A. Gender

     Examine the status of female faculty members on your campus. What percentage of the total faculty are women? What percentage do they make up of the ranks—instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor? Examine their salary levels and compare with those of their male counterparts.
     Break down the totals into various schools and departments on the campus.
     Interview male and female faculty members for their comments on the situation, and talk to department heads and deans.

B. Ranking

     Several guidebooks rate and rank colleges and universities. America's Best Colleges, published by U.S. News & World Report is the best selling of the guidebooks. It ranks 1,422 accredited four-year schools, and although many college administrators criticize the methods used to gain information for the rankings, the guidebook and others are used by high school seniors and their parents in selecting schools to attend.
     Consult the various guidebooks to see where your college or university ranks. Also, examine guides and accreditation groups for information about the graduate schools and programs offered at your university.
     Then ask administrators and faculty members for their comments. Round up the material for a broadcast or print feature of 500 words.

C. Alcohol (2)

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A study by the Harvard School of Public Health concludes that heavy drinking on college campuses has not declined despite programs to combat binge drinking. The study found 22.7 percent of students reported they were "frequent binge drinkers," defined as five or more consecutive drinks for men and four for women on three or more occasions in a two-week period; 21.4 percent declared themselves "occasional binge drinkers," defined as one or two binges in two weeks. The remaining students defined themselves as nonbinge drinkers (36.6 percent) and abstainers (19.2 percent).      Conduct a survey to see how students on your campus fare in this four-part breakdown.

D. Vegan

     "Animals are today's oppressed and abused group," says a news release from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). It recommends a vegan diet.
     Are many students on campus vegetarians and vegans? What are their reasons for their diets, and how successful are they in obtaining from local food merchants the essentials for their diets?