Exercise Six: newsletter article

As senior writer for West Snowshoe State University, you are often asked to write stories about upcoming campus events. So you’re not surprised when the director of the WSSU cultural diversity program stops by your office for a chat. Can I get a little story done for our weekly campus newsletter, the WSSU Snowball? she asks. For what? you say.

“Well, it’s about this event we’re planning,” says Melissa Nern. “We got a bunch of neat stuff planned. It’s called American Indian Heritage Week, and it’s coming up in a few weeks. Um, the third week in November, actually. It’s all free, and a great opportunity for students and the public off-campus to learn more about native culture.”

So, you ask, what’s it all about?

“Lot’s of stuff, as I said. I think it’s important for the student body to celebrate American Indian Heritage Week, to better understand our native roots and culture. At the student union gallery we’ll have this great art show. It’s Andrew Hogarth. Maybe you’ve heard of him? He’s big in the Native American art world. Won some national awards. Anyway, he’s got an exhibit on traditional culture. It’s called “Powwow: Native American Celebration.” Some really powerful photos of the powwow tradition.”

So it’s just the art show? you ask.

“No, that’s not all, at all. We also have a traditional craft demonstration, Native American crafters will be there demonstrating traditional weaving and leather work. Bead work too. That’s Thursday and Friday of that week. Boy, it took a lot of doing, coordinating a place for them to work on campus. Oh, and then there are those two graduate students, from the English department here on campus. They’ll be talking about Louise Erdrich. You know, the big famous Native American author from North Dakota. Wrote Beet Queen, some other famous novels, I can’t think of them right off. I think she lives in Minneapolis now, though.

Oh, the students. Names of Shawn Fisher and Kim Kjurseth. They’ll talk about Louise’s work, you know. I really think that students, like, should come out to that. It’s 7 p.m. in the evening on Tuesday, in the student union ballroom. We’ll set up chairs and stuff. I hope I can serve punch and cookies too.”

You promise to put together a quick feature newsy article on all this for the newsletter. Shouldn’t take but a few minutes…..