Pause. Sigh. Brake. Pause. Sigh. Brake. This is repeatedly what happens to student Matt Hoagland when he drives to the Student Recreation Center every day.
Hoagland has a New Year’s Resolution to go to the Student Recreation Center. The problem is, so do many other students. Hoagland expresses his frustration with the lack of parking and the crowdedness of the facility.
“It takes a long time to find a spot at the rec center, and even when I do get in,most of the machines are taken,” he said. Hoagland said that he chooses the times that he goes to the Student Recreational Center in regards to when he thinks the fewest people are going to be there. “After nine at night is usually a safe time to go,” he said.
The Student Recreational Center is a rather new and high class facility where many students work out. With a large student population, it is fully equipped with racquetball courts, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, a full length pool and a large hot tub, to name a few. However, many students are starting to get very frustrated with the crowdedness of the Student Recreational Center.
“Parking is bad, I can never find a machine, and even the pool is full. Every time I go I have to share a swimming lane with someone else,” said junior Kolleen Carlson. “I have been so frustrated with the parking that I have started to just walk there when I go.”
Carlson went on to state that when she had gone to the Student Recreational Center earlier in the day, it took ten minutes to navigate through the traffic so her boyfriend could drop her off.
When students get lucky and do find parking, there is another problem that awaits them: the parking ticket. Junior Julie Carson parked at the Student Recreational Center when the machine for buying parking passes was broken. “The machine was broken, so I figured that they would not check and would not issue parking tickets. I came back to my car to find a twenty-dollar ticket,” said Carson.
It was thought that perhaps the business at the Student Recreational Center was due to all of the students with New Years Resolutions. Either students are sticking to their resolutions, or something will need to be done to accommodate the rise in students visiting the Student Recreational Center.
Student Recreational Center employee Josh Goudge said, “When it comes to the number of people attending there are always changes. There are definite patterns to our patron counts we take every hour.” Goudge went on to say that, “People increase attendance before and after breaks as well as during warmer weather.”
When asked if there were any plans to expand the Student Recreational Center to accommodate all the students, Goudge said that there may be plans in the future. “There is talk of plans for expansion of the Rec Center, out to the east to accommodate more patrons and equipment. There is nothing formal, however, and the capital planning has no plans to fund such an expansion as far as I know.”
“We are happy to see as many as possible, even though it means waiting a bit for equipment because we love to encourage active, healthy living for all,” said Goudge.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Two special leads
1. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/21/hotel.fall.ap/index.html
-- Just a month after his 16-story fall and merciful landing onto a hotel overhang, Joshua Hanson is off crutches from a broken leg, mostly healed from his other injuries and thankful he has no memory of the plunge.
"I feel really lucky I don't remember it because I probably would have some pretty serious nightmares," said the 29-year-old bar owner from Blair, Wisconsin, who crashed out a hotel window January 20 after a night drinking with his friends.
"I'm walking without a crutch, I'm getting around pretty good. I mean, I feel really good," Hanson said Tuesday after a couple weeks of recuperation at his parents' home
I think that this is a narrative lead. The first part of the story focuses on how he is thankful that he has no memory of the fall, not about the specifics and the five W's. I think that this lead is good for this story because it catches people's attention. It is more interesting and more personal then just stating the facts. I think that a statacco lead would be very interesting, maybe with interjections about how he felt when he fell. That would attract readers as well. I think that a special lead, in this case, is better than a regular lead because it garners more human interest.
2. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17031907/
Before Britney Spears was cutting her hair off, she was pulling it out.
This is an example of a compare and contrast lead. It uses the words "cutting..off' and "pulling...out" as contrast to attract the reader. The lead is very catchy and simple, and encourages the reader to continue on with the story. Later in the story it says the possible reasons why she shaved her head and also has a source from a friend of Spears. Other leads that could work for this story could include a question lead or even a quote lead. An example of a question could directly ask why she cut all of her hair off, and then answer it in a following paragraph. A quote lead could work as well, if there was a source close to her that went on record as to why exactly she cut all of her hair off.
-- Just a month after his 16-story fall and merciful landing onto a hotel overhang, Joshua Hanson is off crutches from a broken leg, mostly healed from his other injuries and thankful he has no memory of the plunge.
"I feel really lucky I don't remember it because I probably would have some pretty serious nightmares," said the 29-year-old bar owner from Blair, Wisconsin, who crashed out a hotel window January 20 after a night drinking with his friends.
"I'm walking without a crutch, I'm getting around pretty good. I mean, I feel really good," Hanson said Tuesday after a couple weeks of recuperation at his parents' home
I think that this is a narrative lead. The first part of the story focuses on how he is thankful that he has no memory of the fall, not about the specifics and the five W's. I think that this lead is good for this story because it catches people's attention. It is more interesting and more personal then just stating the facts. I think that a statacco lead would be very interesting, maybe with interjections about how he felt when he fell. That would attract readers as well. I think that a special lead, in this case, is better than a regular lead because it garners more human interest.
2. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17031907/
Before Britney Spears was cutting her hair off, she was pulling it out.
This is an example of a compare and contrast lead. It uses the words "cutting..off' and "pulling...out" as contrast to attract the reader. The lead is very catchy and simple, and encourages the reader to continue on with the story. Later in the story it says the possible reasons why she shaved her head and also has a source from a friend of Spears. Other leads that could work for this story could include a question lead or even a quote lead. An example of a question could directly ask why she cut all of her hair off, and then answer it in a following paragraph. A quote lead could work as well, if there was a source close to her that went on record as to why exactly she cut all of her hair off.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Hourglass Style News Story
Because of a protest on campus on Friday, 22 people got arrested and three University police officers were injured.
The protest occurred during the Board of Regents meeting. The protest was organized by two campus groups, Students Against Racism and the American Student Organization. Most of the 200 deonstrators were students.
One of the items on the regents’ agenda was the university’s plan to require a class in cultural diversity for all faculty.
Everyone who was arrested was charged with trespassing on state property when they refused to disperse. Twelve were charged with resisting arrest while ten were charged with assault. The ones charged with assault allegedly threw rocks and bottles at university police officers.
All of the 22 arrested were students, and 21 were taken to the jail. The only reason that the 22nd student was released was because he was a minor and was released into his parents custody.
“It just got out of hand,” said University Police Chief R. Barclay Peterson. “First they were gathered around the fountain at Central Mall. One group was chanting, ‘No more racism’ and the other was saying ‘Stop diversity.’ Then they started marching toward Regents Hall, where the regents were meeting. They were disrupting classes. When they were asked to disperse, all hell broke loose.”
Peterson said he did not call extra officers in until the protesters started marching. The police showed up soon after. “They should not have come at us,” said Jonathan Walterson, president of Students Against Racism. “We would have remained loud, but peaceful. We were doing what we believed in. The university must do more to promote diversity.”
Walterson, a junior journalism student, was one of those arrested. He was charged with assault, resisting arrest and trespassing.
The three officers hit included Officer Andrea Wilson, Officer James Nelson, and Sgt. Jerico Turner. Wilson was treated for a gash on her forehead while Nelson and Turner were treated for bruises because of thrown items.
Peterson said that the groups began to rally at about noon. At about 1:15pm protestors from both groups started marching to Regents Hall, in hopes to meet the Regents during their lunch break. They never made it to Regents Hall.
Peterson said he called in the extra officers at about 1:20 p.m. because “the demonstrators just got too loud and rowdy. We asked them several times to disperse and go back to the fountain, where the rally was to be held, but they would not. They shouted at each other even louder, and some of them began throwing things.”
There were about half a dozen officers until more officers were called in.
The officers were using bullhorns to order to demonstrators to disperse, but they refused, explained Peterson.
According to Peterson, the demonstration was at its worst by 1:25pm when the protestors began to throw things at the police and start shouting at them.
By about 1:30 pm most of the demonstrators began to back off. Those that did not back off were then arrested.
Peterson said that the protest delayed the beginning of the afternoon session of the regents meeting.
The regents did not take action on the new requirement. They decided to study the matter more and discuss it again at their next monthly meeting, which will be held May 16 in Regents Hall.
“We’re not against rallies,” Peterson said. “They can hold them all they want, as long as they get a permit from the university. But we don’t want them to get out of hand. We don’t want our officers hurt. They can rally, but other peaceful students also have the right to attend classes without being disrupted by shouting and violent demonstrators.”
The regents refused to comment on why they took no action Friday. “Until we make our decision on faculty training, we will not discuss it,” said Regents president Clifford Eisel.
“We’ll do whatever it takes to keep the regents from caving into every demand that comes along,” said Brian Allen, the president of the American Student Organization. “Our faculty do not need additional training in diversity. Many of our faculty aren’t even from this country.”
Allen was one of the students arrested and charged with assault, resisting arrest and trespassing. Thirteen of those arrested were from his group.
The protest occurred during the Board of Regents meeting. The protest was organized by two campus groups, Students Against Racism and the American Student Organization. Most of the 200 deonstrators were students.
One of the items on the regents’ agenda was the university’s plan to require a class in cultural diversity for all faculty.
Everyone who was arrested was charged with trespassing on state property when they refused to disperse. Twelve were charged with resisting arrest while ten were charged with assault. The ones charged with assault allegedly threw rocks and bottles at university police officers.
All of the 22 arrested were students, and 21 were taken to the jail. The only reason that the 22nd student was released was because he was a minor and was released into his parents custody.
“It just got out of hand,” said University Police Chief R. Barclay Peterson. “First they were gathered around the fountain at Central Mall. One group was chanting, ‘No more racism’ and the other was saying ‘Stop diversity.’ Then they started marching toward Regents Hall, where the regents were meeting. They were disrupting classes. When they were asked to disperse, all hell broke loose.”
Peterson said he did not call extra officers in until the protesters started marching. The police showed up soon after. “They should not have come at us,” said Jonathan Walterson, president of Students Against Racism. “We would have remained loud, but peaceful. We were doing what we believed in. The university must do more to promote diversity.”
Walterson, a junior journalism student, was one of those arrested. He was charged with assault, resisting arrest and trespassing.
The three officers hit included Officer Andrea Wilson, Officer James Nelson, and Sgt. Jerico Turner. Wilson was treated for a gash on her forehead while Nelson and Turner were treated for bruises because of thrown items.
Peterson said that the groups began to rally at about noon. At about 1:15pm protestors from both groups started marching to Regents Hall, in hopes to meet the Regents during their lunch break. They never made it to Regents Hall.
Peterson said he called in the extra officers at about 1:20 p.m. because “the demonstrators just got too loud and rowdy. We asked them several times to disperse and go back to the fountain, where the rally was to be held, but they would not. They shouted at each other even louder, and some of them began throwing things.”
There were about half a dozen officers until more officers were called in.
The officers were using bullhorns to order to demonstrators to disperse, but they refused, explained Peterson.
According to Peterson, the demonstration was at its worst by 1:25pm when the protestors began to throw things at the police and start shouting at them.
By about 1:30 pm most of the demonstrators began to back off. Those that did not back off were then arrested.
Peterson said that the protest delayed the beginning of the afternoon session of the regents meeting.
The regents did not take action on the new requirement. They decided to study the matter more and discuss it again at their next monthly meeting, which will be held May 16 in Regents Hall.
“We’re not against rallies,” Peterson said. “They can hold them all they want, as long as they get a permit from the university. But we don’t want them to get out of hand. We don’t want our officers hurt. They can rally, but other peaceful students also have the right to attend classes without being disrupted by shouting and violent demonstrators.”
The regents refused to comment on why they took no action Friday. “Until we make our decision on faculty training, we will not discuss it,” said Regents president Clifford Eisel.
“We’ll do whatever it takes to keep the regents from caving into every demand that comes along,” said Brian Allen, the president of the American Student Organization. “Our faculty do not need additional training in diversity. Many of our faculty aren’t even from this country.”
Allen was one of the students arrested and charged with assault, resisting arrest and trespassing. Thirteen of those arrested were from his group.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Second day lead writing exercise 2/7
Questions remain unanswered regarding the 4-year-old girl who was missing from her crib yesterday.
Angela Melissa Norton has been missing for 24 hours. Police have been asking neighbors if they have seen or heard of the young girl.
"We are begging anyone who might have seen our daughter to please call the police or us,” urged Maria L. Norton, the mother of the young girl. “She has never been away from home without us, and we are certain that she must be terrified not to be in her own home. Please, anyone who has information, please let us know."
Angela Melissa Norton has been missing for 24 hours. Police have been asking neighbors if they have seen or heard of the young girl.
"We are begging anyone who might have seen our daughter to please call the police or us,” urged Maria L. Norton, the mother of the young girl. “She has never been away from home without us, and we are certain that she must be terrified not to be in her own home. Please, anyone who has information, please let us know."
Sunday, February 4, 2007
First assignment
Students remain confused about the opening of the CUB as complications arise because of the ongoing construction and a lack of student unity.
The Compton Student Union Building will be open for student use by Fall 2008, according to ASWSU Vice-President Janeen Heath. Many students are unaware of the actual opening date of the CUB. “I never knew when the CUB was supposed to open,” said student Kristen Perrin, a sophomore Public Relations major. “A lot of my friends don’t know either. I feel like the campus is in the dark about when it actually will open.”Heath spoke on record regarding to many questions students have about the CUB renovations on Friday afternoon. “The CUB will be fully operational to students in Fall 2008,” Heath stated.Another problem is the actual look of the CUB currently. “It looks like nothing is being accomplished from the outside,” said junior Psychology major Kristen Betts. “Everyday I walk by and it is one giant eye sore.”Currently, the construction workers are just working on the basic structure of the building. According to Heath, beginning on June 15th the university will take over and begin building the interior, based on the different vendors that will be offered in the CUB.“I think the students are going to be very excited about what is to come,” said Heath. She also exclusively said that there will be an announcement on March 2nd to state which vendors are coming to the CUB next year.Another issue on hand about the CUB closure is a possible lack of student unity. Student unions are vital to college campuses and are a main part of student life, according to Karen Kibbey, a junior communication major. “I definitely feel that there is a lack of student unity on campus. There isn’t a place that the students can hang out and congregate together with the CUB closure,” she said. Heath definitely thinks that is hard to bring the students together without the central CUB location. “It is difficult to find a space that big. You have to go outside the main core and heart of campus,” Heath said. “It is definitely an added task for ASWSU this year.”Pullman is such a close knit community and the town has been very open to welcoming students all around town. “The city of Pullman has been good about stretching resources for students to use,” said Heath. “There has been a lot of collaboration with the city in this process.”In another effort to bring students together, ASWSU president Zach Wurtz, along with Heath, planned the first ever All Campus Retreat this year. Leaders from a variety of different student groups were asked to participate in the retreat, which took place last September 22-24. “It definitely helped break stereotypes and first impressions about different groups of students on campus. It was big success and was a bonding experience,” she said.Although the close of the CUB may be a bit inconvenient right now, the future rewards will be worth it. “We are a huge university, and students have sacrificed before us and it is now our turn to make it the university stronger for future Cougs,” said Heath.
The Compton Student Union Building will be open for student use by Fall 2008, according to ASWSU Vice-President Janeen Heath. Many students are unaware of the actual opening date of the CUB. “I never knew when the CUB was supposed to open,” said student Kristen Perrin, a sophomore Public Relations major. “A lot of my friends don’t know either. I feel like the campus is in the dark about when it actually will open.”Heath spoke on record regarding to many questions students have about the CUB renovations on Friday afternoon. “The CUB will be fully operational to students in Fall 2008,” Heath stated.Another problem is the actual look of the CUB currently. “It looks like nothing is being accomplished from the outside,” said junior Psychology major Kristen Betts. “Everyday I walk by and it is one giant eye sore.”Currently, the construction workers are just working on the basic structure of the building. According to Heath, beginning on June 15th the university will take over and begin building the interior, based on the different vendors that will be offered in the CUB.“I think the students are going to be very excited about what is to come,” said Heath. She also exclusively said that there will be an announcement on March 2nd to state which vendors are coming to the CUB next year.Another issue on hand about the CUB closure is a possible lack of student unity. Student unions are vital to college campuses and are a main part of student life, according to Karen Kibbey, a junior communication major. “I definitely feel that there is a lack of student unity on campus. There isn’t a place that the students can hang out and congregate together with the CUB closure,” she said. Heath definitely thinks that is hard to bring the students together without the central CUB location. “It is difficult to find a space that big. You have to go outside the main core and heart of campus,” Heath said. “It is definitely an added task for ASWSU this year.”Pullman is such a close knit community and the town has been very open to welcoming students all around town. “The city of Pullman has been good about stretching resources for students to use,” said Heath. “There has been a lot of collaboration with the city in this process.”In another effort to bring students together, ASWSU president Zach Wurtz, along with Heath, planned the first ever All Campus Retreat this year. Leaders from a variety of different student groups were asked to participate in the retreat, which took place last September 22-24. “It definitely helped break stereotypes and first impressions about different groups of students on campus. It was big success and was a bonding experience,” she said.Although the close of the CUB may be a bit inconvenient right now, the future rewards will be worth it. “We are a huge university, and students have sacrificed before us and it is now our turn to make it the university stronger for future Cougs,” said Heath.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Summary lead evaluation(make up)
One lead that I thought was strong was one that I found in the Daily Evergreen. The article is from the paper released on Monday, January 29th, 2007. The lead is as follows.
"The WSU Board of Regents unanimously increased Martin Stadium renovation funding and amended the FacultyManual on Friday."
I think that this lead is good because it discussed most of the five W's. The what is the renovation funding was increased, the who is the WSU Board of Regents, and the when was Friday. In the lead it doesn't say where, but I think that in this instance it isn't very important where exactly they met, unless they met in some odd area that would attract attention. Additionally, the 'why' aspect isn't really brought up either. Because I am a student at WSU, the 'why' could just be a given, since I am interested in the betterment of the University. But if I wasn't a student, I probably wouldn't really care. I think that this lead is good for the school newspaper, but would probably question its newsworthiness if it was in a different newspaper.
"The WSU Board of Regents unanimously increased Martin Stadium renovation funding and amended the FacultyManual on Friday."
I think that this lead is good because it discussed most of the five W's. The what is the renovation funding was increased, the who is the WSU Board of Regents, and the when was Friday. In the lead it doesn't say where, but I think that in this instance it isn't very important where exactly they met, unless they met in some odd area that would attract attention. Additionally, the 'why' aspect isn't really brought up either. Because I am a student at WSU, the 'why' could just be a given, since I am interested in the betterment of the University. But if I wasn't a student, I probably wouldn't really care. I think that this lead is good for the school newspaper, but would probably question its newsworthiness if it was in a different newspaper.
Make up for In Class Assignment 1/31
The Iraqi government said Sunday it could attack American and British bases in the Persian Gulf that are used to launch airstrikes against Iraq.
The Iraqi statement was issued following a meeting Saddam held with three senior aides. It again warned Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to distance themselves from the United States.
“We, by help from God and support from the sons of our glorious Arab nation, including true and sincere nationals … in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, have the ability to attack the soldiers and means of aggression from whatever region,” Iraqi television said, quoting a statement from President Saddam Hussein and senior leaders.
“Once again … we draw the attention of the rulers of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and tell them you are getting involved now in a vicious and aggressive war that the people of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have no interest in,” the statement said.
The statement came amid a simmering war of nerves with the United States and Britain over “no-fly” zones imposed in northern and southern Iraq. Iraq does not recognize the zones and has vowed to fire at any plane that violates its airspace.
Both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have opened their air bases to U.S. and British planes that patrol the no-fly zones.
The United States has accused Iraq of more than 90 violations of the no-fly zones since mid-December. It said U.S. and British forces have retaliated by attacking more than 40 Iraqi targets.
The zones were set up by the United States, Britain and France after the 1991 Persian Gulf War to prevent the Iraqi air force from attacking rebels in the north and south.
The statement did not specify what type of action Iraq would take against the U.S. and British bases.
The Iraqi statement was issued following a meeting Saddam held with three senior aides. It again warned Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to distance themselves from the United States.
“We, by help from God and support from the sons of our glorious Arab nation, including true and sincere nationals … in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, have the ability to attack the soldiers and means of aggression from whatever region,” Iraqi television said, quoting a statement from President Saddam Hussein and senior leaders.
“Once again … we draw the attention of the rulers of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and tell them you are getting involved now in a vicious and aggressive war that the people of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have no interest in,” the statement said.
The statement came amid a simmering war of nerves with the United States and Britain over “no-fly” zones imposed in northern and southern Iraq. Iraq does not recognize the zones and has vowed to fire at any plane that violates its airspace.
Both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have opened their air bases to U.S. and British planes that patrol the no-fly zones.
The United States has accused Iraq of more than 90 violations of the no-fly zones since mid-December. It said U.S. and British forces have retaliated by attacking more than 40 Iraqi targets.
The zones were set up by the United States, Britain and France after the 1991 Persian Gulf War to prevent the Iraqi air force from attacking rebels in the north and south.
The statement did not specify what type of action Iraq would take against the U.S. and British bases.
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