>> THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT."

WE HAVE SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR YOU.

WHAT IS LIFELIKE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AS THE PANDEMIC EASES, AND WHAT ARE THE ISSUES MOST IMPORTANT TO GEN Z?

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US, RAYMOND BACCARI, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE ANCHOR NEWSPAPER AT RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE, AND JASON PHILLIPS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE GOOD FIVE CENT CIGAR NEWSPAPER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND.

HELLO, AND WELCOME.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY HAS SEEN DRAMATIC CHANGES OVER THE PAST DECADE WITH ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND A MOVE TO DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

WHAT REMAINS THE SAME AT MANY COLLEGE NEWSPAPERS IN RHODE ISLAND IS A COMMITMENT TO CHRONICLING WHAT HAPPENS ON CAMPUS, HIGHLIGHTING STUDENT LIFE, AND HOLDING THE ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE.

I WILL SAY, BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE HAD EXPECTED TO HAVE ONE OTHER EDITOR JOIN YOU TODAY.

AND AS HAPPENS THESE DAYS, HE WOUND UP GETTING COVID ON WEDNESDAY, SO WE APOLOGIZE.

WE HAD THREE EDITORS, BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES.

THAT'S A GREAT INTRO INTO -- FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME, RAYMOND AND JASON.

IT'S A GREAT INTRO INTO COVID.

YOU STARTED YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR, RIGHT?

JASON: THE END OF MY FRESHMAN YEAR, COVID STARTED.

WE HAD TO LEAVE AND STAY HOME AFTER SPRING BREAK.

JIM: IT MUST BE, HAVING GONE THROUGH ALL OF THAT THAT WE HAVE LIVED THROUGH, IT HAS TO BE GREAT TO BE BACK ON CAMPUS.

GIVE ME THE FIVE THIS FALL -- THE CVIBE THIS FALL.

JASON: FOR ME AND THE CIGAR, FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, IT'S BEEN KIND OF A LEARNING PROCESS OF WHAT COLLEGE IS ONLINE.

FOR US, IT WAS REALLY HARD AT FIRST TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO PUT OUT A PAPER DIGITALLY WHEN WE WERE COMPLETELY OFF CAMPUS.

WHEN WE GOT BACK, IT WAS A COMPLETE LEARNING PROCESS TO HOW WE WERE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER THE PAPER WHEN WE WERE BACK IN PERSON.

COMING BACK ON CAMPUS, TO BE COMPLETELY BACK TO WHAT IS NORMAL IS REALLY EXCITING.

THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AMONG THE NEWER REPORTERS AND THE OLDER REPORTERS.

WE'VE HAD THE BIGGEST INCOMING CLASS OF JOURNALISM AT URI IN ABOUT 15 YEARS THAT STARTED THIS YEAR, AND THAT'S BEEN REFLECTED IN THE PAPER AS WELL.

WE HAD ALMOST 50 NEW MEMBERS ATTEND OUR FIRST MEETING OF THE SEMESTER, WHICH WAS AMAZING.

THERE IS EXCITEMENT AMONG EVERYBODY.

JIM: JUST CAME BACK.

JASON: EXACTLY.

JIM: I'M THE PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR.

I USED PROFESSIONAL IN QUOTES.

FOR THE ANCHOR, AND I HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, SO I WORK WITH RAYMOND REGULARLY.

IT WAS YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR.

I REMEMBER HAVING TO SHIFT TO DIGITAL.

THERE WAS A POINT WHERE NONE OF THE EDITORS HAD MET EACH OTHER.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE, COMING ONTO CAMPUS AS A FRESHMAN?

RAYMOND: WHAT WAS INTERESTING, IT WAS STILL ON ZOOM.

I JOINED IN OCTOBER 2020 AT THE ANCHOR NEWSPAPER.

IT WAS INTERESTING.

I DIDN'T MEET ANYBODY IN PERSON UNTIL MY SOPHOMORE YEAR OF COLLEGE.

I DIDN'T MEET YOU IN PERSON UNTIL MY SOPHOMORE YEAR OF COLLEGE.

BASED ON WHAT JASON SAID, THIS YEAR IS A LOT DIFFERENT.

THIS IS, WHAT I LIKE TO SAY, THE FIRST YEAR WE COULD GET BACK TO THE BASICS AND DO WHAT WE DID PRE-COVID.

BEFORE, WE USED TO DO WEEKLY PRINT.

NOW IT'S ONCE A MONTH PRINT.

WE ARE DOING WEEKLY DIGITAL.

THERE IS POTENTIAL NOW TO GET BACK TO THE BASICS AND GO FORWARD AND IMPROVE.

JIM: THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF WHERE SOCIETY IS GOING, BECAUSE A LOT OF NEWSPAPERS, CIRCULATION HAS DECLINED.

MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TOWARD DIGITAL.

YOU WERE PRINTING EVERY WEEK, PRINTED PAPERS, AS THEY DID AT RIC.

TALK ABOUT THE DISCUSSIONS TO MOVE TO DIGITAL.

AND YOU HAVE TO PUSH PEOPLE TOWARD THE WEBSITE, RIGHT?

JASON: FOR THE CIGAR, IT'S BEEN A SLOW MOVE TOWARDS DIGITAL OVER MANY YEARS.

WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE OUR WEBSITE STARTED AND WORKING WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC TO IT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

BUT WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, IT WAS A LARGE LEARNING PROCESS OF HOW WE COULD PUT THE ACTUAL PAPER ONTO THE WEBSITE AND HOW WE COULD MAKE IT MORE ENGAGING.

IT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING, DEFINITELY, TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT FACETS OF THE WEBSITE.

BECAUSE, FOR A PRINT NEWSPAPER, IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GAME.

WE'VE SPENT THE PAST THREE YEARS NOW JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT BETTER AND BETTER.

THE WEBSITE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS FOR THE CIGAR.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY UPDATING IT, PUTTING NEW FEATURES ON THE WEBSITE, TRYING TO MAKE IT ENGAGING TO READ.

WE ARE LOOKING AT PROFESSIONAL NEWSPAPERS LIKE THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH INTERACTIVE GRAPHICS.

OUR NEW ADVISOR HAS BEEN AMAZINGLY HELPFUL.

HER SPECIALIZATION IS IN DATA JOURNALISM.

SHE'S HAD A LOT OF AMAZING IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY WORK ON ADDING MORE INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS.

JIM: WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS FALL FOR YOU, COMING BACK?

RAYMOND: INCREASING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE DURING 2020, 2021.

IT WAS ALL ON ANCHORWEB.ORG, WEEKLY DIGITAL.

WE HAD TO SHARE OUR ARTICLES ON THE WEEKLY EMAIL, WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, DONE VIA MAILCHIMP.

WE WILL BE INTRODUCING A DISCORD SERVER.

THIS WILL BE A GREAT WAY TO INTERACT WITH THOSE ON CAMPUS WHO MAY WANT TO GIVE US A STORY IDEA.

HEY, THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON IN MY DORM, CAN YOU HAVE A REPORTER LOOK AT THIS, BUT STILL WANT TO STAY ANONYMOUS.

YOU CAN CREATE USERNAMES AND THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES, ON DISCORD.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN INCREASED DIGITAL SPACE FOR STUDENTS NOT PART OF THE PAPER TO ALSO COMMUNICATE WITH US.

JIM: WE HAVE A FULL OFFICE.

WE MEET ON WEDNESDAYS.

YOU MENTIONED THE INCREASED NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE ENGAGED.

DOES THAT GIVE YOU HOPE AS THE YEAR GOES ON, CLEARLY, YOU WANT MORE RIDERS TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE, BUT BEING ABLE TO BE IN PERSON AGAIN.

WHAT HAS THAT DONE?

RAYMOND: ON A GOOD DAY LAST YEAR, WE HAD EIGHT TO 10 PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE, MAYBE SEVEN TO FIVE.

IT WASN'T A FULL OFFICE.

THE PAST TWO MEETINGS, IT WAS 20, PEOPLE NOT COUNTING THE EXECUTIVE BOARD -- 20 PEOPLE, NOT COUNTING THE EXECUTIVE BOARD.

WE JUST HAD A STUDENT ACTIVITY DAY.

WE HAD ABOUT 15 PEOPLE SIGN UP ON OUR SIGN-UP SHEET, INTERESTED IN JOINING.

THAT'S VERY PROMISING.

I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BRING.

JIM: U.R.I.

AND R.I.C.

HAVE EACH HAD CHANGE AT THE TOP.

DR. DOOLEY LEFT.

YOU HAVE AN INTERIM.

WHAT IS -- TALK ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A REGULAR NEWSPAPER, COVERING GOVERNMENT, WHERE THERE IS THAT KIND OF FRICTION, BUT WE NEED EAH OTHER AT TIMES.

WHAT IS THE CIGAR'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ADMINISTRATION?

JASON: THE CIGAR HAS A STRONG CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM AT ALL POINTS.

WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AT THIS POINT.

A LOT OF THE ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE NEWER, SUCH AS PRESIDENT -- THE PRESIDENT, HAVE BEEN AMAZING WITH MAKING TIME TO SPEAK WITH US AND TO WORK WITH US ON GETTING COVERAGE FOR EVENTS AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON ON CAMPUS.

WE DEFINITELY HAVE HAD A GROWING RELATIONSHIP.

THERE ARE DEFINITELY POINTS OF FRICTION, LIKE YOU NOTED, WHERE THERE ARE ISSUES WE HAVE TO COVER THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T EXACTLY WANT US TO COVER IN A CERTAIN WAY.

JIM: IS THERE BLOWBACK ON THAT, OR DO THEY UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE?

AS THE TOP GUY, YOU GET THE PHONE CALLS OR THE EMAILS OR WHATEVER.

HOW HAS THAT BEEN DURING YOUR TIME?

JASON: I WOULDN'T SAY THERE IS BLOWBACK, BY ANY MEANS.

I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR POSITION IS AS A STUDENT VOICE AND COMMUNITY VOICE FOR U.R.I.

THERE ARE MOMENTS WHERE I WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PUBLISH THIS IN THE CIGAR, BUT IT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, AS A STUDENT JOURNALIST.

I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY THERE'S A LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN US, THAT WE ARE GOING TO PUBLISH THINGS THAT WON'T ALWAYS BE GREAT FOR THE UNIVERSITY BUT THAT NEED TO BE TALKED ABOUT.

RAYMOND: I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A DECENT RELATIONSHIP WITH ADMINISTRATION.

HE IS A VERY -- DR. WARREN IS A VERY APPROACHABLE GUY.

JIM: HE IS NEW, BUT HE'S BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

HE IS THE INTERIM TO THE NEXT PERSON.

RAYMOND: HE ALSO WORKED FOR THE GOVERNOR BACK IN THE DAY.

HE IS VERY APPROACHABLE.

I'VE HAD ONE CONVERSATION WITH HIM SO FAR.

IT WASN'T A LONG CONVERSATION.

I'M PLANNING TO MEET WITH HIM, TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT THE ANCHOR DOES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ANCHOR IS OUT THERE TO BE THE EYES AND EARS OF THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY, AS YOU ALWAYS TELL US IN OUR WEEKLY MEETINGS.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD ANY BLOWBACK.

I'VE NEVER GOTTEN AN MAIL OR PHONE CALL SAYING, HEY, I DON'T LIKE HOW YOU WROTE THIS OR THAT ISN'T TRUE.

WHENEVER WE ASK FOR A STATEMENT OR QUOTE, THEY WILL GIVE US AN ANSWER.

YOU KNOW THAT.

WE COVERED AN INTERESTING SITUATION GOING ON WITH OUR STUDENT PARLIAMENT'S FUNDING THAT WAS FROZEN BY PRESIDENT SANCHEZ LAST YEAR.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO COVER THAT IN OUR NEWS SECTION.

ADMIN HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN TALKING TO US.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN ANYTHING TOO DRASTIC IN TERMS OF GETTING THEM ANGRY.

I'VE HEARD OCCASIONALLY SOMEONE SAY -- ONE PERSON WROTE AN OP-ED ABOUT HOW THEY HADN'T HAD AN IN PERSON CLASS IN TWO YEARS.

WE ALSO HAD AN ADMIN CALLED OUT IN AN OP-ED.

I'VE ONLY HEARD BEHIND THE SCENES THAT THE ADMIN WAS UPSET, NEVER DIRECTLY.

JIM: R.I.C.

LAGGED A LITTLE BIT BEHIND U.R.I.

I THINK PARTLY BECAUSE IT IS A COMMUTER SCHOOL.

WASN'T THAT A BIG BONE OF CONTENTION, HAVING TO MASK, GETTING BACK TO CLASS?

IT WAS DELAYED MORE THAN THE OTHER SCHOOLS ACTUALLY GETTING BACK ON CAMPUS.

RAYMOND: MY UNDERSTANDING, IT WAS UP TO THE PROFESSOR FOR EACH COURSE.

I HAD HYBRID COURSES.

I TOOK A SUMMER COURSE THIS PAST SUMMER WHERE WE DIDN'T MEET AT ALL.

IT WAS CERTAINLY A LITTLE FRUSTRATING AS A STUDENT.

I WANTED TO GET THE AS ADVERTISED COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.

NOW, THIS YEAR, THINGS LOOK BRIGHT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR WILL BRING.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT -- U.R.I.

HAS HAD AN INTERESTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SURROUNDING TOWNS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ISSUES WITH NARRAGANSETT AND ALL OF THAT.

YOU COULD PROBABLY PULL SOME STORIES FROM 30 YEARS AGO AND IT MIGHT BE THE SAME.

IS IT JUST GOING TO BE KIND OF NATURAL PROBLEMS WITH OFF-CAMPUS KIDS?

HAS THAT GOTTEN BACK?

-- GOTTEN BETTER?

WHAT'S THE DYNAMIC?

JASON: THE DYNAMIC IS BETTER THAN WHEN THE PROPOSITIONS TO LIMIT STUDENT HOUSING OFF-CAMPUS WERE FIRST ANNOUNCED.

JIM: THERE'S BEEN A WHOLE COURT BATTLE ON THAT, RIGHT?

JASON: YES.

THE TOWN OF NARRAGANSETT AND THE SURROUNDING TOWNS HAVE MADE IT SO ONLY THREE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM U.R.I.

CAN LIVE IN ONE HOUSE OFF-CAMPUS AT THE TIME, WHICH WAS A LARGE PROBLEM, BECAUSE MANY OF THE HOUSING OPTIONS OFF-CAMPUS ARE FIVE BEDROOMS OR MORE.

SO, MANY STUDENTS WERE LEFT WITHOUT THE OPTION OR WERE FORCED TO PAY MORE IN RENT EACH MONTH TO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TWO BEDROOMS, BECAUSE ONLY THREE PEOPLE COULD LIVE THERE.

LANDLORDS WERE UPSET THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET STUDENTS TO LIVE THERE.

STUDENTS WERE UPSET THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE HOUSING, BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO A SHORTAGE OF HOUSING ON CAMPUS AT U.R.I.

IT'S DEFINITELY A VERY CONTENTIOUS SITUATION THAT WE ARE SEEING COMING INTO EFFECT FULLY THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND WE ARE CONSISTENTLY COVERING IT, PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE WEEK, THERE IS SOMETHING NEW GOING ON.

WHETHER IT IS BEING CHALLENGED IN COURT, AS IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO NOW, OR, AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS OF SOME NARRAGANSETT TOWN OFFICIALS GOING HOUSE TO HOUSE AND SEEING IF MORE COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE LIVING IN ONE PLACE THAN IS ON THE LEASE.

JIM: I'M SURE THAT GOES OVER WELL.

IN PROVIDENCE, BECAUSE R.I.C.

IS MORE OF A COMPUTER -- COMMUTER CAMPUS, THERE'S ALWAYS THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT JUMPSTARTING STUDENT LIFE.

TALK ABOUT THAT AS STUDENTS ARE RETURNING TO CAMPUS.

RAYMOND: IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

PART OF THE CAMPUS IS IN PROVIDENCE, THE OTHER IN NORTH PROVIDENCE.

I EMAILED THE TOWN COUNSELORS AND THE MAYORS OFFICE -- MAYOR'S OFFICE.

IF YOU WANT TO INCLUDE US ON ANY PRESS RELEASE LISTS, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO COVER WHAT'S GOING ON IN TOWN.

I'VE BEEN BIG ON THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

LAST SCHOOL YEAR, WE DID THE FIRST MAYORAL FORUM OF THE ELECTION CYCLE.

IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE HOW WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER WITH THE COVID GUIDELINES AND BUREAUCRACY.

AS FOR STUDENT LIFE, NOW IS THE FIRST CHANCE TO COVER WHAT'S GOING ON WITH STUDENT LIFE.

LAST YEAR STUDENT LIFE WAS KIND OF ON LIFE SUPPORT, NO PUN INTENDED.

IT'S JUST THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WHERE I FEEL LIKE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE COVERED AS THEY WERE A FEW YEARS AGO.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THAT STUDENT LIFE ON CAMPUS?

WAS IT A LITTLE BETTER LAST YEAR?

IT'S NOT THE WAY IT IS THIS YEAR, BUT BECAUSE IT IS A RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL, HOW WERE THINGS COMPARTIVELY?

WAS IT GETTING BETTER AS THE YEAR WENT ON LAST YEAR?

JASON: I WOULD SAY SO.

RESTRICTION STARTED LISTENING AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST ACADEMIC YEAR, IN THE FALL SEMESTER OF 2020, I BELIEVE.

THERE STARTED BEING LISTENINGS OF RESTRICTION -- LOOSENING OF RESTRICTIONS.

YOU ARE ALLOWED TO GO INTO OTHER BUILDINGS.

YOU ARE ABLE TO HAVE STUDENT BOARD MEETINGS IN PERSON, THINGS LIKE THAT.

LAST SEMESTER, THERE WAS EVEN MORE MOVEMENT TOWARDS THAT, WHERE CLASSROOMS WERE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE MASKS ANYMORE AND ALMOST ALL CLASSES WERE IN PERSON AT THAT POINT.

AS OF THIS SEMESTER, IT IS BACK TO NORMAL.

THERE ARE STILL REQUIREMENTS FOR MASKS IF THEY ARE REQUIRED BY A PROFESSOR, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS PRETTY UNCOMMON.

THERE'S A LOT OF LISTENING -- LOOSENING, WHICH HAS GONE HAND AND HAND WITH A RISE IN MORE INVOLVEMENT ON CAMPUS AND EVENTS GOING ON ON CAMPUS.

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, I HAVEN'T SEEN MANY THINGS GOING ON IN THE QUAD OR SEEN PEOPLE WALKING AROUND.

THIS SEMESTER, I'VE DEFINITELY SEEN LIFE ON CAMPUS.

JIM: AS YOU GET OUT AND ABOUT, THE NEWSPAPER, TO BE THE EARS AND EYES, I THINK IT CHANGES WITH EACH GENERATION.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THE KIDS ON CAMPUS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT?

THEY ARE CLEARLY CONCERNED ABOUT CAMPUS LIFE, BUT IS THERE A BROADER LOOK AT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON STATE AND NATIONALLY?

JASON: THERE DEFINITELY ARE.

A LOT OF THE NATIONAL ISSUES THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING LARGER STORY COVERAGE ON.

OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE THIS SUMMER, THAT'S BEEN A LARGE TOPIC THAT A LOT OF STUDENTS HAVE BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF STUDENT ACTIVISM, GOING TO COURT HOUSES, DOING PROTESTS.

DOING MANY FORMS OF ACTIVISM TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF JUST GENERAL STUDENT INVOLVEMENT WITH DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU SEE IT ON CAMPUS, OFF-CAMPUS.

LAST YEAR, STUDENTS FROM A GENDER AND WOMEN'S STUDIES COURSE WENT TO THE RHODE ISLAND COURTHOUSE TO TESTIFY.

I'M SEEING EVEN MORE OF THAT FOR PRETTY MUCH ANY NATIONAL ISSUE YOU CAN THINK OF.

THERE IS ENERGY AROUND IT.

RAYMOND: I FEEL LIKE IT'S SIMILAR ON THE R.I.C.

CAMPUS, TOO.

WE HAD A COUPLE STUDENTS WHO WANTED TO WRITE FOR OPINIONS.

ONE OF THE BIG TOPICS COVERED IN THIS PAST ISSUE ON THE WEBSIT, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DECISION TO CANCEL THE STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

WE HAD A COUPLE STUDENTS GET QUOTED FOR THE PIECE.

THAT WAS A BIG ONE.

OBVIOUSLY, THE OVERTURNING OF ROE WAS ANOTHER BIG ONE.

CAP A SPECIFIC, I'VE HEARD ABOUT WHAT'S -- CAMPUS SPECIFIC, I HAVE HEARD ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DORMS.

THE FOOD, COUPLE THINGS LIKE THAT.

STUDENT LIFE IS A BIG ONE.

THERE WERE NOT MANY EVENTS GOING ON ON CAMPUS.

THAT WAS A BIG THING.

NOW THERE ARE EVENTS HAPPENING ON CAMPUS.

WE HAVE AN EVENT HAPPENING NOW, WHICH IS AWESOME.

THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES DAY WAS A GREAT WAY FOR THE INCOMING STUDENTS TO SEE, OH, WE HAVE A NEWSPAPER, A RADIO STATION, A TV CHANNEL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THAT LAST YEAR.

JIM: R.I.C.

WILL BE HOSTING ONE OF THE DEBATES FOR GOVERNOR.

RAYMOND: THERE WILL BE TWO.

THE NBC CHANNEL 10 DEBATE IN NOVEMBER AND I HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT ONE HAPPENING IN OCTOBER.

I DON'T KNOW WHO IS COSPONSORING IT YET.

R.I.C.

MAYBE COSPONSORING ONE OF THOSE TWO DEBATES.

JIM: I FIND IT INTERESTING WITH TECHNOLOGY.

WE ARE GOING DIGITAL.

IF YOU GET A CHANCE, TAKE A LOOK AT BOTH WEBSITES.

TELL ME THE WEBSITE.

RHODIECIGAR.COM AND ANCHORWEB.ORG.

YOU ALSO DO A NEWSCAST.

THAT'S WHERE THINGS ARE GOING.

INSTEAD OF READING.

YOU DO A NEWSCAST THAT CAN RANGE EIGHT TO 20 MINUTES.

IS THAT A WEEKLY THING?

JASON: EVERY WEEK, WE PUT OUT A NEWSCAST.

WE HAVE ONE EDITOR WHO HEADS UP THE PROJECT EACH WEEK.

WE HAVE A SPORTSCAST THAT GOES WITH THAT.

AND WE HAVE A TEAM OF REPORTERS WHO SPECIALIZE IN DOING VIDEO NEWS.

SOME PEOPLE ALSO JUST STOP IN AND DO IT ONCE OR TWICE.

JIM: IT'S A LOT MORE EFFORT THAN YOU THINK TO PUT TOGETHER 20 MINUTES, ISN'T IT?

JASON: IT DEFINITELY IS.

WE HAVE OUR REPORTERS DOING THEIR OWN EDITING FOR EACH OF THEIR PACKAGES.

EACH STORE YOU SEE IS PUT TOGETHER -- STORY YOU SEE IS PUT TOGETHER.

JIM: YOU JUST HAVE TO STRING THEM TOGETHER.

RAYMOND, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE.

IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN HIS CHANNEL, TELL US ABOUT YOUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

RAYMOND: I HOST A POLITICAL INTERVIEW SHOW ON YOUTUBE, RAY- -- I'VE BEEN DOING THIS SUBSECTION IN OUR NEWS SECTION OF THE PAPER CALLED THE POLITICAL PROFILE SECTION.

ANY INTERVIEW I HAVE WITH AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, CANDIDATE SEEKING OFFICE, AN ALUM IN THE WORLD OF JOURNALISM, I WILL HAVE THEM ON MY SHOW, TALK ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS.

SOMETIMES IT WILL BE, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR OFFICE, WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE.

WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE TO STUDENT JOURNALISTS WHO WANT TO BREAK INTO THE INDUSTRY?

A R.I.C.

ALUM.

IT WAS AN HONOR TO HAVE HIM ON THE SHOW AND TO WRITE ABOUT IT AT THE ANCHOR.

THAT GOT SOME GOOD TRAFFIC.

THAT'S ONE PART OF IT.

I'M VERY BIG INTO MULTIMEDIA STORYTELLING.

FOR THE STUDENT PARLIAMENT COVERAGE I DO, I ALSO FILM AND EDIT THAT.

WE'RE EMBEDDING VIDEOS INTO OUR ARTICLES FOR THAT.

WE JUST FINALLY STARTED GETTING IN CONTACT WITH WHO IS RUNNING THE TV STUDIO AT THE ADAMS LIBRARY ON CAMPUS.

WE TALKED ABOUT U.R.I.

'S ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

RAYMOND HAS INTERVIEWED MOST OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, A LOT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND GOVERNOR MCKEE, THE SPEAKER, AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT.

IT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN SPIN THAT OFF FOR COVERAGE.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT OF POLITICS.

JASON, YOU ARE NOT FROM RHODE ISLAND.

YOU ARE FROM ILLINOIS.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO COME TO U.R.I.?

JASON: I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET A ONE-ON-ONE TOUR ON CAMPUS WHEN I APPLIED.

THE OLD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE CIGAR AT THE TIME WAS MY TOUR GUIDE AND SHOWED ME AROUND CAMPUS.

JIM: HE CLOSED THE DEAL.

JASON: HE HAD ME IN THE CIGAR BEFORE MY FIRST WEEK OF CAMPUS WAS EVEN THERE.

AND YEAH, THE JOURNALISM PROGRAM IS AMAZING.

THE FACULTY IS SO GREAT.

THE AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT I SAW.

I ENDED UP GETTING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHEN I GOT TO U.R.I.

THAT WAS WHAT GOT ME TO WANT TO COME OUT THIS WAY.

JIM: U.R.I.

HAS A PRETTY GOOD PERCENTAGE OF OUT-OF-STATE.

IT'S DIFFERENT THAT YOU ARE FROM ILLINOIS.

YOU SEE A LOT OF STUDENTS FROM THE MID-ATLANTIC AND PENNSYLVANIA AND WHATEVER.

HAVE YOU FOUND ANY OTHER ILLINOIS STUDENTS?

JASON: MY OLD NEWSCAST EDITOR WHO JUST RETIRED LAST SEMESTER IS FROM ILLINOIS, FROM CHICAGO, SO I WORKED CLOSELY WITH HER.

SHE WAS IN MY FIRST EVER CLASS AT U.R.I.

I'VE MET A COUPLE OTHER MIDWESTERNERS.

IT'S BEEN INTERESTING.

IT WASN'T WHAT I EXPECTED TO SEE, BUT THERE IS A GROWING AMOUNT OF OUT-OF-STATE AND OUT OF NEW ENGLAND, THE NORTHEAST AREA IN GENERAL, EVEN.

JIM: I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE MOST CRITICAL ABOUT RHODE ISLAND, THOSE WHO HAVE NOT LIVED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

U.R.I.

HAS A NATIONAL REPUTATION.

SPORTS ALWAYS HELPS.

A LOT OF IT DR. DOOLEY HAD BUILT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

LET'S TALK POLITICS.

THE PRIMARY IS OVER.

NOW WE LOOK TO THE GENERAL.

HE HAS A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE, BECAUSE HE LOVES TALKING ABOUT POLITICS.

RAYMOND: TALKING ABOUT POLITICS ON TV WITH JIM, I FEEL LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE.

JASON, WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU IN RHODE ISLAND, BY THE WAY.

GOVERNOR MCKEE HAD 32.8% OF THE VOTE.

HELENA FULKS HAD A BIG SURGE.

AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD 26.2%.

MATT BROWN HAD 8%.

THERE WAS AN INTERESTING GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.

JIM: DID YOU EXPECT MICKEY TO -- MCKEE TO WIN?

RAYMOND: I DID.

I THOUGHT SHE WOULD PLACE HIGHER.

SHE HAD A LOT OF ENERGETIC PEOPLE WITH HER CAMPAIGN, ENERGETIC SUPPORTERS.

SHE HAD BIG ENDORSEMENTS.

BUT FOLKS -- FULKS DID HAVE THE SUPPORT OF NANCY PELOSI.

JUST THE ENERGY AFTER THE W PRI EVENT REALLY SHIFTED THE MOMENTUM.

IT'S ROBITAILLE -- WHERE THEY SAY, IF HE HAD ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CASE FOR FULKS.

JIM: WHAT DID YOU THINK?

JASON: I EXPECTED GOVERNOR MCKEE TO GET THE PRIMARY WIN IN THIS, ONLY BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THIS WAS A LOWER ENERGY ELECTION THAN I'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.

I DEFINITELY FELT THERE WAS ENERGY AMONGST PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY POLITICALLY INCLINED, BUT I DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF ENERGY FROM ANY VOTERS WHO ARE AVERAGE OR JUST DON'T HAVE AS MUCH POLITICAL INTEREST, NOT AS ENGAGED.

I DIDN'T SEE MUCH ENERGY.

TO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING THE INCUMBENT IN A LOW ENERGY ELECTION SEASON IS SO STRONG THAT I KIND OF EXPECTED THIS OUTCOME.

JIM: IT'S INTERESTING.

WHEN MY KIDS WENT TO SCHOOL OUT-OF-STATE, MY TWINS, WHEN THEY ARRIVED ON CAMPUS, WITHIN A WEEK, PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO SIGN THEM UP TO VOTE IN THAT STATE.

YOU CAN DO THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU ARE LIVING.

WHAT IS THE VOTER REGISTRATION LIKE ON CAMPUS?

HAS THERE BEEN A STRONG PUSH, ESPECIALLY FOR OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS, TO REGISTER TO BE ABLE TO VOTE NOT ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND, BUT SOUTH KINGSTON?

JASON: THERE IS DEFINITELY PROGRAMS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO TRY TO DO THAT, BUT I WOULDN'T SAY THERE IS A STRONG PRESENCE OF PEOPLE ON CAMPUS, ESPECIALLY TRYING TO GET OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS SIGNED UP FOR VOTING.

THE SENATE AND A LOT OF SENATORS AT U.R.I.

HAVE BEEN VERY STRONGLY PUSHING FOR STUDENTS TO REGISTER, BUT I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THERE IS ANYBODY SETTING UP ON THE QUAD AND SAYING, COME OVER HERE, WE WILL HELP YOU SIGN UP TO VOTE.

JIM: DO YOU SEE THAT AT ALL?

RAYMOND: R.I.C.

HAS A ORGANIZATION DOING EVENTS, THAT STARTED, I BELIEVE, LAST YEAR, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

NOW IT IS RAMPING UP, TRYING TO GET CIVIC ENGAGEMENT GOING UP ON CAMPUS.

IT WAS CENTERED AROUND THE IDEA OF WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS FROM PROVIDENCE, HERE WHO IS RUNNING -- HERE IS WHO IS RUNNING.

JIM: THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE BIDEN-TRUMP -- A RESEARCHER AT HARVARD, A POLLSTER, TALKED ABOUT GEN Z AND THE POLITICAL -- AND THE MILLENNIALS.

DON'T TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED.

NOW YOU THINK ABOUT THE ISSUES YOU GUYS ARE FACING, CLIMATE CHANGE, GUN RISES OF -- CRISIS, ABORTION.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG FACTOR IN THE MIDTERMS.

WE MAKE IT INTO A LITTLE NATIONAL, BUT AS YOU KNOW, ON "LIVELY," WE DO AN OUTRAGE OR KUDO.

RAYMOND: ISSUE ONE WAS VERY STRONG.

ISSUE TWO IS LOOKING PROMISING.

I'M REGISTERED FOR UNAFFILIATED.

FULL DISCLOSURE.

IF I VOTE IN A PRIMARY, THAT PARTY, I'M TECHNICALLY AFFILIATED WITH NOW BECAUSE I CAST MY BALLOT, AND WE DON'T HAVE OPEN PRIMARIES.

I HAVE TO RE-UNAFFILIATE OR GO ONLINE.

AFTER THAT, THEY MAIL YOU ANOTHER PAPER CARD.

I HAVE FOUR IN MY DRAWER FROM EVERY PRIMARY I'VE PUT IT IN AND HAD TO RE-UNAFFILIATED.

IT'S A WASTE.

IF YOU HAVE OPEN PRIMARIES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEND OUT ALL THAT POSTAGE.

THAT'S MONEY THAT CAN BE SAVED.

JIM: A MESSAGE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

DO YOU HAVE AN OUTRAGE OR KUDO?

JASON: MY KUDO'S TO OUR FIRST ADDITION THAT JUST CAME OUT THIS WEEK 0-- EDITION THAT JUST CAME OUT THIS WEEK.

IT WAS AMAZING.

MY OUTRAGE, IT HAS TO BE RON DESANTIS'S MOVE TO SHIP 50 MIGRANTS FROM FLORIDA TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD RECENTLY.

OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR.

POLITICAL STUNT, JUST TO GET A CLIP ON FOX NEWS AND OTHER NEWS CHANNELS.

OUTRAGEOUS.

THAT YOU WOULD TREAT A HUMAN BEING THAT WAY, SHIPPING THEM LIKE A PRODUCT, JUST TO MAKE A STATEMENT.

JIM: ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?

RAYMOND: IT WAS CERTAINLY A VERY INTERESTING STORY.

I DON'T -- I THINK WHAT HE'S TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, IT IS CERTAINLY HELPING HIS CASE.

HE WILL LIKELY GET REELECTED.

JIM: HE IS PLAYING TO THE BASE.

RAYMOND: HE WILL LIKELY GET REELECTED IN FLORIDA AND HE IS SEEN AS THE POTENTIAL 2024 FRONT RUNNER IF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN'T RUN.

IT'S LIKELY POLITICAL.

JIM: IT'S A FAST 30 MINUTES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT."

CHECK OUT THEIR SITES.

THEY ARE THE FUTURE NOT ONLY OF JOURNALISM, BUT OF OUR SOCIETY.

WE APPRECIATE HAVING THEM ON.

WE WILL BE BACK TO THE REGULAR POLITICAL SHOW NEXT WEEK.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AS WE BEGIN TO HEAD INTO THE MEAT OF THE GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

JOIN US HERE NEXT WEEK AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

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VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY