The half-mark was my Corporate Relationship Management exam today. This leaves me with two subjects left to study for: Mass Media Law and Ethics, followed by Marketing Communication on Saturday.

Today's exam was hard in that the questions were very ambiguous. I wasn't sure if my idea of a correct answer was what my teacher's would be. I think I did OK. One thing's for sure: I would have done a lot better without the girl turning around asking her friend for answers every minute.

First year students always seem to assume the only way to pass an exam is to copy off of the friend that studied. "It's just so hard." they'll whine when asked why they don't try reading a bit before the exam. This particular girl had worked out a winning technique. She would turn her head and lay her chin over her right shoulder while keeping her short and plump body still. It looked like she was sneezing every minute, only she would sneeze "What's 32?" then "33?" followed by "Isn't 34 B?" To a male friend sitting next to me. I don't mind people peering over each other once in a while. It's part of the culture. Copying every single multiple choice question on a 50+ questions exam is just... dumb. Not as dumb, however, as the professors proctoring the exam. Male prof. #1 was busy using his cupped hand to chat on his cell phone. Male prof. #2 had iPod headphones in his ears the whole period, silently rocking out at the front of the room. Or maybe it was jazz he was listening to. Either way he seemed relaxed and unconcerned.

Did I snitch on them? Nah. Almost. About 10 minutes before students were allowed to leave they began passing answers on an eraser. I was pretty annoyed but didn't fancy making a scene.

I finished my last answer 1 hour 30 minutes into the exam. I picked up my bag and walked outside, chatting with friends about the questions. I was leaning against the railing when I saw it. The cheating girl had forgotten her bag of pens, pencils, erasers, and student ID card in front of the exam room. Life's surprises are just great.

My friends and I had lunch as I told them about this first year couple. The eraser still had answers and messages in blue ink. Instead of returning it to the office, we decided to have a little fun. Paula had the best handwriting so we had her write on a small piece of paper in Thai "Cheating or any form of academic dishonesty during university exams will result in immediate six month suspension, an 'F' grade in all subjects during that term, and possible expulsion." I put the slip inside the bag and headed up to see if I could find the girl. Instead I walked past the male student, her partner in crime. I held up her I ID. "Do you know this girl?" I wasn't sure it was the same kid, good to check. The look on his face said he knew her quite well. "Yes. Is she in trouble?" I gave him the ID and told him the bag belonged to her. He took the bait. hehe. I walked back to the table and watched as the kid took the bag back to his friend's in the cafeteria, within eyesight. We all kept from laughing as the whole group read the letter aloud. They were noticeably tense. He actually came over to our table and asked if a teacher had said anything when they gave me the bag. I said I found it in front of the exam room. I'm pretty sure they think they were caught but the administration is giving them "a second chance" to straighten up. Study more, cheat less.

Last night I was looking through graduate schools again. Between daydreams of interesting classes and jobs after college, I noticed that almost all the schools I was considering required 3-10 pages of scholarly and/or published writing. I've only had one writing class at BU. Although Prof. Kibor taught me a lot of useful tips for writing leads and using correct punctuation; I haven't had any practice writing scholarly.

I went back to reading books until I noticed a copy of the university newspaper laying on the floor. Within minutes I had the names of all the writers and editors using the school website's search function. I couldn't believe it. Bangkok University, the number one school in Thailand for Communication Arts (most journalists graduate from here), has a student paper with not one student writer for the English section. In the past some students and teachers have been asked to contribute but never wrote on a regular basis.

So... I emailed two editors and the head of the Comm. Arts. dept.

Hi,

I've always enjoyed BU News and wondered how our school newspaper works.

Major Thai universities such as Chulalongkorn, Thammasat, ABAC, Mahidol, and most large schools around the world have student-run newspapers, written and edited by students to inform other students of news and interesting features of the school.

I would like to know how I can become a part of BU News. As a third year student in BUIC's Communication Arts major I would like to gain journalism experience before going on to study at the graduate level next year. I would be happy researching and writing about any assigned topics and have a background in photojournalism.

How can become a part of my school's newspaper? :)

Sincerely,
Dan

The next morning I received a reply from the International Affairs Office:

Hi Dan:

Thank you for your email. We are happy to know that you are interested to participate in the English section of the BU News magazine. The English section is produced for our foreign students and faculty and for Thai students and faculty interested in reading English.

We do invite students and faculty to contribute, however, so far not many have shown interest to write articles. You must have read the articles from mostly BUIC students on their student exchange experience, and there have been only few teachers writing articles.

Normally we focus on Thai culture and the culture of this region, education and universal topics in general.

The English section is produced every month by staff of International Affairs Office. You are welcome to pass by to discuss your possible contribution in detail. It is good to know that you like to expand your journalism experience by contributing to BU News.

If you would like to come this week, our office is open from 9 to 5 with lunchtime during 12 - 1.

Best regards,
August

August Timmermans
Staff, International Affairs Office

After teasing the cheating freshman I walked up to building 9 a few minutes before five o'clock. On the 11th floor I met with August and we sat down and talked about the paper. August is a nice man from Holland who has been single-handedly writing the English section of the paper. He told me he had once tried to get the BUIC students, administration, and dean involved but nobody ever wanted to be involved.

Enter -- me. I hope to be writing monthly, as the only student writer/photographer/editor for BU News. August will be the senior editor and help me with layout issues. March is a post-exam break, with students returning mid-month. Because of this March and April are lumped into one issue which prints this week. My first article will be in the next issue, the May issue, and will feature something the paper has never done before. It will be a two page interview with the dean of the International College. I picked the dean because he's seen by students as such a mysterious and powerful man who spends most of his time tucked away in a corner office of the BUIC building. Hopefully, I will be able to learn a bit more him and give people an idea of who their dean is. He and I have scheduled a meeting tomorrow morning to talk about scheduling.

This also gets me a model for my digital photography homework due Sunday by midnight: a portrait using fill flash.

I have Mass Media Law to study tonight so I'm at the library again, enjoying it's silence and the university's blazingly fast and free wireless connection.

Saturday night I found a Thai Flickr Meet group on Flickr. Sunday morning I was waiting at the Taksin Bridge docks to go on a photography trip. It's a neat once a month gathering of Bangkok photographers. Sunday we went to the other side of the water and visited the temples and small streets of Klong San. Poor animals.

Oh..about the landlord with the crappy "one-year or loose half your deposit rule"... the old lady downstairs mentioned this morning that the he graduated from... Chula, in the Faculty of Political Science's Master of Arts International Development Studies, or MAIDS. The program only accept 20 applicants a year and it's top on my list at the moment. Small world?