Thursday, September 17, 2009

Man on the Street: Tuition Increases in Tough Economic Times

1 comment:

  1. If I were to change my approach and refine this piece, I would have made it more a story, focused on one character, with opinions from other students on the issue that the main character was dealing with.

    One character in particular, Stephany Tong, said that she did not feel that tuition increases were appropriate in tough economic times because it put an undeserved strain on students, many of whom cannot afford to continue education with increasing costs. Despite budget cuts that could threaten educational quality at the university and school programs, she said that tuition increases were unjustified.

    She told me that she would be forced to move out of her apartment on campus in order to save costs since the amount of scholarships she received this year were not enough to keep her from having to pay out of pocket for her education. If an increase in tuitions were to take place, her ability to even continue education could very well be threatened.

    While walking through an abbreviated day with Stephany at school, I would insert opinions on the issue of tuition increases from other students. I would find a way to tie each interviewee to Stephany in some way, whether that be through a similar major, residence, home town, ethnicity, or extra curricular interest and activity.

    I might insert the opinions focused on academic quality in the earlier part of her day and then move into opinions on cut school programs and extra curricular activities, all of which might suffer in a budget cut.

    I might also include more ambient noises - sounds of her getting ready for school, in class, etc.

    Outline:
    Stephany getting ready for school
    She explains her goals for education at UMD
    She addresses the budget cut/tuition issue
    She goes to class
    Opinions from her and others about academic quality relating to budget cuts/tuition increases
    She goes to gym/extra curriculars/etc.
    Opinions from her and others about extra curricular and programs at the university and the possibility of cutting them
    Closing of Stephany's day including her worries about housing and continuing education in hard economic times that could be worsened by a tuition increase.

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