Wednesday, February 18, 2009

George Kolb Accepts Position at Villanova University

BRISTOL -- George Kolb, the Director of Athletics, Recreation and Development that lead Roger Williams University to their best two-year stretch in University history, will return to his alma mater of Villanova University to assume the position of Head Athletic Fundraising Coordinator after seven years with the Hawks.

or:

BRISTOL -- After seven years as Director of Athletics at Roger Williams University, George Kolb will return to his alma mater of Villanova University to assume the position of Head Athletic Fundrasing Coordinator in the beginning of next year. During his seven year tenure, Kolb lead the Hawks to their best two-year stretch in history.

Thursday, February 5, 2009


CBS News Anchor Walter Kronkite showcased his talents as one of the finest reporters in television history during his coverage of the JFK assassination. He confidently reported what he knew in clear and concise language. He remained calm and composed during a stressful situation and reinforced his own credibility by correcting his report as new information came in. Kronkite turned a bit emotional towards the end of the broadcast, but he wiped a tear, pulled himself together and kept the report rolling. 

NBC failed miserably in their broadcast following the JFK assassination. Most of the information NBC had came through an on-air phone call from an unnamed source who was never introduced or accredited, calling into question the reliability of the information. NBC reporters fumbled with unfamiliar equipment and had trouble distinguishing what reports were or weren't confirmed. 

I learned one major thing through watching these reports: never broadcast unprepared.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009


The class discussion about symbology and frame of reference lead me to contemplate a few issues. Early into the class, a student was asked by another to draw a house on the board. She drew a square house with a pointed roof and four windows. The class and I agreed that the drawing was indeed the quintessential "house". While young and first grasping the concept of symbology, our teachers had probably cultivated a similar frame of reference for us. It leads me to wonder what else (what understanding of the world and reality) was engrained in me at a young age that I may not be conscious of...

Sunday, February 1, 2009


The work of photojournalist Lewis W. Hine, primarily his child labor focused series, strikes a particular chord with me. My Great-Grandfather emigrated to Fall River on a schooner from the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores with his sister at 7 years-old. He began working as a "bobbin-boy" at the Robin Rug factory on Thames St. in Bristol at the age of 8, until he was strong enough to shovel coal into the factory's furnace. Judging by the age of the children and the period in which the picture was taken, my Great-Grandfather could very well have been one of Hine's subjects. These disturbing photos serve as a reminder of the sacrifices others have made for my well-being.

Diane Arbus' work focused on the unusual and downright odd. She didn't appear to compose entire campaigns (like Hine's work with the child labor series), but focused on raw, unglamorous reality. The photograph of a lanky, awkward looking boy holding a hand grenade in a park and the photograph of the twin girls both had me fabricating my own storylines as to how (and initially, why) Arbus captured this image. I appreciate her choosing subjects primarily for their thought provoking qualities rather than their aesthetic pleasure.