Photograph by Kate Ripley

Student Reports is a new Bloomington Alternative online feature that showcases the work of IU School of Journalism students. The stories on the page are work from a 200-level reporting, writing and editing class taught by Alternative editor Steven Higgs.

The students were assigned to find stories on either the Civic Life or Arts & Entertainment beats. The only directive they had to follow was that their stories focus on the Bloomington community. Campus sources were only acceptable if they were legitimate sources in a community issue.


The following stories and links are from Fall Semester 2009.

  • Visual art goes green in Bloomington by Haley Cole
  • Local educators emphasize environment by Mary McConnell
  • Homeless shelters adapt to new climate by Kate Ripley


    • The following stories and links are from Spring Semester 2009.

  • Brown County landowner protects trees, makes money by Jordan Arnold
  • Sandberg uses theater to rehabilitate inmates by Katherine Hagan
  • Black adapts to downtown student market by Benjamin Roberts


    The following stories and links are from Fall Semester 2008.

  • Grad student helps Pages help inmates by Kerri Richardson
  • Local food supports community, environment by Amy Frye
  • Special-needs adult stays active in community by Lauren Gores


    The following stories and links are from Spring Semester 2008.

  • Bryan Park naturally by Mal Hackleman
  • Volan on cuckoos, cars and cities by Emily Schlatter
  • Increased HIV prevention comes to Bloomington by Risha Koli


    The following stories and links are from Fall Semester 2007.

  • Luxury housing and rising rents cause changes downtown by Nicole St. Pierre
  • Jail overcrowding a constant challenge by Jonathan Benedek
  • Bloomington a center for comedy, new acts and old by Meredith Enkoff
  • Harmony fosters school reform across the country by Joanna Barnett
  • Baas shares passions for music, teaching Sarah Bloom
  • Middle Way's Zietlow draws on experience by Kaitlin Shawgo
  • Moroccan restaurateur shares her culture by Morgan Brown
  • Downtown parking discussion continues by Katheryn Wickham
  • A turtle master's love of art by Kayla Bell