Interview Feature Story

Sara Lynn Colley

COM 3330-4

Interview Feature Story

September 27, 2011

Jeff Cooper is director of residence life at Kennesaw State University, and is responsible for all staff, programs and budget matters in the department. He has served residence life at KSU for three years, and is actively involved in national, regional and state-level associations related to student affairs and student housing. Cooper, who is also residence life representative on the committee for the new KSU dorms under construction, sat down with reporter Sara Colley to discuss those new residence halls.

Colley: When is the estimated date of completion for all of the south-side dorms?

Cooper: Although we do not know an exact date they will be done by August 2012, just in time for the next group of students.

Colley: Can you tell me what the individual dorms will look like? How many rooms, will residents be sharing a bathroom, etc.?

Cooper: The new residence halls are fashioned to resemble the existing dorms at KSU’s University Place, and will be located on the other side of the street. The dorms will be brick with elevators in each building. There will be three buildings with 450 new rooms in each, and one common area in the terrace level of one of the buildings. This common area will accommodate all programming needs for the entire UP community. Each dorm unit will have four bedrooms and four bathrooms, with a living room and kitchen.

Colley: What is one thing the new residential halls of UP will have that will make residents want to move into them?

Cooper: There will be an outdoor amphitheatre in between the old and new University Place residence halls, making it the center of the new community. The amphitheatre will have a built in stage, and possibly host concerts, comedy acts, and open microphone nights.  

Colley: What does residence life expect from these dorms?

Cooper: The dorms will be occupied for upperclassmen only, but we don’t want it to be a “retirement home”. It should have identity and excitement, with more large scale events.

Colley: As director of residence life, what are some changes you will make to accommodate for the new residence halls?

Cooper: We will hire 10 more resident assistants for the buildings, and possibly one more resident director.

Colley: Why was the name University Place kept?

Cooper: The name UP was kept because the name is so well known by KSU students and they have so much pride in it. There were focus group surveys conducted over the summer, and the name is already so established. Plus there is a lot of literature to be changed when you change the name of a residential community as large as UP. It is a costly change, and we have other places we can spend that money.

Colley: What is your biggest concern with the new apartments being built in Kennesaw?

Cooper: The impact to university housing demand may decrease, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Our main concern is that students have quality housing, a safe place to live, and somewhere that is academically supportive. We do hope students do their research on which housing community will fit them best. 

Rough Draft of Interview Feature Story

Sara Lynn Colley

COM 3330-4

Interview Feature Story

September 20, 2011

Jeff Cooper is the Director of Residence Life at Kennesaw State University, and is responsible for all staff, programs and budget matters for Residence Life. He has served this department for __ years, and is actively involved in national, regional and state-level associations related to student affairs and student housing. Cooper serves on the committee for the new dorms to be built as Residence Life representative.

When is the estimated date of completion for all of the south side dorms?

“Although we do not know an exact date they will be done by August 2012, just in time for the next group of students. “

Can you tell me what the dorms will look like? How many rooms, will residents be sharing a bathroom, will they have living rooms, etc.

“The new dorms are fashioned to resemble the existing dorms at University Place, and will be located on the other side of the street. The dorms will be brick with elevators in each building. There will be 450 new rooms, divided into three buildings, with the Terrace level of each building dedicated to community use. Each dorm will have four bedrooms and four bathrooms, with a living room and kitchen.”

What is one thing the new UP dorms will have that will make residents want to move into them?

“There will be an outdoor amphitheatre in between the old and new University Place dorms, making it the center of the new community. The amphitheatre will have a built in stage, and possibly host concerts, comedy acts, and open microphone nights.”

What is the reason for building new dorms?

“KSU is expanding, and we needed more availability for those who live on campus.”

What does Residence Life expect from these dorms?

“The dorms will be occupied for upperclassmen only, but we don’t want it to be a retirement home. It should have identity and excitement, with more large scale events.”

As Director of Residence Life, what are some changes you will make to accommodate for the new dorms?

“We will hire 10 more resident assistants for the buildings, and possibly one more resident director.”

Why was the name University Place (UP) kept?

“The name UP was kept because the name is so well known by KSU students and they have so much pride in it. There were focus group surveys conducted over the summer, and the name is already so established. Plus there is a lot of literacy to be changed when you change the name of a dorm as large as UP. It is a costly change, and we have other places we can spend that money.”

What is your biggest concern with the new apartments being built in Kennesaw?

“The impact to University Housing demand may decrease, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Our main concern is that students have quality housing, a safe place to live, and somewhere that is academically supportive. We do hope students do their homework.” (504)

Final Copy of Basic News Story

Kennesaw State University (KSU) is one of 19 colleges in the United States to receive an "A" rating for its general education from the yearly "What Will They Learn?" report from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

In an article submitted to KSU faculty, Aixa M. Pascual says the American Council of Trustees and Alumni placed the school in the top 2 percent of the 1,007 Universities studied, including public and private four-year schools. Pascal quotes KSU President Daniel S. Papp as saying that, "This recognition attests to the rigor and breadth of the core curriculum that our undergraduates are required to take. They are getting a high quality, comprehensive education at KSU."

According to “What Will They Learn?” website, the ratings are based on composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. government or history, economics, mathematics, and science education. Schools are given a grade based on how many of the seven subjects students are required to take.

The “What Will They Learn?” online newsletter credits KSU’s General Education system as saying, "In a series of interrelated courses in the liberal arts and sciences, it provides the opportunity for them to acquire the intellectual skills and knowledge characteristic of educated persons in a diverse, global community. Thus, it forms the basis for success in academic, professional, and personal arenas." This is KSU’s second consecutive year receiving this rating, and it places KSU alongside University of Georgia, Texas A&M University and the United States Military Academy, just to name a few.

On the website KSU is also showcased as a Hidden Gem or a school that distinguishes itself further by additional core requirements. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni says KSU is one of three Georgia schools to make the list, and “Kennesaw State accomplishes that goal while charging quite reasonable tuition.”

Basic News Story Exercise

 More than 48 children and two teachers were hospitalized due to a canister of tear gas that was set off in a Gregory Heights Middle School hallway Tuesday morning, according to the Atlanta Fire Bureau. 

Spokesman for the Atlanta Fire Bureau, Don Mayer said “The symptoms the kids are exhibiting are consistent with mace.” The odorless substance was released on the first floor near the math and science classrooms, and the Fire Department was called around 9:30 a. m. The affected students walked or were taken by stretcher to the front lawn of the school to meet more than a dozen ambulances.  Students who were not affected by the gas were placed on buses and sent home at 10:45 a. m., and staff members were allowed to go back into the school around noon. Classes will resume on Friday and no homes in the neighborhood around the school were evacuated.

Richard Harder, Atlanta Fire Bureau Paramedic said he was the first to arrive and saw at least 15 students lying on the ground in front of the school. The students and teachers vomited and suffered a number of other problems including a burning sensation in the lungs, nose, throat and eyes due to the attack.

A container resembling one of Mace was given to investigators by a parent who said it was sold to her son on the school grounds yesterday morning. Eighth grader Nguyen Do shares his suspicions of why this attack may have been more than a prank - “It’s Mace. I know that. It was a set-up to get out of class or something.” Investigators are now trying to contact three suspects, whose names were given by school officials.

Gregory Heights Middle School is located at Northeast 73rd Avenue and Siskiyou Street, in downtown Atlanta. It has more than 900 employees and teaches students ages 12-15 in grades six through eight.

Rough Draft of Basic News Story

This is the first draft for the Basic News Story for Writing and News Reporting 3435, September 6, 2011.


Kennesaw State University is one of 19 colleges to receive an "A" for its state of general education from the yearly "What Will They Learn?" report from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

The What Will They Learn online newsletter sources KSU about its General Education system saying, "In a series of interrelated courses in the liberal arts and sciences, it provides the opportunity for them to acquire the intellectual skills and knowledge characteristic of educated persons in a diverse, global community. Thus, it forms the basis for success in academic, professional, and personal arenas."

According to What Will They Learn's Website, the ratings are based on Composition, Literature, Foreign Language, U.S. Government History, Economics, Mathematics, and Science.

In an article submitted to KSU Faculty and Staff, Aixa M. Pascual says that the American Council of Trustees and Alumni placed the school in the top 2 percent of the 1,007 Universities studied, including both public and private four-year schools. In this article, KSU President Daniel S. Papp says "This recognition attests to the rigor and breadth of the core curriculum that our undergraduates are required to take. They are getting a high quality, comprehensive education at KSU."