Editor Pitches: Reporting Assignment

Dear Editor,

Pitch 1: An analysis of the Athletic Department’s budget and its appropriation of funds has yet to be investigated by The Summer Evergreen. Majors are being cut, tuition is increasing, enrollment numbers are bound to change and yet the athletic department is still making lavish per diem payments to student athletes in Pullman. Ken Bone, the new men’s basketball coach, will be earning upwards of a half-million dollars per season despite cutbacks to the majority of the colleges. The goal would be to answer the question What does this say about the university's priorities.

Caveats: Opinions could easily find there way into the article and access could be another issue. Many key sources may not want to discuss the department’s finances given the current cutbacks.

Pitch 2: A large number of students who planned on enrolling in summer classes dropped at the last second, leading to an apparent dip in student enrollment for summer courses. This sudden plunge is more than likely due to the economy. Students were forced to decide between earning a couple credits or trying to earn money for the fall semester. Possible sources include professors and students whose classes were cancelled, employees in the registrar’s office and possibly local business owners who feel the effects of having fewer customers. This could be a panorama of a community and how it is managing to get by during the first summer of the current economic downfall.

Pitch 3: Governor Gregoire is set to sign a law that imposes harsher regulation on payday loans in Washington. Many college students rely on payday loans despite the high interest rates and numerous other drawbacks. In order to provide a human element to the story, interviewing people who not only take payday loans but also those who make the loans would be a necessity. If I could find a couple local payday locations and talk to their customers, readers will be able to understand why these loans created such a lucrative market.

Sincerely,
Gavin Mathis