from Google

Recently, I was featured in an article for the online magazine entitled Her Campus. The writers choose a "campus celebrity" to feature each week and this week, it was my time to shine! Learn more about me by checking out the article here!

The Perfect Pier

Take a look at the picture above. This pier, located at Waterfront Park in Charleston, S.C., is the first place that comes to mind when I think about my favorite place in Charleston. Of course its beauty speaks for itself, but this pier means more to me than just a beautiful scene. It is in the heart of the perfect walk along the water for any tourist visiting the city. Just five minutes from the historic City Market, you can't help but walk on down after getting some shopping in!

This pier is personal to me because of running. Specifically, I fell in love with the far left hand corner of this pier. That's a little strange, you might say. But let me tell you why. After being 30 minutes into a run, this is the perfect stopping point to catch your breath. And when you find yourself on the far left side, you are staring at nothing other than the Arthur Ravenel Bridge.

View of the Ravenel from the far left hand side of the pier

"Okay, so another beautiful sight," you might be thinking. "But what is the importance?" I spent my entire freshman year doing what I love: running. But all the while, I was actually training for the Cooper River Bridge Run. This run starts in Mount Pleasant and challenges the runners in a 10k race across the bridge over into Downtown. So when I let myself take a breather, I took in the sight of my goal. I was able to stare at what I was challenging myself to run across and contemplate the importance of achieving it. This fueled my desire to take that next step...of both the run and my goal.

The Ravenel Bridge

Water Taxi dock alongside the pier

The left hand side of the pier is also home to the Charleston Water Taxi. This taxi is a great alternative to downtown traffic and will get you across the water in no time! It is constantly running which is why you don't see it in this picture but the flag indicates that this is where it docks for those who are ready for some water transportation! The taxi will take you over to Patriots Point to see sights such as the USS Yorktown. Take a close look at the picture below and you can see the view of the Yorktown! 

View of the USS Yorktown from the Pier

The pier is home to great views and tons of fun!

Take a look across the way...

...Or swing the day away!

Behind the pier is home to the rest of Waterfront Park. Here you can find the famous Pineapple Fountain (shown below). 

This fountain is important and unique to Charleston because it is a symbol of hospitality. And here in Charleston, we pride ourselves in hospitality!

Kids love cooling off in the fountain!

While we all like to get lost in all the views of the water, another great part about this area isn't water, but grass!

This green area is the perfect escape from the library. Freshman year, my roommate and I found ourselves packing up our backpacks and heading down to Waterfront to get in some studying while also enjoying the fresh air. 

The next time you are in Charleston, or if you need a break from the busy foot traffic of downtown, make sure you take a visit to the Pier at Waterfront Park. It will clear your mind and leave you feeling more at peace. That is why it is the perfect pier.

These two photos were taken while I was on my first run back from a foot injury.
I couldn't help but capture the moment of being reunited with my perfect pier.

Overcrowding Nightmare for Knightsville Elementary

When students picture their first day of school, they may think of the noise of conversation in the hallway, smiling teachers standing outside of their classroom doors, or perhaps opening their lockers for the very first time.

For the students who attend Knightsville Elementary in Summerville, S.C., they do not have that same picture of the first day. Knightsville, which is included in Dorchester District 2, has been battling an overcrowding of students. So what does this mean?

Students making the long walk back to the main building for lunch
(courtesy of The Post and Courier)

With the growing number of students the school is acquiring, the less room the classrooms possess. "The building, constructed in 1938, has room for only 850 students, forcing about 600 others into the 31 mobile units that have been added over the year," wrote reporter Brenda Rindge in her recent article for The Post and Courier. This means tighter quarters and longer walks to the main building for theses young students. Instead of a classroom, the students and teachers reside in a mobile trailer.

This situation makes me sad because I could not imagine spending my first years of school not in a traditional education environment. However, I have to look at the bright side: they are making accommodations rather than turning the students away.

Superintendent Joe Pye
(courtesy of The Post and Courier)

There has already been work in progress for improving this situation. Superintendent Joe Pye of Dorchester District 2 has stayed positive while addressing some concern there has been with the overcrowding affecting the student's performance in the classroom and parents feelings. He stated, "I haven't heard any complaints (about overcrowding). I think they (the parents) all know we passed the referendum and we are anxiously trying to get some new schools together, so they are waiting for that to happen."

I will be interested to see how this situation carries out through the rest of the year and if it has any negative affects on the students. My eye will stay on this situation to evaluate the decision and progress on building more schools.

Take a quick moment to share your thoughts about the situation in the poll on the side of the screen!