WNCC to start student newspaper

Students at Western Nevada Community College will soon be able to get the scoop on campus.

A newspaper club has been formed and is expected to evolve into a printed paper next semester.

"This is the only college in the capital," said Billy Jennings, president of the United Students Association. "There's a lot of information on this campus that students miss. It will be a newspaper by students and for students."

The student government is spearheading the organization of the paper and will fund it. However, all students are invited to participate.

"We're looking for everybody," Jennings said. "The more diverse the students are, the more successful the newspaper will be."

Journalism teacher and veteran writer Robert Cutts is offering a Journalism 221 course in the spring to teach the basics of media writing. He will also serve as adviser for production of the paper.

The paper will welcome literary submissions as well as photographs and artwork.

Other departments have also expressed a willingness to work together, such as arranging for critiques of student art shows.

"It definitely won't be the New York Times - especially the first couple of editions - nor will it be an in-house newsletter," Cutts explained. "As I see it, it should have variety."

Although Jennings is scheduled to graduate in December with an associate's degree in criminal justice and general education, he plans to take the journalism class at WNCC while also attending the University of Nevada, Reno.

The club had about 12 members and Jennings said he plans to see the newspaper through its infancy stage.

"We're excited more than nervous," Jennings said. "Anytime you have anything new, it's exciting. And we have complete creative freedom."

Jennings, 28, plans to major in political science and psychology, then attend law school.

"I'll use basic writing all the way through law school," he said. "With law school in particular, it's so competitive to get in. This is really going to help resume-wise."