Social Issues Story ( 2 Year College/University,4 Year College/University)Back
Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: The Clarion (Bethel University) Entry Title: We can do better: Tackling sexual assault at Bethel and Beyond Entry Credit: Jasmine Johnson, Emma Harville, Maddie DeBilzan Judge Comment: Excellent, exhaustive report on how a Christian college is coming to terms with its past attempts to deal with reports of sexual assault, and how it is now working to reform its approach while taking steps to prevent future instances. Much work apparently still lies ahead. The story states that "biblical standards can sometimes create an environment in which schools focus too much on the sex part of sexual violence and not enough on the violence part."
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: University Chronicle (SCSU) Entry Title: Retrenched SCSU librarian featured in documentary; no administration response on retrenchment Entry Credit: Tony Langfellow Judge Comment: This well-sourced report explains why words that attempt to define various groups really do matter. The main subject of the story, a retrenched librarian, says her employer has historically struggled with diversity, and this story shows how this struggle continues.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Manitou Messenger (St. Olaf) Entry Title: Academic freedom: Words and their consequences Entry Credit: Iain Carlos, Sam Carlen Judge Comment: Well-sourced report on a subject that is more timely today than ever. This story examines how one college has been forced to re-examine its academic freedom policies. Good use of quotes and outside viewpoints.
Competition Comment: Many good entries in this category. While it's dismaying to know that many campuses and communities are struggling with the same social issues that we've struggled with for decades, it's promising to know that we have top-notch emerging journalists who are well-prepared to inform us about these challenges.
