NOTEWORTHY

Nuclear rhetoric escalates

Biden says it’s the closest the world has been since the ’60s

Following strong rhetoric from Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Biden said bluntly the nuclear rhetoric puts the world the closest to “Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis.” 

The Russian military has escalated bombings of Ukranian civilian centers after the railway/roadway bridge from Russian into occupied Crimea was severed. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Russian military has been steadily losing strategic ground in Ukraine, with Russia on nuclear alert since February.

What you can do —

There is a litany of ways to cover this crisis.

Are there defense contractors increasing production in your community or increased military readiness near you?

Are there students with ties to Ukraine, either with relatives still living there or who have emigrated from the country? What about military families or those who have parents who work with international non-governmental organizations? 

Yet another angle — what are students who are in ROTC or similar youth programs considering after high school? Do they still want to go into the armed services or is the prospect of this war turning them away?

Advisers could teach about how to report on war and examine ethical dilemmas, such as what types of photos to take or stories to publish. Examine journalistic quandaries in covering whistleblowers such as  Edward Snowden or Chelsea Manning who released sensitive information.

Consider looking at how different eras of journalists covered war. Reporting styles changed significantly since the days of Ernie Pyle to correspondents in Ukraine today. That extends to photos as well. What photos should be taken and what types should not? And how might photos be manipulated?

Quill and Scroll chapters, in their more official capacity, could also find local outreach efforts to help citizens in Ukraine. Consider assisting fundraisers in their cities or organizing one yourself.