| by Will Reichel PART THREE of THREE: A Look Ahead There are hundreds of intricate dynamics that contribute to a sense of school community. A football team has a bowl season and the campus unites in celebration. A butterfly beats its wings in Costa Rica and application numbers hit the skids. Consequently, the role of the Daily in depicting and shaping students’ sense of school community is a matter of divided opinion. But those opinions have found a forum beyond the pages of the Daily. In senior focus groups conducted in the Spring of 2000, the Daily was discussed in relation to other community-building issues. According to Vice President Desler, those groups demonstrated that “we underestimate the power of the Daily in creating or tearing down the sense of community at Northwestern.” Sarah Personette suggests that the relationship has unrealized potential: “The Daily could serve as a venue for community building. It could be a liaison between different factions on this campus and heighten sprit. But I think the Daily serves as one of the main sources in terms of destroying community on this campus.” Undoubtedly, the Daily’s coverage provides a window into campus life. The Editors and reporters frame portions of student life through their story ideas, editorials, and the quality and attentiveness of their reporting. Come Springtime, new leadership will take charge of the Daily. Casey Newton advises that his tenure won’t include sweeping transformations: “You shouldn't plan on seeing too many changes to The Daily with me as Editor in Chief.” In addition to heightening recruiting efforts, Newton and his staff are exploring the development of “a more inclusive front page” that would pay attention to broader campus and city issues. Clearly, several campus leaders are hoping for some changes to the Daily’s coverage of student life and activities. Vice President Desler has her own suggestions to address the criticisms of negative bias. She suggests that the Daily make a more active attempt to “report on stories where community is happening. Report on stories where the Administration and students work together to resolve problems and come up with new initiatives. Report something positive that a fraternity or sorority does. Run an editorial praising a group of students for something they do that is positive.” If the Daily staff consistently reports on horizons beyond ASG and the Administration, a fuller sense of Northwestern’s community will appear in its newsprint. Small touches can create large results. Personette suggests that reporters be encouraged to carry Dictaphones. If they’re packing recording heat, the chance for misquotes will drop substantially. The Daily might arrange quarterly forums with student groups to maintain its knowledge of upcoming events and activities. With more consistent communication and interest, the Daily could help mend the fences with groups that feel slighted by insufficient coverage. The Daily may also work on strengthening its relationship with other campus media groups, such as Northwestern News Network. According to Matt Palmquist, “This campus sorely needs some sort of alternative media. We can’t be all things to all students. The Evanston Review is really our closest thing to competition.” So far, students involved with these “alternative media” groups have little or no response in their attempts to strike up cooperative dealing with the Daily. If the daily decides to work with other media groups, the cooperation and friendly competition will improve the overall quality of Northwestern media. After all, no student, administrator, editor, or Canadian game show host has all the right answers. I'll take journalistic attitude adjustments for 1,000, Alex. Will Reichel is a sensitive, sensitive man. Take special care in sending positive comments to w-reichel@northwestern.edu. | 
