Kirkwood need local support
Staff Editorial
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Opinion
Students at Kirkwood Community College are still talking about the record breaking accomplishments of the men's and women's basketball teams. The men's team made it to nationals four out of the last five years and the women's team won the NJCAA Division II national championships for the last three years, becoming the first junior college to ever do so.
But how many people outside of Kirkwood are talking about it or even know about it for that matter? Does anyone else in Iowa or even the Cedar Rapids area know about these accomplishments? Where was the news coverage? KGAN, KWWL, KCRG, KFXA, The Gazette in Cedar Rapids? Where were these news outlets when Kirkwood was making sports history? They showed up immediately for the bomb threats.
These television stations and The Gazette cover other area colleges and even high school sporting events. They take the time and money to travel out of state to cover certain high schools that play in regional and national tournaments. Why don't we hear more about Kirkwood athletics and our other community involvement in the local news media?
Besides having trophy winning athletic programs, Kirkwood does many other things to help out the community. Holding blood drives, cleaning up after the flood, housing many of Cedar Rapids' offices after the flood, donating stuffed animals to St. Luke's hospital, etc. Where is the community recognition and support of these activities?
So, is there something as a college we can do to change this? Kirkwood students, faculty and staff can make phone calls or send e-mails to local media or even write a letter to the editor at The Gazette. We are proud of our school and the sports history we have made and all of the community service that we do.
At Kirkwood we take the word "community" seriously. We would appreciate it if the area media recognized our contribution and significance to the community.
But how many people outside of Kirkwood are talking about it or even know about it for that matter? Does anyone else in Iowa or even the Cedar Rapids area know about these accomplishments? Where was the news coverage? KGAN, KWWL, KCRG, KFXA, The Gazette in Cedar Rapids? Where were these news outlets when Kirkwood was making sports history? They showed up immediately for the bomb threats.
These television stations and The Gazette cover other area colleges and even high school sporting events. They take the time and money to travel out of state to cover certain high schools that play in regional and national tournaments. Why don't we hear more about Kirkwood athletics and our other community involvement in the local news media?
Besides having trophy winning athletic programs, Kirkwood does many other things to help out the community. Holding blood drives, cleaning up after the flood, housing many of Cedar Rapids' offices after the flood, donating stuffed animals to St. Luke's hospital, etc. Where is the community recognition and support of these activities?
So, is there something as a college we can do to change this? Kirkwood students, faculty and staff can make phone calls or send e-mails to local media or even write a letter to the editor at The Gazette. We are proud of our school and the sports history we have made and all of the community service that we do.
At Kirkwood we take the word "community" seriously. We would appreciate it if the area media recognized our contribution and significance to the community.
Be the first to comment on this story