MICHAEL J. SIMONDS
CHAPMAN PROJECTS (22-23)
ONE ROOF ONE COMMUNITY, 2022
In 2021, Santa Ana became the first city in Orange County to enact rent control. While groups like Tenants United and the Kennedy Commission celebrated this achievement, there was fierce opposition from the Apartment Association of Orange County. We sat down with members from both sides along with a member of city council in order to understand how the ordinance got passed and what the future holds for Santa Ana.
MIFFIES: COFFEE ON WHEELS, 2021
A portrait piece on Miffies Coffee, a local favorite of Chapman University students. Miffies Coffee Truck has been a staple of the Orange Home Grown Farmers Market since rolling onto the scene in 2020. Owners, Didi and Ross Lower (married), offer an assortment of drinks, pastries, and more on their 100% Plant Based menu that attracts customers vegan and non vegan alike.
HIDDEN EPIDEMIC, 2021
For our broadcast journalism class, my group focused our project on the drastic rise of opioid abuse during the Covid-19 Pandemic. It includes detailed research, reports current statistics, and features interviews with the Director of P.E.E.R. and Health Education for Chapman University, Dr. Dani Smith, and student Sophia Chacón who has a personal connection to the subject matter and was able to provide insight on having a loved one struggle with substance abuse.
BIODIVERSITY, ECOLOGICAL THREATS, AND A PLAN FOR CONSERVATION IN AUSTRALIA'S TROPICAL SHRUB SAVANNA
A research paper and 10 minute presentation I gave to my Biodiversity Conservation class that focused on Australia's Tropical Shrub Savanna. For this project I focused my attention on (3) plant and (3) animal species endemic to the Tropical Shrub Savanna habitat and examined current threats impeding their ability to survive and explore conservation efforts in order to restore their populations.
SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING OF WILDLIFE AND IT'S NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON AN ECOSYSTEM
A research paper I presented to my Ecology Class. I focused on the negative impacts of supplementary feeding wildlife and looked specifically at examples seen with Macaques in Lopburi, Thailand and Silver Springs Florida, as well as in the much more common action of owning a bird-feeder.