February 2008 | ThreeSixty

Looking beyond the label

By seeing individual differences, we can resist the urge to stereotype

By Sisi Wei

Stereotypes are everywhere. Blacks are loud. Asians are smart. White boys can’t jump.

In each case, the stereotype generalizes about all members of a group without regard for individual differences. Sociologist Buffy Smith views stereotyping as the seed that grows into prejudice. In this month’s ThreeSixty, she describes why we create stereotypes, the damage they cause and how to resist them. Read more >>

HOT TOPIC SIDEBARS:

Challenging labels, including my own

Nico McClellan

I grew up in a single-parent, Japanese-American household. Read More

Immigrant or native-born: We are all equal

Abdishe Dorose

As a Somali immigrant at a predominantly white and black school, it hasn’t always been easy for me. Read More

Winning submissions for the Coach story competition!!

In response to ThreeSixty’s first writing challenge, 71 teens submitted short essays about coaches – good or bad- who made a difference in their lives. Entries came from students throughout the Twin Cities and made judging a challenge for both the staff and Editorial Board. The winning entries were a tie between “Life is Hard” by Ahmednur Abdi Hudle, a student at Ubah Medical Academy, and “Not just the blind kid” by Kris Mitchell, a student at DeLaSalle. Six additional entries will receive honorable mention and $20 gift cards. All entries will receive a very cool ThreeSixty T-Shirt. Enjoy reading them all. Watch here for the next writing challenge in a couple of weeks.

Many teens grow more cautious about Facebook postings

By Frank Bi

Since school officials in Eden Prairie and Woodbury suspended students from extracurricular activities after finding on-line photos of them drinking alcohol, other teens have been taking action.

Some limit access to their Facebook pages; others have grown more cautious about what they post on popular social-networking sites.

Chasing fads keeps wallet empty

By Thomas Birai

July 10th, 2006, was the most significant day marked on the 2006 calendar posted on the wall of my room. On that date T-Mobile officially released the latest and hippest version of one of its most popular cell phones, the Sidekick 3.

The hype surrounding this cell phone was ludicrous. So was the pricing — $399 plus tax.

I wanted it anyway.

I placed it at the top of my birthday list, which was four days later. To my disappointment, I didn’t get what I so desperately wanted. Angry and frustrated, I asked my parents why. They gave me the obvious reason: the cell phone was too expensive.... Read more >>

Late to class? You're suspended.

By Houa Xiong

At Humboldt Junior High in St. Paul, students are required to be ON TIME for class or get sent to in-school suspension. The story includes comments from students and teachers about the reason for ... Read more >>

Back Issues

If you could vote today, who would you choose for President?

Countdown to College: Got FAFSA?

By Matthew Smith

After your school applications are finished, there is still another important application to fill out; the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Otherwise known as the FAFSA.

Using your parents’ tax information and a simple questionnaire, the FAFSA is crucial in helping determine the amount of aid you’ll receive from your college and outside sources or at the very least the way to a loan with a cheaper interest rates. Although it may seem frightening and tedious, there have been significant changes to the FAFSA that help promote ease of use.

FAFSA Online

www.fafsa.ed.gov is the site for online filing of the FAFSA. The online FAFSA is easier to follow, more secure, and faster for making deadlines. Instead of taking two weeks for processing like with the traditional paper application, the online FAFSA takes up to three business days! Read more >>

ThreeSixty -