Story Proposals

1) Columbia River Basin Still Suffering

When summer arrives in Pullman, half of its inhabitants usually leave until the next school year, but for those left behind in the heat, the Snake River offers a place to cool off and relax.

The Snake River is located about 35 minutes outside of Pullman, providing a scenic escape for tourists and residents while supporting major transport for Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon to and from the coast.

According to the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, in 2004, barges on the river kept some 700,000 trucks off the highways. Shipping on the river greatly reduces pollution from other sources, but not without its own costs. The river is part of the Columbia River Watershed, which is suffering from pollution on a major scale as a result of farming and industrial manufacturing.



2) WSU Provides Hazardous Chemical Service

Odds are that most of us have at one time or another, been faced with disposing of some type of harmful chemicals from home.

For the even remotely environmentally conscious, this can be a daunting task. Simply throwing them in the trash won’t suffice. Not only is it detrimental to the environment, but it’s illegal.

If most students at the University don’t recycle because they can’t afford it then how many even consider properly disposing of harmful materials? This is where the University comes in.

Environmental Health & Services is a non-academic program that promotes safe and healthy living both on and off campus. One of its major priorities is the proper disposal of harmful wastes, and this service is extended to students. It can be as simple as going online to fill out some information and within seven days staff will take the materials away.