Minority Transfer in California Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Minority Transfer in California - Essay Example Historically, jobs offered to minorities did not require a four-year college education. Secondly, the four-year institutions were not interested in receiving minorities as students from two-year colleges. The four -year institutions mainly targeted students with Advanced Placement. This majority-minority demography who desire and need higher education is hitting colleges and universities. This maintained a two-tier system with an underlying aspect of white supremacy. In California, where 60 percent of K-12 scholars consist of minority groups, only 65-75 percent enrolls in the community colleges. According to reports, only 17 percent Latinos and 19 percent African-American scholars intending to enroll to a four- year institution manage to do so. This system locked out many of the minority students as it is different. Technical course credits were not transferable, and students could not get fee waivers. However, recommendations to revise the old transfer policies are in place (Chau 1) . Statistics indicates that, by 2025, there will be a shortage of degree holders in California. Analyses also indicate that students performing poorly in high schools transfer to community colleges and perform poorly too. ... Poorly prepared students rarely transfer. The report encourages low-performing high schools to help the students realize the challenges of developmental education (Chau 1). Racism is a noticeable aspect within the community colleges. Minority students registered less than 20 percent of all the transfers recorded in colleges. This has necessitated actions aimed at educational reform. Stakeholders involved have come together in order to streamline the system. Civil Rights Project, in its report, recommends dual-enrollment programs, which will provide a better transition between the high schools and colleges, thus expanding programs meant for college readiness. They also recommend simpler transfer processes with credit transfer uniformity. The report also indicated that colleges offering financial incentives would improve on the transfer rates. Some of the colleges have already started implementing the report (Chau 1). In January 1998, Proposition 209 terminated racism segregation in pu blic colleges and universities in the state of California. The Proposition refers to the ban on preferential treatment in learning institutes. Proposition 209 defines new diversity guidelines issued by the Justice and Education departments. Institutions find it difficult to enroll and retain historically under-represented minority (URM) youth. The number of African American and Hispanic scholars drastically dropped at four-year institutions after the year 1998. The University of California has embraced proposition 209. It has diversified efforts and developed a program that reviews the application to incorporate the barriers students have put under control. This has led to the creation of Eligibility in the Local Context program (ELC), to assist in increasing

Blood Diamond Essay Example for Free

Blood Diamond Essay The realization that there is always something bad mixed with good hit her like a tornado as she watched the movie Blood Diamond. Unconsciously she fingered the stone on her finger and wished she had not worn it. She had to blink back the tears stinging her eyes as she saw children being put to work at alluvial mines, and other workers being amputated and killed for sport. I almost choked with guilt when I remembered how I had gaily remarked, ‘Diamonds are forever,’ when my friend showed me the diamond ring her boyfriend had gotten her. We were not giggling anymore when we saw a World Vision quote†¦ ‘amputation is forever. ’ On seeing the movie, we decided that we had to do something about the conflict diamond issue. We felt so bad about not getting information concerning the origin off the diamond my friend wore, we would never know for sure whether it was a conflict diamond or not. Blood diamond and conflict diamonds are more or less synonymous terms. The UN defines a conflict diamond as a â€Å"diamond whose origin is an area which is controlled by forces that are opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments. The diamonds are used to finance military action to oppose the government of the day or to contravene the decisions of security council (UN,www. un. org/peace/Africa/Diamond html) Most of these diamonds have their origin in Africa with countries like Sierra leone, Liberia, Angola and DR Congo being among those most affected. Though diamonds are mined in Liberia, it offers more of a marketing and ‘supporting point’ role for the Blood Diamond trade. Civil wars in Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone are funded with diamonds that have been smuggled into Liberia which are later sold and the cash is used to purchase ammunition, guns and other weapons. Liberia has imposed some violence of its own lasting 8 years killing around 200,000and displaying thousands more (Stop Blood Diamond Organization, 2007). Reports by Amnesty International and Global Witness show that there are areas in Liberia where diamond are still mined and traded which are controlled by rebels. Worse, these have been report of links between the infamous alqaida and Liberia (Amnesty USA,2007). The 9/11 attacks have been linked to funds and weapons associated with the diamond mines of Sierra Leone. The diamonds are usually mined by civilians who are used as slaves after being caught as prisoners. The civilians, children included, work in poor conditions and are punished brutally for the slightest error. Killing for sport and amputation are regular occurrences. (Stop Blood Diamonds Organization, 2007). Some of the abducted children eventually become child soldiers. John Lahia, a 15 year old child soldier was among the victims of the war that has led to starvation, disease and war wounds for many refugees. He was wounded by an exploding rocket-propelled geradeand died of a tetanus infection, far away from medical aid that would have otherwise saved his life. The Revolutionary United Front(RUF) medics left him lying in a backwater hospital with his wounds taped for lack of better medical means to treat him. This too will be the likely fate of other combatants and all this because of the greed for diamond (Campbell,2007). A sure way to eradicate conflict diamond is to end conflict areas. Peacekeeping that aims at apprehension and removal of rebels without violation of human rights of civilians can be used to achieve this. Inernational agencies need to focus on ending hostilities so diamond production can return to the hands of the government; this will enable the countries in question to benefit from rather than be torn apart by their diamond mines. In 1999, the UN deployed a mission to deal with the problem of conflict diamonds. The Kimberly cerrtification scheme requires provision of a certificate of origin for diamonds. The aim is to cut off flow of diamonds from illegitimate sources. This process however has several shortcomings. The certificates can be forged, many diamonds can be smuggled into a dean country and even when certificates are real the officials may have been bribed. This is a reality especially because in most of the war torn countries poverty and suffering are rife. Most people will only be too glad to line their pockets with the bribes offered. Sensitizing the American Public on issues to do with conflict diamonds is another strategy. This has already began especially in the entertainment industry with such movies as Dicaprios Blood Dianond and James Bond Die another Day and Kanye West’s song, ‘Diamond are Forever’. Further flooding of the public with more information through as many avenues as possible will ensure that people are aware of the origin and human terror and suffering that comes with some diamonds. This will in turn create a low market for the diamonds, slowing down the flux of diamonds into the country. In the present situation, supply of diamond and human suffering in the country of origin have a direct correlation, decreasing supply from illegitimate sources will consequently lead to a decrease in suffering of the Africa children and civilians affected. US contributes 70%of the worlds diamond trade making it a leading customer of diamond. (VOA News, 2007). The US therefore has a role in spearheading the fight against conflict diamond. The government should insist on strengthening the Kimberley process and the Clean Diamond Trade Act. By providing more forceful support, technical aid and financial aid. African countries can be assisted to develop the Kimbeley process such that its effect is felt by the corrupt officials and rebels overseeing mining of blood diamond. The Government Accountability office has had several proposal which include spot checks of diamond companies and tracking of rough diamonds inside and outside the country of origin. (Globalwitness, 2007). These need application and immediate application. Regular checking of the progress of US wagh diamond trade statistics Is an important evaluation tool for the effect of blood diamond and assessment of how the problem is being combated. Though my friend and I are not sure of the origins of the diamond she wears on her finger we are more knowledgeable about conflict diamonds. As a result our circle of friends also know more and now most of our college is no longer ignorant about the issue. Through our campaigns we encourage people to ask about the origin of the diaomonds they are just about to buy. This means that as a nation we are thinking about and doing something in consideration of the people whose lives have been lost in the diamond trade. REFERENCES Amnesty USA Conflict Diamond retrived from www. amnestyusa. org/new/doc/diamonds-survey-text. pdf Campbell G. Blood Diamonds, Amnesty Magazine retrieved from www. amnestyusa. org/amnestynw/diamond s. html Conflict Diamond retrieved from Www. un. org/peace/Africa/Diamond. html Globalwitness, Combating conflict Diamonds,retrieved Sep 1 2007 from http://www. globalwitness. orga/pages/en/conflictdiamonds. html Stop Blood Diamond Organization, Stop Blood Diamond, conflict Diamond in Africa retrieved from www. stopblooddiamonds. org/children-of-Africa. asp VOA News US cogress Tackle Blood Diamond trade retrieved sep 1, 2007 from www. voanews. can/english/archive/2002-02/a-2002-02-4-2-us. cfm. World vision, Stop the Trade in Blood Diamond, retrieved sep 1 2007 from Worldvision. org/worldvision/stable/globalissues-conflictdiamond.

Business Intelligence :: essays research papers

Business Intelligence for competitive advantage In the beginning, businesses used information technology for automating the processes primarily to reduce labor costs. Subsequently, information technology is used for delivering information with speed and accuracy. Currently, businesses want to use the information effectively for competitive advantage to make better decisions that improve and optimize business processes, predict the market dynamics accurately, optimize forecasts to adequately maintain resources to name a few reasons. Businesses reached a critical juncture in global competition and the business intelligence capabilities and analytic prowess will play critical roles in the most competitive sectors of global economy. First of all, business intelligence analysis requires the capturing of information and storing in a single location for effective data analysis. Currently, data analysis is supported by transactional systems, business specific data marts, and other ad-hoc processes. Information is distributed making it difficult and time-consuming to access. Business teams have adapted to this environment by creating user maintained databases and manual â€Å"work-arounds† to support new types of reporting and analysis. This has resulted in inconsistent data, redundant data storage, significant resource use for maintenance, and inefficient response to changing business needs. A data warehouse comprised of disparate data sources enables the â€Å"single version of truth† through shared data repositories and standards and also provides access to the data that will expand frequency and depth of data analysis. Due to these reasons, data warehouse is the foundation for business intelligence. As a Technical Architect, I am involved in the design and development of the Enterprise Data Warehouse at Target. I and many of my colleagues worked hard to make the business case of the importance of the data warehouse and its value addition to the company.

Free Process Essays - How to Organize a Paintball Event :: Expository Process Essays

How to Organize a Paintball Event Ever dream of shooting your boss or coworkers? Perhaps you will get the chance if you offer to organize a company paintball event. It is a great way to promote teamwork and relieve aggression. Even if the coworker from hell is on the same team as you, keep in mind there is such a thing as â€Å"friendly fire† (â€Å"accidentally† shooting someone on your team). The first step is to check out local fields. Some things to look for are, the ratio of referees to players, goggle signs, barrel plugs and personality of the staff. Typically, playing fields are crowded on the weekend. Most fields will open during the week for a group of twenty or more, but do ask. Price is also a consideration; this is an expensive hobby. Expect to pay at least $85 for a case of paint, goggle rental and a paintball marker (gun) rental for a four-hour session. Preferably, try to plan the outing when the weather is comfortable. Playing in the 100 degree Texas heat would be rough on most corporate types. On the day of the event, it is best to dress in layers. Being hit with a paintball does sting. I recommend wearing gloves and a hat as handshots and headshots seem to hurt the most. Wear comfortable shoes, cleats if possible, if not tennis shoes with good tread. Most often, the playing fields are on grass or dirt surfaces. Usually fields have food and drinks for sale but to be on the safe side bring water, as dehydration is common for rookie players. The first stop after arriving at the field is the â€Å"Staging Area†. This area typically has tables to set your equipment on. After picking up the equipment from the staff, the referee will discuss how the markers (guns) work, how to fill the hoppers (what holds the paintballs) and most importantly safety issues. The first is, everyone chronographs their guns to be certain no one is shooting â€Å"hot† over 300 fps (feet per second). Secondly, always wear goggles. Eye injuries are the biggest injury risk of playing paintball and wearing goggles faithfully will prevent it. Thirdly, keep the barrel plug in the gun until the game begins. That way if your finger accidentally pulls the trigger the barrel plug slows down the velocity of the paintball and likely will not cause an injury.

Of mice and men is the story of two men George Milton and Lennie Small Essay

Of mice and men is the story of two men George Milton and Lennie Small who are two people who move from place to place in search of work. This is so that one day they can afford to buy a small farm somewhere where they can live alone and be there own bosses. George looks after Lennie because Lennie is mentally slow and he has looked after him since Lennie’s aunt died, because Lennie is mentally challenged, he tends to get George and himself into trouble because of stupid little things. They where on the run and they found a ranch in the Salinas valley California where they could work as ranch hands. Crooks, the black stable buck, was a proud aloof man who kept his distance from other people and demanded that they keep their own distance too. This was because he was black and at the time this novel was written, there was a lot of racist discrimination towards people with black skin, and so if he did mix with the others they would just make a mockery of him by using sarcasm and taunts. Crooks was obviously a very intelligent person because he controlled his inner anger towards the other people on the ranch but he was also a proud and bitter man. Proud because he never let anyone see how he truly felt and the ridicule and name calling and bitter because of the way he is treated and he passes on the hurt feeling he has to other people he thinks that there will be no recriminations from. He feels he is isolated because he is the only black man on the ranch and one of the very few black people in the entire area. Crooks is treated badly due to the racism in both the ranch and society as a whole. At the time when this story was written, the world was a very racist place and anyone with a different coloured skin other than white was treated differently. He was called a nigger and yet he was born in America so in fact, he was a true American and not a nigger, but due to him being black, he was treated very differently. He was given all the jobs that a white man would like to consider below him, i.e. cleaning out the stables. Even though the workers on the ranch did not set out to insult him deliberately, the use of the term ‘nigger’ signals to people that black men like Crooks were degraded both verbally and physically by people with white skin. Crooks was openly referred to as a ‘nigger’, which amplifies the casual racism that was directed at him by the others. Crooks bullies Lennie because he has been tormented and bullied all the time he has been able to understand the facts of racial prejudice. He is then given the chance to bully Lennie. To get Lennie’s attention he uses a subdued and convincing voice. When he gets the affect he wants he then turns to bullying and you can see his â€Å"face lighted with pleasure in his torture†. He revelled in the suffering and tribulation he put on Lennie because he is enjoying bullying instead of being bullied himself. He also likes his new level as he can only do this to Lennie because he is not a threat and it is possibly the only time he can get his own back in some small way shape of form. Crooks’ character helps to widen the theme of loneliness in the novel because all the men on the ranch would have been proud and bitter men in someway because of the work they were forced to do. In addition, the way it says that it is unusual for people to travel around in twos I think that they were used to people keeping them selves to them because at the time it was written it was the great depression and so people were sad and tended not to communicate with other people. Crooks is given the smallest most desolate room on the ranch he is made to keep away from the bunkhouse where the rest of the workers work. His room is not only his room it is sort of an equipment store a place where equipment gets fixed. He is the also the only black person on the ranch and possibly the only black person for miles, which means that he has no one of his own race to converge with. The other thing that is not on his side is that with him being black no one would believe him if any thing went wrong an example of this is when Curleys wife goes into Crooks’ room and crooks tell her to leave she replies with that she calls him a nigger ands that she could get him lynched (hanged) quiet easily, implying that she doesn’t like him and that she could do it if she was pushed. The language used to describe Crooks gives him a lack of recognition which help the author to make the reader of the novel feel sorry for Crooks and that they would just want to help him. John Steinbeck uses this to show his lack of identity and thus making him an outsider to the rest of the people on the ranch who have a full explicit description of the way they look. The lack of description of crooks makes us feel sympathetic towards him Steinbeck also uses like a sad slow old-fashioned form of writing to make you feel like he is lonely and is sympathetic towards him. Crooks is quit an important character in the novel it helps the writer convey the loneliness and solitude there must have been being a worker on a desolate ranch. Crooks is also the only person in the novel who can take part in one of the novels main themes (discrimination). It is also a good way of letting you see what life was like and the way people strived to make their life long dream come true (the American dream). After a while Crooks begins to trust Lennie and they become friends, which is another (friendship).

Presidential debates essays

Presidential debates essays This debate was focused on homeland security, and how one would better America as Commander and Chief. One of the first questions asked of the candidates was on their plan to prevent an attack like 9/11. Kerry admitted his mistakes in talking down of the war with Iraq, but he states that Bush has made the first mistake of choosing to invade Iraq. Kerry seemed to base his issues on the fact that Bush didnt promise what he promised America before he became President. Kerry alerted our attention on Bushs decision to go on to Iraq and when the true problem was with Bin Laden and Afghanistan. Kerrys constantly issued on Bushs fall on keeping his word to keep war as a last resort. Kerry basically doesnt believe Bush went on with the war in the right way. He didnt believe it was enough diplomacy. The term was Colossal misjudgment, Kerry said he would rather use the 200 billions of dollar that where placed in Iraq and give use it to support the homeland. Kerry obviously doubts Bus hs ability to get the job done, and he stated that Bushs plan for the next for year is four words, more of the same. In this debate, I believe John Kerrys main motive was to show the non-relationship of the war on terrorism and the problem with Al-Queada and Bin Laden. In counter Bush seemed to focus on our need to win and the best way for us to do this and protect the homeland, is to stay on the defense. Bush tried to base his thought on Kerrys thought of the war being the, Wrong war, Wrong place, and Wrong time. In addition to this was John Kerrys flip flopping. Bush said the goal is to become allies with Iraq and all. It seemed like George Bush tried to push this by expressing his relationship with other foreign leaders. From Bush some of Kerrys examples of flip flopping ...

Johnny Appleseed and Today’s Apples Essays

Johnny Appleseed and Today’s Apples Essays Johnny Appleseed and Today’s Apples Paper Johnny Appleseed and Today’s Apples Paper â€Å"The Apple† details the story of both the fruit, but more importantly, Johnny Appleseed, the legendary man who, two hundred years ago, crossed the Midwestern part of the country (Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana area), spreading apple seeds around in order to encourage apple trees to grow.   His real name was John Chapman, and he is said to be something of a strange man, one who was convinced of his duality with nature (he was a vegetarian, never rode horses or chopped down trees, and punished himself for hurting any creature, no matter how small, and even by accident). The author is attempting to trace Johnny Appleseed’s path across Ohio, and to discover his true reasons for planting apples.   According to science, apple seeds do not produce ‘normal’ apple trees.   Only tree cloning can do this.   Apple seeds produce terribly bitter fruit that is usually used for producing alcohol.   So, Johnny Appleseed was bringing alcohol to the colonies.   He moved continually, planting apple seeds where he knew a town would spring up in a few years, and when it did, he would sell the small apple trees for profit.   This was good business practice, as most people selling land required that the buyers plant orchards, to encourage them to keep and use their land. Sweetness is another popular reason for the apple.   Sugar wasn’t common in the frontier times, and any sweetness came from fruit.   The apple was among the sweetest.   This sweetness, of course, lent itself well to the creation of alcohol.   Alcohol was necessary, though, because it was a safer drink than water, even for children, in a time when water was often infested with cholera or worse. A man named Bill takes the author around Apple Country and shows him Johnny Appleseed’s path.   They walk across country, paddle down rivers, and look at apple trees that had been planted by Appleseed himself.   Along the way, the author continues to ask Bill biographical questions about Appleseed, such as the rumors about his child bride who left him, why he never married, and how he lived everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Today, many varieties of apples still grow, some propagated by Johnny Appleseed.   Legends of Appleseed still exist in many different areas, as the author finds out.   The apple, and the man who loved it, are still a large part of today’s folklore, and real tradition.