Spring!

    Hello! This is a beautiful week! Our snow is gone and spring is here. Alhamdullilah. I have also had some fun articles this last week. First, I had the opportunity to attend a lecture given by an Israeli journalist. I also met him, because my professor was hosting him, so I asked a few questions as well. The lecture was basically proof that the more I learn about the Middle East, the more I see that everything I once thought I knew is wrong. But that's OK:)
   Next, a fun article about how BYU beat University of Utah in a tense academic exchange last weekend. And who doesn't enjoy that?

Pythons, Portugal, Publishing, and Syrian Refugees

        First and foremost, I want to introduce the Syrian refugee article, which was about a month in the making. After many rewrites and some frantic last-minute interviews, the article was published, and it even made it to the print version! Also, just for the record, the fun thing about this article is that it's my story, too.
      Next, the BYU publishing article. Surprisingly, this was one of my favorite articles to interview for. This was a bit intense since I got the story, did the interviews, and wrote it all in about an hour and a half. I got to talk with some fascinating people and hear some great stories. I also made sure to publish the all-important presence of cookies at an event---I know what will bring out an audience!
      The Portuguese ambassador's visit was another exciting event to cover. I got to interview with one of the international vice-presidents, who was very kind. I learned a little about how BYU and the Church develops these important international relationships.
    And, drumroll please---the front page article, above the fold, in today's The Universe! Mormons hunting pythons with their bare hands were featured in The New York Times, and now the story has come back to where it belongs---their Alma Mater.

A Series of BYU Events

   Last week my articles explored some of the hidden gems at BYU. Please enjoy!
    First, I went to the free movie night at the library. The people were great--some people attend that event religiously, there were some professors, and a random crew of students looking for cheap dates, and it was fun to chat with them. The director was great, too. He really made it quite the evening. He told me that in 14 years they had never had a reporter attend, but I was welcome. Then he emailed me some lovely film stills from Special Collections to use in my story.
  Next, I attended a lecture for the Kennedy Center. I was surprised by how many people I knew were there--I guess geeks for history, religion, and politics flock together!
   And of course, the Life, the Universe, and Everything symposium. Don't panic! I learned about how to write a politically correct "damsel in distress," which has to be an important life skill. Also, did you know that the reason female superheroes always win in the movies is that violence against women automatically gives a film an R-rating. So if you want mainstream audiences, you have to let the girls win. Interesting.

Sleeping Beauty and Other Good Things

   I wrote a couple more articles that I am letting you all know about. So, this is a fun preview of the BYU production of "Sleeping Beauty." I enjoyed writing it--I actually just walked around the Richard's building asking questions until I found the advanced ballet class. I walked in (feeling really out of place in coat, boots, and scarf amidst all of these ballerinas in leotards and pointe shoes), had a word with the instructor, and found myself interviewing Aurora herself. It was a bit of an adventure. 

   And here is one  I wrote about how BYU students find jobs after graduation. Mine is pretty optimistic. Sadly, someone else wrote an article about people from between the ages of 18 to 29 are mostly unemployed. Hmph. At least someone is trying to follow prophetic injunction to seek the good in the world! 

Phantom Happenings

  Thanks all for reading these articles and your comments--I hope you're enjoying them. This week we have The Phantom of the Opera part 2--with some very interesting information about the cast and production that I got from a backstage tour as well as some, well, persistent nosiness.
  Then, there's a fun story about a campus event.
  Thanks for reading, and thanks for your comments and writing critique, Sister Fowler!

Three Articles

     Hello friends--thanks for reading! Today I have lots of articles (I wrote 3 this week, which was exciting, and involved free donuts and hot chocolate).
This is about a documentary at the Kennedy Center.
         For this review, I asked for a press pass to this show, which has been sold out, and tickets are $20 apiece--and I got it! This made seeing the show even more fun, I assure you, particularly since I got excellent seats and a backstage tour afterward. Ask and you and shall receive!
     And my much-travailed over Jerusalem Center article was finally published. Alhamdullilah!
    

       

Name in Print

  Dear Friends! This recent article was placed in the weekly print version of The Universe, which was my goal. So I got to see my name in print. It's very exciting.