After economics class, I walked to the ancient building that housed the Department of English. I wandered the halls searching for that elusive university newspaper. I almost gave up until a perplexed professor sitting at his desk watched me walk by several times.
Professor cleared his throat as I passed his door once again, “Young man, what are you looking for?”
I returned to the doorway, “The university newspaper.”
“You will find it downstairs.” He pointed to the left, “Just take that stairwell down to the basement. It’s around the corner.”
“Thank you, sir.” I walked downstairs and found the university newspaper tucked between the janitor’s closet and a storage room.
I walked into a room with two vintage wooden desks and a long table with a surface scarred from years of students etching graffiti, names, and various sexual acts on it. Three computer workstations that were older than me were set up across the long table’s surface. I looked around. Damn brothers, how could I change the world with this old office and ancient computers?
David hopped out of his seat.
“Hi brother.”
“Hey. I took you up on your offer. So here I am. What was that nonsense you were talking about last Sunday, like the next year’s tuition hike?”
“I’m glad you came. I’ll show you.”
We walked to the first computer on the long table. David scooted some chairs around so we both sit down and could read the ancient CRT monitor.
“Let me power up the computer.”
After several minutes, he clicked on the archive folder and clicked on a file that opened the newspaper on August 15, 2007.
I’ll admit I was on campus that day and picked up the newspaper. But I only browsed through it and left it on the cafeteria table for the next patron.
David pointed to an article, “See right here. Dean Tremaine said the board of trustees has approved a tuition hike for next year.”
I read the story. Then I looked at David and asked, “But it does not say how much. It just says because of extraordinary and unforeseen expenses, the tuition increase could be significant next year.”
“Right.”
“This seems unusual but why is Dean Tremaine speaking for the university? Shouldn’t the university president announce this?”
“I heard the president will step down, and the Dean plans to take his place.”
I shivered, “Oh god. I can’t imagine the Dean being the new president.”
“He’s being groomed. I guess the board is testing his leadership skills by the way he handles the tuition hike.”
I reiterated, “But the story does not say how much.”
David clicked on another newspaper file dated July 5, 2007. He said, “Then read this story.”
I read the story. The university underestimated the construction cost of the football stadium. I looked at David again, “I like how the university says a lot, but it does not say anything at all. The story does not even indicate how much the university had underestimated the tuition.”
“I keep hearing rumors that put the university is short by five million.”
“Five million?”
“Yup.”
“But those are rumors. How reliable is that five million?”
“I have my sources.”
“But are your sources reliable?”
“Of course, they are.”
“Who are they?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.
“Okay. I see.”
“Brother, I’m not being rude, but it’s a small town. Several church members work in the university admin. The university creates truckloads of paperwork every day, and someone must process that paperwork.”
I shook my head back and forth, “We need to do something about this?”
“Like what?”
“We should write a story and inform the students.”
“Good luck.”
“What do you mean?”
“The admin reviews every story and every ad before it can be printed in the newspaper.”
“We must do something. What can I do to help?”
“We’re always looking for journalists. Could you lend a hand to the newspaper?”
“I can try. So how would I go about researching and writing a story about the tuition hike?”
“First, you ought to speak to the Dean. Make an appointment with him. He would know the details.”
“Okay. I’ll call the Dean’s secretary and make an appointment with him.”
“But remember, the university never prints any story that shows the admin in a bad light.”
“Perhaps I could craft the story so it would slip through the censors.”