Archive for March, 2007
Enrollment Management update 3/14/07
Admissions 2.0:
Dan and Blake will be facilitating a web conference in April (Tuesday, 4/24/07) entitled, “Getting Started with Search Engine Optimization in Admissions”
Admissions directors, enrollment managers, marketers, and web editors will leave this web conference with cost-effective ideas on how to make their admissions websites more search engine-friendly and easier for prospective students to find. Participants will explore principles of search engine optimization and web analytics and develop an understanding of how to use these tools to make informed decisions on the content and formatting of their admissions websites.
Context and Comments
I’ve been thinking a lot about the comments on my Blog Against Sexism Day post. In fact, I have not responded until now because I felt horrible and I wanted to sit with my thoughts for a while. I’m not sure whether I should respond to each comment individually or address the overall themes. I feel like my original post had some value but I also know that the responses to it describe dimensions that I had not addressed. I think that some of this is due to the lack of context. My attempt to write about a personal experience, while at the same time maintaining the anonymity of the individuals involved, seems to have failed.
bell hooks at Lewis & Clark College
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Here is the audio recording from bell hooks‘ talk at Lewis & Clark College from February 1, 2006 [88 MB MP3].
Blog Against Sexism Day
Today is Blog Against Sexism Day. I’ve been trying to come up with a post that would be uplifting and educational, but I keep coming back to an example of sexism that occurred over Winter break.
(In order to preserve my ongoing relationship with a couple people, I will not name names, locations, or identities.)
Wendy and I were cooking dinner for a couple who is very close to us. We love them dearly. As usual, we were concocting a soup that contained a myriad of ingredients. I chopped ingredients. Wendy stirred the pot while adding spices. I read the recipe again to confirm our steps. We each took turns handling a task to complete the recipe. It was a normal event for us. We have team cooked in several kitchens including those of friends, family, and our own apartment.
I set the table and we began to serve the soup. A favorite recipe, we knew it would be a hit! Spoonfuls of soup were quickly ingested and stomaches were content. Then, the compliments started to flow. Unfortunately, the words of thanks and compliment were focused singularly in my direction.
Gender Neutral Bathrooms
Safe2Pee is a web directory of gender neutral bathrooms in the United States. Safe2Pee’s ever-expanding directory currently features 543 gender neutral bathrooms in 158 cities. This site is a great resource!
The goal of the project is to create a resource where people who do not feel comfortable with traditional public restrooms can find safe alternatives. The service aims to be accessible from a variety of mediums (computer, cell phone browser, maybe even a call-in number?), and to support advocacy and research on the subject of inclusive bathrooms.
Initially this service will only be available in the US, however we hope to expand and extend our capabilities rapidly. More features and greater customization will be available very soon!
Safe2Pee is a project of the Bathroom Liberation Front.
Apple’s new iPhone commercial
I recently blogged about Apple’s “Hello” commercial for the iPhone. The ad featured 24 white men, 6 white women, and 1 African American man.
So I guess it is safe to assume then that Apple is marketing the iPhone to white folks + Sam Jackson aficionados.
Right?
The advertisement does not feature any Latinos, Native Americans, or Asian Americans. Samuel L. Jackson as the token African American in the commercial does not imply to me that African American folks are in Apple’s target marketing demographic.
I perused the mac-blogosphere to see if anyone else took umbrage with the iPhone “Hello” ad. I left a few comments on a couple mac blogs. The response from other commenters was that Apple was using “recognizable characters” and that Hollywood was to blame.
Enrollment Management update 3/1/07
Enroll-A-Tron 3042:
In what appears to be the first viral video aimed at Enrollment Management Directors / Admissions Directors, Frank Meester debuts the “Enroll-A-Tron 3042.” The device is
guaranteed to help enrollment management professionals recruit and retain students at an amazing 100% retention rate. The video is pretty funny and it will be interesting to see if enrollment management folks find humor in a 15 billion dollar, ductwork/old server-based, grant-funded, device 
