More on the topic of being ‘Shmacked’

I posted on Wednesday about the controversy in the Lower Merion School District regarding the video, “I’m Shmacked.” The bottom line of the video is that is shows students reportedly from Lower Merion and Harriton High Schools drinking alcohol, smoking weed, smashing windows and generally acting out.

Now Lower Merion shouldn’t feel special about the video. Evidently, the company – two guys – are traveling around the country to college campuses doing their thing.

According to an article in The Inquirer:

“The Facebook page for ‘I’m Shmacked’ identified its creators as Yofray Ray, 18, and Arya Toufanian, 19. Ray’s personal Facebook page says he graduated from Lower Merion High and lived in Narberth before moving to Manhattan. Toufanian is studying at George Washington University, according to his personal Facebook page, and grew up in Potomac, Md.

“Ray and Toufanian described the series of college videos as ‘a movie documenting the experience of a weekend at 20 of the best and biggest universities around the United States intertwined with a book and a website being pitched to major publishers and studios.’

“’No alcohol or illegal substance is used during the filming, just props for a movie,’ the Facebook page states. ‘However, I personally am completely Shmacked when filming/photoing.’”

The reaction I got from some of those commenting was surprising. Some of the comments were so severe I didn’t allow them to appear. Most of the uproar to the blog was that what’s going on in these videos is normal, young people behavior. Kids party, drink, act out and that we shouldn’t expect them not to and that it is OK and that I need to get over it.

One person was simply giddy calling me names using foul language I’m sure would be a hit in one of the “Shmacked” episodes. Not too surprised by that.

Sorry gang. I don’t buy that. And yes I’m sure my older kids thought they were great in high school getting over on me by drinking alcohol, smoking weed or whatever without me ever knowing. Cool. That’s something to be proud of. Fortunately for me, they learned lessons – some harder than others – that this nonsense is criminal, dangerous and can have lasting effects.

Yeh, I’m sure it’s hilarious to videotape yourself breaking the law. But a few years later when you’re ready to graduate from college and someone notices a YouTube video with your mug plastered all over it and you don’t get that job, well, suffice to say that’s probably not going to be that funny.

Yeh, yeh, I know. I’m old, cranky – actually I think the one adjective used in a comment was “bitchy” – but really I’m concerned. Like most other parents, we were kids once and yes we all had our share of stupid decision moments. But to repeat from the earlier blog post, this was before all of the social media outlets, YouTube, Facebook and the like. We weren’t any better for sure and hopefully we all matured and realized that some of the stuff we did then makes us all shake our heads now. The difference now is that somewhere in cyberspace, a video exists of these kids drinking, doing drugs, being vandals and generally embarrassing themselves for years and years to come.

So it’s up to you. As a parent I can preach forever. I can bring my experiences to my kids now and warn them of the difference in dangers now than from 20 or 30 years ago. I can blog for months and months and it’s a sure bet that none of the young folks reading my stuff will even give a damn.

I would be willing to bet that the majority of these “Shmacked” kids are decent kids who are getting caught up with a fad, like the “Girls Gone Wild” videos. Take a peek on the Web for the stories on that stuff, the lawsuits, the lives ruined.

Just remember, what seems like a fine idea now may be your downfall later. It’s a tough choice to make when you’re walking around with a bottle or two, a bag of weed or a handful of whatever floats your boat.

Here’s a minute of prayer that you keep it off the airwaves.

– Andy Hachadorian

 

 

 

Please don’t drink underage and smoke weed and put it online! ‘I’m Shmacked’ ain’t too smart

It’s a tale of a blessing and a curse.

For those of us who use social media like Facebook, Twitter, etc., responsibly, it’s a beautiful thing. We reach out to our audience and give them breaking news, story links, video links, links to other content across the Web. And often they reach back – a give and take relationship that has blossomed.

For others – and age really doesn’t have much to do with it – it’s a vehicle for bad stuff like trolling for sex with vulnerable young people, for thieves out to steal your money and seemingly more popular, for posting pictures, videos, Tweets and status reports that include booze, drugs and gosh who knows what. And this is especially true for the younger folks.

How often have you seen, even from your own kids, Facebook pages, YouTube videos, other random videos and other “stuff” with them drinking, smoking (all sorts of things) and posting information that has no place in cyberspace. When you’re young I suppose you don’t really think about it. Even in my own house the oldest of the gang has taken action removing pictures, posts, anything remotely questionable. He recognizes that this sort of stuff can come back to haunt you.

Well, in nearby Lower Merion, says the Associated Press, school officials sent a letter out this week to parents of all Lower Merion and Harriton High students alerting families about disturbing videos of current district high school students and former students that were found on the Internet recently.

This story from the AP:

“According to the letter, the videos come from a private company and were posted to YouTube. Although the video is no longer online, school officials viewed and then shared it with local police. The letter was signed by Steven Kline, principal at Harriton, and Sean Hughes, principal at Lower Merion.

““The activities depicted in the video are reprehensible and cause for great concern. They include binge drinking, marijuana use, substance-induced violence and several dangerous situations involving drugs and alcohol in vehicles. Though all of the activities occur off campus, and the film appears to have been recorded last summer, it is critical that there are swift and appropriate consequences,” the letter reads in part.

“According to officials, the district only learned about the video Tuesday when a CBS 3 reporter went to them asking if they knew about the videos. The videos are part of what are being called mini-documentaries being produced under the name ‘I’m Shmacked.’

“The ‘I’m Shmacked’ Twitter and Facebook pages describe the plot as ‘a movie documenting the experience of a weekend at 20 of the best and biggest universities around the United States intertwined with a book and a Web site being pitched to major publishers and studios.’ As of Wednesday morning video trailers at both Penn State and Temple were on YouTube, along with videos from other schools.

The videos start off by showing scenes around the campuses with music playing in the background. The trailers then morph into showing students drinking and in some cases using drugs.

“KYW 3’s Walt Hunter reported that he reached out to one of the Lower Merion students who made the movie. ‘No actual marijuana was used in the video, just synthetic legal buds that are used as props for our film. The alcohol is also just non-alcoholic beverages in other containers,’ the unnamed student wrote back.

“School officials say they are taking the matter seriously.

“‘Where we have the authority and power to act and respond, we will. We are in the process of notifying parents of students that appear in the video and will do so by Thursday afternoon. We ask for continued parental support in conveying the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse,’ the letter reads.

“When asked about the letter after Tuesday night’s school board meeting at Lower Merion High School, Doug Young, the district’s director of School and Community Relations, said he could not comment beyond what is in the letter. However, the letter does go into some detail without mentioning names or punishment.

“’The video also serves as a reminder that whether or not your child is engaging in harmful and illegal activities, there may still be significant consequences for attending events where such activities occur. In this age of social media and immediate electronic communication, video and/or photographic images often do not distinguish the ‘innocent’ from the ‘guilty.’ Students that participate in school sports or other competitive activities may face a team suspension even if they haven’t had a sip of beer, but are found to have been ‘in the room’ at a party where alcohol is served. On the line are college acceptances, scholarships and personal reputation. It’s simply not worth the risk,’ the letter reads.”

Before we go any further, not real weed? Fake booze? OK, I realize we as parents can be clueless at times, but do these kids really think we’re that stupid?

Now I must say I do admire them for their business savvy. They saw a growing market and attacked it with a plan. However, the last thing I want to see my kids doing is appearing in a video where (real or not) they are smoking, drinking and/or doing drugs. I’m not sure that’s the best way to impress a potential employer, admissions officer or those willing to hand out college grant money. Don’t think it can happen? Think again.

The reality of all this, though, is that we can’t tell our kids much on the subject. Their answer is always that it’s no big deal, that kids do it to be funny, etc. And the truth is, before the YouTubes and Facebooks of the world came along, there wasn’t the potential for the disasters that are there now. Of course, it is always wrong to do illegal stuff but 20 years ago it wasn’t out there for the whole world to see.

So the message today children is to see how the “bigger kids” are learning from their mistakes and hopefully you won’t make those same mistakes. If you do, you may regret it in a big way.

– Andy Hachadorian

 

Villanova speaker decision cause for concern?

If there ever was a time when the leadership of the Catholic Church – especially around these parts – could use some divine intervention, it’s probably now.

As if being in the courts over priests accused of being sexual deviates isn’t enough of a headache, add to it the furor over closing and/or consolidating elementary and high schools and for good measure, toss in the minor episodes like Villanova University canceling a workshop by an openly gay and controversial performance artist and you have one perfect storm of a PR nightmare.

The most recent bomb is the cancellation of a workshop of Tim Miller, saying his shows aren’t in keeping with the school’s Catholic values, according to a story by The Inquirer.

Miller told the paper he was told about the cancellation of next month’s planned workshop on Sunday. He gained notoriety in 1990 when he and three others had grants vetoed by the National Endowment for the Arts and his work is frequently provocative and he’s been arrested in the past for demonstrating for AIDS research funding, said The Inquirer story.

According to the story, in a statement, Villanova said it embraces intellectual freedom and academic discourse but had concerns about how Miller’s work matches its “Catholic and Augustinian values and mission.” Miller says Villanova’s decision wasn’t necessarily surprising although he’d previously held a similar workshop at DePaul, the nation’s largest Catholic University.

Now while I’m sensitive to the fact that ‘Nova has to be sensitive to the whole issue especially given the current state of the church and homosexuality and its priests, it seems to me that permitting a workshop – a voluntary event – might have been seen as a gesture showing its tolerance of other points of view.

Of course, the opposite could also been seen as true – that by allowing Miller’s workshop to go on would be an endorsement of gay and lesbians which obviously don’t fit the bill – that is, the values of the Catholic faith.

Either way it appears that Villanova’s decision was not going to make someone happy.

According to an article in The Inquirer:

“Miller said he was not totally surprised since Catholic blogs had picked up on his appearances and were spreading “this bizarre lie that I’m anti-Catholic. . . . People tell these lies, and it gets people who read these blogs worked up.

“While the cancellation was not ‘unimaginable,’ he noted that Villanova once staged Angels in America, a groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize-winning play about the AIDS epidemic.

“Times have changed,” he said. “We’re in a much more coercive, censorious time.”

I don’t disagree with that. The Catholic Church and its leadership are in full defensive mode and definite damage control. The never-ending cases of priest abuse have left it constantly under the microscope. When it seems like there’s light at the end of the tunnel, another controversy erupts and it’s back to square one.

However, in this region, Villanova has always prided itself in being above the crowd, willing to be the leader among area colleges and universities – the “gold standard” to steal the phrase from Eagles owner Jeff Lurie.

Not this time. The PR machine is drilling down deep and the collateral damage on this date is Miller. One could almost (sort of) accept the decision. We will be waiting and watching, however, for the next one. If Villanova wants to be considered one of the elite, it needs to remember to be at that level, it needs to take some risks. That’s what separates ordinary from extraordinary.

– Andy Hachadorian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not gonna make the Catholics happy with this one

Vince Sullivan, a reporter for our sister paper — the Delco Daily Times — has been closely following the situation of pending closures of Catholic elementary and high schools in our region — specifically Delaware County.

The Daily Times has been doing a super job keeping up with this saga as it seems like new developments unfold all the time. The schools are closing, then they’re not. Rich donors are coming forward with millions of dollars to save schools leading the Philadelphia Archdiocese to postpone an announcement Friday concerning the high schools. It’s just a mess if you ask me.

Today?

From Vince:

“Six weeks after a Blue Ribbon Commission appointed by former Philadelphia Archbishop Cardinal Justin Rigali announced sweeping changes to Catholic education in the five-county region, a review process has reversed 18 of the recommendations presented.

“The Jan. 6 announcement recommended the closure of 45 elementary schools and four high schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which covers Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Twenty-four of those schools appealed the decisions, which designated certain schools to merge into regional schools and others to close outright. Of those that appealed, 18 had their requests granted, according to Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, who oversees the Office of Catholic Education. Decisions on high schools, including Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast in Drexel Hill, have been delayed for at least a week after a group of donors emerged with a serious financial offer.”

I didn’t attend Catholic school as a kid so I suppose I can’t have the same feelings as those who did — like my wife. She attended Archbishop Prendergast — one of the high schools eyed for closing — so this is personal for her. I know it bothers her that there’s a chance that her school might close.

I attended a public high school and while I feel a lot of loyalty to that school, I’m sure I don’t feel the same way she does.

However, if you look at the situation objectively, the Archdiocese needs to operate its school system like a business. If the students — whose families pay tuition — just aren’t enrolling, then what is the alternative? My wife’s school has a freshman class of 82 students. Eighty two. My graduating class had more than 1,000 students.

And this argument isn’t about religion. It’s about economics. If those 82 freshmen students pay $5,000 each, it’s only a little more than $400,000. Do we really think a school can function for those students on $400,000? Nah.

So that leaves the Archdiocese with the tough choice of consolidating and/or closing. It’s not popular, it makes people angry and sad, but for the good of the majority, it has to happen. Let’s face it, private schools have really become a choice only for those with lots of cash. The average family can’t raise $15,000 a year to send three kids to a Catholic high school.

Again, it’s economics. It’s a shame that some of those who would prefer to send their kids to Prendie, Bonner, O’Hara or Bishop Shanahan just can’t do it. But if the choice is being able to pay the rest of your bills comfortably or sending your kids to private school, well, the choice seems obvious. Oh, and those people sending kids to private schools? Yes, they’re also paying school taxes to pay for the kids attending public schools.

I would suggest that the whole system is flawed and I know the idea of vouchers has been tossed around too. But nothing has been resolved. And it’s going to take more than a few millionaires tossing money at the schools to fix it.

I’m glad I’m not the one deciding which schools get to stay open or which have to close. It’s a choice that will not make anyone happy. But it’s one that must be made. It’s also time to take a look at our entire education system. This simply can’t go on.

– Andy Hachadorian

andyh@dailylocal.com

West Chester U students and the rest of the town…perfect together?

I realize this will make Joe Norley madder than hell, but …

Daily Local reporter Jeremy Gerrard reported today that West Chester University students thinking of living in the Town Center zoning district may have missed their chance. Borough Council has voted to design an ordinance that would eliminate student housing as a permitted use in the district.

This ordinance will be written by the borough’s solicitors and discussed in a public hearing before it can be implemented.

The Town Center district lies roughly from Franklin Street on the east to Wayne Street on the west and from Chestnut Street in the north to Cedar Alley in the south. The district extends at High Street, jutting south until it reaches Price Street.

Under the Fair Housing Act, students are not considered a “protected class” of citizens, so council is able to restrict housing available to them.

Properties in Town Center currently used for student housing will be able to keep that designation, though there was no consensus if that right would be forfeited should a non-student tenant occupy the dwelling at a later date.

According to West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta, this change was a suggestion made to the borough by the Urban Land Institute, which suggested encouraging an older demographic to populate the town center to build business. Comitta said this should be seen as an opportunity to update and utilize the borough’s experts.

“The idea here is to promote a different sort of culture in the downtown,” said Councilman Stephen Shinn. “Not attract more students to downtown, that’s why we want to move in this direction. This is just to start the project.”

Here’s where Joe will be mad. And this very topic was discussed Thursday morning on WCHE during out weekly pow-wow.

I agree with parts of this whole discussion and disagree with other parts.

I agree that:

– Students need to act like adults and be responsible. If they’re not 21, they shouldn’t be drinking alcohol and peeing on peoples’ lawns.

– Students shouldn’t be rioting like the 2008 Phillies post-World Series celebration that took place with cars overturned and fires being lit. This isn’t Beirut.

– Students should do their best to integrate with the town and be part of it. They need to keep it clean and be respectful of the rights of others.

Those three things being said, when you bring together nearly 14,000 or 15,000 kids ages 18 to 22 you are going to have some issues. And if even 50 students are problems, when you look at the total number, it’s really a small figure.

Hold your fire!

Before you start that hateful comment, those same 50 students while a small number can be a real pain in the butt to a lot of people who happen to live near the university. I will agree to that 100 percent. Peeing or puking on the lawn, damaging property, cars, is not now or will ever be acceptable.

So what’s the answer? Well, on WCHE we talked about campus police entering deeper into the borough to respond to problems involving students. To me that’s a bad idea considering that the university isn’t protected by this massive police force. And if they’re not on campus and there are problems on campus, who’s minding the store?

I also don’t think hitting restaurants and bars with some sort of tax isn’t fair either because who’s to know which patrons are students and which are not? If we are saying the bars and restaurants should generally kick in some cash for increased police protection I can buy into that. But we can’t keep blaming everything on the university.

How about the state kicking in some of the gambling proceeds or lottery proceeds to help fund either additional borough police or at least the overtime necessary on the weekends to keep things under control?

And lastly, we all need to realize that this is a county seat and a university/college town. We can curse the kids all we like but the fact is that these kids spend lots of money in our businesses and not just bars and restaurants. We need to get over that and appreciate the good kids there — because they do exist. As with anything else in life, it only takes a couple of nitwits to ruin it for the good people. And WCU is no different.

This is a complicated issue and there are right now no clear answers. However, I think before we start building fences to keep these kids out, perhaps there are other answers. To me this is a frustration move. And nothing good in the long run ever comes from a frustration move.

Let’s think hard about this move before proceeding.

– Andy Hachadorian

Killing someone over dog poop…it has really gotten to that

News item from the Associated Press:

“Police say a Philadelphia man is charged with murder after allegedly shooting a neighbor in a dispute over dog waste.

“Authorities say 47-year-old Franklin Manuel Santana was shot and killed in the city’s Tacony section Tuesday afternoon after confronting the neighbor about his dogs, a Chihuahua and a German shepherd. Police say the dog owner, 27-year-old Tyrirk Harris, pulled a gun and fired multiple shots, striking Santana twice in the neck.

“Officer Tanya Little, a police spokeswoman, says Harris was taken into custody and charged with murder and other counts.

“Police say the suspect said he and his neighbor struggled over the gun before it fired. Investigators also say it wasn’t the first time the men had quarreled over the dogs.

“It was not immediately known if Harris had an attorney.”

I guess I never realized how serious an issue this is. In fact, I have two dogs, one of which has decided that she is fine using our property to well, you know. The other dog, however, has decided that anyone else’s lawn is better than ours. Of course our neighborhood has placed a pole that has clean up bags for dogowners to use. That is a great idea and while I don’t expect to get shot for not cleaning up, if looks could kill I would be a dead man for failing to fulfill my owner’s responsibility judging by some of the reaction to when I am “bagless.”

Growing up in my neighborhood, no one ever freaked out about dogs and them doing their business on other lawns. Perhaps we just didn’t notice or just didn’t care.

However, I think people nowadays — at least where I live — are a little more than obsessed with lawns, driveways, garages. It’s grass, blacktop and a place for bikes and lawnmowers.

Trust me, my wife has trained me well to make sure I get a bag when I take the new pooch out for her nightly walk before bed.

I have to say, though, that while I think dogowners should take care of business,  it’s not something I shoot someone for doing…

– Andy Hachadorian

How digital of a world are we? You tell me…

I wouldn’t normally brag about going out for a special dinner to the Outback Steak House. Nothing personal but I even have the time to take my wife out for dinner, it’s not there but some out-of-the-way unique sort of place.

I am not a restaurant snob mind you, but there’s no way I am waiting 90 minutes to get into Outback. And I didn’t stand in line either with the 30 people in line at a local KFC when it opened near my house and the kids begged to go.

Sorry but there are some things I just won’t do. Call me stubborn, whatever. Besides this isn’t about food and dining with friends and relatives but about our new digital world.

While chowing down on bread, Bloomin’ Onions, chicken wings and some sort of spinach dip, my cell phone buzzed with a news alert. I know it’s rude but in this business you check your cell when it buzzes. You just never know who’s on the line or what breaking news is happening.

In the old days this sort of thing didn’t happen. If you were in your car, you might hear KYW radio blare its tones for a breaking story. If if you were at home, the TV would break into regular programming for a Special Report. If those things didn’t get your heart pumping in the news business then they needed to check for a pulse.

So back to the Outback and the digital world and why our jobs as journalists are tougher than ever.

The news alert I received on my phone Saturday night was to let me know that singer Whitney Houston had died at age 48. That was a tragedy. But watching and listening at our table — especially when my wife did her best to alarm an entire restaurant when I told her the news — really revealed just how instant our reaction as news people must be.

Within 60 seconds I was telling everyone at our table and a couple of tables next to ours that yes, Whitney was found dead. They all wanted details and of course I could not offer any.

Meanwhile, while waiting for the 12-ounce sirloin, I tapped on my cell phone and cranked out a text alert that went to all of our text alert subscribers, basically telling them all I knew — that Whitney Houston had died.

Then I put the phone down, took a sip of a Diet Coke, and bang, there was my dinner. In the year 2012, just another night for a newsman. Of course I continued to monitor the events while waiting for my giant slice of carrot cake. But meanwhile I texted my newsroom guy who put the latest story on the Daily Local News web site.

For those who wondered recently why we were fussing about Twitter access in the Chester County Courts, this is why. No the case we were following wasn’t to the level of the death of a Hollywood and music star. But it was important for our readers and we’ll continue to push for permission.

Folks, this is a digital world of instant news. You expect it, we live it and we love it. It’s journalism in the new era. And despite what some may say, the Internet isn’t just a fad.

– Andy Hachadorian