Award-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh was kind enough to speak at Campus Progress and The Nation's National Youth Journalism Conference last month in front of a packed crowd of 200 young journalists from across the country. Impressive as always, Mr. Hersh artfully explained some of the keys to becoming a great reporter as well as some amazing national security anecdotes. Some of his comments have been getting press over at ThinkProgress.

Mr. Hersh has also spoken at other Campus Progress events. Check out this great clip of him at our 2007 National Conference or this provocative interview he did a few years ago.

Some award-winning Campus Progress students have been in the news again recently, woohoo!

So let’s recap the last few weeks.

This coming weekend is the annual National Conference for Media Reform, held this year in Minneapolis, MN.

I attended last year, and had the amazing opportunity to meet some incredible youth media producers, activists, and journalists all working to reform the mainstream media or create alternative media channels.

Tired of the adminstration censoring your voice? Frustrated that the daily paper won't cover certain issues or events?

Then do something about it.

Campus Progress supports over 50 progressive student publications across the country with funding, journalism training, content support, event assistance, and other tools and resources. 

We want to help you make your voice heard.

Apply today to become part of Campus Progress's Publications Network either as a brand new publication or an existing one.  But don't procrastinate, the priority deadline for applications is June 30th. 

This past year alone, Campus Progress has worked with students who have successfully launched new publications at the University of Georgia, Michigan State University, DePaul University, American University, Brown University, University of New England, Kenyon College, and other colleges and universities.

We're here to help you with the great work you're doing on your campus.  Feel free to e-mail publications@campusprogress.org with any questions.  

Ramya Raghavan left the Campus Progress staff this week after two years here.  Thousands of young people across America know Ramya because she did an amazing job working on Campus Progress's communications, media, outreach, organizing, issue campaigns, events, trainings, etc.  Because I am temporarily sidelined, recovering from a bike injury, and because Ramya is headed to San Francisco to work at YouTube, I will type no more but will let this homemade video (made for Ramya's going away party), do the talking.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CrXqS5VQM5U

This Thursday, May 1st, is the 5th anniversary of President Bush declaring "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq. On this day in 2003, he stated that all major combat operations had ended and that our goals had been achieved.

We know better.

If you're at a Utah school, watch out because Campus Progress is coming through on a road trip!

If you're at a California school, watch out because Campus Progress is coming through on a road trip!

Starting this Thursday January 17th and all the way until our upcoming Journalism Conference on the 26th, a bunch of CP staff will be meeting with CA student activists and journalists to chat about the progressive movement, campus organizing and journalism, and any ideas about how Campus Progress can better support the work happening on campuses across the state.

We've newly revamped our Contribute to CampusProgress.org page under About Us, and we all think you should check it out. This page will explain all the steps you need to go through to pitch Campus Progress. The cool thing about Campus Progress is that we really want our readers -- that's you -- to be the writers on the site. After all, it's our job to publish young writers, whether they're still in school or just out of school and want to get a little writing experience. So if you think you have a great idea that we're just not covering, please, don't sit there and stew silently. Email us!

I know, I know – these are the last three words you want to hear. Yet like it or not, professors on your campus are already finalizing lesson plans, staff at dorms are flipping over ten year old mattresses to hide the stains, and financial aid officers are waiting for those last minute gifts from lenders to determine who will make it onto your preferred lender list. You should be getting ready as well.

Campus Progress is accepting applications for its Student Representative and Advisory Board programs until August 10th. Student Reps help spread the progressive message on their campus by working on exciting issue campaigns, setting up events, and helping to build a strong progressive community on their campus. You can apply by clicking here.

 Why sit shamefully in a long boring morning lecture for free food, while posing as an Aussie, when you can test drive a brand new car while eating delicious hot bagels and savoring the glorious taste of dark rich coffee!  Ha!  I love Free Food-a-Thon.   

“Feed Me Seymour” <-------- The exact roar my stomach made this morning—no lie—as I contemplated how a struggling vegan was going to get thru the day on nothing but free food. (Rick Moranis is my hero!)   

Then it hit me, I’ll “buy” a car!  The Tischer Nissan family of Laurel, Maryland definitely provides for their “potential” customers, I must admit.  While dressing the part, (I’m extra spiffy today) I passed as a young urban professional who had a few minutes to spare before tackling the world of torts and insurance policies. 

“How can I help you sir?”  Jim, the over-the-hill, balding white guy inquires.   “I’m looking for a vehicle that screams ‘informed bad ass’” I replied.  Then it happened! What I was anticipating all morning. “Sir would you care for some coffee or a bagel?” a young assistant interrupts as Jim goes on how the Altima is fully redesigned for 2007.  “Sure” I unenthusiastically admitted.  (Victory! Eat that Kate Monster!)

Jim: “You have time to go for a spin…”

I’m converted, the 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 Altima is impressive.  Starting with the least expensive model, the four-cylinder model 2.5 (then it’s the 2.5S and 2.5SL) the pricier V6 zooms from zero to 60 mph in only 6.6 seconds (of which I’ve discovered first hand), a fine performance for a family sedan.  Well, that’s how I spent the first hour of my morning. 

Now onto my long boring afternoon lecture for free food. My lunch plans: the Myth of the Rational Voter book forum at the Cato Institute!  Happy hunting fellow free-fooders!

 Okay…So whose idea was to put the Fourth of July on a Wednesday? Urghh! I shake my fist at Pope Gregory XIII and his strange calendar system that ensures this pattern reoccurs every seven or so years.  So, now I’m back among the Campus Progress Intern’s Cult (C-PIC), regretting how I forgot that yesterday was indeed a Wednesday and not a Saturday.  Fourth cup of coffee slammed back: Check!

 So, I struggle to stay focus on today’s assignments; my mind keeps wandering back to last night.  The day/night that was spent with brilliant minds, over great food and an endless ravine of “spirits!”  Viva La Plei in Your Lei on Independence Dei!! (Smashing job Leah T, Jess P, Irene S, Stefanie B, Jasmine H & Rebecca T)  My first Wash.D.C July 4th experience can best be simplified as; DC = One-City-that-goes-over-the-top-with-its-Celebrating.  I mean, DUHHH, it’s only the national capital right!?!  But what I found most bizarre was the audible similarities of what could be compared to as a regular day in Baghdad.  

 BOOM… Boom… boom...  (The entire “patio smokers’ caucus” jumps in an involuntary reaction to three hours of perpetual, acoustic bombardment.)  

 So I admit it, I’ve never been in an active war zone of any type. Even while growing up in urban Detroit, I don’t share the same experiences that many stereotypes would suggest—I ’m exposed! But America has!  I admit further, that I’m no authority as to judge what defines the deciibel and acoustic requirements of a “war-zone-ish” scenario.  Granted.  But, the strength and intensity of civilian-acquired fireworks begins to make real my understanding of active, urban warfare. It’s now four years and four days since “Bring Em On,” which of course pissed off more militants then one hundred million “yo mama” insults, and as I read my daily Google Reader news feeds , I glance over headline like “Baghdad wedding car bomb kills many”; “Blast kills 60” “Mosque clash turns deadly” and then I check Facebook.  WTF!  Is this not real?  Am I really that desensitized?  

Yesterday, I experienced large expositions, which seemed to come-and-go from every direction.  That was my experience.  One night vs 1569?  No comparison!  This WAR MUST STOP

Okay, so the 110th Congress ROCKS—or so one confused student thinks!  Today, June 20th 2007, the US Senate marked up its, 500 + page version of the, would be Higher Education Access Reconciliation Act of 2007.  After thumbing through, an otherwise boring document, I was excited to see that our lawmakers—this go around—might very well be fighting for students!  The Senate’s HELP Committee or Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is under the leadership of Senator Ted Kennedy. Chairman Kennedy has pledged increased Pell Grant levels, reductions of interest rates on student loans, debt forgiveness, cutting corporate welfare in the financial aid system and much more. 

College cost have grown nearly 40% in the last five years, so as a student I’m all for (1) Strengthening the Middle Class by Making College more Affordable (2) Increasing the Purchasing Power of the Pell Grant Scholarship (3) Ensuring a highly Qualified Teacher in Every Classroom (4) Encouraging and Rewarding Public Services; and lastly, (5) Encouraging Philanthropic Participation ion College Retention and Finance 

However, before us students search for the closest party store in jubilate celebration, we must not forget Budget Reconciliation of 2006 when Congress slashed 12.6 billion out of many student loan programs.

Meet, greet, and mingle with other interns and young progressives at the Campus Progress Summer Kick-Off Party! The fun starts at 6:30 at Science Club. Hope to see you there!

Last week, Campus Progress and the Center for American Progress hosted another installation of the series “Conversations with Daschle,” featuring a dialogue between former Senator Tom Daschle, and former Governor of New Jersey and EPA administrator, Christine Todd Whitman, held at the Georgetown University GPPI Student Lounge.

In addition to free pizza and drinks, guests were treated to a serious and comprehensive discussion on environmental policy. Although Whitman and Daschle are from opposite sides of the aisle, both agreed that climate change should no longer be treated as a politicized idea with disputed science, but as an objective reality.

While Senator Daschle was optimistic about the potential legislative efforts in Congress to ease human impact on climate change, Ms. Whitman was similarly pleased but admitted that she was cautious about some of the more “bold” proposals that have recently been made. Ms. Whitman maintained a strong support for a cap-and-trade system as a realistic solution, citing its success with respect to non-greenhouse gases and reiterating the need for businesses to have positive incentives in order to enact real progress. Approaches based solely on broad regulation, such as caps on carbon output, go too far and are not likely to be adopted, Ms. Whitman offered.

Both agreed that the legislative freedom provided in state governments have allowed states to serve as apt laboratories for the possible directions for environmental policy, with Governor Schwarzenegger’s California being the most obvious example. Both also fielded questions from the audience, covering topics ranging from what college students can do to make their campus green, to how to make being environmentally conscious "sexy." 

This was the seventh in the series of “Conversations with Daschle,” which features the former Senate Majority Leader casually discussing a certain subject with a different prominent politician or D.C. personality.

Last night, Tuesday February 27, Campus Progress and HBO hosted an advanced screening of "Life Support," a new HBO film about the daily struggle of a woman who has the HIV/AIDS virus. The film stars Queen Latifah and Gloria Reuben, and the screening drew an engaged crowd of over 225 to Washington's E Street Cinema.

The audience was treated to introductory remarks by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), and a compelling panel discussion featuring Ms. Waters, Nelson George, the director of the film, actress Gloria Reuben (also of "ER" fame), and William Brawner, an AIDS activist and educator.

The panel praised the film for its humanistic treatment of people who live with the virus as one of many problems they deal with everyday. It was truly refreshing to see a film that presented an African-American woman who was a human being first, one with strengths and flaws like anyone else, whose victimhood was almost besides the point. Unlike dry, fact-based documentaries and overambitious non-fiction films that unintentionally give the virus a more detached treatment in their attempt to give a comprehensive education about it, "Life Support" is a warm-hearted testament to how one woman gets by.

The audience reflected these sentiments in the Q&A session afterwards, and each panelist offered his or her own insight into the AIDS crisis. Nelson George filled out the picture of the woman in the film with anecdotes about his own sister, who was the basis for Latifah's character. Maxine Waters articulated what legislative battles must be waged to get AIDS support centers more funding, and contemplated the potentially helpful role of the church in educating people about the virus. William Brawley discussed how AIDS issues intersect and relate to other issues in the African-American community.

The night was a resounding success, and Campus Progress was lucky to work with HBO in showing their  inspiring film to an enthusiastic audience. Thanks to everyone who made this evening happen!