How Undergraduate College Women in the United States...

Background: The rates of casual sexual encounters, ‘hook-ups’, and casual relationships are on the rise in young adults in North America. The majority of US college students have engaged in at least one hook-up while over half report that they have also engaged in some type of casual sex. However, the situations in which students experience unwanted sexual encounters are also shifting. It is implied that since the rates of date rape have decreased, yet rates of sexual assault have remained the same, that sexual assault and rape rates during casual sexual encounters are on the rise. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate how undergraduate college women in the United States perceive rape and sexual assault as a potential threat of engaging in random hook-ups or casual sex. Setting: A large southeastern university in the United States. Subjects: The subjects consisted of 109 female undergraduate students who were recruited from the psychology department participant pool. Women were between 18 and 46 years of age, with a mean age of 22.6 years. Participants were split between grade level with 6.4% freshman, 18.3% sophomores, 37.6% juniors, and 36.7% seniors. In terms of ethnicity the women were 54% European American, 19% Latina, 21% African American, 1% Asian American, 2% as multi-ethnic, 1% Native American, and 2% did not indicate ethnicity. Methods: The women were split into small groups of no more than four and seated behind a privacy screen to ensureShow MoreRelatedSexual Assault On Campus : Opposing Viewpoints Essay1180 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction to Sexual Assault on Campus: Opposing Viewpoints. Sexual Assault on Campus. Ed. Jack Lasky. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 17 Oct. 2016. The article introduces sexual assault to readers as a problem that is in line with other forms of violence such as domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. It gives a figure of 19% undergraduate women who have reported a complete or attempted sexual assault while in campusRead MoreSexual Coercion: Abuse and Perceptions Essay2016 Words   |  9 PagesHistory of Abuse Predicting Current Experiences and Perceptions of Sexual Coercionâ€Æ' Sexual aggression among college students has been a popular topic of examination for the past three decades. One of the reasons for the repeated analysis is the fact that sexual aggression remains a common and enduring experience among college students. An early survey on this topic found that 54% of college women reported experiencing some sort of sexual victimization (Koss, Gidycz, Wisniewski, 1987). That same yearRead MoreViews Of Contraception On The College Scene Essay1852 Words   |  8 PagesContraception in the College Scene College is the scene most known for hookups and partying. Here is where you meet new people, make new friends, and have sexual encounters that you may not ever have to see or deal with again. But despite the enticing environment this may seem, there are multiple factors that may be a result of hook ups and partying. One of these factors is unwanted pregnancy among college students. In this paper I will discuss the views of contraception between the college scene and theRead MoreEpekto Ng Polusyon19213 Words   |  77 PagesDomestic violence: Moving On A Qualitative Investigation Exploring How women Move On From Violent Relationships Researcher: Carole Le Darcy Supervisor: Dr Sue Becker Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincerest thanks and gratitude to all of the exceptionally strong women that participated in this research that have freely given not only some of their precious and valuable time but have also revealed that which is sadly all too often concealed; the remarkable, courageous and oftenRead MoreHsm 542 Week 12 Discussion Essay45410 Words   |  182 PagesIntentional Torts in Healthcare (graded) | Most Pressing Ethical Issues (graded) | Q A Forum (not graded) | | Intentional Torts in Healthcare (graded) | Select one of the intentional torts discussed in your text and provide an example of how this tort takes place in healthcare. As leader of your own healthcare facility, what steps could you take and what processes could you implement to reduce the risk of this tort occurring in your own facility? | This section lists options that can

Last Sacrifice Chapter Five Free Essays

string(31) " ended up back with the Moroi\." GETTING AWAY FROM DIMITRI WASN’T just about our rocky romantic past. I’d meant it when I said I didn’t want him getting in trouble because of me. If the guardians found me, my fate wouldn’t be that much different from what I’d already been facing. We will write a custom essay sample on Last Sacrifice Chapter Five or any similar topic only for you Order Now But Dimitri? He’d been making baby steps toward acceptance. Sure, that was pretty much destroyed now, but his chance for a life wasn’t over. If he didn’t want to live at Court or with humans, he could go back to Siberia and return to his family. Out there in the middle of nowhere, he’d be hard to find. And with how close that community was, they’d go to a lot of trouble to hide him if someone ever did try to hunt him down. Staying with me was definitely the wrong option. I just needed to convince him. â€Å"I know what you’re thinking,’ Dimitri said, after we’d been on the road for about an hour. We hadn’t spoken much, both of us lost in our own thoughts. After a few more country roads, we’d finally made it to an interstate and were making good time toward †¦ well, I had no idea. I’d been staring out the window, pondering all the disasters around me and how I alone could fix them. â€Å"Huh?’ I glanced over at him. I thought there might be the smallest hint of a smile on his lips, which seemed absurd considering this was probably the worst situation he’d been in since being restored from his Strigoi state. â€Å"And it won’t work,’ he added. â€Å"You’re planning how to get away from me, probably when we eventually stop for gas. You’re thinking maybe you’ll have a chance to run off then.’ The crazy thing was, I had been thinking very much along those lines. The old Dimitri was a good partner on the road, but I wasn’t so sure I liked having his old ability to guess my thoughts back as well. â€Å"This is a waste of time,’ I said, gesturing around the car. â€Å"Oh? You have better things to do than flee the people who want to lock you up and execute you? Please don’t tell me again that this is too dangerous for me.’ I glared. â€Å"It’s about more than just you. Running away shouldn’t be my only concern. I should be helping clear my name, not hiding in whatever remote place you’re undoubtedly taking me to. The answers are at Court.’ â€Å"And you have lots of friends at Court who will be working on that. It’ll be easier on them if they know you’re safe.’ â€Å"What I want to know is why no one told me about this–or, I mean, why Lissa didn’t. Why’d she hide it? Don’t you think I’d have been more helpful if I’d been ready?’ â€Å"We did the fighting, not you,’ Dimitri said. â€Å"We were afraid if you knew, you might give away that something was up.’ â€Å"I would have never told!’ â€Å"Not intentionally, no. But if you were tense or anxious †¦ well, your guards can pick up on those kinds of things.’ â€Å"Well, now that we’re out, can you tell me where we’re going? Was I right? Is it some crazy, remote place?’ No answer. I narrowed my eyes at him. â€Å"I hate not being in the loop.’ That tiny smile on his lips grew a little bigger. â€Å"Well, I have my own personal theory that the more you don’t know, the more your curiosity is likely to make sure you stick around with me.’ â€Å"That’s ridiculous,’ I replied, though really, it wasn’t all that unreasonable of a theory. I sighed. â€Å"When the hell did things get so out of control? When did you guys start being the masterminds? I’m the one who comes up with the wacky, impossible plans. I’m supposed to be the general here. Now I’m barely a lieutenant.’ He started to say something else but then froze for a few seconds, his face instantly taking on that wary, lethal guardian look. He swore in Russian. â€Å"What’s wrong?’ I asked. His attitude was contagious, and I immediately forgot all thoughts of crazy plans. In the erratic flash of headlights from oncoming traffic, I could see his eyes dart up to the rearview mirror. â€Å"We have a tail. I didn’t think it would happen this soon.’ â€Å"Are you sure?’ It had grown dark, and the number of cars on the highway had increased. I didn’t know how anyone could spot one suspicious car among that many, but well †¦ he was Dimitri. He swore again and suddenly, in a maneuver that made me grab the dashboard, he cut sharply across two lanes, barely missing a minivan that expressed its annoyance with a lot of honking. There was an exit right there, and he just barely made it without clipping the exit ramp’s rail. I heard more honking, and when I looked back, I saw the headlights of a car that had made just as crazy a move to follow us onto the exit. â€Å"The Court must have gotten the word out pretty fast,’ he said. â€Å"They had someone watching the interstates.’ â€Å"Maybe we should have taken back roads.’ He shook his head. â€Å"Too slow. None of it would have been an issue once we switched cars, but they found us too soon. We’ll have to get a new one here. This is the biggest city we’ll hit before the Maryland border.’ A sign said we were in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and as Dimitri skillfully drove us down a busy, commerce-filled road, I could see the tail mirroring everything we did. â€Å"What exactly is your plan to get a new car?’ I asked warily. â€Å"Listen carefully,’ he said, ignoring my question. â€Å"It is very, very important that you do exactly as I say. No improvising. No arguing. There are guardians in that car, and by now, they’ve alerted every other guardian around here–possibly even the human police.’ â€Å"Wouldn’t the police catching us create a few problems?’ â€Å"The Alchemists would sort it out and make sure we ended up back with the Moroi. You read "Last Sacrifice Chapter Five" in category "Essay examples"’ The Alchemists. I should have known they’d get involved. They were a secret society of humans who helped protect Moroi and dhampir interests, keeping us out of the mainstream human public. Of course, the Alchemists didn’t do it out of kindness. They thought we were evil and unnatural and mostly wanted to make sure we stayed on the fringes of their society. An escaped â€Å"criminal’ like me would certainly be a problem they would want to help the Moroi with. Dimitri’s voice was hard and commanding when he spoke again, though his eyes weren’t on me. They were busy scanning the sides of the road. â€Å"No matter what you think of the choices everyone’s been making for you, no matter how unhappy you are with this situation, you know–I know you do–that I’ve never failed you when our lives were at stake. You trusted me in the past. Trust me now.’ I wanted to tell him that what he said wasn’t entirely true. He had failed me. When he’d been taken down by Strigoi, when he’d shown that he wasn’t perfect, he had failed me by shattering the impossible, godly image I had of him. But my life? No, he had always kept mine safe. Even as a Strigoi, I’d never entirely been convinced he could kill me. The night the Academy had been attacked, when he’d been turned, he’d told me to obey him without question too. It had meant leaving him to fight Strigoi, but I’d done it. â€Å"Okay,’ I said quietly. â€Å"I’ll do whatever you say. Just remember not to talk down to me. I’m not your student anymore. I’m your equal now.’ He glanced away from the side of the road just long enough to give me a surprised look. â€Å"You’ve always been my equal, Roza.’ The use of the affectionate Russian nickname made me too stupid to respond, but it didn’t matter. Moments later, he was all business again. â€Å"There. Do you see that movie theater sign?’ I gazed down the road. There were so many restaurants and stores that their signs made a glittering haze in the night. At last, I saw what he meant. WESTLAND CINEMA. â€Å"Yes.’ â€Å"That’s where we’re going to meet.’ We were splitting up? I’d wanted to part ways but not like this. In the face of danger, separating suddenly seemed like an awful idea. I’d promised not to argue, though, and kept listening. â€Å"If I’m not there in a half hour, you call this number and go without me.’ Dimitri handed me a small piece of paper from his duster pocket. It had a phone number scrawled on it, not one I recognized. If I’m not there in a half hour. The words were so shocking that I couldn’t help my protest this time. â€Å"What do you mean if you’re not–ah!’ Dimitri made another abrupt turn, one that caused him to run a red light and only narrowly miss a number of cars. More honking ensued, but the move had been too sudden for our tail to keep up. I saw our pursuers whiz past on the main road, brake lights flashing as they searched for a place to turn around. Dimitri had taken us into a mall parking lot. It was packed with cars, and I glanced at the clock to get a grasp for human time. Almost eight o’clock at night. Early in the Moroi day, prime entertainment time for humans. He drove past a few entrances to the mall and finally selected one, pulling into a handicap spot. He was out of the car in one fluid motion, with me following just as quickly. â€Å"Here’s where we split up,’ he said jogging toward a set of doors. â€Å"Move fast, but don’t run when we’re inside. Don’t attract attention. Blend in. Wind through it for a little bit; then get out through any exit but this one. Walk out near a group of humans and then head for the theater.’ We stepped into the mall. â€Å"Go!’ As though afraid I might not move, he gave me a small push toward an escalator while he took off on the main floor. There was a part of me that wanted to just freeze and stand there, that felt dumbfounded by the sudden onslaught of people, light, and activity. I soon pushed that startled part aside and began heading up the escalator. Fast reflexes and instinctual reactions were part of my training. I’d honed them in school, in my travels, and with him. Everything I’d been taught about eluding someone came rushing back to my head. What I wanted to do more than anything was look around and see if I had a follower, but that would have definitely attracted attention. I had to imagine that, at most, we had a couple minutes’ lead on our pursuers. They would have had to turn around to get back to the mall and then circle to spot our car, presuming they figured out we’d gone into the mall. I didn’t think Harrisburg had enough of a Moroi presence to summon very many guardians on short notice. The ones they had would likely split up, some searching the mall and some guarding the entrances. This place had too many doors for the guardians to watch them all; my escape choice would be pure luck. I walked as fast as I reasonably could, weaving through couples, families with strollers, and giggling teens. I envied that last group. Their lives seemed so easy compared to mine. I also passed the usual mall stores, their names registering but not much more: Ann Taylor, Abercrombie, Forever 21 †¦ Ahead of me, I could see the center of the mall where several corridors branched out. I’d have a choice to make soon. Passing an accessories store, I ducked inside and pretended to look at headbands. As I did, I covertly glanced back out to the mall’s main section. I saw nothing obvious. No one had stopped; no one had followed me into the store. Beside the headbands section was a clearance bin filled with items that obviously deserved to be on clearance. One item was a â€Å"girly’ baseball cap, hot pink with a star done in rainbow rhinestones on the front. It was god-awful. I bought it, grateful the guardians hadn’t taken away the meager cash I’d had on me when arrested. They probably figured it wasn’t enough to bribe anyone. I also bought a ponytail holder, all the while still keeping an eye on the store’s doorway. Before leaving, I bound my hair up as much as I could with the holder and then put on the hat. There was something silly about being reduced to disguises, but my hair was an easy way to ID me. It was a deep, almost-black brown, and my lack of any recent haircut had it hanging to my mid-back. In fact, between that and Dimitri’s height, we would have made a very conspicuous pair walking through here. I merged back into the shoppers and soon reached the mall’s center. Not wanting to show any hesitation, I took a left toward Macy’s. As I walked, I felt slightly embarrassed at the hat and wished I’d at least had time to find a more stylish one. Minutes later, when I spotted a guardian, I was glad I’d made such a quick fashion choice. He was near one of those carts you always see in the center of malls, pretending to be interested in cell phone covers. I recognized him first because of his stance and the way he was managing to act interested in a zebra print phone cover while simultaneously searching around him. Plus, dhampirs could always distinguish each other from humans with close enough examination. For the most part, our two races appeared pretty identical, but I could spot one of my own. I made sure not to look right at him and felt his eyes pass over me. I didn’t know him, which meant he probably didn’t know me either. He was likely going off a photo he’d seen once and expected my hair to be a big giveaway. Keeping as casual an air as I could, I moved past him at a leisurely pace, glancing in windows that kept my back to him but sent no obvious messages that I was on the run. All the while, my heart pounded in my chest. Guardians could kill me on sight. Did that apply to the middle of a mall? I didn’t want to find out. When I was clear of the cart, I picked up my pace a little. Macy’s would have its own outside door, and now it was just a gamble to see whether or not I’d made a good call coming in this direction. I entered the store, went down its escalator, and headed toward the main floor exit–passing a very nice selection of cute berets and fedoras. I paused near them, not because I planned on upgrading my hat, but because it allowed me to fall in step just behind a group of girls who were also exiting. We left the store together, and my eyes quickly adjusted to the change in light. There were lots of people around, but I again saw nothing threatening. My girls stopped to chat, giving me an opportunity to get my bearings without appearing totally lost. To my right, I spotted the busy road Dimitri and I had come in on, and from there, I knew how to get to the movie theater. I exhaled in relief and cut across the parking lot, still watching my surroundings. The farther I walked from the mall, the less crowded the parking lot became. Lampposts kept it from being totally dark, but there was still an eerie feel as things grew quieter and quieter. My initial impulse was to head right for the road and take the sidewalk directly to the theater. It was well lit and had people. But a moment later, I decided it was too conspicuous. I was pretty sure I could cut across parking lots much more quickly to get to the theater. It proved true–kind of. I had the theater in sight when I realized I had been followed after all. Not far ahead of me, the shadow of a parking lamp’s post didn’t cast correctly. The shadow was too broad. Someone was behind the pole. I doubted a guardian had coincidentally picked this spot in the hopes Dimitri or I would come by. Most likely it was a scout who’d seen me and circled ahead for an ambush. I kept walking, trying not to obviously slow down, though every muscle in my body was tensing for attack. I had to be the one who attacked first. I had to be in control. My moment came, seconds before I suspected my ambusher would have made his move. I leapt out, throwing him–it turned out to be a dhampir I didn’t recognize– against a nearby car. Yup. I’d surprised him. Of course, the surprise was mutual when the car’s alarm went off, blaring into the night. I winced, trying to ignore the shrieking as I punched my captive on the left side of his jaw. I had to make the most of having him pinned. The force of my fist knocked his head against the car, but he took it admirably, promptly pushing back in an effort to free himself. He was stronger, and I did stumble a little, but not enough to lose my balance. What I lacked in strength, I made up for in speed. I dodged each attempt at me, but it brought me little satisfaction. That stupid car alarm was still going strong, and it was eventually going to attract the attention of other guardians or human authorities. I dashed around the side of the car, and he gave chase, stopping when we were on opposite sides. It was like two kids playing keep-away. We mirrored each other as he tried to anticipate which direction I’d go. In the dim lighting, I saw something surprising tucked into his belt: a gun. My blood ran cold. Guardians were trained to use guns but rarely carried them. Stakes were our weapon of choice. We were in the business of killing Strigoi, after all, and guns were ineffective. But against me? Yeah. A gun simplified his job, but I had a feeling he’d hesitate to use it. A car alarm could be blamed on someone accidentally getting too close, but a gunshot? That would elicit a call to the police. This guy wouldn’t fire if he could help it–but he would if he ran out of options. This needed to end soon. At last I made a move toward the front of the car. He tried to intercept me, but then I surprised him by springing onto the car’s hood (because honestly, at this point, it wasn’t like the alarm could get any louder). In my split second of advantage, I threw myself off the car and onto him, knocking him flat to the ground. I landed on top of his stomach and held him down with all my weight while my hands went around his neck. He struggled, trying to throw me off, and nearly succeeded. At last, the lack of air won out. He stopped moving and fell into unconsciousness. I let go. For a brief moment, I had a flashback to our escape from Court, when I’d used the same technique on Meredith. I saw her lying on the ground all over again and felt that same pang of guilt. Then, I shook it off. Meredith was okay. Meredith wasn’t even here. None of that mattered. All that mattered was that this guy was out of commission, and I had to get out of here. Now. Without looking to see if others were coming, I tore off across the parking lot toward the theater. I stopped once I had some distance between me and the wailing car, using another car as cover. I saw no one near the guy yet, but over by the parking lot’s front, close to the mall, there seemed to be some activity. I didn’t stick around to get a closer look. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good for me. I reached the theater a couple minutes later, breathless more from fear than exhaustion. Running endurance was something I had built up a lot of, thanks to Dimitri. But where was Dimitri? Theatergoers mingled around, some giving my disheveled state an odd look, as they either waited for tickets or discussed what movie they’d just seen. I saw no sign of Dimitri anywhere. I had no watch. How long had passed since we’d parted? Surely not a half hour. I walked around the theater, staying obscured in the crowd, searching for any indication of Dimitri or more pursuers. Nothing. Minutes ticked by. Uneasily, I reached into my pocket and touched the piece of paper with the phone number. Leave, he’d told me. Leave and call the number. Of course, I had no cell phone, but that was the least of my problems right now– â€Å"Rose!’ A car pulled up at the curb where others were dropping people off. Dimitri was leaning out the driver’s side window, and I nearly fell over in relief. Well, okay, not nearly. In reality, I didn’t waste a moment in hurrying over to him and hopping into the passenger seat. Without a word, he hit the gas and got us away from the theater and back to the main road. We said nothing at first. He was so wound up and on edge, it seemed the slightest provocation would make him snap in half. He drove as fast as he could without attracting police attention, all the while glancing into the rearview mirror. â€Å"Is there anyone behind us?’ I asked at last, as he drove back onto the highway. â€Å"It doesn’t look like it. It’ll take them a while to figure out what car we’re in.’ I hadn’t paid much attention when I’d entered, but we were in a Honda Accord– another ordinary-looking car. I also noticed that there was no key in the ignition. â€Å"Did you hotwire this car?’ I then rephrased my question. â€Å"Did you steal this car?’ â€Å"You have an interesting set of morals,’ he observed. â€Å"Breaking out of jail is okay. But steal a car, and you sound totally outraged.’ â€Å"Im just more surprised than outraged,’ I said, leaning back against the seat. I sighed. â€Å"I was afraid †¦ well, for a moment there, I was afraid you weren’t coming. That they’d caught you or something.’ â€Å"No. Most of my time was spent sneaking out and finding a suitable car.’ A few minutes of silence fell. â€Å"You didn’t ask what happened to me,’ I pointed out, a little miffed. â€Å"Don’t need to. You’re here. That’s what counts.’ â€Å"I got in a fight.’ â€Å"I can tell. Your sleeve is ripped.’ I glanced down. Yup, ripped. I’d also lost the hat in my mad dash. No big loss. â€Å"Don’t you want to know anything about the fight?’ His eyes stayed on the road ahead of us. â€Å"I already know. You took down your enemy. You did it fast, and you did it well. Because you’re just that good.’ I pondered his words for a moment. They were matter-of-fact, all business †¦ and yet, his statement brought a tiny smile to my lips. â€Å"Okay. So what now, General? Don’t you think they’ll scan reports of stolen cars and get our license plate number?’ â€Å"Likely. But by then, we’ll have a new car–one they won’t have any clue about.’ I frowned. â€Å"How are you pulling that off?’ â€Å"We’re meeting someone in a few hours.’ â€Å"Damn it. I really hate being the last one to know about everything.’ â€Å"A few hours’ put us in Roanoke, Virginia. Most of our drive had passed uneventfully up until that point. But as the city came into view, I noticed Dimitri watching the exit signs until he found the one he wanted. Turning off the interstate, he continued checking for a tail and found none. We reached another commerce-filled road, and he drove to a McDonald’s that stood out clearly from the rest of the businesses. â€Å"I don’t suppose,’ I said, â€Å"that this is a food break?’ â€Å"This,’ he responded, â€Å"is where we catch our next ride.’ He drove around the restaurant’s parking lot, his eyes scanning for something, though I didn’t initially know what. I spotted it a fraction of a second before he did. In the far corner of the lot, I saw a woman leaning against a tan SUV, her back to us. I couldn’t see much of her except that she wore a dark shirt and had tousled blond hair that almost touched her shoulders. Dimitri pulled into the spot next to her vehicle, and I was out of ours the second he hit the brake. I recognized her before she even turned around. â€Å"Sydney?’ The name came out as a question, though I knew for sure it was her. Her head turned, and I saw a familiar face–a human face–with brown eyes that could turn amber in the sun and a faint gold tattoo on her cheek. â€Å"Hey, Rose,’ she said, a rueful smile playing on her lips. She held up a McDonald’s bag. â€Å"Figured you’d be hungry.’ How to cite Last Sacrifice Chapter Five, Essay examples

That One Thing free essay sample

Personal Essay: What to do Most people have some sort of story, something incredible, or life-changing. My story defined who I am, and taught me how to deal with tough situations. I have been told I am good at dealing with different situations. Like, if someone was to ask me to do my homework, I have problems getting that done. But, if someone was to ask me to take care of their family I would do it in a heartbeat. Growing up I had to do it by myself. My parents got a divorce when I was around seven years old. For a single mother, raising two children under the age of twelve, she did her best. But more times than not, she would leave and go to the bar with her girlfriend. When it came to those nights, it was either be babysat by a problematic teen, or take care of myself. We will write a custom essay sample on That One Thing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I always chose to take care of myself. As a seven, going on eight, year old, I did the best I could. When my mom would leave I would have to make dinner for myself and make sure I went to bed at the right time. I found it weird, she would be gone at night, but she would wake me up in the morning for school. But when I got home, she would be gone. It was like living two lives sometimes. It was always the same, go to school, deal with kids, come home, make food, and sleep. I had a routine and I knew what to do, and when to do it. I never had help with homework. I never had help learning how to do things. I never had to be instructed on simple life tasks. I feel that out of my hardship growing up I realized that I don’t need to be babysat with everything I did. To this day I have always scheduled my own appointments, made sure I ate, and did my own laundry. I learned that my parents are here to help me be who I want to be, and to mold my own personality. I learned that when tou gh times get even tougher, I can pull through it. No one can tell me I am not going to do something. Or that I am not going to be able to achieve something. My personality has changed since then as well. I know now, that I am in control of what I do with my life and that no one can bring me down to their level. Some people will never learn that, some learn it early. But, I know for a fact that without those once horrible memories, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

Life of Langston Hughes free essay sample

A paper looking at the leader of the Harlem Renaissance. This is a term paper on Langston Hughes. It includes some basic biographical background, an analysis of his work, and the role he played in the Harlem Renaissance. The author analyzes each of Hughes different types of works to illustrate the variety of which he was capable. Langston Hughes is one of Americas most well-known and influential black writers. Perhaps, the reason he is so well known is because his works influenced so many people. Langston Hughes made a large and unique contribution not only to American literature, but to black American culture and to American humor as well. (Haskins: ix) Hughes was a leader and had a key role in the Harlem Renaissance. Throughout his forty-five year career, Hughes was a novelist, a reporter, a translator, a playwright, and a short-story writer, although he is mainly recognized as a poet. We will write a custom essay sample on Life of Langston Hughes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Hughes began his career because of his unique style. Hughes used speech patterns of a stereotyped black culture along with a jazz/blues rhythm. Hughes style and political views are mainly related to his experiences growing up.

The #1 Way to Solve Business Disputes

The #1 Way to Solve Business Disputes As a business owner, I want my relationships with both clients and vendors to run smoothly 100% of the time. In actuality, of course, business dealings sometimes involve conflict. Although I am not exactly a conflict avoider, I don’t enjoy it either (I left the legal profession almost 6 years ago for that reason and have never looked back)! Nevertheless, I strongly believe that when faced head-on and handled well, conflict can lead to greater trust and a foundation for long-term success. Whether you are a client or a business owner, you might possibly have experienced conflict in a business relationship, or if not, then you might possibly experience it in the future. Below are some situations I have faced, and which have had different outcomes based on one predominant factor. This factor makes the difference between a happy customer and a dissatisfied one. Commitment to Excellence at The Essay Expert I have a team of writers at The Essay Expert who do top-level work, and 95% of our clients are satisfied with the first draft of their resume and LinkedIn profile. I am proud of that number; and I am even prouder that for the small number of clients who have issues with their first write-ups, we are able to create happy clients 99% of the time. The writers who work with me are fully committed to satisfying our clients and they go the extra mile to accommodate each person’s preferences. In the end, I believe that the most important value we offer is our commitment to doing the work required to satisfy every client. Clients leave feeling like we truly partnered with them to meet their needs. Sometimes I face a situation where a client and writer are not a perfect match. In these cases, if the client speaks up right away (which I encourage them to do), I first determine whether we can resolve the situation with the current writer. If not, I assign the project to another, more senior writer or, in rare cases, step in myself. If any uncorrectable human errors have occurred, I will always offer a partial refund. I am always available for discussion and negotiation, and will do everything I can to reach an agreement and satisfactory resolution. Sometimes the clients who become The Essay Expert’s biggest fans are those who were not satisfied initially, and with whom we worked tirelessly to remedy the situation. In fact, just this week, one such client referred a connection who hired us for a resume and LinkedIn package. How to Handle – and Not Handle – Billing Disputes I am a client to other companies as well as a business owner, and this week I experienced both excellent and poor customer service. In one situation, I raised issues about the service I was receiving and questioned the validity of some charges on their invoice. Despite the fact that I have been a client of this business for two years and have never questioned an invoice before, the owner refused to discuss the issue, instead telling me that the firm no longer would be working with me. I stated my desire to work things out and he still refused, though he did tell me to pay whatever I wanted and they would write off the rest. I was left with a negative impression and if anyone asks me about that business I will tell them how I was treated. In contrast, with another firm, when we ran into an issue where a job they were doing for me went over budget, I agreed to their terms and requested something in return from  them that I felt would be a good trade. They thanked me for my communication and agreed to give me what I asked for. I was left with a positive impression and will continue to refer business to that firm. The #1 Factor: Customer Service (Plus†¦) In each of these cases, what made the difference? Customer service. That’s the #1 factor to watch when addressing business conflict. Good customer service can turn conflict into good will. Bad customer service can create ongoing negativity. Also note that someone has to start the conversation about the issue at hand if anything is to be done about it. When my clients do not tell me they are dissatisfied, I am at a big disadvantage. I can’t resolve an issue I don’t know about. It’s therefore essential to ask clients about their experience consistently so that they have an opportunity to voice any concerns. Showing interest in the quality of their experience is a key piece to customer service. Once an issue is aired, I have found that it’s very helpful to hold a strong vision for the relationship. Whichever party states a vision, the other party often aligns with it. This alignment sets the stage for a satisfactory resolution. In rare cases, one party might state a vision for an amicable ongoing relationship and the other does not join that vision; in this situation, the conflict will likely not be resolved. Thankfully, most of us as human beings are wired to want to work well with other human beings. And most businesses have a strong commitment to good customer service. That commitment, when put into action, creates a foundation where almost any conflict can be resolved. If you have stories of good customer service or more ideas of how to resolve business conflicts, please share below!

Alibrandi Dairy Entry Essay Example for Free

Alibrandi Dairy Entry Essay I am writing for a number of reasons, As your father I feel really guilty for not being there for you and your mother for so long but If there is one message I would want you to hold in your heart always it is this you are loved unconditionally. that my love for you is not decided based on how you act, what you say or what happens on any given day. There are no conditions and the love is given freely to you Jose. I had never thought about what it would really feel like to have a child? To watch them grow and learn the ways of the world. I am often in awe at their wonder, their pure joy in the magic of life. But all at the same time I hurt when I see you Jose. But I know that you must experience life not just the small bits all of it, even the pain and the hurt it can bring. Although you and I have been in each others life for almost a year I want you to know, every day I see you becoming more and more yourself. I thank your mother for the hard work she has put into you because it must have been hard on her raising you own her own but I see that I have nothing to worry about because your Mother has raised an independent young woman, and I congratulate you on finishing your HSC and starting university, and I see the confident, strong individual I want to help you become. More than anything, that is my job as your father, to give you the guidance, support, freedom, and love to be who you are and who you want to be. It isn’t always easy, and I’m not always good at it. I get frustrated more than I wish I did. I yell more than I wish I did. When we butt heads, it is because I see my own insecurities reflected in yours like when you called me from school because you hit another girls nose with a book. Your mother and I want you to see the world stretched out before you, want you to see all the possibilities and potentialities and not be afraid of them, want to you be excited by your own abilities to shape your worlds, to change your futures, to make things right and better and beautiful. Jose if there is one thing I am thankful for it is you, Jose it hasn’t even been a year and yet and you have shown me what others long and search for many years, and that is love before I thought I had everything I had a great job, car and girlfriend but I always felt something was missing and you have shown me what I was missing. You are young and is still growing, and you are powerful. Know this, in your hearts, if nothing else. Even when you doubt it, or are scared or unsure, you are amazing, and you are never alone. Just as you are exploring and learning and making mistakes, so am I, as your father. But as your father, I am also doing all I can to make sure that you know that all of that is okay. And you, my Jose, my amazing Jose, are becoming who you are meant to be. I will help when I can, and get out of the way when I need to. But I will always, always be here, watching, amazed at who you are becoming. And if there is anything you need I am only a phone call away. Alibrandi Dairy Entry. (2017, May 21).

Critical Thinking and Persuasion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical Thinking and Persuasion - Essay Example The potential market is 2.5 million thus with the proper mechanism the TAMY would be able to ripe big from the proceeds contributed by the market. The market potential means that the firm needs to hire a firm that is aware of the current market events and is experienced in the systems used by TAMY. The firm has experience on major fronts. The firm has the capacity to handle logistically as a section of a firm is mandated to the function. The firm has had experience working with the private sector. This means the firm has the capacity to handle pressure and work based on quality output. The firm’s public relation traits are essential, as they would play an important role in attracting the public back to the Transit Authority of Metropolitan Yorkville (TAMY) services. The firm could be able to handle request from customers hence increase capacity. Their experience in demanding fields such as the campaign could be essential while developing a brand to be recognized by the market. The firm, however, had its shortfalls. The firm lacks experience in the transportation industry. This implies that the firm may fail to deliver according to expectation. The firm’s lack of knowledge in the transportation field would mean DeWitt could fail to identify the potential market while at the same time fail to identify the market adjustments that should be made to ensure the firms revive its previous reputation. DeWitt could worsen the current situation as it may fail to identify the industry’s high season and low seasons. The focus should be how to adjust operations to cater for the high seasons and low season. The firm should not be considered based on their lack of experience in the public transportation industry. The firm has experience in the transportation industry. This is evident in their involvement with other Transit system firms. This is the experienced need to improve the overall performance of TAMY.

Black Family Reunions in the Cincinnati Region Research Paper

Black Family Reunions in the Cincinnati Region - Research Paper Example Black Americans also use family reunions as venues to memorize their coming to America and their lives as slaves of America. Family reunions also provide avenues where certain individuals in the Black America communities can search for lost relatives and sometimes trace their roots. Family reunions among the Black community in America take place at varying periods of the year. Some family reunions in the views of Smith commences on Christmas day, while others happen on 4th of July (487). The Most important fact about family reunions is that they occur every year. According to Smith, the most historic family reunion in America was the 1986 National Family Reunion Celebrations held at the National Mall in Washington DC (486). The Black Family Reunion of 1986 focused on restoring the liveliness of Family Reunions in the US. The National Family Reunion of 1986 attracted various individuals among them government agencies, private and public institutions, corporations and families from different ethnic aspects. According to Vargus, reunions great celebrations, Black family reunions take place at an annual basis and takes two to three days of busy celebration. In the reports of Ebony, African American families institute regular meetings of 50 to 350 attendants usually tabled at hotels and tourism centers. Black family reunions are simply unity congregations intended to bring together sparse and related families. Black family reunions are occasions for consolation and reconciliation of fractured families that faced the broth of slavery in America. In addition, Black family reunions in Cincinnati are avenues for making and strengthening peace and friendship, which are the core components of unity.  

Kraft Foods Essay Example for Free

Kraft Foods Essay They offer delicious foods and beverages for every lifestyle on the go. While exploring the website of Kraft seems to define their product mix as foods that are geared more towards the people on the go. I would define their product mix as health/wellness foods, quick fix meals, snacks and beverages as well as offering a Premium line of foods. In their health/wellness foods they offer products in a â€Å"light† form such as things like Philadelphia light cream cheese and reduce fat cookies. For meals on the go or quick fix meals Kraft have designed meals like the Kraft Mac Cheese Cups, frozen meals and sandwich kits. They offer a wide variety of snack foods including everyone’s favorite cookie Oreo’s and Splendips. The Premium line that Kraft offers includes foods like DiGornio Pizza and Oscar Myer bacon. Kraft offers 8 product lines with over 50 different brands. Kraft’s product mix is the offering of their premium foods, such as DiGornao Ultimate Pizza which is made as a higher quality pizza then the standard. Tombstone Mexican Style Pizza is offered as a convenience food as a favorite food of teenage boys. It was designed for the ease of cooking a easy, quick, healthy meal. Tang is real fruit goodness of oranges. Everyone will surely love its sweet, refreshing flavor plus the added nutrition it gives. It is also instant drink mix offering the convenience food again. South Beach Diet foods are part of their healthy yet, convenience foods. The line offers alternatives to other popular diet fads. South Beach Diet foods play on wholegrain and the correct or right fats like canola oil and olive oil. In this line they also offer bars for a fast way to fill a craving during the day.

Drugs in Our Society Essay -- Drug Drugs Narcotics Essays

Drugs in Our Society With the use of drugs being such a controversial issue in today’s society we felt as a group it was important to further explore this issue. As we possess a high interest in how drugs affect a number of social groups. These groups of course range from young teens to high-class older individuals who will have different reasons and different acceptable standards of behaviour.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The question that is being explored in our presentation asks what drugs are doing to our society. This means exploring the various groups that use recreational drugs their reasons for this the effects that drug use has and the methods to help prevent and stop use of drugs. By recreational drugs we mean such substances as marijuana and heavier more addictive drugs as heroin and cocaine. For which the use of these has increased throughout society over time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Recreational drugs are not limited to any particular group in society meaning that a very wide variety of people choose to use these drugs these of course include teenagers, parents, business people and often very dedicated students for a number of reasons. For a long time the common misconception that only youths use drugs and those who do are disrespectful and dishonest has become out dated and inaccurate. Teenagers can use drugs and there are certainly individuals who do who are disrespectful and dishonest however this is more likely to do with an individual’s personality than their use or experimentation of drugs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The survey we conducted showed that most people believed it was more common for youths in the 14 to 22 age group to use recreational drugs. This was closely followed by the 23 to 30 age group, while the 13 and under age group was considerably further behind. The survey question that followed indicated that people also believed that drug users were irresponsible and inconsiderate. This slightly supports the misconception that teens are more likely to be involved with recreational drugs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The reasons why people choose to use drugs will differ from group to group. While for many the use of drugs serves as an escape from the stresses of everyday life for others it is exactly used as it is called for recreational purposes. People also take drugs to feel happy and relax. The major reason among is still believed to be that of peer pressure, often teens feel the need t... ...ociety we live in to regards drugs as acceptable but to what extent is this true. Society is not against what it can’t see. When people are dependant on a drug then their behaviour reveals to those around them what they are doing. This makes the world and society assume that all drugs and all drug users fit the typical stereotype. When someone is addicted to drugs society may not be directly affected but are very affected in the long run. The most direct way society is affected by drugs and their users is through the employment and criminal statistics. Employment is very much a problem for an addicted person and statistics show people desperate for drugs can commit crimes in order to get money to support their habit. This disrupts the whole idea of social cohesion only making chaos and producing prejudice attitudes. So just how are drugs affecting society. They affect society by overtaking the users life and the user therefore neglects their responsibilities of the society in which they live and breaching the acceptable standards of behaviours. Recreational drugs are a serious issue that must be dealt with help society progress further for the benefit of the next generation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Drugs in Our Society Essay -- Drug Drugs Narcotics Essays Drugs in Our Society With the use of drugs being such a controversial issue in today’s society we felt as a group it was important to further explore this issue. As we possess a high interest in how drugs affect a number of social groups. These groups of course range from young teens to high-class older individuals who will have different reasons and different acceptable standards of behaviour.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The question that is being explored in our presentation asks what drugs are doing to our society. This means exploring the various groups that use recreational drugs their reasons for this the effects that drug use has and the methods to help prevent and stop use of drugs. By recreational drugs we mean such substances as marijuana and heavier more addictive drugs as heroin and cocaine. For which the use of these has increased throughout society over time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Recreational drugs are not limited to any particular group in society meaning that a very wide variety of people choose to use these drugs these of course include teenagers, parents, business people and often very dedicated students for a number of reasons. For a long time the common misconception that only youths use drugs and those who do are disrespectful and dishonest has become out dated and inaccurate. Teenagers can use drugs and there are certainly individuals who do who are disrespectful and dishonest however this is more likely to do with an individual’s personality than their use or experimentation of drugs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The survey we conducted showed that most people believed it was more common for youths in the 14 to 22 age group to use recreational drugs. This was closely followed by the 23 to 30 age group, while the 13 and under age group was considerably further behind. The survey question that followed indicated that people also believed that drug users were irresponsible and inconsiderate. This slightly supports the misconception that teens are more likely to be involved with recreational drugs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The reasons why people choose to use drugs will differ from group to group. While for many the use of drugs serves as an escape from the stresses of everyday life for others it is exactly used as it is called for recreational purposes. People also take drugs to feel happy and relax. The major reason among is still believed to be that of peer pressure, often teens feel the need t... ...ociety we live in to regards drugs as acceptable but to what extent is this true. Society is not against what it can’t see. When people are dependant on a drug then their behaviour reveals to those around them what they are doing. This makes the world and society assume that all drugs and all drug users fit the typical stereotype. When someone is addicted to drugs society may not be directly affected but are very affected in the long run. The most direct way society is affected by drugs and their users is through the employment and criminal statistics. Employment is very much a problem for an addicted person and statistics show people desperate for drugs can commit crimes in order to get money to support their habit. This disrupts the whole idea of social cohesion only making chaos and producing prejudice attitudes. So just how are drugs affecting society. They affect society by overtaking the users life and the user therefore neglects their responsibilities of the society in which they live and breaching the acceptable standards of behaviours. Recreational drugs are a serious issue that must be dealt with help society progress further for the benefit of the next generation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Marketing Case

Management-to get to the profit I believe you have to have some good management behind a business. If you have a business and the management is not solid or unrecognized or nonexistent a business cannot run smoothly, therefore putting profit at risk for that business. Meaning the economic perspective cannot stand alone. 2. Customer Service- a business should always operate with the consumers in mind considering they are the ones who will generate profit for the business. If good customer service Is not involved in business, Just like good management, profit will not exist.Meaning the economic perspective cannot stand alone. 3. Supply and demand- a business has to think are we supplying what the consumers want or is demanded in order to make a profit. If you have a business selling things that are not needed or not wanted then surely u will not have profit. Meaning the economic perspective cannot stand alone. 4. Inventory- a business should offer operate with Inventory In mind If ther e aren't enough Inventories In a market people will go elsewhere to find it. Meaning the economic perspective cannot stand alone. . Marketing (image) – if a business cannot lure people in how is your profit going to be made. A business should also think about marketing has well or has a stepping stone to make a profit. Meaning the economic perspective cannot stand alone. A businesses general goal should be to make a profit but I do not feel that they should only operate with a profit In mind, because there are several factors that can get you to making a profit. A) Was Home Depot's behavior an act of good ethics or simply shrewd business?Imagine how an executive would argue in a meeting for the actions that the company kook. What objections might other executives raise? Believe that although Home Depot increased the price before hand I still see their behavior has an act of good ethics. The executives would argue in a meeting that In a time such as these that It's Just supply and demand. They raised prices knowing that people would come in to purchase these materials to protect their investments. 1 OFF Unlike price gouging Tanat seems to napped rater an Incident or at ten last nor Ana the prices go up extensively.Other executives might argue that they raised prices just at the right time to avoid really being looked at has price gouging. B) Would it make any difference in this case whether a decision maker takes a short -term or long-term view? Which view should the decision maker take? It would make a difference on whether a decision maker takes a long term or short term view. If you look at it from long term Home Depot made a smart business decision to increase their prices, they increased profits therefore in the future will be making more profits. In the short term they lost out on the profits that came from price gouging.I think the decision maker should take the view of short term and that I believe that they kept ethical in their businesses. C) D oes Home Depot (or any other Business) have a responsibility to help the citizens hurt by the hurricane? Whose responsibility is hurricane relief? I feel it's good business to help citizens hurt by the hurricane all it can do is make that business look very good to the public but I feel it is not their responsibility to and in hurricane relief it's the insurance companies and the owners responsibilities and if the situation is bad enough maybe the government

Motivation Factors at Tesco Essay

The history of labour relations in the UK is a story of the gradual empowerment of the working classes. The system of industrial relations in the United Kingdom (UK) is traditionally characterised by voluntary relations between the social partners, with a minimal level of interference from the state. In the context of very early industrialisation and a liberal political culture in which the state seldom intervened in the affairs of private actors, trade unions gradually consolidated their membership and power base throughout the 19th century. Various legislative developments also allowed trade unions the right to organise workers and engage in industrial action. In 1868, the UK Trades Union Congress (TUC), the confederal umbrella body for UK trade unions, was formed. The 1871 Trade Union Act recognised trade unions as legal entities as corporations and granted them the right to strike. Subsequently, the 1875 Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act allowed the right to peaceful picketing, while the 1906 Trade Disputes Act allowed UK trade unions to engage in industrial action without the threat of being sued for damages. In addition to this body of legislation, a minimal level of legal regulation that stipulated basic health and safety conditions in workplaces was also built up during the 19th century. The economic context throughout this time was also favourable to the development of trade unionism. Owing to the pace of industrialisation and the existence of substantial colonial markets for UK industry, the 19th century and early 20th century were characterised by extensive economic growth. This economic climate facilitated the development of a system in which some of the fruits of economic development could be designated for collectively bargained wage increases. In terms of the role of the law, collective bargaining was far more important than the influence of legal regulation. For employers and trade unions, the role of statute law was to support and extend collective bargaining rather than to comprehensively regulate the system. Notably, the law provided trade unions with a series of ‘immunities’ from UK common law. These immunities covered the right of trade unions to engage in industrial action with employers, which would otherwise have been illegal under UK common law. The membership of UK trade unions grew markedly in the post-war years. The era also represented the golden age of British ‘pluralism’, where the role of trade unions in securing industrial peace and efficiency was emphasised. In the private and public sectors, sectoral level collective agreements were also typically reached that covered whole industries. By the late 1960s, however, concerns emerged about the efficacy of a system in which shop floor industrial unrest appeared to be rising. This led to the Donovan Commission, a government commission that attempted to investigate the causes of workplace disputes. Industrial conflict grew markedly in the 1970s, partly as a result of the economic crisis that affected western countries after the 1973 ‘oil shock’. The era was characterised by trade union militancy and high levels of industrial action, and attempts by successive left-wing and right-wing governments to regulate the system largely met with failure. The period culminated in the 1978–1979 ‘winter of discontent’, where public sector trade unions engaged in regular and lengthy industrial action over the incumbent Labour government’s policy of public sector pay restraint. A conservative government, led by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was elected in 1979 on an anti-trade union, neo-liberal platform. Successive governments of this political stripe pursued a legislative programme that placed legal restrictions on trade unions’ ability to engage in industrial action, and that privatised many areas of the public sector, while managing the public sector in an anti-union fashion. During this period, trade union membership also declined markedly, and the majority of sectoral collective agreements in the private sector were dismantled as companies abandoned them. A ‘New Labour’ government, led by Prime Minister Tony Blair, was elected in 1997, offering a moderately conciliatory approach to the trade unions. The cornerstone of the Blair government’s approach to employment relations was the use of legal individual employment rights to protect workers. Most notably, a national minimum wage was introduced. Many of these legal rights emanated from the level of European Union, and the post-1997 period saw a marked increase in the influence of legal regulation in the employment relationship. Nonetheless, trade union membership continued to decline, and in 2008 trade union density stood at 28%. As of 2009, the UK system of industrial relations would appear to exhibit a mixture of  characteristics. While the old tradition of the state not intervening in relations between the social partners is still manifest in the non-legally binding nature of collective agreements and in the fact that trade unions and employer organisations have little statutory involvement in public policy and little recourse to bipartite or tripartite forums at the national level, legally established employment rights would now appear to be a permanent feature of the UK system. The global 2008 economic crisis has particularly affected the UK. Unemployment rates have increased markedly, and several financial institutions have had to be rescued by the UK government. As of 2009, the effect of the crisis on the development of the UK system of industrial relations is unclear. Trade unions have responded to the crisis by calling for greater government intervention to support employment levels. At the same time, collective agreements have been concluded by the UK social partners at company level with the aim of reducing working time in order to preserve employment levels (UK0811029I). However, as of 2009, it is too early to identify any concrete trends. Main actors Trade unions Trade union density has fallen markedly in the UK since a peak of 56.3% in 1980. Despite occasional small rises in membership since 1997, statistics over the past decade would suggest that union density has reached one of its lowest levels at just under 30%. A large difference in trade union density rates is evident between the private and public sectors. As of 2008, trade union density in the private sector was 16.1%, while it reached 59% in the public sector (Department for Business, Enterprise, and Regulatory Reform, 2008). Trade unions in the UK are organised both horizontally and vertically, with some organising particular occupations, such as teachers; others organise in particular industries, while a few operate in particular companies. The sole trade union confederation in the UK is the TUC. There are 6, 471,030 members in TUC affiliated unions, down from a peak of 12,172,508 members in 1980. However, the TUC does not conclude or have the power to conclude collective agreements at any level. In response to declining membership figures, UK trade unions have engaged in many mergers in recent years. In 2008, there were 167 trade unions in the UK – this was down from 238 unions in 1998 and 326 in 1988. In 2007, the UK trade unions Amicus and the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) merged to form Unite the Union (Unite). This is the UK’s largest union, with a membership of about 1,900,000 workers. The largest public sector trade union is Unison, which has a membership of 1,344,000 persons and organises workers in all areas of the public sector. Employer organisations The TUC is paralleled on the employers’ side by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Like the TUC, the CBI has no mandate to collectively bargain and bind its affiliates. In general, the CBI represents large companies in the private sector and is regarded by the government as its main interlocutor with business. Its members comprise individual companies (currently about 3,000) and trade associations (around 150). Owing to the largely decentralised nature of employment relations in the UK, the role of employer organisations in the country’s industrial relations is not overtly prominent. Their role in collective bargaining declined notably during the 1980s, when many existing national sectoral level agreements ceased to function and companies began to negotiate with trade unions at lower levels. Some organisations have disbanded, while others have stopped trying to regulate employment conditions. Current employer organisations that do engage in social and employment affairs are the Engineering Employers’ Federation (EEF) and the Local Government Association (LGA). Employer organisation density in the UK is approximately 40%. Industrial relations Collective bargaining In the UK, the dominant level for the setting of pay and working time is the company or plant level in the private sector. In areas of the public sector – and in a small section of the private sector – sectoral level agreements are concluded. There are no national intersectoral agreements in the UK, nor  is there any tradition of this, aside from a very brief period in the 1970s. In 2008, the coverage rate of collective agreements in the UK was 34.6%. There is a large discrepancy between figures for the public and private sectors, with collective bargaining coverage for the public sector reaching 72% in 2008, compared with 20% for the private sector (Department for Business, Enterprise, and Regulatory Reform, 2008). Compared with other west European countries, the UK is notable for the disorganised nature of its levels of collective bargaining and the lack of legal backing and promotion that collective agreements are subject to. In line with the UK voluntarist tradition, collective agreements are voluntary instruments that are ‘binding in honour only’. However, the terms of collective agreements are normally incorporated into individual contracts of employment that are then legally enforceable. Collective agreements are subsequently never extended by legislation, and there are no voluntary mechanisms for the extension of collective agreements. Moreover, no formal mechanisms exist for the coordination of wage bargaining levels in the UK. However, in practice, trade unions in different companies and sectors often share information with one another, and agreements in certain companies and sectors often act as informal ‘benchmarks’ for negotiators in other areas. Collective bargaining in the UK has become far more decentralised since the 1970s and 1980s. In this period, many companies in the private sector left sectoral agreements and, in the public sector, collective bargaining also became more decentralised. According to one study (Visser, 2004), the degree of bargaining centralisation in the UK stands at just 13%. Other issues in collective agreements Collective agreements on issues besides pay and working time are not widespread. While vocational education and training is strong in some professional and technical sectors, it has been historically weak in others. Recent attempts have been made to regularise vocational training through National Vocational Qualifications, and these have been supplemented by further moves to establish lifelong learning routes – especially through the  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœuniversity for industry’ initiative. However, much of the provision of skills training is decentralised to the newly formed Sector Skills Councils (SSC). Currently, there are 25 SSCs in the UK; all of the councils are employer-led, independent organisations, each covering a specific area of the UK. Industrial conflict The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) is the main body involved in conciliation and arbitration in the UK. It is an autonomous, tripartite body established by statute and its task is to improve industrial relations. The largest part of ACAS’s work is individual conciliation. The amount of individual litigations and employment tribunal cases has increased considerably within the UK in the past decade or so. Arbitration is a relatively small part of its work, mainly because it has no powers to arbitrate without the consent of both sides. Arbitration is neither compulsory nor legally binding. The latest available official statistics show that, in a 12-month period to October 2008, some 147 work stoppages were recorded, in which 677,000 workers took part and 837,700 working days were lost. This marked a decline from the figures for the 12 months until October 2007, where 210 stoppages were recorded, involving 878,000 workers and resulting in 989,000 lost working days. These figures are also historically very low. In 1988, for example, there were 781 stoppages recorded, in which 790,000 workers were involved and 3,702,000 working days were lost. The figures for this year also represent a typical year for this period. The general decline in labour disputes in the UK is likely to be attributable to falling trade union density rates, and to the anti-union laws of the 1980s and 1990s. In 2008, large industrial actions occurred in the UK public sector over the government’s policy on public sector pay restraint. More complete statistics are available for 2007 regarding the sectors involved in strikes. In 2007, of the 142 stoppages recorded, 55 occurred in the transport, storage and communication sector, while 21 took place in the education sector, and 20  were recorded in public administration, defence and the compulsory social security sector, making these the three sectors most affected by strikes during the year. These sectors were also the most adversely affected in terms of working days lost and workers involved (Office for National Statistics, 2008a). Tripartite concertation Owing to the UK voluntarist tradition, policy concertation has been uncommon, and there are currently few formal mechanisms or forums for tripartite concertation in this country. From 1962, a tripartite National Economic Development Council existed, in which the government and UK social partners discussed economic policy; however, this was abolished in 1992. In the late 1970s, consultation between government, employers and trade unions was also growing in importance. However, the Thatcher government, which was elected in 1979, sought to eradicate any forms of corporatism. Since then, tripartism or corporatism has not been re-introduced on a comprehensive or formal basis. However, the UK social partners are regularly consulted by the public authorities on the direction of public policy in the country on an ad hoc basis; they are also represented in a series of committees that are of a tripartite nature. For example, the social partners are represented on the Low Pay Commission (LPC), an independent UK body that issues recommendations for increases in the national minimum wage. The LPC board consists of nine members – three trade union representatives, three employers and three labour market relations experts. At the sectoral level, the UK social partners are involved in the aforementioned SSCs, which seek to improve the skills of workers in the UK. Workplace representation Traditionally, there have been no statutory works councils in the UK. In line with the voluntarist tradition, workplace representation was solely achieved through trade union presence in the workplace and was not enshrined through the law. As previously mentioned, a considerable decline in trade union presence and power has occurred in the UK over the last 25 years. In 2008,  46.6% of workplaces had some sort of trade union representation (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, 2008). The EU information and consultation Directive of 2002 (Directive 2002/14/EC) was implemented in the UK in 2004 as the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations. The regulations lay down statutory procedures for workplace representation, and stipulate that workplaces with 50 or more employees must have a body for the information and consultation of employees in place. Employee rights Employee rights are enforced in the UK through a variety of mechanisms. Firstly, employees have access to employment tribunals that determine whether the rights of employees have been infringed. Trade unions are responsible for the monitoring of collective agreements, and the right of trade unions to engage in strike action is decided by the UK civil courts. Health and safety conditions in workplaces are monitored by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), while compliance with the national minimum wage is monitored by the country’s HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) department. Pay and working time developments Minimum wage A national minimum wage has been in place in the UK since 1997. The rate is set by the LPC, which advises the government on low pay and recommends appropriate rates. The current minimum wage in the UK – as set in October 2008 – for adults aged 22 years or older is GBP 5.52 (about â‚ ¬6.38 as at 7 July 2009) an hour. For workers aged between 18 and 21 years, the minimum wage is GBP 4.77 (â‚ ¬5.52) an hour. The minimum hourly wage for all workers under 18 years of age – who are, in addition, no longer of compulsory school age – is GBP 3.53 (â‚ ¬4.08). Some workers undertaking apprenticeships or accredited training may not be considered eligible to receive the national minimum wage for a certain period of time, which varies according to their age and length of time in employment. Other categories of workers who are exempt include au pairs, share fishermen, members of the clergy, those in the armed forces, prisoners and some people working in family businesses.  Moreover, the rate payable under the national minimum wage can, in all cases, be reduced where accommodation is provided to the worker. Pay developments In April 2008, the average gross annual earnings in the UK were GBP 25,100. In April 2007, the equivalent figure was GBP 24,020 (Income Data Services, 2008). An increase of 4.5% was therefore recorded. In November 2008, the percentage annual rise in collectively agreed average weekly earnings was 3.8%. In November 2007, this figure amounted to 3.4% (Labour Research Department, 2009). In terms of gender, the average gender pay gap in the UK in 2008 was 12.8%. This gap is measured in the UK on the basis of median hourly earnings, excluding overtime. In 2008, median hourly earnings excluding overtime for men was GBP 12.50, and for women GBP 10.91. Between 2007 and 2008, the gender pay gap in the UK rose by 0.3 percentage points from 12.5% to 12.8%. However, the gender pay gap stood at 17.4% in 1998, so the figure has substantially fallen over the last decade.

Free Essays on Machiavelli’s Advice to America

Machiavelli’s Advice to America Leaders of the world are not just a regular breed of individuals. In present days, the United States citizens elect representatives through a very precautious procedure; people know if the wrong person were to get into office they could cause a downfall of a nation. Not all of Machiavelli’s principles of a leader are strongly practiced in today’s world, yet when revised many compare incredibly to the way the American government is governed. In The Qualities of the Prince, Machiavelli discusses a number of traits that he believes a prince or ruler of his time must have to be safe, successful, and loved by his people. Machiavelli believed in exploring both sides of an issue, â€Å"the art of war and the art of life, liberality and stinginess, cruelty and clemency, the fox and the lion† (36). Most of his instances have something to do with war, he is very repetitive in many of his believed traits and he stands firm with them by giving many examples. By reading The Qualities of a Prince it is very easy to assume that Machiavelli was brilliant in his thoughts during his time, this leaves one to ponder the thought of how successful these traits would be in modern American politics. Americans elect leaders with certain distinct qualities, Machiavelli’s beliefs on leaders characteristics don’t totally relate to our expectations. He does mention that he doesn’t recommend tyranny, meaning one ruler have all the power or use it too his advantage. In American government there are no tyrants, all the power is distributed into branches where decisions are made on agreement on that of which will help the American people the most. The majority of Machivelli’s characteristics of a good leader would not get a man elected in the United States, in his time that wasn’t applicable because you were born a leader. Machiavelli wrote of it to be good to be generous but said that a reputation of it w... Free Essays on Machiavelli’s Advice to America Free Essays on Machiavelli’s Advice to America Machiavelli’s Advice to America Leaders of the world are not just a regular breed of individuals. In present days, the United States citizens elect representatives through a very precautious procedure; people know if the wrong person were to get into office they could cause a downfall of a nation. Not all of Machiavelli’s principles of a leader are strongly practiced in today’s world, yet when revised many compare incredibly to the way the American government is governed. In The Qualities of the Prince, Machiavelli discusses a number of traits that he believes a prince or ruler of his time must have to be safe, successful, and loved by his people. Machiavelli believed in exploring both sides of an issue, â€Å"the art of war and the art of life, liberality and stinginess, cruelty and clemency, the fox and the lion† (36). Most of his instances have something to do with war, he is very repetitive in many of his believed traits and he stands firm with them by giving many examples. By reading The Qualities of a Prince it is very easy to assume that Machiavelli was brilliant in his thoughts during his time, this leaves one to ponder the thought of how successful these traits would be in modern American politics. Americans elect leaders with certain distinct qualities, Machiavelli’s beliefs on leaders characteristics don’t totally relate to our expectations. He does mention that he doesn’t recommend tyranny, meaning one ruler have all the power or use it too his advantage. In American government there are no tyrants, all the power is distributed into branches where decisions are made on agreement on that of which will help the American people the most. The majority of Machivelli’s characteristics of a good leader would not get a man elected in the United States, in his time that wasn’t applicable because you were born a leader. Machiavelli wrote of it to be good to be generous but said that a reputation of it w...

Ethics in Public Administration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Ethics in Public Administration - Essay Example It is commonly described as the study of moral conduct. The term 'moral' as here used covers all conduct which is subject to the judgement of right and wrong. The distinction implied is not between moral and immoral, right and wrong, but between moral and unmoral, i.e., between conduct which has a moral aspect and that which has none. Ethics in public administration suffers from the absence of a theoretical framework to supply focus, definition, background, and a common frame of reference for the research and practice of ethical administration. There seems to be little disagreement that such a framework is lacking. In 1980, Dwight Waldo described the state of moral and ethical behaviour in public administration as "chaotic" (Waldo, 1980: 100). In 1983, James Bowman stated that "in both practice and theory, the ethical implications of administrative and political conduct remain largely unexplored" (Bowman, 1983a:71). Most recently, John Rohr, in presenting a "state of the discipline" report at a major conference, states that "throughout this report I have stressed the diversity in the ethics field; a diversity that comes close to chaos" (Rohr, 1986a:53). Utilitarianism Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is the idea that moral worth of an action is determined solely by its contribution to overall utility: that is, its contribution to happiness or pleasure as summed among all people. It is thus a form of consequentialism, meaning that the moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome. Utility, the good to ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS 4 be maximized, has been defined by various thinkers as happiness or pleasure (versus suffering or pain), although preference utilitarians define it as the satisfaction of preferences. It may be described as a life stance, with happiness or pleasure being of ultimate importance. Utilitarianism is described by the phrase "the greatest good for the greatest number of people". Therefore, it is also known as "the greatest happiness principle." Preference Utilitarianism Preference utilitarianism is one of the most popular forms of utlilitarianism in contemporary philosophy. Like other utilitarian theorists, preference utilitarians define a morally right action as that which produces the most favourable consequences for the people involved. However, preference utilatairans interpret the best consequences in terms of ;preference satisfaction'. This means that 'good' is

Queensland Principles of Criminal Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Queensland Principles of Criminal Law - Essay Example The law provides that under subsection (1) (a), it is immaterial whether the offender did not intend to hurt the particular person who is killed. In the case at bar, there is a clear showing that Brain had the intention to cause injury by physical attacking Jonas and later on pushing him to the river, which is aggravated by the fact that he had personal knowledge that Brian doesn’t know how to swim and that he will die from drowning. Therefore, Brian cannot interpose the defence that he had no intention to kill Brian because from the start, he already manifested his intention to hurt and injure the victim. In the case of R v Willmot (No 2) [1985], the Supreme Court held that the judge or jury will apply their own common sense understanding of human behavior before deriving at a conclusion with regard to the intention of the accused. In the given example, a conviction of wilful or intentional murder requires proof that the accused intended to cause the death of the victim. Whil e intention is a subjective element, its determination requires impartiality, neutrality and devoid of any biases. Intent is derived from what the accused was thinking at the time of commission of the offence. In the absence of any direct evidence which is in the form of an admission in a full-blown trial, the intention of the accused will be decided upon based on the attendant circumstances of the time the offence committed. Intention on the part of Brian to kill Jonas is established by the fact when Brian and Darren designed a plan to beat Jonas and Marko, the two geeks who went out with their girlfriends. There is evident pre-meditation on the part of Brian and Darren because a plan was created and they carried it out until its full accomplishment. Brian and Darren are motivated by feelings of jealousy, resentment and evil motive that caused them to inflict grievous bodily harm on the Jonas and Marko. The physical injury inflicted by Brian on Jonas is a clear indication that he h ad the intention to cause grievous bodily harm on Jonas, which later was the cause of the death of Jonas. Thereafter, the final act of Brian of pushing him to fall off the bridge and land in the river to drown, manifests intent to kill was present on the part of Brian. Jonas informed Brian before hitting the water that he did not know how to swim. Brian saw this as an advantage as he pushed Jonas to the river so that he won’t have means to save himself because nobody was there to help him get out of the river. This final act of Brian ensured that Jonas will die by drowning. Without a doubt, malice and the intention to kill Jonas was present on the part of Brian. The evidence of guilt is strong and shown by Brian’s act of inflicting grievous bodily harm and pushing towards the river to drown. The element of malice is present when Brian pushed Jonas to the river and ensured his death because he knew that no one was there to save Jonas. In the case of Woolmington [1935] A C 462, for one to be convicted guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the crime of murder, two elements must be established: 1.) death as a result of a voluntary act of the accused; and 2.) malice on the part of the accused. Here, both of the elements are present on the part of Brian. Therefore, he should be convicted for the crime of intentional murder under Section 302(1) (a). 2. DPP should charge Darren for the crime of