This article was published on Sunday November 9, 2008 in the Trenton Times.

Princeton panel looks to what lies ahead for Obama

Sunday, November 09, 2008

BY NAOMI NIX

Special to the Times

Though acknowledging the historic achievement of President-elect Barack Obama, a panel at Princeton University warned that tremendous challenges remain for race relations, and domestic and foreign policy matters.

The roundtable discussion titled "Election '08: The Aftermath" was held before an audience of students, professors and community members Wednesday.

Valerie Smith, director of the Center for African-American Studies at Princeton, got a standing ovation when she reminded audience members that the two-year Democratic struggle to put Obama in the White House had finally come to a successful conclusion.

But some panelists said the election result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Obama helmed "an incredibly well-run campaign" whereas John McCain ran "one of the worst campaigns in recent history," said Jilian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs.

Zelizer said now the Republican Party faces a series of crises concerning leadership, mobilization, and division within their party.

"Their ideas have been discredited," Zelizer said. He continued to say that the financial crisis and the Middle East have challenged conservative Republican doctrine concerning economic and foreign policy matters.

But as the Republican Party attempts to rebuild itself, Democrats shouldn't get too comfortable with their majorities in Congress, said Zelizer.

"(Democrats) would do well to think of some of the problems that conservatives have faced," Zelizer said.

Although Obama has broken the ultimate glass ceiling, all the panelists said problems with race relations remain within the United States.

"I think on the issue of race, there will be a white backlash," said Cornel West, a professor of religion. You can't move into an era with a black president "without there being various forms of white backlash."

Although many whites voted for a black candidate, "that doesn't make you 'post-racial,' it just makes you less racist than your mama," said West, using an expression that some media forums have used to introduce the idea that racial barriers have diminished.

But all panelists said that Obama's election was a step in the right direction.

"We are not post-racial but I do believe that the next generation does think differently about these issues, said Anne Marie Slaughter, dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy.

Several panelists said only time will tell how Obama chooses to address issues concerning race in America.

Panelists said the international community was generally pleased that Obama was elected president, but that some may seek to undermine his presidency.

Slaughter warned that the U.S. is still engaged in two wars, and will continue to face threats to its national security.

"He is going to be tested," said Slaughter.

Slaughter said that Iran, al-Qaeda and Russia could try to provoke Obama to make an unpopular policy decision in the beginning of his presidency.

"He's got a tall order, but I have got to say that for me the 21st century begins today," said Slaughter

Panelists included Farah Jasmine Griffin, director of the Institute for Research in African American Studies. Eddie Glaude, the William S. Tod Professor of Religion and African-American Studies, moderated the discussion.

Cuban American Vote in Miami

This is a radio piece I did for WPRB about Cuban American voters in Miami. In the last two elections Bush has narrowly won Florida, a key state to winning the presidency. Cuban Americans in Miami have for more than a generation gone heavily republican. And this 2008 election the Cuban Americans may cast the deciding vote. But it may not be in the way that political junkies once thought.


I did all of the reporting, sound collection, and editing .

The Playwright's the thing at TCNJ

This article appeared in the Trenton Times on Friday October 3rd.

BY NAOMI NIX

Special to the Times

EWING -- Saluting his literary genius and Garden State connections, The College of New Jersey yesterday opened a three-day international conference on playwright and novelist Thornton Wilder.

The conference brings together 42 scholars from three continents in a bid to renew interest in the legacy of Wilder, who won three Pulitzer Prizes during a career that stretched from the 1920s until his death in 1975 at age 78.

Although he was born in Wisconsin, Wilder had an affinity for New Jersey, often setting parts of his works in the state. He taught French at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrence from 1921 to 1928, taking a few years off to earn a master's at Princeton University.

"The aim of the conference is to celebrate the work of Thornton Wilder and to expose people to his literature and his plays," said Cecilia Colbech, the program coordinator for TCNJ's English department.

The program, which will continue through tomorrow, features scholars and playwrights and performances of Wilder's works.

"It is a very, very rich three days of programs on various aspects on Thornton Wilder, with particular attention about why he remains relevant and important today in the 21st century," said Jane Brailove Rutkoff, executive director of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, which contributed $10,000 to help fund the conference.

Though many of the events require pre-registration and carry a fee, there are several offerings that are free and open to the public today.

These include a panel of playwrights discussing Wilder's work, featuring Edward Albee, Lee Blessing, Tina Howe and Donald Margulies.

Following that, Tony Award- winning Marian Seldes will join Albee in reading selections from Wilder's works.

"They are not coming to Princeton, Harvard or Yale they are coming to The College of New Jersey," said Lincoln Konkle, an organizer of the event and the executive director of the Thornton Wilder Society, based on campus.

This afternoon, Emily Mann, artistic director at McCarter Theatre at Princeton University, will participate in a panel with other theater experts that is open to the public.

Registrants and members of the public can also see the Shakespeare 70 company's rendition of "The Skin of Our Teeth," a Wilder play set in New Jersey about one family's quest to overcome global catastrophes.

Thorton's full-length plays, "Our Town" and "The Skin of Our Teeth," both won Pulitzer Prizes, as did his novel, "The Bridge of San Luis Rey."

He is the only writer who has won a Pulitzer in both drama and fiction.

Some of his other works include "The Matchmaker," which was adapted as the musical "Hello, Dolly!" and his novel "The Eighth Day," which won a National Book Award. The majority of his works take place in New Jersey.

"He finds New Jersey the perfect setting to represent American ideas and customs but also to be able to bring out universal themes as well," said Konkle.

Wilder wrote a one-act play, "The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden," which depicts a family trip in their car from Newark to Camdem. Wilder famously has one of the characters say, "I'm glad I was born in New Jersey. I always said it was the best state in the union."

Students Tune into the Presidential Debate

Fear of the financial crisis and excitement over their first chance to vote drove thousands of Princeton students to watch last Friday's presidential debate. The Daily Princetonian followed students in Frist Campus Center and sat down with campus political leaders. In this video I did all of the editing, using Final Cut Express. Two other reporters shot the footage using a consumer Sony camera. .

Raising a storm of discontent

This article was published on the front page of The Trenton Times on Friday September 26, 2008.

Razing a storm of discontent

Seminary wants to close the book on the Speer Library building

Friday, September 26, 2008

BY NAOMI NIX

Special to the Times

PRINCETON BOROUGH -- Drawing objections from the local historical review board, the Princeton Theological Seminary has unveiled plans to demolish its 51-year-old Speer Library to make room for a bigger library with better organization and energy-saving technology.

Seminary representatives said the stone building with relief work is not an artistic treasure and has many design flaws that can't be fixed without a complete replacement.

Local preservationists are opposed to a demolition of the building because, they say, the 1957 Speer Library at 25 Library Place is an integral part of a historic neighborhood.

Speer, located in the Mercer Hill Historic District, would be the first building razed in any of the borough's historic districts since their formation 23 years ago, said Kirsten Thoft, vice chairwoman of the borough's historic preservation review committee, which opposes Speer's demolition.

Instead, Thoft and other critics want more consideration given to keeping and renovating the existing library.

A preliminary plan to knock down the structure was discussed at a concept hearing before the Princeton Regional Planning Board last week.

The new plan would "give the seminary a much more usable, functional library that also expresses (seminary) values," said David Fixler, an architect working for the Presbyterian school, which prepares students for lives as religious leaders.

Officials described a number of shortcomings in the existing library building, including a poor layout, low ceilings, crowded storage space, a roof that needs replacing, leaking pipes and a lack of accommodations for people with disabilities.

But in an interview yesterday, another facilities consultant for the seminary offered a kinder description of the Speer Library.

"It's a well-designed building," said Penelope Watson, a principal with the Bridgeton-based Watson & Henry Associates architecture firm, which has been working for the seminary on an assessment of all of its buildings.

And being more than 50 years old, Speer is eligible to be considered for placement on the National Register of Historic Places, although that process has not been initiated, Watson said.

The library, designed by George A. Licht and George T. Licht, was named after Robert E. Speer, a leader in the Presbyterian Church who was elected to the seminary's board of trustees in 1914.

Fixler described the Speer Library as "a nice building, but ... not a great building. There is not a reputable architect or historian who will tell you otherwise."

Thoft, herself an architect, said it's too soon to write off the existing library.

"The committee is deeply concerned about the demolishment of this historic structure," and the "precedent-setting nature" of the expansion plans, she said.

In an eight-page memo issued to the planning board, the committee criticized the seminary for not fulfilling all the requirements necessary to allow for demolition of a building in a historic district.

Namely, the seminary didn't prove that it cannot put the building to "reasonable use" or that the existing building is an "undue hardship on its owners," according to the memo.

Seminary representatives said the expansion would give library patrons and staff opportunities to enjoy a café and greater natural light while providing additional study places and more efficient book storage.

The new library also would recycle rainwater for irrigation and use energy-saving techniques in its interior design.

Fixler said the Speer building holds little historical significance and suggested that the new library would enhance the Mercer Hill district's architecture.

The proposed design offers a contemporary feel but may include some of the original materials of the existing building.

"We don't feel that, by putting up this new building, we will be adversely affecting the historic district," Fixler said.

Seminary representatives said the school's planning team looked into simply renovating Speer Library but decided renovation couldn't solve all the shortcomings the building has.

In addition to Speer Library, the seminary also has the Henry Luce III Library, which opened in 1994 with a capacity for 350,000 volumes. Speer can hold 400,000 volumes within its 110,000 square feet. Its replacement would encompass an additional 20,000 square feet.

At the concept hearing, residents expressed concerns that the seminary wasn't taking into consideration how the new building would affect those living nearby.

"There is talk of the campus, talk of the world, but not talk of the town," said Rob Robertson, who lives in the Mercer Hill district.

The seminary says notices were sent to all residents living within 200 feet of the campus to attend a review meeting, but nobody showed up.

"We will have other opportunities," said Stephen D. Crocco, a seminary librarian.

Officials for both the preservation committee and the seminary said they are ready to talk with each other before the concept hearing resumes in November.

And Fixler said "there will inevitably be some changes as the design evolves."

Staff writer Robert Stern contributed to this report.

Alan Blinder and Harrison Hong discuss Financial Crisis

This is a video I shot and edited Tuesday afternoon. In it Alan Blinder '67, former Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve System, and finance expert Harrison Hong discuss the continuing crisis in the wake of the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the buyout of Merrill Lynch. To watch in high quality go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzg0e5IY3V4 and click "Watch in High Quality."

And War was at the Heart of it all

If there is one thing that should have tugged on the heart strings of all convention goers on Wednesday, it was the words and stories of veterans.

It started when the DNC played video titled a “Tribute to Veterans” that was directed by Steven Spielberg. The soldiers shared the struggles they faced adjusting to wartime and back to the life of a normal civilian. They talked about being afraid for their lives, losing friends in combat, putting pressure on their families to take care of them.

And though CNN played commentary during Major Tammy Duckworth’s speech, her tale is worth retelling. She opened with a story about how when she was serving in Iraq she got wounded and her fellow soldiers helped her to safety. She credited her survival to the army’s policy of leaving no man behind. As she spoke, the camera would cut in and out to behind the podium where convention goers could see that she had lost both of her legs in combat. But the speech was not really about Major Tammy Duckworth, but rather a full endorsement of Barack Obama and his policies regarding the treatment of U.S. soldiers. She said that he would have a “zero tolerance” policy for homeless veterans. She emphasized that it was important to take care of the soldiers when they come back home, including giving them adequate treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. But she also stressed Barack Obama's judgment to know when to go into war in the first place.

But perhaps what brought it home the most was when the Vice Presidential Nominee’s son, Captain Beau Biden III took the stage. He talked about the sacrifices his father made when he took a train from Washington, DC, to Wilmington, Delaware, to be with his family every night. He described his father as a hero who had to face great obstacles to get to become a successful politician. Beau Biden is currently the attorney general of Delaware but he will be going to serve in Iraq in October. Though he didn’t mention his service explicitly, he pleaded with the audience to stand by his father because he won’t be there to stand by him. “Be there because Barack Obama and Joe Biden will deliver America the change they need,” said Biden.

Dissidents in Denver

If there is ever a time to stage a protest, the Democratic National Convention is certainly one. It is one the largest assembly of political heavyweights and media giants in one place for an extended period of time. And some activists have certainly gotten that message:

Yesterday, a pro-life and anti-gay marriage group sparked controversy when they gathered on 16^th Street in front of the Sheraton hotel. As they shouted things like “homo-sex is sin", they also traded insults with a group of unconnected pro-choice Denver residents and convention goers. The taunting and bickering between the two groups certainly made those in the area take notice. And a few Denver residents told me they hadn’t see things get that intense before. But the police had things under control and every protest has to get a permit from the city so I’m sure the group wasn’t unexpected.

On Sunday fewer then 1,000 anti-war protesters marched between the state capital and the Pepsi Center. The number was less than expected, but hasn't been the only time activists have made a show during the convention.




Almost all of the DNC activities are centered in a few buildings in downtown Denver, and close to those buildings are all the hotels where delegates, donors, and members of the press are staying. During the day one is bound to run into several activist groups holding up a sign reading “Make Love not War” or “Impeach President Bush”. A group from PETA was driving around in costumes of pigs to protest animal cruelty. The activism spans the ideological spectrum, but doesn't compare to the attention grabbing protests of the 60's. A reporter who covered the conventions in 2004, said the level of protests and activists activities is nothing compared to those sparked when the Republican National Convention came to New York. Go figure.

And where there is a protest there is bound to be people like me documenting the event. Take a look at a few pictures of protests throughout the week:

What CNN doesn't show you.

So what better way to kick off my blog but reporting from the Democratic national convention. Check back for more updates.

I first became a political junkie during the last presidential election, when I watched both parties' conventions from my living room couch. But this time around, as I saw the convention live, I noticed a few things that CNN didn’t show me four years ago.

1. It’s like a rock concert. The Democratic National Convention reminded me of the first time I watched a concert live (it was Mariah Carey with my friends’ parents). Like any major performance, the amount of people in one space makes everything slightly chaotic. And of course, the convention will overcharge you for buying a box of nachos, a hot dog or even a beer to take with you into the stadium. The amount of Obama merchandise on hand was unbelievable.

2. It’s one big reunion. There are almost as many people inside the stadium listening to the speeches as there are outside networking with colleges. And the Pepsi Center is certainly equipped to handle the schmooze fest. There are televisions everywhere airing the convention so that people can both have a drink with a friend and watch what’s going on in the arena. Some groups represented at the convention have their own special clubs with an open bar and lounge.

3. Tight message control. Now maybe I was naive, but when I watched the convention four years ago from home, I thought that the fact that everyone in the audience would hold up the same sign at the same time was a miracle of the crowd’s collective thought. But really there are staff members walking around in orange jackets handing out signs to match the order of the various speakers and themes presented throughout the night. They started with “Change we can believe in” and ended with “Michelle,” of course.

4. Security and lunchroom politics are one and the same. Everyone who gets into the Pepsi Center wears a badge stating where in the Pepsi Center they are allowed access. If you a lowly reporter from a not-so-important publication, you may get a badge that says "Arena." The prized badge is the one that reads "Floor," giving you access to anywhere in the stadium. People who have those are mostly delegates or VIPs. “Special Guest” and “Honored Guest” allow you access to the second and third levels of the arena.

5. The party doesn’t end at the Pepsi Center. There are after-parties and after-after parties for the various groups represented at the convention. (Delegates, Black Caucus, Finance Committee, press, etc). Some are exclusive, with catered food and live bands like N.E.R.D, the Goo Goo Dolls and Fallout Boy. Someone put it to me like this: “The Democratic National Convention is like the Super Bowl for nerds.” I tend to agree.

In the begining there was there was Triple N

I often tell those who ask me about my interest in Journalism about where it first began. I was a third grader home on a rainy day, and I decided to make my own newspaper called "The Naomi Nix News," or as I would say "Triple N" for short. There were no videos, fancy layouts or even pictures for that matter. It was just nuts and bolts about my family. Though the newspaper didn't have a long lifespan, my passion for journalism has persisted. And as I reject m0re lucrative careers, I realize that there is no other field I would rather be in. Check in periodically to keep up with the stories I have already told and the ones I'm working on now.