Opinion pitches!

Hey everyone! Hope you're having a great day and staying warm out there. Here are some story pitches if you're interested in writing this week! First drafts should be about 500-550 words, and will be due to me by 5pm Friday evening (but if you want to send them earlier, that's amazing). Just reply to this email if you want to pick up any of these pitches, or if you want any more information about these stories! And as always, if you have an idea for an article, feel free to send it my way.

Edmonton Eskimos looking for a name change

The football team has been criticized for not changing it earlier, but there is some pushback from sports fans and people invested in the team's history. Should they change it? What should they change it to?

Harassment allegations rock Edmonton

Not only has the Needle Vinyl Tavern closed its doors after allegations of sexual harassment against a former employee, but the City of Edmonton itself has been plagued by accusations of workplace harassment. How should our city, and its leaders, be responding to this? Is there something inherent to Edmonton's culture that needs to be changed? What can (or should) we as citizens do about these allegations?

Can you separate the art from the artist?

Amidst this wave of sexual harassment allegations against men in almost every aspect of public life, it's not entirely clear what our responsibility is, as consumers of media. Is it ok to still enjoy the Cosby show, or Charlie Rose's interviews? Can you watch a Woodie Allen film or a Louis CK special without implicitly endorsing their behaviour?

Alberta school lunches program expands

The provincial school nutrition program has expanded to include every school board in the province for this school year. More information about the program can be found here. I think this could be an interesting way to look at poverty and hunger in the province, how we talk about those issues and how we deal with those issues. Is this a permanent solution or a temporary fix?

A TA at Wilfred Laurier plays a Jordan Peterson clip and faces punishment from the university

There's a lot happening in this story, so rather than trying to summarize it here, I'll let you read about it here. That link also includes a recording of the conversation between university officials and Lindsay Shepherd, the teaching assistant in question. I think this is a really important story because it raises so many questions about free speech on campus, safe spaces, censorship, public debate, and education. When is engaging with differing views the most effective way of combating those views? When is censoring opposing views acceptable? Is it ever acceptable? What is the purpose of a university classroom, exactly? At least one volunteer has already signed up to cover this story, but there's so much to talk about here that I would really like to see a variety of perspectives on this.

The Gateway Presents!

As you may already know, every second Friday from 5:30-6:30pm, CJSR airs a segment of our radio show, The Gateway Presents. Each segment includes an Opinion piece where two people debate on a hot-button issue. Along with pitching Opinion stories for the website or the magazine, please also feel free to pitch me content for The Gateway Presents! Whether you know someone who'd be interested in debating on the show, you have a topic you'd like to see presented, or you'd like to produce a segment all by yourself, let me know and we'll make it happen.

Shorter segments

Don't have time to write a whole 500-word article this week but still want to write something? Write one of these! They're about 200-300 words and a really good time. - Streeters: I'll match you up with a Photo volunteer and you'll hit the mean streets of campus, armed with a question and a camera, to survey some U of A students. Past questions have included: what should the university's logo be, what was your worst live music experience, and where do you poop on campus.- Burlap Sack: Rant about something that bothers you! - Marble Pedestal: Rant about something you love! - Adulting 101: Either tell us how to do something adult (how to use an iron, how actually make food, etc.) or tell us about a time you failed to do something adult (like that time you put the red sock in with the whites and now everything is pink).