By Sheena Pegarido
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Professors are not kidding when they say the next class students take may just change their lives. Or perhaps even change the nation.

John Blade graduated from the University of North Florida with a bachelor's degree in history in 2003. One of the classes he took for his major was a seminar on James Madison and the president's political philosophy.

The rest is, well, history.

A native of Jacksonville, Blade, 25, is running as a write-in candidate in the U.S. House of Representatives race for the Fourth Congressional District of Florida. The elections will be held this November.

He said that his interest in politics stems in part from the UNF course that taught him about the man who wrote the Bill of Rights and is considered the Father of the Constitution.

"One of the reasons why [the class] interested me so much is because we've deviated so far in modern politics from what the founders originally envisioned for the United States," he said.

Blade described his personal philosophy as Madisonian. His campaign Web site, www.bladeforcongress.com, outlines Madisonian principles as including a citizen's right to self-determination, a citizen's right to own property, and "the understanding that government is a state of cooperation among citizens," meaning it must not be "a tool for imposing idle, moralistic constraints on [the people]." Blade said he does not see this point of view in today's political parties.

"Part of the problem with contemporary politics is the lock that the two-party system has on our democracy," he said. "This two-party domination is stifling the important ideas that we need in order to help improve our situation."

He said that for many issues, he wants to decentralize decision-making from the hands of the federal government to the state and district levels.

"There is no question that the way the federal government functions right now is very different and far more powerful than the founders had envisioned," he said. "It was never intended for the states to be as powerless as they are in the current political climate."

Blade works as a substitute teacher for Duval County Schools and as a private tutor. He said his experience as an educator, as well as a student at UNF, has taught him to have a sense of perspective of where the United States has come from as a nation, and where it is headed in the future. A thought that, he said, is missing from modern politics.

His position as a write-in candidate also sets him apart from his party-affiliated opponents. Florida election law requires a qualifying fee from each candidate running for a state office. The Division of Elections requires party-affiliated state representative candidates to pay $1,860 to be on the ballot. For those without a party affiliation, the state requires a fee of $1,240.

Blade said that he disagrees with this philosophy, so he decided to run as a write-in candidate, which incurs no fees.

"What I'm doing is that I'm not soliciting any campaign donations from the people," he said. "And the reason for that is I believe that the way that a person runs his/her campaign is a pretty good indication of how they would be in government service. In other words, if they feel entitled to your money when they're running for office, then they will feel very entitled to your money when they're actually in office."

Blade said that he runs a "very grassroots campaign." Aside from his Web site, his campaign reaches people by making contacts with small political organizations in town and word-of-mouth support.

But ultimately, he said, he is a concerned citizen, not a politician.

"If, for whatever reason, in November, I end up not winning the seat, I'd be very happy to look back and see that I've made some sort of positive impact on this particular campaign," he said. "I want to simply interject some new ideas in the political process, and maybe a little bit of optimism as well."

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Associate dean wins engineering award

By Matt Coleman
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The associate dean of the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction was recently awarded the 2006 Florida Engineering Society Outstanding Technical Achievement Award. Dr. Jerry Merckel, in his seventh year at the University of North Florida, was given the award for his continuing work in the field of engineering.

According to Merckel, receiving the award was incredibly humbling.

"Being selected by a group of my peers meant very much to me," said Merckel. "However, no man stands alone. Without UNF, this would never have been possible."

Dr. Neal Coulter, the dean of the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction considers Merckel a tremendous asset to the university.

"Jerry has done a lot for this school," Coulter said. "He has done everything, including working with young faculty to receive research funding, teaching and helping students find jobs and create resumes while still generating a large amount of productive research. His work has even resulted in the establishment of three patents. He’s amazing."

Merckel started his career at IBM, where he worked in the field of product development and was recently recognized as one of the top 10 contributors to the company.

He later began work at UNF as the associate dean of the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction and professor of electrical engineering.

During his time at UNF, Merckel jump-started a research program that went on to establish the aforementioned patents. He was also integral to the formation of a company called GeoAge, which works to provide necessary supplies and services across the nation to lessen the impact of natural disasters.

This company also helps create jobs in the engineering field for recent college graduates.

Merckel's achievements are not just limited to the realm of academics. He helped set up a computer network for the United Way of Palm Beach to coordinate natural disaster relief efforts. In addition, he serves on the advisory board for Bethune Cookman College's National Science Foundation grant for the establishment of a computer engineering program.

In his downtime, Merckel enjoys donating his time to the community. He spent 12 years coaching little league baseball, football and swimming.

Merckel received his Bachelor's Degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida and holds a doctorate in engineering science from the University of Tennessee.

"Jerry is a creative, intelligent and brilliant man," said Coulter. "I've known him for years, and he is incredibly knowledgeable of the field of technology. He is the best in his field and deserves this award."

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A college education need not break the bank

By Ieva M Augustums
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Everyone knows college tuition costs have been soaring. If you're going to college this fall, presumably you've already worked out how you're paying for tuition.

What you may not have fully grasped is how much the other costs of college have risen — costs for things like books and supplies, travel, room and board, and other incidentals.

According to the College Board, in the past five years, for resident students at four-year public universities, tuition and fees have increased by more than 50 percent. At the same time, the costs for books and supplies have increased by one-fourth, and room and board and transportation have each risen by one-third.

Fortunately, savvy students know there are ways to save. And they know that successfully managing your finances in college is one of the most important lessons you'll come away with.

"When kids are living at home, they are used to certain things," says Cindy Bailey, executive director of education finance services at the College Board. "At college, things are different. ... There are standard- of-living costs."

The national average for personal expenses at four-year public colleges is about $200 a month, not including books and supplies, according to the College Board. You can spend more. Or you can spend less. But you have to live within your means.

"Think of it this way," says Steve Loven, director of the College Planning Center in West Des Moines, Iowa. "You want to live like a college student today so you don't have to live like one when you graduate."

The main decision that will have a big impact on your spending is where you will live.

Living in the residence halls with a seven-day meal plan is the most frugal move, because your basic needs are taken care of. But there's no point to buying the meal plan if you’re going to break down and order a pizza several nights a week.

Robert Alviar, a University of North Texas senior who lived on campus for his first two years, dealt with that issue.

"When people wanted to go out to dinner, I stayed in because of my meal plan," he said. "You figure out what works best for you."

If you live in a fraternity or sorority house, your costs are also fixed, although probably at a higher level.

If you live off-campus in an apartment, it's possible to keep costs down by having roommates and cooking your own meals, but you also face many more unexpected costs and temptations to spend money.

Alviar experienced that, too. He lived in an apartment last year.

"Once we got that first electric bill for our apartment, our mouths dropped," Alviar said.

Other choices that will affect your costs are the location of your school and your choice of subject matter.

Some urban campuses have access to public transportation, while those further removed from city life may not. If you're really "going away" to college, you have to weigh the costs of flying vs. driving home for holidays and school breaks.

Your choice of major can affect your costs for a computer, lab fees and textbooks.

While college campuses have student computer labs, many students find it beneficial to bring their own computer to school, says Maria Ramos, director of financial aid at the University of Texas at Dallas.

"The newer generation of students are very computer-savvy," she says. "With the prices of computers dropping, they don't find it really difficult to get a computer." Textbook costs, however, are soaring. Experts advise buying early to get the best deals. You can save by purchasing used books online or even from friends who already took a course.

"Buying early is a big problem for college students, who tend to procrastinate," says Steve Loyola, president and founder of BestBookBuys.com. "As soon as you get that course list, you should start looking."

One perk to look forward to —you get to sell the books back at the end of the semester. But don't expect to make a lot of money. "The extra cash is nice," says Marcie Jenkins, a senior interior design major at UNT. "But you may be better off keeping them or selling them to your friends."

As you'll learn in Accounting 101, cash flow is important.

On the receivables side of the ledger, some students find getting a part-time job helps.

A job also gives students an understanding of fiscal responsibility.

Too much fiscal accessibility can be a problem.

Jenkins learned the hard way. After spending her monthly allowance on books and supplies, she ended up maxing out her credit card.

"You can run out of money fast, but don't do what I did," Jenkins says. "The card is paid off, and I only now use it in emergencies."

The key is to understand that college is not about the present, says Paul Goebel, director of the Student Money Management Center at UNT.

"You're investing in your future," Goebel says. "The money decisions you make here will stay with you for the rest of your life."

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International studies not affected by terrorism

By Tami Livingston
MANAGING EDITOR

Despite a rise in terrorist activities around the world and the increased security measures they have brought, little effect can be seen at the University of North Florida's International Center.

Sept. 11 and the recent scare in London a few weeks ago has not deterred international students from coming to UNF or UNF students from going abroad, according to Dr. Timothy Robinson, director of the international center.

Robinson that he is not aware of any terrorism/travel problems incoming students had in getting to the university for the fall semester.

"After Sept. 11, the number of students studying abroad stayed the same for about a year, and then it went up," Robinson said. "I don't recall any dip in international students either, and they also began to go up."

Study abroad students from UNF planning to depart in the near future are not worried about traveling, according to Jill New, coordinator of study abroad at the IC.

"There was worry at first, when the news first came out [about the London airlines]," New said. "But now people have just accepted that there will be inconveniences and that they need to be more aware of restrictions."

New urges those who are traveling to pay attention to travel warnings and advisories and to be responsible for themselves and their belongings.

According to Robinson, approximately 3 percent of UNF students study abroad while the national average is about 1 percent.

The international center is expecting to have 240-250 international students this fall and would like to see 600 international students in the future at UNF each year, he said. In spring 2006, UNF had students from 58 different countries.

"They are important resources for domestic students," Robinson said. "Knowledge of the world is an important part of the information students should have when they graduate."

While Robinson admits that travel isn't as enjoyable as it once was and that the world is very much changed since Sept. 11, he doesn't foresee any problems with student travel in the future. He said that while many events can affect studying abroad, such as SARS, avian flu, oil, Iraq and terrorism, he doesn't think that it will keep students from studying abroad. It may just limit the places they will go.

"It is very little these days that what happens in another part of the world doesn't affect us here in Jacksonville," Robinson said.

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Pluto finds home among smaller objects in space

By Faye Flam
THE PHILIDELPHIA INQUIRER

Much of the mourning surrounding Pluto's so-called demotion Thursday reflects the outdated notion that it is a lonely outcast.

But Pluto will be fine. Thursday’s decision to reclassify the former ninth planet signals a newly emerging picture of the solar system in which Pluto is anything but lonely. Until recently astronomers had no idea it was part of a frontier region full of icy leftovers from our solar system's formation.

"They are worlds," said astronomer Hal Levison of the Southwest Research Institute in Colorado. "Each one has a personality and some really weird things." Some are big and round, some football shaped, some icy and bright, some rockier.

And these denizens of what's called the Kuiper Belt hold a kind of fossil evidence for a major reshuffling of the solar system millions of years ago.

Pluto originally appeared as a misfit — tiny, distant and moving in a wildly oblong and tilted orbit. But more powerful telescopes revealed this planetary rebel was part of a whole disorderly gang. Three years ago the International Astronomical Union assembled a panel to figure out how to classify all this.

In 2005 astronomers announced a new body, UB313, nicknamed Xena, which is slightly bigger than Pluto, creating an even more awkward situation.

Last week, the panel finally made a decision. It proposed opening up the definition of a planet so that Xena, along with many others, could be planets too.

This more lax standard of planethood was quickly shot down by many of the hundreds of astronomers who'd gathered in Prague to settle the issue.

So the panel had to rewrite its proposal, and on its second pass narrowed the term planet to three major elements: the celestial body must orbit the sun, it must be large enough to take on a nearly round or spheroid shape, and it must sweep up its orbit of other objects. Pluto, whose elliptical orbit overlaps with that of Neptune, was thus disqualified.

The new definition brings the total to eight "classical" planets and excludes all the bits and pieces orbiting in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter) and the Kuiper Belt (beyond Neptune). Some of those pieces large enough for gravity to shape into spheres are now defined as dwarf planets. The new proposal went to a vote Thursday and was accepted.

Levison said Thursday's vote should not be considered a demotion. You could see it as enhancing American astronomer Clyde Tombough’s discovery of Pluto in 1930, he said. Instead of finding a new planet, Tombough identified the edge of a new realm.

Back in the 1980s, Levison said, he and other astronomers predicted that around the distance of Pluto they'd see other different-sized chunks of rock and ice moving in near-circular orbits within the same plane as the rest of the solar system.

"But that's not what we see," he said. "What we see looks like it went through a train wreck," with things swinging hither and yon. It's a clue, he said, that the structure of the solar system was rearranged at some point in the past.

That happened over the eons as many of these icy dwarves swung toward the giant planets and were flung, slingshot-like, either inward or outward. Each time, the recoil slowly inched the giant planets one direction or another. Neptune moved slowly outward because the dwarves it flung outward kept coming back while the ones that moved closer toward the sun tended to get ejected by Jupiter. That went on until Neptune cleared out the region, leaving it looking, as Brown put it, as if Pluto and its sibling had been snowplowed out of the neighborhood.

In the years that Pluto's semantic fate hung in the balance, some scientists worried that no longer calling it a planet would derail NASA's plans to send a probe there.

But the mission, called New Horizons, was recently redirected toward Pluto's new incarnation as a non-planet, said Levison. That happened after the astronomy community did a survey of what held the most scientific interest.

Scientists say by studying Pluto they can get a relatively undisturbed sample of the cloud from which the solar system condensed. Pluto and its many neighbors are made mostly of ice — frozen water with some carbon dioxide, methane and other volatile substances.

In the last decade, astronomers have managed to indirectly detect the first planets around other stars, said Brown. It came as a surprise that some planets bigger than Jupiter orbited their suns closer than Mercury orbits ours. There were more ways than anyone had imagined to build a solar system.

Uncovering new solar systems increased the need for a new definition of a planet.

Levison, who just returned from the Prague meeting, said nobody wanted to admit the asteroid Ceres to the catalog of planets. Keeping Pluto forced this entry along with Xena, Pluto's moon (or so-called "co-planet"), Charon and potentially many more.

He said some astronomers worried schoolchildren couldn't memorize the planets if the list kept expanding. "People were so fixated on that," he said.

Others thought it would diminish Tombough's discovery if Pluto wasn't a planet, perhaps under the assumption that since we live on a planet that means planets are superior to other things. The committee seemed to try to have it both ways by calling Pluto a "dwarf planet." So the debate may not be over yet, said Brown.

They can now start arguing whether a dwarf planet is a planet.

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