Not another library story!
More new hires?
Who cares about a safety inspection?
These are a few of the many complaints the Campus Times hears every Friday.
Students complain that they do not get enough of what they want in their campus newspaper, but what is it that you want? More movie reviews? Music reviews? A gossip column? A report of some sensationalized scandal?
The job of a newspaper is to give its readers a balance between what they want to know and what they need to know. It should both inform and entertain the public.
The Campus Times also strives for a balance between what students at ULV want and need to know. While students may not care to read about the new computerized barcoding system that is being implemented in the library, the system will effect the manner in which the library conducts business, therefore students need to know.
The same thing is true for a variety of other stories that grace our pages. Why should students care that Derek Vergara is the new director of housing? Or that departmental safety inspections help uncover hazardous situations on campus? Students need to read these stories because they affect almost every student on campus. If a student has a problem with his or her housing arrangement or comes across a dangerous situation on campus, he or she needs to know where to turn to correct it.
Many students probably care less that, for the first time ever, the Honors Program is sending a member to the National Honors Society conference in Pittsburgh this year. This is a big deal for the society which, up until now, has had only local involvement. Whether or not some students care, it is news, and the Campus Times would have covered the story regardless of the club involved.
Do not be mistaken. The Campus Times wants to entertain its readers, as well as inform them. We try to give you what you want.
Aside from the sports pages, the opinions pages are the most read in the newspaper. Whether a personal column or staff editorial invokes anger or laughter, people read them. Opinion pieces often spark some sort of emotion from students or, we hope, cause you to think about a certain subject.
This semester, we have started writing movie reviews because so many people have told us that they would like to see them in the newspaper. We have also tried to incorporate weekly entertainment briefs on the Arts & Entertainment pages to let students know what is going on around the area.
These are examples of things students want to know. What else do students want to see in the Campus Times?
Instead of just complaining that the newspaper is too boring, make suggestion about what should be in the paper.
The Campus Times is a student newspaper, produced by students for students. It welcomes any input students have to offer.
If there is a story that should be covered or that students would be interested in, let us know. Tell a staff member about any story idea that you may have, or drop a note in one of the mailboxes in the journalism office. Everyone on staff also has an account on the Vax, so e-mail us (my address is borera). If your club or organization is holding a special event, send us a press release.
The Campus Times wishes to give the students what you want to know, but we will also balance our entertainment, sports and opinion pieces with stories that students need to know.
In the future, we will tell you that the University of La Verne is the No. 3 college in the state of California in the number of Hispanic students it graduates. Even though many of you may not necessarily care to know this fact, it is quite newsworthy.
We are also going to give you a story on fall rush, which is definitely something that students want to know.
Any other comments, suggestions or story ideas? Just let us know. We want to make you happy.
