Giant pumpkins, a growing subculture

When Howard Dill first developed his new variety of pumpkin seed, the Atlantic Giant, in 1979, he never could have anticipated the now flourishing subculture that grew from it. Dill’s Atlantic Giant pumpkins have fostered the formation of an active giant pumpkin growing community around the world.

After the recent death of giant pumpkin guru Howard Dill on May 20, the giant pumpkin growing community he unknowingly created deserves to be looked at more closely.

Growing Atlantic Giants, or A.G.s, is not merely a hobby; it is an obsession.

“I’m kind of obsessed. I sleep with my thermometer by the bed now,” giant pumpkin grower Erin Huff said. “As the pumpkin grows so does the hobby. It’s actually a sport, not a hobby,” she continued laughingly.

Huff admitted although she is an avid pumpkin grower, many of the growers are even more devoted than her.

“A lot of them are more into it than me,” she said. “They are appalled that I am going to leave the pumpkins for ten days and go to Ireland in August.”

Don Young, Iowa state record holder for the heaviest pumpkin, is one of these devoted growers. Last year Young grew the second largest pumpkin in history, a 1,662-pounder, earning him the Iowa state record.

Young agreed that growing A.G.s becomes addictive. He only uses his computer for researching pumpkins, he said. His biggest problem has been blowing his pumpkins up. According to Young, when the pumpkins grow too fast they risk exploding because of temperature change.

“It’s heart breaking, but it’s fun too,” said Young. “You can lose a whole summer’s worth of work in one night. It’s like a race car thing – if you don’t blow one up, then you’re not trying hard enough.”

Growing giant pumpkins has changed Young’s life, he said. Young has traveled across the country speaking at giant pumpkin growing seminars. He is now sponsored and receives free products for growing. Various gardening magazines have featured Young, and he was on Good Morning America in Times Square last year when the show featured the top three pumpkins in the world.

Giant pumpkin growers are not the average hobby gardener, Huff and Young agreed. In order to grow a large A.G.s, many factors must be considered.

“The guys that really do well know their soil chemistry, different organic amendments, different ways to train and prune the vines, and seed genetics,” Huff said.

Members of the giant pumpkin growing community look out for one another. After the death of a well-known pumpkin grower, members donated pumpkin seeds and held an auction that raised several thousand dollars for the grower’s family, according to Huff.

“People want to help other people grow big pumpkins. It’s really neat. People don’t try to keep secrets,” she said.

In a world where competition can bring out the worst in people, members of the giant pumpkin growing community continue to maintain a family-like spirit. While the only thing growing faster than the pumpkins is the number of growers, this teamwork approach can only help the giant pumpkin growing community continue to thrive.

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Story #2: Summer Improv

New summer improv practices-

Develop a character. Make a conflict. Establish an environment. Oh, and most importantly, be funny! In order to create a successful scene in improv comedy participants must achieve all of these things in a matter of seconds.

Washington State University’s improv comedy group, Nuthouse, teaches its members improv comedy skills, and for the first time in about three years is having a summer improv group, said Nuthouse director Michael E. Coletta. According to Coletta, previously the summer turnout numbers were too low to maintain the summer improv group. Recently more people have been staying for the summer so Nuthouse decided to bring back summer improv.


Practices are 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, Coletta said. During the Sunday meetings the group practices creating a scene. Coletta said anyone is welcome to attend the practices.

“I think anyone is capable of doing improv,” said Coletta. “It’s all about confidence – not being afraid to throw ideas out there.”

Three-year Nuthouse veteran Evan S. Shelton said although the shows are his favorite aspect of Nuthouse, he also enjoys practices. The summer improv practices are a source of entertainment for Shelton.

“The last couple practices have been a blast. Every practice is like seeing a free show,” Shelton said.

Members of Nuthouse have many different reasons for joining the group. Coletta said Nuthouse is a creative outlet for him, and improv comedy is something he can pursue after college.

“I love making people laugh,” Shelton said. “I get to say whatever I want, and people are going to hear it.”

For students unable to attend the summer improv practices, Nuthouse will be conducting an improv comedy workshop August 21 as a welcome to new students, Coletta said. According to Coletta, participants will be taught the basics of improv comedy and learn improv games played at Nuthouse shows. Fall semester Nuthouse practices will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays.

Nuthouse’s first performance of the upcoming school year will be at WSU’s initial Up All Night event, which will take place at the new Compton Union Building.

Coletta said Nuthouse will be branching out of Pullman more in the upcoming school year. Nuthouse will be going places like Central Washington University, Gonzaga University, University of Idaho, Western Washington University, and an improv festival in Seattle, to perform shows and conduct workshops, according to Coletta.

Coletta acknowledged Nuthouse as one of the stronger college improv groups in the state. “We’re one of the only college improv groups with a steady fan base and steady shows – and we’re sexy.”

Students wanting to get involved with Nuthouse or any of WSU’s theatre programs should attend STAGE meetings, Coletta said. He said, “The meetings are a way to bring people together who like theatre.” STAGE meetings take place during the regular school year at 5 p.m. on Thursdays.

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"Ace in the Hole" Questions

1. As a journalist Tatum did not have a responsibility to rescue to man. His job as a journalist was to objectively report the story. Helping rescue the trapped man influenced how Tatum reported the news story. The personal relationships he made with many of those involved in the incident was skewed Tatum’s story and led to its complete loss of objectivity. The ethical decisions Tatum faced involved keeping the man in the mine longer than he needed to be, so that Tatum and others could personally benefit from the story. Tatum should never have let himself get so personally involved in the story. He should have simply done his job as a journalist and reported the news, rather than try and make the news himself.


2. I think the film accurately depicts the idea of media hype. Although there is not a carnival and vendors at every media event, the media does sensationalize the news. The film is a good example of the media agenda setting theory. The media is not always concerned with what its audience needs to know, but many times is more concerned about what its audience wants to hear about. Stories with low national newsworthiness but high human interest frequently make headline news in the media today. While I can not think of any recent specific stories, the media often find unique individuals going through a struggle, and build a human interest piece that finds its way into the media’s top stories.

Special Leads In-class Assignment

Direct-Address Leads:
Nintendo shows us how Wii can get 'Fit'

What puts you at risk for high cholesterol?

Narrative Lead:

Burned out on the job -- what to do

Hourglass Exercise

Three university police officers injured and 22 students arrested after a campus protest Friday.

More than 200 demonstrators—most of them students—were on campus during the Board of Regents meeting. The first item on the regents’ afternoon agenda was the university’s plan to require a class in cultural diversity for all faculty. Currently, students must take a class in diversity, but faculty do not.

Two newly formed campus groups, Students Against Racism and the American Student Organization organized the protest. The two students groups’ views on the requirement differ.

“Our faculty do not need additional training in diversity. Many of our faculty aren’t even from this country,” said Brian Allen, president of the American Student Organization.

All of the 22 arrested were students. Their attorney, Susan J. Keegan, said that she expected bail to be set at $500 apiece. 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 police officers.

“It just got out of hand,” said University Police Chief R. Barclay Peterson. “One group was chanting, ‘No more racism’ and the other was saying ‘Stop diversity.’ They were disrupting classes. When they were asked to disperse, all hell broke loose.”

“They should not have come at us,” said Jonathan Walterson, president of Students Against Racism. “We would have remained loud, but peaceful. We were doing what we believed in. The university must do more to promote diversity.”

Peterson said the two groups began a rally at noon. The regents had been meeting since 8 a.m. and were on their lunch break in the Student Union from noon to 1:30 p.m.

At about 1:15 p.m., protesters from both groups started marching to Regents Hall, Peterson said. He said he called in extra officers at about 1:20 p.m. because the demonstrators were too loud and rowdy.

By 1:25 p.m., the demonstration was at its worst, Peterson said. That’s when most of the protesters started shouting directly at the police and began throwing things at them, Peterson added.

The regents stayed in the Student Union until about 2 p.m. and then returned to Regents Hall, he said. The regents did not take action on the new requirement and will discuss it again at their next monthly meeting, May 16.

Walterson said that there will be more rallies, not only at the next regents meeting but before then.

“We’re not against rallies,” Peterson 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.”

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"Second Day Lead" Writing Exercise

After 24 hours and a six-block search, 4-year-old Angela M. Norton is still missing, and her parents ask for anyone with information to contact the police.

Story #1: KZUU Renovation

Washington State University’s campus radio station, KZUU, prepares for its move to the new Compton Union Building and a technological renovation this summer.

KZUU, a broadcast service of the Associated Students of WSU, recently received $56,800 from the Student Services and Activities Fee Committee for what KZUU technical advisor Duncan J. Fairley described as a “necessary upgrade.” The station will use the money to purchase new studio equipment such as, microphones, CD players, a mixer board, and computers.

KZUU’s technological renovation includes the use of a new automation system. The automation system controls all aspects of broadcasting that disc jockeys normally perform, according to Fairley.

In the past KZUU’s broadcast schedule depended on the number of DJs, which caused the station to be off the air from 2 a.m. until 8 a.m. With the automation system the station can broadcast 24 hours per day. Although the technological renovation will not change how shows are carried out, the most notable change the automation system will make for listeners is a more professional sounding broadcast, according to Fairley.

“We’re building a station that’s on par with more popular commercial stations equipment-wise, but we have no plans on changing our non-commercial format,” Fairley said.

Along with technical changes, this fall the station will be moving from its current studio in Smith Gym to a new studio located in the Compton Union Building. KZUU general manager, Matthew R. Schroeder, said he is looking forward to the new location.

“Right now in Smith Gym we are kind of off the beaten path,” said Schroeder. “It’s not a very conspicuous space. The CUB will be the hub for all student activity.”

The new centralized location is a foundation for KZUU to gain listener and DJ interest, according to Schroeder and Fairley. Expanding the station’s audience to more than its current niche audience is a goal Schroeder said he sees for the station in the upcoming school year.

“I want students to not only know about the station, but also listen and be active with the station. There was a time when the station was very noticeable on campus. I want to get us back to the point again where the first thing people do when they get in their cars is turn the radio to 90.7 FM,” Schroeder said.

The new studio is in close proximity to many student organizations, which will provide more opportunities for collaboration with student groups, Schroeder and Fairley said. Specifically, Schroeder said he would like to work with some of the multi-cultural groups to give KZUU a more diverse voice.

Since it began broadcasting in 1977, KZUU has been a non-commercial station. KZUU is committed to playing music listeners would be unlikely to hear on mainstream radio stations and television, according to Schroeder.

“It’s kind of like plastic surgery,” said Schroeder. “At heart we’re still the same station, still a source for quality non-commercial music. The new equipment is more of a facelift to make the station more professional.”

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Blog Assignment #3 - The Murrow Legacy Lecture

Edward R. Murrow’s legacy began during his senior year at Washington State College in 1930. He convinced CBS to start a new radio program, and he got the show famous gusts like Einstein, Gandhi and Hindenburg. He graduated with a speech major, never considering himself a journalist, but instead he called himself an educator. In 1938 Murrow covered Germany’s attack on Austria. It was the first time someone reported a live eyewitness account of the news; Murrow had invented the “newscast.” Throughout the rest of his life he hosted a news show called “See it Now,” and an entertainment show called “Person to Person.” Because of Murrow refused to hide the truth in his news show, he became “bad for business” and his news show was cancelled.

The Murrow Legacy refers to Murrow’s belief that if there’s a wrong that needs to be corrected, then it is a journalist’s responsibility to report the story. The lecture covered four main themes of the legacy: transparency in institutions of power and privilege; concern for human rights and advocacy for justice; conversance with the complexities of globalization and inter-culturalism; and language. Murrow developed a journalistic standard of objectivity, and many times he risked his job when he upheld this standard by reporting with honor, fairness and balance. While Murrow rarely provided answers (morals) in his work, he was good at asking the right questions, providing his audience with the ethical base it needs to choose its own answers and morals.

Blog Assignment #2 - 3 Pitches

WSU’s noncommercial radio station, KZUU 90.7 FM, will be undergoing some major changes this summer. My story would cover KZUU’s move to the new CUB, new equipment being purchased with the extra money the station asked the ASWSU for, and other changes within the station. My angle would focus on how those elements will contribute to the transformation of the station. Possible people to interview are station general manager Matt Shroeder, the station’s faculty advisor, and other staff at the station.

I would like to do a story about WSU’s new golf course. With its grand opening this August, the story is timely. Its proximity is also a factor in its newsworthiness. It would be an objective story covering the features of the course like the catering, specific holes and the pro-shop. Specifics about money could also be included. Interviews would provide good insight into the goals and future of the course. The golf course’s superintendent, Todd Lupkes, would provide the side of the golf course as a business, and WSU golf coach Walt Williams would provide thoughts from the university’s perspective.

Because it is the summer, it would be newsworthy to write a story about summer student life in Pullman. My specific angle would be featuring the advice and input of current students. I would interview students who have stayed in Pullman during the summer before, as well as students staying here for the first time. The story would cover what it is like to be a student in Pullman. Not only would it include what students find themselves doing to pass the time, but it would also include things students like, dislike and are looking forward to about the summer.

Blog Assignment #1 - Compare and Contrast

Each news website I looked at shared the top story of Barack Obama’s North Carolina primary win. The story’s timeliness and prominence were major factors in its dominance in the news.

Following the election story, CNN.com chose to have two stories about the devastation after the cyclone in Myanmar. One Myanmar story had a headline talking about dead bodies being thrown into a river; this type of a headline shows that CNN values human interest (emotional appeal) when choosing its top stories. Also included in CNN.com’s top stories was one about Britney Spears’ visitation rights. Although CNN does focus its headline news on more serious topics that its audience needs to know, it does not ignore stories that its audience wants to know about.

Google News followed the election story with a story about the new president of Russia. A drug bust at San Diego State University was the final top story included in Google News. All of Google News’ top stories are timely and inevitably affect the audience because of the stories’ prominence. Because Google News posts stories that are linked to popular news websites, the stories included in Google News are very credible and adhere to the “Murrow Standard.”

The New York Times website’s second story, like CNN.com’s, was about the Myanmar cyclone crisis. Its story about the situation was fair and balanced, using the facts to interest its audience rather than emotional appeal. Because the majority of the New York Times’ audience is probably more educated than CNN’s, the New York Times does not need to rely on emotional appeals and human interest as much when deciding newsworthiness. Another top story on the website was a story about the release of multiple North Carolina death row inmates. This story’s newsworthiness is unique because of its proximity to New York. Although the New York Times does not specifically cover New York stories, its audience is bigger on the east coast, which can contribute to the difference in news value ranking among its top stories.

I would personally use Google News. The stories included on the website are not unique to the Google News website, but they are all very objective stories from more credible and genre-specific news sites. I feel like Google News chooses the most informative stories about each topic, so I know that I will be linked to the highest quality story about Myanmar or whatever the subject may be. Also, Google News does a good job of highlighting stories its audience needs to know, putting stories its audience may want to know in a position of less significance.