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Western Carolinian Volume 64 (65) Number 30

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  • WESTERN CAROLINIAN NEWS April 26, 2000 She's Got Issues ... Lots and Lots of Issues by Dawn Pasley Asst. News Editor 1 don't normally take issue with many topics, which is why you don't see columns written by me very often. This is my second column ever, as a matter of fact. My first one was back in February, and since then, I have learned quite a bit from being the assistant news editor, known as the ANB. Looking back over all of the issues of the Carolinian this semester, I can spot the stories that have taught me the most. The first lesson I learned was that some people actually pay very detailed attention to what is written in this newspaper. The first story I covered this semester was about the Ramsey Center vandalism. To quote my article, "Nine large glass windows were damaged by bullets from a firearm." Evidently, some people found the concept of "bullets from a firearm" rather humorous — after all, do bullets really do any damage when expelled from anything but a firearm? In my defense, I say that he could have thrown them ... well, okay, maybe not from across the street. Oh well. So much for trying to be completely clear in my use of language. I have also learned that there are some stories that I will be following up for a long time. I've already written two articles about the Fine and Performing Arts Center, and yep, it's basically still a large muddy hole in the back of Belk. Hey, maybe I'll be here long enough to cover the ribbon-cutting ceremony. I probably shouldn't complain about these things; after all, they give me stuff to put in the news section. Which brings me to the next lesson I've learned... Sometimes there are interesting things to write about, and sometimes there just aren't. This is a lesson that has fallen down hard upon me, especially since now I have to come up with things to write about. It's really quite easy to write an article if you are just handed the topic; you make a few phone calls and just sit down and write the thing. However, when you are told to take a good look at what is happening around here and come up with topics for your writers — that's when it gets tough. I've heard before that "news doesn't happen in Cullowhee." Well, that's not exactly true. It does happen from time to time, but certainly not every day, and sometimes not even every week; however, through small miracles, we are able to fill a six-page news section every week. Since the hard-core news stories dealing with crime aren't my favorite things to cover, I usually write about events that organizations and departments sponsor around campus, such as the Public Policy Institute's diversity conference, the Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Awards, and the candlelight vigil held in protest of violence. These can sometimes be the best kind of news because they focus on the good things that groups do, and the achievements of members of the student body as well as faculty and staff. photo by Seth R. Sams Everyone has a story to tell and something to contribute to our world at WCU, and that is what I have found through writing profiles of students and faculty for the Campus Spotlight. There are some truly hardworking and talented people at WCU who have not been adequately recognized, and they are a testament to the fact that no matter how small you might think this place is, anyone can make a difference. I've also learned that there aren't a whole lot of things that get most of WCU's students collectively angry, but raising prices or charging more money for a service is one of them. I don't think that I have ever had so many people ask me about a story as when I covered Academic Affairs' proposal of a new pay-for-print system. People were coming up to me right and left, asking, "What's up with that?" or "What are they thinking?" It made me wonder what might happen if these same students had gone to the administration and asked them the same questions, or given them same complaints as they gave me. Maybe the administration would have learned more quickly and powerfully that the student body was largely opposed to their proposal, before the SGA formally announced their opposition through a Senate resolution. I have also come to learn that there are many student organizations on this campus that are trying to make important changes, but perhaps the most effective of all is the Student Government Association. From small actions such as protesting pay-for-print and instituting a State-of-the-University address every month, to larger ones such as starting a shuttle service and revising the student government constitution, the SGA really is trying to make life better for students. It takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work to create these changes, but the student government officials are making an effort to improve the quality of life around the university. I've written just about all of the articles about the actions of the SGA this semester, and each time I write another one, I am thankful that there are dedicated students who are willing to work so hard for the rest of us. Being the assistant news editor has been very rewarding overall, even though everyone now expects me to know everything about everything that is going on, and he or she yells at me and asks me what is going on if the paper gets delivered after 3 in the afternoon on Wednesdays. I don't deliver the paper; sorry, it's not in my job description; whatever that might be... but I am glad that there are people that actually care about reading it, and not just for the Public Safety Highlights. I just hope that by reading the paper you all can learn something about what is going on in your university community. After all, we might have lots of issues, and you might have an issue every once in a while with what we say, but the most important issue is the one that we publish every week. Seventh Annual Division of Student Affairs Awards Division Awards New Employee Award Lisa Wilson Clara Mathis Debbie Beck Program-of-the- Year Award LMP Concert Series with Crossroads Faculty-of-the- Year Award Rob Routhieaux Energizer Award Jane Adams-Dunsford Collaboration Award George Swindoll "Star" Award for Special Achievement Elaine Hyatt Bill Metcalf Chris Gunn Jeff Hughes John Fry "Excellent-in-Advising"Award Tammi Brown Student Program-of-the-Year Award NCARH 2000 Conference Resident Assistant Association Community Award Bill Haggard Enhancing-Diversity Award Chris Gunn Western-Ambassador Award June Wytock Bright-Idea Award Michelle Lynch Research-and-Publication Award Beth Johnson Department Awards Counseling and Psychological Services Don Buckner, Staff Award Mickey Randolph, Faculty Award Jeff Sykes, Student Award Samantha Helms, Student Award University Center Charles Chancellor, Staff Award Jennifer Taylor, Student Award Health Services Tom Tabor, Staff Award Brian Shimburg, Student Award Flu Shot Program, Program Award Office of Student Affairs Todd Powell, Staff Award Charles Wallis, Faculty Award Dion RocQuemore, Student Award Rich Kucharski, Administrator Award Mitch Williams, Administrator Award University Housing Bill Metcalf, Staff Award Brian Railsback, Faculty Award Crystal Hughes, Student Award Sarah Keener, Student Award Jennifer Zak-Place, Collaborator Award Intramural Sports Mike Creason, Staff Award Lori Smith, Student Award Kevin Allmon, Student Award Upward Bound Alaysia Black, Student Award Fitness Center Lishia Dean, Student Award
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