11/14/2011                                                                                                                                Eric Oslund

Slug: Critical Mass           

TRT- 1:25

Page 1 of 3

Anchor in Studio:

All around the world people are joining a movement known as Critical Mass. It is an international movement in which bicyclists “take back” the road, and bike down the streets of cities for a couple hours. This happens once a month, in cities around the world, with a pre determined meeting spot and time. Other riders usually join in the pack as it pedals along.

Reporter:

Bemidji Minnesota is home to one of these Critical Mass events, but it is not nearly as large as it is in other cities. Luke Holden is a student at Bemidji State University, and was present at the last Critical Mass movement in Bemidji, that took place on October twenty ninth. Holden has dedicated his life to riding bikes and now participates in any Critical Mass event that he can find.

Cart #1

TRT--:10

MORE                        MORE                        MORE                        MORE                        MORE                        MORE                        MORE

Page 2 of 3

Intro: “Critical Mass is. . .”

Extro: “. . . I have always enjoyed participating.”

 Critical Mass is not so much a protest, but more of a way to celebrate the joys of cycling. There are not any real rules to the rides, but riders are expected to follow proper etiquette and obey laws. Riders must also know that some drivers will get very upset with you when they have somewhere to be and you are taking up the road and slowing them down.

Cart #2

TRT--:07

Intro: “A lot of the time. . .”

Extro: “. . . like pennies at you.”

Even though most of the drivers are mean and threatening, there are still a lot who are really cool and supportive of what the riders are doing.

Cart #3

TRT--:08

Intro: “It is the nice. . .”

Extro: “. . . make this special.”

With the prices in gas always rising more and more people should think like the Critical Mass riders and

MORE                                    MORE                                    MORE                                    MORE                                    MORE                                    MORE                                    MORE

Page 3 of 3

bike more. Why do you need to drive to your bank that is three minutes from your house? Bike or even walk, get some exercise, enjoy the day, and save money.                                                                               END                                    END                                    END                                    END                                    END                                    END                                    END

Health Insurance May Not Be Good For Students

Bemidji State University is making health insurance mandatory for students who are already struggling 

to pay tuition

By Eric Oslund

In the wake of a series of budget cuts in the last couple years, BSU has now added another cost for students by making health insurance mandatory for students, beginning spring semester. Administration brought this idea to the student senate last spring semester and they approved it. However, the student body was not informed of this until Oct. 18, just three weeks before it would be made mandatory.

I am able be covered by my parents health insurance policy, so this new idea of mandatory health insurance is not a big deal to me. School provided health insurance does seem like it could be a good idea, but BSU went about it all wrong.

                  According to student senate members Sarah Shepherd and Joe Moubry only 12% of the student body does not have health insurance, and they want to make sure that 12% is safe.

                  BSU should not have made it mandatory, but instead made it optional or recommended. That way the ones who could afford it would be able to get it and those who could not afford it would not have to worry about it.

                  However, since the University did make the health insurance mandatory, it should have given the student body more time to prepare for the change. There are a couple things they could have done to do this. One they should have told the students about it right when the decision was made, they should have waited till the fall 2012 semester so students would have the summer to raise money, or even asked the student body their opinion before voting on it.

                  Being in classes and walking around campus one could tell that students are not happy about this new decision. Students all around campus have complaints about the whole situation in one way or another. There was poor communication between administration and students, and a lot of students without health insurance do not believe it is the schools responsibility to provide it to them.

                  There are now students who have to take out loans, on top of the ones they are taking out for tuition, in order to pay for health insurance. This is something President Richard Hanson does not want. According to multiple BSU reporters Hanson does not want students to have to take out loans to pay for health insurance, he wants them to graduate with as little debt as possible.

                  BSU student Tricia Tuntland, said she had never had health insurance, so why would she need it now? Another student, Tara Rootes, said she is a mother of five, so if she could afford health insurance she would definitely have it.

                  It is understandable that there are situations where people cannot afford health insurance, but it is a good idea for everyone to have it. You never know when something will happen, you can break your arm, or get in a car crash, even when nothing bad has happened to you before.

Eric Oslund is a student at Bemidji State University where the health care changes are taking place.

                  

Taking Back the Streets

Bicyclists around the world are joining the movement known as Critical Mass

By Eric Oslund

                  Once a month, all over the world, bicyclists join in on an event known as Critical Mass. The idea for this sprung up in San Francisco, and quickly spread around the world. Critical Mass has even been happening in Bemidji, not on as large a scale as in other cities.
   

                  Critical Mass was created as a way to celebrate riding, and to help assert the rights of cyclists’ on the road. The object is for the bikers to ride around on the streets of cities all over the world for a couple of hours. This event does not have any real rules, but cyclists are expected to show proper etiquette.

Critical Mass is an event where cyclists get together to
 ride around on the streets. Photo by Eric Oslund

                  Critical Mass is an idea, not an organization. There are no leaders and no one has licensed rights to it. Instead people get together and have a meeting place and time that could change. Since the times and meeting spots could be subject to change Critical Mass has been known to dwindle out in smaller cities.

                  This could be a possibility for the city of Bemidji. Being a smaller city it has been hard to find people to join in this event. “Last month in Bemidji there were about 15 people,” said Bemidji State University student Luke Holden. “That is really small for Critical Mass.”

                  Holden has been riding his bicycles everywhere for most of his life. “I have always loved riding bikes,” said Holden. “When I was younger I had a helmet I sewed ear-muffs into so I could ride in the winter.” His love of biking has led him to go on long bike rides from Duluth to Minneapolis, and even a trip to China to bike through its busy streets.

                  Having always loved biking Critical Mass seemed like the perfect event for Holden. He first got involved in Critical Mass while attending Perpich Arts High School in Minneapolis. “I saw a flyer,” said Holden. “When I got to the meeting place there were hundreds of people eating food, talking, and just having fun.”

Critical Mass is a great way for riders to celebrate riding.
Photo by Eric Oslund

 Holden now helps to organize the Critical Mass events in Bemidji. Critical Mass could be tied into political things, but Holden believes that it is also just an enjoyable bike ride, and a way to celebrate cycling.

                  In larger cities, such as Minneapolis, Critical Mass can cause traffic jams in busy areas, which can upset many people. “A lot of the time people yell obscene things at you,” Said Holden about his experience participating in Critical Mass. “They even throw things, like pennies, at you.”

                  Although Critical Mass involves biking down the streets and taking them back, the point is not to tie up traffic. “Those who want to tie up traffic as much as possible and be confrontational with motorists are missing the point,” according to a Web site created by a Critical Mass supporter.

The next ride in Bemidji Minn. will be on Oct. 29, and will start at the Paul and Babe statues at noon. 

Chance of a Lifetime

The opportunity for college students to earn credit while traveling to foreign countries

By Eric Oslund

“If you want to see the world and see England, go on Eurospring,” said Oxford Prof. Allan Chapman in a recent speech he gave at Bemidji State University.

Just walking around campus you can hear the buzz of Eurospring in one way or another. You will usually hear student saying it was one of the most memorable moments in their lives, professors talking about how amazing it is, or students talking about how they want to go on it.

Oxford Prof. Allan Chapman came to BSU
and gave a speech about Eurospring to a group of students.
Chapman has been the head lecturer at the Oxford
 section of the trip, since the trip originated.
Photo by Eric Oslund

Chapman has been the head lecturer for the Eurospring program since it began in 1977. He came to BSU to deliver his annual lecture on Sept. 19; but he also spoke to a large group of students about Eurospring. While in Oxford, Chapman takes students on multiple field trips, including the famous Stonehenge located in the England countryside of Wiltshire.

During the entirety of the Eurospring trip, you will travel all across Europe after spending five weeks in Oxford. Previous itineraries have included Paris, Lucerne, Florence, Orvieto, Rome, Venice, Salzburg, Munich, Dachau, Nuremberg, and Heidelberg. They will also get to see London and stay on the Oxford campus at the beginning of the trip.

Laura Runningen is a student at Minnesota State University-Mankato, and she went on the Eurospring trip with BSU students in 2005. In the book “The Journey That Matters,” Runningen recalls her “experience of a lifetime.”

"The Journey That Matters" is a book comprised
 of stories from the BSU students of
2005 that went on Travel Programs.
One of which was Eurospring.
Photos by Eric Oslund

She talks about how the trip changed her as a person and touched her soul. It was an experience that she will never forget and would not trade for anything. “To answer the people back home: a price couldn’t be put on this trip; it was too much of a real-life fairy tale,” stated Runningen in her story.

Students will have the opportunity to earn fifteen academic credits for going on this trip around Europe. Since this is an academic trip, the students have to attend classes taught by Chapman and take an exam at the end of the trip. The students will also be enrolled in the main lecture class in Wycliffe Hall on the Oxford University campus.

With the economy the way it is and the US dollar doing poorly in the global market some people may feel as if they cannot afford to go on Eurospring. According to the Eurospring page on the BSU-Web site the program fee is not yet available, but it is estimated to be around $7000. “BSU financial aid covered half of the cost for me,” said Erin Sundvall, a BSU student who went on Eurospring in 2011. “There were actually a lot more students that got more financial aid than I did.” 

Eric Oslund, CNN Anchor, Dies at 87

By Eric Oslund

            Eric Oslund, who was a staple on CNN for two decades, died on Wednesday in his home in Farmington, Minn. He was 87.He died of natural causes one day in his sleep, said his wife, Emma.

Everyone that ever watched CNN would always remember Mr. Oslund. “He was always a joy to be around, and people seemed to just be drawn to him,” said one of his CNN teammates. He brought the news from around the world on a daily basis, and always was able to keep his composure no matter how saddening the story was.

Born on December 6, 1991 in Rochester Minn. The first comment ever made about him was by his Grandmother Bonnie Closson. She said, “Look at the butter-ball turkey thighs on him.”

Mr. Oslund was the oldest of two; he also had a younger brother, Brady Oslund. These two were as close as brothers could get, they would act as though they were each other’s best friends.

The reasoning for this could be because the only stable thing for the two of them growing up was one another. Both of their parents got divorced twice, once from each other. Also their mother, whom they lived with, suffered with eating disorders and alcoholism, so she was in and out of hospitals often during their high school years. However their father Craig Oslund would always tell them, “Guys you have had a much harder life than most kids your age have had, but everything that has happened will just make you stronger.”

Mr. Oslund always seemed to be comfortable being in front of people. He was in plays throughout his school years, and also a captain of his high school speech team. “He just always seemed comfortable in front of others,” said his brother Brady. “It made me always excited to see what he would do next.”

Eric having fun during his college years.
Photo by Eric Oslund

           What he proceeded to do next was attended Bemidji State University where he decided to try out his hand in the department of mass communications. While doing this he took a video production class where he was forced to do 15 hours of on field news production, including be on air.

            He soon found out that he was very comfortable being on the air, and actually enjoyed it. This liking led to him paying more and more attention to mass communications, and he eventually graduated with a bachelor’s degree in that very area of study.

            It was after college, were he met the love of his life Emma Smith. One random day during the summer months his friends brought him along a trip to the boundary waters. One of his friends brought along his girlfriend, and she brought some of her friends, one of which was Emma.

            They hit it off great together and continued to see each other after the trip. They eventually got married in a church in Lakeville, Minn.

            Mr. Oslund proceeded to obtain jobs at multiple local news broadcasting stations, but always wanted more. His wife Emma said, “he was always trying to do bigger and better things, and never seemed satisfied till he succeeded.”

            It was this hard work and determination that finally landed him a job with a major news network. He was given a job with CNN. He did not start at the top though, like most other jobs Mr. Oslund had to start at the bottom and work his way up.

            This job entailed him being on the film team that would film major stories around the world. He was happy and content with his job, but he always envisioned himself as doing something more with his life. That moment came on a news story-taking place in China.

            The story took place in the year 2030 and was about part of the great wall being ruined by an earthquake. Once the team arrived on the scene the, then, news broadcaster came down with food poisoning and was unable to go on the air, so Mr. Oslund stepped in and delivered a flawless broadcast.  He continued to cover stories around the world, until he was promoted to the lead anchor, and now the rest is history.

            Although he loved his job, Mr. Oslund eventually, like most people, retired from CNN. Both he and his wife then decided to travel the world together, and visit all 50 states in the USA.

           

            They also devoted a lot of their time and effort helping out those less fortunate. “Eric knew that he lived a good life,” said his wife Emma. “I think that’s why he always wanted to give to others.”

            Mr. Oslund married Emma Smith, and they remained married for 54 years. Including his partner, he is survived by his two sons, Nyle, and Drew, and a daughter Grace; also four grandchildren. 

TO THE EDITOR:
            Re “Court Weighs Who Defends Proposition 8” (page A18, Sept. 7):

The issue of same-sex marriage is getting too drawn out. This should be a decision made by the federal government, not by the states. When it is made by the states we have different rulings all over the country, which ultimately leads to more problems.

The primary problem is that when two people of the same sex get married in a state where it is legal, I don’t know if that marriage is allowed/acknowledged in a state where same sex marriage is banned.

This question should have been answered in the article. Are the same-sex marriages that took place in California, before Proposition 8, still seen as valid marriages by the state?

ERIC OSLUND
Bemidji, Minn., Sept. 7, 2011

Why Do I Want School To Start?

Valleyfair Amusement Park & Soak City is a place for families to have a good time while employees work to stay sane.

By Eric Oslund



Lifeguards enjoying themselves during some nice weather. Photo by Rachel Lentsch



            As the largest amusement park in Minnesota and surrounding area, Valleyfair is the place where many families go to have a good time. Whether it be the gut-wrenching drop of the Power Tower, The screams of the Steel Venom, or just the sheer speed of the Renegade, people come from all over to get some of the excitement Valleyfair has to offer.

            Sadly, the employees of this place do not experience the same joys as the happy visitors. During the summer of 2011, I was one of those employees, and I can honestly say it was the first summer that I wanted to end and could not wait for school to start.

            For me, Valleyfair was a place I dreaded to go to. Now this may not be true for everyone, or for every department, but from what I heard the majority of people felt the same. I worked as a lifeguard, and got promoted to a head-lifeguard half way through the year.

Many people are shocked to learn I hated such a job, especially since I was a head-lifeguard. Some of my friends would say, “You get to sit in the sun all day, work on your tan, and look at hot chicks in bikinis! That sounds like a sweet gig to me.” The truth is that some of these factors actually made the job a bad one.

Yes I got to sit out in the sun all day, but I also had to wear a t-shirt all day to protect myself from the sun, so now I have terrible tan lines which most of my t-shirts do not cover. The shirt that I had to wear was a heavy cotton/polyester blend that did not breathe. It was torture having to wear that during the super hot and humid days this past summer.

It was not only the hot blistering days that made this job bad, but also the freezing cold and rainy ones. Valleyfair basically never closes so we would have to stand out in the freezing cold or blistering hot weather. We even had to stand out through severe thunderstorms. I remember one storm in particular, in which it was raining so hard I could not see across the pool; and once the rained eased up we could see lightning striking surrounding areas.

            Another thing that made this job lousy was the pay and the long hours. I got paid $8.10 an hour for being a head-lifeguard, which is less than most regular lifeguards make across the state. To add insult to injury, I worked 60+ hours every week, sometimes up to 70, and since it was a seasonal job, Valleyfair did not have to pay us overtime.



            Since I was working so many hours, I did not have time to see my good friends from high school, or do the things I enjoy doing. Yes I did get one day off a week, but after being outside and working 60+ hours al you want to do on your day off is stay inside and relax.





This job was not all bad, however, I had the chance to meet lots of fun people and make great friends. “The people here are the only thing that make this job bearable,” one of my fellow lifeguards said, “If it was not for them I would have quit long ago.” It was actually very difficult to find someone who liked their job, but I feel as though the pitfalls of the job brought us all closer together.



Lifeguards, trying to stay warm, during a cold day of trainin. Photo by Rachel Lentsch