Fan Parking
You resisted the urge to press the snooze-button, drove to school right on time, only to find your usual parking lot filled with Recreational Vehicles (RV).
During Cougar football season, this is an all-to-common reality for university students. Any time there is a Friday home game; parking spaces students have paid for are rented out to enthusiastic tailgaters. Washington State University’s (WSU) Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) rent the parking spaces to RV owners for $40 per weekend. The parking lot most affected by this situation, is the yellow lot on Stadium Way, east of WSU’s indoor practice facility.
Students who have purchased parking passes that allow them to park in the same lot, paid $240.97 for the 2008-2009 academic year. In some instances, the RV owners place cones in parking spaces, close to theirs, to save room for friends arriving in other RVs. This is not allowed by WSU’s PTS, but there are no security officers or PTS employees regulating this activity. On at least one occasion, this resulted in a verbal altercation between a student and an RV owner when the student removed the cones from an otherwise empty parking space.
PTS notifies students, who are yellow permit holders, of upcoming RV parking through the MyWSU portal notice system. PTS Field Operations and Transportation Manager, Bridgette Johnson, said students who complain about parking shortages are given temporary access to another parking lot, but for students like sophomore Kaitlin A. Vervoort this solution is inadequate.
Vervoort, who lives at her family’s home in Pullman, said on home game Fridays, she has to park much farther from her classes, adding “valuable time” to her daily commute. “I worry about drunken football fans damaging my car if I park in the same lot, but that parking lot is by far the closest to my classes,” Vervoort said.
Johnson recognizes issues for students like Vervoort, but said WSU has no plans to expand parking in the near future. There is currently an excess of parking, though some of the available lots are farther from campus. Johnson added that the crimson and gray lots, closest to the center of campus, are reserved for student parking-pass-holders living in the residence halls. These lots are not affected by the RV parking. So although the students affected are placed in other parking lots, they are significantly farther from campus causing timing issues for working students like Vervoort.
Vervoort says she also has difficulty parking at the Student Recreation Center (SRC) because the RVs sometimes overflow into those parking lots. “It’s unfortunate that after all of the money I had to spend on the parking pass, I am forced to park on the other side of campus,” Vervoort said. Vervoort lives too far from campus to walk and her house is not close to a bus route.
RVs are allowed to park anytime after 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the home game, why the PTS says this is not detrimental to students commuting to class. The RV parking passes rented out, for any yellow lot, are only available to Cougar Football season ticket holders.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Ethics Assignment
1. When referring to the allegation that Mayor Jim West was pursuing underage boysonline, why do you think editor Steven Smith differentiated between a legitimate newsstory and one that is not legitimate when he said, "If he's [Mayor Jim West] engaged in this activity … we need to know that. If he's not -- there's no story"?
Editor Steven Smith said this because while the public may not be as heavily effected by exageration of celebrity behavior, a local politician can be seen as a reflection of that community. Also, if the Spokesman Review printed a story that ruined the Mayor's reputation, then found out his actions could not be proven, it would inevitably ruin their relationship with the Mayor and likely other associated local politicians. This is why they confirmed the Mayor's online identity.
2. How did reporter Bill Morlin justify the use of a concealed identity on Gay.com as partof The Spokesman-Review's and the FBI's "sting operation"? Why didn't Morlin himselfcreate the assumed identity to engage Mayor West online?
Bill Morlin justified the use of a concealed identity on Gay.com because they it could be legally proven. The newspaper's code of ethics was also a factor preventing them from creating their own fake identity. The online identity's age was controversial because the source who originally came to the newspaper was of age.
3. Why do you think The Spokesman-Review ultimately published so many articles on Mayor West's alleged improprieties?
The editor said the story was not about the Mayor being gay, but the Mayor's abuse of his position. The beginning of the video also said that Spokane residents are not accepting of their gay community, so clearly this story would be disturbing and scandolous (and therefore heavily followed) by the Spokesman Review readers.
4. In the final analysis, who benefited from The Spokesman-Review's decision to expose Mayor West and his alleged improprieties? Who was hurt? Do you think the outcome was worth it? Explain your reasoning.
The newspaper benefited much more than the community because there were no confirmed cases of him molesting children. This may be more of an opinion, but someone living a gay lifestyle does not effect the entire community. He did, however, abuse his powers. This abuse of power by offering the young man (online) an internship should be public information because he is an elected official. The outcome was worth it because if had abused young children, the public outcry would have led to investigations confirming this behavior.
5. The Spokesman-Review has been criticized as conducting a "witch hunt" in its reporting on the private lives of some city officials. Below is a link to another recent article on Spokane Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch. Do you think that there are any ethical problems in the reporting in this story? Why or why not?
I think that reporting on the private lives of public officials is fair game. This is due to the fact that their salaries are funded by public money and that they make the decisions that effect their community. Their behavior outside of work, while seemingly not related to their duties in-office, are unfortuantely the business of the public they are representing.
Editor Steven Smith said this because while the public may not be as heavily effected by exageration of celebrity behavior, a local politician can be seen as a reflection of that community. Also, if the Spokesman Review printed a story that ruined the Mayor's reputation, then found out his actions could not be proven, it would inevitably ruin their relationship with the Mayor and likely other associated local politicians. This is why they confirmed the Mayor's online identity.
2. How did reporter Bill Morlin justify the use of a concealed identity on Gay.com as partof The Spokesman-Review's and the FBI's "sting operation"? Why didn't Morlin himselfcreate the assumed identity to engage Mayor West online?
Bill Morlin justified the use of a concealed identity on Gay.com because they it could be legally proven. The newspaper's code of ethics was also a factor preventing them from creating their own fake identity. The online identity's age was controversial because the source who originally came to the newspaper was of age.
3. Why do you think The Spokesman-Review ultimately published so many articles on Mayor West's alleged improprieties?
The editor said the story was not about the Mayor being gay, but the Mayor's abuse of his position. The beginning of the video also said that Spokane residents are not accepting of their gay community, so clearly this story would be disturbing and scandolous (and therefore heavily followed) by the Spokesman Review readers.
4. In the final analysis, who benefited from The Spokesman-Review's decision to expose Mayor West and his alleged improprieties? Who was hurt? Do you think the outcome was worth it? Explain your reasoning.
The newspaper benefited much more than the community because there were no confirmed cases of him molesting children. This may be more of an opinion, but someone living a gay lifestyle does not effect the entire community. He did, however, abuse his powers. This abuse of power by offering the young man (online) an internship should be public information because he is an elected official. The outcome was worth it because if had abused young children, the public outcry would have led to investigations confirming this behavior.
5. The Spokesman-Review has been criticized as conducting a "witch hunt" in its reporting on the private lives of some city officials. Below is a link to another recent article on Spokane Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch. Do you think that there are any ethical problems in the reporting in this story? Why or why not?
I think that reporting on the private lives of public officials is fair game. This is due to the fact that their salaries are funded by public money and that they make the decisions that effect their community. Their behavior outside of work, while seemingly not related to their duties in-office, are unfortuantely the business of the public they are representing.
Monday, October 13, 2008
In-class assignment: Identify two special leads
Narrative lead example:
Tony Miller spends his days in a towel-draped chair, heavily medicated and sweating profusely as prostate cancer spreads through his body. Over and over again, he changes out of drenched T-shirts and shorts, puts them on a hanger to dry and then goes back to his chair to sweat some more.
After a lifetime of international travel as a journalist, the 65-year-old Miller has made this one-room apartment in Portland his final home.
Miller was drawn here by an only-in-Oregon-law that enables terminally ill patients to obtain lethal prescriptions once their life expectancy falls below six months.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008259886_oregonlaw13m0.html
Quote lead example:
Tim Robbins is known in Hollywood as an Academy Award-winning actor, director, activist and hockey fanatic. On Friday, he added comedian to his repertoire while getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"I used to take the bus from here to Burbank to go to work," he recalled. "When the bus was late, I would walk up and down and throw my cigarettes down. Now I have the honor of having this done to my star."
Guests at the ceremony included Robbins' longtime partner, Susan Sarandon, as well as relatively diminutive actor Jack Black, who said he has known the tall, lanky Robbins for 25 years.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/10/13/tim.robbins.walk.fame.ap/index.html
Tony Miller spends his days in a towel-draped chair, heavily medicated and sweating profusely as prostate cancer spreads through his body. Over and over again, he changes out of drenched T-shirts and shorts, puts them on a hanger to dry and then goes back to his chair to sweat some more.
After a lifetime of international travel as a journalist, the 65-year-old Miller has made this one-room apartment in Portland his final home.
Miller was drawn here by an only-in-Oregon-law that enables terminally ill patients to obtain lethal prescriptions once their life expectancy falls below six months.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008259886_oregonlaw13m0.html
Quote lead example:
Tim Robbins is known in Hollywood as an Academy Award-winning actor, director, activist and hockey fanatic. On Friday, he added comedian to his repertoire while getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"I used to take the bus from here to Burbank to go to work," he recalled. "When the bus was late, I would walk up and down and throw my cigarettes down. Now I have the honor of having this done to my star."
Guests at the ceremony included Robbins' longtime partner, Susan Sarandon, as well as relatively diminutive actor Jack Black, who said he has known the tall, lanky Robbins for 25 years.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/10/13/tim.robbins.walk.fame.ap/index.html
Monday, October 6, 2008
In-class Assignment: "Second-day Lead"
The parents of missing 4-year-old, Angela Melissa Norton, issued a statement today as police continue to search for their daughter who went missing last Saturday. Samuel and Maria Norton are urging anyone with information on their daughter's disappearance to come forward immediately.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
In-class Assignment Questions
What is the "beast?"
The "beast" is the news cycle or news outlet.
What does it need to be fed?
The "beast" needs to be fed a constant stream of stories that will make people read.
What compromises (if any) might occur in trying to feed the 24-hour news cycle in print, TV and the internet?
The truth could be compromised if the pressure for stories is great enough. The stiff competition between news outlets results in a rush to get the story out first. In doing so, their may not be time to ensure all sources are truly credible. In one instance shown in the video, a reporter writes a story based on someone elses research and thereby takes that writer's credit by using their information to write a story without speaking to them. Reporters also have a team working behind them and many times find out what they will be reporting when they walk into work.
A responsible reporter will not report something when he or she is unsure of the credibility of the source or research.
The "beast" is the news cycle or news outlet.
What does it need to be fed?
The "beast" needs to be fed a constant stream of stories that will make people read.
What compromises (if any) might occur in trying to feed the 24-hour news cycle in print, TV and the internet?
The truth could be compromised if the pressure for stories is great enough. The stiff competition between news outlets results in a rush to get the story out first. In doing so, their may not be time to ensure all sources are truly credible. In one instance shown in the video, a reporter writes a story based on someone elses research and thereby takes that writer's credit by using their information to write a story without speaking to them. Reporters also have a team working behind them and many times find out what they will be reporting when they walk into work.
A responsible reporter will not report something when he or she is unsure of the credibility of the source or research.
Finances threaten local horse rescue
MOSCOW, Idaho. — Orphan Acres Horse Rescue (OAHR) is struggling to stay in business after defending itself from multiple costly complaints from Latah County citizens.
Brent M.F. Glover, owner of OAHR and primary caretaker of the rescue’s 64 horses says unwarranted formal complaints filed through Idaho’s Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Industries are making the rescue difficult to continue.
There have been more than 20 formal complaints filed against the rescue since 2004. An OAHR volunteer filed a complaint alleging that there was a starving horse on the property. “The horse was starving because I had just taken her in, I’d had her for three days, you can’t starve a horse in three days,” said Glover.
To defend himself, Glover was required to spend close to 40,000 dollars on veterinary exams and health certificates for each horse, as well as attorney fees. The accusations were dropped when his horses passed veterinary exams, but Glover was not reimbursed for any of the money he spent defending himself.
Glover admittedly cannot afford to vaccinate all of his horses; his horses are not vaccinated with the West-Nile Virus vaccine that can prevent a deadly mosquito carrying
disease. “I have just enough money for routine worming, but anything leftover I have to use sparingly,” said Glover.
Hay cost Glover over 80,000 this year; making ends meet has been difficult even without his legal expenses. A supporter of OAHR and Idaho resident, Debbie Richards said in an email to the Division of Animal Industries, “I believe it better serves the best interests of the animals, and the community, to contribute rather than condemn an individual who has done so much for so long.”
Idaho’s State Veterinarian, Scott Barnes works with Livestock Investigator, Amity Larsen to investigate the formal complaints against OAHR. Barnes has ordered mandatory veterinary exams to multiple horses on Glover’s property after observing wounded animals and unsanitary living conditions. Glover says Larsen has been trying to put him out of business for years. “I make her look bad,” Glover said, “the court has to call me in to save the livestock she didn’t.”
On the contrary, however, Larsen and Barnes’ investigative remarks often suggested after reviewing the formal complaints against Glover, that most did not warrant any further investigation. Neither Barnes nor Larsen could be reached for an interview.
The complaints ranged from accusations of manure-filled stall bedding, moldy hay, to starvation and neglect.
Glover depends on donations to care for his horses, but says not all donations come from goodwill. They drop off anything they can’t use anymore, Glover said, even if it is of no use to me, just because they don’t want to pay to take it to the dump. Glover then must use his own money to dispose of the unusable donations.
Glover’s rescue horses come from humane societies, state agencies, court orders, and individuals who can no longer provide proper care for their horses. Glover says he has placed over 1,600 horses in new homes through his rescue.
Brent M.F. Glover, owner of OAHR and primary caretaker of the rescue’s 64 horses says unwarranted formal complaints filed through Idaho’s Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Industries are making the rescue difficult to continue.
There have been more than 20 formal complaints filed against the rescue since 2004. An OAHR volunteer filed a complaint alleging that there was a starving horse on the property. “The horse was starving because I had just taken her in, I’d had her for three days, you can’t starve a horse in three days,” said Glover.
To defend himself, Glover was required to spend close to 40,000 dollars on veterinary exams and health certificates for each horse, as well as attorney fees. The accusations were dropped when his horses passed veterinary exams, but Glover was not reimbursed for any of the money he spent defending himself.
Glover admittedly cannot afford to vaccinate all of his horses; his horses are not vaccinated with the West-Nile Virus vaccine that can prevent a deadly mosquito carrying
disease. “I have just enough money for routine worming, but anything leftover I have to use sparingly,” said Glover.
Hay cost Glover over 80,000 this year; making ends meet has been difficult even without his legal expenses. A supporter of OAHR and Idaho resident, Debbie Richards said in an email to the Division of Animal Industries, “I believe it better serves the best interests of the animals, and the community, to contribute rather than condemn an individual who has done so much for so long.”
Idaho’s State Veterinarian, Scott Barnes works with Livestock Investigator, Amity Larsen to investigate the formal complaints against OAHR. Barnes has ordered mandatory veterinary exams to multiple horses on Glover’s property after observing wounded animals and unsanitary living conditions. Glover says Larsen has been trying to put him out of business for years. “I make her look bad,” Glover said, “the court has to call me in to save the livestock she didn’t.”
On the contrary, however, Larsen and Barnes’ investigative remarks often suggested after reviewing the formal complaints against Glover, that most did not warrant any further investigation. Neither Barnes nor Larsen could be reached for an interview.
The complaints ranged from accusations of manure-filled stall bedding, moldy hay, to starvation and neglect.
Glover depends on donations to care for his horses, but says not all donations come from goodwill. They drop off anything they can’t use anymore, Glover said, even if it is of no use to me, just because they don’t want to pay to take it to the dump. Glover then must use his own money to dispose of the unusable donations.
Glover’s rescue horses come from humane societies, state agencies, court orders, and individuals who can no longer provide proper care for their horses. Glover says he has placed over 1,600 horses in new homes through his rescue.
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