1. I think the editor Steven Smith differentiated between the two stories because while both would be shocking - the conservative mayor engaging in sexual activity with males and the conservative mayor engaging in sexual activity with underage males - technically it's not illegal for him to do so unless they're underage. It would mean the mayor is actually, legitimately doing something wrong if the males were underage.
2. Morlin said he couldn't create the online user because it's against The Spokesman-Review's code of ethics for him to pretend to be someone he's not. He justified the creation of the online account by saying his job was to find the truth. He also said the creation of the account wasn't intended to alter the outcome of the situation or "bait" West, it was merely presenting the opportunity in order to see how West handled it.
3. The number one reason I think so many stories were printed was because of the shock factor it would have on the people of Spokane. There was a lot of information and potential allegations to keep numerous stories running for a long time with relevancy to the time and proximity of the paper. It was a hard hitting story, especially to the area of Spokane, and it kept people hooked.
4. In the end, I would say the only people who benefited from the exposure of Mayor Jim West were the constituents of the political arena. They deserve to know the truth about the mayor who represents them, but more specifically the way he votes; not necessarily how or with whom he spends he free time. I think the exposure hurt the mayor first and foremost, who dealt with an extremely personal and demeaning situation which was made highly public, but I also think this hurt the gay community. The public eventually saw a gay politician voting to hinder gay rights which bolsters the unfortunate question of "If a gay man disagreed with gay rights, why should I support them?" This scandal also hurt the political structure of the area because it showed a potential abuse of power and lowered the standard of credbililty for the political and social sectors of Spokane. Whether or not the exposure was worth it is a very tough question because while I think politically, a gay mayor voting to limit gay rights is a big deal and highly hypocritical, in an interview West said after everything he probably wouldn't have changed the way he voted on those issues. In essence this suggests that the campaign and time in office would have hardly, if at all, been affected. So, was it worth it? In the end I don't know, but I have to wonder if political efforts and strength could have been more valuable, if spent in more productive rather than destructive areas.
5. While I don't think there are any ethical problems with this story that can be outlined in black or white, I do think the story implies more than the evidence provided, which needless to say creates an ill-conceived perception among the public. The story features a picture of Lynch with a black eye and due to the wording and implications of the story, creates a link between the bruises and High Bridge Park even though it cites Lynch as saying otherwise. The story eludes to the notion that some foul play was taking place because the liasion for the police department and deputy mayor's car was parked at a high-crime park in the middle of the day. While it may be noteworthy that such a prominent figure is taking medical leave with no specific reason, the story implies a lot of connections without evidence. This is especially problematic because the public's perception is usually translated as reality.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Feature Story
Two simple words were typed on over 1500 pieces of paper posted all around campus last week: ‘ASK HER’. Ask who about what?
The true answer was not released until Friday when approximately 100 female students wore shirts that said ‘ASK ME’. Students who did ask were given fliers with information about recruitment for the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
This is one example of creative recruiting, resulting from the decision to end formal recruitment for fraternities last spring.
“It was very successful and it even got to the point where there was a Facebook group,” said Jackson Brooks, a sophomore in the house. “On Thursday morning there were 20 members and by Friday there were over 200.”
The fraternity held an informational meeting Friday evening in Todd to inform potential recruits about their chapter, with a barbeque on Saturday to follow.
About 20 students turned out for the meeting on Friday, which was “less than expected, but we wanted to do something different,” said Brian Floyd, a senior in the house. “People might have been scared because they were unsure about what it was.”
The shift from formal and informal recruitment to solely informal recruitment for the fraternities has forced the chapters to be more creative in ways to promote their houses and put more effort into individually seeking out members.
“[Informal recruitment] makes houses be more proactive and decide on the guys we want instead of depending on formal,” Brooks said. “In the long run, it will better the Greek community.”
According to Floyd, they want to find members that don’t fit a mold.
“We’re working towards finding high-quality guys that are committed to service and brotherhood,” he said. “Hopefully it will help turn around the Greek community in the future.”
Kevin Stangvik, former recruitment chair for Phi Gamma Delta said that one of the reasons for the switch to just informal recruitment has been the steady decline of turnout for formal recruitment.
“Last time we did formal recruitment, we had just over 100 guys who went through,” he said. “We try to keep participation up mostly by word of mouth. We want to make sure people know that all frats aren’t like the ones in ‘Animal House’. We focus on philanthropies and networking for after we graduate.”
Despite recent chapter shut downs, such as Sigma Nu at the end of last year due to hazing and the recent closing of Alpha Kappa Lamda for alleged cocaine distribution, Taylor Worth, director of recruitment for the Interfraternity Council, said recruitment is actually going really well.
“Chapters make a move to make sure they don’t go that direction,” he said. “Because we’re addressing the problems it can actually be positive because people know they’re safe. It’s not going unregulated.”
He added that it is key to focus on communication between chapters in the wake of incidents such as these, and make sure there are open, honest answers for parents and students.
The true answer was not released until Friday when approximately 100 female students wore shirts that said ‘ASK ME’. Students who did ask were given fliers with information about recruitment for the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
This is one example of creative recruiting, resulting from the decision to end formal recruitment for fraternities last spring.
“It was very successful and it even got to the point where there was a Facebook group,” said Jackson Brooks, a sophomore in the house. “On Thursday morning there were 20 members and by Friday there were over 200.”
The fraternity held an informational meeting Friday evening in Todd to inform potential recruits about their chapter, with a barbeque on Saturday to follow.
About 20 students turned out for the meeting on Friday, which was “less than expected, but we wanted to do something different,” said Brian Floyd, a senior in the house. “People might have been scared because they were unsure about what it was.”
The shift from formal and informal recruitment to solely informal recruitment for the fraternities has forced the chapters to be more creative in ways to promote their houses and put more effort into individually seeking out members.
“[Informal recruitment] makes houses be more proactive and decide on the guys we want instead of depending on formal,” Brooks said. “In the long run, it will better the Greek community.”
According to Floyd, they want to find members that don’t fit a mold.
“We’re working towards finding high-quality guys that are committed to service and brotherhood,” he said. “Hopefully it will help turn around the Greek community in the future.”
Kevin Stangvik, former recruitment chair for Phi Gamma Delta said that one of the reasons for the switch to just informal recruitment has been the steady decline of turnout for formal recruitment.
“Last time we did formal recruitment, we had just over 100 guys who went through,” he said. “We try to keep participation up mostly by word of mouth. We want to make sure people know that all frats aren’t like the ones in ‘Animal House’. We focus on philanthropies and networking for after we graduate.”
Despite recent chapter shut downs, such as Sigma Nu at the end of last year due to hazing and the recent closing of Alpha Kappa Lamda for alleged cocaine distribution, Taylor Worth, director of recruitment for the Interfraternity Council, said recruitment is actually going really well.
“Chapters make a move to make sure they don’t go that direction,” he said. “Because we’re addressing the problems it can actually be positive because people know they’re safe. It’s not going unregulated.”
He added that it is key to focus on communication between chapters in the wake of incidents such as these, and make sure there are open, honest answers for parents and students.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Feeding the Beast response
After watching the video "Feeding the Beast", I think the Beast would be considered the general public and the audience that watches the news show or reads the newspaper. The Beast needs to be fed because the public deserves the truth about information and stories happening locally which might directly affect them and stories happening internationally. All stories, no matter how closely linked they are to the public should be told in an accurate and timely manner so information and people are not misrepresented.
A compromise that can occur is the accuracy and truth of a story. In the 24-hour news cycle, there are constant deadlines which push reporters and journalists to find interesting stories and fight for a spot on the front page or be a top headline in that night's broadcast. Because stories are constantly happening and evolving, the real, truthful information might be challenging to keep up with and unfortunatley, the reporters might not be able to keep up.
A compromise that can occur is the accuracy and truth of a story. In the 24-hour news cycle, there are constant deadlines which push reporters and journalists to find interesting stories and fight for a spot on the front page or be a top headline in that night's broadcast. Because stories are constantly happening and evolving, the real, truthful information might be challenging to keep up with and unfortunatley, the reporters might not be able to keep up.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Special Lead Story
Every year, undergraduate and graduate students at Washington State University expend countless hours grading papers, doing research and teaching, among many, many other responsibilities. Why would they be interested in the United Auto Worker union?
Members of the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) have proposed the institution of a union for these students under the UAW. Approximately 1700 students would be eligible to enter the union including teaching assistants, graders, resident advisors and researchers, in addition to other students doing academic work for the university.
“This is the largest institution on the west coast that doesn’t have a union,” said Sky Wilson, a PhD candidate in American Studies and student organizer for the Academic Student Employee Coordinating Committee for UAW.
As an advocate for the union, Wilson says it will translate into having more power and more say.
According to Wilson, there were talks of a union long before he came to WSU, but it was only recently that students from all departments came together and contacted the UAW.
The GPSA sent the proposed bill for the union to the university, however, Wilson said it was not favored and they wanted to make amendments. Currently, in order to add more legality to the bill, it is going through the legislature in Olympia, where it has passed through the House.
“If the bill is passed, it would state that the university has to negotiate with the students in order to form a contract,” Wilson said. “We would elect a negotiating team that would negotiate the contract with the university.”
Regarding the recruitment of signatures from students which are needed to support the union, Wilson said the organizers went through a training process so they would all same the same, accurate information.
“It wasn’t a process of trying to convince people,” he said.
However, there have been reports of misrepresentation involving some of the organizers’ strategies when trying to gather signatures.
Matt Wiediger, GPSA senator and volunteer for the Union Fact Finding Committee said a student told him that an organizer came to them asking for their support of the union. When the student said no, the organizer asked them to sign a card to prove that they had been there. The student was not told they would now be represented by the UAW.
Wiediger said the student organizers are getting paid, but that’s common.
“It’s pretty normal because these people are putting in a lot of time and effort,” he said.
Wiediger added that the GPSA is using the University of Washington’s union contract as an example for what they want theirs to look like. He hopes that it will do more than just formalize their rights but will also improve some benefits like child care.
There is a possibility that the contract would increase the students’ pay by $20 a month, but the monthly union dues could also be $20 a month.
When each student is paying every month, “that’s a lot of money,” Wiediger said. “What’s that money going to do for us?”
Members of the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) have proposed the institution of a union for these students under the UAW. Approximately 1700 students would be eligible to enter the union including teaching assistants, graders, resident advisors and researchers, in addition to other students doing academic work for the university.
“This is the largest institution on the west coast that doesn’t have a union,” said Sky Wilson, a PhD candidate in American Studies and student organizer for the Academic Student Employee Coordinating Committee for UAW.
As an advocate for the union, Wilson says it will translate into having more power and more say.
According to Wilson, there were talks of a union long before he came to WSU, but it was only recently that students from all departments came together and contacted the UAW.
The GPSA sent the proposed bill for the union to the university, however, Wilson said it was not favored and they wanted to make amendments. Currently, in order to add more legality to the bill, it is going through the legislature in Olympia, where it has passed through the House.
“If the bill is passed, it would state that the university has to negotiate with the students in order to form a contract,” Wilson said. “We would elect a negotiating team that would negotiate the contract with the university.”
Regarding the recruitment of signatures from students which are needed to support the union, Wilson said the organizers went through a training process so they would all same the same, accurate information.
“It wasn’t a process of trying to convince people,” he said.
However, there have been reports of misrepresentation involving some of the organizers’ strategies when trying to gather signatures.
Matt Wiediger, GPSA senator and volunteer for the Union Fact Finding Committee said a student told him that an organizer came to them asking for their support of the union. When the student said no, the organizer asked them to sign a card to prove that they had been there. The student was not told they would now be represented by the UAW.
Wiediger said the student organizers are getting paid, but that’s common.
“It’s pretty normal because these people are putting in a lot of time and effort,” he said.
Wiediger added that the GPSA is using the University of Washington’s union contract as an example for what they want theirs to look like. He hopes that it will do more than just formalize their rights but will also improve some benefits like child care.
There is a possibility that the contract would increase the students’ pay by $20 a month, but the monthly union dues could also be $20 a month.
When each student is paying every month, “that’s a lot of money,” Wiediger said. “What’s that money going to do for us?”
Monday, February 25, 2008
Special Lead examples
#1: nytimes.com "Serbian Rage in Kosovo: Last Gasp or First Breath?"
BELGRADE, Serbia — Nationalist hooligans may have been behind the burning of the United States Embassy here, but the feelings of anger, sorrow and betrayal over the loss of Kosovo cut across all segments of Serbian society.
This contrast lead, identified by 'but the feelings of anger' worked well for this story. The story goes on to talk about riots within Kosovo and while the people of that area may or may not support the actions of the activists, the feelings and emotions that the riots have sparked within everyone are the same. The use of the contrast lead helps show that while this may have been the action of a few, the reprucussions are felt by many.
#2: usatoday.com "Woman dies on flight to JFK, plane's oxygen tank empty"
NEW YORK — Struggling to breathe, American Airlines passenger Carine Desir asked for oxygen, but a flight attendant twice refused her request, the woman's cousin said.
This lead is has a narrative aspect to it and it is also contrasting. This lead is very appropriate because the story features a description of witness' accounts which continues the idea of a narrative. The way it contrasts too is important to the story because it portrays the story very well because the story talks about what was happening to the woman, while contrasting it with the lack of action from the other party, the airline.
BELGRADE, Serbia — Nationalist hooligans may have been behind the burning of the United States Embassy here, but the feelings of anger, sorrow and betrayal over the loss of Kosovo cut across all segments of Serbian society.
This contrast lead, identified by 'but the feelings of anger' worked well for this story. The story goes on to talk about riots within Kosovo and while the people of that area may or may not support the actions of the activists, the feelings and emotions that the riots have sparked within everyone are the same. The use of the contrast lead helps show that while this may have been the action of a few, the reprucussions are felt by many.
#2: usatoday.com "Woman dies on flight to JFK, plane's oxygen tank empty"
NEW YORK — Struggling to breathe, American Airlines passenger Carine Desir asked for oxygen, but a flight attendant twice refused her request, the woman's cousin said.
This lead is has a narrative aspect to it and it is also contrasting. This lead is very appropriate because the story features a description of witness' accounts which continues the idea of a narrative. The way it contrasts too is important to the story because it portrays the story very well because the story talks about what was happening to the woman, while contrasting it with the lack of action from the other party, the airline.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Hourglass assignment
Twenty-two students were arrested and three police officers were injured Friday during a protest regarding the Board of Regents meeting.
The Board of Regents planned to discuss the university’s diversity course requirement for faculty. Currently, all students must take a course in diversity but faculty do not.
The two groups protesting, the American Student Organization and Students Against Racism have opposing views on the tentative faculty requirement.
“The two groups never began fighting, but they kept screaming at each other as though they would begin a brawl at any second,” University Police Chief R. Barclay Peterson said. “There never would have been a problem if they simply would have moved back when we asked them. Instead, both groups decided to gang up against the police.”
Brian Allen, a senior biology student and president of the American Student Organization said his group will continue protesting. Thirteen of those arrested were from his group.
“We’ll do whatever it takes to keep the regents from caving into every demand that comes along,” he said. “Our faculty do not need additional training in diversity. Many of our faculty aren’t even from this country.”
The regents did not take action on the new requirement. They decided to study the issue further and discuss it at their next monthly meeting, held May 16 in regents Hall.
There will be more rallies, not only at the next meeting, but before then, Jonathan Walterson, president of Students Against Racism said. Walterson, a journalism student, was one of those arrested.
“We will continue protesting until the regents vote to mandate faculty training,” he said. “We’re done negotiating with them. Now it is time to cause trouble.”
Peterson said they are not against rallies.
“They can hold them all they want, as long as they get a permit from the university,” he said. “But we don’t want them to get out of hand. We don’t want our officers hurt. They can rally, but other peaceful students also have the right to attend classes without being disrupted by shouting and violent demonstrators.”
More than 200 demonstrators were on campus during the meeting, and 22 of them were arrested. Twenty-one students were taken to County Jail. Their attorney, Susan J. Keegan, said that she expected bail to be set at $500 apiece. The 22nd student, a 17-year-old high school senior, was released into his parents’ custody.
All of those arrested were charged with trespassing on state property after they refused to disperse. Twelve were also charged with resisting arrest. Ten were charged with assault after they allegedly threw rocks and bottles at university officers.
Peterson said the two groups began a rally at noon.
At about 1:15 p.m., protesters from both groups started marching to Regents Hall, where they hoped to meet the regents at the steps as the officials returned from lunch, Peterson said.
Around 1:20 p.m. Peterson called in extra officers because “the demonstrators just got too loud and rowdy. We asked them several times to disperse and go back to the fountain, where the rally was to be held, but they would not. They shouted at each other even louder, and some of them began throwing things.”
Officers were injured when they were hit by stones or bottles.
Officer Andrea Wilson was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital with a gash on her forehead. She was the first officer hit, Peterson said. Officer James Nelson and Sgt. Jerico Turner were taken to Community Hospital with bruises they received from thrown items, Peterson added.
Until extra officers were called in, there were half-a-dozen officers 25 yards away, watching the two groups.
Peterson said he did not call extra officers in until the protesters started marching. Then, about 60 police officers, two of them on horseback, started toward the demonstrators. Peterson added that officers used bullhorns and ordered the demonstrators to disperse but they refused.
By 1:25 p.m., the demonstration was at its worst, Peterson said. That’s when most of the protestors started shouting directly at the police and began throwing things. Officer Wilson was hit in the head about that time, Peterson added.
The two officers on horseback were used to push back the crowds, Peterson said. By 1:30 p.m., most of the demonstrators began to back off and those who did not were arrested.
“It just got out of hand,” Peterson said. “First they were gathered around the fountain at Central Mall. One group was chanting, ‘No more racism’ and the other was saying ‘Stop diversity.’ Then they started marching toward Regents Hall, where the regents were meeting. They were disrupting classes. When they were asked to disperse, all hell broke loose.”
Peterson said the protest delayed the beginning of the afternoon session of the regents meeting.
“They should not have come at us,” Walterson said. “We would have remained loud, but peaceful. We were doing what we believed in. The university must do more to promote diversity.”
The regents refused to comment on why they took no action Friday.
“Until we make our decision on faculty training, we will not discuss it,” said regents president Clifford Eisel.
The Board of Regents planned to discuss the university’s diversity course requirement for faculty. Currently, all students must take a course in diversity but faculty do not.
The two groups protesting, the American Student Organization and Students Against Racism have opposing views on the tentative faculty requirement.
“The two groups never began fighting, but they kept screaming at each other as though they would begin a brawl at any second,” University Police Chief R. Barclay Peterson said. “There never would have been a problem if they simply would have moved back when we asked them. Instead, both groups decided to gang up against the police.”
Brian Allen, a senior biology student and president of the American Student Organization said his group will continue protesting. Thirteen of those arrested were from his group.
“We’ll do whatever it takes to keep the regents from caving into every demand that comes along,” he said. “Our faculty do not need additional training in diversity. Many of our faculty aren’t even from this country.”
The regents did not take action on the new requirement. They decided to study the issue further and discuss it at their next monthly meeting, held May 16 in regents Hall.
There will be more rallies, not only at the next meeting, but before then, Jonathan Walterson, president of Students Against Racism said. Walterson, a journalism student, was one of those arrested.
“We will continue protesting until the regents vote to mandate faculty training,” he said. “We’re done negotiating with them. Now it is time to cause trouble.”
Peterson said they are not against rallies.
“They can hold them all they want, as long as they get a permit from the university,” he said. “But we don’t want them to get out of hand. We don’t want our officers hurt. They can rally, but other peaceful students also have the right to attend classes without being disrupted by shouting and violent demonstrators.”
More than 200 demonstrators were on campus during the meeting, and 22 of them were arrested. Twenty-one students were taken to County Jail. Their attorney, Susan J. Keegan, said that she expected bail to be set at $500 apiece. The 22nd student, a 17-year-old high school senior, was released into his parents’ custody.
All of those arrested were charged with trespassing on state property after they refused to disperse. Twelve were also charged with resisting arrest. Ten were charged with assault after they allegedly threw rocks and bottles at university officers.
Peterson said the two groups began a rally at noon.
At about 1:15 p.m., protesters from both groups started marching to Regents Hall, where they hoped to meet the regents at the steps as the officials returned from lunch, Peterson said.
Around 1:20 p.m. Peterson called in extra officers because “the demonstrators just got too loud and rowdy. We asked them several times to disperse and go back to the fountain, where the rally was to be held, but they would not. They shouted at each other even louder, and some of them began throwing things.”
Officers were injured when they were hit by stones or bottles.
Officer Andrea Wilson was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital with a gash on her forehead. She was the first officer hit, Peterson said. Officer James Nelson and Sgt. Jerico Turner were taken to Community Hospital with bruises they received from thrown items, Peterson added.
Until extra officers were called in, there were half-a-dozen officers 25 yards away, watching the two groups.
Peterson said he did not call extra officers in until the protesters started marching. Then, about 60 police officers, two of them on horseback, started toward the demonstrators. Peterson added that officers used bullhorns and ordered the demonstrators to disperse but they refused.
By 1:25 p.m., the demonstration was at its worst, Peterson said. That’s when most of the protestors started shouting directly at the police and began throwing things. Officer Wilson was hit in the head about that time, Peterson added.
The two officers on horseback were used to push back the crowds, Peterson said. By 1:30 p.m., most of the demonstrators began to back off and those who did not were arrested.
“It just got out of hand,” Peterson said. “First they were gathered around the fountain at Central Mall. One group was chanting, ‘No more racism’ and the other was saying ‘Stop diversity.’ Then they started marching toward Regents Hall, where the regents were meeting. They were disrupting classes. When they were asked to disperse, all hell broke loose.”
Peterson said the protest delayed the beginning of the afternoon session of the regents meeting.
“They should not have come at us,” Walterson said. “We would have remained loud, but peaceful. We were doing what we believed in. The university must do more to promote diversity.”
The regents refused to comment on why they took no action Friday.
“Until we make our decision on faculty training, we will not discuss it,” said regents president Clifford Eisel.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Palouse Ridge Golf Club
Washington State University’s new 18-hole golf course will open in Aug. 2008 under the management of CourseCo, Inc.
The Palouse Ridge Golf Club is expected to make Pullman more desirable to future students and golfers alike. This public course will be complete with a restaurant and clubhouse which will be able to host weddings and special events.
The previous 50-year- old WSU owned nine-hole course was a very limited structure with only two full-time employees under University Recreations, according to Louise A. Sweeney, the project officer for Capital Planning and Development.
“The idea of a new golf course started about 25 years ago,” she said. “Our golf team couldn’t even play here besides practice.”
More recreational opportunities should be the result of this new facility; bringing in more students, staff and drawing people from the Palouse to come play.
“It can’t do anything but good,” Sweeney said.
There was a selection process to pick the company that would manage the new course. CourseCo came on board about a year ago, according to Sweeney, partly because of their company’s home-town feel.
According to Todd Lupkes, the superintendent for this CourseCo property, the company is based out of central California and will turn down properties if they fail to meet the company’s philosophy.
“We are deep in the environmental aspect of things,” he said. “We look at properties that are important to us, instead of finding a bunch to fit under our umbrella.”
CourseCo works with the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses, which is a certification program that strives to minimize harmful impacts on the environment by course operations. Within one year of opening, Palouse Ridge must be certified.
Lupkes is a WSU alumnus and is focused on interacting with students. The maintenance shop, located on Airport Road will house a lab for the Turf Management club.
“We’re providing a lot more opportunities than what’s typical,” he said.
Internships will be available for Turf Management students while general employment is open to all who apply, and the applications have already started coming. The restaurant will be owned by the same proprietors that own Fireside Grille and Pete’s Bar and Grill. It will seat about 100 people and be considered fine dining as a step up from Fireside, Lupkes said.
“This is a bigger advantage for the university versus anyone else,” Lupkes said. “You want to bring people to Pullman, and they didn’t come for the old course. We want to take this project to the national level. It helps to have a company that knows 100 percent of what they’re doing in the business.”
There are proposed fees for a round of golf at the course’s website palouseridge.wsu.edu, showing different costs for different classifications of people during certain times of the day. The cost for a WSU student will be $26 Monday through Thursday and $39 Friday through Sunday. The most expensive round would cost $91 for a non-resident during a ‘peak’ time during the weekend. To be considered a resident, you must live within 40 miles of Pullman.
Playing packages are being looked at to combine the Palouse course as well as others in the area, such as the Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.
According to the Palouse Ridge website, the project was “Budgeted at $4 million, [and] construction of the clubhouse will be funded by private and corporate gifts. The course will become a prime location for students, alumni, faculty, staff and visitors to Pullman.”
The Palouse Ridge Golf Club is expected to make Pullman more desirable to future students and golfers alike. This public course will be complete with a restaurant and clubhouse which will be able to host weddings and special events.
The previous 50-year- old WSU owned nine-hole course was a very limited structure with only two full-time employees under University Recreations, according to Louise A. Sweeney, the project officer for Capital Planning and Development.
“The idea of a new golf course started about 25 years ago,” she said. “Our golf team couldn’t even play here besides practice.”
More recreational opportunities should be the result of this new facility; bringing in more students, staff and drawing people from the Palouse to come play.
“It can’t do anything but good,” Sweeney said.
There was a selection process to pick the company that would manage the new course. CourseCo came on board about a year ago, according to Sweeney, partly because of their company’s home-town feel.
According to Todd Lupkes, the superintendent for this CourseCo property, the company is based out of central California and will turn down properties if they fail to meet the company’s philosophy.
“We are deep in the environmental aspect of things,” he said. “We look at properties that are important to us, instead of finding a bunch to fit under our umbrella.”
CourseCo works with the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses, which is a certification program that strives to minimize harmful impacts on the environment by course operations. Within one year of opening, Palouse Ridge must be certified.
Lupkes is a WSU alumnus and is focused on interacting with students. The maintenance shop, located on Airport Road will house a lab for the Turf Management club.
“We’re providing a lot more opportunities than what’s typical,” he said.
Internships will be available for Turf Management students while general employment is open to all who apply, and the applications have already started coming. The restaurant will be owned by the same proprietors that own Fireside Grille and Pete’s Bar and Grill. It will seat about 100 people and be considered fine dining as a step up from Fireside, Lupkes said.
“This is a bigger advantage for the university versus anyone else,” Lupkes said. “You want to bring people to Pullman, and they didn’t come for the old course. We want to take this project to the national level. It helps to have a company that knows 100 percent of what they’re doing in the business.”
There are proposed fees for a round of golf at the course’s website palouseridge.wsu.edu, showing different costs for different classifications of people during certain times of the day. The cost for a WSU student will be $26 Monday through Thursday and $39 Friday through Sunday. The most expensive round would cost $91 for a non-resident during a ‘peak’ time during the weekend. To be considered a resident, you must live within 40 miles of Pullman.
Playing packages are being looked at to combine the Palouse course as well as others in the area, such as the Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.
According to the Palouse Ridge website, the project was “Budgeted at $4 million, [and] construction of the clubhouse will be funded by private and corporate gifts. The course will become a prime location for students, alumni, faculty, staff and visitors to Pullman.”
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