Writing not coming so easily

I went to my first Speakeasy meeting on Monday. Speakeasy is OU's online magazine with an alternative, underground vibe. Most of the editorial staff wears thick rimmed glasses and there are almost more blogs on the website than articles.

I was one of the two people who signed up to be a copy editor and was also placed in the "Behind the Scenes" section of the site. As a reporter for this section, I have to bring three story ideas to the next meeting on Monday. And thus far, I have none.

See, Behind the Scenes is divided into four subsections. One of them is Religion and Spirituality. No story idea for this section will be magically (or miraculously) popping into my brain anytime soon. I know pretty much nothing about any religion. I went to church maybe twice in my life, and all I remember about it was there was a lot of repeated standing and sitting. Not my ideal way to spend a Sunday morning, or Saturday evening, whatever sabbath day. In writing an religious story, it will have to involve me deeply investigating what spirituality is associated with the article in addition to researching the actual article. More work than necessary, I will save that section for people who know what they're writing about.

Two other subsections of Behind the Scenes are People and Places. If my story ideas involve either of these, it's going to be an especially difficult challenge. I am a freshman, I barely know the scenes, let alone behind them. Finding people who everyone else on campus doesn't already know, or places that are not on Court Street will be harder than any investigative report for me.

I'm not even going to go into detail about the last subsection, Spotlight. Even after reading the articles and blogs contained in it, I am still clueless as to even what constitutes as an appropriate story for that subsection.

Anyway.

That's my college life so far.

Enjoy.

Peer Pressure

After taking my first self-guided tour as a new Ohio University bobcat, I noticed something unique about the campus. It wasn't the picturesque red brick buildings or the ridiculous leg toning hills - I already figured that out my tour here as a junior in high school.

It was the advertisers.

Or at least that's what I call them.

They would probably consider themselves public servants, but their annoyance level is par with any storm of internet pop up ads. Fellow students know what I'm talking (or rather, blogging) about.

It's those people who rush up to you when you're with your friends or on your cell phone, the ones with a clipboard and pen in their hand shouting, "Are you registered to vote?! Have you registered to vote yet? Huh? Huh?!?!?"

My god.

Okay, I KNOW it's my civic duty as an American citizen to vote, I KNOW this election is going into the history books, but seriously, you only need to register once. ONCE. In your entire life. Just once. These people were at precollege too, that's where I signed up. There's only so many times you can send your recruits out on campus for so many hours a day before you start seeing and bugging the same people.

I can't even think about what it's going to be like on November 4th.
Chaos.
Pure Chaos.
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