The popularity of outlet malls is on the rise.

This year, seven outlet malls are planned in the United States and another nine in 2015, according to the 2012 State of the Outlet Industry. That follows 17 in the U.S. and Canada during the past few years.

The Great Recession has evened out the playing field between outlet and regional malls, causing more retailers to open up outlets to compete with the changing market, said Retailing Today.

SOURCE/2012 State of the Outlet Industry

Since the recession, consumers have been willing to spend more, said Garden Center Magazine, but are staying price-conscious and making smaller purchases. This has allowed retailers to create and open outlet shops to attract more customers to their products and create a new market of customers who have not shopped at outlet stores.

Outlet shopping centers make available better deals on high-end items to draw a larger clientele.

“It is cheap and you can get designer clothes and shoes for a good deal,” Kelly Torpey of Davisburg said.

Kelly Torpey

“My clients like to keep an eye on their bottom line,” said Christa Williams, a personal shopper of Christa shops for you. “I shop at outlets personally and you have to know what prices are to get a good deal, I have seen that the Nordstrom Rack has been more crowded in the last year.”

Outlet malls originated in 1980, said Retailing Today, a retailing industry news source. This type of mall opened a way for manufacturers and retailers to resell past-season merchandise or have an exclusive line available at a discounted price.

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is Michigan’s only regional enclosed value-shopping center. There are two other outdoor outlets malls: Tanger Outlets in Howell and Birch Run Premium Outlets in Birch Run.

Three years ago, Great Lakes Crossing revamped its marketing program to add Outlets to its name.  Officials said the change was because of customer demand and the success of outlet retailers at the center.  More outlet stores opened there after the name change.

“Outlets malls are not a new concept,” said Chung Sok, part of the marketing group of mall management at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets. “Their popularity has been growing; people have become more educated on shopping and are more price conscious.”

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, the state’s largest retail center, draws customers from a wide region. Their spending brings revenue to businesses in the Auburn Hills area and helps boost the economy.

“Visitors come from Canada and from foreign countries on business,” Sok said, “Taxes are less which gives them better perceived value.”

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It’s not unusual for students to have that one professor they will never forget. Sometimes it’s for good reasons — sometimes not.

In a random, unscientific survey taken through surveymonkey.com, about 75 Oakland University students from a variety of majors pointed out what frustrates them most about professors.

The top three complaints were:
— The required textbook was not used in class.
— Material on exams was not covered or barely covered in class.
—  Students didn’t know their grade or progress.

College textbook prices have increased 812 percent since 1978, according to an article in the Huffington Post.

“It’s frustrating having to spend all that money on a book you open maybe twice the whole semester,” said Adrian Michel, sophomore biology major at OU. “It would be more convenient if the professor gave us handouts on the few key sections we needed, instead of having us purchase a textbook.”

The National Association of College Stores and College Board estimate students, on average, will spend $1,168 on books and materials per year.

But yet the textbook may not be helpful if the professor doesn’t integrate it within the class lecture in preparation for what the students can expect on the exam.

Students assume that anything covered in class is fair game to show up on the exam. If they follow the designated readings that correspond with the class lecture, they should be prepared.

Sometimes, though, reading is not enough if the exam includes material not covered at all.

So after the exam-cram and the Scantrons have been filled out, students wait to find out how they did. But weeks — perhaps longer — might pass before students find out results and can calculate grades.

Professors have several ways of notifying students of grades, including OU’s Moodle.

If the professor doesn’t use Moodle or updates grades, the students are left in the dark. Students must go out of their way to find time to meet with the professor to discuss grades.

“I don’t want to have to take the time out of my schedule to go up to my professors and ask them what my grades are and if I need to change my study habits,” said Ryan Kallabat, a junior studying physical therapy at OU. “They have the resources to post grades, they just need to use them.”

At OU, Moodle is the main outlet for communication from students to professors, aside from email.

Not all professors are active Moodle users, though. Some professors, regardless of their department, are reluctant to learn and use it.

“The new teachers coming in are younger and have been using technology more throughout their student-teaching, and I just think it’s going to become the standard,” said Julia Key, a member of Moodle support about the use of Moodle and online teaching.

“A lot of teachers don’t use Moodle because they’re not comfortable with the technology, and they’re also not comfortable with changing their way of teaching,” she continued.

According to the survey, a third of students complain that professors do not use Moodle. If more professors utilized this resource, it could take the guessing game out of students’ progress.

“Moodle can incorporate email, papers, documents, resources and lectures all in one spot,” Key said.

OU offers Moodle workshops for professors throughout the year.

“The workshops go from Moodle one to Moodle five and it teaches you from the basics of logging into Moodle to building your grade book and creating exams,” Key said.

Despite the university’s push to have more online teaching, it’s hard to get professors to take classes to learn the necessary software, according to Samantha Thom, Tori Tomaszewski and Key, all members of Moodle support within the e-LIS department

Moodle, like most online teaching software, integrates resources in one spot. This helps students stay organized as well as eliminates the hassle of checking multiple venues for schoolwork.Tweet

A British-themed painting depicts familiar sites. PHOTO/BRIANNA BUDNY

BY BRIANNA BUDNY
OU News Bureau

It’s on our TVs, our magazines and newspapers, our clothes and in the music we listen to.

It’s American’s obsession with all things British.

“We obsess over British things because we grew up thinking they were cool,” said Tiffany LaDonne, a student at Oakland University. “I think our liking of the British Royal Family is because we grew up with the prince and princess fairy tales.”

It has been 237 years since the U.S. declared independence from Great Britain, but Americans still have a deep-rooted relationship with the British that goes back to the first colonists more than 400 years ago.

According to visitbritain.org, about 10 percent of the estimated 31 million tourists who visit Great Britain every year are from America.

“I think Americans like British things because of the monarchy,” said Linda Peterson of Rochester Hills. “Having a royal family in politics is totally different than the U.S. government.”

These commemorative Prince William and Kate Middleton royal wedding tins are to hold tea. PHOTO/BRIANNA BUDNY

Though there are similarities between the U.S and Britain, such as the language and pop culture, there are many differences. One is the British royal family. Even though the queen does not have real power, she is very much a figurehead for Great Britain’s tradition and culture.

“All of the pomp and circumstance, clothing, crown and jewels,” Peterson said. “It’s interesting to me.”

A fascination with British royalty may be from Disney movies that many Americans grew up watching. It might also be because of traditional royalty such as Queen Elizabeth or more modern royalty such as Princess Diana, Prince William and Kate Middleton.

A New York Times series titled “Why Do Americans Love Royalty?” featured contributors discussing their opinions on why American’s follow the pop culture aspect of the British royal family. They wrote it is because of Princess Diana, the pomp and circumstance, and an insecurity over what America lost due in the separation from Britain.

“I think Americans like the idea of Britain because it represents royalty and fanciness,” said Megan Felcyn, a student at Oakland University. “There is an heir presented that they represent a higher class, even though they aren’t necessarily any better or worse than our society. Britain has always been represented as royalty and some sort of power.”

“Plus, they have awesome accents,” Felcyn said.

There’s also the “fanciness” of some of the more traditional British things.

“I love the formality of high tea,” Peterson said.Tweet

Turkeys roost in trees at night. They can run at speeds of 25 mph and fly at speeds of 55 mph. PHOTO/AMANDA WILCZAK

BY AMANDA WILCZAK
OU News Bureau

Hunting is more than a sport. It is an activity that families pass down from generation to generation.

Michigan ranks third in the country for licensed hunters, with about 750,000 individuals who purchase a license annually.

The arrival of spring brings the start of turkey hunting season. With Michigan home to many hunters, this activity brings families and friends together.

“My dad and grandpa always were great hunters, so as a kid they would always take me out with them in the woods,” said Tyler Dougherty of Attica.

Hunting can leave lasting memories.

“My family has always been a very big hunting family,” said Felicia Bader of North Branch. “So, as I grew up, I was always involved in hunting no matter what the season. I can remember going out hunting with my parents since I was about 5 years old.

Felicia Bader SOURCE/TOM BADER

“Since that was such a big part of my life growing up, when I got older it just became second nature. Something about the adrenaline of getting your first big kill there is nothing like it.”

Lifetime Hunters

For many, hunting turns into a lifetime activity for those introduced to it at a young age.

“My experience with wild turkey hunting started when I was 12 years old,” said Josh Clendenan of Attica.   “On my first hunt, the sound of a wild turkey gobbling, the early morning fog rising of the warmer ground, the dampness from the dew soaking threw every layer I had on and the sounds of nature that could never be replicated by any man made device, had me hooked.

“So after that, I hunted turkeys every season I could and it lead me to start a guide service to share my experience with others.”

Even for those not as dedicated to hunting wild turkeys, their experiences lead to interests in other types of hunting.

“I personally have only gone turkey hunting a handful of times but I thought it was fun,” Bader said. “Every season is different for hunting different types of game. Therefore, it keeps it interesting to go out hunting for other types of animals.”

Tactics

While hunting for turkeys, hunters use specific firearms or a bow and arrow.

“The shotgun is the only firearm used in turkey hunting, although some people choose to use a bow and arrow instead for more of a challenge,” Clendenan said. “When I started, I used a Remington 20-gauge shotgun and through the years moved up to a Remington 870 12-gauge.”

Hunters have their own special tactics to attract turkeys to their hunting area.

“I use some hen turkey decoys to attract the Tom’s, or male turkeys,“ Dougherty said. “I also use a hen strut turkey call to attract the Toms to my hen decoys.”

Other hunters learn special tactics.

Paige Ekstrom

“My dad has taught me two tactics: ground hunting and chasing,” said Paige Ekstrom of North Branch.  “Ground hunting requires sitting in a pop-up blind and waiting for the turkeys to come to you. Chasing is basically what it sounds like. You go out the night before to find where the turkeys are roosting, and try to catch them coming off the roost the following morning. This method is more exciting.”

Some hunters keep their secrets.

“I have many handed down tricks from generations of hunters in our family, but I’m not allowed to share them,” Clendenan said. “I’ll tell you one of mine I learned, though I shouldn’t: They say to be extremely still and not to move, but through the years I’ve learned that if there’s a turkey near you but won’t come in close enough for a shot, if you actually make some movement he will come right in closer to you.”Tweet

From left, Nick Blauvelt, William Gibbs and Alex Murrell record their podcast. COURTESY/FILM NERDS

BY STEPHANIE SOKOL
OU News Bureau

They meet every Wednesday, watch a movie and discuss it. Unlike typical moviegoers, however, these young men share their opinions with others by taking their tradition to the Web.

OU Journalism senior William Gibbs and friends Alex Murrell and Nick Blauvelt are the trio behind Midwest Film Nerds, a film critic blog and podcast.

“I started with just wanting to write. I’ve always enjoyed writing and been pretty good at writing,” Gibbs said. “So I wanted to take that and apply it to things I liked — mainly movies, video games and comic books. I’m kind of a nerd, so those are things that I like.”

The men met working at Family Video in Berkley.

Gibbs and Murrell are film fans. Blauvelt, who studies film at Wayne State University, provides the technical perspective.

“Movies seemed the most universal and approachable for us, from our work schedules, and for listeners, as well,” Gibbs said.

After realizing they shared a love for film, they decided to start the podcast.

“For some reason, the storytelling in movies can really get to me,” Murrell said. “There’s so much that goes into making a good movie that just kind of experiencing that and tearing the movie apart to look at all of its individual parts is interesting to me; and that’s part of the reason the podcast exists.”

A growing trend

Podcasts provide a different media outlet, with the recorded discussions available on a variety of topics.

The first podcast was created by Volomedia, in 2003 as “a method for providing episodic content,” according to Mashable. They have grown in popularity since.

Small Business Trends said through 2013, at least 37.6 million people will download podcasts monthly.

“I think podcasting is a very distinct thing,” Murrell said. “And I know there’s a lot of people out there who listen to radio who haven’t really given (podcasting) the time of day. If you’re listening to talk radio, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be listening to podcasting. It’s always a good idea to go out and listen to people’s ideas about things, and I hope that podcasting sticks around.”

Gibbs discussed their podcast about the “Dark Knight,” which they put out last summer after seeing the film.

He said they try to keep the blog and podcast focused on new movies to help others decide what they want to see. Keeping reviews current also brings more people to the site.

Building a fan base

Uploading the podcast feed to iTunes, in addition to networking with other bloggers, has helped Midwest Film Nerds attract followers.

“I can say that as soon as we finished the first (podcast), I knew this was something I wanted to do,” Murrell said. “But the biggest challenge so far has been getting listeners or getting word out to try and have people listen, getting a wider fan base.”

Murrell set up the account with iTunes, linking to the blog from the store. He said the requirement is a host location for the feed to reach, but iTunes makes the podcast more available to listeners.

To further reach their audience, the podcasters use social media as an outlet. They have also had their podcast mentioned on the podcast of a popular slashfilm.com blogger.

“I try to maintain a Twitter account, post things up on Reddit and get it out to friends on Facebook, but there’s some untapped potential, some ways to reach more people that I just haven’t found yet,” Murrell said.

A future for the film nerds

The men want to see the blog make it big, but for now are focusing on sharing their passion for film and entertainment with others.

Gibbs discussed possibly expanding to include video game reviews or bringing in other podcasters, but the current goal is to have fun and share insight with listeners.

“We get so immersed in talking about these things, why not record it and put it out there?” Gibbs said. “It gives people a perspective and I think that each one of us comes to the podcast with something different.

“There’s so much debating going on today about really important things, it’s kind of fun to have a debate about something that’s not going to change the world. It’s nice to have a friendly debate.”

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Michiganders might say they don’t have an accent — other people do.

“There is this huge misconception that everyone has an accent except me,” said Samuel Rosenthall, a professor of linguistics at Oakland University.

“There is a kind of standard American English, but no one actually speaks it, but some dialects approximate it closer than others,” he continued. “It’s all relative, though. If you were to go to another part of the country, you’d be picked out as someone that is from Michigan in seconds.”

Accents in Michigan?

Even though Michiganders might say they don’t have an accent, there are some words that are said with one. The website michigannative.com contains a long list of word pronunciations common to Michiganders.

When saying Pontiac, for example, people from Michigan drop the t sound and pronounce it pah-neeack.

When words have the double consonant t in them, people from Michigan drop the t sound so that kitten becomes kih’ihn and button become buh’ohn. Likewise, city becomes ciddy and nutty becomes nuddy.

Or, they tend to shorten words. Mirror becomes meer and look at it becomes lookit.  

Accents everywhere

According to linguists, everyone everywhere has an accent.

“There is no such thing as American English free of any dialect,” Rosenthall said. “Everyone has an accent or dialect.”

The term accent is not a term used by linguists often. Instead, they use dialect, which is a particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group. Everyone, regardless of where they are from, speaks a dialect. Dialects are defined geographically.

“It can be charming and it can stimulate you to guess where they are from,” said Linda Peterson of Rochester Hills.

Hearing people speak with an accent can be the quickest way to show that they are not native to that location.

“Accents are thought of as exciting and exotic,” said Jillian Breitschuh, a student at Grand Valley State University. “When you talk to a person with an accent, you realize how small the world truly is. In turn, it makes you want to explore the world. My favorite accent is Scottish or Australian accents. Hearing accents like that makes me want to go to those places.”

People associate certain accents with qualities that they may like or dislike. These qualities can be based on prior experiences with people or what we envision someone with that accent to be like.

“Their novelty is their main draw,” said Adam Burl, a student at Grand Valley State University. “People pair accents with concepts. French or Italian accents could be paired with romance, Russian or German accents with anger or deceit, and American accents with arrogance or wealth.”

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It starts out with a couple of cats or a few dogs. People start taking them in, wanting to help each one and believe they are making an impact.

But what starts as help leads to issues for both the animal and human.

Cats are the top hoarded animal species, specifically among older women. Victims of animal hoarding face neglect, and are often left underfed and unfit for adoption. PHOTO/STEPHANIE SOKOL

Animal hoarding is a growing problem.   The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals defines it as “a complex animal cruelty issue, mental health issue and public safety issue.”

At least 250,000 animals are victims of hoarding each year, according to the Anxiety and Depression Society of America.

Television shows such as Confessions: Animals Hoarding and social media have brought light to the issue.

“There’s not an official diagnosis (for animal hoarding),” author Celeste Killeen said. “With no course of treatment, psychologists are left to deal with what they can, and usually diagnose hoarding as an addiction or OCD.”

In 2003, Killeen co-wrote “Inside Animal Hoarding,” which looked into the case of a woman with 552 dogs.

About 200 of them lived outside and 300 were in the home. The husband was ill, and stayed in a chair. Housing conditions were poor, with feces covering the floor and animals starving.

“It was absolutely horrible,” Killeen said. “There was constant neglect. The animals were not fed, many were dying. They were not socialized at all so they could not be given to other homes. It was a really unhealthy way to live and a horrible existence for the animals.”

The woman had a breeder profile, and displayed addictive behaviors, Killeen said. The hoarder felt the animals needed her, and used them to feed her ego.

The treatments can be helpful for some, but usually when the animals are taken away, the people become anxious and hoard even more, according to Killeen.

Animal hoarding is similar to the act of collecting, which provides a sense of comfort that begins during childhood, psychologist Jim Windell said. Kids look at things such as dolls or trading cards as security and view them as comfort objects.

What starts as collecting can get out of hand and become a problem, however, leading to hoarding. And when the collection consists of living things, the result is cruel. Pets often become a substitute for human relationships. The “collectors” see animals as dependant on them.

Up to 250,000 animals are victims of animal hoarding each year, according to Animal Legal Defense Fund. This has doubled during the past four years.

Local Cases

Cases of animal hoarding have occurred in Oakland County. Recently, a home with 20 cats was cleaned out, according Joanie Toole, administrative supervisor at Oakland County Animal Control.

Another recent incident occurred in Livonia, when the Michigan Human Society and Animal Control removed more than 50 cats from the home, according to WDIV Detroit.

Though there is no limit on the number of animals a person can have, animal control evaluates the situation and looks for issues including illnesses, diseases and inbreeding.

The animals’ living conditions are taken into account to determine whether the home is a clean and healthy place to live, Toole said. Problem homes have feces all over the floor, unkempt animals and an environment unfit for human life.

The numbers and treatment

Seventy percent of hoarders are single, widowed or divorced females; 40 percent of people who hoard objects also hoard animals, according the ADAA.

When hoarding occurs, the first step is removal of the animals from the home. Depending on the severity of the situation, animals are often left are unsocialized and unfit for adoption. This leaves them facing euthanizing from animal control.

In the case of the 552 dogs, the court banned the woman from having animals, according to Kileen. Despite having her pets taken away, the woman was determined to take in more animals and stole a pregnant cat from someone else.

“I think it’s a way of satisfying a need that’s missing in their life,” Windell said. “(Mass amounts of animals provide) a certain amount of comfort.”

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Richard Forrest has enjoyed watching birds for 38 years. COURTESY/RICHARD FORREST

BY AUSTIN BROOKS
OU News Bureau

Baseball parks are full of fans, children are playing outside in the sunshine and the snow has melted.

But for one group of dedicated hobbyists, spring means something different.

For bird watchers, this time of year marks the unofficial start of the season. After a long winter, they’re dusting off their binoculars and field guides and getting ready to enjoy what could be considered one of America’s most popular secret hobbies.

According to a survey in 2001, 46 million people over the age of 16 identify as “bird watchers” accounting for just over 20 percent of the United States.

Just what is it about birding that draws so many people to the hobby?

“Well, it’s a challenge,” said Richard Forrest, a retired Rochester High School teacher who’s been birding for 38 years. He has a Master of Science degree in wildlife biology with an emphasis in non-game birds and teaches “Science for Elementary Teachers” at Oakland University’s Macomb location.

“At first, it’s just recognizing birds that you’ve seen pictures of in the field guide, but the more you get into it the more you see birds that are more difficult to identify that maybe you haven’t seen before,” Forrest said. “A lot of times you don’t get the best glimpse of them, so it’s a good challenge. And to me, it’s just really stimulating.”

Birders don’t have to travel far to find good locations.

“There’s a lot of good local birding, depending on the time of year,” he said. “We’re coming up on the spring migration in mid-May, which is when most of the migrants arrive, either to stay here for the summer or just to pass through. That’s the best time to see them.”

For ducks, cranes and other water-dwelling birds, secluded creeks and rivers are the best bet. For woodland birds such as blue jays, nuthatches or woodpeckers, a trail through state land with heavy tree density would be more suitable.

For those who just want to give birding a try, expensive equipment isn’t necessary. But a little optical help is key.

“You need binoculars,” Forrest said. “They don’t have to be top of the line, they can be a $50 pair or something, but the more you get into it the more you want to get the best look that you can possibly get. So eventually, you find yourself trying to buy better optics and things like that.”

Forrest recommends that beginners bring a field guide to identify species.

“A field guide is pretty necessary, even for experts,” he said. “A lot of times, you don’t know if it’s a juvenile of something that you haven’t seen in a while, and that’s when the field guide becomes a really valuable reference.

“For a beginner, it’s just seeing the bird and being able to identify it by the picture in the book.”

One thing Forrest doesn’t recommend is going out alone for the first few times.

“It’s great to go with someone who’s done it before, because they can really help you out,” he said. “There are local Audubon clubs in Oakland County and Macomb County that people can join. They usually have bird walks and hikes and guided tours, and that’ll help beginners get into it.”

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Coaches stress to their student-athletes that the student comes first, then the athlete.

But many collegiate players put their sport as their No. 1 priority, hindering their chances for success after college.

Kylie Schalz, a recent Oakland University grad and former infielder for the softball team, worked hard during school to score her internship for an engineering company in New York City this summer.

Kylie Schalz

Before landing her internship, Schalz had several phone interviews, including one from Adidas in Germany, but was passed up because she was told she didn’t have the proper background.

“It was a challenge for me to score an internship opportunity because I lacked experience in the field,” Schalz said.

In contrast, Jordan Howenstine, a senior basketball player, is diving right into a job with Disney immediately after graduation.

Howenstine snagged a public relations internship with the Detroit Pistons, who worked around his own basketball and school schedule.

“The fact that they understood my priorities were my schooling and then basketball, but were willing to work around them, says a lot,” Howenstine said. “If I wasn’t coming off of my internship with the Pistons, it’s very likely that I would still be looking for a job.”

When hiring, employers look for qualities such as experience and particular skills that pertain to the job.  According to Forbes, employers look for five personality traits:

• Professionalism
• High Energy
• Confidence
• Self-Monitoring
• Intellectual Curiosity

So how do athletes land jobs after college with little to no work experience?

OU alum and former star outfielder Kelsey Krych said many skills students garner during college carry over into the working world.

“I had no experience before I started working at my physical therapy center,” Krych said, “but the skills that I’ve acquired by playing a sport and being a student did carry over.”

Skills that employers like seeing on a resume include: working under pressure on deadline, learning teamwork and leadership, and balancing work and personal life.  All are familiar to student-athletes.

Academic Adviser Evan Dermidoff said a college athlete with no field experience shouldn’t hold back any employer who needs an intern.

Evan Dermidoff

“That’s exactly what an internship is set up for — experience,” he said. “Our student-athletes gain so much necessary skills that carry over in the workplace that there should be no excuses as to why they can’t hire a student-athlete.”

Dermidoff said student-athletes are goal oriented, prioritize their work assignments and have excellent time management due to their hectic schedules.

OU’s Athletic Department staff encourages all athletes to join Career Athletes, which is similar to LinkedIn. Here, athletes create profiles, upload resumes, and create a network and connections to their particular fields.

“It’s a great site that really helps athletes kick start their careers,” Dermidoff said. “When athletes utilize their resources, they have just as much opportunity as anyone else when it comes to their success after college.”Tweet