Bridget Cooke is a senior journalism major and staff writer at The Spectator.
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
May 8, 2013
Filed under Sports
Over a sports season, student athletes are guided by coaches who require practices that help them prepare for the upcoming competition. However, during the off-season, the rigid structure created by a coach is no longer available due to restrictions created by the National Collegiate Athletic... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
May 8, 2013
Filed under Sports
With Thurgood Dennis leading the men’s side, both the men’s and women’s track and field teams placed third in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships on Sunday. The men’s team placed third with 110 points aided by Dennis’ victories in both the 100- and 200-meter... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
May 2, 2013
Filed under Opinion
Chances are most students have participated. Most professors have assigned. Oh, if only the inaudible groan could be heard from 3/4 of the class as the instructor announces there will be a group project assigned throughout the semester. Sometimes a few even dare to make the sound aloud. At... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
May 1, 2013
Filed under Currents, Top Stories
A mash-up of Billie Jean by Michael Jackson and music from Les Miserables could be heard blasting from the Schofield Auditorium Friday night. The source of this strange harmony was a cappella group Innocent Men, who sang current hits, ‘80s pop and ballads for their spring concert. Phil Reilly,... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
April 24, 2013
Filed under Campus News
The off-campus student living area, generally thought to cover the Water Street neighborhood’s numerous blocks, is not home to only UW-Eau Claire students. There are also older residents in the area, some of whom have lived in their houses for decades. This can sometimes make the living situation... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
April 24, 2013
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
The UW-Eau Claire women’s tennis team picked up its eighth win of the spring season, beating Northwestern College (Minn.) 8-1 in a strong performance on the indoor Olson Courts of the McPhee Center Saturday. All six Blugolds won every match within the singles competition and lost only... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
April 9, 2013
Filed under Opinion
It’s right there in black and white. The first day of class, a syllabus is handed out. The rules for an entire semester in a few pages on the desk. And as the professor is reading through what is and isn’t allowed, the criteria for technological devices is laid out. “No electronic... (more...)
Bridget Cooke , Staff Writer
April 4, 2013
Filed under Currents
The month of April has been designated as Eau Claire Hmong Heritage Month and has been planned by students and community. According to their website, the month of honoring Hmong culture is meant to “promote an appreciation and education of the complexities of Hmong culture and history among... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
April 3, 2013
Filed under Sports
The first day of spring has come and gone. Unfortunately for many spring sports teams at UW-Eau Claire, winter is still clinging to the grounds. Bollinger Fields continue to be unusable for a variety of teams, including intramurals. Student Services Program Manager Troy Terhark said the fields... (more...)
Bridget Cooke , Staff Writer
March 28, 2013
Filed under Currents, Top Stories
The rhythmic pounding of feet and clapping of hands. Beating drums and yells of excitement. All of this could be heard blasting from Zorn Arena Tuesday night. The source of the sound was a professional dance company called Step Afrika!, who brought a dance performance known as stepping to the... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
March 28, 2013
Filed under Campus News
The first annual Sister Joel Read Award, an honor bestowed to a nominee that has shown a commitment to civic engagement, was given to UW-Eau Claire’s Center for Leadership Director and professor of management Scott Lester. The award, distributed during Wisconsin Campus Compact’s tenth year... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
March 17, 2013
Filed under Campus News
The film “The Invisible War” was shown in the Davies Theater March 11 and 12 by the LGBTQ and Women’s Resource Center along with affiliate American Association of University Women. It is a documentary that shines light on rape and sexual harassment in the military. Directed and written... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
March 14, 2013
Filed under Opinion, Uncategorized
Going to college costs money. This is an obvious part of attending a university. But problems begin when the price of tuition goes up. Everyone is stretched to their limit by that point and then fees are added that seem unnecessary. The newest in line of these is the senior processing fee.... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
February 19, 2013
Filed under Campus News
Students at UW-Eau Claire usually had to go to the transit center in downtown in order to get a bus ride to another city, but now an arrangement between Jefferson Lines and the university will allow for any campus residents to catch a ride daily right outside of Towers Hall. Freshman Marcus... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
February 18, 2013
Filed under Opinion
Mr. Rogers was right. About everything. He always taught us to be nice. To be a “neighbor” if you will. So under his influence it is important to carry out a crusade that he would have condoned, even lead the troops if he were able. Shoveling. It is Wisconsin, and for some unknown reason,... (more...)
Bridget Cooke , Staff Writer
February 7, 2013
Filed under Opinion
A grant funded by the National Rifle Association may go toward the education of first graders if a bill is passed in the state of Missouri. What will this grant fund, you may ask? Why, the training for what to do in the instance that one of these children finds an unattended gun. Just lying... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff writer
February 5, 2013
Filed under Sports
In their spring opener, the UW – Eau Claire men’s tennis team lost their first contest 9-0 to Coe College (Iowa), but fought their way to a win against Principia College (Ill.) Saturday at the Clark Racquet Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Playing against Coe, the Blugolds came close to... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
January 31, 2013
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
The sound of the foghorn welcomed the Blugold men’s hockey team onto the ice to a full house of cheering fans Friday night against St. Norbert College. UW-Eau Claire didn’t disappoint, winning 3-0 and holding the Green Knights scoreless for the first time since 1994. Facing off at Hobbs... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff writer
January 31, 2013
Filed under Campus News
African American history will be honored throughout the semester, highlighted in presentations, panels and receptions throughout February and ending in an exhibit dedicated to the Civil Rights Movement in the month of April. Associate Professor of History Selika Ducksworth-Lawton said the events... (more...)
Bridget Cooke
January 28, 2013
Filed under Sports
In an aggressive game against second ranked St. Norbert College, UW-Eau Claire men’s hockey defeated the Green Knights with a final score of 3-0, marking the Blugolds’ first shutout of the season, and the first time they shut out St. Norbert since 1994. Facing off at Hobbs Arena on Friday... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
January 27, 2013
Filed under Opinion
College students are universally known for being broke. We’re cheap, even when it comes to living expenses that are necessities, like food. So in the public university system of Wisconsin, it is a great relief to have our textbooks available as rentals. This enables the student body to check... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
January 23, 2013
Filed under Currents
In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, over 70 members of the Eau Claire community — university students and adults — joined together at The Community Table on Monday in preparation for volunteering within the city. The remembrance day of service is a part of President Obama’s... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
December 12, 2012
Filed under Currents
With snow on the ground and the holiday season finally here, a classically heart-warming film from Disney is just the thing to enjoy during the cold month of December. From the outside, WALL-E appears to be a story about a robot. Slightly boring to watch an animated film about a tiny electronic... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
November 28, 2012
Filed under Currents
As college students, newly by ourselves and perhaps used to our parents cooking for us, cooking with recipes unfamiliar can seem tedious and difficult. However, many ingredients are foods already lying around the kitchen, but are not necessarily always used to the best of the cook’s ability. ... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
November 14, 2012
Filed under Currents
With a live band to provide the music, Higherground offers swing dancing once every month on either a Friday or Saturday to any students who want to join in, no admission required. General Manager of Higherground Hannah Lesko said that they wanted to change the everyday of a nightclub setting... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
November 7, 2012
Filed under Currents
The transgendered population is being given more attention because of a week-long event organized by LGBTQ Coordinator Chris Jorgenson. “The trans community certainly suffers a lot of discrimination,” he said. “So far as the LGBTQ community is concerned, they would suffer the most. I... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
November 1, 2012
Filed under Campus News
Every 26 seconds, someone in the world is sold into sex slavery. A cappella groups Audacious and Innocent Men, as well as The Singing Statesmen, will be performing a benefit concert Tuesday in Schofield Auditorium to combat that gruesome statistic. The benefit is being held for Fierce Beauty,... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
October 31, 2012
Filed under Opinion
I understand the need to report on the presidential election. Every four years we make a decision to vote for someone who will represent our entire nation for a full term. The need to talk about these candidates, in this case these men, is obviously important. However, the 24-hour news cycle... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
October 25, 2012
Filed under Sports, Sports Score
Problems with the drive plagued the UW-Eau Claire football team in their match against UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, but persistence paid off in the second half, resulting in a 17-14 win for the Blugolds making their conference record 3-1 this season. Junior running back Joel Sweeney said the... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
October 17, 2012
Filed under Campus News
The Cabin began selling beer and wine to those of age on Oct. 12, but the planning process took longer than students and organizers expected. Leinenkugel’s products and various wines will be sold by The Cabin’s workers between 4:30 and 9:30 p.m. on weekdays. On Saturdays, sales will go... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
October 17, 2012
Filed under Sports, Sports Score
The rain did not stop the UW-Eau Claire football team from winning Saturday during their Hall of Fame Game at Carson Park against the UW-La Crosse Eagles. Senior quarterback Austin Neu, who threw for 57 yards against the Eagles’ defense, gave credit to the offensive line and running back... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
October 11, 2012
Filed under Currents
This winterim, UW–Eau Claire’s English department will be offering a new course, one which explores the representation of a well-known pop star: Lady Gaga. This course is not just an excuse to fawn over the singer; Lady Gaga Studies, or ENGL 272, will focus on representations of the pop... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
October 11, 2012
Filed under Sports
Feelings of victory were doubled for the UW-Eau Claire volleyball team on Oct. 6 when they celebrated two achievements — winning their match against UW-Oshkosh at home and raising $300 to support a teammate’s niece diagnosed with brain cancer. Freshman Juliana Burzynski, one of the newest... (more...)
Bridget Cooke
October 4, 2012
Filed under Currents
Looking to do some apple picking this fall but have no clue where to start? Well consider this your guide to apple picking in the Eau Claire area. Make sure you get out there in the next couple weeks, before the apple picking season ends. Ferguson’s Orchard — 6470 Balsam Rd., Eau Claire... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
September 27, 2012
Filed under Campus News
The construction on UW-Eau Claire’s campus has changed the bike routes of students and staff, and while it’s only a slight inconvenience, bikers are having to make do with the new parking accommodations. Senior Conor Rafferty rides his bike to campus every day. He said because of the construction... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
September 26, 2012
Filed under Opinion
September 7, 2012. The first day that I personally saw Halloween candy on sale. We’re already being bombarded with sales of candy and decorations more than a month before the actual event. Even commercials have started to air on television. Everywhere you look, the period of celebration has... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
September 19, 2012
Filed under Currents
Complimentary concessions are a large incentive to get college students out to see a movie — especially when they aren’t charged for admission either. The Women’s and LGBTQ Resource Center is hosting a free event titled “Night OUT: Film Series” at Woodland Theater in Davies Center,... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
September 13, 2012
Filed under Sports
Winning a national title last spring is an accomplishment UW-Eau Claire women’s golfer Catherine Wagner said she is proud of and adds that she hopes to continue to be successful in the fall season alongside her team. Wagner, now a senior, has played for the university golf team for the past... (more...)
Bridget Cooke, Staff Writer
September 6, 2012
Filed under Campus News
New staff members continue to be hired at UW-Eau Claire, but $46 million in state budget cuts have affected the ability of certain departments to bring in new instructors. The computer science department at Eau Claire hired two new associate professors, Peter Bui and Michael McMann, for the 2012-2013... (more...)
Bridget Cooke
May 1, 2012
Filed under Opinion
In getting to classes every day, students choose many different avenues of transportation; walking running, bicycling, unicycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, etc. Other ways to get to campus include driving, whether it is a car, moped, or motorcycle. However, in all of these methods, there... (more...)
Bridget Cooke
April 26, 2012
Filed under Campus News
On Monday afternoon, UW-Eau Claire chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich delivered an opening speech and welcomed a crowd of nearly 100, toasting with a glass of sparkling cider. “A year ago, the seats you’re sitting in were sagging, faded red velvet, the lighting was from World War II and... (more...)
Bridget Cooke
February 16, 2012
Filed under Campus News
Grand champion is a title not many people get to hold. But a team of four UW-Eau Claire computer science students won that title at the first annual Windward International Collegiate Programming Championships on Jan 28. Team Grande Letra O, made up of juniors James Felton and Corey Schulz... (more...)
Bridget Cooke
November 16, 2011
Filed under Currents
UW-Eau Claire hosted its largest yet “Swap-O-Rama: Creating Alternatives to Consumerism” at The Cabin on Tuesday, an event to promote and support a more sustainable way of life. This swap is coordinated by the university’s Women’s and LGBTQ Resource Center. Women’s Issues Program... (more...)