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CNN Live At Daybreak

College Week: Finding the Public Ivies; Not Just Men Taking the Football Field; Sex, Drugs and Flunking Out

Aired August 31, 2001 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(VIDEO GAP)

HOWARD GREENE, AUTHOR, "THE PUBLIC IVIES" But over time, it's taken on the allure of very elite, selective, prestigious universities that so many qualified students drive to get into.

VINCE CELLINI, CNN ANCHOR: You picked a list of 30 schools. How did you narrow down your choices to these 30? And what jumps out -- or what qualifies schools to be called the "Public Ivies"?

GREENE: Well, there are four key factors -- and, of course: selectivity in admissions; the qualifications of the faculty. And one of the key things which I think plays off on some of the earlier interviewers is the retention rate. One of the sad facts that we are living with is, over 50 percent of students who start college somewhere are not finishing.

And, often, it's because they're in the wrong place. They may not be ready. They may not be qualified. Or they just chose the wrong environment. So these are schools that have a very high rate of graduation, which we think reflects prepared kid who feel they are getting a great deal out of their institution.

CELLINI: There is a stigma, Howard, with public universities, at times. And I know that in your book here, you mention the myths about public education. One of them is that a public university is always a last resort or, at best, a second choice. That's just the first.

But how do we overcome some of these stigmas and some of these labels attached?

GREENE: Well, a fair question.

I think over many years, as the public universities expanded dramatically, starting with the baby boom years of the late 60s into the 70s -- as they expanded, they just accepted larger numbers of students. But if you talk with families today, high school students, they will tell you it's very difficult to get into a lot of the top public universities.

And, in fact, what we see in a lot of our research and also our counseling work, top academic kids are going to apply to a combination of selective private universities and the best of the public universities. And that's why we wanted to help those aspiring to go on to college to understand you have a choice both ways.

And, of course, a huge issue that's shifted the qualifications of the students is the cost factor. It's three times as expensive to go to an elite, private university today as it is to a highly selective public school.

CELLINI: All right, thank you very much.

GREENE: My pleasure.

CELLINI: Howard Greene, thank you for sharing with us on the "Public Ivies." You know, it doesn't have to be up in the Northeast. Thank you very much for your time.

GREENE: That's right.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: You didn't see me, but I was waving at you, Vince.

CELLINI: Oh, don't do that.

LIN: All right. Well, coming up -- you've go to get ready. You've got to get psyched and get your football, Vince, because coming up, we are going to have a tailgate at Centennial Park right outside -- and not just any tailgate. We're going to show you how to get the best of the best: the tastiest, the fastest, the hottest stuff out there.

So stay tuned for that.

But, first, we are going to go "Surfing into Saturday," because as you're heading out the door to college and parents are waving goodbye, you might want to know the best ways to get around, stay in touch and keep up on current events.

And none other than Daniel Sieberg from CNN.com here to show us some really cool Web sites -- hi.

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN INTERACTIVE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Good morning, Carol.

LIN: Good morning.

SIEBERG: We've got a few sort of lighthearted, but useful sites. It seems like college students have to almost have a required knowledge of the Internet now to get in.

LIN: Yes.

SIEBERG: We've got someone that might help them just be a little more creative with what they are doing.

LIN: Great.

SIEBERG: So the first one we've got -- now, this is something that I think every student would need. It's a site that focuses strictly on travel, travel deals for students. And it's put together by a company called Smarter Living. It's got a page here. They talk how you can get better miles, fly on particular airlines. They've got deals and discounts for...

LIN: And these are specifically for students.

SIEBERG: Specifically tailored for students. There may be a particular travel package. So, you know, if you're going home for Thanksgiving or you're going home for Christmas or you just want to get away from classes, this is, I think, a great site for finding some deals for students.

LIN: Those are some pretty big discounts: 20 percent on car rentals...

SIEBERG: Exactly.

LIN: Free night hotels.

SIEBERG: I think I should go back to college just so I can get some of these deals.

LIN: Terrific. You've got two more.

SIEBERG: OK, a couple of more here.

This one is actually aimed at parents. Now, every parent is a little bit sad when their kid goes away. And this site offers some really great tips on using technology to keep in touch with your student. It might be getting in touch with them by e-mails, sending digital photos. It even suggests maybe starting your own Web page together, following a sport's team online together. It's got actually dozens of suggestions here for parents who just want to keep track of their students when they're away.

LIN: Right, and to be able to see them on Web cams and sending those digital photos.

SIEBERG: Exactly, Web cams is another one. That's one they suggest on here as well, and they've become more reasonably priced these days.

LIN: Not too bad.

SIEBERG: Yes, it's not a bad option.

LIN: All right, Lastly?

SIEBERG: Lastly, this one is about keeping track of college football teams. What would college be without football? And this site has quite a number of things that you can surf. Of course there's statistics, like every site would have, something that every football fan wants to have. But there's a chat, there's a message board. There's scores and schedules, everything you can imagine in the college football world. Now I know this is quite a list of sites. We actually have a story up at CNN.com/tech. And if you go to that page, we've got a look at all of the sites here, and you can get a quick and easy link to all of them.

LIN: Thank you very much, Daniel.

One of the things on the Web page, Vince, was a preview of the UCLA/Alabama game.

CELLINI: That's right.

LIN: No need. It's over.

CELLINI: Oh, I don't know about that. I think there might be a little payback this year.

LIN: Log on.

CELLINI: I'm just saying, in my professional opinion.

The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, probably said it best,"This is a man's world, but it would be nothing without a woman."

As CNN's Gary Tuchman explains, the slogan could now be applied to college football.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's opening night for the Jacksonville State Gamecock football team. And as the men take the field, what's quite notable is that it's not just men taking the field. Ashley Martin has made the team as a place kicker, and if she kicks an extra point, the 20-year-old would become the first woman in NCAA football history to score. And even if she doesn't, she'll be the first woman to take the field for an NCAA football team.

QUESTION: Ashley, how do you feel right now?

ASHLEY MARTIN, NCAA PLACE KICKER: Fine.

TUCHMAN: She is the second-string kicker, and she watches as the first-stringer kicks an extra point against Cumberland University. But after touchdown number two, Ashley Martin is called out onto the field to make history.

(APPLAUSE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TUCHMAN: Her mother was beaming.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was just hoping so much she would make it, so it was really exciting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ashley, make sure you stay loose. TUCHMAN: Ashley played on her high school football team, where she was also the homecoming queen, and currently plays college soccer. She had a second opportunity for an extra point, and split the uprights again. And later, had a third chance, and she was three for three.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And that's the end of the ball game.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JACK CROWE, HEAD COACH: I'm going to give her this game ball, and we'll call her the player of the game.

MARTIN: When I stepped back and I finished my steps and I was getting ready to go forward, my knees, my legs went weak, and I thought, here we go. But it's all right.

TUCHMAN (on camera): It all worked out really well, didn't it?

MARTIN: It did. It did. I can't complain.

TUCHMAN: Ashley Martin has made history, but she has little time to celebrate, because she is flying to Missouri this weekend for a college soccer tournament.

(voice-over): Soccer remains her favorite game, but it's football that's put her on the record.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: And still coming up, sex, drugs and flunking out, Joel Epstein takes your question about the temptations facing college students.

Write us at carolandcolleen@cnn.com, quickly.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: We promised we would take some e-mails, unfortunately we only have time for one.

We are going to bring Joel Epstein is author of the book "Sex, Drugs And Flunking Out," a parent's guide to what to expect, and what they can do to help their kids.

Good morning, again, Joel.

JOEL EPSTEIN, AUTHOR, "SEX, DRUGS & FLUNKING OUT": Good morning.

LIN: All right, we've got a question here that I think is pretty all-encompassing. It's out of Modesto, California. And this parent is writing: How do you get answers to the pertinent questions about your child's college trials and tribulations without infringing on their privacy?

EPSTEIN: I think that's -- I'm glad that question's come in. It's really an excellent one. Just very, very briefly, there's something called The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. In my view, some schools really hide behind this to prevent parents from -- or saying that parents do not have a right to information on things like a students mental health, things like a student's involvement in a drug or alcohol offense or victimization as a -- crime victimization.

But, what parents really need to do, I think, is seek out schools that best suit their students. Find schools that are offer a great deal in terms of social support for students, that have resident life staff who are trained to understand that students are going through a transitional time, that they are adults; but they are making the difficult transition from living at home to being with parents and siblings, to being away from school, and that they really need their support.

A smart school, in my view, will practice good risk management by contacting parents if they're concerned about a student's mental health, well-being, physical health. If there's been some involvement, either criminal activity or the like.

The smart colleges, in my view, are the schools that are really embracing the parents, embracing the community, working very collaboratively around, again, a difficult transition for many students.

So, I'm glad that that question has come in. And you have a right to ask that of college administration.

LIN: Joel, just clarify for this. The privacy act that you were just mentioning, is that a policy that universities have, that should something happen to their child on campus, that parents may not be entitled to the information from school authorities?

EPSTEIN: Well, FERPA is actually a federal law, but it pertains to educational records. And there's a great deal of dickering and a great deal debate back and forth in the legal, college legal community, about what FERPA really means.

I'm sure after this broadcast, I will be widely criticized by college attorneys who say we have no obligation to share information about a student's non-educational, but sort of social concerns on campus, or mental health concerns on campus.

But parents really need to be aware of FERPA, and my book pays a great deal of attention to that.

LIN: Right. All right, thank you very much, Joel Epstein. You just gave us another great idea for yet another segment down the road. We just want to remind parents, earlier Joel was talking about -- just ask the tough questions of your kids. Go ahead and come out with it and build that bridge before they head out to school.

In the meantime, we're about to head outside to Centennial Park. Here's a live picture of the yummy things going on outside. We are getting Vince Cellini in an apron with the expert. I think that was his hand grabbing for the hamburger. Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Everybody wants to be online, but at the right price. Kris Osborne, technology correspondent for "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" has some really cool gadgets that students can use and afford.

KRIS OSBORNE, CNN HEADLINE NEWS: Very much so, Caroline. With the trend in gadgetry, there are a number of general trends. Now, this barely scratches the surface about the number of high tech gadgets that are out there. The convergence is something a lot of people are talking about, more gadgets are doing more things, and wireless is key. I've got a couple things here that are wireless.

I have to start, Caroline, by telling you about what I am wearing. This is called technology-enabled clothing.

LIN: This is a piece of technology?

OSBORNE: It's a wired vest. Yes. Yes, yes it is. In fact it's made by Scotty Vest. I spoke to the makers of the vest, it's $159.

What you can do with it is run a wire -- you run a wire all the way through from your phone up to this earpiece right here. And let's say, for example your phone vibrates or rings, you just answer it. Put this...

LIN: Now, that will look strange.

OSBORNE: Yes. And this phone -- so this has a number of pockets, including one for a computer itself. You could put a full PC, some of the portable PCs out there could go in there.

Now, there are wearable computers. This isn't one of them. Those are thousands of dollars. This is $159. It's generating a bit of a buzz. It's only available on the Internet. All kinds of students are buying these things, because you can load up your gadgetry. You've got a MP3 player here as well.

So, you can answer your phone or listen to your music. Each one of them will run through a little patched area here, directly to an earpiece which will allow you to listen to it.

LIN: Wow. How much is this phone, though?

OSBORNE: That phone, it's an expensive phone, generating a big buzz. It's the Motorola V60. It kind of has a Batman, or metallic look. It does a lot of things. Convergence, again, the name of the game with this thing. It gives you voice-activated dialing. A big draw is you can listen to a radio on it. So, in addition to talking on the phone, you'll hear the FM radio in your ear. Then, if a call comes in, the radio will automatically mute, and you can see with Caller ID who might be calling.

LIN: Price tag?

OSBORNE: $400.

LIN: All right. Out of a student's budget.

OSBORNE: Yes. Well, and speaking of student budgets, this is a similar version, except it's the 120. It does a lot of the same things that the other one does, but it's just less expensive. It has voice ID, it has voice recognition, it has Caller ID, it has a wireless web browser. That's the key thing. Both of these phones have wireless web browsers.

Now, it's not your desk-top Internet experience, like a cable modem or a DSL. You're not going to be able to pull up and have the full web experience you would in other place. But it will give you things like stock quotes, headlines, sports scores, things like that.

LIN: What if you don't want the full web experience with a computer, but you just want to send e-mail?

OSBORNE: Well, then you've got this right here. This is the MIVO 250. It's something that a lot of people are talking about, with respect to back-to-school kinds of things.

It functions very much like a cordless phone, what a normal wireless device in your house.

LIN: This is the antenna?

OSBORNE: Yes, that is the antenna. You can take anywhere in your house. Now, you won't be able to take this to another part of the state or country, but if you're in your own home you can keep it nearby. You can send and receive e-mails from anywhere in the house. It's kind of like a wireless device.

This is just a couple of hundreds dollars, 150 one of the models, another one a little bit more than that. So, it's a way to be both connected, but also not bankrupt if you're on a limited budget.

LIN: Way to go, and every student is.

OSBORNE: Very much so.

LIN: Thank so much, Kris.

OSBORNE: Thank you, Carol.

LIN: Very interesting.

Where do we want to go next, guys, outside? Vince, what are you doing?

CELLINI: Carol?

LIN: Do you got your apron on?

CELLINI: Carol, I'm telling you what, we're cooking up some goodies out here, because it's the end of "College Week." That also means it's almost time for some college football tailgating.

When we come back, the do's and dont's of tailgating. We have an expert on hand, and we have some great food too, right here in Centennial Park. We may even throw the football around. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CELLINI: "College Week" would not be complete without a little talk about college football. But before we get to that, college football tailgating, so we've taken outside in the Centennial Park, right outside the CNN Center, and we have a tailgating expert with us, how do to it right, the do's and dont's.

Joining me now from Athlon Sports is Heather Hodde. She is from Nashville, a Vanderbilt University graduate, and she's going to tell us. -- what a layout here -- all about how to do it right when it comes to tailgating. So what are the key elements for a tailgate.

HEATHER HODDE, ATHLON SPORTS: Well actually, there are three key elements to a good tailgate. You have to keep it compact. Everything here is compact -- the table. The grill folds up and goes to a little portable case. The chairs are compact. Our port-a-john is compact, and second, you must have everything disposable. So if you can, prepare as much food as possible in advance, so that when you get to tailgate, you can take your cut apples, as we have, that would go here with our fruit dip and you use them and you put them on, and then when you're done with them, you just throw them away in your compact portable trash can, that just folds flat when you're done with it.

CELLINI: So what's the most common mistake when it comes to tailgating, just overloading yourself?

HODDE: The most common mistake is bringing too much food. When you get to the game, you can get more food. But if you have so much food at your tailgate that you're left with a cleanup, such a pain. So what you want to do is train people to come to your tailgate early, and if they know that you're not going to have that much food then you'll come early, eat your food and you'll train them to come.

CELLINI: And this is very important as well. It makes frozen drinks, I understand.

HODDE: And you can have your...

CELLINI: Battery-powered blender.

HODDE: ... your battery-powered blender, and you take your ice, and you put it in there, in your mixed drinks, and it's fabulous.

CELLINI: And what are you cooking up over here?

HODDE: Over here are the veal burgers I have, and what they are, they have onion, some onion salts, garlic salts, let's see, A-1 sauce. What we've done is we've padded them all out and then wrapped them in bacon, and the bacon gives it a great taste. And then over here, we have our chicken with Martha's Chicken Marinade. Martha was my grandmother. These are all family heirloom recipes. And it's brown sugar, pineapple juice and a number of other things. And you can find all of these recipes on athlonsports.com, or go to CNN.com click, and click on the Athlon Sports logo.

CELLINI: So what's a good time, say if you have a 1:00 kickoff, what's a good time to start tailgating, the night before?

HODDE: As soon as possible. The afternoon before.

CELLINI: Do you need much setup for all of this? How much setup time?

HODDE: I would say, in order to prepare your food, if you give it an hour the night before, and you get out there, and it takes 15 minutes tops to set the stuff up. But I recommend tailgating as early in the morning in possible. And if that means 3:00, and you just head there from the bars, that's fine, you know. Whatever you want to do.

CELLINI: Is it possible to overindulge while you're tailgating, in terms of beverages.

HODDE: Actually, yes. I personally have never, ever, done that. But some people...

CELLINI: Never?

HODDE: Ever. But some people do. I would recommend for every one alcoholic beverage your drink, drink one full glass of water. That keeps you hydrated and it keeps you a little bit more sober.

CELLINI: I've got to tell you, this is a sensational menu, and you must do it right at Vande. They're doing that all over the country now as we are the eve of first big Saturday in college football.

HODDE: That's right.

CELLINI: And Carol of course couldn't stay inside. Carol is getting hooked up out here, hooked up, and she's ready to come and indulge in some of this great food.

We also want to throw the football around. So, Chris, what do you say? Someone go deep for me here. And I want one of these veal burgers. Where is it?

HODDE: All right, I'm going to get one of these veal burgers out. LIN: This looks great.

HODDE: Thank you. Thank you.

CELLINI: Got it?

HODDE: Oh, so close, so close.

CELLINI: But anyway, thank you very much, Heather Hodde. The food is great. And thank you everyone for being part of "College Week," including our CNN Student Bureau for providing all of those great stories during the course of the week.

LIN: This looks fabulous.

CELLINI: You know, it's funny how you arrived just in time to eat.

LIN: Thanks for doing all the cooking, Vince.

And thanks so much for doing this all week long. You're been a great sport.

CELLINI: I had a great time. It was a lot of fun.

LIN: Come back.

CELLINI: OK.

LIN: We're going to dig in. Thanks so much.

CELLINI: We have to go, but then we also have to eat.

LIN: Have a great Labor Day, and good luck at college.

CELLINI: Bye.

HODDE: Bye.

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