#mappingablock

[pink-jadab-blog]

Fieldwork Assignment #3

For my fieldwork assignment I chose a very hostile and resolving public place: The Montebello Complex. The Montebello Complex is home to many offices like the Office of the Registrar, Bursar Office, University Post Office, Office of Business & Auxiliary Services, and the Office of Financial Aid. What drew me to the Montebello Complex was its multi-purposeful structure. I’ve had to visit this building multiple times through out the week to get my mail and refill my bear card. 

I was at risk for having to drop my classes due to me not being in good financial standing, so I reminisced on my emotions––being agitated and confused. Inside I found a lot of disgruntled students as expected and surprisingly overzealous employees, and as I observed a lot of students walk in they were very frustrated about their financial aid, work study, or bear card problems. I had never noticed the two conflicting energies before, but taking time to sit in the lobby it was hard to neglect the atmosphere. I immediately recognized the energy between the students and the staff there. I noticed that there were a  bundle of students walking in with a very different strut coming to retrieve their mail from online shopping or just care packages. Those people, other than the employees, seemed to have a brighter smile than the employees there. 

I thought I would find less people there earlier in the morning, but to my surprise there was a bundle of students who were handling their responsibilities before their day got away from them. I also thought I would find the atmosphere to be less hostile, but the abundance of students coming in and out were often on the phone with their parents/guardians discussing what the office needed considering forms and the ill-tech savvy parents being with them sometimes trying to figure it out together. I did notice a lot of unity while I saw a lot of families working together to ensure their Morganite can continue their journey for their higher education. 

When I visited the Montebello complex on Friday, I recognized a weight lifted from the atmosphere. It was as if the day would go by smoother because it was the start to the weekend. Although, every one that came in had problems they needed resolved the vibe wasn’t as hostile as during any other week day. The building was also noticeably cooler for some reason other than the other days where it was extremely stuffy. 

Based on my observations, I would say that The Montebello Complex is a dreading place when you walk in,  but after you leave with the weight of your problems resolved its a better place only there to help people.  

[destinybutleranthro-blog]

The place I chose to develop my ethnographic skills of observation and description was the “pit” as us students of Morgan State call it. I was drawn to the pit because I’m usually indoors, whether that’s in the Library, My room, A friend’s room, The Canteen, etc. I wanted to observe the sounds of “students in their natural habitat” and I wanted to observe nature. I also chose to sit outside on a weekend at night since it is much less busier and I knew that my observations would vary from sitting outside on a school day while the sun was still out. I sat outside and watched the sunset transform into a beautiful cotton candy paradise. I observed and Upperclassmen enjoy their upgrade from Blount Towers to Thurgood Apartment Complex. Those upperclassmen brought in several bags and had a lot of sounds of yelling coming from their room. Most likely sounds of enjoyment from them being entertained by their peers. I noticed the lights from the side of Blount kept flickering on and off. Groups of friends were in front of Rawlings, taking turns riding a skate board. Many groups of friends walked by exiting and entering Blount Towers. What is absent is a lot of people, I expected for it to be more people who came across the path coming from the Field House, Quad, or Student Center to the Pit. 

[khaylahhh]

Khaylah Graham

SOCI 110.001

CHAPTER 3 FIELDWORK    

 10/4/2020

1.Above is a map of one of my favorite sections/blocks in NYC, specifically in the neighborhood of Soho. (Prince St at Broadway, Spring St at Greene St,and Mercer Street Broome St) The reason I chose this specific location is because it is home to some of my favorite stores/stores I frequent when I visit. Some of these stores include, as shown on the map, Sephora, The Vintage Twin, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Stuart Weitzman, Zara, Saint Laurent, etc. When in this area, I find lots of boutiques and lofts, cobblestone roads, small eateries and cafes. People in this area are very artsy and sophisticated. The nightlife is full high-end restaurants and art galleries. 

2. Some observations that I’ve seen now that I haven’t noticed before includes:

-how Broadway is a major street that connects all the other streets

-how certain stores can be located on two streets at simultaneously.

3. The train station(s) that are in the area. After looking at the same block on Google Maps, there are at least three significant subway/train stations, Spring St Subway, Broadway- Lafayette Street Station, and Canal St Station.

4. I know that all the boutiques and flagship stores in the area have limited capacity for the amount of shoppers they allow in the store at a time, and also that they require masks to enter. 

[lamyahed-blog]

Field Work Assignment Chapter3

I chose the Athletic Training Room. This is a room where athletes go to get physical exams, ice , wrapped for injuries, medication and more. What drew me to this location was that I haven’t been inside since i first got to Morgan and had to do my physicals. I just remembered all the different things that were in there and all the people that came in and out that day . I thought it would be a good place to observe since I’m not an injured athlete I don’t really have much need to be inside the training room like some of my teammates. Inside I found a medicine desk that was full of everything the atheletes would need. There was so many different kinds of tape,peroxide, alcohol, Neosporin, cotton swabs, and so much more. There was also 3 beds on each side diagonally across from each other . There was an office with computers and a table covered in papers. There was also an exam room which had one bed inside and a room with ice baths inside.

One thing I noticed in my observations that I hadn’t noticed before was the room with ice baths . When you are inside the training room it is usually for something specific so I don’t think I ever realized that room was there. I noticed in my observation because a boy had walked out the room dripping wet which caused some curiosity for me to look for my self .

In my observations I noticed that there were a few things absent that I would expect to be there. One thing I noticed was that when the boy was finished with his bath there were no clean towels available for him to use. He was just standing there dripping for minutes . You would expect for them to be laid out somewhere for people to pick up and use. Also there wasn’t much structure to the way the kept people organized. Someone could be standing there for a long time before some one ask if they needed help. You would expect them to say if you are not down here for therapy or an appointment (which I wasn’t) that you need to leave. There was no authority . No one was in charge. You could walk in and out as you please.

I originally went on a Thursday afternoon at like 2 pm. It was very packed and there were people everywhere. I went back after practice around 5:30 to see that it was hardly anyone there and it was much more quiet. I think this is because by 5:30 all the athletes are done with practice and cheerleaders are the last to practice so there wasn’t a reason for anyone to be down there.