Healing the Spine

Louisville's journey to become a leading center of spinal cord research

For Dr. Scott Whittemore, success has been a long time coming. After four years of research at the University of Louisville, he and his colleagues at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center (KSCIRC) published groundbreaking research using stem cells in spinal cord therapy.

It’s a first glimpse of national attention the Louisville center hopes will help it become a major player in spinal treatment.

The research, published in the July issue of The Journal of Neuroscience, details how Whittemore’s team partially repaired damaged spinal cords in rats using specialized stem cells. Until then, the idea of fixing spinal cords in such a way had only been the stuff of scientific speculation.

Read the whole story.

A look at Louisville's Fourth Division

As an urban campus, the University of Louisville sees its share of crime. But, according to the Department of Public Safety's Assistant Director Major Kenny Brown, the recent wave of robberies and burglaries on the Belknap Campus area is "highly unusual."

Full story here.

The Cardinal, March 22, 2005

Podcasting a new way to listen to shows Podcasting a new way to listen to shows

There's TiVO with DVD-R, but where's the high-tech version of recording a favorite radio show on a cassette? Granted, most people probably don't have a favorite radio show, but they might if there was a good way to listen to it. Enter podcasting, a combination of "iPod" and "broadcasting," and a new way to download audio files.

Full story here.

The Cardinal, March 22, 2005

'Goat' describes frat hell

At the University of Louisville, hazing is forbidden. All the Greek organizations deny any allegations of hazing, and the rest of the student body has no way of knowing otherwise.

Brad Land can tell you other universities are the same way. It's just as Newsweek wrote: "From now on the definition [for hazing] should simply read: see Brad Land's memoir, 'Goat.'"

Full story here.

The Cardinal, March 22, 2005

DHS funding priorities make homeland insecure

I've been losing a lot of sleep lately. At night I lie in bed and wonder what the FBI is doing to keep me safe from terrorists -- with only 12,000 special agents and about $4 billion to work with, I can't imagine how it works.

Full story here

The Cardinal, March 8, 2005

Spread the Light

Annual banquet showcases international dance, cuisine

Everyone's heard of the story "Around the World in 80 days," but on Saturday night, it was "partially around the world in two hours," said Kaushik Nagendran. Nagendran is the president of the American International Relations Club, which hosted its annual International Banquet on March 5.

Full story here.

The Cardinal, March 8, 2005

Sen. Hutchinson visits U of L

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) addressed students, staff and community guests in the SAC's Floyd Theater on Monday as part of the McConnell Center's lecture series.

Full story here.

The Cardinal, March 8, 2005

Theater company sets up shop in PRP

A little field research told Chad Sheffield he has something Pleasure Ridge Park needs. As far as he could discern, Sheffield said, "there's not even a bookstore or a coffee shop on Dixie (Highway). We went looking for one."

Full story here.

LEO, March 2, 2005

You say you want a REVOLUTION

New machine breathes life into Dance Dance RSO

The Cardinal Game Room was just like a 1980s arcade with a new Pac-Man machine --- until Monday, Feb. 21, when the new Dance Dance Revolution machine had its premiere in the game room, and oddly giddy college students showed up to ogle and try out the new game.

Full story here.

The Cardinal, March 1, 2005

Not invincible, not tested

Students engage in "high risk" behavior, but free HIV testing is available on-campus

"There are a lot of people infected," Cathy Howard said, referring to HIV in the college-age demographic. Howard is a member of the Northwest Area Health Education Center --- NWAHEC --- and the director of the HIV testing program.

Full story here.

The Cardinal, March 1, 2005

Students hold debate about police shootings

After moving the date three times, the U of L debate team finally picked a day to present "Should police investigations be conducted internally?"

Full story here.

The Cardinal, Feb. 22, 2005

International banquet next week

On March 5, the American International Relations Club at the University of Louisville will host its International Banquet.

Full story here.

The Cardinal, Feb. 22, 2005

Ekstrom exhibit features civil rights movement participants

“You have to look below the surface to find the women,” said Communication and Women’s Studies professor Cate Fosl, speaking in part about the civil rights movement.

Full story here.

The Cardinal, Feb. 15, 2005

The Game doesn't play around

A lot should be expected of the newest G-Unit member and Dr. Dre protégé. The Game, a.k.a. Jayceon Taylor, a 24-year-old Compton native, has big shoes to fill.

Full story here.

The Cardinal, Feb. 15, 2005

Architect leaves legacy

In the 100 block of West Jefferson Street stands a business many could do without. The big, round sign announces it is the home of the “Love Boutique,” an infamous adult book store. But ask anyone who’s lived or worked near downtown for a while, and what’s in the building now barely registers.

Full story here.

The Cardinal, Feb. 8, 2005

Meds or mayhem from Canada?

America’s northern neighbor takes a lot of crap, and lately this prescription-importation thing has pushed buttons. Lower drug prices to our north have Americans scrambling to buy from Canada, and Americans are pressuring lawmakers to pass legislation to import the cheaper drugs.

Full story here.

LEO, Feb. 2, 2005

U of L 'Idol' competition held at Red Barn

The setting resembled a middle school dance, but the singing quality at last Tuesday’s U of L Idol competition was anything but juvenile.


The disco ball in the Red Barn was spinning and the speakers were overly loud, but that didn’t stop students from filling the floor.


Full story here.

The Louisville Cardinal, Feb. 1, 2005

Students support tsunami relief

A tsunami destroyed thousands of homes in Asia on Dec. 26, and killed at least 150,000 people. Relief organizations around the world scrambled to help victims while U of L students were still at home. But even after getting a late start, students are still helping out.

Full story here.

The Louisville Cardinal, Feb. 1, 2005

The Cardinal

Here are my first three pieces from The Cardinal:

Physical wellness, nutrition may improve grades (Jan. 18)

Passion or profit: professor-authored textbooks (Jan. 11)

How to manage schedule stresses (Jan. 11)

Old links

Here are some older DPF pieces that I had linked to on my other blog:


Fans fill GSU

Good grief

Resume

Objective

A writing position at a publication devoted to creativity and excellence in writing where I can contribute new ideas and improve my writing to benefit the publication and its readership.

Summary

· Over three years of experience in writing, proofreading and page layout.

• Proficient with Quark XPress, Adobe InDesign and Photoshop, Macromedia DreamWeaver and Microsoft Office.


• Experienced Web designer.


• Pursuing a post-secondary degree in communications.

Education

• Attending the University of Louisville, graduating in 2007.


• ; Completed three semesters at Boston University's College of Communication.

Experience

Jan. 2005 to present — Freelance writer for the Louisville Eccentric Observer and Snitch Newsweekly.

Jan. 2005 to present — Assistant Managing Editor for The Louisville Cardinal, U of L's independent student newspaper.

• News and features writer averaging two stories each week; occassional column and editorial writing


• Responsible for distilling pages and sending them via FTP

May 2004 to present — Online Editor and Staff Writer for Snitch Newsweekly, a crime-oriented weekly and Louisville's second largest paper

• Primary writer for the Zip Code Crime Watch, a collection of witty snippets culled from police reports


• Online Editor for the six publications in the Snitch franchise


• Responsible for content and some design elements for the Sept. 1, 2004 site relaunch

June 2004 to Sept. 2004 — Graphics designer for Adam Matthews Bakery, Inc., a cheesecake bakery in Louisville

• Designed advertisements, banners, brochures and other promotional materials to boost sales


• Designed a 12-page tabloid-sized insert for the Adam Matthews Balloon Festival promoting the event


• Created a new retail box to increase sales and counter competition

Feb. 2004 to April 2004 — Staff writer for JOE Magazine, a start-up men's interest and entertainment magazine

• Wrote two cover stories for the premier edition (a profile of Jesse Ventura and a history of terrorism piece)


• Researched and reviewed technology "gadgets" for double-truck feature


• Designed and maintained Web site

Sept. 2003 to April 2004 — Staff for Boston Metro, the city's largest circulated daily paper

• Main proofreader


• Assisted in layout and writing briefs


• Responsible for distilling pages and sending them via FTP

Feb. 2003 to Aug. 2003 — Staff Writer for Snitch Newsweekly (see above)

• Web site assistant


• Primary writer for the Zip Code Crime Watch


• Wrote cover stories for Snitch Extra Paducah editon


• Wrote features for the entertainment section

July 2001 to Feb. 2003 — Staff writer/photographer and Web manager for The Spencer Magnet, a community weekly

• Covered sports events, government meetings, spot news and feature stories


• Laid out pages for production — four to eight pages per week


• Assisted the graphics designer with advertisements — building them and placing them on pages for production


• Distilled pages and sent them via FTP

References

Richard Des Ruisseaux, editor of Snitch: (502) 779-3080, des@snitch.com

Adam Burckle, president of Adam Matthews Cheesecakes: (502) 499-1244, adamb@adammatthews.com

Mallory Bowman, editor of The Louisville Cardinal: (502) 679-0342, mbreporter@hotmail.com