I have one wish before we head into winter break: for non-English or art majors to write for the Argus. That includes students in the STEM fields, business and entrepreneurship, computer science, education and more. Our very own Argus staff this year also has majors outside of the arts, including our graphic designer and editor, Naomi Toraason. “I really enjoy working on staff,” she said. “It allows me to be creative and have an outlet outside of my major.”
#1 Diversity
We need more diversity. According to the IWU Facts page, the Fall 2023 enrollment statistics shows 26 percent of students going into the School of Business and Economics. Another 10 percent entered the nursing and School of Theatre Arts program. That’s almost half of the student body. Many of the special topics within these fields could invite a broader audience when explained to the general public in an accessible way. This will give The student body a well-rounded and engaging newspaper that everyone wants to read. The Argus covers a wide variety of topics including news, features, opinions and sports. See our Masthead for more information.
#2 Accessibility
Newspapers are unique because of their accessibility to the public. Writing news requires conciseness, factual information, engaging quotes and sometimes informality. It’s a learned skill, but a useful one. Learning how to express complex thoughts and ideas is a crucial critical thinking skill that will carry into future careers.
#3 Relevancy
When specialized knowledge is broken down into understandable terms, it allows readers to feel more engaged, especially when the topics at hand are explained by students who study them. Business majors, what are some exciting business or market trends? Nursing, science and engineering students, are there important scientific breakthroughs that we should know? Inform others outside of your field of major achievements and news and you will garner more interest as well as start more discussions. And it’s easy to write about what you know, so why not tell everyone what you’re thinking about?
#4 Money
Even if writing articles isn’t your thing, the Argus accepts photographs. You can earn $13.50 per accepted article or photo. Who doesn’t want to make some extra cash and improve your writing skills at the same time?