Megan Fitzgerald

More by Megan Fitzgerald

Florida Teen Shot by Neighborhood Watch

4/12/2012

If you have been listening to the media at all in the last month and a half, you likely have heard the tragic story of Trayvon Martin, a teen who’s face and story have been seen all over the press. Martin was an African American teen who was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida by his neighbor, George Zimmerman on February 26 of this year.
           

The Entourage Hits Campus - What You Missed!

3/15/2012

 Vincent Chase, world famous actor, has officially made his mark on U of I’s campus. The man who everyone loves and roots for has finally made a trip to Champaign and charmed everyone at the event.
           
Okay, to be fair it was actually Adrian Grenier, the man who plays Vincent Chase on Entourage, but everything I said is still true. Millions have fallen in love with him on the show, playing the rags-to-riches, lovable star that everyone roots for in the end. This isn’t the first role that Grenier played, but it definitely is one that put him on the map in Hollywood.

           
Fortunately, he’s using this star attention for good and the public rather than partying all the time on Hollywood Boulevard. In 2010 he released a documentary he had been working on, titled “Teenage Paparazzo”. It dives into the life of the media and the craze that surrounds celebrities. “The film is two-fold. It looks at the paparazzi industry, digging into how far photographers will go for shots and how images can influence celebrity gossip.

           

College Football Loses a Legend: Joe Paterno’s record-setting career and the controversial last years of his life

1/31/2012

There is one name in the world of football that has been in the news constantly over the last few months. And no, I’m not talking about Tim Tebow, Aaron Rodgers or anyone in the NFL for that matter. The man I’m talking about is Penn State legend Joe “JoePa” Paterno, the Big Ten school’s former head coach. Paterno, who made history as Division I football’s “winningest” coach ever (according to USA Today), passed away January 22 from his battle with lung cancer.
 
He spent 62 seasons with the Penn State Nittany Lions, 46 of them as head coach. He ended his career with 409 victories, marking his place in football history. There was a sticky moment in his career, however, between 2000 and 2004. He held a losing record for these seasons and had people urging him to retire. He refused, however, and fought back to achieve an 11-1 season the next year, with an Orange Bowl win to cap it off. This sparked a fire in the team over the next few years, making Penn State a football powerhouse.
           
Despite his record-making career, however, this is not the legacy that most will remember him for. In November of last year the story broke that Jerry Sandusky, a man who had been Paterno’s assistant until 1999, was accused of sexually molesting 10 different boys over a 15-year period, some instances even occurred on the Penn State campus.

The Habit That Can Haunt You After Graduation

11/15/2011

When you think about life after graduation, what images come to mind? Making the big bucks at a well-known Chicago firm? Traveling to different countries and seeing all of the beautiful sites from around the world? Or maybe even going to graduate school? All of these options are how many students on campus envision life after finally getting through these four years of school. However, what they don’t realize is that habits they picked up along the way to this milestone can affect them after leaving the comfort of campus life.

A lot of things happen on a college campus that, if they happening out in “the real world” they’d raise some serious questions and concerns. For one thing, it’s perfectly normal for a student to go out on a weekday night and stay out until the bar closes at 2 a.m., all while having a class the next morning. While this may not seem to cause much of a problem now, if this becomes a habit after you graduate and land a job it can affect your work performance. There’s a difference between having to get up and go to an hour-long class and having to work a full day in an office.

Binge drinking or drinking heavily during college can lead to even worse consequences than simply a hangover at work. According to factsontap.org, one of the most believed myths in college is “I’m having as much fun as I can while I’m in college. As soon as I graduate I’ll get my act together.” They say that this attitude can lead to missing classes or doing poorly on class work, putting you behind when it comes to finding a job after school. They also state that this behavior, while not always a big red flag in college, can lead to heavy drinking or even alcoholism later in life. It’s a habit that can be hard to break, and you might not realize how serious it is until it’s too late.

Amanda Knox's New Freedom

10/10/2011

Amanda Knox, a student at the University of Washington, left for a study abroad trip in Italy in the fall of 2007. Studying in the town of Perugia, she was set to room with Meredith Kercher, a British exchange student from South London. No one knew of the horrible events that would soon take place inside of their apartment.
           
On the night of November 1, 2007, Kercher was found sexually assaulted and brutally murdered in the flat that she shared with Knox and two other women. It is a case that has been broadcasted throughout the entire world for the last four years. Knox was charged with the sexual assault attack and murder and finally convicted in 2009. Knox’s DNA had been found on the handle of a knife that also had traces of Kercher’s DNA on the blade, indicating she had stabbed Kercher. Footprints that were believed to have been hers were found in blood in the apartment the women shared. Raffaele Sollecito, Knox’s former boyfriend she had met in Italy, and Rudy Hermann Guede were also charged and found guilty along with Knox. Knox was charged with 26 years in prison, Sollecito with 25 years, and Guede received 30. All three individuals sought out to appeal these decisions, which brought intensified media coverage to the cases.


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Things to do Before Graduating

8/11/2011

            Senior year - It’s something we both love and hate to see. It’s awesome finally getting to be so close to the finish line (and finally being 21!) but it also means that the real world is creeping up on us. As I am about to be a senior myself, I know that I’m more than a little nervous about having to find a job after graduating and having to finally leave campus. So, I put together a list of things that U of I seniors should do to make their last year great. Not a senior yet? You should STILL do these!
           
1. Join the Mug Club at the Illini Inn
Definitely an Illini tradition! Join the Mug Club, hang out with friends at one of the less crowded bars, and then it’s only a quick walk upstairs to get some Second Story (Stone Baked) Pizza!


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Summer Music Festivals You Won't Want to Miss!

6/27/2011

Summer is the time to hang out, lie by the pool and sleep in. But when you’re not busy relaxing, it’s also a great time to take a trip. And not just any trip. Summer is the season of music. According to Metrowize.com, from June to August, there are almost 30 music festivals all over the country, ranging from country to hip hop to alternative and rock. With so many to choose from, anyone can find one that’s worth the road trip. Some of them are lesser known while others attract thousands of people each year.
 
Even though it’s already passed this year, Bonnaroo is a one of the most famous festivals. It regularly brings in over 100,000 people, and this year had some majorly famous names. Judy Salazar, a senior in psychology, was one of those lucky enough to be there this year. “My favorite part about Bonnaroo was getting together with a whole bunch of people, who despite the Tennessee heat, still had a blast. And, of course, Eminem,” Salazar said.

Campus Celebrity: Catie Ruschak

6/6/2011

We all know that a summer in Champaign is like a rite of passage — one that everyone should go through before graduating and landing a big job. Laying out by the pool and heading out to Joe’s at night (without cover!) is something that everyone here at U of I should be part of. But what would all of this be without some spending money? An internship can be hard to come by these days, and finding one on campus can be pretty competitive.
 
This year, Catie Ruschak was able to make it happen. She keeps herself busy with various organizations during the school year, and she scored a leadership role for an internship right here on campus for the summer. Here she tells Her Campus how she is able to handle the responsibility of her internship, among other time commitments, and how she is able to make the most of the summertime campus.
 

 
HC: What organizations are you involved with on campus?

CR:I am heavily involved with the American Advertising Federation's Professional Development committee. I write for and help run the organization's blog, Ad Buzz. I also helped plan the AAF Business Etiquette Dinner this past April.
 
 
HC: How do you balance everything?

Uncensored Prison Arts Fest

4/28/2011

On May 2nd, the Illini Union is showcasing something that is sure to draw some attention: the artwork of prisoners. Uncensored Prison Arts Fest is unveiling the artwork done by those in the prison system in hopes of raising money for their program, Books 2 Prisoners. It’s free admission for everyone- they’re relying on donations from the public as well as people purchasing their “Zine”. This is a small magazine publication which will have writings done by the prisoners, such as raps and poems. All of the proceeds will go to Books 2 Prisoners.
           
Books 2 Prisoners sends donated books to those in prison in order to educate them. They do this in hope of lowering recidivism (when a prisoner is released, then return to committing the same crimes as before and later return to prison.) This is a VERY important issue because in the United States, 2/3 of those released from prison are rearrested within 3 years. Giving prisoners an education is one step to reducing this.
           
While this may seem like a controversial issue to some, many believe that the event is extremely beneficial. “We are trying to keep it as uncontroversial as possible… We are merely emphasizing the importance of education in the prison system, and how it decreases recidivism rates” said Zareen Abbasi, an Illinois student whose class is helping promote for the event.
           
They’re doing this not only by showing artwork, but by also showing a documentary and even having a guest speaker, Gregory Kroger. He’s a former inmate and is going to tell the audience about his time spent in prison and how reading from behind bars has had a huge impact on his life! “I am looking forward to our speaker most because I think he will have a great impact in helping the attendees relate to and empathize with the prisoners who created the artwork we will be showing” said Elli Krandel, a student in the same class as Abbasi.
           

The 3 Week Countdown: Get Your Spring Break Body Now!

3/1/2011

It’s finally here — the home stretch! With only the last weeks to go until Spring Break, it’s time for us to add the final touches to our beloved week off of school. While getting a banging beach bod (as my friends like to call it) may seem out of reach at this point, it’s definitely not too late. Just a simple two-week workout plan will help you get the results you’ve been working for.
 
Gabrielle Reece, the famous volleyball player and supermodel (so you know her workout routine must work!), has a series of 10 exercise moves to tone the body. Doing them just three to four times a week, she said, will start to give results in just a couple weeks. In a blog she posted on May 30, 2010, she walks you through a couple of different exercises to work your abs:
 
1. Side Lunges- Works your glutes, lower back and core. I always like to go down slow and under control (not letting gravity control the tempo) and then from a static position explode up. For beginners, go as low as you feel comfortable; if you’ve already been working out, make it more difficult by bringing your knee up to your chest into a standing crunch after the lunge. Increase the burn — never set that foot on the floor until after you have completed all of your reps.