These backgrounder samples were written in the classroom while learning about the various parts that, when combined, make up a media/press kit.
University of Tampa Student Parking Policy
With registration rates at the University of Tampa increasing each semester, student parking becomes an issue. Currently, there are 8,310 students enrolled at the university. This is a three percent increase from the previous year. The school has had an increase in enrollment for the past 20 years (McNeill). The spike in the university’s population has caused distress among the students and pressure toward faculty and staff to accommodate.
Current Situation
At this time, freshman students are not permitted to have a car on campus. The only exception to this policy involves students who live locally and commute to campus or students who obtain a medical parking waiver (Campus Safety). This policy was put into place at the beginning of the Fall 2015 semester. The motive behind this restriction is that the university believes freshman are least impacted by the parking situation on campus. Freshman are provided with a wide variety of events through their residence halls and other organizations on campus. The university’s goal is to keep freshman on-campus and make them “a vital and enthusiastic part of the university community” (Campus Safety).
The university has provided freshman students with the following list of alternative transportation options:
– ZipCar on-campus car rentals
– Ridesharing (Uber and Lyft)
– Taxis
– On-campus bike rentals
– Coast Bike Share
– City buses
– In-Town Trolley
All other university students may park in designated areas based on their residency status. Students who reside in on-campus housing may park in the West Parking Garage beginning on the second floor through the top floor. Commuter students may park in the Rick Thomas Parking Garage starting on the second floor through the top floor. Commuter students are also permitted to park on the first floor of the West Parking Garage. All students may also park in the designated spots on the west side of campus (Campus Safety).
Faculty and staff members may park in their designated parking lots and in the designated parking spots on the first floor of both the West and Rick Thomas Parking Garages. Faculty and staff parking lots are open to students between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and during any time on weekends (Campus Safety).
Students feel that their voices are not being heard by the university’s administration. The following quotes were made by students who want to see a change from the current parking policies at the university.
“I get here at 7:00 a.m. just to make sure I get a parking spot. I don’t have early classes but I come early just to get a spot because if I don’t then I’m circling 30 minutes to an hour. It’s not fun.” – Jessica Graves, marketing junior
“I think that this is ridiculous for many reasons, but the most aggravating thing is that I paid to have an available parking spot on campus, therefore I should not have to spend more than 30 minutes circling the school. They clearly gave out more parking permits than they have parking spots.”– Corey Cassidy, Entrepreneurship senior
“I feel that it is very irritating because I’m always late to class because there is no parking.” – Michael Martinez, sports mgmt. sophomore
“If you get here past 8:00 a.m. it’s hard to find any parking. I circle about 30 minutes looking for a spot and I’ve been late to class.” – Maddison James, nursing junior
Missing People
The number of people that go missing in the United States is shocking. In just one state, 57,152 people were reported missing at some point in the last year. Among those missing were men, women and children. Of those 57,152 reported missing, 48,384 people were sooner or later found. Although a large number of people who go missing are found, there are nearly 9,000 people who remain missing. Three-fourths of missing people last year were runaway juveniles.
Current Situation
There are numerous reasons as to why a person goes missing. Very few missing people are victims of crime. Police estimate that true crime victims only make up about 100 of the 57,152 people who go missing in each state. Crime victims include people who were apparently kidnapped, robbed or murdered. Some of the people who go missing each year are elderly and suffer from Alzheimers. There are also deadbeat parents who run away from responsibility, people who run away to escape their debt and lovers who run away so that they can be together.
Sgt. Manuel Cortez has been working with missing persons for the past 10 years. “We find a lot of people disappear because they’ve got troubles, want to leave them behind and start over again. A lot of people think about it, and some do more than think about it.” Cortez says, “Normally its more men than women, except among juveniles. Among juveniles, runaway girls outnumber boys three to one.” In reference to missing juveniles, psychology professor Alan Christopher says, “Most adults will stick around and handle their problems, but a lot of kids think it’s easier to run away. Or they just don’t think. They see some place on television, and it looks good, so they try to go there.”
Sabrina Diaz ran away from home because she felt unsafe living with her stepfather. Sabrina, who is now 14-years-old, says that her parents got divorced and she ran away after her mother got remarried. “I hated my stepfather. He’s a jerk. He got drunk and hit my mom and expected us to wait on him.” Sabrina met a man who was moving to New York and convinced him to let join him. After two years of living in New York, Sabrina was picked up by police officers for shoplifting and prostitution. After police discovered her actual identity, Sabrina was returned to her mother who then left her abusive husband.
History
In 1984, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)was founded by John and Reve Walsh (“Key Facts”). The NCMEC is a private, non-profit organization that provides information about missing children. In 1981 Adam Walsh, a 6-year-old boy from Florida, went missing in a shopping mall. When his parents reported him missing, there was no organized effort from law enforcement to search for Adam on a state or national level. Adam was later found brutally beaten to death. Three years later, Adam’s parents and other child advocates incorporated the NCMEC (“Our Story”).
– The national toll-free hotline has received more than 4.3 million calls in the last 32 years. You can reach the hotline by dialing 1-800-THE-LOST or 1-800-843-5678 (“Key Facts”).
– NCMEC developed the Cyber Tipline in 1998. The Cyber Tipline provides a place for the public to report suspected child sexual exploitation (“Our Story”).
– The NCMEC also established Missing Children’s Day. Every May 25 the nation observes Missing Children’s Day, which helps to “remind parents, guardians, families and communities that every child deserves a safe childhood” (“Our Story”).
Since its establishment, the NCMEC has helped bring more and more missing children home. This includes long-term missing children. Elizabeth Smart was recovered after nine months, Shawn Hornbeck after four years, Jaycee Dugard after 18 years and Carlina White after 23 years (“Our Story”).
Resources
The NCMEC has a number of programs that are designed to educate, train and prevent. There are also numerous sources of support for victims and their families. Several, but not all, of the programs offered by the NCMEC are listed below.
Child Safety and Prevention
– KidSmartz is a program that educates families and empowers children in grades k-5 to practice safe behaviors
– NetSmartz workshops teach children ages 5-17 about online safety. These workshops are free and include videos, games, presentations and classroom lessons.
– NetSmarts411 is a resource that adults can use to access information about internet safety, computers and the Web.
Law Enforcement Training
– NCMEC University Online is a distance learning program that provides participants with access to all the available courses covering issues related to missing children cases.
– Missing Children Seminar for Chief Executives is a two-day seminar that familiarizes participants with issues related to missing children cases. This includes policies and practices, technical assistance, training and resources.
– Forensic Imaging Training is a one week course offered by the NCMEC.
Victim and Family Support
– Team Hope is a volunteer program that provides emotional support to families of missing, recovered and exploited children.
– Reunification Assistance provides families with financial support for both domestic and international reunification. This program also gives families access to skilled therapists throughout the entire reunification process.
To reduce the number of people who go missing, these programs need to be implemented in more locations across the United States. The NCMEC has provided the programs necessary, but state officials need to take advantage of them. If the law required these programs to be implemented in each state, the current statistics would dramatically change. Education is a key factor in preventing the situations that cause people to go missing.
Haley Bockius 