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If we can’t convince you, we’ll buy you
By Erik Morrison
Whalesong Editor
What does it take
to get students to write for their university newspaper? This is
the question that has taken up the majority of my spare time this
semester, and though I don’t claim to have a legitimate answer,
I’m betting that by offering “stuff” college students
need and want we will start getting more contributions.
I understand that everyone has busy schedules and is
usually unwilling to do extra work for little or no reward. I feel
your plight; I’m the same way. But it’s irksome to overhear
people dog on the Whalesong because of the size, content and aesthetic
value, when very few students have signed up for the class and even
fewer students are contributing. Our staff can only do so much with
so little to work with.
Like it or not, the Whalesong is a tangible reflection
of the University of Alaska Southeast. When someone picks up our
newspaper, whether UAS affiliated or not, they are holding in their
hand something that represents this institution. Personally I don’t
feel that the Whalesong is fairly and accurately representing the
diversity of the student body, staff and faculty of our school.
I would love to see the Whalesong become a 12-page full
colored weekly newspaper, but due to our archaic technology, small
staff, and lackluster budget, we are forced to but out an eight-page
black and white “social” paper. So how are we going to
move toward our goal? I’ve had several informal and formal
meetings with members of the administration, student government
and multiple students. We are working on several ways to update
our technology and increase our budget, and we are going to start
offering “stuff” for the staff writers and student contributors.
We haven’t got all the kinks worked out, but starting this
week we will be giving away gift certificates for student contributors
who turn in stories.
We have a handful of movie passes and several Bullwinkles
gift certificates to give away to those students willing to write
human interest, news, or opinion pieces that are 350-650 words long.
The deadline for the submissions will be Oct. 24, and the “stuff”
will be given away on a first-come first-served basis, with length
and effort determining the extent of the pay out. If everything
works out right, by the following deadline we will have a grab bag
of gift certificates from local restaurants and businesses to give
to students willing to help the Whalesong accurately represent the
diversity at UAS.
So stop by the Whalesong office across from the bookstore,
call 465-6434 or email jywhale@uas.alaska.edu,
with story ideas or contributions. If not, I guess the Whalesong
staff will be eating a lot of pizza and writing a lot of movie reviews.
Email Erik Morrison at jserm2@uas.alaska.edu
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